TUS NUA - ch 12

TUS NUA – ch 12

New Beginnings – Mia and Midnight

(*)(*)(*)

“Missing? Mo stor, we’d have felt it if something wasn’t right, but you have a point. Midnight usually keeps an eye on everyone so if she’s concerned, let’s use my mirror.”

From a small closet in her room, she pulled out a mirror that was smaller than the one she kept in the utility closet in the kitchen. She set it on the table and recited, “Mirror, my friend, we need to see the whereabout of a woman we call Beverly. She’s wandered off to places unknown. We need to find her and bring her home. Please show us where she might be. So, I ask this. So, mote it be.”

The image on the mirror began to mist in smokey swirls, then it gradually cleared. “Aintin, she’s gone far. That’s the cliff behind my house.”

“So it is, my stor. She looks so unhappy. Let’s go and bring her home.”

“Aintin, I’d like to suggest that you take Jules with you. Since she’s been through all of this, she might have a better understanding of what Beverly is thinking.”

“Yes, mo ghra (my love), you’re right. Let’s speak with her.”

As they left Finola’s small room, Dara approached. “Finola, sorry about reading your thoughts but your concern was too strong. Tauri and I will serve the lunch and if asked, we’ll just say that Beverly wandered off, got lost and you and Jules went to bring her home.”

“Thank you, Dara. Jules and I will use a portal. It’ll get us to the cliff faster than the ley line. I need to speak with Jules about this. I can’t just assume she’ll go.”

Dara chuckled, “Oh, Finola, do you really think she’d not enthusiastically join you? And don’t even think about her being pregnant. She’d still argue that her place is with you. Now, mo stor, go!”

She turned back towards the kitchen as Finola walked to where Jules was sitting with the Green family. Jules looked up as Finola approached. “Aintin? What’s wrong? I can see it on your face.”

Quickly, she explained about Beverly and asked Jules if she’d like to accompany her to bring the woman home. Mary and Laura almost jumped out of their seats. “Us too, Finola. We owe her so much. Please let us go with you.”

Finola looked at the twin’s parents and they eagerly approved. Nora Green agreed. “Finola, the girls are right. Beverly took such good care of them. She needs to see they’re okay. We’ll help your cousins with lunch.”

Without another word, Finola took a small orb from her pocket and tossed it in the air. The women held each other’s hands as the orb gently opened to an oval and swallowed them.

Sam Green shook his head. “Even having Irish blood in me, that’s something I’d probably never get used to seeing.”

As Nora and Sam walked to the kitchen to help Dara and Tauri, the portal opened a few miles away. Finola, Laura, Mary, and Jules stepped away as it shrunk. Finola placed it back in her pocket.

Quietly so they wouldn’t startle her, they approached Beverly. It was Mary who left the small group and walked closer.

Without saying anything, she sat on the ground and gently grasped Beverly’s hand. Placing her head on the older woman’s shoulder, Mary said, “Beverly, I wish there was a way to thank you for all the care you’d given Laura and me through the years. I know we were all drugged but, well, the way I look at it? If you weren’t there to take care of us, only heaven’s knows what else could have happened. You kept us clean, fed, and in a way, safer. We felt safer having you there. Laura and I will be going home tomorrow, and we didn’t want to leave without telling you how grateful we are for everything you’d done for us.”

Beveral covered her eyes with her other hand and cried unashamedly. “Oh, Mary, sweet Mary. If I’d have been stronger, maybe I could have found a way to get all of us out and away. I know I was drugged just as much as all of you, but I was older. I should have found a way!”

Laura stepped up, then squatted in front of Beverly. “Beverly, look at me. Please. Look at me and hear me out. There was nothing, and I mean absolutely nothing you could have done. You were the first taken. When they decided to add to the amount of girls they wanted, they began taking younger ones and used you, yes, I said used, to become sort of like a surrogate caregiver. ‘Keep them clean.’ ‘Keep them fed.’ ‘Have them ready when we want them.’ Part of my memory is coming back, and I do, honestly do remember how one afternoon Leo came in with a friend. Leo wanted Sarah and his friend wanted Sharon. They were nowhere to be found. Somehow, they managed to escape. Leo slapped you silly and locked you in a closet for allowing two of his “girls” get away. Leo and his friend used Ali and Abby instead. But he beat you. I’ll never forget that.”

“Laura,” Mary said, “I don’t remember that. When was this?”

“I didn’t drink the tea that afternoon. I also didn’t take the, well, what they called our antibiotic, so I wasn’t as drugged as they’d have wanted. After that afternoon, I’d gotten so terrified, I took whatever they gave me. I decided that it was better than a beating.”

Beverly looked at Laura with teary eyes. “I remember that afternoon. Ali and Abby came to me and said they’d come up with an idea to get away. I helped them. I just thought that with all the girls there, they wouldn’t miss two. My goal was to eventually get all of you out. I failed. Oh, my god! I’m so sorry. I failed.” Beverly began to cry harder.

Mary and Laura hugged her tightly and Mary said, “Maybe getting us out was more of a challenge but, Beverely, you kept us alive! That was more important because we did eventually get out. Now, we all need to heal. That goes for you, too.”

Finola stepped closer and reached out. “Beverly, dear, you were their hero. You helped them in ways you find hard to understand. Come home and all of you can heal together. The girls are waiting.”

Beverly looked at Finola’s hand eventually reached up and allowed Finola to pull her to a standing position. Finola reached in her pocket, pulled out her orb and said, “Girls, hold on to each other. We’re going home.”