Magic Children

Chapter 16 Wabash Indiana - Aurora

I lock up the diner, expecting to see Sam lurking waiting for me. I don't get it, the murder in his eyes. He was the quiet one. Arthur has to be dead. Shit. He was sweet, all that boy wanted was candy or kettle corn or soda and he was happy. I know Angel wouldn't have killed him unless he had to. But still. Why'd he have to? That's all that I can see getting Sam that incensed. He liked me too. I was nice to him too. For all he knew, I was as mad at Angel as he was. He did kill my dad. Sam never could read minds. But apparently he guessed very well that I never blamed Angel. Not really.

I know it wasn't his fault. They kept him in a cage like an animal why should he show them mercy?

I push my more violent thoughts away. Angel is still gone. Long gone apparently. I've searched myself and nothing. He's either deep in hiding or he is dead. But I just feel like I'd know if he was dead. That's stupid, I suppose, the sentiment that I carry some part of his life inside me and I'd know if it were snuffed out.

But I do think it. And I do want him back. I just know I have to go on knowing that for me he no longer exists.

I look up and down the hall one more time, before unlocking my apartment door.

The TV and radio are both on, tuned to static of course.

"Why did that man come?" Eris is sitting in the corner, wearing her favorite black dress, rocking back and forth a little. She doesn't look like she's moved since this morning, her hair still neat and in her velvet headband.

"He was looking for your father," I say, tiredly, as I hang up my coat, "How was your day?"

"He knew you."

"Yeah, I knew him when your dad and I were kids. He was a little older than you the last time I saw him. He wanted to find your dad," I reclarify, as I go to the kitchen to start dinner. Her lunch plates are stacked neatly in the sink so that's something.

"Why did he think you knew?" Eris gets up to follow me.

"He hadn't seen me, so he thought your dad might be here. But I told him he wasn't," I say.

"Why does he want dad?"

"He's angry with him, for burning up Lyons, and killing people," you would think a kid who could read minds wouldn't ask so many questions. You would think that.

"Are you afraid of him?" Eris asks, frowning.

"I don't want anything to happen that could make me lose you," I say, cupping her cool cheek with one hand.

"I could take him."

"I know, but we're not doing that okay? You know it's dangerous to use your powers around anyone but me," I say, firmly. She's strong, I don't know how strong in comparison to any other mutant, but she can read minds about easily as Arthur could, I think. I don't know; he was never very inclined to use his abilities beyond whatever got us out of trouble or got him food. But she's rather good and she does telekinesis now and then. I don't mind that. I mind the fact that she has absolutely zero impulse control. Unlike my sweet Brigit. Brigit was gentle like her daddy. Brigit never broke things or anything rotten; she just picked up shiny toys she liked that was all. But of course when the doctors hurt her she lashed out. And they took her away from me.

"Brigit is having fun," Eris glares at me, "You always think about her."

"Yeah because she's your sister, I love her----you know she's happy? Where is she?" I strongly believe Eris knows exactly where her sister is but doesn't tell me out of jealousy.

"I don't know. It's far away. But she's having fun. I never have fun. I have to stay here alone all day."

"Yeah, so they don't lock you up in a cage," I'm way too damn tired for this when we already have to move tonight. Sam would pull a dick move and alert the authorities to where I am. He knows I had a kid.  One. Arthur probably knew because he almost definitely read my mind prior to his death, and I was thinking about being pregnant a whole lot. For part of that time, I had a decent suspicion I was carrying twins. Therefore there's every reason to believe Sam knows I might have had twins.

"You wish they'd taken me instead of her."

"No, I just want her back," of course there are moments I want my sweet calm gentle baby back in my arms, particularly when the obstinate, telepathic, hot tempered child is giving me a migraine by flashing the lights and turning out power to the building. She's only ever done the building though. I don't know if that's choice or ability limiting her. I feel like she'd do more if she could; she doesn't have great impulse control.  Arthur turned off the power to the greater Boulder Area exactly once because Sam was sad. That's the story I got anyway and he never did it again nor did he seem much worse for the wear.

"You'd rather they took me than her. It's not fair. I bet Dad would like me better."

"He'd love you both, like I do," I sigh, tiredly, "Do you want to eat dinner or do you want to just go?"

"Why do we have to move if you don't even want to keep me?" she asks, stalking to her room and slamming her door.

"Because I'm used to you," I call, annoyed, "And like it or not I'm not letting anyone take you away from me so you'd better be magic packing anything you want to take."

"I HATE moving!!!"

"I do too, but your dad's old friend found me 'cause he wants to kill your dad and I don't think it'd be beyond him to try to kill you and while I realize you think you'd win, you probably wouldn't, and even if you did, you'd be exposed and arrested," I call all that through the door before starting to gather up my things. It's not much. We're ready to run.

"I don't want to move!"

"Sucks to be you!" I should be more mature. I'm not. It's after midnight. This child is too much.

"I wish we'd stayed with the cult!"

"The cult was raided and you know that."

"Aren't there other cults?"

"Are you gonna pack or talk back to me?"

"Clearly both!"

"You are a trip, child," apparently this is what I get for getting pregnant at eighteen. No, that's wrong, I'm sure she'd be like this anyway. To be fair, her father was reasonably dramatic, but when you're eighteen that's kind of charming in a mate. It's not charming in a super-powered thirteen year old.