Part of the Family

Chapter 8

    My projection, as a mouse, hides under a pew of the old chapel as the Lords and Mother Miranda meet. I'm silently controlling it from outside the door, waiting for my opportunity.
  "This is the child?" Lady Dimitrescu asks, standing up.
  "It is, indeed, Alcina," Mother Miranda says, "This is Rosemary Winters,"
  I see the tiny child, swaddled up, laying on the floor of the chapel.
  "Doesn't look like much," Heisenburg says, "Are you sure?"
  "Positively," Mother Miranda says, "She's the perfect vessel,"
  'Soon,' I say, 'just...wait a bit longer,'
  "We'll each receive a flask, then?" Lady Dimitrescu asks.
  "Of course," Mother Mirnada says, "I trust you all completely, my children,"
   There's a heavy silence.
  Rosemary starts to fuss a little.
  "We should get this over with," Heisenburg says, "no need to waste time," He taps his heel against the ground twice.
  The signal.
  I nod a little, and form my projection into a murder of crows again, fluttering around the room, surprising the Lords and Mother Miranda. I dash into the room, and scoop Rose up from the ground. "Shhh..." I say, holding her, "...shhh, it's okay..." I form the projection into a wolf, and it stands in front of us, growling silently.
    Mother Miranda stands up. "What are you doing, Ghost Walker?" she asks, angrily.
    I just stare at her.
    Lady Dimitrescu turns to me, glaring at me, extends her hand, claws extending from her hand. "Valarie," she says, angrily, "How disappointing,"
    "Val?" Heisenburg says, in disbelief, grabbing his hammer. "Val...how...how could you?" he says, sounding upset.
    "I knew you were a baddie!" Angie shrieks.
    Moreau just stares at me with disbelief.
    I just glare at them all, backing away. "This is wrong," I say, hugging Rose to my chest, "And you all know it,"
    "Get her!" Mother Miranda shrieks, "Don't let her get away with the child!"
    My projection scoops me up as the Lords advance toward me, and carries me out of the chapel. We dash through the town, weaving through the streets, and into the mountains.
    Rose starts bawling, and I don't blame her.
    "It's okay, little one," I say, holding her close so she doesn't get too cold, "You'll be safe soon..."
    We arrived at the hidden cabin in the mountains that Heisenburg helped me build.
    A small group of soldats, that I have control of, patrol the property, and all turn to me as we arrive.
    "Keep anyone from being within sight of the house," I say, absorbing my projection, landing softly on my feet, "Everyone except the Lords,"
    They all shamble away, back on patrol.
    I enter the house, and lock the door behind me. "Winters, huh?" I say, "So...you're Ethan's daughter. I don't doubt he'll be looking for you. He'd be a great help against Miranda...but, we'll worry about that when we get to it. First, let's make you comfortable, Little Pudgy One" I smile softly as I take her to my bedroom, and lay her on the bed. I grab pillows and blankets and form them into a nest around her.
    As soon as she hits the bed, she's asleep.
    I smile a little. I yawn wide and stretch. I take a deep breath, and wipe the blood from my nose.
    There's a knock at the front door.
    I look up, and go to the front door. I smile, seeing Heisenberg.
    He smiles at me as I open the door. "So," he says, "How'd we do? Convincing?"
    I smile, stepping aside, letting him in. "Yeah," I say, "I would have been convinced if I wasn't in on the plan," I close the door behind him after he steps inside.
    He nods a little. "I'll tell Angie she did well," he says. He stomps the snow off of his boots, and hangs up his hat. He takes off his glasses and smiles at me. "So...who is she?" he asks.
    "Well, from what I can tell..." I say, "...she isn't human,"
    He looks concerned. "What do you mean?" he asks, "and...how do you know?"
    "She's made of mold," I say, "like...the same stuff Mother Miranda uses. It's just...imitating human DNA, I think. Like how she said she imitated that woman, Mia. I should have realized..."
    He tilts his head a little. "Realized what?" he asks.
    "I've met Mia before," I say, "In Louisiana, almost four years ago. And Ethan, her husband. He'll almost definitely come looking for them, and when he does..." I chuckle nervously.
    He chuckles a little, then pauses. "Wait, was he the one who killed Eveline?" he asks.
    I nod a little. "At least, I think," I say, "Lucas and I escaped the house before that..."
    He nods a little. "So...expect a shitstorm when he arrives?" he asks.
    I nod.
    "Again...how do you know this?" he asks.
    "I've had some time to sneak around, find some things that Miranda had hidden away," I say, "and...I sort of assumed, because of all the experiments I watched you and Alcina do. Also...I'm a host of a bioweapon, remember? We're kinda programmed to recognize each other..." I yawn a little, and rub my eyes.
    He chuckles. "Yeah, kinda expected that," he says, lifting my chin a little to look at me, "You were pretty impressive with those projections,"
    I smile. "Thank you..." I mutter.
    He smiles back. "I..." he sighs, "...I wish I could stay here with you and the kid tonight, but..."
    I nod a little. "We don't want Miranda suspecting anything," I say, reaching up and grabbing his hand, "And, if what Miranda says is true, and Ethan was being transported as well...we won't have all night to rest,"
    He nods, letting go of my chin, letting me pull my hand away from his. He steps away and grabs his hat and is about to put it back on, but he sighs. He quickly turns to me again, gently grabbing the side of my face with one hand and my hip with the other. He pulls me toward him, and kisses me.
    I pause, surprised, but smile, closing my eyes and resting my hands on his shoulders, kissing back.
    We hold the kiss for a little, when he pulls away.
    "Sorry..." he mutters, smiling, "...I just...felt like this might be the last chance to do that before shit hits the fan,"
    I nod a little. "Don't be..." I gasp, "...sorry, I mean. It...that..." I giggle a little.
    He chuckles. He hesitantly lets go of me, and backs away. He puts his hat and glasses back on, and clears his throat. "Well..." he says, "...I should get going back to the factory,"
    I nod a little. I feel myself blushing, and rub my cheeks a little.
    He laughs slightly. "Until I see you again, Val," he says, tipping his hat.
    I smile. "Until I see you again, Karl," I say, watching him leave the house. I stand at the doorway, and wave a little as he walks down the path, away from the house.