CHAPTER#165

Meaning that somewhere, Amir was still alive. Or his soul was, at least.

"Well, they shouldn't be hassling you now..." her words trailed off when a dark figure appeared near the entry, walking cautiously between the lions, hands held up in peace.

"I got this." Mike walked around her, the activity in the yard coming to a halt. Mike set his coffee on the end of the railing and moved with confidence, feeling the magic awaken inside of him just a little. The lions turned their heads to watch the newcomer, just waiting to sense hostile magic and spring into action.

The hooded figure stopped, gazing across the yard with apprehension. It took Mike much longer to reach her than it would have a week ago, and when he drew near, the figure drew back its hood.

"Elizabeth, right?" Mike's tone was cold, his voice carrying extra strength.

"Mr. Radley." She looked across the yard, her eyes wide as she saw the centaurs lift up spears and bows that they had set nearby.

"Can I help you?" he asked, letting just a bit of Cecilia's magic through. His voice sounded like a whisper that had been pumped through an amplifier, and she flinched.

"I... it was my turn to keep watch last night. Ever since what happened to my daughter, they told me I was too involved, that I couldn't be trusted on my own. But after what happened here, they had no choice. Your fox demon hurt so many of us that we were forced to regroup, to reevaluate. As a result, it was my turn to watch you."

"And?"

"I wasn't there when it happened, but...how?" Her voice became a hiss. "How did you... it doesn't make sense. You couldn't have done all that, but I... you destroyed everything we've worked so hard for, killed people who have survived several centuries, lived through wars and plagues and... I just don't understand."

"If you're asking if that was me, then yes. Yes it was." He crossed his arms. "I didn't want to, but I had to, and I would do it again."

"You've taken so much from me, I..." she dropped her gaze. "Look. I don't wish to cross your path again, but I must know something before I go. Will I ever see my daughter again?"

"No, you won't." His voice softened. "For what it's worth, it really was self defense. I never wanted any of this, but she tried to kill me. If you all had quit coming here and trying to take my home, you would all still be alive. I recommend that you find a way to move on, to let it go. I promise that no good will come from harassing me or my family ever again."

"I just don't get how you became so powerful so fast. In all my centuries, I have never seen such a meteoric rise in strength."

"I'm not the one who is strong." Just as he said the words, Abella landed next to him, her talons clutching at the cobblestones to steady herself. Tink ran up to the right of Mike, a hammer in one hand and a screwdriver in the other. Rats with spears stepped from the shadows, surrounding the group, and a quartet of fairies circled above him like a crown of light.

Off to the side of the garden, the motionless Jabberwock finally lifted its massive head and yawned, fixing its gaze on Elizabeth. Its jaws snapped together like a steel trap, the sound similar to a pair of cars colliding. It wore the remains of the iron golem as a helmet, hammered out in places by Tink and then strapped to its head, making it look like a giant, armored steed.

"Together, we are strong. We found each other and never plan on letting go." He gazed deeply into her eyes, seeing her fear manifest. "That's the real secret of the house, and it's one I don't think you could ever understand."

Elizabeth backed down the walkway, an expression of cold rage on her face. She passed between the lions, and then walked out of view along the sidewalk. A few moments later, the sound of a car door slamming was followed by screeching rubber. Mike relaxed, and turned around to see that everybody had gone back to what they were doing. Abella landed on the roof and picked up her tablet, resuming whatever show she had been watching, and Tink was berating a centaur with multiple expletives for dropping a load of wood. The centaur rolled his eyes but took it in stride, throwing Mike a wink when their eyes met.

Mike smiled, and walked to the sundial to give it another twist. Since he was out here, he may as well reset it. Looking at everybody scattered across the lawn, he wondered what would come next. With the Society gone, he was no longer confined to the house, and with Reggie's help, he could go anywhere in the world in a matter of minutes.

Then again, why leave when everything that mattered to him was right here? Turning his head, he saw the dark figure contemplating a blade of grass, his bony fingers bending it down until it popped free and stood back up.

Walking to the edge of the yard, Mike put his hands on his hips and stared at Death.

"Hey."

Death looked up at Mike, his visage buried in the shadows of his hood.

"Yuki tells me that you technically can't collect any soul other than Amir's. Is this true?"

Death nodded.

"Which means you're just stuck here with nothing to do. Is that correct?"

Again, a nod.

"Is Amir dead?"

This time, the hooded figure shook his head.

"So..." Mike looked over his shoulder at the house. He had a feeling, deep in his gut, that was different from the icy cold grip of danger. It was warm, like a campfire on a cold night. "If you're just going to hang around anyway, would you like to come inside? Might be a little less boring for you."

Death paused at this, then slowly rose, towering over Mike at nearly seven feet tall. He swept back his hood to reveal a bare skull with a fearsome visage, tiny red and yellow fires buried deep within his impossibly dark eye sockets. The scythe came up too, and Death smacked the butt of it on the ground, causing the blade to swing down and lock into place.

"Mike Radley, I thought you'd never ask," Death replied in a whisper with a slight british accent. They walked back up the stairs to where Beth was waiting, and Mike stopped long enough to grab his coffee and his book.

"Who were you talking to?" Beth asked.

Mike held back a laugh. "Here, come inside and I'll tell you about our latest guest."