Hey Readers! If you haven’t already, be sure to check out other posts here to read previous chapters of The House On Astor Street. Enjoy!
Chapter Twenty-Four
Emma convinced Jason that it was best that they go back to her house on Astor Street, so he could glean more information from her parents and the rest of the Harcava. He had so many questions now that he was nearly bursting with scattered thoughts. Emma did her best to answer some of his initial questions, but told him it would be best to save the bigger questions for later. As they turned to leave, Patriot jumped off the couch and ran into Jason’s room, no doubt, to sleep in his closet. Jason excused himself as he went to get the cat to take him back to Ryan’s when Emma stopped him. “Let him be. He’s protecting you.”
Confused, Jason asked Emma, “What do you mean protecting me?”
She looked at him, feigning annoyance at yet another question. She sighed, eager to get back home, “I don’t really know the origin, but, some millennia ago, the people that expressed knowledge of mezmora were, for lack of better words, hunted down. Not by various factions amongst each other, this was before all that, but by normal humans. Think of it like the Salem Witch Trials. Anyway, at some point, cats began popping up in and around households of our people and were able to ward off those that were trying to hurt us.”
Jason was intrigued. “How? I mean, did the cats attack them or something?”
Emma laughed, picturing a cat attacking an old man carrying a pitchfork in the 1500s. “No no, nothing like that! Cats are… mysterious creatures. They have the ability to sense danger. And what that means for us is that they are a really great alarm. They can sniff out mezmora, which is why they tend to show up around people like you and me.” She paused and shrugged. “Well, anyway, beyond just being an alarm system, cats actually have additional talents, I guess you can call it. Some are able to cause confusion and forgetfulness, while others are able to cause some level of pain, like a headache or stomachache. Whatever the talent is, it gives the person or people they are defending a good head start in escaping.” She looked at Jason and, with a dramatic wave of her arm towards his door, said, “Now can we please go?”
Mimicking a soldier, Jason saluted Emma and said in a stern voice, “Yes ma’am!” Then marched towards his door, holding it open for her, despite her rolling eyes. He shut his door quietly, careful not to notify Ryan or Mike of his departure. They tip-toed down the stairs where Jason opened the front door, holding it open for Emma again. At the bottom of the stairs, she stopped and said, “Not that way… follow me.” Then turned towards one of the downstairs units.
She knocked on one of the doors and the old, eccentric man that had given David a birthday card answered. He was again wearing some brightly colored tunic looking outfit. His hair was a wild mess and his feet were bare. Jason looked at Emma awkwardly, although she ignored his glance and said, “Mr. Troddleton, we are going to head out now. May we?” She motioned to his living room with her eyes and smiled patiently.
“Oh yes! Of course! Come in, come in.” He pulled the door open and scooted out of the way. His living room was full of 1970s retro furniture in various bright colors. He had a large tv in the center of the wall next to a bookcase full of classic movie DVDs. “I just love old Hollywood films!” he said when he noticed Jason looking at the massive collection. In the center of the living room carpet, a fat orange cat slept motionlessly, not even acknowledging the presence of other people.
“Thank you so much for helping us today,” Emma said. She looked over at Jason, who had only moved a couple of steps into Mr. Troddleton’s apartment, and asked, “Alright, are you ready to go?”
Jason looked around the room again, then back at Emma, asking, “Yeah, but, how?”
Emma looked at Mr. Troddleton whose eyes widened. “Emma, has he ever used a flash tunnel?”
Emma gave a huge fake smile and said, “Well, we all have to learn some time, right?”
“But you know the rules, someone’s first time is always supposed to be with an experienced adult…”
Emma cut him off, “Mr. Troddleton, I have used flash tunnels since I was a kid. And, technically, I am twenty-five, so..” She put her hands on her hips, never breaking eye contact with him, waiting for him to relent.
“Oh fine!” Mr. Troddleton threw his hands up. “But if anything happens, it’s on you, young lady!”
Emma had a triumphant smile on her face as she said, “Deal.” She looked over at Jason and asked again, “Alright, all set?”
Jason stuttered, “I, uh… don’t you think we should listen to Mr. Troddleton?” He looked over at Mr. Troddleton for some back up, but he just put his hands up defensively, excusing himself from the conversation.
Emma turned to Jason and grabbed his hands, “Jason, you don’t have anything to worry about. I promise.” She looked back at Mr. Troddleton, then back at Jason, and said, “Besides, this flash tunnel was created by your dad himself, back when he bought this building. With Mr. Troddleton living here already, he knew it would be a safe spot for you once you moved in upstairs.”
“My dad?” Jason asked, the surprise of his dad’s involvement throughout his life slowly losing the element of surprise. He thought back to when he was looking for a new place. For the price, this place was too good to be true. Location was amazing, the size of his unit was perfect, and that back balcony, it was Jason’s favorite. “But I thought the owner lived next door to you, Mr. Troddleton?”
“Ever notice that the owner is never around?” Emma asked for Mr. Troddleton. “That unit has been empty since your dad bought this building back in the nineties.”
Jason was finding out so much so quickly, that he decided not to dwell on what else he might not know and just looked straight ahead, took a deep breath and said, “Ok. Let’s go.”
Emma nodded slightly at Mr. Troddleton and said, “Thank you again for your help today.” With that, she grabbed Jason’s hand and led him to a closet in the hallway. She opened the door, where a few of Mr. Troddleton’s brightly colored jackets and tunics hung and looked over at Jason, “We will step in together in three… two… one”
They walked in, Emma pulled the door shut, and then they disappeared.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Light shined through the outline of the door in front of them. Jason’s hand was still in Emma’s as he waited for her to mumble some phrase or magical incantation. Instead, she reached for the handle of the door and pushed it open. In front of them was a plush room with an outwardly facing circular couch. There were four doors that opened into the room, including the one they were walking out of. Nonchalantly, Emma took a step forward and pulled Jason, who was in a state of utter shock, along with her. “We’re here.”
Jason stumbled slowly towards the couch in the center of the room and sat down. He checked himself, making sure everything was still attached, that his clothes were still in one piece, that he wasn’t dreaming. He blinked several times and shook his head. He didn’t know what to expect, but “absolutely nothing” wasn’t it. When they walked through the hall closet in Mr. Troddleton’s apartment, Jason recalled stepping in, turning as Emma shut the door and, with no flash, bang, spin, or anything, she simply opened the door to a new place. To this place.
“Are you feeling ok?” Emma asked, half concerned.
“Yeah. I mean, I should be feeling ok, right?” Jason still couldn’t wrap his mind around this weird teleportation he just experienced, but he knew it was nothing like the movies. No light speed graphics or nausea or missing limbs. He thought back to the scene in Willy Wonka when Mike Teavee teleported to the tv set, but was shrunken to the size of a toy action figure. But no. Nothing like that happened. “I think I just want a glass of water or something.”
Jason stood up slowly and gave Emma a weak but reassuring smile. He could hear muted chatter outside of the room and looked at Emma, gulping noticeably. To help ease his obvious uncertainty, Emma took it upon herself to explain that they were safe and sound, back at her house. The room they were in was a series of flash tunnel gateways that she, her family, and the Harcava used to get around.
“Basically, the way these work are that, you can use a flash tunnel to go to any other flash tunnel in the world, but you have to know where you’re going. For example, I can’t just jump in here and go to Paris, not unless I knew exactly where the flash tunnel was in Paris. The creators of flash tunnels can also place certain barriers that prevent others from entering their gateway, but every gateway can be used to go somewhere by anyone. Does that make sense?”
“Yeah, I think so… but how do you tell it where you want to go?” Jason asked. “I mean, I didn’t hear you say anything when we were leaving Mr. Troddleton’s…”
“Well, Mr. Ellington, that’s what you’re going to learn. We are going to teach you how to harness your mezmora.” Emma looked at Jason excitedly. “And if the stories are true, you’re going to be one of the more powerful Altruites, no pressure.”
With that, Emma motioned for Jason to follow her as she opened the door opposite the one they entered from. It led to a marbled hallway that Jason recognized immediately from earlier that morning. The voices were louder now and one voice stuck out more to him than the rest. As they made their way down the hall, Jason felt himself get antsy, not knowing what to expect. When they rounded the corner into the parlor, Jason saw the group he had ran out on earlier, with one notable addition.
“Dad?” Jason froze.
The room got quiet as a handsome, middle-aged man with streaks of gray in his wavy hair stood up. He was tall, had an athletic figure and, like his son, Adam had honey-colored eyes and an olive complexion. He was wearing a more formal outfit than the rest, clearly called away from a business conference of some sort, somewhere in the world. Jason figured that his dad must have used one of those flash tunnels.
Adam walked over to Jason and threw his arms around him, but Jason didn’t return the hug. Instead, he stood rigid, shocked to see his dad in the room with all these people he’d been shielded from his whole life, and angry, because his father was an absent figure who decided to raise him in a world of lies. Adam leaned back, his hands still on Jason’s shoulders. He gave Jason a somber look and said, “I’m glad you’re ok, son.”
Jason shook his shoulders free from his father’s grasp and asked with a surprisingly harsh tone, “Dad, how could you keep all of this from me?” Jason gestured to the room full of people. “Do you know what I’ve been through the past few weeks?”
Adam took a deep breath and spoke with a strong, but caring voice, “Jason, there are so many things in this world you don’t know about. And the less you knew, the safer you were. Your mother and I made some big and very painful decisions years ago to give you a chance at living a normal life.” He paused, allowing his words to sink in. “Come sit down with everyone and I will explain everything.”
Jason put his hands on his head and closed his eyes tightly. He took a long, deep breath, threw his arms down, and walked over to an empty chair in the center of the crowded room. He looked around at the familiar faces from earlier that morning: Officer Campbell, out of his uniform now and in some jeans with a polo, his black hair closely shaved to his head; Sam, the Northwestern University professor, was drinking a steaming cup of coffee, his big glasses awkwardly accentuating his thin frame and face; Sandra had cleaned up since the morning, now wearing a brightly colored summer dress, her brunette hair tumbling down her shoulders, her warm smile still present; Sandra’s husband, Arthur, sat next to Sandra, unshaven and scruffy looking, with mismatched shorts and a t-shirt.
A new addition to the group was sitting next to Emma, a refined looking woman with a tad too much make-up. Her smile was big and white, and her hair was even larger. “Jason, it is a pleasure to meet you. My name is Rachel Stanton.”
Jason nodded in acknowledgement, realizing he recognized Rachel from the popular local Chicago news station. She looked exactly like she did behind the anchor desk.
Seconds later, Jason heard the front door slam shut and sneakers shuffling quickly on the hard stone floor. A short, stout woman in off-white slacks and a brightly colored blouse ran into the parlor. Her face was red and beads of sweat were glistening on her brows and upper lip. She was wearing clunky, white, no slip sneakers that squeaked with each step she took. “I am so sorry I am late. We had a last-minute surgery pop up and… when duty calls… you know how it goes.”
Her beady eyes scoured the room for an open seat when she noticed Jason. “Oh!” Her already short breath became more exacerbated. She shuffled over to Jason and put her hand out. “You must be Jason!” Her messy hair was flailing around her head, getting stuck to the sweat accumulating on her face. “I haven’t seen you since…when was it Adam?” She looked over her shoulder at Adam, Jason’s hand still firmly gripped by her two sweaty hands. “…gosh, it must have been your second birthday!”
Jason couldn’t help but smile, realizing that these people had been a part of his life, in some way, since the very beginning.
Looking back at Adam again, she said “He is so handsome too!” She turned back at Jason. “My name is Audrey, honey. It’s so good to see you!” She hobbled away, nearly knocking glasses over with her pudgy frame. As she took her seat, Audrey asked the group evasively, “Are we… expecting anyone else?”
Just then, the faint sound of heels clacking on the marble hallway floor echoed into the parlor from the direction of the room Jason and Emma had emerged from. The steps were slow, but purposeful, growing louder as they got closer. All the heads in the room turned towards the hallway, as Adam and Sandra stood up. They both started walking over to the hallway to meet the owner of the invisible noise.
Eventually, the source of the clacking emerged. A tall, thin woman stood facing the room. She was dressed elegantly in a long, flowy day dress of muted pastel colors. Her thin shoulders were draped by her dark brown hair, which ran down to the middle of her back. She had plump lips and a small nose, topped by two sparkling lavender eyes. Jason guessed she must have been in her early 50s, but aged so gracefully, that he couldn’t pinpoint it exactly. She was one of the most beautiful women he had ever seen.
Adam put his arms around her and kissed her cheek. She closed her eyes and leaned her head on his shoulder as she embraced him back for a few seconds. She turned towards Sandra and smiled, bearing her perfect teeth, before giving her a hug as well, saying “Oh, Sandy. I have missed you so much.”
She turned back towards Adam and wove her fingers through his as she smiled and looked into his eyes. Adam met her smile with his own boyish grin, then directed his attention back towards the room. Everyone was beaming at the beautiful woman, while Audrey blubbered loudly. The woman acknowledged everyone in the room with a smile and a slight nod, then rested her rich lavender eyes on Jason.
Adam gripped her hand tightly, then spoke resolutely, “Jason, I want to introduce you to your mother, Margot Crawford.”
Chapter Twenty-Six
Numbness spread slowly and uncontrollably through Jason. Like a snail inching its way along a damp sidewalk, a dulled chill crept up through Jason’s core. He sat there silently looking ahead, the colorful room morphing into pallet of shadowy grays and whites. The excited chatter and greetings began dimming until all that Jason could hear was the sound of his own breath and his heartbeat. He sunk into his chair just as a wave of blackness pulled him into unconsciousness.
A short while later, Jason’s eyes fluttered in reaction to the light being shined into them by Audrey’s medical grade flashlight. Jason saw a small bag full of equipment on the ground next to Audrey and realized that he had fainted. He sat up straighter in his chair and took a deep breath, saying, “I think I’m ok now…” He rubbed his eyes and mumbled to Audrey, “Thank you.”
Audrey threw the equipment back in her bag and scampered away to her previous spot in the parlor. Standing behind her, with concern welling in her eyes, was Margot. Jason could feel his pulse and breath quickening again, his eyes blinking anxiously. Sensing this, Margot lifted up her hand slowly and unfurled her fingers, producing a thin, short ribbon of lavender light.
The light swam quietly and gently towards Jason, eventually burying itself in the center of his forehead. Immediately, a cool, soothing sensation cascaded down Jason’s body, slowing his heart and breath back down to a normal level. Further, his anxiety dissipated as a jolt of elation swept through his core. He looked up at Margot, who smiled while she walked over and knelt down next to him. She put her hands on his arm and said, “I will explain everything to you in time.”
Standing up and turning back towards the gathering, she said more loudly, “It warms my heart to be back here with each of you.” She pulled both of her hands up to the center of her chest as she said this. “While I have not always been able to be present, I can see that our family, our Harcava, is just as strong now as it was so many years ago. I thank you all for the sacrifices you’ve made physically, mentally, and emotionally to keep the Domenicians at bay and,” she turned and looked directly at Jason with glistening eyes, “to keep my son safe.
“When we originally hatched our plan, we knew that Domenician leadership would do all they could to hunt down and eliminate the subject of The Keeper of Stories’ prophecy. We have seen as they have begun to attempt to fulfill their goal, seeking the Devitors on defenseless teenagers and young adults all across Chicago.” She paused, her tone sharp, yet soft. “But they haven’t been successful. Jason is still here. Hiding him until now, while emotionally exhausting, was physically simple. Adam and I agreed to raise Jason away from this world so that he could live a safe and normal life. Unfortunately, and although we always knew it was a possibility, his mezmora is too powerful to keep concealed from him. This means that Jason is on their radar now.”
Jason’s eyes widened as he adjusted uncomfortably in his chair.
“I know you have all heard me say it before, time and again, but Jason is the key to our survival. Like The Keeper of Stories said, the Domenicians will declare war on society, unless the Altruites resist. Life as we know it will be over. Our families, our colleagues, our friends, everything, will be gone.” Margot was careful to give her words enough time to seep into everyone in the room. “My friends, I think it is time that we act before it’s too late.”
Sam adjusted his glasses and spoke with a cracked voice, “Margot, you can’t mean that we go after the Domenicians… that’s suicide.”
“I’m not suggesting we go after all the Domenicians, of course not.” She walked over to Adam, who was standing behind one of the couches. “Over the last couple of years, Adam has been traveling the world under the guise of work trips, gathering intelligence about a certain sect of the Domenician leadership. Adam, do you mind enlightening the rest of the group?”
Adam cleared his throat and spoke, “All over the world, we are seeing factions of Domenicians, with the full support of the Domenician leadership, target well known and powerful Harcavas and families. The rumor is that they are trying to eliminate any obstacles that could potentially stand in their way when they go on the offensive. Due to their increased activity and shocking alliance with the Devitors, several powerful Altruites have voiced concern that they believe the Domenician attack is imminent.”
Gasps and murmurs filled the room.
Adam went on, “Given the more precarious situation we find ourselves in here in Chicago,” he gestured towards Jason, “we believe there is a more lethal faction of Domenicians in this city. It likely comes as no surprise to you all that we have reason to believe that Branson Maledu is the ringleader. Branson, along with his crew, are ruthless. They aren’t hesitant to use mezmora in public, to ally with the Devitors, or to kill indiscriminately.”
The room was silent. Sandra and Arthur sat on one couch, hand in hand, concern splashed on their faces. Steve looked solemn, but determined, while Sam just blinked wildly behind his magnifying bifocals. Rachel sat up straight and shook her head, preferring to appear unshaken by the facts laid out in front of the group, while beads of sweat had returned to Audrey’s plump face. Jason, who was visibly jarred, looked over at Emma. She looked up at him and gave him a reassuring smile. Still standing, Margot grabbed Adam’s hand again, then eyed the crowd confidently and protectively.
Eventually, Margot cleared her throat, calling attention back to her. “My friends, I think it’s time we begin to make our plan. If you all wouldn’t mind, I’d like some time with my son. Alone.”
She turned to face Jason and reached out a hand towards him. Hesitantly, Jason stood up. He was in a daze. In a daze from everything he just heard. In a daze from meeting Margot Crawford, the woman the world knew to be dead. In a daze from finding out Margot Crawford was his mother. In a daze from finding out he had a mother. With a fluttering heart and scrambled thoughts, Jason grabbed Margot’s hand. He didn’t move immediately, but instead looked at her face. The same face he had seen in newspapers advertising the Crawford Family Charity. The same face he had seen on “Chicago Ghost Tours” advertisements. She was beautiful.
His eyes eventually focused on her soft smile, and he took a step forward. “Where are we going?”
“Somewhere private, sweetheart.” She smiled. “I owe you a full explanation.”
