Chapter Eighty-Eight
Delanie
“She’s my Mother!”
Harvey waved me away and growled. “I know what I’m saying.”
“Care to elaborate so we can all know what you’re saying?” Ajax abandoned the bags and came to my side.
He slipped his arm around my waist and tugged me close.
“Where’s the baby?” Harvey asked.
“In the backseat,” I replied.
He nodded. “Good.”
Annika was in the car seat sound asleep. Car rides soothe her and she was asleep as soon as we left the hotel.
“Come on Harvey, I thought she was the great love of your life. What the hell?”
Harvey stepped closer. “Yes, Alexandra was. That thing is not Alexandra.” He pointed at the door again.
“We did everything right. She was right where she was supposed to be and come on. Who is that if that isn’t Delanie’s Mother? They are identical!” Ajax said.
I couldn’t agree more. She’s been living with us for days now and nothing was amiss. She acted like a woman who was living in a strange house with strangers and who had been locked up for over twenty years.
“It’s an almost exact replica but I know Alexandra. I know her inside and out. That’s not her.”
“How are you so sure?” Ajax pressed.
“I just do. Any expert can tell an original from a fake,” Harvey spat.
I frowned. So he’s an expert on my Mother?
“Who is she then?” I asked.
“An imposter. Get rid of her.”
“Hold on we can’t just do that,” I said.
“Why not? She could be dangerous. She is dangerous if she’s pretending to be someone she’s not.”
I shook my head. Clearly, he hit his head this morning.
“Harvey, we need more proof. I can’t just put her out.”
“I’ve been nothing but straight with you guys since we met,” he growled.
“I know but we’re not putting a defenceless woman out on the street on just your word. We need more proof.”
Harvey nodded. “It won’t be that hard. Watch your backs.” He turned and marched into his truck.
The car door slammed and Annika bellowed. Her scream startled me.
“I’ll get her,” Ajax said.
I rubbed my shoulders and shut my eyes. I whispered a simple request, ‘Please don’t let him be right.’
***
“Oh, Annika’s upset,” Alexandra said, her voice smooth like honey and her eyes warm like the sun.
A part of me was cautious now about putting my baby in her arms. However, when Alexandra took Annika the baby calmed down instantly.
“Why were you so sad?” Alexandra asked and Annika stared at her with fascination.
Ajax and I shared a look. He didn’t look as concerned as me.
“The witch should be here soon,” Ajax said.
Alexandra looked up. “Oh, will a witch be strong enough to remove that thing?”
“Should be. Lots of witches know how to counter moon magic these days.”
I cleared my throat. “I read in one of your letters that you studied moon magic.”
She smiled as she rocked Annika. “That was such a long time ago. Who knows what more’s been uncovered? Yes, I was very fascinated with it. Mother never approved.”
She wrote about a ritual she performed in one of the letters I read but now wasn’t the best time to ask her about it.
“I’ll put her to bed,” Alexandra said.
“Oh, I can put her in our room,” I said quickly.
“Don’t worry, Delanie. I’ll put her down in my room. I’m sure you have a lot to do when the witch arrives.”
I nodded. I was anxious now and I hated it. Everything was fine. Harvey better have proof of what he said.
Ajax and I were left alone in the living room.
“Don’t overthink this. Let’s wait for Harvey to come back with proof.”
I nodded. “I know you’re right but she’s our daughter. I don’t want anything to happen to her.”
“Nothing’s going to happen to her under our watch. I wouldn’t let that happen.”
He’s right.
“Besides, does Alexandra look like a killer to you?” he asked.
The truth was I didn’t know at all. Anything was possible.
***
The witch, a young woman named Gale arrived at the house with a huge black bag. She told me Ajax went out with her older sister. I wasn’t jealous but I did shoot him a questioning look. Gale was a couple of years older than me and she was confident she could solve our problem. When we took her to the nursery I thought it would damper her confidence but she rolled up her sleeves and nodded.
“It’s gotten bigger,” Ajax grimaced.
“Yup, it’s got some powerful magic coming through,” Gale said.
“Why is it growing?” I asked, stepping back into Ajax’s embrace.
“Because moon magic is crazy powerful. I guess I don’t need my crystal ball or tarot cards.”
Gale kicked her bag to the side. She ran her hand along the thick green plant. The roots had destroyed the wall and the floor.
“But what is it?” I asked.
Gale stared at it. “Not sure yet but I’ll get it out.” She turned to us. “You might want to stand back.”
Ajax led me out of the room but we got as far as the doorway. We had a clear view of Gale as she worked. She muttered something under her breath which I assumed was a spell. She gripped the plant and it started to vibrate.
“Can you feel that?” I asked Ajax.
He stared down at me. “What?”
“It’s vibrating.”
“I don’t feel that Delanie.”
“It’s fighting back. It’s a stubborn thing,” Gale said.
Gale threw her head back and chanted heavily. Shivers ran up my spine. I gripped Ajax’s arm.
“I don’t like this,” I said.
“Hold on, she’s got this.”
The vibrating grew aggressive.
“Ugh! Just leave!” Gale shouted.
“Ajax,” I pleaded. “Make her stop.”
“Fine.”
He darted into the room but Gale stuck her hand out to stop him.
“No, I’ve got this. I’m removing this thing!” Gale insisted.
But she started trembling and her eyes rolled into the back of her head. Ajax yanked her away from the creature and dragged her out of the nursery. I shut the door.
“Gale, wake up,” Ajax said.
Gale cradled her head and moaned. “Uh… my head.”
Ajax set her down on the floor.
“I think she needs a hospital,” I told Ajax.
“No… I’m fine… Ajax did you make a deal with the moon goddess.”
Ajax frowned. “No.”
Gale shut her eyes and slammed against the wall. Her body fell to the ground.
“Gale!” Ajax shook her shoulder but she remained limp.
My heart hammered against my ribcage. She wasn’t breathing.
“We need an ambulance,” Ajax barked.
I bent and pressed my fingers on Gale’s neck.
“Ajax, she’s dead.”