Chapter 25 — Here Comes the Wind

“Doesn’t it feel so odd to be returning to work so soon?” Beatrice asked Susan in the living room.

“I don’t think it’s odd at all,” Susan, who was sitting down on one of the sofas scanning a newspaper, said. “I think it’s entirely understandable that you love your job.”

Dena walked into the dining room with a tray.

“Here’s your tea,” Dena said, and set the tray on the table.

“Yeah,” Beatrice said to Susan. “Until the job gets me killed.” She walked towards the dining. “Thank you, Dena. You’re far too kind, and a darling at heart.”

Dena smiled.

“Never say that,” Susan said, looking at Beatrice. “Your job shouldn’t kill you. You’re doing it out of passion. So, it should, in a way, make you live longer.”

Jake walked into the dining room. “Good morning, everyone. Wow, this house is so big, I don’t get to see some people here at these odd hours of the morning.”

Dena knew he was referring to her, and smiled. “Forgive me. Beatrice is a cook, and so am I. If she runs things out there, I figured I should be one of those to take care of her in here.”

Susan returned her gaze to the newspaper in her grasp.

“That’s so sweet of you to say,” Beatrice said and placed a hand on her chest.

“Yeah, and Jake, I made you a cup of coffee as well,” Dena said.

Jake pecked Dena on the cheek, and said his thanks.

“This feels odd to ask, but would you like to come work at the dinner with me?” Beatrice asked Dena.

“Absolutely,” Dena said, and looked at Susan, “so far Susan allows it.”

“What? You don’t have your own will where she is?” Beatrice said, and took a sip from her cup of coffee.

“Not really,” Dena said, still looking at Susan. “She’s like my guardian.” She met Beatrice’s gaze and grinned wildly at her. “So, at least, I have to let her know before I make that decision.”

“Well, this coffee tastes great. Let me know when she allows you.”

Beatrice finished her cup of coffee, and so did Jake.

“You’re leaving now?” Jake asked Beatrice.

“Absolutely.”

Jake carried his briefcase, Beatrice, her handbag. They both stopped before Susan who looked up at them and smiled.

“Have a great day, Susan,” Beatrice said.

“Bye, Susan,” Jake said.

Susan gave a single nod. “Bye, Jake and Beatrice.”

Beatrice and Jake walked out of the house, Dena moved to stand by the window.

“What if they start dating?” Dena asked.

Susan returned her gaze to her newspaper. “Then, I’ll be happy for both of them. You shouldn’t push it, you know. Trying to work with them. You could be discovered.”

Dena arched a brow and looked at Susan. “I may not be fast as light like you, but I sure do know how to protect myself.”

Susan glanced at her.

Hannah rushed into the living room, you could tell she had just woken from sleep. “Where’s Jake and Beatrice?” she asked briskly.

Susan and Dena looked at her.

“They just got into their cars,” Dena said. “Why?”

“One of the cars is going to blow up,” Hannah said. “I don’t know how I know, but I just know.”

Susan didn’t wait for another second to waste, she was out of the house in a flash, distancing both Beatrice and Jake from their cars in the pause of time, she moved to touch Beatrice, and Jake’s car, she returned into the house to stand by the window with Dena, time unfroze, Jake’s car exploded.

Jake and Beatrice Were surprised at the explosion, but then, they looked at their current position to see that they were on their feet, and they wondered how they had gotten here, for they had been quite close to their cars, now, they stood fifty feet away from the scene.

Naturally, Susan, Dena, and Hannah came out of the house.

Dena whispered to Susan once they were on the ground, “I’m glad you’re around.”

Susan breathed in, and then exhaled. “So am I?”

“Who do you think was responsible?” Dena, who was on her feet, asked Hannah who shook her head.

They were in Susan’s living room upstairs.

“I don’t know,” Hannah said. “Could be a spirit.”

Susan smiled with her gaze on the red carpet.

Dena looked at Susan. “And you trust the man you sent them out with?”

Susan met Dena’s gaze. “I don’t trust him with their safety. But I trust him to know what would happen to him should anything happen to theirs.”

“So you’ll prefer the police to guard them, over us.”

“Let’s say I sent you to work with Beatrice and protect her, who then protects you if there’s a problem?”

“I can very much take care of trouble, myself.”

“Well, not with the enemy I am currently about to face,” Susan said. “I know who did it. It was a human in Jake’s workplace.”

“He is so dead,” Hannah said.

“Very much so,” Susan said. “But he was under the influence of Chadwick.”

Hannah looked at Susan.

“How?” Dena asked.

“I hate Chadwick, and he hates me,” Susan said. “Now, I’ve been hunting his followers, and since he can’t follow my every move, he decided to find out where I live and bring the war right to my front door as Vivian warned. All those I care about, anyone who hates them has automatically opened the door of their lives to Chadwick to be used by him. So, that’s why this fellow is going to die, and with the police around them, they won’t try anything so soon. Which gives me enough time to calculate my every move.” She looked at Hannah and Dena. “Which is I can’t bear the thought of losing you both.”

The door downstairs opened, they all exchanged looks.

“Who is it?” Hannah asked.

“Someone who has been here before,” Susan said.

They all took to their feet.

The door of the living room opened, Vivian walked in a shiny, dark leather outfit.

“How about you bear losing two more who actually, can’t die?” Vivian asked, and stepped in.

Janice came into view and stood at the doorway with a smile. “Mother sends her regards.”

Susan grinned.

“As well as grandmother,” Vivian added. “Now, where is he, and how many do we have to kill? Never mind. My fingers are itchy since my death isolation.”

Susan gently nodded. “Glad to have you both back.”