Chapter 43: Alice the Angel

Salem Bloor

I stared at the girl who lay underneath me as I caught my breath and my head stopped spinning. She carefully unwrapped her arms from around my neck and gently caressed my face. She had changed so much since the day I met her, but I found that I loved her all the same. "We should really get back downstairs." She murmured, staring up at me with her beautiful green-gold eyes.

"Yes, right." I awkwardly cleared my throat and sat up, giving her enough room to move. She quickly pulled on her discarded clothes and combed her fingers through her mussed up hair. "I like your new look." I noted. "It's very femme fatale."

"That's what I was going for." She tossed my jeans at me and smirked. "It's hard to be an efficient fighter if someone can just grab you by your hair."

"If someone would have told me a year ago that Infinity Bone would become a kick-ass fighter," I paused for a second. "I would totally believe it because you do some serious damage when you're angry, even without using your endowment."

"What can I say? Beating up boys is one of my favorite past times."

We shared a laugh and I pulled on my clothes so we could join everyone else back down at the table. Olivia had since left and Paton had gone up to bed, but Charlie, Maisie and Zelda all seemed to be enjoying each other's company.

I never expected Infinity and Zelda's friendship to become so strong, but it did. The two of them seemed to fit right back together, as if they never skipped a beat. Infinity brought out a side of Zelda that I had never seen in the six years I had known her.

Zelda came to the academy as a first year. She was only ten years old, but she was a mathematical prodigy who could move things with her mind. She spent most of her time alone, at least for her first two years. She was egotistical and rather stand-offish, and I think Manfred liked that. He started talking to her with no romantic interest; however, Zelda immediately caught a crush on the older boy that spoke with her in an environment where most people avoided or ignored her. A few more years passed where they got closer as friends, but Manfred being the ever-brooding and complicated individual that he was, he struggled to find himself, at least until that thing with Asa happened and he was metaphorically slapped in the face with a giant sign that read "You're straight!". It was then that he finally turned his attention to Zelda, as if to atone for his previous sins.

I believed that he was good to Zelda at first, but the older he got, the meaner he got, and towards the end, I knew it was getting rough for Zelda to want to stay with him. What happened to Infinity was the straw that broke the camel's back. Zelda stayed by Infinity's side every weekend. It pained me to admit it, but Zelda went and saw her more than I did. I made a point to go and see her for a few hours once every weekend, and at least three times a week after school ended, but Zelda was there every free day she had.

Infinity had gone through her whole life without having a single real friend, and it seemed that Zelda had gone through the same. They needed each other. "I think it's probably about time that you and I walk home." Zelda nudged Infinity after a few more minutes of talking. "Who knows what kind of weirdos are out right now."

"Do you want me to walk you?" I asked.

"That's a stupid idea." Zelda raised her eyebrow at me. "If your family knew you were back, it would be trouble. It's one thing having a few people knowing you're back, but you really shouldn't be seen walking the streets. We'll be safe."

She had a point. I watched as Infinity gave Maisie and Charlie a quick hug, before turning her attentions to me. She gave me a quick kiss on the forehead before she and Zelda were gone.

When I woke up the next morning, my head felt foggy and my mouth was dry. It took me longer than usual to gain my footing and maneuver to the bathroom. Paton and I had been awake for several days and my body had finally crashed. I ran myself a cold shower with hopes to clear my hazy head and wake up a little bit more. It helped a little bit, but I still had a headache from sleeping too long and my body was sore.

When I went downstairs, I was not greeted by the usual smell of Maisie's breakfast, but of some kind of roast. It was then that I finally caught a glimpse of the clock. It was just a bit after noon. "It's about time you woke up, you lazy lump." Maisie teased. "Paton, Charlie and Emma Tolly have all gone to talk to a lawyer of some sort. And Infinity called for you about a half hour ago to see if you were still here. I imagine that she and her friend are on their way here to wake you up."

"I can hardly believe you let me sleep that long." I sat down at the kitchen table and watched as Maisie poured me a cup of coffee, remembering by heart the way I liked it.

"You seemed like you needed it, dear. I hope you and Paton start taking care of yourselves a little bit better while you're out there." She sat the warm cup down in front of me just as the front door opened. I could hear someone rustling around with their coat before Infinity finally made her way into the kitchen, alone. Her nose was a very bright red from the cold and her hands were wrapped in fresh bandages. "Good morning, love." Maisie gave her a quick kiss on the cheek as she sat down at the table next to me. "Where's your friend?"

"There were some shady looking people looking around the shop earlier, so Zelda stayed behind in case something happened and I jumped the garden wall so no one would see me." She explained. "Where's Charlie and Uncle P?"

"Emma Tolly came by this morning and the three of them went to go speak with a lawyer." Maisie explained as she prepared a cup of tea for Infinity. She didn't like coffee very much. She sat the cup down in front of her. "So are the two of you on better terms now?"

"She can't stay mad at me." I winked and Infinity rolled her eyes at me. "Hey, even your grandmother agreed that it would be best that you didn't know what I was up to. You can't stay mad if your whole family agrees with me."

"Of course I can." She teased.

The three of us sat and talked about arbitrary things until I heard the front door open again. Charlie and Paton had returned, and they were both wearing grim expressions. They didn't even stop to talk with us, they just headed straight up to Paton's room as Paton made a phone call on his cell. "What the heck is that all about?" Maisie asked.

"I'm sure they'll be down to tell us shorty." Infinity shrugged and slowly sipped at her tea. I didn't wish to intrude in Paton's thoughts, so I calmly waited along with everyone else to find out what was going on. Paton came back down the steps first and took his place as the table where he was served his coffee. He didn't seem like he was in the mood to speak, he looked incredibly spooked. Charlie joined us shorty after and just as he went to explain the situation, Grizelda came barging through the door.

"Shit." I murmured, quickly ducking into the pantry like Maisie and I had practiced. A few times I had been caught by Grizelda and I was able to erase her memory easily enough, but it was always easier for me to just hide.

"What is this I hear about you being involved in a murder?" Through a crack in the door, I saw her point a finger accusingly at Charlie.

"How do you know? It only just happened." Charlie glared back at her.

"I want to know what you were doing on Tigerfield Street." She demanded. Fucking hell, a murder? No wonder Paton looked so distressed.

"It's amazing how quickly word gets around in your nefarious underground, Grizelda." Paton looked at her with utter contempt and disgust. "There is a network of spies in this city that I find truly repellant."

"What are you talking about? Where's lunch? I'm hungry." She glared over at Infinity. "It looks like you ate it all, didn't you? You're practically bursting out of that sweater. Is that all you come back here for? To stuff your face? Disgusting girl. You'll never find a husband if you continue to eat like a pig."

"Oh well." Infinity just shrugged at her and looked over at a very angry Maisie. Infinity had gained a little bit more weight since I had seen her last, but I still thought she looked fantastic and healthy. If anything, she only seemed a bit bigger because she had gained some muscle. I hoped that Grizelda's insults wouldn't get to her.

"The only disgusting one here is you, Grizelda." Paton interrupted. "We are all aware of your scandalous conspiracy to defraud Billy Raven of his rightful inheritance." He stared deeply into Grizelda's eyes and I believed that he was finding delight in the horror that spread over her face. "Even if it means drowning your own son. I used to ask myself why you were such an awful human being, but now, I believe I know."

"You have no idea what you're up against this time, Paton Yewbeam." She snarled.

"A gaggle of ugly old women past their prime?" Infinity raised an eyebrow.

Grizelda left the room in a fit of anger and I stepped out of the pantry. "Have you really found out why Grandma Bone is the way she is?" Charlie asked.

Paton didn't speak for a long time. We sat around the table and I watched Infinity pinch part of her stomach, as if to see if she had really gotten that big. It appeared that she didn't care for long, though. For she kept eyeing the timer on the oven that would tell when Maisie's delicious roast was ready.

"It has to do with love, Charlie." Uncle Paton said finally. I had been with him when he had discovered this information about Grizelda, and it did seem to explain a lot. Though none of it was Lyell's fault at all. "Grandma Bone's husband, Monty, fell out of love with her."

Infinity snorted. "What man could have loved a woman like that to begin with?"

"A bewitched man, dear girl. I have my suspicions that Venetia bewitched him. Poor Monty didn't stand a chance. Grizelda had always wanted to marry a pilot, and she got one. But not for long." Paton launched into the story of a woman that we had met on our travels to Neverfinding. She was a woman named Homily Brown who had been very friendly. I hadn't had a single use for my endowment while there. A week before Monty Bone had crashed his plane, he had returned home to see Homily and write out his will. He had left everything to his only son, Lyell. He had also written a letter that was to be given to Lyell on his eighteenth birthday. Monty had begged that Lyell put an end to the Yewbeams before they could destroy him. Grizelda knew about that letter, and for that reason, she never wanted Lyell to return home.

"As interesting as that story was," I yawned, gazing at the snowflakes that fell outside the window. "I want to know about the murder."

"Ah, yes!" Maisie had, surprisingly, forgotten the mention of murder. "You need to explain yourselves immediately."

It was Charlie's turn to speak. "We went to speak with a lawyer, a man named Barnaby Bittermouse. He lived on Tigerfield Street and he knew dad. We wanted to speak with him to see if he knew anything about the box, but when we got there, he didn't answer the door. We knocked again, which caused the door to open. Naturally, we went inside to investigate and see if Mr. Bittermouse was okay, but when Emma opened the door to his office, he was dead on the floor. He had a wound on his stomach and there were several long scratches along the office floor."

"Like claws?" Infinity asked.

"No, like an enchanted sword. It was that Kipaldi guy, I'm sure of it." Charlie fidgeted in his seat. "I don't think you can beat him, Infinity. His sword acts on its own. If you see him about, please don't approach him."

"I have to agree." I put my hand over hers. "Everything we have read about that man isn't good. You would be better off staying away."

"Fine." She reluctantly agreed.

"When are the two of you setting off again?" Maisie asked us as the timer on the oven began to ding. She carefully took out the roast, potatoes, and gravy, allowing the heavenly smell to waft through the kitchen undeterred. She sat her roast down in front of Paton to carve.

"Monday." Paton glanced up at me and I nodded in agreement. Paton was confident in a lead that would take us to Ireland. I glanced over at Infinity and noticed that her mood had dampened considerably. As everyone else began to scoop food onto their plates, she quietly waited.

"It isn't going to be like this forever, Fin." I reassured her. If she heard me, she didn't show it. I felt guilty leaving her again, but at least this time she knew that I was going to come back.

As the sky grew darker, the snow began to fall harder. If I didn't know better, I would have thought it was still December. Grandma Bone had gone to bed early, most likely to avoid Infinity, Maisie was up in her bedroom tending to Charlie's academy laundry, Paton was locked in his bedroom, probably trying to catch up on some more sleep, and Charlie and Infinity were sitting at the kitchen table, where she was trying to help him with his studies.

Through the archway in the living room, I watched the two of them work together. A blonde head bent closely towards a brunette, hedgy head. They shared a package of cookies as Infinity pointed something out in his textbook. They had come a long way from where they had started. They had been strangers when she began attending the academy, and even after finding out they were siblings, it seemed to separate them more. Now, they were trying to build each other up.

I felt a pang of jealousy watching them. Manfred and I had started out with a decently close relationship. We played together and had gotten along for the most part, but he seemed to drift further and further away the older he got. He still treated me with respect that he didn't treat anyone else with, but he was no longer the brother I knew. I wondered what our relationship would have been like if Ezekiel would have been killed the day Lyell shoved him to the ground. Would his relationship with our mother still be strained? Would he have shut her fingers in the door and laughed at her pain? Would my mother have still faced an uncertain fate in the hands of the Time Twister?

My thoughts and the Bone siblings' study session came to an abrupt halt when someone rang the doorbell at Number 9. As far as I knew, no one here was expecting company. Infinity peeked out the kitchen window, but I heard her say that she couldn't see anyone. Charlie mentioned that he hadn't noticed anyone walking by to get there.

The doorbell rang a second time. The adults of the house didn't seem to hear it, and if they did, they weren't concerned. When I looked out the living room window I saw three inches of untouched snow. Not a single car was uncovered and not a single footprint could be seen on the deserted street.

The doorbell rang a third time and Charlie gingerly approached the door, slowly pulling it open while Infinity and I stood in the archways of the rooms we had inhabited. A cloud of snowflakes drifted into the hallway and whoever was at the door had surprised Charlie. He let out a gasp and his hand flew to his mouth.

"Hello, Charlie! May I come in?" A friendly feminine voice inquired from the doorstep. Charlie wordlessly stepped aside and a woman stepped into the hallway. Much like Charlie, I heard Infinity let out an audible gasp. The woman was certainly beautiful. She had a crown of white-blonde hair and beautiful pale skin. She wore a white, down coat with a pale yellow scarf draped around her shoulders. In contrast to all the white she wore, her green eyes stood out. When she walked into the hallway, she was followed by the smell of flowers and a very light perfume. She was definitely a witch, a white witch.

Like evil magic brought upon decay and ugliness, white magic brought beauty and youth. In the year that had passed since Infinity embraced her endowment, her skin had become paler and her hair that had started off as a darker blonde, had lightened significantly. "Charlie?" I glanced over at Charlie who still seemed to be shocked that this woman was here.

"This… This is Alice Angel." Charlie said finally. "She is Olivia's godmother. Alice, this is my sister Infinity and Salem Bloor."

"Charlie wanted me to meet with you once before," Alice's voice was as beautiful and bright as she was. She gently took Infinity's face in her graceful hands to study it. "He said you were having trouble embracing your endowment but I can tell just by looking at you that you are doing lovely things."

"Where have you been?" Charlie interrupted their conversation with his heightened curiosity.

"I have been at my other store. It is a long, long way from here." A worried expression spread across Alice's once serene place. "I shouldn't have left though. I'm very worried about Olivia."

"With a good reason." Charlie said solemnly. "She betrayed herself and the Bloors more than likely know about her endowment."

Charlie quickly explained the events of Olivia, Infinity and Zelda's trip to Darkly Wynd, where Olivia had casted an illusion of a skeleton to allow her friends to safely escape. Alice listened intently, with a bit of pride on her face at Olivia's creativity and wild imagination.

It wasn't long before Paton and Maisie joined the conversation, curious at the visitor. Paton seemed to have known her from before, but Maisie wore a suspicious and reserved expression for quite a while before finally warming up to Alice. We all sat in the kitchen as Alice explained her trip back to the city. She had stopped to see Oliva herself at first, but Olivia refused to speak to her or come to the door, leaving Alice with nowhere else to stay until her former property was able to get heat and electric again.

"You can stay here." Maisie smiled kindly. "You can have Infinity's room. She has been staying with a woman named Katya Kettle recently." Her eyes rested on Infinity. "Though you won't be going back to the Kettle Shop tonight, not in this snow storm. You and Charlie will have to share a room." Then her eyes stopped on me. "And you'll be on the couch."

"Fine by me." I shrugged.

It was better than sleeping in the camper van.