Chapter 37

I resisted laying on my horn as a speeding hearse almost knocked off my side view mirror. Asshole funeral directors.

We left my car on Earth because of that damned official portal and the fact it was probably being watched. My illegal portal wasn’t big enough for a Honda, no matter how compact, but as long as I could get to my car when I needed it without marching all over LA, I was a happy camper. And that was easy enough. I parked it by the phone booth, we climbed through dimensions, and hopped back into our waiting elfin jalopy.

I was crawling out of my skin. I hadn’t filled Killian in on my senseless feeling of dread, almost superstitiously believing that if I didn’t say it out loud, it wouldn’t come true.

I wished to god that it had just been my overactive imagination.

Unfortunately, I was my mother’s daughter and her gift was one of sight and premonition.

We arrived at my mom’s house and the front door was ajar.

I had my gun in my hand before I even had the car parked.

“Something wrong?”

I nodded at the door. A shadow fell upon Killian’s face. He was shoulder to shoulder with me from the moment my feet hit the walkway. His staff was out and at the ready. We swept up the side of the house and flanked the front door. I pushed it open with a toe. There wasn’t a sound.

Cautiously we entered. All the lights were off and there was no one home. Everything seemed in perfect order. And then I saw the note, a parchment envelope leaning on the fireplace mantel with my name on it. I picked it up and broke the red wax seal.

You are cordially invited to a welcome home party hosted by my dear friend, Master Vaclav. Time and location to be announced. He will be taking good care of your mother until then. An excellent housewarming gift would be a diamond lion statue.

With great affection,

Your Uncle Ulrich.

P.S. I’m back.