Family Baggage
Afew mornings later, Zani was sorting out, cleaning, repairing, and reorganizing her travel satchel when she received a call from Minerva Lathrop. Her beloved travel gear was spread out across one of the work tables. Everything still seemed in perfect working condition, save for the Pair Tags.
Minerva wanted to let her know that her Aunt Minodaura would come by the Archives shortly to run comprehensive tests on all the wards. Now that Amrita had explained her real reasons for hiring Zani to work in the Archives, it no longer felt like a prison sentence or a task to be completed as quickly as possible. She could take her time. Ironically, she found she was now looking forward to the work. Hastily, she shoved all her stuff back into the satchel and tidied the space up. The last thing she needed right now was a lecture on proper housekeeping.
The director’s words were still weighing on Zani. After she hung up from Minerva’s call, she cleared her schedule for the remainder of the day. When else would she get the chance to ask her aunt about her connection to the bloodstone? Sooner rather than later, she hoped.
It was only two days until the eclipse. Will still wasn’t returning her calls, and Zani just had a capital Ffeelingthat there was something she urgently needed to do. Perhaps this was it?
“I thought Minerva let you know I was going to be working in here. Why are you here?” Minodaura asked Zani as she shuffled down the stairs to the basement archives. She turned to look back at Minerva, clearly bothered by the sight of Zani. “I thought you phoned ahead.”
“I did,” Minerva squeaked defensively. “But honestly, Minodaura, I’m not your secretary. If you’ve got something to say to your niece, best you say it to her yourself.” She rolled her eyes. “You know what, ladies, I don’t think either of you need my help. I’m going to head up to the cafe and see if I can scare up a cup of tea. I’ll leave you two to it.”
“Hmph!” Minodaura did her best not to look flustered. But Zani knew she was displeased. Her cheeks burned scarlet, and her breathing got louder.
“The wards are all doing fine, Auntie.” Zani said. “I check them every night and every morning. And the house itself is quite cooperative as well. Watch this…”
She ran her hand along the side of the glass aquarium that was filled with glass bottles of varied sizes, shapes, and vintages. This was where they kept the most dangerous djinn bottled up and under water. Colorful fish swam between them, unaware of what the glass bottles contained. As her hand passed the exterior of the tank, it lit up with a shimmering array of protective sigils and symbols. They twinkled there for a moment and then began to fade away once Zani pulled her hand back.
“The Mudpuddle is an unusually sensitive and protectivevessel,” Minodaura acknowledged, referring to the semi-sentient house as if it were merely a container. “But it’s failed before, and I don’t want to take any chances that it will happen again.”
“Are you referring to the mage that broke in and tried to steal from the archives last fall?” Zani asked. “You know that Lucretia Lathroplethim in, don’t you? The wards gave her access.” All the Lathrops enjoyed special privileges when it came to the Archives. It was, after all, located in the basement of their ancestral home.
“No.” Minodaura frowned and wrung her hands. “That incident was quite unfortunate, of course. But I think Lucretia learned her lesson. The incident I’m referring to happened a long time ago. Before you were born.” Minodaura slowly lowered herself to sit on the step, hanging onto the bannister for support. It was as if she were too weary to stand any longer. “Something very rare and precious was stolen from the archives.” She glanced at Zani, but only for an instant as the confession pained her. “It was my fault. My wards failed. It disappeared from here on my watch.” She lowered her gaze and stared down at her striped socks and sensible shoes.
Zani didn’t think she’d ever seen her regal aunt look so humble or so dejected.
“It was Larkspur!” she blurted out. “Larkspur Lathrop is the one who took the bloodstone amulet. It wasn’t your fault!”
Minodaura’s head snapped up. “What are you talking about? What do you know about that cursed stone’s disappearance?” She studied Zani warily.
“Quite a bit, actually.” Zani stood and crossed to the stairs. She climbed halfway up and sat down next to her elderly aunt. Once she was settled, she took her aunt’s hand. “Amrita Berman suggested I speak to you about it.”
“I know.” Minodaura sighed. “She’s suggested the same to me as well. Many times. Apparently, she thinks I’ve been too hard on you. But you have to understand, Zani, I have always wished for one thing, and one thing only. I only wish to keep you safe. I can’t lose another family member to that stone.”
Once Minodaura began to cry, it was as if the floodgates had opened. Thick, heavy tears rolled down her cheeks and dotted her lap. They fell in such profusion it threatened to soak her skirt. And they had an infectious quality as well. Soon Zani was crying, too. If they continued like this, Zani worried they might flood the archives with a deluge of witch water.
“Wait a moment.” Zani dashed down the stairs and felt around in her bag for the floral handkerchief with delicate lace crocheted around the edges. Although it had originally been a gag gift, it had surprised her with how handy it was. “I have something for just this sort of occasion.”
Zani dried her eyes, and the handkerchief spoke in a calming tone. “There, there darling,”it soothed. “Everything will be all right in the end.”
She passed the Cliche Kerchief to her aunt. With a loud honk, Minodaura blew her nose. The handkerchief spoke again. “Hang in there, honey,”it said. “The sun will come out tomorrow.”
Minodaura looked at the handkerchief with a look of horror. For a moment, Zani thought she was going to toss it over the bannister. And then her aunt began to giggle.
“What kind of cockamamie handkerchief is this?” she gasped, holding onto her sides. She dabbed at her eyes, which were full of a different kind of tears.
“When one door closes, another one opens!”The handkerchief chirped happily. Minodaura snorted.
“It’s a Cliché Kerchief,” Zani explained. “Very silly, but also, oddly effective.” She shrugged, dabbing at the corners of her eyes with her shirtsleeve.
Just then, Minerva poked her head in the door. “Minodaura, there’s a gentleman here to see you.”
“That will be Burnside Porter.” Minodaura used the handrail to help foist herself to her feet. “I actually asked him to stop by to help me tell the story I need to tell toyou.”
“You know Burnside Porter?” Zani was shocked. She studied her aunt, trying to imagine where their paths might have crossed. She could not even picture her conservative old aunt fraternizing with the free-spirited old porter.
“Yes,” Minodaura nodded. “Burnie and I go way, way back.
