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Mary’s gaze landed on Elena as though just realizing she was there.
“This is my sister, Elena Alvares,” Axel introduced.
“Hi.” She gave a shy smile.
“Nice to meet you.” Mary softened immediately, her eyes landing on Axel again. “I’m glad Daisy has brought you here, but I’m sorry it’s under such trying circumstances. You’re welcome any time, Elena. For as long as you need.” Mary noticed Elena sliding glances to the young man with the baby and pointed. “That’s Alek. He’s Misha’s brother and Amari’s uncle. You look about the same age. If you know anything about soothing babies, you’re more than welcome to give him a hand. Be mindful he’s deaf.”
Elena’s cheeks flushed. She looked at Axel and hesitated.
“Go say hi,” he said, inwardly hopeful her curiosity would turn into something more to keep her interested in life. Maybe she would meet a friend. A friend meant she was thinking of a future. To Mary, he said, “She used to babysit for the neighbors.”
The relief on Mary’s face was obvious. Axel felt better knowing Elena was welcome, even though he still couldn’t grasp why. Was knowing their Deadly secrets enough to put them in the circle of most trusted? Or maybe they were taking their lead from him. He was trusting them. They were trusting him. Whatever the case, Elena would be looked after, no matter what happened to him out there. He gave his sister’s shoulder a squeeze and she dropped her backpack by the kitchen counter before heading into the living room to introduce herself to Alek. Within seconds she’d taken the baby from him. He should probably let Mary know about Elena’s condition.
“She has medication in her bag—”
“Mary?”
The panic in Flint’s voice brought Axel’s attention back to them. Alarmingly, Mary’s irises had turned milky white—all the color gone. She stared as though looking into the distance. Her muscles stiffened, the tendons in her neck stood out, and she jerked uncontrollably. The long dark braid flapped against her back. The knife slipped from her fingers and landed with a metallic clank on the floor. Daisy and Flint rushed to catch her.
Daisy dropped her bat and sank to the floor with Mary. She held Mary’s head in her lap while Flint took his wife’s hand.
“What’s happening?” Daisy asked, a tremble in her voice.
“She’s having a vision,” Flint explained, brows pinched.
“But I thought those stopped years ago.”
“They did.”
The confused look they shared did little to assuage Axel’s nerves. A vision? As in a psychic vision? Axel’s parents were superstitious. They used to say all their troubles emerged because they crossed the path of a bruxa, a witch, and had displeased her. Axel had always been a believer in the mystical, even before these heroes with superpowers emerged. But seeing it in person was something to get used to, just like seeing that ball freeze in front of Daisy’s face.
“Do you need me to do anything?” he asked.
“She’ll be fine,” Flint said. “It’s just like an epileptic fit, she needs to ride it out. She needs to experience the vision.”
“How can you be so calm when your wife is like this on the floor?” Daisy gaped.
Flint looked her squarely in the eyes and said, “A minute ago, I wasn’t. But now I’m trying. What does your gut tell you about that?”
Daisy studied Flint long and hard before saying, “You have hope.”
“That’s right,” he said with a fond smile as he stroked his wife’s hair. “When you love someone, you keep the faith.”
Everyone in the room stopped what they were doing and crowded around. The younger woman who’d been playing cards asked, “Do you want me to call the ambulance?”
There was no need. Mary became lucid with a gasp. She clutched Flint’s hand, then twisted to see Daisy and clutched her hand still crusty with dried blood. Tears formed in Mary’s eyes.
“What did you see?” Daisy asked. “What is it?”
When Mary tried to voice her thoughts, but couldn’t get the words out, the hairs on the back of Axel’s neck stood on end. Something was very wrong. Nothing physiological. Mary seemed fine. It was the vision. He felt it in his bones.
“Give the lady room,” Axel said and shooed everyone back to their places. Victims hated being gawped at. “I’ll get you water.”
Mary’s knuckles were white as she clutched both Daisy’s and Flint’s hands, their heads bent together as they whispered. He gave them privacy and went to find a glass in the kitchen. He tried not to look back at their hushed conversation. As he filled the glass from the faucet, he lifted his gaze and locked eyes with his sister. Standing in the great room across the expanse and near the tv, she patted the baby’s bottom as it slept soundly in her arms. Alek had gone to his family and hand-signed in quiet conversation with them. It took some effort, but Axel schooled his expression into something calm and easy. He shot Elena a comforting smile so she wouldn’t worry, and then went back to the group.
“Here.” He handed Mary the glass.
She accepted it gratefully but only took a sip.
