Brownie Oxford and the Idlewild Incident: Brownie Bk 2

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re was someone driving down this lonely stretch of road outside the small town of Fairview, the dark car wasn't likely to be seen. I sighed and placed my hands on the wheel, feeling my ner

the good zombie ra

ed control of them away from Matheson. I told them I wanted to be safe. They decided I would be safe

sized

e to keep me safe while he hunted down Matheson. Hunting down Matheson was only part of Swift, my handler's, job. The other part involved a hard look at the National Clandestine Services, the shadowy branch of t

iduals who would normally be beyond their ability to question, I decided I was through. My body held a host of scars from various

" I reminded myself. I glanced to the passenger seat where Martha, my headless dressmaker's du

to hide. The snowstorm that set in as I was leaving would buy me sometime. The fact that no one knew I had access to a vehicle, let alone one rented by Matheson under a false name, would buy me a little more, or so I hoped. That first night, I drove until I needed gas and then stopped to fil

address for the rental car place, but his real license was tucked behind it. The small café where I broke my fast also had a row of public computers. I paid the fee for ten

as found in a shopping basket filled with pages torn from the Oxford English Dictionary, wrapped in a rather expensive baby blanket and was approximately six months old. The social worker who found me named me Brownie for my small size and slightly jaundiced look which made me look

door as I closed it. Buttoning my coat against the cold, I stepped into the woods. While I was far more comfortable in crowded cities and well lit streets, my time as Swift's asset took me into lots of places in the

bending instead of breaking. I was certain it would leave a bit of a trail for those who knew how to look for such things, but I was more concerned with being heard as I poked around. As this would be my

ssumed the ritual gave him my power and more or less killed me, although I was light on the d

aken kindly to my mother removing me from his range. He informed one of his lackeys that her death was too enthusiastic for him to raise her spirit and therefore he couldn't

y head. If he was around, it would mean he was in league with Matheson. "I really hope he's not around." Actually I was hoping no one was around, especially not Mathes

followed the printed out directions, skirting the house and grounds. A small, well-kept cemetery could be seen from the road. It had a large metal M over the wrought iron gates. Using my keen deductive skills I figured the M

ery. I really didn't want to spend the evening with a group of victimized spirits. W

ped out of the tree line, heading towards the wrought iron gate. The

he cemetery's earth. It wasn't enough to raise the dead, just enough to get their attention. I felt th

ough and wanted to stop by and see if any of you would be willing t

shed a little more power into them and watched them solidify into more people-like shapes. As usual, I could see details; the flower in the lapel of a top hat wearing gentlemen, the bustle and wasp thin waist of a corseted lady, the jowls of a mustac

guess was that he was chosen as their ambassador. Each cemetery seemed to have one. The spirit moving to the front was a man who, at a guess died, in his sixties. My best guess based on his clothing and facial hair was that death had taken him sometime in the mid eighteen hundreds. While hi

ing, " the man began. "And it is appreciated. However, if you behave as ba

en I checked his driver's license I was more concerned with his address than name, b

son would come here?" He sounded

d. "Um, I guess I should tel

the man said. "Although I

O

ould have explained everything. Considering what I

eone in the crowd, a woman I could also see lined in silv

rest of us are you?" She asked, hand clasped to h

"He won't be

th silver and non-silver alike. I tried not to fidget as he s

what happened. Although I tried to keep my voice even and level, the tone business-like. I knew they felt my emotions. I felt my hands shake as I told them how Matheson used Dave as a sacrifice, slicing him open with his knife with less thought than a fishermen gutting the catch of the day. I

" the man told me. I thought of the look on Matheson's face when he ordered the dead to kill me and nodded. The man looked sad. "Once we thought he would be one of our brightest stars. He was so gifted, s

raised and questioned. While I had a hard time getting anything but new nightmares out of those who died as a result of torture, no de

x of humor and pride. "Our power gives us some degree of freedom, even in death, and the ability to protect those born to our blo

il to teach him, " the man corrected. "He merely failed to learn anything he didn't have a mind to. Nasty

. "Then we wouldn't know what he was learning without spying on him in the

he man countered. "That's why he came to us in the first plac

rst man said. He turned his attentio

heson I never met anyone like me before. As uncomfortable as the changing rules made me, it was slightly comforting to know that if my cremation and ash scattering weren'

the woman, Catherine exclaimed. "They shoul

"Matheson, I mean Cecil, was the first perso

the man in front said nodding. "N

rine said with disapproval. "She's too

e dear, " he said turning back to me. "How did you know you

I confessed.

n't explain exactly why I came to Matheson's house to myself with any conviction, I didn't correct him. "We will need to begin your traini

frowning at him.

ed training, " Ca

in the NCS, but I knew he was also looking for Matheson. My note stating Dave and Matheson were both dead would

ion, " William said, quieting the

the moment, keeping all names I had to myself sounded like a good plan. Since I was certain Swift wasn't Swift's real name I let them

them how Dr. Harding concocted a pill to settle my stomach and fix my jaundice, but that, according to Matheson, the pill stunted my abilities. I explained how

e a love and apprise Avery of the situation. She'll need a room for at least a day or two while plans are made." Catherine nodded and I starte

s worked for ours for generations. In fact he is the one who got you out of the house. Your parents didn't want to participate in case they we

Cecil just questio

f power? You really didn't know him that well, did you? I doubt the thought ever e

smiled at me. "He said you should drive in the main entrance and he wil

a long talk in the good light of day tomorrow." I nodded and stood, feeling the cold all the way down to my bones. I wasn't certain what

idents disappeared, their spirts resting. Those that glowed silver faded slightly, but were still there, suppo