Another phone rang, this time it was Ray’s father who struggled to answer his phone. He sighed in relief and said the name, Enrique. I narrowed at the name—it sounded familiar.

“Another unit is on its way here….I see. Could you… good, thank God. What? You want me to hand the phone over to the man Ray was with? Enrique, what is the meaning of this? Fine, but you’ll explain this to me and Jo later.”

Ray’s father handed the phone, albeit reluctant, “here.”

I pressed the phone to my ear, “Hello, Mr. Boccaccio or should I call you Giussepe?”

A question laid on my lips—the thought of the connection between Ray, his father, and this man helped me grasp onto the little time we had for questions.

“Gio is fine.”

“Alright, Gio. Listen, we both know there is not enough time, so I’ll cut to the chase. You need to take Ray back to the Other-whatever it is you live in and keep him safe. My boys and I will make sure his parents get to Venice to your father,” his voice sounded calm over the line, but I know a thing or about keeping calm.

“You know my father and you know about…us.”

It was a mere fact. I crossed off a list of allies on my side, few of them were human or had been human once upon a time. Most were descendants of Otherworlders or married into the family of one, he must have been the latter of the few. I raised an inquisitive brow both at Ray’s father and uncle. These two had been holding out on Ray—a bit much for my taste. It’s better to let the truth surface, grip you fast, and slowly tear it off with a grain of kindness. Then again, so have I withheld many secrets, some better left in the mildew of my past.

“I’ve been around long enough to witness one or two strange things—that—and I married into it, but you probably already guessed as much. Look, I’m partial to Ray and his parents. I’ve known the kid since his diaper days. My kids grew up with him for heaven’s sake. I’d much rather have them stay with me and my guys, but I know your people are more resourceful with your Yuyu-huyu wacha-witchy stuff you got going on. So… keep them safe, and I’ll keep the media off your backs as much as I can. The human unit here doesn’t really like your folk, but my Cherry… was good, so I’ll trust you for now. If I get a word you got them all in danger, I will shoot you dead myself if Pepe doesn’t shoot you first.”

I nodded even though he couldn’t see me and before I got to say anything back, the man hung up.

Well, didn't we groove to his own tune?

I handed the phone back to Pepe—assuming he was who Officer Enrique meant on the other line—who shouted about him always having the last damn word, his words not mine, I couldn’t agree more.

“What did he say?” Pepe asked, looking under the curtain.

I imagined he wanted to see if anyone had snuck over the house. He rolled his shoulders between every car passing by.

“Ray is coming with us.”

I didn’t sweeten anything from him. A father was a father in right, he needed to know what would happen to his son, better yet if he were to be in the hands of a stranger… a stranger for now. He wanted to scowl at me, but held himself back, and didn’t push his brother back when he sighed and squeezed his shoulder.

“Fine, but he goes with his uncle.”

The decision was sound and final, with no room for argument. My brother was about to protest, most likely saying we would protect him better than a caretaker who was unresourceful, but none of it wouldn’t skim off the truth about Mr. Rotchird. If anyone could protect him as equally as I could, it’s his uncle. I hummed in agreement.

“Anything else?” Pepe asked.

“Yes… you and Jo will come to Venice.”

“I wouldn’t leave my son or Jo, but I’m guessing we can’t go now.”

This helped without me having to explain why.

“We can’t take all of you, there isn’t enough power. You’ll be sent via plane and my father will welcome you. I promise you, no harm will come to you both,” he narrowed and I stared into his eyes, hands out of my pockets, straightening my shoulders back, “and Ray.”

I promised and will keep it forever close to my heart, no matter what. He sighed in relief and groaned. I raised a brow, I thought he was alright with this.

“It’s fine. It’s Jo, she won’t like this. Hell, I’m not ok with this.”

“That’s understandable. My mother… wouldn’t like it if either of us were in this situation and had to leave the only life they knew behind with a bunch of strangers,” I said, swallowing the taste of bitterness.

I hated doing this to Ray; hated taking him away from his home; I didn’t want him to wake up in a place he didn’t know; scatter into a quivering mess around people he doesn’t recall from his past. Today has been enough. He didn’t need more surprises. Although my back was facing Julio—the air around him became as stagnant as all of us—he was worried too. The sound of Sid mumbling in his sleep gave us all a moment to reflect and add on what we needed to do.

“He has to leave, doesn’t he? My baby….”

We all jerked at the sound of Jo’s voice cutting down the agonizing silence.

“Mamita….” Pepe hesitated to answer her.

She knew, her face said it all. The fiddling of her fingers and her wavering tears waiting to fall to swallow the floor beneath her feet. Pepe shuffled to his feet to his Jo, she very nearly pushed him and hugged him. Her head on his chest covered her small whimpers and stifling breath. She had appeared smaller than earlier. The wolf had lost her cub and didn’t want to let go.

“How is he?” Mr. Rotchird asked, cutting the dreariness short.

“He’s… awake,” she whispered so low I almost couldn’t hear her, “He won’t talk to me, but before I left he… asked me why I didn’t remember Mrs. Hatchet? I… I tried telling him there was no neighbor by the name of Hatchet,” she darted her eyes at me, “I know my son doesn’t lie. He’s not a very good liar. He would fiddle his thumbs like Pepe when he was nervous and he didn’t. Who… is she real?”

She opened her hand holding the locket on the palm and clicked it open—a photo of a family musty with age lived on with the power of time.

“Well, I’ll be. Ray doesn’t cease to amaze me. He truly is special.”

Mr. Rotchird leaned amazed at Ray’s small miracle because this was what Ray did, he made miracles, small but meaningful.

“She was our neighbor.”

We turned to Ray at the sound of his groggy and tired voice. He had changed his clothes. His skin rosy, fresh, and dainty. I inhaled his soft scent of mint and peaches. His damp hair pitter-pattered the floor. Everyone waved their eyes at me. His mother chuckled slightly, Mr. Rotchird offered a bemused smile, both my brothers either rolled their eyes at me or failed their attempts at hiding a smirk, and his father blinked and tilted his head, looking more confused by the hour. Ray’s uncle scratched his throat and flicked his card out from his pocket. No one had turned to continue the topic of Mrs. Hatchet.

“Something tells me we need to leave now. As for Mrs. Hatchet, it’s best to leave it aside for now. Ah, I know you’re upset Ray, but right now we need to get you out of dodge.”

Mr. Rotchird snapped his fingers and held a blunt sort of native cane. I didn’t know what to make of it. He acquired intricate artifacts and oddities during his pastime. Father nodded, pleased with lots of them, and admired him for it. He stretched his hand and tapped the coffee table—it wobbled and wailed, stretching its wooden shape into a door with an owl holding a dial.

“Right. This portal won’t hold for long and it can only take six people. Ray’s parents will have to stay for now. Your friend already has this covered.”

Sid tugged on Mr. Rotchird’s suit. He eyed my little brother’s hand and patted his head. I’d forgotten how awkward he’s around children.

“What about the guards? They serve… are protecting Ray-Ray and big brother,” Sid mumbled between his teeth, rolling the balls of his feet, and puffing his cheeks.

“They’ll have to come with Ray’s parents. What better way to protect them around humans who probably don’t know what they’re doing, than guards from the Otherworld. Don’t you think so, little one?”

The man continued patting Sid’s head mechanically through their conversation. Sid nudged his head to his palm, enjoying the attention. Maybe, he found my little brother amusing. Ray’s mother twitched her fingers and pulled back, she was at her limit. Everyone falls for this little tike, even the hard-to-crack ones. I moved fast to the window.

“We need to go. Vans arrived and I’m guessing they aren’t salesmen,” I said, gritting my teeth.

Everyone nodded or ok’d. Ray, however, pondered over the table and staggered to his mother. He hugged them tightly, not wanting to let go.

“We’ll be fine. Go. Go,” his Mom said and kissed his cheeks.

“You’re going to be fine, be brave,” his father said and held the back of his neck.

He nodded, wavering his eyes at my hand, I took a chance and offered it to him.

“Ready?” I asked knowing he probably wasn’t.

“No, but I’ll try,” Ray said, taking my hand in his.

We didn’t look back and one by one we dipped into the portal until it closed on our backs—facing the other side—Otherworld.