Aunt Ellis

A Supernatural Tale

“Wow, a letter, a proper old letter.” Ben walked back from the letterbox and into the house. His wife, Krista, sat at the kitchen table, computer open in front of her.

“Who sends letters these days? All we get in the box is advertising. Who’s it from?”

“No idea.” Ben held up the envelope and spoke to it. “Ever hear about email, text messaging, voicemail?”

He ripped open the envelope, extracted the folded sheet of paper, opened it, and began to read.

“Bloody hell, it’s from my aunt Ellis. I haven’t seen her in over a quarter of a century. What does she want?” He returned to his reading, then stopped again.

“Oh gawd, she wants to come and visit!” He dropped the paper to his side in exasperation, then waved it in the air.

“I thought she was probably dead. The only thing I want to know about her is that she’s left me some money, not materializing at my front door. Crap!”

“That’s a terrible thing to say, Ben. What’s wrong with her? Anyway, we can’t put her up, that’s out of the question.”

“Put her down would be a better idea.”

“Don’t be horrible.”

“All my family are mad, you know that. Most of us. Them. Anyway, Ellis is the weirdest of the lot.”

“Weird or not, she can’t stay here. We have two children and I won’t have our routine interrupted. Has she given you a phone number or address to get back to her?”

“No, nothing.” He resumed reading. “Oh, I jumped to conclusions. She’s staying a hotel… ah… something. This handwriting is so hard to read. What style is this, maniac sans serif?”

“So what’s happening?”

“Let me finish.” He read on for a minute then sat down and put the letter in front of him.

“It’s not so bad. From what I can gather from this demented scrawl she’ll be here on the weekend. She wants to see all her relatives one more time before it’s too late.”

“That’s sweet.”

“No it’s not. She was crazy when she was younger. And a bit scary. I don’t want the kids frightened by some Halloween decoration come to life.”

“Maddy would probably enjoy that. She’s sixteen, Paul is thirteen; they’re not really kids.”

“They’ll take one look at her and be horrified that they are related to such a weirdo.”

“You are so hard on your family. Some of them are just a bit oddball.”

“They are crazy, from crackpot crazy to downright Charlie Manson. I tell you, Krista, I was terrified, both times you were pregnant, that I’d father another Mad Maxwell. Lucky for all of us your sensible Teutonic genes blitzkrieged mine, and the kids turned out fine. You know that when I was a teenager other kids called me Mad Max.”

“Cool nickname Dad. I’m jealous. If you don’t want it, I’ll have it.” Maddy had wandered in, unobserved, soccer boots in her hand. She dropped them in a box in the laundry, then walked into the kitchen, grabbed a small fruit juice, and sat at the table.

“Remember to clean those boots. Where’s your brother?” Krista asked.

“Off with Karl and Minh. They stayed back to practice some more. Who sends letters these days?” She reached out and picked it up, looked at it for a moment then dropped it back on the table. “The lost art of calligraphy, huh?”

“This is a missive from the Twilight Zone. We are going to be visited by the ambassador from Planet Loony. Brace yourself. My aunt Ellis is coming to visit.”

“Which one is she?”

“The really crazy one.”

“That doesn’t narrow the field much,” she laughed.

“Don’t be rude Maddy,” her mother scolded. “You’ve been taking too much notice of your father.”

“No chance of that,” she grinned, then dodged as he tried to swat her with the letter.

“Go and clean your boots, then have your shower. We eat in an hour. I’ll ring your brother.”

                                                                  ***

The Maxwells had moved to the edge of the city two years ago. Ben now worked as a medical technician in a nearby hospital, and Krista now worked part time as a hospital administrator, so as to focus on her art. The children attended a better school, but for them the biggest bonus was the local junior soccer team. A successful club, large attendances at matches, photos in the local paper, a chance to be scouted. Their previous team was lacklustre, matches attended only by dutiful family and friends, sitting permanently near the bottom of the table.

Their home was situated on a large block in a quiet, tree-lined street. On the afternoon of Aunt Ellis’s visit Ben stood at the front door, waiting for the taxi. He looked out the glass and onto the street every few moments. In the kitchen Krista had prepared what she hoped was a proper afternoon tea for an elderly aunt, a variety of teas, coffee, cake, biscuits, savouries ready to be heated, wine, and children informed of the possible vagaries of the aged.

At 3 pm Ben heard the rumble of a big motorcycle, and looked out as it pulled up in front of the house. The rider heaved the bike onto its centre stand then turned to face the house, a woman, dressed in a snug set of leathers with the word Triumph emblazoned across the front.

Surely not! But of course, it fitted perfectly – Aunt Ellis on a motorbike. The rider removed the helmet and shook out her hair. Even at this distance there could be no mistake. Good heavens, the woman was at least eighty!

She looked towards the house then walked through the gate and up the path. Ben stood back from the door so as not to be seen, waited for the bell to ring, paused for a suitable time, then opened the door.

“Aunt Ellis! Welcome. It must be twenty years or more. You look fantastic. And you ride a bike – that’s amazing!”

Then he stopped, realising he was babbling.

“Hello Benjamin. It’s very good to see you.” Her voice was clear and deep, but Ben detected a slight quiver.

He opened the door for her, she put her helmet down, then said, “I hope you don’t have a shoes off policy here, these are a bastard to get off.”

“No, that’s fine. Come on through and meet the family.”

Whoever Krista and the children expected, they had not imagined the figure that walked through the kitchen door. Krista noted, with a little envy, Ellis’s taut body. One of the benefits of being childless. The children stared, awestruck. Aunt Ellis looked like she’d stepped out of a graphic dieselpunk novel.

She looks a bit like me, thought Maddy, suddenly chilled. She liked Aunt Ellis almost immediately, but she was also a bit wary, there was something a bit strange about her. She smelt…odd. Not dope, she knew about that, but something else, kind of druggy in its way.

“Would you like a drink, Ellis?” Krista ventured. “We have different teas, coffee, wine if you prefer.”

“Beer’d be fine, thanks. Gets hot on the bike.” She pulled down the zipper at the front of her leathers, through the Triumph logo, down to the waist, then opened out the jacket. She exhaled.

Ben and Krista exchanged a look then Ben went to the fridge and pulled out two bottles. “I think I’ll join you.”

Aunt Ellis proved to be an entertaining guest, with a colourful history, and some colourful opinions.

“Never married. Couldn’t see the point. Spend your life with the same person? Only one lover? Wash their clothes, clean their hair out of the shower, smell their farts? No thanks.” The children burst out laughing and Krista raised her eyebrows. Again. Some of Aunt Ellis’s anecdotes had been a bit earthy for her taste, and some of her opinions would have been best kept to herself.

“Ouch!” Maddy had reached into her pocket for a tissue, Aunt Ellis’s perfume had started to make her nose drip, but she cut herself on a folded piece of paper. Her finger was adorned with a drop of blood. She popped her finger into her mouth, withdrew it, then watched as the blood welled up through the cut.

“It’s bleeding again. I’ll have to…”

“I’ll take care of that.” Aunt Ellis leaned forward, took hold of Maddy’s hand, licked the thumb of her other hand then pressed it against the cut, holding it there for a few seconds.

Maddy grimaced, Krista gasped, Aunt Ellis laughed then released Maddy’s hand. Maddy looked at her finger – the cut had vanished.

“How did you do that?” she asked as she held it up for her mother to see.

“Just one of the many skills I’ve picked up over the years, my dear.”

“Wow, thanks.”

Krista and Ben looked at each other in wonderment. What on earth was that? Maddy squeezed her finger experimentally. “Gone!” She showed Paul, who was staring at Aunt Ellis.

“Of course. I have learned many healing arts in my time, some are way more impressive than that. Put ‘em to good use many times. Maybe I should have done Medicine.” She sounded wistful, a change from the tone of cocky bonhomie she’d been using.  

“Well, that was spectacular,” Krista observed. “How do you do that?”

“If I told you I’d have to kill you.” Ellis smiled, but there was a warning in her levity.

Absurdly, Ben’s mind suddenly filled with Peter Green intoning the lyrics of ‘Black Magic Woman’. “Messin’ ‘round with your tricks,” indeed. He pushed the song away, and broke in, “So, what plans do you have, Ellis, now you’re back in circulation?”

“I’m glad you asked. Is there another beer on offer? I’m divesting myself of some items I’ve gathered up over the years. Mostly small stuff.” She unzipped a pocket of her jacket.

Ben opened another bottle and placed it in front of her.

“A family heirloom for the next generation. Thanks Ben.” She took a long swig, then reached into the open pocket and pulled out a gold coin.

“A sovereign, 1788. Years ago I was part of a dive to recover treasure in the Caribbean. The guy in charge paid us out of the loot. This is the last one. It’s yours, Paul.”

His eyes widened as he held out his hand, then he held the coin in his palm and stared.

Krista gasped. “That is extraordinarily generous, Aunt Ellis. Thank you very much. Paul?”

“Ah, yes, thank you Aunt Ellis. It’s amazing.”

“Deposit on a house right there.”

Maddy looked at her parents and then at Ellis. The old woman’s stunning generosity had disturbed her. Did she want to be the recipient of similar beneficence? Accepting praise, or gifts, always made her feel uncomfortable.

“And for Maddy, this unique little piece.” In the palm of her hand was something wrapped in cloth. Ellis peeled away the cloth to reveal a silver disc about the size of a dollar, but thicker. It was slightly elliptical, covered with strange graphics and it shimmered with a blue sheen.

Maddy reached out tentatively to the proffered object. Ellis’s eyes gleamed.

“Don’t touch that!” Ben’s arm shot out and he grabbed Maddy’s wrist.

“Ow! Dad! What are you doing?”

“Ben!” Krista squawked.

He let go Maddy’s wrist and she pulled it to her chest. Krista had never seen her husband so enraged. His face was hardened into a rictus of fury. He turned to Ellis.

“Get out! You vile evil bitch! Out! If you come near my family again I’ll wring your scrawny neck!”

She stood and stared at him, white-faced, then placed the object back in her pocket. When she spoke her voice was viciously sarcastic and her smile was hateful.

“Well, well, well. Little Benjamin. The man of science. Suddenly he’s all fearful and superstitious. He’s never believed the story, that medieval mumbo-jumbo, but now he does. Scared of an old wives’ tale. Don’t you trust me? What do you think I am? You really are pathetic!”

“Out! Now!”

She shot him a baleful look then turned and walked down the passage. The others watched in shocked silence as Ben stalked behind her. Paul placed his coin on the table and shrank back from it.

Ben watched Ellis leave then returned to the kitchen, breathing heavily. He tipped the rest of her beer down the sink, threw the bottle into the recycle bin, spread sanitizer on his hands, then gave the bottle to Maddy. He spotted the coin, picked it up, dropped it into the donations jar, and sanitized again.

The strong scent of the sanitizer seemed to jolt Krista; one of her mottoes was if it smells clean then it is clean. She broke the silence.

“Ben? What was that all about?”

He heaved a deep breath and exhaled. “I’m okay now. I am very sorry for hurting you Maddy. It was necessary, I couldn’t take a chance. And I am very sorry that I can’t tell you about why I did it. Some other time. Both of you listen carefully. If you ever see that woman again do not go near her, do not speak to her. Ring me immediately.”

Paul spoke up, agitated and querulous. “If she’s so dangerous why did we let her in the house? What was she going to do?”

“I can’t tell you what she was going to do. Not yet. I should have known better. That’s my family for you, never fail to let you down. I thought, hoped, that she had mellowed, but no, just as awful as ever. Why was I so stupid!”

“She’s gone, it’s over. Don’t be hard on yourself.”

“It’s not over yet. I’ll have to warn the others. I’ll ring Dad and tell him his beloved sister has returned, putrid as ever. He can contact others in the family. We mightn’t have much time.”

                                                                ***

“I need this.” Ben opened a bottle and sat at the table opposite Krista. He had rung his father and they had shared the duty of ringing relatives to ensure no one admitted Ellis into their presence

“So Ben, what is the whole story? You invite a woman into our house, then you attack her like a wild animal when she tries to give Maddy a gift, but it’s okay for her to give one to Paul. ‘Some other time’ is not good enough. The kids have freaked out, so tell me the whole story and I’ll give them the Under 18 version.” She grabbed his beer and took a swig.

“Okay. You know most of my family story anyway, but not the significant part. There’s this family legend about an object called the Maxwell Amulet. According to the story an ancestor stole, or was given, an amulet, somewhere in Eastern Europe. Late eighteenth century. This amulet supposedly confers health, wealth and success on its possessor. The downside is that you have to get rid of it to another family member before you die. Or else. If it’s still yours on that day, your death will be agonizing.

“I never believed it, a story full of cliches and superstitious nonsense. Full of holes. But when I saw Ellis unwrap that thing, I knew, absolutely, what she was up to. The damn legend is true!”

She looked at him quizzically. “It doesn’t make sense. It could be just a valuable family heirloom she’s passing on to the next generation. Look at how generous she was to Paul. No silly legend needed, no need for a personal attack.”

“No, there’s more to it. The amulet’s possessor may never speak of it. It’s a secret. If it was just an heirloom don’t you think the owner would let everyone know? Not in that family of boasters.”

“But someone would have seen it or found it. I bet you could never have hidden it from me.”

“If it doesn’t want to be found it won’t be. That’s part of the legend.”

“Oh come on Ben, now you’re in the realm of preposterous. An amulet with the power of convenient invisibility.”

“Krista, three hours ago I would have agreed. The story is typical Maxwell bullshit. But not now. And when I rang Dad he didn’t sound surprised. He said, ‘So she’s got it. That figures.’ I didn’t even have to ask if he’d help ring around. He sounded angry too, and you know how unflappable he is.”

“Well, it’s your family. But what do I tell the kids?”

“Um, tell them that stuff is not really hers? I know, sounds a bit lame, they probably won’t buy it. But it’ll have to do.”

“I’ll do my best.” She took another swig from his beer and stood up.

Ben’s phone rang. “Dad? What’s up?” He put the phone in speaker mode, Krista need to hear this. She liked his father.

“I’ve just had a call from Andrew. Ellis came to their door and rang. They stayed silent and in the end she left.”

“Good.”

“Your cousin Gabrielle was in the garage. Ellis didn’t see her. She followed Ellis in her car and found out that she’s staying in a hotel in town.”

“Gabby has a driver’s licence? Amazing.”

“Enough of that. We know what you think of your cousins, that joke went stale years ago. Gabby was on the ball. If you had rung me when you learned Ellis had returned I would have sorted it and none of this mess would have happened. Instead, you invited her to your place. I don’t think Krista or the kids are too thrilled about that at the moment. So lay off Gabrielle, she’s fine.”

Maybe putting the phone on loudspeaker hadn’t been such a good idea. He could sense Krista nodding her head in agreement. He hated to be told off by a parent, hated to be in the wrong, especially in front of his wife. But his father was right.

“What are you going to do, Dad?”

“I have to confront her. I’m going there now, before she gets a chance to slip away.”

“Do you want some backup?”

There was a pause then his father said, “Sure, that’s a good idea. She’s done the dirty on you too. I can imagine how you feel about her trying it on Maddy. I’d want to kill her. Not that I don’t already. I suppose it’s not your fault. How were you to know she is as vile as ever? Got a pen?”

                                                              ***

Ben had to park over a block away and when he arrived at the front of the hotel his father was already there. Another person was there too, his cousin Gabby. He greeted her cordially and listened as she explained, “I wasn’t sure when you’d be here Uncle David, so I stayed to watch. In case she left. Then I’d call you and follow her.” She ignored Ben.

Pretty forceful. Ben was surprised at how tough she sounded. And looked. A kind of punk/lumberjack hybrid. This was not the chubby nitwit he remembered.

“She’s still in there. Unless she went out the window. What’s the plan?”

Ben noted with chagrin that his father treated Gabby as his partner in this affair.

“There’s no way she’ll talk to us voluntarily, so we’ll wait here and ambush her.”

“There’s a carpark round the side. Her bike’s in there. What if she comes out the back?”

“Well spotted, Gabby. Okay, we’ll go round and wait. There’s a café back in the previous block, we can take it in turns getting coffee and whatever else. You go first Ben, we’ll meet you in the carpark.”

It was a long wait. But there was no question of leaving. After about four hours the rear door of the hotel opened and Ellis strode out.

“Hey! We want a word with you!” David’s voice echoed in the enclosed carpark and Ellis turned to face them. She sneered.

“Ah, my beloved brother and my gormless nephew. How thoroughly unpleasant. And who’s the moon-faced heifer? No wait, let me guess. You are… Gabrielle. Hah. A word of advice from your great aunt, my dear. Lay off the junk food.”

She stepped towards David. “Come on then, have your say. I don’t have all day.”

“Stay away from us. You’ve done enough. You lie, you steal, you set people against each other, you do what you damn well please, no matter who gets hurt. And now you’re back to create more trouble. No. Take yourself away from our families and don’t come back. We know what’s happened, we know what you’re up to, you’re wasting your time. You made your bed and you can lie in it.”

“Spare me your bourgeois morality, your educated, sanctimonious, white picket-fence moralizing.”

Ben broke in, his voice shrill. “You tried to destroy my daughter’s life!”

“You are so stupid. That was a gift!”

“Gift! Wreck her life before it’s started! You’ve got a bloody nerve!”

“Oh don’t be such an old woman. Yes, you’re quite a pair. You are the Maxwells who made good. Nice homes, jobs, so very comfortable. Where’s it got you, eh? Brother? Recovery from the prostate operation not going so well, is it? You’ll be gone before I am, most likely.”

David pursed his lips and glowered. Ben glanced at his father. This was unwelcome news.

“Thought not. It’ll soon be over, and what have you got to show for it? I’ve done things you people couldn’t imagine. I’ve saved lives, taken them too. Done some heroic things, and some questionable ones. I’ve seen stuff that would blow your minds. I’ve taken drugs you’ve never heard of, had wild sex and been in places few people have ever dared to go. I know many secrets. I know many important people. These days I am very wealthy.

“Soon it will end. I’m not scared. You only die once each life, and I am ready. I wanted Maddy to have the best life possible, not the one you’ve got planned for her.”

Ben exploded. “Allow us the right to decide what’s best for our daughter! Shoot me if I raised a kid that ended up like you!”

“Suit yourself. And what about you, girl? Doing a course, to get, like, a job, and then, like, maybe travel, and then, like, something? A comfortable numb life to suit your comfortable numb backside.”

Gabby’s eyes narrowed, but she remained silent.

“Can I go now? Is that it? Good. I trust I’ll never see any of you again.” She strode out the gate.

“Mission accomplished,” David said.

“What was that about your prostate?” Ben asked. “Is that the truth?”

“A few problems, I’m top of it,” his father replied curtly. “Are we done here? I’ve had enough of this episode.”

“Yeah, let’s go. You coming Gabby?”

“Um no, I like the look of that bar in the front of the hotel. I’ll see you.”

“Ignore what that bitch said,” David spoke sympathetically. “She has a vicious tongue and is a nasty, spiteful person. I put up with that for years.”

“I’m fine. Thanks.”

“Okay. Don’t drink too much.”

“I won’t. Bye.”

The two men said their goodbyes and walked out the gate. Gabby turned and went through the back of the hotel, headed for the bar.

                                                                ***

Later that evening Ellis sat in her room. She had just ordered an expensive cocktail from room service.

There was a knock at the door. “Come in,” she called and a waiter walked in with her cocktail and placed it on the table.

“Compliments of hotel management, madame. Is there anything else?”

“No, thank you.”

As the waiter left a figure appeared in the door way, knocked on the open door and stepped into the room. Gabby. The waiter looked at Ellis, who nodded, and he left. She sat and stared at her uninvited guest.

The young woman spoke. “Can we talk?”