The Redemption of Claudius Brand: Claudius and Tessa, #3

By Allison Miller

Time has come full circle for Tessa Marlowe, bringing her back to the yellow house in Eden. After a horrifying encounter with a fish like monster, Tessa is sent back in time to 1922. Once there, she is greeted by Claudius Brand, a man she knows to have died in a factory explosion on 1937. Figuring all she has to do is warn him and she can return to her own time, Tessa does that. However, as she looks into her future, she sees things she'd rather not come to fruition.
Choosing to remain with Claudius, passion blooms between them. However, those that wish to cause Tessa and Claudius harm won't let a century's difference stop them.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Allison Miller
• Release date: Jul 26, 2024
• ISBN: 9798227837998

Allison Miller

Allison Miller lives a life of quiet desperation with her husband and their furry children in Vernal, Utah.

Book preview

The Goblin Realm

All the curves of a number two pencil, Tessa groaned as the inspector shoved her up and through the tiny hole in the floor. 

Sorry, this space won’t accommodate Marla’s hips, the inspector called from below. 

He could have at least been a gentleman; handling her like she was a bag of sticks wasn’t very nice. 

She felt around for a light, then flicked it on.

What do you see? The inspector asked. 

Leaning over the trapdoor, she said, I’m on the other side. Have Marla show you how to open the door.

Are you sure you’re on the other side? Marla asked.

I don’t know where I else I could be, Tessa said. 

Advancing to the darkened space before her, Tessa snaked her arm around, finding old appliances, and nearly tumbling over an opened oven door. 

Tessa stifled a scream and clenched her legs together, the radiating pain of smacking her leg into something making her nearly pee her pants.

Eyes adjusted to the darkness, she carefully stepped around the room and flicked that light on too. 

The lighting in this house hadn’t been updated since the fifties. An old green Frigidaire spewed out leaves and shelves onto the floor. Tessa attempted to close the oven door, only she yanked it off as she did so. Placing it on the range, she advanced, looked down and found Marla and the inspector were gone. 

Oh if only she hadn’t wasted her last break playing some battery sucking game on her phone, she’d at least have a flashlight in here. 

As her toes crossed the threshold of the room ahead of her, fear rooted Tessa in her spot, anxiety building up inside her. 

Lack of breath brought her to her knees. Her trick of pressing her face to something cold to ease the nerves didn’t work; this place was warm all over. 

Crawling like a trapped rat, she advanced into the darkness, looking for a cold surface. Once inside a bathroom, she laid her face down on the impossibly clean floor and her breathing returned to normal. Pins and needles wracked her body and she pulled her knees into herself, clamping her hands around her head. She can’t lie this time. She’s not okay. Even as she attempts to utter the words, the breath leaves her again. Giving into the tears, she pulls at her hair, unable to worry how stupid it would look when she was found. 

If you’re ever found. 

It was like it was a thought, in her voice, but not in her head. 

As calm as she’ll ever be, she rose to her feet, slowly advancing to the door, finding a switch and flicking it on. 

The bathroom was small, barely any cupboard space, no linen closet and toilet mere inches from the sink. A small tub she’d have to bend to fit in encompassed the far wall. 

The entire bathroom was a shade of what could only be described as hot Cheeto orange. 

Their voices came from the other side of the house. As Tessa walked to the door, ready to be out of this room, a thing slid down from the ceiling. 

It was tall as her with white skin, but not like a Caucasian person’s would be. It looked like paint or dye. 

Her hand fell from her chest and Tessa beheld the monster before her, looking into its eyes. If they could even be called that. Two black empty shapes stared back at her. 

It had regular arms, but its other extremities were too far down its body. Instead of feet, he had a fish fin, and two extra arms just above the fin. 

There were no features on him, only smooth white skin like whale blubber. 

His mouth opened, looking as if his lips were carved into his face, dripping like melting wax. His teeth were the only thing with any character. Half expecting them to be razor sharp, Tessa was surprised to see regular human teeth, only appearing to be like someone’s who had chewed too much tobacco.

A lance came from an open compartment in his chest and penetrated hers. 

It opened up, pinching like a pelvic exam. 

That’s not yours, he said, his voice sounding unctuous and wet. 

A clamp from within the thing in her chest cavity snatched her heart from her. 

She should have fallen down, should have died, or at least felt more pain. All it felt like was when she picked a scab and no blood came out. The heart left her, sliding down the tiny needle like prey through a snake. 

It entered the compartment, sliding up to his mouth so he could chew on it open mouthed. 

Disgust overwhelmed Tessa and she attempted to pull away, finding he had her. 

His hands had her arms at the shoulders, his fingers wrapping down and around the length of her slender arms. A different heart slid out of the compartment, and into Tessa’s chest, twisting painfully into place.

He backed up and severed the connection. 

Her new heart was in place only seconds before her arms were flung out and locked in place. Her mouth opened and something unseen was shoved down deep into her throat, moving around it an unnatural way, tasting like engine oil and having what felt like knobby deposits that seemed to bite and brand her insides. 

She bent over and puked on the floor. Her arms were restrained by something invisible. As if from within, eight spots along her back burned like she’d been held to a hot stove. 

The monster was gone, and no matter how long she screamed, no one was coming to her rescue. 

Freed, but woozy, Tessa stood. Vision blurred, she went for the exit, falling through endlessly.

1922

I was in my living room, when a woman screamed and loudly fell. The sound was coming from the bathroom. 

On the floor lay a long blond in strange clothes. Her pants were a deep shade of blue and her billowy green top hung off her slender shoulders. 

Who are you and why are you in my bathroom?

She looked at me and slowly backed up. 

What do you mean your bathroom?

I walked into the room. I was sitting in my living room when I heard you clunking around in my bathroom.

She moved close to me. I was investigating this place and then you showed up.

Investigating? What is there to investigate in my house?

She raised her hands to her head, Just let me out, I have my friends, I can show you.

I stepped back and let her go, watching her go back to the room I assume she came from. 

She stopped, looking at the floor. She bent down pushing her fingers along the floor, looking for something. 

Forgetting that, she went out to the breezeway. Her eyes widened, as she looked at the far wall, touching it as if she wasn’t convinced it was supposed to be there. 

She turned and gasped as if she wasn’t expecting to see the door. With her hand out, she pressed on the door, surprised to see some give. 

Pushing past me, she went back into my bathroom, closed the door and turned the lights out. I waited a bit, and then slowly opened the door. She was standing in the middle of the room, looking at the mirror. 

Miss, are you well?

Turning to me with an absolutely frightened look on her face, she said, That depends on how you answer my question. If you say anything different than what I have in my head, I think I need a doctor, but if you answer me how I want, I’ll be fine.

I nodded in acknowledgment.

Okay, what year is it?

What an absurd question!

It’s... I began, considering her attire for a second. Women don’t normally wear pants unless they’re working with animals in some capacity. 

I surmised she could be a farmer or something. 

1922, I said, knowing it was the wrong answer by her expression. 

Her hand dropped to her stomach and she started crying.

Placing my hand on her shoulders, I asked her how I could help. 

I don’t think you can.

I led her to the living room and sat her down in the chair. She was so tall and thin, with blood trailing down from a bump on her head. I said I’d get her water and went to the kitchen to find a glass and something to wipe her face with. 

Harlan arrived with his sons Ellis and Ralph. Scott and Mary would be by eventually. They did as they always did and let themselves in. I returned to find the flighty woman in my bathroom again, pressing on the mirror for some reason. 

I touched her arm, familiarity coursing through me. 

She seemed to feel it too as she looked at me and asked, Have I met you before?

I offered the water and tried to swallow the lump in my throat, daring not to tread down a path that would unlock my hidden desires I had buried so deep. 

She took the water and smelled it, taking a tentative sip.

Not to be rude or condescending, but it’s...I don’t know where you’re from or what year you think it is, but there’s this worldwide drought and you shouldn’t waste water.

Alright, professor.

I led her out and back to the kitchen once she was done with the dish. I attempted to wipe away the blood, but she wouldn’t let me. 

I’ll do it, she said, taking the cloth from me.

That’s when Ellis rounded the corner. 

What did you get up to last night? Ellis asked. 

This isn’t... I didn’t know what to say next. I’ve never met her before I...

I’m a weary traveler. He gave me water and he was about to feed me. 

Harlan must not have been paying attention as he came in and said, Who’s this? She’s not like what you normally chase. Bag of bones.

Taken aback by the candor, she said in a firm voice,I weigh as much as I want to. I don’t change my body for men.

That fits what he likes, Ralph said, pushing past her and going  to the living room, him and Harlan making themselves at home. I apologized on behalf of my friends’ forwardness and told her I’d fix her something to eat. 

She nodded and surveyed the room. 

You can go sit down if you’d like.

I can’t cook with people in the room either, She said. 

That was when Mary and Scott came in. 

Mary saw her and was about to ask the same question. 

She’s not my girl, I’m just helping her, I said. 

Oh, Claudius, you terrible host! You have no place for her to sit.

I wandered out and addressed Ellis. He responded with, I offered, I even insisted; she said she didn’t want to sit.

I don’t fit in that chair and your couch is too low, The woman said.

I’ll get you a chair from my shed, I said, dragging Scott with me. I found my mother’s rocking chair, hoping she wouldn’t show up next. 

Hey, Claudius if you’re done with that tall girl, can I... Scott started.

Finish that sentence and you’ll be picking your teeth up from the dirt.

I pushed past him with the chair. 

Well it’s just you’re shorter than her, what are you going to do with her?

Provide her a meal and send her on her way.

I returned, sat the chair down and asked, Now where did she get to?

She followed Mom into your room, Ellis said. 

Damn it, Mary, I said, heading to my room. I found her settling the woman in. 

Her name is Tessa, she’s twenty six, and —how far did you say you were traveling?

Tessa wasn’t listening; she had my bauble in her hand, her spider like fingers caressing the ridges. 

Hell is empty and all the devils are here, Tessa said. 

The bauble opened up, the string revealing itself. 

I advanced and carefully took it from her, placing it back in my closet. 

Claudius, don’t be cross with her, she sat on it.

It was under your pillow, Tessa said, What was your name again.

Sighing, I answered Claudius Brand.

She looked away, pulling at the ends of my pillow.

Leaning over her, I said, Will you please not touch things that don’t belong to you. Now come out, I have a chair for you.

She looked at me and then at the necklace that had come loose from my shirt.

That’s a Shakespeare quote too. It’s from the Merry Wives of Windsor. Are you college educated or a fan?

I admire his words if that’s what you mean, I said, offering my hand to help her up. I led her to the chair, and closed and locked my room. She stood one more time, taking the newspaper and sitting with it. 

She has legs for days, Scott said, I want to climb that tree.

I caught him by his shirt and threatened him. I will bury you alive in the hills.

You can smash me like... he snapped his fingers again and again calling out to his mom hey ma, who was that guy who said more weight in...

You’re thinking of Giles Corey, Tessa said, He was accused of witchcraft in the sixteen hundreds and when they asked him for a name of those who practiced witchcraft, he said more weight.

Everyone in the room looked at her. 

She looked back. Some women like to read.

Where are you from, darling? Mary asked. 

Payson. Then the Avenues. Then Cedar City.

Why, Payson is so far away it might as well be on the moon, Mary said. 

It’s not a long way...well I haven’t been there in ten years, so what do I know?

Why would you... Scott said, oh how to put this delicately. Why are you traveling alone? Do you not have a husband?

My only need of men is sexual, and even then the need isn’t satisfied to my expectations.

Quiet fell over the room and I returned to the kitchen, letting her talk with the others. 

When I had prepared her meal, I led her to a table, and sat her with oatmeal and bread.

She looked less than impressed, asking if I had honey or sugar.

Mary obliged, and sat next to her. I pulled a chair out and scooted it over to the wall. 

Harlan entered with tea and sat next to me. 

Say, you lived in The Avenues? Harlan asked. 

She had been eating the oatmeal, seeming not to enjoy any of it. 

I used to.

So your family has money? Scott asked. 

He does, she doesn’t.

Who’s she? I asked. 

His wife, she’s not my mother.

Who is your father? Harlan asked. 

John Cochran.

She finished her plate and Ellis took it to the kitchen. 

I’ve dealt with a few rich men in the big city; I ain’t never heard of John Cochran, Harlan said. 

He’s new money. An entrepreneur.

She was twisting her long hair around her fingers. 

It was a flaxen color that reminded me of the honey on the table. Her skin glistened in the sunlight coming through the window. 

Does he have a car? Ralph asked. 

He has a few, Tessa said. 

After a while, Harlan waited until the women were out of earshot and told me of his idea. 

I was thinking, we have some money between the two of us, and we got fertile land up in these mountains, maybe we build a factory and we get people jobs.

I looked up to him and said, Do you think such a thing is plausible. 

Anything is plausible.

I can see why he asked me out here to work on his truck. 

She came out, wandering around looking for something she was not going to find. 

Sure is some beautiful country, ain’t it, little darling? Harlan said. 

Please don’t call me that, Tessa said. 

City girls.

She came over and looked at what we were doing. 

Why aren’t you in there with Mary? Harlan asked. 

I don’t like the way your tallest son is looking at me, she said. She stood close to me, her finger on my hand. I leaned into her, smelling lilac and honey in her hair. She noticed her hand on mine and pulled back. 

I want...I think I’ll go for a walk. 

Setting the rag down, I rushed after her. 

I’m sorry, but I can’t in good conscience let a woman wander off in these woods.

Do you wish to walk with me?

Tessa, there are things in those woods women shouldn’t see. I...

I looked down and tried to continue. She pushed a strand of my hair back behind my ear, and wiped away a tear I didn’t know had fallen. I wanted to lean into her hand, kiss her fingers delicately and pull her into me. A flash of her in a cemetery waiting for me as I walked out of the shadows entered my mind. She grabbed the necklace she was admiring before and pulled me in, eagerly pressing her lips to mine. 

I pushed the thought away, looking at her neck and seeing my necklace.

I see how it is, you sneak into my house so you can steal.

I couldn’t reach her neck to take it off, and I didn’t want to hurt her. 

I didn’t take anything from you.

I pulled the necklace out of her shirt. 

I found that.

Yeah in my bedroom.

Inching closer to me, she said, No, I found it in the hills.

I backed up, and grabbed her hand, dragging her into my room and pushing her in.

She folded her arms and asked, Why are you acting like this? I didn’t take your necklace. A forlorn look crossed her face as she looked down at the floor. 

Moving past me and helping herself, she flipped the tabs on the box and showed me where my exact copy of the necklace I accused her of stealing was. 

It has the same quote of naked villainy, she said, I don’t remember what play it was from, but I found this, and all the other things in it, in a box in the hills.

Taking the box from her and locking it before sliding it under my bed, I bid her show me where. She took me out and behind my house, leading me by the hand up and into a nigh impassable trail, lifting her long legs up and over every large rock, deftly traversing over every precarious tree branch and root.

We reached the summit and she turned to me. 

I found it in a house down there.

Now I know you lie because there’s no house down there.

She turned to me, took it from her neck, and placed it in my hand. 

I’m... she began, looking up and over me at the house below.

What is your last name again?

Brand. I don’t think we know each other, Miss Cochran.

My last name is Marlowe, she said defensively.

Why do you ask for my last name? I asked.

Pressing her fingers to her temples, she looked at the ground for a minute.

I am...I believe I am here for a reason, and once I complete my task, I can go back. So, here goes.

I bid her continue, taking her chin so she made eye contact with me.

Don’t build a factory in these hills.

She couldn’t have heard Harlan talking about that. She was inside and he’d said it before she came out.

I’m afraid, even if you started construction tomorrow, the most you would get before it goes sour is fifteen years.

What do you mean by that?

Well, whether you believe me or not, all I see is an abandoned building, devastated by an explosion that happened in 1937, wounding many and killing thirty. If you are the foreman of said factory, you will be right there when the blast happens.

I...I didn’t know what to say. 

How devastating? I foolishly asked.

The houses that line this mountain in the future will be thrown off their tenuous foundations, men who don’t even work that day will be killed or wounded.

A feeling deep within me told me to believe her. 

As I stared at the ground, feeling the rumble below, I turned to find her looking at something I couldn’t see. 

Her fingers worked at the hem of her shirt, pulling, twisting, and picking at the threads. Her blouse showed signs of this being a habit. 

I carefully advanced and called out before placing my hand on her. She turned away and bumped into me.

I’m sorry, she uttered, placing her shaking hands on my shoulders.

Our height difference brought me close to her chest. Fresh scratches lined her snowy skin.

I took her hand in mine and led her back to my house. 

Would you happen to have anything strong you can give me?

I grabbed the whiskey out of the door next to the fridge and put a small amount in a glass. She shotgunned it and thanked me.

Harlan came back in, tapping my shoulder and asking me about the factory.

I don’t think it’s wise to build a thing such as that in these hills, knowing what we know about it and all.

Harlan looked defeated, but agreed. 

I