The Returned by Bishop O'Connell

Court hierarchy. The former was personal; the latter wasn’t relevant. Edward had also explained the truth behind the events in Seattle, though those details were mostly secondhand from Dante.
    Henry opened his mouth, then closed it.
    â€œWe did warn you,” Caitlin said.
    â€œYes,” Henry said and nodded. “Yes, you certainly did. I confess, that was not the explanation I was expecting.”
    â€œWhat were you expecting?” Edward asked.
    â€œI don’t rightly now,” Henry said. “But that would’ve been near the bottom of the list.”
    â€œI know it’s hard to believe,” Caitlin said. “I really do. I remember what it was like being in your shoes.”
    â€œExcept for the missing child,” Henry said.
    â€œExcept for that,” Caitlin agreed.
    â€œI can’t even imagine what that must’ve been like for you,” Henry said.
    â€œI hope you never learn,” Caitlin said.
    Henry looked at Edward and shook his head. “Everything I know about you tells me you’re telling the truth, but I just can’t bring myself to believe it.”
    â€œGo ahead,” Caitlin said when Edward looked at her.
    Edward drew in a breath and focused on the stack of napkins in the center of the table. “ Aer ,” he said softly. Slowly at first, the napkins began to turn as a mild breeze circled the table. It grew in power, and soon the napkins were lifted up, spinning a couple of inches off the table, as if trapped in a miniature tornado.
    â€œJesus, Mary, and Joseph,” Henry whispered.
    Edward snatched the napkins before anyone could see.
    â€œI could do something flashier,” Edward said. “But I don’t think setting the place on fire is a good idea.”
    Henry held his hand out for the napkins. Edward passed them, and his friend looked them over.
    â€œWe’ve known each other a long time,” Edward said. “Short of Caitlin, you’re my best friend. I wouldn’t make something like this up, certainly not under these circumstances.”
    â€œIt’s not an easy thing for a man of science to believe,” Henry said and paused for a long moment. “But, I admit this explains quite a lot.”
    â€œSuch as?” Caitlin asked.
    â€œSome of the guests at your wedding,” Henry said. “They were, let’s say odd.”
    Caitlin nodded. “Yeah, there were a lot of fae there.”
    â€œFae?”
    â€œWhat faeries prefer to be called,” she said.
    â€œAh, I see.” Henry took another drink of his soda. “For the sake of argument, let’s say I do believe you, about all of it. What’s that mean?”
    Edward looked at Caitlin. She knew what he was thinking, and she was in fact thinking the same thing. Henry was a friend, and he needed help. Caitlin and Edward were in a position to offer it. How could either of them refuse? She also knew, all too well, what Henry was feeling: that sense of falling, like the whole world had dropped out from under you, so much of what you took for granted a minute ago having turned out not to be true. If magic, faeries, and the like were real, what else was? She also knew Henry was religious, something Caitlin never had been. She could only imagine how this was challenging his faith. Faeries and magic didn’t fit neatly into most religions.
    Caitlin let out a sigh, but she smiled. “We help you figure out what’s going on.”
    â€œOh no,” Henry said. “Absolutely not. I am not pulling you two from your honeymoon to help solve some mystery.”
    â€œWe can help,” Edward said.
    â€œWhat exactly can you do?” Henry asked. “Cast some spell and find out who raised those people from the dead?”
    â€œI doubt it would be that simple,” Edward said.
    â€œBut it might be,” Caitlin said.
    â€œI appreciate the offer, truly I do,” Henry said. “But this isn’t some