Chapter 5: She Speaks

 “Bethany, my dear, how lovely to see you!”

 Mrs Feeney held her in a tight embrace as they entered her warm and comfortable cottage in the countryside.She’d moved here 8 years ago after her husband had passed on.

After his death, Emma had made her the kind offer of staying with her in the city, but Mrs Feeney had decided to continue with the dream she had shared with her late husband, of eventually retiring to the country.By doing that she was honouring his memory as best she knew how.

Beth smiled, feeling the most amazing sense of peace in the familiar embrace. Mrs Feeney was the only one who ever used her full name. 

“I’m so pleased to be here Mrs Feeney,”she said as the embrace ended.”It’s been so long since our last visit.”

“Too long,” Mrs Feeney replied.“I’m an old woman you know.Sometimes I forget that you young people don’t write letters anymore.It's all these e-mails and text messages, none of which hold any interest for me.”

Both Beth and Emma laughed at the old lady’s directness.This was how they knew her to be, straightforward and to the point.

“Aunt Esmeralda,”Emma said,”you know technology isn’t your enemy.You are still young enough to learn.”

“At my age?I’m quite happy to do things,how do you say?...Old school.None of these fancy gimmicks for me.I remember when your uncle Charlie was serving his country, how I used to love writing letters to him…”

So for the next few hours Beth and Emma were regaled with stories of times gone by.

Much later, while the girls were freshening up for dinner, Mrs Feeney went to her bedroom, closed the door and sat down on her bed.

It was worse than what she had imagined.The energy surrounding Bethany was dark and malignant.The spirit seeking to control her was much more powerful than what she had seen in her dream-vision.

 All her life she had protected those who were in harm’s way from the spirit world and now it was happening to a young woman she loved as if she were her own daughter.

She had been a medium for so long and never had she seen anything as potent as this demonic spirit.

It had taken almost all her energy the previous night to send a call out into the spirit world, to find a messenger to convey the danger to Bethany, to make her see reason.

This spirit was old, very old.She lived in the shadows away from the light, fearsome that holy justice would find her and send her where she belonged.In death, as in life, she was pure evil.

And she was here, in the room with her.

 “Leave, dark spirit,”Mrs Feeney said,in an almost inaudible whisper, “You have no power in this home!”

The spirit's unholy presence lowered the temperature in the room and made the atmosphere oppressive and dark.

Every shadow seemed magnified in her proximity.The shadows, her guardians.They moved where she did, never leaving her side.

What evil was this?Surely it had been human once, alive and breathing, but now, it was a parody of humanity, a force of utter filth, borne of hatred and malice.

She laughed bitterly, exposing rotten teeth.So close was she that Mrs Feeney could smell the scent of death on her.How long had her mortal remains been buried, for it to have the smell of grave rot in her spirit form?

“So, old woman, you can see me?Truly an interesting turn of events.Tell me, are you the one protecting her?”

“I owe you no explanation,”Mrs Feeney replied more forcefully.“You do not belong in this world!”

She took a few steps closer and Mrs Feeney could see her more clearly.

It was obvious that in life she had once been a beautiful woman, but now, her hair hung in filthy strands around her shoulders, her eyes were cold and evil and the smile dancing at her lips was cruel.

The tattered black dress she wore revealed her bare feet.They were wet, leaving imprints on the wooden floor, which clearly meant that she was beginning to master manipulation of the physical world.

“What do you want with Bethany?”

“Don't you know?”she asked coldly.”I want her life.To make him pay for what he did to me.He cares for her.”

Revenge….so that was her motive.Revenge for a deed that must have happened in a previous life.This spirit carried a vendetta that must span numerous reincarnations for the man involved, her earthbound hatred hampering her own rebirth.

“Only by releasing your hatred will you find peace,”Mrs Feeney said as gently as she could.She did not want to agitate the spirit before her, fearing for both Emma and Bethany.Their safety was paramount, they had no idea of her gift.It was her secret.       “My hatred will give birth to my revenge,”the spirit replied,”only then will I leave this world.”

“What did he do to you?”

“You ask too many questions old woman.”

“I demand that you tell me!”

The spirit laughed, almost cackled as she moved even closer…

“And I demand that you shut up.Permanently…”

Mrs Feeney proudly rose to her feet, standing her ground. This was not the first restless spirit she had faced in her 80 years on this earth.

“Is that a threat?”she asked, staring straight into those cold eyes.It could not hurt her, if it could, it would have done so by now. As strong and repulsive as it was, it was newly awakened, otherwise it would not need to hide in the shadows, gathering its strength.       “You are petulant, old woman!”she screeched, as the drapes billowed in a sudden icy wind.

“Who are you!” Mrs Feeney demanded.

The spirit held her gaze, leaned in until they were mere inches apart.

“I am she,who will end you all…”