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Chapter 22
Last Updated:
2024-10-14 13:42:50
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Shadows In The Fire Chapter 23
Three days after their gruesome discovery of Deb’s body, Eli did his best to comfort Faye. She was still visibly shaken by what had happened and both he and Sybil watched her around the clock.Yet again, they were convinced that Deb’s death was directly linked to Magnus somehow. Perhaps, due to her investigation about the secret history of Kirkwood and the witch hunts which took place so long ago. Her death, mere days after that of his father, left them all reeling and more than just a little apprehensive. Kirkwood was a hive of activity. The police suspected Deb was murdered elsewhere and her body then taken back to the B&B. Reporters had swarmed the area and Faye spent a lot of time indoors, fearful that her picture might somehow show up in the newspapers and be seen by Nolan. Her pregnancy was something she could no longer hide and her bump was clearly visible. What they couldn’t fathom, was how Deb’s body had been burnt to the extent it had, without leaving any trace evi
Last Updated : 2024-10-21Shadows In The Fire Chapter 24
By late afternoon, Dr. Todd Lavery arrived. After skimming over the details of Deb's presence in Kirkwood, he deemed it imperative to visit in person, to discuss it further.Faye, Eli and Sybil watched him pull up in the driveway and get out of his car. Middle aged and graying at the temples, he looked every bit the consummate professional in his dark brown suit and immaculately polished shoes. Sybil opened the door before he could knock, inviting him in. Once all introductions were out of the way, he made himself comfortable in the chair by the window, graciously accepting the cup of tea Faye handed to him. ‘Your call intrigued me greatly, Miss Bennet, ’he said in his deep baritone voice. ’Deborah James escaped from Hillcrest two years ago and until today, we had no word on her whereabouts.’Faye chanced a quick glance at Eli and Sybil. They were as surprised as she was at the revelation, that Deb was an escaped mental patient. ‘What was wrong with her? ’Faye asked. ’
Last Updated : 2024-10-30Shadows In The Fire Chapter 25
‘My God, ’Faye heard Sybil mutter. ’What madness are we dealing with?’Dr. Lavery’s mouth was set in a thin line of concentration as he placed his teacup on the side table, next to the chair. It was plain to see, that he was as disturbed as they were, at what was being discussed. ‘She was one of the subjects? ’Faye asked. ’Dr. Lavery, please, I beg you, tell us what you can about her. Were you a doctor back then?’ ‘No, ’he answered, ’that was, in fact, one of the things that inspired me. My projects with Professor Moore.’‘So you’re not bound by confidentiality when it comes to that time, ’Eli said. ’You can tell us what happened back then?’Dr. Lavery waved his finger at them. ’Clever, and yes, I can discuss it.’‘Then please, Dr. Lavery, ’Sybil interjected, ’tell us. My sister’s life may depend on what you can share with us.’Dr Lavery cast a quick look of confusion at Faye. ’Miss Bennet?’Faye’s eyes darkened. ’I’m deeply involved in this, Dr Lavery, and whatever you
Last Updated : 2024-10-30Shadows In The Fire Chapter 26
‘Faye, I could lose my job if anyone found out. I can’t just show a body to you!’The voice of Janice Lee dropped to a theatrical whisper as she stared at Faye in mock horror and disgust. ’Besides, you were the one who found her. You know the condition the body’s in.’ Janice Lee was the attendant on duty at the morgue and an old friend from high school. But clearly, right now, she’d forgotten all about their friendship, and, all the times Faye had covered her ass when she got into trouble. ‘Janice, please, you have no idea how important this is. All I’m asking for, is ten minutes, to say goodbye to my friend. You know what that is, don’t you Janice? The thing I was to you, once?’ Janice pressed her lips together and folded her arms stiffly. ’That was a long time ago, Faye.’‘Not that long. Remember who took the blame when your dad found the joint in your room? Who was your alibi the night you had a romantic rendezvous with Jimmy Craig and the candles you lit almost burnt
Last Updated : 2024-10-30Shadows In The Fire Chapter 27
Faye felt the warmth of the sun on her body, and she heard waves crashing against the rocks as she slowly removed her hands from her face. Why was she on the beach? Only moments ago, she’d been next to Deb’s body, calling out to Bess.She turned around, seeking the voice which had spoken her name. It wasn’t Deb. The woman was shorter, with blonde hair and dark eyes, wearing a long, flowing white dress which reached to her ankles. Her feet were bare, and she played with the sand, running her toes through it, smiling joyously at Faye. ‘You have called for me, ’she said softly, ’and I have come.’Faye smiled nervously, feeling the water from the ocean wash over her feet. ‘Bess?’‘Yes, Faye. I am Bess.’‘You don’t look anything like Deb.’Bess smiled again, her eyes lighting up with emotion. ’This was my first life, as Bess. . . . you are seeing me as I was, not what I became in my other lives. Like the ones before her, Deb was merely a vessel for my soul. It took me
Last Updated : 2024-10-30Shadows In The Fire Chapter 28
She stirred in the darkened cavern, deep under what was once the church, which had burned down so long ago. Her body felt sore and tender, after slumbering for more than 200 years. Her muscles ached, as she stretched and purred on the altar which had been her resting place for so long.Whisper adjusted her eyes to the darkness, and she sensed she was not alone. Mathilda was there, and Bess. Their presence granted her peace and comfort. Had it happened? She was only to awaken once the chosen one came into her full power, to guide and protect her on this journey through absolute darkness. If she received this reprieve from her slumber, it could only mean Magnus had returned, and the final battle was to be fought.‘Whisper, ‘Mathilda said, reaching out to stroke her pitch-black fur. ‘We have missed your council greatly, old friend. I fear we need you once more.'Whisper purred contentedly as she fully stretched beneath Mathilda’s caress. Her mind grasped the words she heard, but she str
Last Updated : 2024-11-01Shadows In The Fire Chapter 29
Eli had fallen asleep, soon after their conversation ended. Looking at him, sleeping soundly, Faye felt a moment of contentment, where everything that happened the past few days, seemed a million miles away.She understood why Eli had been less than thrilled to learn she had gone to the morgue to speak to Bess. He wanted to be with her, for all of it. His only motive was to protect her and she adored him for it, but the situation had left her no other choice. She was certain Bess would not have appeared to her, with him or anyone else there.In the darkened room, a voice gently called her name.‘Faye...’A comfortable warmth ran the length of her body. Peaceful, and gentle.‘Esther, is it you, sweetheart?’Instinctively, her hand went to her abdomen, feeling the roundness of her ever-growing bulge. The baby moved inside her, bringing a smile to her lips, tinged with both hope and despair.‘Yes, it’s me Faye.’From the shadows Esther came, gliding across the floor in the soft glow of
Last Updated : 2024-11-01Shadows In The Fire Chapter 30
‘Do go with them, Father, ’Mary said. ’Magnus will not begrudge you, one final goodbye.’Tobias slowly rose from the stool, a look of madness in his eyes. He was a broken man, staring at his condemned wife and daughter. ‘Will you be alright?’ he managed in a hoarse whisper, directed at Mary. ’The night is cold and dark.’‘Father, ’Mary said sternly, ’what darkness can befall me, when evil itself was amongst us all along? Fear not, for my faith protects me.’Mary turned to Mathilda and Esther once more. ’Mother, why not call upon your dark allies to free you? Or has the evil of your soul perished, as the evil of your flesh soon will?’Mary motioned to the guard to remove Mathilda’s gag. She coughed as the filthy rag was pulled from her mouth. ‘The only evil, is you, Mary!’Mathilda spat. ’Since the moment I first held you in my arms, I knew that you were the one tainted by evil. The cursed fruit of my womb, and today, all my fears have come true!’For a moment it seemed as
Last Updated : 2024-11-01
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Shadows In The Fire Epilogue
Faye basked in the soft rays of sunlight, streaming through the window, where she sat in the nursery. After the events of that night, she packed up and moved in with Eli, beginning their lives anew. They hadn’t gotten around to getting married yet, but they would soon.Mathilda Evans made her way into the world, two weeks before Christmas. Her birth was a joyous moment. She came into the world, kicking and screaming, a fighter from day one.Eli had been with her through it all, and when they finally held their daughter in their arms, their lives felt complete.Now, their little fighter, was peacefully asleep in her cradle. Faye smiled contentedly, gazing out the window, to the garden, where Eli, Sybil and Mark were having a snowball fight, as a light dusting of snow began to fall once more.Sybil and Mark were married soon after that night and shortly after their wedding, they had the biggest surprise of all. Sybil was pregnant and their baby would come in the summer.As for Janice L
Shadows In The Fire Chapter 62
The English Coast, 1794How long she sat in the darkness, Mathilda did not know. Everyone she ever loved was gone and she was truly alone in this new world, tasked with the overwhelming responsibility of keeping watch, until the day Clarissa and Magnus, would face each other for the last time.Clarissa had already been reborn. How many lifetimes would it be, before she was strong enough to defeat the demon? How many years, would she, Mathilda, wait before being granted the gift of sleeping, until it was her own time to be reborn?She was so tired. All she wanted was to rest, but the will of the Goddess had been communicated to her, clearly and concisely. She had a sacred duty, and she would see it through.When she finally had the strength, she made her way to the village square where the smoldering remains of Clarissa remained. Already the dogs had begun their feast. There were more than 10 of them, each one wanting its piece of flesh and bone.They dispersed, whimpering, when Math
Shadows In The Fire Chapter 61
‘Are you sure Janice? Working a double shift?’Tim Conway looked sheepish as he stared at her and momentarily, Janice felt a pang of guilt. He was supposed to take over her shift at the morgue, but he began complaining about stomach aches and feeling unwell. So, she offered to cover his shift, but not out of the goodness of her heart.Because they wanted her here…They said they needed her here…When the two living corpses appeared in the morgue earlier, she’d been shocked and astounded. Even more so when they spoke to her and it felt as if she entered a lucid dream, from which she couldn’t wake up.In all the years she’d worked at the morgue, she always suspected someday, something like this would happen. The pills she’d put in Tim’s coffee earlier, appeared on her desk out of nowhere. That’s why he was feeling ill. He’d gratefully accepted the cup from her hand, glad for the warmth away from the biting cold and rain outside. He never suspected she’d drugged him.They didn’t want a
Shadows In The Fire Chapter 60
Night had fallen and Faye was happy to be back in her own body. As exhilarating as the experience was, of merging with Whisper, it wasn’t something she planned to do again anytime soon. How Clarissa managed it, and enjoyed it, all those years ago, was beyond her understanding. It was a complete reality shift which defied all logic. Beyond belief, her spirit had left her body and merged with another living being.And considering their bloody return when Whisper killed the demon in her room… She could still taste its foul blood in her mouth but was happy that no harm came to the people she loved. If anything, ever happened to them, because of her and the situation they found themselves in, she would surely die.Sybil and Mark seemed fine. Mathilda explained to her that it was some sort of sleep spell the demon performed on them, and it would have no lasting effect on them, or August. They were a bit groggy and disorientated after waking up from their impromptu slumber, but copious amoun
Shadows In The Fire Chapter 59
‘Think about it, my dear boy. Only by killing the witch, will you ever be free from her temptations. The evil in her soul is too powerful. She will corrupt you and you will never enter the gates of Heaven. You will never be reunited with us, the people who love you more than life itself. Kill her, Elijah. It is the will of God that she must die…’Listening to it speak, in his mother’s sweet voice, turned Eli’s stomach. How was this foul creature so good at playing its part? Had Mary and Magnus become stronger, instead of weaker? Their hijacked bodies would soon decay completely, yet they had enough power to cast this illusion.‘I’m no killer,’ he said coldly. ‘I will never take another life, especially the woman I love. My mother would never ask such a thing of me.’Momentarily, just for a split second, he noticed how its eyes changed color. It went from the radiant green of his mother’s, to pitch black. Lord, was this a demon? He wanted to call out to Mark and Sybil, but the house ha
Shadows In The Fire Chapter 58
July 31, 2016‘Harold, I feel the chemotherapy is helping. I feel a bit stronger today. All the doctors say my chances are waning, but I don’t believe them. I feel God is answering my prayers and soon I will be well again. You and Eli have been so good to me during this trying time. Our family is truly what keeps me going.’Nancy took a deep breath and leaned into her cushions. Speaking had exerted her and the rasp in her breathing, was evident for all to hear. ‘I can’t wait to get in the kitchen and cook Eli’s favorite meal. It’s one of the things I look forward to, the most,’ she continued. Pastor Evans swallowed back his tears. They were sitting in their room, on a small little couch by the window, overlooking the garden. This was Nancy’s favorite spot. She always told him it gave her so much peace to sit there and read, while he and Eli were out for the day. It also gave her the perfect vantage point, to see them come home. The minute they walked through the door, she would be
Shadows In The Fire Chapter 57
‘My darling boy, I have missed you every moment of every day, since I’ve left this world. Yes, Eli, it’s me.’Eli let go of Faye’s hand and made sure she was still comfortable, before slowly rising to face the woman before him.Nancy Evans, his mother, who died 9 years ago.Rationally, it occurred to him it was impossible for her to be standing in front of him. He’d been the one to find her, that horrible night, when she’d drowned in the tub, when the pain from her cancer had become unbearable and ultimately ended her life.He remembered pulling her up from the water where she was submerged. Her eyes were open and she was slowly turning blue. Even as he administered CPR, he knew she was gone. She was limp in his arms and he gently laid her out on the floor, her emaciated form bearing almost no weight. He’d wrapped her in a towel, before breaking down in absolute defeat and agony, his tears scorching his cheeks.When he was done, when he could finally find a semblance of composure, he’
Shadows In The Fire Chapter 56
She was acutely aware of everything around her.As Whisper raced through the woods, kicking up mud with her powerful legs, Faye felt as if it was her, as if she were the one running at breakneck speed. Whisper barely stopped to breathe, hurtling over logs and puddles, not once missing a beat. Her power was primal and it surged through Faye, in a current of strength and instinct. ‘I sense your awe,’ Whisper said whimsically. ‘We have done this before, young witch. Clarissa was the only one ever brave enough to merge with me. That is why it feels so natural to you.She did it purely for pleasure though. She wanted to know what it felt like.’Faye was surprised. It seemed Clarissa was quite the adventurer in her day. Was that why she always wanted more from life? Why she packed up and moved to London? Was a part of Clarissa always awake within her? It would explain so much, if indeed that was the case.Seeing through Whisper’s eyes, Faye recognized the area they were in. They were close
Shadows In The Fire Chapter 55
‘Do not be afraid, Faye,’ Mathilda said gently, as Faye leaned back into her pillows. ‘This will bring no harm to you or your baby.’Faye inhaled deeply and protectively placed her hands over her abdomen. Even with all the assurance from Mathilda and Whisper, a part of her still felt nervous for what was to happen. It seemed unreal that she was about to eject her soul from her body, to track down Magnus and Mary. Next to her, Whisper lay outstretched, appearing as if in a deep slumber.‘I can’t help it Mathilda. This was something Clarissa used to do, and those memories haven’t come to me yet. I could fail and place all of us in even greater danger. Even Esther. How can I protect her, if I’m dead?’‘You carry the weight of a great burden, young witch, but your salvation and the survival of your family, lies in you freeing yourself from fear. We can all only help you to a certain point, and from there you must shoulder this alone. The path of a witch, is not an easy one.’‘Nor one I as
