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Chapter 7
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2024-09-09 13:38:10
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Shadows In The Fire Chapter 8
The English Coast,1794 ‘Tobias, I beg you, ’Mathilda implored, ’stay here with me and the children. . . . do not go to watch Bess burn.’ Anger flashed in his eyes at the mention of Bess and he pulled Mary closer to him as if trying to protect her from her own mother. ‘The sacred blood of Christ compels us to bear witness to the destruction of evil, ’he said hoarsely. ’I do not understand you Mathilda. I fear for you.’‘Do not fear for me, but for yourself and our daughter, ’Mathilda replied, close to tears. ’Mary has been seduced by Magnus and his teachings which are so very wrong.’‘Sacrilege and blasphemy! ’Mary spat. ’Father, I fear she has been tainted by evil, by Bess.’ ‘Mathilda, ’Tobias said, his tone firm and cold. ’Until such time as you repent, you are never to leave this house again. ’ . ….………‘You’re playing with me, right? ’Faye, said as the bus slowed down due to the rain coming down more intensely. Deb just to
Last Updated : 2024-09-22Shadows In The Fire Chapter 9
The rain was coming down in torrents, forcing the bus to pull over to the side of the road. Faye was annoyed. It was such a tedious and long journey to Kirkwood and now they could be delayed by a few more hours. She consoled herself with the fact that the trip wasn’t a total loss, barring their unscheduled stop. She mulled over everything Deb had told her as the other woman took a nap. Faye toyed with the idea, the completely absurd idea, of sneaking the file out of Deb’s backpack, but she didn’t want to risk losing her trust if she were to suddenly wake up and find her going through her things. She was sure that file contained much more information about the witch hunts, information which could lead to an explanation for all the dreams and visions she had had for as long as she could remember. The only person who had ever shown sympathy and some understanding was Sybil and mostly because she was a fan of anything that hinted at the supernatural. She had once even tried to get Fa
Last Updated : 2024-09-23Shadows In The Fire Chapter 10
The sun was shining through the remnants of the storm clouds, when Faye came down for breakfast, after spending her first night back in her childhood home.It gave her a sense of peace to some measure, being back in the place where she had spent the happiest days of her life. It surprised her that Sybil kept her room exactly as she had left it. It felt almost as if she had never packed up to move away in the first place. It was wonderful seeing Sybil and Mark again. They had never really gotten along with Nolan, so visits during her marriage had been few and far between. Most of the time they had kept in touch by phone and e-mail, so seeing each other was quite an experience. She still hadn’t summoned the courage to tell Sybil about the baby. She wasn’t ready to share that bit of info just yet. All that concerned her now was finding out as much as she could about the witch hunts and how that had any relevance to her dreams and visions, if any at all. Deb had booked into th
Last Updated : 2024-09-27Shadows In The Fire Chapter 11
‘The doctors say its something called early onset dementia, ’Eli said softly. ’He forgets a lot and he doesn’t speak much anymore. Sometimes he cries and sometimes he just bursts into laughter and some days he doesn’t even remember me.’Faye and Deb passed a look between them and then focused their attention on the man sitting in the wheelchair in the garden at the back of the house. He had a newspaper on his lap, but all he did was stare into the distance. It seemed as if he didn’t even blink. Faye could hardly believe this was the same man who had shared so many dinners at their house while she was growing up. He had been so full of life. His dark hair was almost completely grey and the lines on his face made him seem years older than what he was. ‘I’m so sorry, Eli, ’Faye said. ’I had no idea. How long has he been like this? ’ ‘About a year now. Its gotten progressively worse, especially after my mother passed on.’‘Its tragic, ’Deb said. ’Does he remember muc
Last Updated : 2024-09-30Shadows In The Fire Chapter 12
Faye hated to see his handsome face composed in such bitterness, as she wiped at her tears with the back of her hand. Eli showed no sympathy, just utter contempt for her and the way she had treated him. I deserve this, she thought to herself, all of it. In the seven years since she had left Kirkwood, she had not once contacted him, thinking it would be for the best if he could just forget her and move on with his life. Obviously her strategy had been dead wrong. He looked every bit as miserable as he probably had, when he had read her letter all those years ago. ‘Why was it so easy for you to forget me, Faye? ’he asked, ’when I spent days and nights thinking only of you?’‘I convinced myself you would be okay, ’she answered honestly, ’I thought in time you would forget me and find someone else. Did you? Find someone else? ’ Eli could barely look at her. He turned his face away, his mouth set in a thin line of anger and hurt. ‘I dated, ’he answered, ’it just wa
Last Updated : 2024-10-02Shadows In The Fire Chapter 13
The English Coast,1794 Mathilda paced anxiously up and down the cold floor. The others were late, and the sleeping herb she had mixed into the soup would soon wear off and Tobias would wake up. He was a light sleeper and since he had forbidden her to leave the house, this was the only way for her to meet the others. Right now he was sleeping soundly, along with Mary and Esther and none of them should know what she was planning. She opened the door. The night was pitch dark and already it was drizzling. She loved the smell of the rain mixed with that of the ocean. It always calmed her senses and brought her closer to nature. She could barely see anything in the dark for a few minutes and then she saw the glow of an advancing lantern. Finally, they were coming. They would have to be quick in getting to the church, the only place they could meet in secret.She closed the door and pulled her cloak tighter around her as the advancing figure reached her, out of breath
Last Updated : 2024-10-02Shadows In The Fire Chapter 14
‘Is he still in the garden? ’Faye asked, as they walked into Eli’s house. The entire way there, they had barely spoken a word to each other. It was the most uncomfortable ride of her life. There was a time when even their silences had been filled with unspoken words. Now, all there was, was regret and misery. ‘I left him in the kitchen when I went to your place, ’Eli said. ’When he’s like this, he likes to sit there and do crosswords in the newspapers.’‘Like the old days, ’she added. For the first time she saw Eli break out in a genuine smile, although it was tinged by sadness. ’Yes, like the old days. The only time I have a glimmer of the man my dad once was.’Pastor Evans’ face lit up when he saw her. He dropped the pencil he was holding and reached out with both arms towards her. ‘Faye, how lovely to see you, my dear, ’he said. ‘ It’s been too long. Let me look at you.’His embrace was warm and tender, bringing a fresh wave of sadness to her heart. It was so d
Last Updated : 2024-10-03Shadows In The Fire Chapter 15
‘Where am I? ’Faye asked. At the sound of her voice, candles flared into life and she saw she was in a church, standing at the altar. Not any church, but the one which had burnt down so long ago. She was wearing her wedding dress and when she reached up to touch her hair, it was styled as it was the day she married Nolan, pulled back in a simple, tight bun. ‘This church has seen much through the years.’Faye spun around. The woman who had spoken to her was tall, with beautiful emerald eyes. She came closer to her and Faye wondered why she was not recoiling from this stranger. She felt so familiar, as if she knew her. ‘I am Mathilda, ’she said, reaching up to caress Faye’s cheek. ’You have never seen me as this before.’‘Never. . . . ’Faye replied, ’always you are burnt in my dreams. Why am I seeing you like this now?’ ‘Because your life almost ended, ’Mathilda said. ’If it had, I would be here to meet you for your journey into the next world.’ ‘Almost? ’Faye a
Last Updated : 2024-10-05
Latest chapter
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
