All Chapters of Shadows In The Fire: Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

‘I’m not comfortable with this, ’Sybil said, as she poured each of them another cup of tea. ’In your condition Faye, the last thing on your mind should be chasing after some supernatural entity. Lord, this is madness!’Faye took the cup Sybil offered and looked to Eli for support. He most of all would understand why she was doing this, why she was pursuing this seemingly unattainable goal. His own father had fallen prey and victim to this evil. The Mary he had called for in his sleep, she was connected to this somehow and Faye knew Eli would not desert her in this moment. He himself wanted to see justice prevail, if only to give some peace to his father’s memory. ‘Sybil, ’he said, ’I know how dangerous this must seem, but Faye has a chance to finally live a normal life, free of all these haunting dreams and visions. If this is her destiny, she must face it.’Sybil’s jaw literally dropped as she stared aghast at Eli. ’You make it sound as if she has to fulfill a prophecy.

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. ’

‘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

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

‘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