We had all sat around the dinner table by oil lamp and candle-light, thankful for the blessing of useful antiques. The hearth had been lit and although we had considerable light, all shivered with the steadily growing cold. In many respects it eerily resembled a winter in Hedley, and a similar situation in an old farm-house not so long ago….
“They should have the power up and running again shortly.” Old Norman had reassured the women, “They have always been pretty good about that around here.”
“This meatloaf is absolutely the best--,” Maya’s dark eyes reflected fearfully as she pretended to be delighted in the meal by candle-light, “You really must share this recipe with me.”
“The trick is using quality meat—and to dice everything finely.” Eva explained, “I use red peppers, onions and real bread crumbs. I dry out the bread and make it myself.”
“It tastes so much better than mine--,” Caitlin shivered with a sudden chill, “Eva, I have forgotten, what spices do you use?”
“Well, dear, I use an egg, garlic powder, onion powder, sweet paprika, salt, pepper and cover the entire thing in a brown sugar and tomato-sauce mix, just before it’s done.”
“Well, that explains it!” Maya shyly smiled, “Uncle Red taught me to use ketchup—and always insisted on putting it into the mix, as well as smothering the whole thing.”
“I suppose that would work just as well?” Eva had winked, revealing that her special sauce might have had a secret ingredient, “I like it on some things as well.”
I had noticed as Merlin crept into the living-room behind everyone, and slipped quietly under the couch nearest the hearth. The poor little beast must have found it chilly in my office, especially without the heat.
“Is everything okay?” Caitlin had eyed me suspiciously while looking into the other room.
“I was just watching Merlin, sweetheart--,” I had explained while pointing with my fork, “He crawled under the couch near the fireplace. I suppose that he must have gotten cold in the office without any heat.” She had looked at me for a moment, and then accepted the explanation. I knew that she was deeply troubled by what I had previously told her. And the sudden black-out was definitely contributing to the fear and growing paranoia.
“The mashed potatoes are the best.” Rich drew our attention back to the meal, “I used your recipe last time, but there was just something missing—I’m not even sure what?”
“Did you use a wee sprinkle of nutmeg?” Eva inquired with a raised eyebrow. “I always add a little with the salt when mixing the fresh butter and milk into the mash.”
Looking down to the quartered and boiled potatoes that rested on my plate, it just didn’t seem right. Granted, she had cooked them extra special just for me, but I was drooling just listening to her description of the mashed variety.
The telephone suddenly rang and I almost knocked over my chair while rushing to answer! The power suddenly surged, the lights flashing several times and then lighting the entire house!
There were cheers behind me as I grabbed the receiver and answered, “Scott! I tried calling you and Red Cloud earlier, but the lines went down!”
“I know, bro--,” He answered as I listened closely, barely able to hear him, “They don’t know how long we’ll have the service, the storm is getting worse! I just called to let you know that everyone is doing just fine, and that old Red got lonely next door, so we had him come down early. He’s spending the holidays here with us.”
I had almost fallen backward with the sudden relief of hearing this, “That’s good to hear, you have no idea of how much this call means to me. Listen--,” I glanced over my shoulder and spoke quietly, “Please make sure that all of you wear those charms that we gave you. And, no matter what happens, do not take them off… Understand?”
“That’s a big ten four--,” His reply was solemn as he obviously understood, but unwilling to alarm the others, said, “Merry Christmas, bro, God bless and keep you all—I’ll try to call over the holidays if I can.”
“Best wishes to all of you as well--,” I peered out though the kitchen window and into the blackness of the storm, “Please, stay altogether and do not go out in the dark….”
“You know it--,” He cleared his throat, and attempting to sound reserved, quietly said, “We’re all going to get through this. Hang in there, bro—we love you all—till then….”
“Till then, dear friend….” I slowly hung up the phone.
“So, we have service again?” Rich called over as I walked back to the table and took my seat.
“Scott just called to let us know that Red Cloud is spending the holidays with them--,” I looked around the table while feeling significantly relieved, “They had him come over early due to the storm. So, everyone is going to be together over the holidays, you just can’t beat that!”
Rich had sighed deeply while using his fork to play in the broccoli that remained on his plate.”
“Pam and Jen are with Deb and her husband for the holidays--,” Maya had explained, “They had the space and being without other family, it was better than people left all alone.”
“Danny and Tanya have Dennis at their place--,” Rich raised a finger in thought, “His folks went to Florida for the holidays.”
“So, everyone is accounted for--,” Eva seemed pleased, but halting in thought, pointed a finger at me and suddenly said, “All except for those two friends of yours, Harry and Tim.”
“They were snowed in by the blizzard as well--,” Rich informed her between forkfuls of mashed potato, and politely wiped his mouth with a napkin, “We tried to contact them earlier, but all the telephone lines were down there as well.”
Merlin suddenly uttered a horrifying screech, causing Maya to spill her water glass and leap back from the table in a fright! We had all turned as he raced out from under the couch and ran madly up the stairs!
“What on earth has gotten into him?” Caitlin gasped, leaping up and spinning to look over at me, “He’s never done anything like that before!”
“Maybe he got a little too close to the fireplace--,” Rich had remarked while assisting Maya with the spilled water, “He could have toasted his buns a little by accident?”
“Oh, be nice!” Maya had slapped at his shoulder as he shrugged, obviously just trying to take the edge off.
“I’ll get that, dear--,” Eva had hurried over to help them with a towel that she had pulled from out of nowhere, “It’s just water—it’s not a big deal!”
The power had suddenly flickered again, flashing several times before finally just blacking out! As still concerned about Merlin, I had taken a lantern from the table and stood up, “I’ll go have a look at old Merlin. I’m a little worried about the old stinker. I’ll be right back.”
“All by yourself in the dark—you might fall down the stairs with your luck--,” Rich took a candelabra from the table and looked to Norman, “Watch over the women, I’ll go along to keep him company. No one have too much fun without us—okay?” It was apparent that he was just trying to cast a little light into a dismal situation. But the attempt had fallen into the same category as the spilled water glass. As shrugging with a sigh, he quickly followed as I moved from the dining room.
The house seemed far larger as the shadows extended and crept from all sides. The bitter chill was slowly invading through slight cracks in window sills and spaces from beneath the doors. We had both trembled as we swiftly made out way into the corridor and up the stairs. I had reached the landing in moments and hurried down the hall, confronted by my closed and seemingly locked office door!
“Didn’t you leave that open when we left it the last time?” He had held the lantern closer while appearing utterly confused.
“I certainly did—and I doubt very much that Merlin closed it.” I felt strangely threatened in my own home. Taking a firm hold upon the handle, I gave it a few good twists. Confused as panicking and looking to Rich, I backed off as he proceeded to break it down! He had put his shoulde
r to the door several times, but it wouldn’t even budge. It was an old fashioned oak construct and had been there for many years.
“Let’s do this together--,” We held our lanterns in opposite hands, while we both put the effort to work! As slamming our added weight into the door, it appeared to have slowly given way. In the third attempt the door flew inward with such force that we both crashed through, falling heavily to the floor! I had narrowly missed dropping and breaking the lantern, staring fearfully into the shadows of the room.
An indistinct shape had come swiftly from beneath the desk, flashing past as it dashed skittering upon the hardwood floors, and vanished from sight!
“Merlin’s okay--,” Rich had choked, his eyes glistening and wide in the lamp’s glow, “Whatever it was that scared the old boy doesn’t seem to be here anymore.”
I looked to where the raven sat, its red eyes flickering in the lamp-light’s steady glow, “There isn’t anything in here that’s ever bothered or frightened him before. But, there is a way that we might find out.” Looking to my friend in question, he had assumed my thoughts and quickly stepped out of the room. In that very same moment, I had turned back to the raven and whispered, “What have you seen—what do you know?”
The raven moved ever so slightly in the darkness, its red eyes shining as it focused intently upon me, “They have come, summoned by their master. Those lost in blizzards and buried beneath ice, the forgotten and long dead….”
“If they walk in shadow and are just spirits—what harm are they to us?”
“Through fear they derive strength and new form, as by the demons will, through the ice may manifest and unto death be reborn.”
“Can we fight them—keep them from getting to us?” I felt the blood run cold in my veins.
“Remain within the sanctuary of this place. For if you pass or breach these sanctified borders—you shall all perish….”
“None will leave--,” I felt the thunder of my heart as shadows now moved beyond the window and the storm, “None shall leave this place—no matter what happens….”
“You will create the circle of light and sacred symbol before the hearth--,” The raven whispered, “And remain there altogether until the dawn’s breaking light....”
“What about the book and cane?” I had asked, fearing for their safety.
“Those beyond have little use of such things—it’s your souls and lives that they desire most. Now make haste as the time grows short—for even now the dead gather about the gates....”
Grabbing at a hand-full of pastels that I had used for drawing, I shoved them into a pocket. As hurriedly moving out of the office, I caught Rich by the sleeve and pulled him close, “I’m afraid that we have a serious situation here. We need to make another circle—we have to prepare—hurry!”
Rich had followed without question. Rushing down the stairs, he proceeded to pull the furniture aside and roll the carpet as I set about the task!
“What on earth are you doing?” Eva was absolutely shocked as I drew an enormous circular outline in white pastel, “What is this all about now?”
“Please--,” Rich had motioned to her with a hand in gesture, “Just trust us—you really don’t want to know.”
Everyone had left the dinner table and now stood curiously watching as I created the symbol within the circle. There was a sense of apprehension and growing fear, something that now filled the room with a static that one could almost feel.
“This is old magic--,” Norman had gently stood and supported the frightened Eva, “Druidic or even older I would imagine, just looking at this thing.”
“It’s a symbol of protection--,” Rich explained as he placed oil lanterns around the outer ring, “We have our reasons—everyone please stay in this room.”
Eva had slowly nodded as Caitlin and Maya took Norman, and they all seated themselves on the couch nearest the hearth. Moving swiftly, I created the symbol, looking briefly at the windows while I worked. Pale forms now moved beyond the glass. Being barely noticeable, they drifted among the darkness of the trees in the frozen gardens.
The house had taken on an all new character, or perhaps something far older? In some respects, it now reminded me more of the McCreary House in the Duff Glenn. The shadows danced demonically upon the ceiling and walls as Rich poked about in the hissing and crackling coals. It was growing colder by the moment, but I suspected that it had very little to do with natural causes…
“We should really put away the supper things.” Eva had muttered, appearing quite disappointed. “It’s a shame to waste all that lovely food. It won’t take but a few moments between the four of us.”
Rich had looked to me in question and I had frowned, “It’s cooling off in here fast. I doubt that without power the fridge will be any better.”
“He’s got a point about that.” Norman had agreed, “And once you open it a few times, you’ll let the cold out of it anyways.”
“It’s really best if we all remain right here.” Caitlin shared my fear and revealed certain assertiveness, “But, I do need the bathroom—and would appreciate some company, please.”
“We can go altogether--,” Eva had agreed, “Its best that we take care of business now, rather than suffer through the entire evening.”
“I’ll see them safely there and back again--,” Norman picked up a lantern and paused while looking to me, “With your permission of course?”
Rather apprehensively I had nodded, my attention moving back toward the window where I had previously seen the spectral shapes. Finding them to have vanished, I said, “Alright—but everyone please be as quick as you can.”
Rich had taken a lantern, and following them into the hall, stood guard while watching between them and where I worked. I had just completed the symbol and stood back to make certain that it was properly done, when a scream sent me scrambling into the hall!
“Caitlin!” I had rushed into the shadow filled and lamp-lit room, observing the three women and Norman standing and just staring from out the large kitchen window.
“There was something out there!” Maya wept as Rich embraced her and held her close, “It was like a human face—but frozen and with white, pale and glowing eyes!”
“It’s just the storm, darling--,” Rich attempted to comfort the terrified woman, “And the reflection of the lamps in the ice on the windows. The glass has condensation on it from the temperature variations. It can create all kinds of strange things.”
“I saw it, too--,” Eva’s eyes were huge as she turned and stared, her voice barely above a whisper, “It came from out of the storm—it was the shape of a tall, thin man. He looked in the window, and his face was all bony and frozen. Michael--,” She gasped, slowly shaking her head in utter shock and disbelief, “I know death when I see it—and that man was most certainly long dead….”
I had looked to Caitlin in question and she had nodded without spoken reply. It was obvious by the horror in her eyes that she had witnessed something similar.
“Let’s all move into the living room--,” Rich urged as he led Maya away, “We can sit by the hearth and have tea and coffee, and maybe some of Eva’s lovely cookies and cake?”
Norman had assisted as we swiftly took the kettle, cups, plates and desserts into the living-room and then set everything down upon the long oak coffee table. We had gathered about on the furniture and formed a ring about the circle and in front of the hearth.
There was a furtive movement in the darkness, a shadow that now crept closer from out of the adjoining hall. Glancing at Rich, I had retrieved a lantern from the floor, and moving quickly, caught hold of the poor cat.
“Oh, my poor old friend--,” I had placed down the lantern, picking Merlin up with a grunt, and carried him into the room, “Rich, would you mind getting the cat carrier from out of the main closet at the front door?”
He had done this without as much as a second thought. Hurriedly returning, he had passed me the large cage, and knowingly said, “I re
alize how much you hate to put him into that thing, but it’s the only way to make sure that he’s safe.”
We had all been astounded as Merlin hadn’t even put up his usual struggle, and instead, had just quietly slipped into the little shelter without a sound.
“He certainly isn’t acting like his usual self.” Old Norman had pointed out, “He prefers to have the run of things. I’ve never seen him this quiet before….”
“Maybe he’s getting cold?” Maya rubbed at the long sleeved sweater that covered her arms, “It’s getting colder in here by the minute. Isn’t there anything that we can do?”
“I have a generator in the truck--,” Rich contemplated, but I immediately cut him short, “No one is going back out there tonight, but we can get some blankets to help stay warm.”
Caitlin and Eva had moved to undertake the chore, but I had halted them, and insisted, “Please—I’ll go with Rich while Norman stays here with you.”
Chapter NINeTEEn
I had tested the telephone several times, but the lines had apparently kept going down. It had come to the point where we had all sat silently and half-asleep as we stared into the hearth. The blankets that we had gathered now offered little warmth. Even with the flames burning brightly, the temperatures continued to steadily drop.
The wind howled beyond the house as the blizzard continued into the night. There was little comfort as we all shivered, nibbled at cakes and shared tea to stay warm. And for some reason, with everything that was now happening, I could not help but feel blamed. Whether it was the subtle glances exchanged, or just my own conscience, I was unsure, but I felt a growing paranoia, a steadily growing and overwhelming fear.
“Michael, my dear--,” Eva had suddenly looked up from where she sat cuddled in blankets with Norman upon the couch, “Please don’t take me wrong—because this will sound terrible. But, is this all just some strange coincidence—or devilry brought upon us by your work?”
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