Lena (Gypsy Spirits Book 3)

by Marianne Spitzer

  “We are watching over all of you. Georg returned with us to watch over Sam. Georg is stronger than Daniel, Garret, and the witch’s magic. Sam will be safe. Daniel and Garret will be somewhat confused. They remember Timmus Woods as it was in 1967. That was nearly sixteen years ago. Things have changed. It will play in your favor.” Magdalena said.

  Annamarie nodded. She felt calm embrace her. She rolled over and woke.

  Daniel was furious he was unable to frighten anyone at his former in-laws home. Lena was a thorn in his side, daughter or not, he hated her. She was too much like her mother. “I hate that woman, how could I have ever married her?” He yelled loud enough to shake the dishes on the shelves in the cabin.

  Garret asked, “Your mother pushed you into that marriage. What are we going to do next?”

  “Annamarie’s ancestors are camped in the pines. We have to be sneaky. The witch told us no one would know who we are if we possess someone’s body. We need to find a way out of town and come back as people no one knows.”

  “Let’s do it. Can we find some young bodies and pick up some women before we give the bodies back. I could use a little …”

  “Shut up, Garret. Once Annamarie has paid for what she did to me, you can have fun, if we have time. It’s late now. In the morning, we’ll hitch a ride out of town and come back as strangers. We can find answers and have a little fun.” Daniel laughed again. He was enjoying plotting and planning.

  Bonnie was in a deep slumber, her breathing slow and even. She began dreaming. Her dreams took her to her favorite places. She walked through a beautiful field of blue bells in a Texas field. She heard a gentle voice call her name. It pulled her back to Timmus Woods and the pines. She could smell the pines as the blue bells disappeared.

  “Bonnie … Bonnie … walk this way. See the lovely fire.” Bonnie followed the voice and saw the bonfire in the distance. She was in her nightgown and barefoot, but didn’t feel the twigs and pine needles beneath her feet. She was drawn to the fire.

  Magdalena stepped forward to greet her. “Come, Bonnie, sit with me.” Bonnie sat on a blanket near the fire.

  “Do I know you?” asked Bonnie.

  “My name is Magdalena.”

  “You are Annamarie’s great-grandmother. My niece Lena is named after you.”

  “Yes, my dear Magdalena, or Lena as you call her, is my great-great-granddaughter. Carl is my great-grandson. Your girls are my great-great-granddaughters. I love all of them deeply and will do my best to keep them safe.”

  “I am worried about Emmy and Lizzy. They are so little. Daniel and Garret will harm them.”

  “Do not worry child, Lena is teaching them what they need to know to keep themselves safe. They will also keep you safe the way Lena did when she was small. Your twins are connected strongly to each other. That connection will never be broken. It will also make their connection with the powers they already possess easier to access. They were born with them as was Lena. Lena will teach them. You saw the beginning last night with what they call ‘sparkles.’ Soon they will be able to throw an adult across a field with that same power.”

  “I am confused. How can they do it? I don’t understand why Daniel and Garret aren’t in heaven or hell. Why are they here?”

  “They made a pact and have come back to harm Annamarie and anyone who gets in their way. We’ll keep you safe. Sleep now and speak with Annamarie tomorrow. You will understand.”

  Bonnie mumbled in her sleep and curled up under her blanket.

  Emmy and Lizzy walked hand in hand into the pines. They were dressed in identical pink cotton pajamas with white lace around the sleeves and collar. Their long dark hair hung in soft ringlets around their faces. Giggling as they walked toward the bonfire, they waved at Magdalena. She was sitting on a blanket waiting for them.

  “Hi,” the girls said together. “You look like Aunt Annamarie.”

  “That’s because I am her great-grandma. I’m you’re great-great-grandma, would you like to sit and talk to me.”

  “Sure,” they said hopping onto the blanket.

  Magdalena hugged the girls and said, “Lena is going to teach you special magic. I want you to listen to her very carefully. Both of you have magic in your hearts. When you learn to use it, no one will ever be able to hurt you.”

  “Is it hard to learn?” Lizzy asked.

  “No, the magic is there hiding. Lena will show you how to pull it out.”

  “Magic is fun,” Emmy said.

  “When you need it, you will know what to do. When you are in trouble, you will hold hands and be twice as strong. You are special. You are twins. Always remember you are stronger together. Even if you only think about each other you will be stronger.” She kissed each girl on the forehead. “Now sleep my little ones.”

  Lizzy and Emmy mumbled in their sleep as they each rolled over in their matching twin canopy beds.

  Try as she might, Magdalena could not break into Carl’s sleep. Josef tried, but Carl’s mind fought him. Carl still didn’t believe in the Gypsies, the magic, or that Daniel’s spirit was near.

  Josef said, “He is very stubborn like you.”

  Magdalena laughed at her husband, “Perhaps I am stubborn, but it is a good trait to pass on to the children. They will need it soon.”

  Chapter Four

  Mornings were hectic in a household with six year old twins. Bonnie was up early and made coffee. She was pouring cereal for the girls when Carl ambled into the kitchen.

  “You look tired. Didn’t you sleep well?” Bonnie asked.

  “No. Weird dreams kept waking me. I felt I was being pulled somewhere and then I’d wake up. Annamarie’s conversation kept going through my mind making it difficult to sleep. It was a bad night.” He sat down at the table staring into his empty coffee cup. Bonnie filled it for him.

  “Unusual dreams bothered me, too. What Annamarie talked about last night got to me. I have the feeling I need to speak to her this morning.” Bonnie set the coffee pot back on the stove.

  Lizzy and Emmy said at the same time, “That’s because you dreamed of great-great-grandma Magdalena. She lives in the pines and looks just like Aunt Annamarie.” They continued to eat their cereal.

  Carl’s brow furrowed when he looked at Bonnie. “Since when do they speak the same words at the same time? It’s odd.”

  Bonnie shrugged. “Twins can do a lot of things together.”

  “Speaking?”

  Bonnie shrugged again.

  The girls speaking together again said, “If you would have gone to the pines last night Daddy, you would understand. We’re special and when we’re connected we’re twice as strong. We can protect you and mommy. Lena is going to show us how to be even stronger. We’re magic.” They finished their milk and jumped down from their chairs. As they ran from the kitchen Carl scowled at Bonnie.

  She held up her hands, “Calm down, I’ll go see Annamarie this morning. I don’t start work until ten. There has to be a reason they are talking as one and all this silliness about being special and magic.”

  Bonnie dropped the girls at Paula’s as she did each work day and headed for Annamarie’s. She needed to find answers and fast. Carl was beyond angry when he left for work.

  Annamarie saw Bonnie’s car pull up and met her friend at the front door. Bonnie’s tears gave away her fear before she could say a word. Annamarie understood and hugged her.

  “C’mon in, we need to talk. It’ll help you, I promise.”

  Bonnie followed Annamarie into the kitchen, wiping tears from her eyes.

  “We sent Elaine on vacation. I’ll get us some coffee.”

  Bonnie wrapped her hands around her cup and glanced at Annamarie. “I had a dream last night, but I don’t understand why.”

  “You saw my great-grandparents?”

  Bonnie nodded and took a sip of coffee.

  “What did they say?”

  Bonnie told her what Magdalena had said. “Please explain all of this,” she asked Annamarie
when she finished.

  Annamarie set a plate of cookies on the table. “Remember back in high school when Daniel was convinced there were spirits in the woods?”

  Bonnie looked over her coffee cup, “Were there?”

  “No, not then. Carl explained to you my ancestors came here to protect me because they knew Daniel was getting involved with evil people. They also knew he would become a spirit and would need to protect Lena and me.”

  “Was Daniel a spirit when we had to leave town because of the spirit battle that took place. Carl thinks you’re loony. He wasn’t sure he believed it then even though your parents told him it was true. Steve Dunley also spoke to him, but you know Carl’s stubborn.”

  “Yes, Daniel’s spirit was here and Garret’s spirit was with him. Steve is the best deputy we’ve had in Timmus Woods. Deb told me he is thinking of running for sheriff when Richardson retires. Carl should believe him.”

  Bonnie set her cup down and placed her hands on the table. “Carl believes what he can see. The sparkles the girls shot out of their fingers last night freaked him out. This morning they were speaking in unison. They told us it’s because they had a dream. They’re connected and magic. Carl is livid.”

  Reaching out to take her friend’s hand, Annamarie said, “Carl should give in and let my great-grandparents speak to him during a dream. He would understand everything. Because the girls are twins they’re already somewhat connected. Now they’re connected to all the spirits and to Lena. They’re magical and it’ll get stronger.”

  Bonnie pulled her hand away, “Why? Why my girls? Daniel was your husband. You should deal with him.” Her tears turned to anger.

  “I can’t tell you why except Lena and the girls are connected and are special. It is from our blood connection to Magdalena and Josef. Carl and I are also connected, but not as strongly. For some reason, Michael has barely any connection and little protection which is why we sent him away.”

  “Did you mean it when you said you would pay to send your mom and the girls somewhere, too?”

  “Yes, anywhere for as long as you want.”

  Lena came bounding down the stairs. “Hi Aunt Bonnie, Lizzy and Emmy must have dreamt about Magdalena last night. Their power is growing. I can read their thoughts and I can talk to them without words and they hear me, too. It’s great. They’ll be a great help when the battle begins.” She grabbed a donut and disappeared back upstairs.

  “Battle?” Bonnie’s lips trembled as she spoke. “How can my babies fight any kind of battle?” She gave in to her emotions and burst into tears.

  “I don’t know, but I’ll find out. Next time you dream, and there will be a next time, ask Magdalena more questions. She’ll answer them all, and also keep us safe, I promise. Try to get Carl to listen to them, too.”

  “Listen to them, when I tell him that, he’ll have me committed. I have to get to work. I’ll call you later.”

  Both friends hugged and Annamarie walked Bonnie out to her car. “It’ll be okay, we beat Daniel before, we’ll do it again, I promise.”

  Bonnie nodded, got into her car and drove out of Annamarie’s drive headed for the hospital.

  As Annamarie walked back to the house she heard the sound of a large, angry wolf. She yelled, “Shut up Daniel, you know I’m right. You’ll lose again.”

  The howling grew louder and Annamarie shut the front door blocking the sound.

  Daniel’s anger grew when he realized Annamarie wasn’t frightened of him. He was determined to change that. Garret was ready to possess a body and cause mayhem. They flew down to Prairie Road looking for a vehicle. Attaching themselves to a vehicle on its way out of town would get them where they wanted to go. Garret spotted a Hansen’s Dairy delivery truck heading out of town. Both spirits flew and attached themselves to the moving vehicle. It would save their energy and get them far away from Timmus Woods.

  They dropped off the truck in a small town about ten miles from where they began their trip. The milk delivery driver made his last stop at a small market, and Daniel and Garret looked for two bodies to inhabit. Two young men in their twenties were getting into a black pick-up truck when Daniel and Garret’s spirits spun around them and entered their bodies.

  Garret, in the passenger seat, said, “Am I feeling what I think I am? I feel a heartbeat, I have skin and hair. I see a face in the side mirror. What are we going to do now?”

  “First thing is head back to Timmus Woods,” Daniel laughed. “We’re going to have breakfast at Ray’s. I have a pocket full of cash.”

  Garret pulled out a wallet. “It’s full of twenties. Wow, am I rich, or have prices gone up a lot in fifteen years?”

  “Not sure, but we’ll find out,” Daniel gunned the engine and flew down the highway toward Timmus Woods.

  The radio blared country songs neither had ever heard before. Daniel turned it off. “There’s a lot we’re going to have to learn to fit in, but first we’re going to taste food after fifteen years.” Daniel pulled into Ray’s and parked.

  Garret slid into a booth, “Well, this place hasn’t changed much.” He grabbed a menu. “The prices have. Glad I have all the twenties.”

  A gray haired lady walked up and said, “Morning, boys, what can I get you?”

  It took Daniel a moment to realize the woman was Greta. He smiled at her, “Would it be too much trouble to get one of Ray’s hot fudge malts? I heard they’re extremely good.”

  “Sure, I can do that, anything else?”

  “Umm, blueberry pancakes, bacon, hash browns, and white toast.”

  She glanced at Garret, “Same here except make my malt vanilla.”

  She winked, “be right up.”

  Garret opened a pack of sugar and poured it in his mouth. “I never tasted anything that good.”

  “Stop acting weird! People will begin to wonder.”

  Greta brought the malts and the young men tried their best to drink them while appearing normal. A few minutes later she was back with plates of food. It was harder to resist and they ate with abandon.

  Garret asked, “What now?”

  “Now we have some fun. Let’s check out how much the town has changed and maybe find Annamarie outside of her house. I’d love to scare her again.”

  Garret grabbed two more packets of sugar and followed Daniel to the truck.

  Annamarie ran the dishwasher, filled the washer, and sat at the kitchen table. With Elaine on vacation, she would have to do the cooking and cleaning. Michael was in California, Sam was neat, and Lena would help, if necessary. She needed to get out of the house. Lena was at her grandma’s visiting with the twins. Knowing Lena would be teaching them how to use their powers, she didn’t want to disturb them. A trip to the library would be a nice way to spend some time. She gathered up her library books and headed out.

  The black pick-up sat idling at the end of Prairie Road. Daniel grinned knowing the Gypsy spirits couldn’t detect him in human form. A gift from the witch was helping them hide. They could see the house clearly from their spot. When Annamarie’s red Chevy left the driveway, they followed.

  Garret laughed, “Can you believe she had the nerve to keep the car you gave her. She pushed you off that cliff?”

  “She’ll pay. She’ll pay for all of it.”

  Daniel followed Annamarie’s car down Prairie Road.

  Lena sat on the floor in Emmy and Lizzy’s room in their Grandma Schneider’s house. The twins were wearing identical yellow flowered shorts and yellow ruffled tops. Both girls sat down in front of Lena and held hands. If not for the tiny brown spot near Lizzy’s left ear, Lena wouldn’t be able to tell them apart. They even smiled the same smile.

  When they spoke with Lena, they didn’t speak in unison. Lena could read their thoughts, but she didn’t want to scare them. There was plenty of time to learn telepathy before they needed it. Emmy spoke first. “I had a dream about our great-great-great-grandma. She said her name is Magdalena. She looks just like your mommy. Lizzy and I are going to be
warriors. What’s a warrior?” Wrinkling her nose, she looked at Lena.

  Lena smiled, “We’ll call her Grandma Magdalena. It’s easier. A warrior is a very brave person who fights bad people.”

  “Grandma Magdalena said I’m a warrior, too” added Emmy. “Mommy said it’s bad to fight. Daddy told me never to hit anyone.”

  “Don’t worry, sweetie, you won’t be hitting anyone. We are going to use our minds and our sparkles.”

  “I love the sparkles,” they said in unison this time. Lena laughed at how cute and innocent they looked. It was hard for her to believe they were warriors. Her Uncle Carl and Aunt Bonnie wouldn’t be happy.

  Emmy asked, “How are we going to be warriors if we can’t fight?”

  “I’m going to teach you how to use your magic sparkles to make bad people stop what they’re doing. I want each of you to concentrate really hard and see if you can make one of your teddy bears float with your sparkles. Watch me.”

  Lena held out her hand and she forced herself to use the old methods she had learned. She pushed sparkles out of her fingers and made one of Lizzy’s dolls float around the room.

  The twins giggled and clapped their hands.

  “Okay, your turn,” Lena said. “Try really hard to make sparkles and then make the teddy bear fly.”

  Both twins squinted and stared at the teddy bear. It lifted about a foot off the bed and was beginning to float closer when Paula walked in and inhaled sharply. The bear fell to the floor. Both girls burst into tears.