Spirit Guide (Myth-Series Book 2)

by Angela K. Crandall

  “Not recently, I’ll see her at the trial. I’m sure.”

  “This is taking forever,” Megan groaned, throwing herself on my bed to stare at the fake stars on the ceiling.

  “We’ve got four more to go. Do you want to ask about your past, present, and future with Chaz?”

  “For sure,” she announced, as I turned over another card. It revealed The Page of Cups.

  “You’re seeking emotional happiness. It could represent a social gathering of family and friends. Hence the trial. We’ll all be there, except Megan.”

  “Exclude me again,” she murmured.

  “I don’t think you want to be near the Bandits. They aren’t much fun,” I retorted, turning over the next three cards. The Fool, Reversed-Eight of Rods, and Two of Pentacles.

  My mom touched the cards delicately in an inquisitive manner. “I must be careful of those in my inner circle. This is, what the Fool warns me. The Rod tells me to slow down. I need to take my time. The last cards the outcome. Well, it could be. If I choose, to stay with the clan. Which I’m sure, I have. I’ll be juggling two lives, jobs pretty much.”

  My jaw nearly hit the ground. Megan was still staring at the stars on the ceiling.

  “Cool, mom! You’re with us?” I asked.

  She laid her hand on my back, then leaned her chin on my shoulder. First, she looked at me, then at Megan. “Pretty positive. For now, let’s keep my decision between us. I hope, I don’t change my mind.”

  “Me too. That was exhausting. It’s been months, since I’ve done a reading. It didn’t tell us anything about the wolf or the outcome of the trial.”

  “It wasn’t supposed to. It was guiding me to make the right choice, to select a path.” Mom looked at her wrist watch. “It’s late. Chaz Tarot will have to wait. I’m sorry Megan.”

  “I guess it's Okay,” she grumbled. “I'm worn out. Sis? You’ll eventually show me how to use those?”

  “Okay, later. I have to be awake at six in the morning. I guess, we’re not going on that foxtrot tonight.”

  “Who told you I was considering it?” Tri asked.

  “No one, just a gut feeling I had,” I answered picking up the cards. I put them back in the box, grabbed the book, and shoved them into my nightstand. Megan bounced off the bed. Afterward, heading to the door.

  I started to stand, but my mom reached over pulling me into a hug. I squeezed her back. Then she let go of me.

  “Night mom.”

  “Night,” she answered following my sister out into the hallway.

  Chapter 46

  (Dan)

  I pulled back the curtains that concealed the outside world and stared out into the night. There wasn't a soul in sight. The parking lot was nearly full. What was our visitor’s policy? Oh, why did I care? I drew my hand away from the window. The curtain dropped back into place upon hearing the bedroom door creak open. Tri quietly slipped into the room.

  “How did it go? Did Megan learn about Tarot?” I asked.

  “Megan wanted to find out about Chaz. He's a boy in her class. Starla though had other plans,” she stated, wandering over to our bed. She plopped down and took off her shoes.

  “She did, did she?” I asked, joining her. I laid my hand on her shoulder. Then propped myself, up behind her placing my hands on her back. I began to give her a massage.

  “Thanks. Yes, our daughter decided I ought to have a tarot reading. It was a pretty good one too. Out there mind you, but well performed. Megan wasn’t kidding when she said Starla had used them before. How did she hide it under our noses?”

  “Let me remind you how we hid things. Or you hid things for years to protect the girls. Starla’s, always been independent. Yeah, she prefers to live at home. In spite of that, you can’t take the wild out of the Fox. Clearly, the two of you need bonding time.” I began chopping her back lightly with my hands. After minutes had passed. She pushed them aside, turning to face me.

  “The cards were spot on tonight. Everything's still here,” she said, patting her chest area to indicate her heart. “My confusion with the clan, the strong man in my life who helps me face, and overcome obstacles. You know I love to admit that,” she chided, getting up to get her nightgown out of the closet.

  “True, did the cards tell you anything you didn’t know?”

  “That I should be leery of get-rich-quick schemes. Although I think it has more to do with watching out for people misleading me. The fool was in the set,” she admitted. Then turned away from me opening the closet door. She reached in and pulled out a long purple shirt. Then shuffled back to the bed. She set down the nightgown and thought better of it.

  “What’s up?”

  “Maybe I should take a shower. It’s been a long day.”

  “Can I join you?” I asked.

  “I’d like to be alone, think over everything. Right now I’m mulling over obstacles.”

  “Tri, what kind of problem are you trying to solve?”

  “Whether or not I should swim, or fall back. Starla’s last training sessions tomorrow. You should get to bed. Get some sleep. I may wake our daughter for a midnight run. Bonding as you were saying. Not sure yet,” she acknowledged, grabbing the nightgown off of the bed.

  I stood up, pulling her to me. Then traced her cheek with my fingertip, leaning in to kiss her. It was quick and so, sweet. We parted, and she turned to leave. “Do what you need to, Okay. Just try not to wake me when you come to bed.”

  “Okay,” she said, closing the door behind her.

  Chapter 47

  (Starla)

  About an hour later I woke up. Somebody was banging on my door. Who could it possibly be? If it was mom, wouldn't she just march-in? I threw off my covers sliding off the bed. Cautiously, I inched to the bedroom door.

  “Who’s there? Mom? Megan is that you?”

  Suddenly the door flew open. There in the hallway, a fox stood grinning at me. Startled, I jumped back and hit the floor. It trotted into my room. It wasn’t Nayla, could it be? I stood up carefully approaching it.

  “Mom? Is that, really you?”

  “We’re going for a midnight run,” she stated.

  “Nayla isn’t going to be happy.” I cast my eyes downward on the floor and started to pace. Mom darted underneath my hand, and I grazed her fur.

  “Come on, you constantly say, I’m too rigid. I don’t let loose enough. You kept talking about us doing this. Why are you so reluctant?” asked Tri.

  “Because, I have to be up in six hours!” Who was I kidding? My mom was opening up to me. Why did I want to shut her out? I walked over and sat back down on the bed.

  “Tomorrow, everything could change. Meet me out back? I can leave if you want to transition alone.”

  I shook my head no. “It’s Okay mom. Where exactly are we going? You know Fern and Earl are on the look out,” I reminded her.

  “Yeah, I didn’t think about that,” she remarked. I turned to look out the window. Satisfied. She looked back at me. “I’m attempting to be spontaneous. Go me!”

  I snickered. Then took my stance to begin my transformation. I was about to close my eyes when a shadow arose inches from my mother. My eyes widened. “Act fast-Mom, run!” I cried.

  She sprang in the opposite direction of where she stood, stumbling against me. I tried to push her through the doorway into the hall. Instead, we fell in a heap on the wood floor together. What am I doing? A shadow couldn’t harm anyone, could it?

  “What’s going on?” Megan demanded, standing in the doorway, her hands rested on her hips. “I heard yelling, then a thud. Mom, what are you doing in Fox form?”

  “Something was here. A shadow! Sika was telling the truth,” she announced, ignoring Megan’s question. I brushed against her as I stood up.

  “It was right there!” I pointed near the window where it had materialized. Something red lay on the floor, but nothing else.

  “What’s that?” asked Megan. She took a few steps, then a few more.

  “Do
n’t, leave it!” I shouted, grabbing her shirt. I yanked her back near mom and me. “We don’t know what it is,” I scolded her. Then let go of her nightshirt, allowing her to stand next to me.

  “Yeah, but it could be a tracking device,” she whispered.

  “Leave it, for now,” I replied.

  Mom nudged me with her nose. “Starla, try to contact Nayla.”

  “Definitely, should I buzz them using my birthmark or mind speak?”

  “Either,” she instructed.

  I positioned myself on the floor, breathing in, then out bringing my mind into solace. Then built a protective wall around myself hoping nothing could enter. I pushed an immediate buzz out to Nayla. I was going to attempt Shellena when seconds later a loud stomping sound came closer and closer. Abruptly, it stopped. I jolted upright before contact. My dad stood in the doorway.

  “Way to go, dad!” I exclaimed, slamming my fist into the floor.

  “What?” he asked as he stepped into the room. “Is this what happens when I allow you to run rapid as a fox,” he joked.

  “No time for jokes. This is serious. I was trying to contact Shellena. I may have reached Nayla. I’m not sure,” I answered.

  “I thought you were going on a midnight run. What the heck happened?”

  “A shadow, maybe Sika’s,” Megan fretted. She pulled her nightshirt tightly around herself.

  “Tri, did you actually, see this shadow?”

  I rolled my eyes at my father. Why would we lie to him? It’s not as if I had a reason to try to gain his attention.

  “Of course, we did!” exclaimed Tri.

  Megan pointed to the floor where the unknown object lay. My dad nodded to her. Then cautiously moved towards it. He was almost there.

  “Don’t touch it! It’s evidence,” a voice spoke.

  Dan stopped.

  Where had that voice come from, Nayla? I thought looking around. She emerged in front of him as if she’d come out of nowhere. Was she projecting herself? How did she do that?

  “Whatever occurred, we cannot compromise evidence. Was it the black wolf?”

  I stepped towards her. “No, it was a shadow. I’m uncertain if it was the same one Sika was ranting about,” I added.

  “I see. What are you doing in fox form Tri?”

  My mom looked around as if she didn’t know what to say. She’d been caught red-handed. Nayla didn’t wait for her to answer.

  “Well, If you still sense you require this midnight run. I’ll join you. It’s not safe to go alone.” Nayla stepped aside and proceeded to examine the object from a distance. She backed up and sat on her hind quarters. “Dan, grab your gloves, and a kit. It appears to be cloth of some kind. Bag it. We’ll take it to Cavin.”

  “But I thought you said you’d go on a run with us?” I interrupted.

  “You’ll follow us to the park. That should be a long enough jaunt for you to let off some steam. We might as well stay in the reflection room. There are blankets in the closet there. Also, those pillows we use for meditation,” Nayla commented.

  Megan, who’d been standing in the middle of my room finally spoke up. “If everyone leaves, I’ll be alone. Alone! And what if that shadow comes back?” She squeaked. She sounded like a mouse.

  “You’ll come with us. If that’s Okay with Nayla,” Tri suggested.

  “I don’t imagine we have any other choice at this point. Dan, grab your things. Then carefully collect the evidence. I can’t touch anything in this form.”

  My dad nodded to Nayla, slipped out of the room, and we waited for him to return.

  “Shouldn’t you go back to your body? How is it we can see you?” I inquired.

  “It’s sort of like a ghost, residual.”

  “Freaky,” Megan commented, leaning against the wall.

  “What about Fern and Earl? What if they see us?”

  “We’ll take our chances. It’s not as if foxes don’t exist in Springfield. Just don’t put on a show. Starla, you should shift. Megan, grab your sister some clothes and put them in her knapsack. Then get dressed. Starla, you’ll have to contact Jenson and Molly tomorrow.”

  I heard my dad stomp up the stairs. He was out of breath. Swiftly he moved with gloved hands retrieving the evidence. Afterwards giving Nayla a thumps up.

  “Dan, get in touch with Owl. He should bring Molly and Jenson to the trial,” Tri instructed.

  “Will do! I’ll meet everyone later at the park,” he said turning to go. He gave my mom a quick kiss before departing.

  “Mom, did you just read my mind? No, this is so not cool!” I groaned. Buffy’s mother never had any super powers! I glared at my sister annoyed that she was taking things so lightly.

  A sly smirk formed on Nayla’s lips. “So you’re back for good?”

  My mom took a deep breath, then shook alleviating the stress from her body. A slight radiance of confidence was emitting off of her. “I’m not sure,” she laughed. “That’s the first time, I’ve done that, in a long time.”

  Great, my Mom could read my mind! How was I going to handle this? What about my intimate thoughts!? I began to panic. Yeah, I wasn’t supposed to change this way, but it was happening!

  Nayla tapped me with her paw. My head felt as if someone had hit me with a baseball bat. Groggily, I stood up on all fours. Then stretched my body forward, then backward. I sat down facing her.

  “Mom, can’t read my mind all the time, can she? I can’t live like this. I can’t. There’s already so much going on! It makes my head spin! I feel like Linda Blair in The Exorcist.”

  “Calm down dear. It’s going to be Okay. Tri isn’t going to invade your mind every second of the day. It’s activated through fear. Granted, she used to be able to control it. Come now, everyone’s downstairs. Dan’s collected the evidence. We have to go.” She bounced up shoving me towards the hallway.

  “Megan has my clothes? I’m all set for tomorrow?” I asked, looking back at her.

  “That you are.”

  I trotted to the door, then stopped. “Are you alright?”

  “I’m okay. After this trial, I’ll be leaving. I can't stay here much longer. I’m hoping this black wolf. The one claiming he’s a protector of sorts. I’m praying to the gods, he takes over.” Nayla trotted to me, then pushed me from behind. I nearly fell flat on my face.

  “Come, Tri is waiting. Dan’s probably already at Hunter’s Park by now. We need to get you and your sister tucked in. Ah, you’re making me sound like a mother.”

  I chuckled, “Were you ever?”

  “No, dear, I can’t have kits.”

  I gave Nayla a sympathetic look. Then raced down the stairs as she trailed behind me. Fritz dashed out of the kitchen at us. My eyes grew wide. I backed up trying to get away from him. “Fritz!” I hollered

  “Let him be.”

  He leapt up at me. Then began his examination. Once he finished, he scampered down the hall into the living room. Nayla and I dove into the kitchen, heading for the back door. Out the doggie door we went. I spotted my mom in her fox form near a bush. Hidden to detour Fern and Earl from suspicion.

  Chapter 48

  (Dan)

  I entered the kitchen switching on the light. Then made my way to the counter. I'd been reluctant to leave everyone upstairs, especially after Megan had freaked out about being left alone. Maybe I should have stayed? Before Starla, changed into fox form, I’d gathered up the evidence. Then left. I glanced down at it in my hand. I’d stored it first in a zip-lock bag. Then I’d put it in a box. It should be safe I thought and placed it under my arm. Now, should I go to Ranger Mikes first? Do I take the car, or walk? What would be the least suspicious? I felt in my pocket for my keys and pulled them out. I probably looked awful. My hair was a mess, and I’d grabbed jeans and a T-shirt out of the hamper. Darn it! I hope I had a coat in the car.

  Well, I should go. My family would join me shortly, I thought reluctantly. I grabbed the door handle, opening it. Fritz ran out of the laundry room barking.
He knew something was wrong. “No, no Fritz. You have to stay here,” I said, shutting the back door. I stood there examining the parking lot. No one in sight, best to leave now. At least I wasn’t a fox. I didn’t have to worry about Earl and Fern fussing about that. However, leaving our apartment at one in the morning was a different story. I scrambled to the car. Then got in. Before putting the keys in the ignition my cell phone rang. It was Jones.

  “This better be vital. I’m on my way to Hunter’s Park. Tri and Starla were going to go on a spontaneous fox run when a shadow decided to appear,” I informed him. Then put the keys in the ignition starting the car. It roared to life.

  “Crap! The Trinity reported three of them, lurking around the park. This is, what I was afraid would happen. Where are Starla and Tri now?” he demanded.

  “They’re with Nayla,” I stated, pulling out of the complex, and into traffic. If I’d been driving a squad car, I’d have put my lights on. I’d need to come up with an excuse if I was pulled over for speeding. At least I had my badge the officer’s from the force had given me in case of emergencies.

  “Are you still there?”

  “Yeah, I'm here,” I responded.

  “All right. I’m with Ranger, Mike. Cavin was just here. He left to meet everyone in the dining hall.”

  “Is this trial happening tonight? Has it got that out of hand!” I blurted as I turned onto the road leading into the park.

  “No, no. We’re just going to lay low there for the night. It’s better if everyone stays together. Cavin and Kaya believe it’s safer that way.”

  “I don’t blame them. What about the bandits? Are they attempting a breakout, or cowering in their cage?” I asked, pulling into Hunter’s Park.

  “There is a protective barrier encircling them. They cannot escape. The shadows should not be able to enter. Sika isn’t thrilled with being forced to stay there this evening. He though has no choice.”

  “Right. I’m parking now. Are you at the station, or...?”