“Annamarie, come here, please.”
His tone worried her and she hurried to the side of the garage. It appeared to be covered in blood.
“What the hell…”
“I don’t know,” said Sam. “The wind was strong enough to slam an animal into the side of the garage, but where is the carcass? This is too much blood. Something odd is going on. I’m going to call the sheriff.”
Annamarie stared at the pines and she thought, I know you did this, Daniel. What is it? Retribution for my visit to your mom? You won’t win. Josef will find you and you’ll pay. We have more power than you and Garret. Go to hell where you belong.
Sam touched her shoulder making her jump. “A penny for your thoughts?”
“I don’t know, Sam, this is creepy. I wonder if Daniel is involved since Father Mueller’s blessing may be keeping him outside.”
“I don’t know, hon, but the sheriff is here.”
Sheriff Richardson stared at the garage wall for quite some time before he spoke.
“I can’t say it’s human. If it is, then more than one body was involved, but where are they? It’s also fresh and doesn’t appear to be mixed with rainwater, which it should be. This is all we need, another mystery.”
He took several samples from different areas of the wall and said he would have it tested immediately.
“If it’s human, we need to look for a body. If it isn’t, I’d like to know where the animal is that left this amount of blood. If a flock of birds was thrown against the wall during the storm, some would still be on the ground even if the rest were tossed into the field somewhere.”
“Thanks, sheriff,” said Annamarie. Sam nodded.
“I’ll call you when I know something.” He walked back to his squad car, shaking his head.
Sam said, “I’ll clean this up as soon as we get the okay from the sheriff. Let’s go inside and have dessert. We didn’t have time before the storm and I smelled one of Elaine’s peach pies when I got home.”
* * *
They spent an uneventful evening and woke after a peaceful night’s sleep. Lena was still asleep and it was Saturday—a day off for Sam. He reached for Annamarie and she responded. His lovemaking was slow and Annamarie reached heights of passion she never imagined existed. She truly loved Sam. She realized her love for Daniel was a teen crush mixed with teen hopes, dreams, and confusion. Sam was older and their relationship was solid and she loved him more than she thought she could love anyone besides Lena.
He propped himself up on his elbow and smiled his goofy grin the same way each time they made love and asked the same question. “Happy?”
She wrapped her arms around him and whispered, “Let me show you,” when a little voice broke into their alone time.
“Mama, Sam.”
“Coming, sweetheart,” Annamarie said. She pulled on her robe and found Lena doing her best to climb out of her crib. She turned and looked at Sam and said, “I think we better shop for a big-girl bed today before she breaks an arm or leg.”
“We can leave right after breakfast.”
The phone rang. It was the sheriff.
Sam said, “What, are you sure? Then, where is it? The wind wasn’t that strong. Okay, I’m going to clean up the mess today regardless of where it is. Thanks, sheriff.”
Lena was busy feeding herself cereal when Sam walked into the kitchen.
“What’s wrong?” said Annamarie.
“It was the sheriff. The blood wasn’t human, but a mix of chicken, pig, and moose.”
“Moose? Can that be possible?”
“It’s what the sheriff and I couldn’t figure out. If it was only chickens, there might be feathers; a pig could be tossed around by a tornado, but we didn’t have one. It was only a strong storm. A moose, even a wind-driven moose, would have knocked down the garage wall at the very least.”
“We don’t have any moose around here. It was another warning from Daniel. He loved to hunt and always said he wanted to go hunting where he could bring down a moose. It’s a sign. I’m sure of it.”
“You may be right. I’m going to check the wall for damage.”
Annamarie heard him call her name. She lifted Lena in her arms and walked out to the side of the garage.
She saw Sam staring at the wall and walked around the side of the garage with trepidation. The wall was sparkling clean, not a trace of blood.
“I’ll be damned,” said Sam. “I’m beginning to agree this was a sign or warning from Daniel. Maybe spirits can coat a wall with blood and remove it, but I’m not sure it’s clean. After breakfast, before we go shopping, I’m going to wash the entire wall with bleach and water. I don’t want Lena to get into any residue we can’t see. We also need to find answers about what to do with Daniel, but where do we find them?”
“I’m not sure, but each time there’s an odd occurrence, I dream and Magdalena gives me advice or reassurance. I know Josef is still trying to find Daniel and Garret.”
“I hope he finds them soon. This is getting dangerous and I worry about Lena.”
“I do too. In one dream, I was told Lena is safe because Magdalena has connected with her and Daniel can’t touch her. I’m not exactly sure how it works, but I know she’ll be safe. You and I are another matter.”
Sam put his arm around Annamarie and said, “You told me Magdalena said she’ll watch over you and I’m not scared of Daniel. He was a bully in life and a bully in death. A bully can always be taken care of and Garret is Daniel’s tag-a-long. Your great-grandfather will take care of them both. If you’re right and they’re all watching over you, things will work out. They have been roaming the woods here, or wherever they were before, for many years. Daniel is a baby in this spirit world. Let’s forget about this and enjoy the day.”
Annamarie smiled at him, took his hand and Lena’s, and walked back to the house.
* * *
Annamarie and Sam enjoyed a quiet weekend and when he left for work on Monday morning, Annamarie and Lena went out into the backyard to play. Lena was busy building sand castles in her sand box while Annamarie watered her flowers.
Annamarie turned to check on Lena and then turned back to her watering when something grabbed her arm and she found herself slammed against the shed wall and held tight. She couldn’t move or speak. She couldn’t see what held her. There was nothing to be seen and then she heard Daniel’s voice.
“I told you that you’d be sorry. Lena is mine and I’ll take her. You thought you could scare my mother into leaving you alone. Maybe she will, but I won’t—ever. Lena belongs to me, you nasty bitch. She doesn’t belong to you anymore.”
Annamarie struggled against the invisible force holding her and could see Lena playing, completely oblivious to what was happening. Annamarie prayed with all her strength for Lena to be safe from Daniel. She felt a body press tightly against hers and Daniel whisper, “You’re my wife. Mine, not his! I can take you anytime I wish. Death will not stop me, but today I have come for Lena. I’ll be back for you.”
Daniel’s laughter rang out, sending chills down her spine. It was a maniacal laugh, something not quite human. She heard his voice again. “Garret, hold her while I get Lena.”
Annamarie felt strong hands grip her wrists as she tried to pull free. All she could do was watch her child in danger. A sudden crackling sound broke the quiet and Lena was surrounded in twinkling lights resembling a sparkler on July 4th. Whatever gripped Annamarie was gone and she raced to pick up Lena. Lena was smiling and babbling at the opposite side of the sand box. Then she waved and said,” Bye, bye” to the empty air.
Annamarie hugged her tight and asked her who she was waving at.
“Gamma Lena, Mama.”
“Grandma Magdalena, are you sure?”
Lena shook her head up and down.
Annamarie thought anything was possible and needed to find out if it was true.
“Lena honey, can you tell me what Grandma Lena looks like?”
“Like yo
u. She has pretty hair, too,” Lena reached up to play with one of the long waves of Annamarie’s hair.
Annamarie set her down and asked her where she saw Grandma Lena. Lena pointed to a seat on the side of the sand box. Annamarie had raked the sand clean that morning before allowing Lena to play in it, but there was no mistaking a pair of bare footprints in the sand across from Lena’s toys. Annamarie walked over to investigate them more closely and realized they were close to her foot size. She placed one of her bare feet in the indentation and it fit perfectly. The other also fit perfectly. Annamarie felt a strange sense of calm and warmth standing in the footprints. She knew her great-grandmother had been there and Lena could see her.
Lena looked at Annamarie and said, “Gamma Lena loves me. She said I’m pretty.” Lena giggled.
Annamarie was amazed Lena could hear her, too. No dreams needed. She had a connection to Magdalena stronger than her own. Annamarie wondered if Lena caused the sparks herself or if Magdalena helped her. Either way, Daniel would never have Lena. The thought comforted her. She picked up Lena and returned to the house.
* * *
Annamarie phoned Sam at work to tell him what happened and he said he’d be right home. He arrived ten minutes later. Annamarie had calmed down and told Sam everything.
“I was hoping the blood on the garage was the end of this. Didn’t you say your great-grandfather was looking for them?”
“Yes, but for some reason Josef hasn’t been able to find them, I guess, but Magdalena was here to keep Lena safe this morning. I think she also knew Daniel couldn’t hurt me, so she concentrated her power on protecting Lena.”
“You told me once Daniel could only get to you in your dreams, but both he and Garret attacked you physically. What the hell is going on?”
“I’m not sure, but it’s possible their combined power gives them the ability to physically touch me, but even with that I wasn’t hurt. Scared, yes, I was terrified, but not physically hurt even when I was pushed against the shed wall. I pray they’re not getting stronger. I intend to fight back.”
Annamarie walked to the kitchen and asked Elaine to watch Lena and to please keep her indoors. Then she walked to the study and retrieved a large photo album from the bottom of one of the bookcases.
“What’s that?” asked Sam.
“Daniel’s and my wedding album, but not for long.” She strode out through the back yard to the leaf barrel. She lit a fire and when it was burning well enough, she tossed the entire album into the flames.
“I don’t want anything of Daniel in my home. If Lena wants to see pictures, George has boxes of them.”
As the fire consumed the album, a loud, baying wolf could be heard coming from the direction of the oaks.
“It’s a wolf and it sounds as if it’s hurt or in distress.”
“We don’t have wolves around here. It’s only Daniel; he’s angry. Now it’s time to show Garret he can’t hurt me either.”
Annamarie entered the shed and returned with the weed killer and sprayer. She headed toward the back of the property and up the hill.
“What are you doing?”
“To kill what never should have been planted. I don’t want any memorial to Garret on this property. Once the wild flowers die, I’ll have them removed and the spot covered in concrete so nothing ever grows there again.”
“But it’s a beautiful spot.”
“Yes, it is. However, Daniel hid Garret and Nancy when the stable was still here instead of making them leave town. They broke into Grandpa Logan’s house and when Steve investigated, Garret had a gun. Thank goodness, Steve was able to shoot first and killed Garret. He could have killed Steve. Steve’s married to one of my best friends. I feel sorry the Frants lost a son, but I’m not sorry he’s dead. He brought that madman into our lives and Ben was killed. Ben was a dear friend. Then he killed Daniel and now Daniel has lost his mind and is trying to take my child. I hate them both.”
She turned and began to spray weed killer over the wild flower patch. A second wolf could be heard baying mournfully.
“That’ll be Garret, he was always more melodramatic.”
She finished spraying and turned to leave when she and Sam saw two large wolves racing toward them. Sam grabbed the weed killer and said, “Get behind me, maybe I can stop them with the spray.”
They both braced for what was coming. When the wolves were ten feet from them, they crashed into an invisible wall and sparks shot around them. They sparkled in the same fashion that surrounded Lena. When the sparkles disappeared, the wolves faded from sight.
“What the hell?” muttered Sam.
He sat the weed killer down and slowly walked to where the wolves had been. He gingerly reached out, but there was nothing there. He walked further into the field and back. Nothing. Whatever had stopped the wolves was gone.
“Josef and Magdalena were here, too. I’m sure of it.”
“I believe you, but let’s go home.”
They walked back down the hill, replaced the weed killer and Annamarie said, “I hope Daniel and Garret got the message.”
“Something tells me they did, but they’ll be back.”
“I’ll be ready. Daniel threatened to rape me today. There’s no way I’m going to let it happen.”
“I’ll be right at your side.”
She smiled at her husband, knowing he meant every word.
Chapter Fifteen: Plans
Their night was uneventful and everyone slept peacefully. Annamarie awoke, vaguely aware of a dream, which both soothed and confused her.
“Sam,” she whispered. “Are you awake?”
“Yes. I don’t think I slept much. My mind kept going in circles, trying to find a way to defeat Daniel.”
“I think I had a dream. I feel I know more about what’s going on, but I’m not sure how I know.”
Sam rolled over and said, “Tell me.”
“Daniel and Garret are still free and dangerous. Since they combined their strength, they’re able to touch us physically. They cannot kill us, although we can be hurt and terrified by their actions.”
“So far, they have managed to terrify you.”
“I know, but my biggest fear was for Lena. However, she’s safe.”
“Are you sure?”
“From what I can remember, Lena is protected by Magdalena. She connected with Lena, which is why she is able to keep her safe. However, Lena has also somehow connected to Magdalena’s powers. Lena can use those powers even if she doesn’t understand what she’s doing. Lena has the ability to protect herself and others.”
“How do you know that?”
“I must have dreamed it and forgotten the dream, but not the message. Lena has what Magdalena called ‘the power of all.’ From what I understood, she can pull power from each and every spirit if she needs it. It’s why Daniel couldn’t touch her and she sparkled.”
“Wow, okay, she’s safe, but what about you?”
“Magdalena will protect you and me. She was in the backyard with Lena before Daniel and Garret could harm me and either she or Josef stopped the wolves.”
“We still need a plan. We have to find a way to stop Daniel and Garret. I know Magdalena, Josef, and the rest are searching for them, but they are eluding them and seem determined to torment you. There must be a way to stop this.”
“The house is safe and Lena is safe. Daniel’s evil and Garret’s worse. That’s what is making their power so strong. It’s also why Father Mueller’s prayers are keeping them out of the house. Evil can’t enter the house.”
“You’re right. What are our plans now?”
“Go on with our lives and see where it leads us. I’m sure I’ll dream again, if I need it. Magdalena stopped Maureen. She’ll stop Daniel.”
* * *
While Elaine attended to her chores around the house, Annamarie and Lena went out into the backyard to play. Lena was trying to learn how to ride her tricycle and Annamarie was watering flowers again. When she stepped aro
und to the back of the garage, a force threw her to the ground. She immediately knew it was Daniel. She couldn’t move or scream. Her mind screamed at Daniel, hoping he could hear her. All she heard was his laughter.
She heard Daniel say, “I told you I’d be back, baby, and here I am. Even though you killed me, you’re still mine. No one will take you from me.”
Annamarie was sure Daniel was not only evil, but insane. He must have been insane while alive and hid it well. Could spirits become insane after death? She was terrified and couldn’t think clearly. All she could remember was Daniel couldn’t kill her, but he could hurt her.
She felt the full pressure of his body on hers. She felt his lips on her breast as if she were naked. He was hard and ready and he told her, “After this, you’ll never want him again.”
Annamarie still couldn’t move or scream. She felt Daniel’s knee push her legs apart and felt him begin to penetrate her through her clothes, when Lena walked up, touched the air where Annamarie assumed some part of Daniel was accessible, and said, “Don’t hurt Mommy.”
Rainbow-colored sparkles flew from Lena’s fingertips and Annamarie could see the outline of Daniel’s body covered in the sparkles when it flew against the garage. The sparkles faded, and Daniel was gone.
Lena sat next to Annamarie and said, “Are you okay, Mommy? It’s all better now. Daddy’s gone. Don’t cry.”
“Lena, honey, what did you do?”
“I don’t know. Gamma Lena said if anyone tries to hurt me or you, I can close my eyes and tell them to go away and the magic sparkles will send them away. It worked, Mommy. He went away.”
Annamarie saw a dark cloud move over the pines and the first clap of thunder. “Come on, Lena. It’s going to rain. Let’s get into the house.”
They hurried in the back door as the rain began to fall. Annamarie didn’t think the thunder sounded natural and asked Elaine to watch Lena while she went into the north wing to watch the storm. The large sliding doors in the dining room faced the pines and gave her a clear view. Bolts of lightning struck the pines over and over. They came straight down from the clouds. Some were bright white and some were glowing red. Annamarie knew it was more than a storm. There was a battle underway. She hoped the sheriff wasn’t seeing this. He’d be out there for days investigating and driving her to distraction. Claps of thunder loud enough to rattle the windows accompanied the lightning strikes. She opened the doors and stepped outside. She could hear maniacal laughter and the sounds of baying wolves. She knew Daniel and Garret were in a fight for their lives. She watched the storm blow past the pines and over the oak groves toward the cabin. Daniel and Garret were on the run.
Annamarie and Magdalena (Gypsy Spirits Book 2) Page 20