Theo and Paula were thrilled with their new grandchildren.
Lena’s amulet chain would grow a new link whenever needed. It was still warm to the touch and Lena dreamed often of a faraway place where the amulet had been made. Magdalena taught Lena how to control her powers and the amulet strengthened them.
Lena’s fifteenth birthday was a wonderful celebration. Magdalena told her she was a young woman now and would be able to meet her destiny soon. Lena still wasn’t sure what Magdalena meant, but she was excited.
Chapter Twenty: Lena
The doorbell rang and Lena called out, “I’ll get it.”
She opened the door and saw a blonde woman standing there. Before the woman had a chance to speak, Lena slammed the door.
“Who was at the door?”
“A woman, Mom, don’t open the door. The woman is trouble. I feel it.”
“I know you can sense trouble, Lena, but not everyone’s out to get us.”
She opened the door. “Nancy? Is it you after all this time?”
“Yeah, can I come in?”
“I’m sorry, of course.”
Nancy walked in and looked around. “Nice house.”
“Thanks, please sit down.”
“I was on vacation not too far from here and I thought I would take a side trip and visit you and Daniel.”
“Daniel’s dead. He died that night in the pines.”
“What? How? You were both okay when I left.”
Annamarie’s mind began to whirl. She had no idea what Nancy was talking about, since her memories were erased by Magdalena. She never saw Nancy the night Daniel died. What was Nancy up to? She’d have to be careful. She didn’t trust her. She heard Magdalena’s voice in her head, telling her she would advise her about what to say.
“Daniel went to the pines to look for something and never came back. The sheriff found his body the next morning.”
“Oh, no! How horrid! I was wondering about him when I was in the pines.”
“You went into the pines today?”
“Yes, I had to see if everything was how I remember. I think I have allergies like that crazy guy. My eyes itched and I needed to sit down. I was tired. When I woke up, I was in the middle of the pines and I have no idea how I got there. All I know is I could feel Garret close and Daniel telling me we’d always be connected. I think I was dreaming.”
Magdalena’s words flew into Annamarie’s mind. Daniel and Garret somehow connected with her life force. They will gain their strength again. Send her away quickly. Scare her so she never returns.
“Nancy, the sheriff searched for you after Daniel and the madman were found at the bottom of the bluff. He thought you were the only one who would want the man dead so your brother would be safe. He also thought you killed Daniel after he helped you kill the madman. He was going to arrest you for two murders, but he couldn’t find you. The man’s truck was also missing. It turned up a few days later abandoned two counties over. The sheriff is convinced you took it after their murders.”
“Chuck and I are stepbrother and sister. We don’t have the same last name. My mom divorced his dad when we were small and living in Mexico. Chuck found me after he turned eighteen. The sheriff will never connect us.”
“If I were you, I’d put as much distance between Timmus Woods and you as possible.”
“You know I didn’t kill the madman. He fell. You could tell the sheriff.”
“Even if I told him, he would still arrest you for killing Daniel. No one knows how he died.”
Nancy jumped up, panicking, “I shouldn’t have come. Please, please don’t tell anyone. I’m living in California now and I’ll never come back to this part of the country again. I promise.”
“I’ll keep your secret. I don’t think you killed Daniel. Good luck, Nancy.”
Nancy turned and Annamarie noticed pine tree mold on the back of her jacket. “Hold still for a moment, let me get it off.” Annamarie grabbed a tissue and pulled the mold off. “It’s irritating to the skin. You could get a bright red, blistering rash. I’m glad you didn’t touch it.”
“So am I. Thanks, Annamarie.”
Nancy hurried out the door and to her car. She took off quickly down Tangledbranch Road, away from Annamarie, Timmus Woods, and the pines. Annamarie was happy to see her leave.
Lena came back into the room. “I’m glad she’s gone. She gave me the creeps. It felt as if Garret and Daniel were right there with her. I know it isn’t possible, but it’s what I felt.”
Annamarie always knew to listen to Lena’s feelings. She prayed the incident in the pines Nancy described didn’t include Daniel and Garret. If they connected to her life force, they might not be tree mold for long and they could come back. Annamarie wasn’t sure she had the strength to fight another battle.
“Lena, c’mon, we have to start a fire in the leaf barrel.”
Lena followed her mom without question. When the fire was hot, Annamarie dropped the tissue containing the tree mold, explaining to Lena how she found it on Nancy’s jacket.
“I felt she connected with them. I hope it wasn’t Garret’s tree mold.”
“We’ll know soon.”
When the fire consumed the tissue and its contents, a low rumbling howl could be heard coming from the pines.
“Sounds like an injured wolf, Mom.”
“It’s Garret. That was some of his mold and we’re fortunate to have found it and destroyed it before he pulled more of Nancy’s energy. Garret is weaker than ever. We’ll be fine, Lena.”
* * *
Josef and Magdalena also knew Garret had tried to connect with Nancy and his connection was now broken. They knew their loved ones were safe and gathered up their belongings and what remained of Daniel and Garret. They knew Lena’s amulet would keep her safe and summon them if trouble ever returned.
* * *
“Mom, I had a vision. Grandpa Josef has Daniel and Garret. He caught them trying to go back to the cabin after connecting to Nancy’s life force. Their spirits are slow and weak. He didn’t have to fight them. Grandpa Josef, Grandma Lena, and everyone else have left. They are going to a place they called ‘the land of flames and snow.’ He’s going to drop Garret’s spirit into a volcano’s lava where his hatred and anger can burn, but never connect with another living creature. He will drop Daniel’s into a mountain crevice too narrow and too cold for even an insect to live. Daniel will never connect to another living being again either. Grandpa Josef will coat him in mold and he will become frozen mold forever.”
“Magdalena told me Josef would place them where they could exist as their true hearts dictate. Garret’s was anger. Daniel’s cold and evil. Lava and mold seems to suit them perfectly. It’s finally over.”
“If it’s truly over, Mom, then why do I still have a destiny to fulfill? What can it possibly be? I still have the amulet. Grandma Lena is gone. Who’ll tell what my destiny is? What happens now?”
~ The End? ~
Next from Author Marianne Spitzer
Lena’s destiny lies before her. She has no idea what it is or where it will lead her. Her great-grandmother’s spirit, Magdalena, told her that Lena’s amulet would teach her what she needed to know. The amulet is still warm against her skin, and makes Lena feel safe whenever she touches it. Will it lead her to her destiny? Lena is eager to find out. Discover Lena’s destiny along with her in the final book of the Gypsy Spirits trilogy, “Lena,” due out winter of 2013.
Thank you for picking up this copy of my book.
If you enjoyed this book, you can find out more about my other works at: www.mariannespitzer.com/ or Marianne Spitzer, Writer on Facebook.
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Annamarie and Magdalena (Gypsy Spirits Book 2) Page 28