I crawled slowly towards the door, my head pounding. Blood oozed down my neck in small droplets. I wiped it away with my apron. Blood had never fussed me before. And I was determined to get help. Injured or not, I had to tell Christina the truth. There was no protecting any of us now.
I dragged myself to the stairs, stopped and leaned heavily against the rail, gasping for air. I gathered together all the strength I could muster and bumped down the stairs on my rump, one painful thump at a time. The phone was in the hallway, set in a small recess in the wall. I inched my way across the floor and grabbed the receiver. Relief flooded through me as the operator’s voice came on the line.
“Christina Potter please,” I croaked.
“One moment please.” The operator chirped. There was a familiar click and then the sound of the phone ringing.
“Hello?”
“Hello, Christina? It’s Bette,” I said hoarsely. “I need you to come over. It’s urgent. Something terrible has happened.”
There was an impatient pause on the other end of the line. Finally Christina spoke. “Really, Bette? Urgent like last time when you found out Mr. Byrde was cheating on his wife and you just had to tell me all about it?”
“No Christina. This is different, you must come! Please!”
Before I could say anything else, I felt a cold emptiness envelope me, and the room went black. Somewhere in the darkness, I heard Fred hissing, and a suffocating fog overwhelmed me. I succumbed to the velvety peacefulness of unconsciousness.
41
Margaret
“Aunt Bette, wake up, wake up!” I said, shaking her. Mama had told me about Aunt Bette’s mysterious phone call as soon as I’d come down for breakfast with baby Astrid. She was convinced Aunt Bette was just being dramatic and had some new gossip to impart, but I wasn’t so sure. I had a feeling about it.
“I’m going over to check on her and see if she’s okay.”
I’m not even sure Mama heard me; she was too busy cooing over Astrid and listening to the wireless. Mama was tone deaf and had the radio on such a high volume the newscasters’ voice reverberated off the walls. There was new information coming out of Europe. Italy had entered the war and President Roosevelt declared that the U.S would be offering material support to the allies. France had also asked the U.S to intervene as the Nazis now occupied Paris. Now that the war was heating up, Mama listened to every update.
Grateful for the excuse to escape the noise, I left Astrid with Mama and walked the short distance to Aunt Bette’s house. I didn’t bother to knock, she didn’t really mind us coming and going as long as we didn’t make a mess.
I entered the mudroom, “Hello? Anybody home?” I called. No answer. I stepped into the hallway. “Aunt Bette?” I stopped dead in my tracks. Her still form lay in a pool of blood by the phone.
“Aunt Bette!” I cried, “What happened to you?” I hurried over to her. She was out cold; I felt for a pulse, it was still there. I breathed a sigh of relief. Thank God. I propped her up against me and tried to see where the blood was coming from. There was a small gash on the back of her head; it was bleeding but not profusely. I dabbed at it with my handkerchief.
“Come on Aunt Bette, wake up! I’ll call Ian,” I threatened. “I know you don’t want that. Think of how much you dislike doctors.”
I leaned closer and whispered in her ear. “Please? For me Aunt Bette?” She gave a little moan and turned her head. Her eyes fluttered open.
“Margaret,” she gripped at my shirt, “I must tell you something.”
“Tell me what, Aunt Bette? How did you hurt yourself? How did this happen?” I asked.
“The amulet, the secret, it’s ruined…”
“It’s okay Aunt Bette; you’ll have plenty of time to tell me later.”
She clutched at the fabric more tightly. “No…it’s been destroyed…”
She was fully alert now, so I gently eased her into a sitting position and propped her against the wall. I knelt down in front of her and looked her squarely in the eye. “I want an honest answer Auntie, how did you get so badly hurt?”
She shifted uncomfortably. “I’m all right child, stop fussing; it’s just a broken arm and a bump to the head. People get those all the time.”
I protested, but she cut me off short.
“No, you need to hear this. You’d better prepare yourself. This family has no protection now.” She paused for a painful intake of breath then continued. “It’s entirely my fault. I didn’t want to burden your poor mother; she’s had enough going on. I’m not even sure she would have believed me if I’d told her. I’ve always tried to protect her, and now, well—it may be too late,” she started to cry helplessly.
“It’s okay, Aunt Bette, don’t worry.” I tried to soothe her.
“No! I must tell you!” She clutched my arm. “Everyone must be warned before something terrible happens. No one is safe. Oh Margaret, I don’t know what to do!” Her fingers dug into to my flesh, her eyes wild.
“Calm down, it’s all right.” I tried to release the clawing grip she had on me. She wouldn’t let go. I had a corresponding tingle in my spine that told me something awful was afoot. Aunt Bette was never this upset. She was a fearless, sensible, sharp-tongued woman. Whatever had happened here had scared her to death.
“Your mother should know, Margaret. All these years I’ve kept the secret. I just didn’t think it would happen. Nothing had occurred in centuries. Oh, why didn’t I say something before it was too late?”
“Too late for what, Aunt Bette? Why don’t you start from the beginning? Tell me everything.”
With a look that was almost grateful, Aunt Bette launched into her incredible story. “When my Father died, your Grandfather, he left me an amulet. This amulet has been passed down within the family for generations. It originated from a line of ancient Greeks. They believed that there was an evil that followed our family. The amulet was a protection; made for the one they called ‘the healer’ otherwise known as the ‘Soul of the Sun’. The healer was to be born of this family. They would have the power to stop a demonic catastrophe from occurring and erase malevolent violence once and for all. The amulet guaranteed that the wickedness could never seize the healer’s powers. This amulet harnessed the influence of the wind, sun, moon, alchemy and magic,” she said softly.
“If the mastery of the chosen one ever fell into the wrong hands, the legend told was that it could destroy civilization. Since ancient times, this amulet has been handed down together with a secret prayer. It was always passed along by an older relative, in most cases a grandparent or parent, usually just before they departed this earth. Unfortunately, the prayer was lost and only the amulet has been passed down. No one knows what ever became of the prayer.”
She paused for a moment and looked at me. “You must believe me Margaret, this in vitally important. The world hangs in the balance.” Her voice quavered; she was pale as a ghost, but she continued her tale.
“The ancient Greeks believed that there would come a period of time when there would be no magic. This would occur after an unforeseen natural disaster. However, at some point, they also believed that magic would return, stronger than ever. During that era, the healer would appear. But she would be sought out with a vengeance. Margaret, that evil was here. It burned the amulet and almost annihilated me with it. It’s found us,” her voice swelled to a high-pitched screech.
I sat back. Could all this be true? Was it even possible? I remembered Abby’s dream. She too had mentioned a person that would be a healer. She’d known who it was. Could I be the healer? Was that was she was trying to tell me? It seemed unlikely.
My powers were too puny to work against such villainy, but it didn’t appear there was another alternative. A wave of nausea swept over me, and then I heard it, a low, purring voice in the back of my mind.
“Oh Margaret, of course it’s you my pet. I’ve waited so long to find you.”
I sat bolt upright. What was that? I heard the voic
e again, more loudly this time.
“Come along Margaret, we’re old friends, are we not? I came back to pay you a little visit. Let you know that I haven’t forgotten about us and all the special things we can achieve together.”
“Who is this?” I demanded, turning my head sharply. “Where are you?”
Aunt Bette looked at me curiously. “Margaret? Who are you talking to? Can’t you see I’m speaking to you? Don’t be rude, girl. I would have hoped your mother would have taught you better manners.”
And Aunt Bette was back.
“I’m sorry, it’s nothing Aunt Bette. I’m hearing things,” I said trying to stay calm.
Aunt Bette eyed me with disapproval.
“You have something I need.” The voice began again.
I shook my head violently, trying to release the presence of whatever it was. I felt a chill wrap itself around me. Something was inside my head. A heavy darkness invaded the pit of my stomach. I wanted to scream, but one glance at Aunt Bette’s face told me I had to hold it together for her sake. I tapped into every ounce of inner strength I could muster, but still the voice continued, unabated.
“Not trying to get rid of me, are you my sweet? How unmannerly of you.” It gave a merciless laugh. “It’s quite simple my dear Margaret. Give me control of your powers and I’ll leave, no one needs to get hurt.”
“Oh my God, oh my God! Aunt Bette, it’s still here, the evil is still here! It’s inside my head speaking to me! It wants my powers! What do I do? What do I do?”
Aunt Bette looked at me flabbergasted. “You have powers?”
“Not now, Aunt Bette! I’ll explain later. What do we do to get rid of it?”
Aunt Bette rose to her feet. “We don’t have the amulet! If only we had the prayer! I don’t know what to do!”
“Think, Aunt Bette think.”
Aunt Bette held her head and a small trickle of blood ran down her neck and ear. She looked like she was going to faint.
“Aunt Bette you need to sit back down, you’re still bleeding,” I fought back the panic rising in my chest.
“I’m just a little overcome,” she protested. Still, she eased herself back to the floor. She sat there, forlorn and silent. Finally she spoke.
“I’m heartsick, Margaret. I don’t know the prayer. If only our people had been more careful, perhaps they could have saved us. But now it’s lost forever.” Her eyes filled with anguish.
I gave her a hug. “It’s going to be all right Aunt Bette. I won’t let it hurt anyone or take anything away from our family.”
I was terrified, but I had to keep my composure. This was no time for hysterics; my family was depending on me. Still, my heart raced. What could this thing do to me? To all of us?
The voice exploded into my mind like a firecracker. “Give me your powers now or your Aunt dies.”
I held Aunt Bette close to me. With no amulet to protect us, we were both vulnerable against this devil.
I tried pleading for mercy. “I’m using them now, how do you think I can hear you?”
“Don’t play games with me! Use them!” The voice bellowed. My head echoed with his thoughts like a bell ringing in a belfry.
I watched in horror as Aunt Bette slumped sideways out of my grip, blood oozing from her nose.
“What are you doing to her? Stop it! You’re killing her!” I yelled.
I cradled her head in my lap. She tried to say something, but the words didn’t come. Her mouth gaped open, and drool dripped down her chin.
“Aunt Bette, please stay strong,” I begged. “Don’t let this evil win out over us.”
The voice snapped impatiently. “You can still save her, you stupid girl, just use your powers.”
I pleaded and sobbed, “Don’t you see? I’m not keeping anything from you. Please don’t hurt her anymore.”
The thing ignored me, I felt Aunt Bette’s back arch underneath me, her body went rigid, and she convulsed, her face contorted in pain. Then as fast as it began, it stopped. She fell back to rest against my lap, her eyes rolling into the back of her head.
The next thing I knew, I heard screaming. I realized it was me. “Aunt Bette, Aunt Bette! Please don’t die, you have to fight him!” She didn’t answer; she lay in my arms unmoving, enveloped in a faint black aura.
I knew from Ian that black meant death.
I cradled her to my chest; there was no breath, no heartbeat, nothing. She was gone.
“Aunt Bette, no!” I moaned. “Why did you leave me?” Another person I’d loved taken away, another person that I couldn’t save. In the background, his laughter roared in my ears.
“I told you what would happen, Margaret. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
I lay Aunt Bette’s still-warm body gently down and jumped to my feet, full of fury.
“Why don’t you show yourself like a man! The damage has been done. I don’t have what you want. So go ahead, do your finest, I don’t care,” I yelled. The room remained cold and empty; I could still feel the thing’s blood-sucking energy. I whirled around. And that’s when I saw him standing over Aunt Bette’s lifeless form. It was the biggest man I’d ever seen. He was wearing a sable robe but I could see the dark skin of his hands and the tarnished black aura surrounding him. I glanced at Aunt Bette. She couldn’t help me now. But I wasn’t going to let this man, thing whatever he was get away with what he’d done.
“Go on, I dare you!” I yelled to the robed figure. There was an eerie silence and a sickening wave of terror welled up in my belly then all hell broke loose. The hall mirror crashed to the floor and shards of glass flew everywhere. One extremely large piece headed right for me. Before I could even respond, Fred leapt into my arms. His amulet shone a brilliant blue against the darkness, its glow enveloped us both. The glass shard bounced harmlessly off the blue light and clattered to the floor, shattering into pieces.
The amulet had saved us.
The chill in the room evaporated and warm air gradually crept back into the hall.
It was gone, for now.
I was confused by the amulets presence. Aunt Bette had been clear it was destroyed. Was there something else she hadn’t had the chance to tell me? I didn’t hang around to seek an answer.
I hugged the purring Fred, clutched him tightly to me and fled from the house.
42
I didn’t go back to Aunt Bette’s house again. I told Ian everything. He was visibly shaken, but stood firm. He would go over and take care of the body. I was relieved; the thought of having to go back there nauseated me.
Fred became a different cat. He no longer wandered from house to house; he stayed with me wherever I went, never leaving my side. I had the feeling it’s what Aunt Bette would have wanted. I knew I would have been dead too if it weren’t for Fred. I had so many questions for Aunt Bette. She said the amulet was destroyed but it had appeared around Fred’s neck just in time. And then as I was fleeing the house it just as quickly had disappeared. Where had it gone? What else had Aunt Bette known? Maybe I would never find out.
I knew I had seen the blue light of the amulet once before but I just couldn’t place it. I was upset with Aunt Bette for leaving me in the dark about all this. Still it took me by surprise how much I missed her. The thought of not hearing her cryptic comments saddened me more than I could say.
The family held a small service for her and she was buried next to Abby. I didn’t tell Mama the truth about what had happened that morning. Like Aunt Bette said, she never would have believed it. She would have said it was another one of my fanciful tales, and scolded me for upsetting everyone at a time like this. So, in Mama’s mind, Aunt Bette died of a heart attack. I knew she felt guilty about not coming over when Aunt Bette called, but she had made her choice and that was how it would have to be.
Heidi came to Aunt Bette’s funeral as well. She was so supportive—a good friend. Abby’s death had bonded us for life. I thought of telling Heidi the truth, but how would I have started that conversation? May
be some things were better left unsaid.
Much as I wanted to sit down with Heidi and explain it all, for now I had to ensure my own family’s safety. But just how I was going to do that escaped me. I was also pretty sure I wasn’t the ‘Soul of the Sun.’
What if it was Astrid? My heart gave an involuntary lurch.
43
Margaret
It was December 1941 when Japan attacked the American naval fleet at Pearl Harbor and changed all of our lives forever. The United States was officially at war.
Ian and I had been living happily in wedded bliss when it all occurred. And I think we all remembered where we were on that horrible day December 7th.
We knew what was important. We had lost too much and seen too much horror to take life for granted.
We watched Astrid grow bigger and stronger with every new day. She was a beautiful reminder of how much we had overcome.
When Ian was drafted, my heart froze in fear. I couldn’t protect him, I couldn’t bring him home safe.
I took my mind back to that awful day when I’d said goodbye to Ian at Union train station.
“Ian, promise me you will be careful. Promise you will come back to me,” I whispered.
We stood in the shadow of the train the steam rolling around us. The sky was clear and blue, but I barely noticed. All I could do was look into those familiar blue-green eyes.
Ian wiped the tears from my cheeks. “I’ll always come back to you my love; you have my heart.”
“Oh Ian,” I reached up and hugged him tight. “How will Astrid and I survive without you? If something were to happen to you I just couldn’t…”
“Hey, none of that talk,” he whispered. He pulled back and grabbed my hands. He looked so handsome in his uniform. I was so proud.
The Soul of the Sun (The Argos Dynasty) Page 13