“Did it stop the shade?” I asked.
“Yes, it appeared to do the job. At least, the creature didn’t come into the church. I had parishioners who’d told me about seeing apparitions like what I’d just seen that I had dismissed as over-active imaginations, but had noted them anyway. After this, I reread my notes and realized I had just seen the same thing. That’s when I reported it.”
“Was that the only time you saw the demon?” Gavin asked, his voice a little kinder now.
He shook his head. “No, but that was my closest encounter. More than one has shown up two times in the past month alone. They seem to be observing. I can’t imagine what they expect to find.”
“Do any of your parishioners have any special skills?” I asked, realizing as soon as I said it that it was vague.
“Special skills? Do you mean like medical or law enforcement?”
I shook my head. “I meant more like psychic or paranormal.”
His eyebrows shot up. “No, I don’t believe so, young lady.”
I could tell he was appalled by the suggestion. Boy, was he in for a shock.
“I ask because I do have those talents,” I said. “I’ve seen the shades or yiaiwas, as they’re called, several times both here on Earth and on the transitional plane where a soul may go before entering the next realm.” I tried to couch it in something he could reference.
His eyes went wider. “Is this some sort of prank?”
“No, Father Garrity, it’s not,” Gavin assured him. “I have also encountered the shades in this world. I haven’t been able to go to the next plane as Gillian has, but I know that the demons have breached our world. If your church isn’t aware of it, then you do need to tell them. We are not kidding. Both of us have encountered and fought them.”
I didn’t think it was possible for the Father to get any paler than he already was, but he blanched a shade whiter.
“Oh, dear God, please protect us from this evil,” he said automatically. “Give me any details that you can.”
Drily, Gavin said, “If you have a record option on your chat, I suggest you turn it on.”
We waited as the priest checked his settings and started to record. Worst case, we were recording our end of it.
Then Gavin told him about his experiences with the shades in Afghanistan and the Middle East, also mentioning a few earlier sightings I hadn’t known about. He didn’t tell him about the box he’d found that might have unleashed the Hell demon and opened the portal. I didn’t blame him. No one would want to admit to that.
When he’d done, I told him about my connection, the funeral singing and the foreboding section of the transitional cemetery. He seemed particularly fascinated with that account although the worry lines continued the more we told him.
“This is unbelievable,” he sputtered when we’d finished. “How long has this been happening?”
With a shrug, Gavin said, “I’d say about a decade. I first spotted them right about that time at a dig I had been working on. I think they’re attracted to places that are old and maybe even someone who has psychic ability they can attune with.”
“I don’t understand. What do they want?”
“What have demons always wanted? Our souls.” Gavin said.
The good Father’s face crumpled in shocked disbelief and I thought he might faint on the spot. “No wonder they didn’t tell me anything. This can’t get out! It would cause—”
“A panic. I know. We took a chance telling you and we’re hoping that people in the Church are working on it, even if it’s only research. Gillian, a friend, and I are going through our references and resources to get clues on how to stop them, but we need all the help we can get. And if there are others like us who can see and fight them, we need them.”
It was the strongest plea we could make for help and we hoped that Father Garrity would send the video straight on to higher-ups.
“Yes, you are correct,” he replied. “I will send this information up the line. If I can contact you again, I shall. If not me, I feel someone will be in touch. It has been enlightening...” His voice trailed off and he ended the connection.
“That went well,” Gavin said as he slid his chair back. “Let’s hope we can scare up a response from his superiors.”
“They have to respond. Now they know that others have had close encounters and we are not bound by a gag order. Let’s hope they have something to help us.”
“Amen.”
As I walked downstairs with him, I reached the bottom step, spotted Nygard watching me, and tapped my shoulder. A moment later, he leaped and landed, curling easily into a semi-circle.
Gavin raised an eyebrow. “He’s got that down, doesn’t he?”
“We’ve been practicing and he seems eager to respond whenever I do it.” I reached up and scratched under his chin.
“I told you he was smart.”
Although I offered Gavin a coffee or something stronger, he said he couldn’t stay. He had an appointment with someone although who, at that hour of the night, he didn’t say. Taking a moment, he scratched the cat’s ear and kissed me on the forehead before he left.
TWENTY-TWO
Alone this time, I perched before my computer screen and waited for the information from the secret group to connect for our very early morning chat. This would be a typed chat, versus a face-to-face one, so I didn’t care that I looked like I’d been out battling demons all night.
While I hadn’t actually, I did have one of those dreams. In it, I’d been looking for Roger again, seeking his spirit on the other side of hedge through whatever little openings I could spot. Each time I found one, a vine or a leafy branch would block the view so I couldn’t see into it.
I grew frustrated and tried to slice my way in with a lightsaber. Too many science fiction films had influenced my choice of weapons. But they were too much for even that awesome weapon and they grew back instantly.
I called out to Roger, hoping to hear his voice respond, but all I heard was the most ominous rumble of laughter I’d ever heard coming from that side. Demonic? Absolutely.
“Come to me, little dove,” a deep voice had called to me and I shrank back. Fear rippled through my body and I woke up reaching for my gun that I kept under my bed.
Only Nygard and I were in the house and I went through every room to be sure we weren’t invaded by evil. Such was the sad state of my mind as I began this conference chat.
The leader of the group, Seer2810, began the chat by welcoming everyone then introducing their two new members, myself and a fellow called HamburgHunter. Then he asked if anyone had any sightings to report. I gathered he was following an agenda I didn’t happen to have. But I waited for the first responses and read them with interest as they began to report in.
A UFO sighting in Arizona. No surprise there. UFOs were pretty common these days with so many air objects skittering about.
::Probably a drone,:: someone answered, echoing my thoughts. The guy insisted it was legitimate, erratic pattern in flight and all. He took pictures, but you couldn’t see much from the one he posted.
Hmmm, I hadn’t tried to get a photo of one of the yiaiwa. I wondered if they would show up on film. As it was, I didn’t have time to whip out my phone, find the photo app, and take a picture before attacking the demon.
Next up, someone in Alaska reported a Big Foot encounter... or at least footprints. Again, a photo that looked like animal footprints, but could have been a bear.
Then payday... ByronDH, who seemed to be in Scotland, remarked that he’d encountered an evil spirit.
::Was it a banshee?:: another person asked.
::No, man. It stood tall, like at least seven foot and it was all black and weird shaped. And the eyes like bloody red coals. I never seen anything like it before.::
::Where was it?:: I asked, making a note of his handle. I hoped I could get in touch with him again.
::Near the corner of my house. Not more than ten feet from me. I shouted a
t it and it vanished.::
::You sure it wasn’t the spirits in you, By?:: someone responded with an LOL.
He denied that and added that he was completely serious.
::I have seen something like that:: another person posted. BombayCult45 was her handle. ::In the temple at my town. Not in it, exactly, but lingering outside the entrance. I do not think it could go in.::
::Did it look the same?:: I asked.
::Yes. Maybe not as big and it looked sort of human, but like a black blob with red eyes.::
One by one, three others mentioned seeing something similar and I made notes of their names.
::Have any of you had physical contact with one?:: I asked.
That got attention as Seer2810 wanted to know why I was asking and probably didn’t like it that I seemed to hijack the meeting with my questions.
::Because I have.:: My reply.
::Me, too:: I saw EllyJ post. ::Are there others?::
As if a door had been opened, several others stepped up saying yes or I have or something to that effect.
I quickly wrote ::Okay, please contact me offline. I need to talk to you. Let’s get back to this meeting:: I put a little smiley symbol in and said, ::Sorry, Seer2810::
He put a sad face symbol, then continued his meeting, asking for any sightings other than those.
One by one, the messages came to me in my chat box along with email addresses to contact them. I responded as quickly as possible with my email address, suggesting that we might set up an independent chat just for us. Excitement flooded through me. I might have a fighting team yet.
The next part would be talking to each of them individually to get their story and building a rapport with them. Thankful they all spoke some English, and I hoped we would be able to communicate well. Most of all, I hoped there were more like Elly and Japan who could navigate the interim plane.
The meeting ended with no more outbursts of this nature and maybe a dozen more oddball reports including an alien landing in Argentina that the man declared looked like beetles but were really tiny little aliens. I definitely thought he had been on something if he saw that.
Sitting back, I composed an email to the thirteen people who had sent me messages and explained a little about who I was and that I would like to talk to each of them individually, but that it might also be beneficial to set up a chat group of our own if they were willing. To entice them a little more, I shared one of my encounters, the one with the yiaiwa on my roof and how I got rid of him, adding that it may sound farfetched, but that I really did have a hand blaster. I just didn’t tell them the blaster was my hand.
Energized and still keyed up after I showered and grabbed a piece of fruit for breakfast, I decided to splurge and go to the martial arts studio where I sometimes trained to get in some practice. My shoulder still ached, but it was healed and I wanted to work it out some.
Master Arimoto was surprised to see me but welcomed me as always. Although I didn’t have a class with him, he took some time with me anyway. After I explained about my injury, he gave me an exercise to stretch the muscle gently to get it moving again. The arm cut didn’t bother me nearly as much as the shoulder one had. I was lucky that the knife hadn’t hit any crucial nerves and had been shallow.
After fifteen minutes of stretching and pulling, the movement felt easier although I knew it would be stiff again the next day and I needed to repeat the exercise for a few days at home. Then, I switched over to more of a body workout, using jujitsu moves against a dummy, and trying a few kicks.
“You’re getting sluggish,” the master yelled at me as he watched. “You need to come more often to keep up your skill.”
“I know. I’ve been overwhelmed with stuff, but you’re right. I’ll start back a couple of times a month, at least.” I needed to keep up with this. I could feel the lack of speed and the tiredness in my muscles. I also needed to get back to running more often. My whole routine had slipped in the past two months.
When I finished up, the master came to me. “You one of my best students, Gillian. I want to see you continue. Is there financial issues?”
He could be blunt, but he meant well.
“A little. I’ve had some bad luck in the past few weeks, but I hope to turn it around soon. I’ve missed this place.”
“You come back anytime. No worry about money. We can work it out. Okay?” He earnest look with encouraging eyes and gentle smile won me over.
“Okay. But I can pay today.”
BACK HOME, I TOOK ANOTHER shower, then started my laundry. The rest of the day had to be for housecleaning and other chores. I sighed. Whatever happened to my dream of becoming a famously rich musician who could afford staff to take care of everything? Oh, yeah. I got recruited to be an underpaid funeral singer.
I made a peanut butter and jelly sandwich and curled up on the sofa to consider my financial options again. Take on more dogs to groom, find a second job, work for Janna, or resume singing at funerals. In spite of Janna’s efforts to promote me, I didn’t think my band would be performing again soon.
We’d all received a text message when Digby had made it safely Down Under. He sounded upbeat and happy to be there. I figured he’d stay at least a month, so that was one month without any possibility of band income, not that we had any bookings. In truth, I wasn’t eager to get onstage again after that last incident.
Where did that leave me? Except for more expenses than income, I had no idea. I liked the idea of working on events with Janna but it was less of an income than from our band bookings unless they came up really frequently.
What could I cut from my budget? Not the rent, the utilities or the food, so that left my credit card and entertainment items. I could make it with just a few more dogs each week, so that would have to work until I could get something additional.
At least tonight, I didn’t have to worry about food. Ferris was taking me out to an Italian restaurant we both loved. I was cheery as I dressed in a warm beige sweater and jeans. When I answered the door, Ferris greeted me with a hug and a kiss, then paused jerking his head toward his van.
“I brought someone with me,” he announced.
I peered at the van trying to see who it was.
“Stephen. I thought it would be good for him to get out with us. He’s missing Dig and this is his night off, so I hope you don’t mind.”
“Of course not. Good thinking.” Stephen was a chef and usually worked both weekend nights, but once every few weeks he got a Saturday night off and this was it.
He’d moved to the back seat of the van by the time I got to it. “Hope you’re hungry,” I said.
He smiled, but it seemed a bit forced. “Looking forward to it. Thanks for asking me along.”
While we had socialized a few times with Dig and Stephen, we hadn’t really gotten to know Dig’s partner very well, so I felt a little uncomfortable with the situation. I figured it would smooth out as we talked more at the restaurant.
Luckily, Ferris remained unfazed by the plan shift since he’d instigated it. Stephen relaxed once we had ordered wine and an appetizer and we talked about how it was going with him and had he talked to Digby. He told us Dig had called once and they’d talked about twenty minutes. He was doing well, loving seeing his old pals and family.
After dinner, Ferris excused himself and Stephen moved over next to me to talk. He’d had about three glasses of wine and I thought he seemed a little tipsy. But he sounded sober as he started talking to me.
“I know we haven’t talked much, but I feel like you can relate to me. I’m worried about Dig. After the... accident, he seemed different, quieter and he talked more about home. Meaning Australia. Not here. Before, this was home. Him and me, Reno. Gillian, I’m afraid he’s not going to come back.” Stephen looked like a solid, steady guy, good-looking in a rugged way, but right now he looked ready to break. Tears welled in his eyes, threatening to fall.
Love bites.
What could I tell him? I tried
anyway. “You know, when you’re hurt in a situation that could have been life-ending, it changes your perspective about a lot of things. Dig’s been here for about eight years and he hasn’t been back to Australia in all that time. He’s met his parents in Mexico a couple of times to meet the out-of-country requirement of the INS, but he’s not gone back. Now, he’s had time to think about everyone back there. Maybe he’s just felt the need to see them again and find his roots. Don’t try to guess what he’s going to do.”
Stephen listened intently as I spoke, his teeth worrying on his lower lip. “Give him a little more time, like a couple of weeks, then ask when he thinks he might be coming home. But don’t push him. Honey, I don’t think he’s deserting us. This is just something he needs to do. He loves you, Stephen. He’ll be home.” I took his hand and squeezed it encouragingly.
With a burst of gratitude, he pulled me into a big hug, wrapping his arms around me. “Thank you, girl. I knew you’d help me.”
“Hey, you cutting in on my girlfriend,” Ferris said as he came back right in the middle of the hug.
Stephen let go and jerked back. “Just saying thanks. Nothing else.” He slipped back to his chair as Ferris grinned and wiggled his eyebrows at him. It didn’t bother my guy and he would probably consider it a good thing.
We dropped Stephen off at his home, then continued on to mine.
“Is he okay?” Ferris asked.
“Uh huh. Just missing Digby. He’s worried he won’t come back.”
“Of course, he will.” There was absolute conviction in his voice. No doubt about it.
Personally, I shared Stephen’s concern. Digby had acted oddly when we’d gone to dinner with him. I got the sense he was feeling disconnected and needed to find the correlation that the home ties would provide. I hoped Ferris was right and it was dead certain he’d be back.
A Song of Forgiveness Page 22