Vanquishing Ghosts (Tess Schafer-Medium)

by Deborah J. Hughes

  My work area was located in the opposite corner from his. I too had a window next to me facing the side yard. The entire setup more than fit my needs and I was quite pleased with the results. In truth, I really enjoyed organizing my desk and filling the wall of shelving with my books and various collections. Aside from angel figurines, I collected various spiritual paraphernalia and I loved that it all could be displayed in one area. With Kade’s help, my computer was all set up and ready to go and I couldn’t wait to get to it writing the story I knew was ready to be told.

  Aside from our work stations, though, we also had a nice sitting area in front of the fireplace. A soft black leather sofa sat a few feet in front of it and sitting before that was a smoky glass-topped coffee table sporting one of the salt lamps Kade bought at Robin's store. The bamboo plant she gave us was on the mantel. The pentagram made from string art and displayed on a black velvet canvas hung centered on the brick facing of the fireplace. My collection of rocks and gems were on display along the wall shelving built on either side of the fireplace.

  A large carving of Buddha, bought on my honeymoon to India with Mike, sat next to the hall entrance beneath a potted palm tree that Marly gave to me as a house warming present. I told her once, about a year ago, that I didn't ever want to own a houseplant or another animal because I didn't want to deal with it dying on me. To celebrate my getting past that stage, Marly presented me with the palm tree. And now I had a dog and a cat. Not to mention Kade. My life was so different today than what I ever would have imagined a few short months ago. Thank God.

  "How about you relax here and start your story if you like, and I'll go throw the omelets together." Kade crossed the room to give me a kiss and headed for the door before I could voice a reply. He was such a decisive man. Once he made up his mind, he wasted no time getting to it.

  "What about our plan to stay together until we send the Big Bad on to a better place?"

  Kade paused at the door and looked at me, his gaze inquisitive. "I'll just be down the hall. We can call each other if anything happens. Or you can come with me."

  "No. You're right. We aren't far from each other and we are within calling distance. Besides..." I pointed to the cat which had wandered in just as we finished unpacking the last box. He now lay stretched out on the coffee table, nearly reaching from one end to the other. "I have Dennis to keep me company."

  Alex, on the other hand, was ready to prance off with Kade. It was quite obvious to me that he was going to be more Kade’s dog than mine. Just so long as he loved me too, I was okay with that.

  Instead of continuing his course to the kitchen, Kade stood there thinking for a few brief moments then gave voice to his thoughts. "I wonder why the Big Bad has been quiet the past few hours?"

  I shook my head, puzzled over that myself. "I don't know." Perhaps it was just biding its time, gathering its energy for tonight.

  "Well, I'm grateful. I kept expecting it to knock my stuff over, or shove me out the window or something."

  As Kade was smiling when he said that, I laughed in response and blew him a kiss. "Maybe he knows we don't scare easily."

  "I'll call you when dinner is ready."

  Once he was gone, I glanced around to see if there was anything left to do. There wasn't. We did well. Everything was in place and all in order. I knew when I first saw this room that it was going to be my favorite and I was right. I loved the nook and crannies, the windows, the wood, the fireplace, all my things that meant so much to me. I loved seeing Kade’s things here too.

  Feeling relaxed and secure, I sat down at my desk and glanced out at the window next to me. It was too dark to see anything but during the day it offered a view of the side lawn where a large rose bush grew. A couple bird feeders and that bird bath up in the attic would eventually go out there as well. I loved watching the birds. The garden bench Mike made a few months before he died would look nice right next to the rose bush.

  Something fluttered past the window and I leaned close to the pane to better see. Bats. Speaking of which, I also planned to put up a few bat houses as well. Kade thought that a little strange when I mentioned it to him but I wanted to be sure to give them a safe, dry place to nest. Bats were great for keeping down the annoying bug population so known to the Maine woods. At least, this is what Charlene and Traci told me and I knew enough about those two friends of mine to go with whatever they suggested. At least on this issue. I had no problem with bats. Spiders were another matter.

  But enough distracting thoughts. Time to relax and begin a story. Having no clue what to write, I decided to just trust my instincts and begin with whatever came into my head.

  The garden was doing well. Finally she was getting some success with the plants that found the climate difficult to handle. It was a matter of knowing when to plant and when to harvest. The growing season was so short, there was no room for error. But now, after some experimentation, she finally had developed strains that could handle the short summers and cool evenings. This was a very good thing for The Dark was getting close.

  She'd been feeling it for months, the gathering evil, growing stronger in its influence. He would eventually come here and she had to be sure the young one was ready. Timing was everything and her time grew short. Was there enough left to teach all that must be imparted?

  "Do you need some help?"

  Naylee turned slowly, her body protesting the movement and managed to smile through her pain. So soon she must go and there was much to do. "I have all I need here, young one."

  "Let me carry that for you. What are we going to do today?"

  "We must make protection for the land. Make safe our home, then more safe those who live in it."

  "Safe from what, Naylee? Everyone loves you. They come to you for help and they trust you."

  "Not all in the world are born to do good deeds, young one."

  "So how are those..." she nodded to the basket of herbs that she now carried, "How can herbs protect the land?"

  "As you know, all things have purpose. It is the way. Many have lost their knowledge of the way but I have been shown what must be done. Then it is for you to continue."

  "Why, Naylee? Why must I continue?"

  "My time grows short, young one."

  "Please tell me you are okay, Naylee. I cannot lose you now. I am not ready."

  "All things happen in their time. It is as it should be. We do not argue these things, young one. We do what we know and I have much to teach you. Come, young one, and let me show you what must be done."

  "You know something don't you, Naylee? Something bad is coming."

  "It comes. You feel it too."

  "No. I do not feel it too. I see it in your face and it frightens me."

  "Fear will weaken the protection. Do you see fear on my face, young one?"

  "No."

  "Then why so you?"

  Her dark eyes filling with tears, Naylee's young charge shook her head, her long dark hair lifting gently in the breeze. So pretty she was, so special, but he who loved her would do wrong by her. Though he knew it not. If only she could stop what was to be.

  "We must protect the land, young one. And then, if there is time ... we work on protecting him."

  "Him?"

  Naylee met her searching gaze with a steady look. She knew the young one would see the answer in their depths for the eyes told all. They mirrored what was harbored in the soul. Maybe this would impart more than she could say. But the young one's emotions were too attached to him and it was that attachment which would undo them both. So the land it must be. Protect the land and leave the rest for spirit to deal with.

  A shiver raced through Naylee's heart and spread through her tired, aching limbs. So long she had lived to protect and raise the young one. She could not fail. If so, what would happen to the people? How would they ever learn what must be done? Dark overcame her eyesight and Naylee paused to combat it. She must keep the dark at bay. Just a little longer.

  "We've much to
accomplish, young one. Let us talk no more this day but focus on the herbs and the power we must compel them to release."

  Nodding reluctantly, the young one opened the cottage door. Once Naylee hobbled past her, she turned to look at the surrounding wood. The Dark was coming. She could feel it. Naylee was right. They had much to do. But once the land was protected, she would help him. She would do it and no one, not even her beloved Naylee could stop her. Just please, she prayed, let it be enough.

  No more words would come and I sat back to stare at the last few written lines. A sense of foreboding flooded through me, swishing along my veins and making me shiver. Whatever I was writing about, none of it ended well. And it all pertained to my land. I just knew it.

  Before I could ponder it any further, the sound of Alex barking into a growl broke the silence and charged the air with a buzz of spiritual excitement. Something was up. As I pushed back from the desk and ran for the hall, I quickly envisioned my protective light and sent up a prayer. Night had arrived and the increasing sense of foreboding now clanged an urgent alarm through my brain. The Big Bad was back. And I had a terrible suspicion it was part of "The Dark".

  I entered the kitchen and found Kade standing in front of the stove but facing the dining room. Alex stood close to the center island, peeking cautiously around the side and looking in the same direction. With ears flat, his fur ruffled and his tail tucked between his legs, it was easy to see his fear.

  I followed the direction of their gazes and frowned with confusion at what I saw. Five of the six chairs were pulled away from the dining room table and facing outward. The sixth chair lay face down on the floor. I knew Kade didn’t do it and that made the scene all the eerier.

  Without looking at me, Kade said quietly, "I just walked over there and set the salt and pepper shakers on the table. I came back to the stove to get our omelets and Alex barked. I turned around and that's what I found. It happened in the space of seconds, Tess, and I didn't hear a sound."

  I looked at the table again. "Where did you put the shakers?"

  Kade came around the island and walked to the table, stopping next to the chair lying on the floor. "I set them near this end of the table."

  The shakers were gone and Alex wasn't moving from his spot. Though he wasn't growling anymore, his eyes were intent on something. "Kade, come back this way."

  "Why?"

  "Please."

  "We can't be afraid of this thing, Tess." He reached down to pick up the chair then jerked his hand back so fast he couldn’t check its momentum and slammed it into the stool, sending it crashing to the floor and Alex fleeing for cover behind me. "Jesus!" Nursing his injured hand, he backed cautiously in my direction. "I just got one hell of a shock.”

  The overhead lights flared and went out. We weren't plunged into darkness because some light came through the windows and from the hall light behind us, but the entire kitchen was thrown into shadow. Now I could see what Alex saw. A dark shape, like a wispy cloud, forming just beyond the table. I reached for Kade's uninjured hand and clasped it hard. "We need to bathe ourselves in light, Kade."

  "Really? You think imagining a light around us is going to protect us from that? Jesus, Tess, we need to come up with a better plan." He wasn't looking at me when he said that and when I tried to pull away from his grasp, Kade's hand tightened. In the same instant, I could just make out the fact that the dark shadow was expanding and trying to surround us.

  The air went suddenly heavy, making it hard to draw a breath and the temperature dropped. As the shadow thickened around us, my necklace began to burn against my skin and remembering its protective qualities, I used my free hand to grasp it through my shirt. The shadow retreated, concentrating its force around Kade.

  Until this point, Alex was pressed close to Kade's leg but when the dark shape intensified around him, the poor dog let out a distressed whimper and scampered away. Once he made it out into the hallway, he turned tail and ran. I heard not only his steps running up the stairs but Dennis's as well.

  "Let go of my hand, Kade." It was hard to temper down the panic rising fast and furious within me, but I didn't like the cold feel of his hand and the hard strength he was using to hold me still.

  "Why? Are you afraid of me, Tess?" Kade turned his head to look at me and his eyes glittered in the same way they had last night. I didn't need to see him clearly to feel the negative energy of the Big Bad's influence.

  Knowing the worst thing I could do was meet that gaze, I closed my eyes and did what he refused to do. I imagined a strong light shining upon us and growing stronger with pulsing energy. I imagined Sheila feeding the energy with her own spiritual presence and then concentrated on my necklace and its added power. Out loud, I recited the Lord's Prayer because I considered it the most powerful of prayers.

  Kade laughed in response, the tone mocking and nothing like him. "Really? That's what you are going to do? Pray?"

  Instead of fighting his grip, I let my hand relax completely in his and imagined light filtering through my body, moving along my arm and filling my hand with loving energy. Kade's grip loosened and I pulled free then slowly backed out into the hall.

  Now that I was standing further away and had some light to see by, it wasn't difficult to notice that Kade was enveloped within a thick shadowy mass. Fear crept into my heart. Dear God, how to protect him?

  Sheila, please help us!

  "Fear feeds negative energy, Tess."

  "Help me fight off the fear then because I can't do it on my own."

  “Yes you can.”

  And with that simple vote of confidence, mine returned. I had to ensure that the Big Bad had no power here. Not unless we unwittingly gave it some and we were not going to do that. Or at least I wasn't. Seems I was going to have to convince Kade to fight it as well or we were going to have a big problem.

  Determined to not be intimidated, I walked steadily toward him, my eyes meeting his with confidence. I was in no danger. Not from Kade and not from him.

  Energy whirred around me at a high rate, making my skin tingle in response. Kade stood still and taut, watching me with narrowed eyes. I let my love for him fill my mind, my heart and burst forth from my soul and with those feelings running through me, I lifted my hands and grasped his arms.

  As soon as I touched him, the shadow disappeared and the dark energy in the room lifted. Kade's body relaxed and he drew in a deep breath. Pulling me into his arms and holding me in a firm but gentle embrace, Kade dipped his head and whispered in my ear.

  "It happened again, didn't it?"

  "What do you remember?"

  "Reaching down to pick up the chair and getting shocked." He pressed a kiss to my temple and lifted his head to look at me. "I jerked back and everything just got dark for a second and then the next thing I know, you are here holding my arms and I'm facing you instead of the table over there."

  "The Big Bad put in another appearance it seems." But he was gone now and we needed to really discuss this situation. If I couldn't get Kade to believe in the power of his imagination, and thus in the protective force it provided him, then I wasn't sure how it was going to be safe ... for him or me ... to stay here.

  "How is it getting to me like that, Tess?"

  "It uses your anger to get in. It just seeps in through those emotions, using that weakened energy field to enter your aura." And then remembering what he just said, I added on a thoughtful note, "But you said you got shocked when you reached for the chair?"

  "Yes, it felt like I made contact with a live wire or something."

  "Then it used that moment, when your guard when down, to get in. It then influenced your frustration, making your anger kick in and that's when it took hold of you."

  "Christ." Kade pulled away and walked to the stove, running his hands up through his hair as he did so. "What the hell am I supposed to do? I can't always control my annoyances, Tess."

  Seeing that our omelets were done and probably cold by now, I walked over to join
him and looked at his preparations in appreciation. "Those look good. How about I zap them for a bit in the microwave and then we take them into the Sun Room to eat?"

  "Okay, good plan." Kade turned and looked at the chairs. "Is it safe to pick that one up now and turn the others around?"

  "Yes. I think so." I put our omelets in the microwave and then helped him put the chairs back where they belonged. "I wonder where the salt and pepper shakers went?" But even before I finished the sentence, I noticed what happened to the salt. The cap had come off and salt was scattered all over the floor. The pepper shaker, though, was still missing. I picked up the empty salt shaker and found the cap under the table. "How curious is that? I wonder why it spread salt all over the place? And what did it do with the pepper?"

  "Right here." Kade picked up the missing shaker from the chair he was about to push back to the table. "It was lying on the seat." And it was still full.

  I walked back to the stove and found the salt in the cupboard above it and refilled the shaker. Kade swept up the mess from the floor. I pulled our omelets out of the microwave then carried them to the Sun Room and Kade followed shortly with two glasses of lemonade and some toasted English muffins.

  We sat on the leather sofa and ate in silence. I knew Kade's mind was as busy as mine and once we had our fill of food, we were going to have to discuss this situation and come to an agreement on how we were going to handle it. More than anything I prayed we could come up with a mutual plan that Kade could accept.

  "You need to explain this stuff a little more, Tess, because it's all pretty new to me and though I've been trying to read up on it, I learn better by experience."

  I turned to him to do just that when I noticed I couldn't see the chain around his neck. "Kade, where is your necklace?"

  Kade frowned and lifted his hand to rest on his chest where the pendent would have been if he was still wearing it. "I remember it feeling uncomfortable and then I guess I took it off."