“Of course.” Uncertainty clouded her face for a moment before a steely expression took hold. She turned around and exited the shop.
As for Grams’s wavering demeanor, I assumed that Alzheimer’s and magic didn’t mix well. I didn’t have any other theories. Then an obvious thought popped into my head: in the past, during these memory lapses, Grams had never remembered me. But today, while she switched between herself…and The Intruder, she recognized me without any difficulty. She just acted differently.
But why? Obviously, something wasn’t right. Perhaps slowing the aging process had deteriorated her mind, resulting in splintered realities. I didn’t know what captured my imagination more: getting to the bottom of that mystery…or discovering what was inside the box in the middle of the secret chamber.
CHAPTER SIX
An hour later, after locking up the shop and walking home to contemplate all that had occurred today, I entered our home, catching a whiff of cloves mixed with the scent of iron. Grams must have gone to sleep because I didn’t see a light from her bedroom splashing into the hall at the other end of the house. I crossed through our cramped family room. The walls held framed pictures of me and Grams over the past twenty years. I veered to the right and entered my tiny bedroom.
I fell in bed, trying but failing to cleanse my mind of anything related to magic, so I got out my MP3 player and earbuds and listened to Iron Maiden with my eyes closed. They had created some music built around the themes of magic, premonitions, and the like, so I thought it might give me some insight into the subject without giving it great thought.
Sometime later, I heard a voice. I opened my blurry eyes and pulled out my earbuds.
Grams stood in my doorway. A beam of light shone down on her from the hallway ceiling. She didn’t smirk, and I didn’t sense any condescension in her expression.
“Hello, Serenity,” she said, wearing blue and orange Chicago Bears pajamas.
“What’s the matter?” I asked, sensing no emotions vibrating from her. “Come closer.”
A half-second later, as though triggering the button on a teleportation device, Grams joined me at the bed. I didn’t even see her take a step. One second she was in the doorway. The next, she’d appeared at my bedside.
I jerked back, shocked. “How did you do that?”
Grams swung back to the bedroom door for a moment. Satisfied not to hear any movement in the hall, she turned back to me. She placed an index finger to lips that didn’t seem lifeless, but on the other hand, they didn’t seem to have life in them either. Her skin looked gray, as though someone had dumped a trash can of ashes onto her, which had immediately melted into her skin. A vibrant smile made her green eyes twinkle.
Now this was the Grams I knew and loved. The woman who took me out for ice cream sundaes when I had an earache as a child. The woman who had stayed up late with me many nights to play checkers, dominoes, or chess. The woman who had been tough but kind while teaching me how to treat others. The woman who had been strict but understanding and supportive when I got bad grades. The woman whose parenting skills I wanted to emulate…if I ever had kids.
“We don’t have much time,” Grams said in a soothing voice.
I sat up. “For what?”
“The truth.”
“It’s about time! Lay it on me.”
She directed a finger at the door. “That woman in my bed…is not me!”
A chill went through me then I realized it was just standard confusion. “Of course, you’re not in bed. You’re right here…with me.”
She grabbed my blanket and shook it in her hand. “Pay attention!”
That reaction persuaded me sit upright. “Okay. What’s wrong?”
“My spirit is here with you, but my body has been hijacked.”
Bewildered, I just stared at her. “Hijacked? What does that mean?”
“I told you earlier tonight that I don’t have much time. Please believe that. I don’t know how much longer I’ll be with you, so you need to understand everything I tell you.”
Based on Grams’s erratic behavior, it only made sense that I’d called her alter ego The Intruder. It turned out my assumption wasn’t as far-fetched as I’d thought. “All right, I’m listening. You’re saying that you’re—what, a spirit? Don’t you have to be dead to be a spirit? Then again, you are glowing a little, even if your skin is kind of gray.”
“I don’t have time to explain everything. I might not be able to give you all the answers you need, but I’ll do my best to try.”
Those words made my eyes grow wide. “Okay, how are you here, if you’re not dead?”
“Astral Projection? When I felt the entity infiltrating my body, my soul got pushed aside while the entity took over my brain and bodily functions. I can only guess that astral projection is a natural reaction to someone else taking control of your body. So while my body is asleep, I’m still conscious as a spirit.”
Grams looked so worried yet sincere that I trusted her immediately, despite her outrageous claims. I guess seeing a vampire snap the neck of a demon dulled the shock factor of what would otherwise seem impossible. “Is a demon inside your body?”
“No.”
“Phew. Do you know what it is?”
“I’d rather not say, at least right now.”
That answer, of course, made me even more eager to learn the truth. She’d revealed so much already, why could it hurt to tell me who had entered her body? “Does it know what you know? Does it have your memories?”
“Yes to both questions…to a point, that is. The longer it remains in my body, the more it will sync with it, and yes, it’ll eventually know everything I know.”
“But your Alzheimer’s; won’t it prevent that thing from snatching everything you know?”
“I don’t know.”
“How long can you stay out of your body?”
“If I get back, but the entity syncs with my body, I’ll be trapped in there, paralyzed. I’ll be an observer in my own body. If I don’t, I’ll be locked out for forever.”
“But if you get back in time, how would we get that thing out?”
“I don’t know, but if she gains control, it will take three days before she has access to my powers, as well as the powers that have remained in this realm since she last incarnated.”
Her uncertainty sent a shard of fright through me.
“Astral projection is a rare ability. Only Zephora had that ability. That reminds me: this interloper might seek out the family grimoire, a guide that we call The Book of Souls. It contains various spells and information about other paranormal creatures. When her daughter took ownership of it, she put certain guidelines in place to prevent any one witch from becoming too powerful, supposedly because of Zephora’s thirst for power. Any witch who possesses it will only be able to ask three questions and receive the same amount of answers.”
“If you ask a fourth question, does a hand pop out of the pages and slap your knuckles?”
Grams overlooked my sarcasm by raising her head to the ceiling. “Be serious, Serena.”
“That’s me: Serious Serena. I guess it’s better than Sad Serena.” Sensing another round of condemnation, I raised my hands in defense. “Okay, sorry. I’m just kinda freaking out here. This is all just way too unbelievable. How do I deal with any of this? It’s crazy!”
“Get ahold of yourself. Concentrate!”
I steadied my nerves, prepared myself to focus, although that was a difficult endeavor.
“When it comes to our abilities, Zephora created everything in threes. We call it ‘The Rule of Three.’”
“Why?”
“It’s an ancient superstition: if two bad incidents occur, many people think they’re due for one more. In Catholicism, there is The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. In politics, America is governed by the Executive Branch, Legislative Branch, and the Judicial Branch. In astronomy, Earth is the third planet from the sun. In sports, for the Olympics, there are three metals:
gold silver, and bronze.”
“In pop culture,” I said, wanting to add my own interpretation, “we’ve got the Three Stooges. And food? Don’t forget: Snap, Crackle, and Pop! Because, really, who could refuse Rice Krispies?”
Grams ignored my sarcasm. “Serena!”
“This is too much,” I said, almost ready to duck my head under the covers. “I joke around because I can’t cope with all this. I don’t understand—”
“Just know that no witch can consult the grimoire after receiving answers for the three questions she asked. Afterwards, The Book of Souls becomes useless to the witch who owns it. Now that someone has connected with my mind and body, it will block me from trying to return. After three days, it will sync with my body, but I don’t have enough strength to hold out that long.”
That reminded me of the secret room. “The Book of Souls is in the shop, isn’t it? In that secret room?”
“You saw the grimoire?”
“Well, no. But I entered the room. What’s wrong? You look scared.”
She waved off the idea. “Stay focused. Back to the grimoire. Before passing on, the one who possesses The Book of Souls will present it to the witch most worthy of its secrets. Only then can the new protector consult it.”
“Knowing this earlier sure would have made things easier,” I said.
“As I said, I wanted to shield you from the darkness that persuaded my daughter to turn her back on white magic. She has for the most part manipulated Alexis into being her minion. I wanted you to think for yourself, not have someone feed you lies.”
“Darkness? What does that mean? They’re evil?”
“They practice black magic to bring about…” She shook her head, unwilling to continue.
“What is it? Shouldn’t I know? They’re my family.”
“Bound by blood,” Grams said. “But not spirit. Remember that.”
“If you give me the grimoire, can I find out how to get the entity out of your body?”
“No,” Grams said with a determined stare. “I’m afraid The Book of Souls is not meant for you.”
“Well, who are you going to give it to?”
“Someone who will not be swayed by outside distractions.”
My thoughts immediately turned to Celestina, who seemed pure of mind, body, and spirit. I admired her ability to remain untouched by her mother and grandmother’s scheming and bad intentions. Still, a twinge of envy hit my heart. I wish I could have been the person Grams could turn to.
“So now what?” I asked.
“I’ve nearly fulfilled my last purpose: teaching you about your ancestry. I’ve got to move on sometime. Now is as good of a time as any.”
I scrambled out of bed and bolted to my feet, standing opposite her. “No! I won’t let you. There has to be a way to reverse things.” Her endearing expression made me realize that she’d already given in to passing away. But she also appeared ready to fight the inevitable.
A tap at the window disrupted us. I glanced to the right and saw Darius standing outside, looking in at us. “What the hell!”
“Let him in,” Grams said.
That broke my reverie. “I can’t. He’s a vampire. If I let him in—”
“He has worked with me for over one hundred years. You’ll need him on your side. He’s the best ally you could ask for.”
I swiveled back to Grams. “Ally? Do you think a war is coming?”
“Yes. Celestina foresaw it.”
“A war between vampires and witches?”
“I’m not sure.”
“Didn’t you say that you’re prohibited from seeing Celestina?”
“Yes, but I visited her before I came to see you a few minutes ago. Each witch in our family has a signature, similar to that of a sound wave. It takes time and practice to identify it, so even if you don’t know where they’re located, if you follow that signature, it will guide you to them. Since I’m in a spectral state, I was able to zip over there in seconds.” She grinned and her joy brightened the aura around her. “It was unbelievable!”
My legs collapsed and my butt bounced off the bed before planting itself there again. I covered my face with my hands. “What else exists? Medusa? Dragons? The psychotic clown, Pennywise, from Stephen King book, It?” I didn’t want to hear anymore. I removed my eyes to find Grams sitting beside me, although she obviously did so without adding weight to the mattress.
“Medusa and dragons? That’s ridiculous. A psychotic clown? It’s possible.” She smiled, making it known she was kidding.
“They’re inactive? This isn’t a sports analogy, right? It’s not like they’re on the disabled list or something, recuperating from a wolf bite.”
“They’re not injured, but since you mentioned werewolves, they can’t turn until a full moon, not to mention a day before and afterwards as well.”
“I thought they only change during a full moon? Is it because of The Rule of Three?”
Grams nodded.
“Hey?” a voice asked outside. Darius splayed both hands at his side as if saying: Remember Me?
“Darius,” Grams said, “is the only vampire who walks the planet, as far as he knows. The same holds true for witches. We’re the only ones in existence. I retract that statement: we’re the only extra-sensory individuals in America. Darius has traveled the world for decades searching for other beings with special gifts, but he’s come up empty. But that doesn’t mean they’re not out there.”
I walked over to the window, lifted it up, and said, “Come on in.”
“I prefer to walk in. Not climb in like a rebellious teenager.”
I blinked, and he disappeared. I walked past Grams, tiptoed to the front door, and opened it.
Darius stepped inside.
“Come on,” I said, gesturing him to follow me back to my room. When he entered, I closed it without a sound. “Okay,” I said to Grams, “I need more answers. How do I find out what abilities I have?”
“They’ll present themselves in due time.”
“Grams, I love you, but you’re not helping me. Can you tell me anything? Are there more demons out there?”
Darius nodded. “They slip past the veil when there’s a power vacuum.” He eyed Grams then remained silent.
“What?” I asked Grams. “Say it.”
“Nothing could prepare you for what’s coming. I’m sorry I didn’t do things differently.”
To see Grams second-guessing herself cut me up inside.
“There is a sword in The Antique Boutique. You need to find it. It’s important for what you need to accomplish.”
“A sword? We’re not in feudal Japan. Samurais don’t walk the street. I don’t need a sword.”
“It’s the same one you practiced with during your martial arts training. I gave it to Master Nakamura the day you first entered his studio.”
“That reminds me of all the weapons in the secret room. Why are they there? Why did you collect them?” My bedroom doorknob rattled, so I stopped speaking.
“I’ve got to go,” Grams whispered. “Pretend you never saw me.”
I reached out for her, but my hand went right through her as though she were nothing more than a projected image.
“I’ll see you soon,” said Grams. Then she vanished.
I glanced around for Darius, but he too had disappeared, having obviously gone through the window.
I lay on my bed, popped the earbuds into my ears again, grabbed an issue of Entertainment Weekly off my nightstand, and began flipping through the pages.
The door opened, revealing The Intruder. “I thought I heard voices.”
Since I hadn’t hit play in a while, the MP3 player had turned off to save the battery. I pretended to hit the pause button. “Yeah, sorry about that. I must have been singing Maiden too loudly.”
Puzzled, the phony Grams stared at me for a long moment. “Maiden?”
My nerves throttled under my skin, so I worked on calming my pounding heartbeat. “Iron Maiden,” I s
aid. “They’re a heavy metal band.”
Now she glared at me.
“You sang to a song…that is captured inside that tiny box?” she asked, motioning to my iPod.
“Yes.”
She looked suspicious. “Am I to believe the music travels through the wires and into your ears?” She snickered with disbelief. “Which song last played?”
“Huh. What song? Oh, um, ‘Number of the Beast.’”
A smirk split her lips. “That sounds like a pleasant song.”
Yeah, it was about the Devil, so of course, this lunatic impersonator would love it.
“Well, carry on then,” she said, turning back to the door. When she reached it, however, she spun around again. “And Serena?”
“Yes?”
“Be careful, darling.” Her warning came with a severe glare. “I would hate to see you on the receiving end of a spell gone wrong.”
CHAPTER SEVEN
After The Intruder left, I expected to lay awake for hours, contemplating a new reality that contained the various creatures I encountered. I must have fallen asleep though because soon enough, I felt my ears ringing as whooshing sounds passed by me, my body feeling heavy as it vibrated at a different frequency than I’d ever felt before. A green haze obstructed my view as I passed through walls and crossed streets. Soon enough, I felt light as a feather and moved quicker than I thought possible until panic set in, and I somehow returned to my room. I stood on the floor near my bedroom door…watching my body resting peacefully on my bed.
Unable to comprehend what had happened, I waved my right hand towards my left, only to watch it pass through my left forearm without the least bit of resistance. Confused, I turned around and reached for the doorknob, only to have my hand go right through the knob. What the hell?
I reached for it again, but once more, my hand passed right through the doorknob and the door itself without the least bit of pain. Had I died? I spun around, ready to run over to the bed. But I didn’t need to run. I simply appeared there a moment later, looking down at my body, breathing steadily, lost in a deep sleep.
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