by S E Brower
“I have one. What’s with the glass of wine, and the bowl of fruit?”
Celeste’s eyes flashed, “It is an offering for the spirit world,” she made a sweeping gesture over the table as she spoke, “it would be rude to invite them without presenting something in return.” Travis looked at Jessie with a smirk, and she kicked him under the table.
Intrigued with the notion of a Rogue Soul, Celeste gathered up the tarot cards, placing them to the side, “We will not need these. A séance would serve you better. I will require a minimum of three. You must both take part,” she looked to each of them. Jessie merely nodded.
“We’re in,” Travis confirmed. A long pause ensued, before she spoke once more.
“I am a spiritual medium with psychic abilities, serious about my work, emphasizing spiritualism, not showmanship. This is not entertainment. This is not a game. I will tune into the spiritual energy surrounding you, sensing your past, present, and future. Together, we must focus our energies. We do this by holding hands.
When a spirit comes through me, my voice may sound strange when I am fully entranced. Do not be alarmed. Then, and only then, may you let go of each other’s hands. Should the spirit use a portal to break through the earthly barrier, it may speak through me or unassisted. You may ask questions if you wish,” she paused again, to be certain they understood.
“If you so much as startle, we could lose this fragile connection. Always remain calm. If you feel threatened, or if the situation seems out of control, you may end the session by extinguishing the candles, turning the lights on, and opening the door, breaking all connections.
At the séance conclusion, you must thank the spirits for coming. Otherwise, do not speak. Do not discuss your experiences here, until you are far removed from this place. You may leave a tip on the table in front of my seat. Do you have questions?”
“Nope, we got it, we’re good,” Travis told her.
“We shall begin,” Celeste nodded, extending both of her hands, which Travis and Jessie took forming an unbroken circle around the table. Celeste closed her eyes, taking a deep breath in through her nose, slowly exhaling through her mouth.
“Close your eyes. Listen to the sound of my voice. Breathe in and out and in and out, slowly, until it relaxes you.” This continued for several minutes.
“Open your eyes, focusing all your attention on the crystal ball. Let go of outside influences. Think only of the Rogue Souls you seek, all other thoughts, put aside. Breathe, now repeat after me… spirits of Rogue Souls past.” They repeated in unison.
“Spirits of Rogue Souls past.”
“Come among us, be one with us.”
“Come among us, be one with us.”
“Be guided by the flame.”
“Be guided by the flame.”
Jessie and Travis eyed each other when nothing happened. Celeste again evoked the spirit world, they repeated after her, and again, and a fourth time.
Travis let out an impatient sigh, “This is turning into an expensive, monumental waste of time,” he thought to himself. Now, Jessie was the one more optimistic, wanting answers, yet afraid of what they might learn. Celeste continued chanting as they repeated after her over and over.
Nearly giving up, finally there was a noticeable change in the atmosphere. Subtle, but they all felt it. Jessie got a chill, realizing the temperature in the room had dropped. Travis looked around, searching for an air-conditioning vent. Finding nothing, he turned his attention back to the crystal ball. Travis shifted slightly in his chair, awakening the creaking old floor beneath him startling Jessie, and still they chanted, hands joined.
The clock in the hallway struck the hour bonging loudly, even with the door closed, again making Jessie jump. Celeste, undaunted continued to chant, ceasing when her expression changed to one of distress. “Conflict… turmoil.”
“I feel it,” Jessie whispered.
“What’s going on, Jess?” Travis whispered back, becoming concerned.
“There’s a struggle,” Jessie breathed, “I can feel the desperation.”
Celeste’s voice once again normal, informed her, “What you have been sensing, is a stir.” Travis noted, it was the same word, ‘stir’ Drummondax had used, before he left them at the TV station. Then, the pitch of Celeste’s voice abruptly changed.
“Reason she is to be born,” the words she uttered lacked inflection, her eyes glassy and luminous in the candlelight, “last of the living Rogue Souls…a higher purpose…”
The siblings could not make sense of her ramblings. The medium’s chin dropped as if she had fallen asleep. When she again lifted her head, there was a faraway look in her eyes, “A violent conflict transpires to see who will address us… one is breaking through the Earthly barrier,” she told them, letting out a long hissing sound, “it has arrived.”
A soft pinkish glow enveloped the crystal ball on the table before them, the color intensifying, giving the room a strangely reddish cast. It formed into a red mist floating above the table, expanding as it moved and swirled. It mesmerized the siblings, as they watched it circling Travis as if it were studying him.
Jessie stared as the red mist fully engulfed Travis, only beginning to panic when the color intensified over his shoulder, the one bearing the tattoo. Sensing the danger, no longer did she care about breaking the connection, she only cared about Travis.
She jumped up when she noticed the sleeve of his Tee-shirt beginning to smolder. Bursting into flames, the fabric disintegrated, exposing the dragon tattoo beneath. The ignition startled Jessie, who quickly backed into her chair. Travis slapped his hand over the tattoo, smothering any residual flames, surprised he had sustained no injury.
Distracted, they were unaware the entity had vanished, when Celeste interrupted the mayhem with a raspy, sinister voice. “I see you have enlisted the aid of one most fearless, and forthright. You think you are powerful? Welcome to Hell, Holy Dragon Warrior.” The flames of the candles extinguished unaided, leaving them all in shocked silence, and total darkness.
Jessie could hear her heart pounding in her ears. She wanted to ask Travis if he was okay but was afraid to move or speak. Celeste let out a deep sigh, her voice cutting the silence.
“He has gone to report to his master.” She stood, relighting the candles, her hands shaking ever so slightly. Looking nervously at the siblings, she directed them to continue. Taking a breath, to regain their composure, they adjusted their seats, joined hands and reconnected the circle, beginning again, to chant.
This time it wasn’t long before Jessie recognized not a stir, but a definite disturbance, although she remained quiet. Celeste, picking up on it informed them, “A spirit is fighting off evil to join us,” her eyes closed, “follow the light,” she instructed the spirit, “it will be your guide.”
Jessie stared at the crystal ball on the table. This time, the glow coming into the room was a soft blue. She knew they had found what they were looking for. Desperate to contact a fellow Rogue Soul, she willed the blue mist to intensify, helping it break the Earthly barrier. The spirit was swirling before Jessie, when Celeste nodded permission to address it.
As calm as she could, Jessie said, “I am Jessie. Who are you?”
“I am Garret. Where am I?” The voice sounded apprehensive.
“You are in Philadelphia,” Jessie answered.
“Where is Philadelphia?”
“In the United States. Where were you from?”
“Wales,” the blue mist answered.
“How old were you Garret, when you died?”
“18”
Jessie drew in a sharp breath, saddened he died so young. “Are you a Rogue Soul?” she wanted confirmation.
“Yes, so are you,” Garret answered. Jessie was amazed the spirit recognized her as a Rogue Soul. Without further prompting, he spoke with great urgency.
“Lucifer seduced The Author, head of the Guardian Library to do his bidding. They found out the Rogue Souls have special senses, that
could mess up Lucifer’s plans. Now, The Author is killing them off one by one, holding their souls captive, someplace, I don’t know where. I want to find them, but my appearance here has exposed me and you, I’m afraid. The spirits attached to this medium, and those who fought to get here through the portal, know who we are, and they are already reporting to Lucifer as we speak.”
“What do you mean, by those who fought to get here?” Jessie asked, as she and Travis exchanged worried looks. Suddenly, Garret went silent. Unexpectedly rushing to Travis, the blue mist entered his body.
Travis inhaled a deep, involuntary breath, his face registering his astonishment. Jessie smiled, letting him know, Garret would cause him no harm. “Another stir,” Jessie said aloud, looking at Celeste, who agreed.
She felt it too, turning to Travis, speaking to the spirit within him. “Garret are you with us?” there was no reply. The room went silent, with the three staring at one another for a sign. Garret’s voice finally answered.
“I’m here,” upon which time, Travis jumped to his feet, pointing an accusing finger at a red mist just forming above the circle. A voice shouted at them from deep within the mist. “Death to the interlopers, power to Lucifer!”
“That’s no Rogue!” Travis shouted, “that is Hell Spawn!” then proclaiming, “and its name is Abaddon!” Instantly, the red mist vanished from sight. Jessie jumped up in disbelief.
“How did you do that, and how did you know its name?”
The blue mist that was Garret, left Travis as he answered. “I don’t have a clue. I just knew.”
Celeste looked at them both, asking them please to sit, so as not to break the connection. In the years she spent as a medium, this was the most unusual session she had ever encountered and was eager to keep it going. Garret’s spirit joined the circle once again.
“When I entered the body of this warrior,” he told them, “I gave him knowledge of the ‘Angels of The Abyss’, an ancient demonic sect. That demon was a soldier of Lucifer, sent to wreak havoc throughout the Earthly realm.”
Jessie turned towards her brother, “So… you’re a warrior now?” He smiled, pleased with the new title, but Celeste interjected, stealing his ten seconds of glory.
“Thank you, spirit,” she turned towards Garret. “Identifying an evil spirit by name, will send it back to Hell.”
“Oh, geez,” Jessie whispered, “good to know.”
She was just beginning to feel comfortable again, thrilled to have contacted a Rogue Soul, when Drummondax burst into the room. Scaring the life from them all. At first, Jessie was relieved, happy even, to see him. But then, she realized he was super pissed. His wings spread wide, filled with rage, and foreboding, Jessie had never seen him this angry and he went straight to Travis.
“I see you have persisted with this sacrilege, Travis John.” Spewing the words, his eyes narrowed as he stared, his searing blue eyes ablaze.
But Travis stood his ground. “For your information, we have found out a few things that might help Jessie and it’s not like we are running a gambling joint in a church or something,” he glared back at Drummondax.
Drummondax, saying nothing in return, surveyed the surroundings, becoming even more agitated, when he saw the Tarot cards on the table. Celeste knew of the Angel’s presence in the room. Accustomed to strange occurrences, she was unimpressed with his entrance.
“Who are you?” she demanded.
But he ignored her saying, “A demon spirit was vanquished from this place.”
“Why yes, it was,” Travis retorted, clearly annoyed, “with the help of Garret, a Rogue Soul spirit we picked up. By the way, you’re welcome.”
Drummondax looked across the table at Jessie, knowing she was angry with him. Folding her arms, she admonished him for speaking so, to Travis.
“Dax, he was trying to help me. Also, we found out a few things that might be useful. At least give him some credit for that.” Drummondax shook his head unrelenting, feeling compelled to restate his position.
“Forgive me, Jessica. I know your brother seeks only to protect you, as do I. But you must understand the danger. This contact may cause grave consequences.”
Garret’s spirit, still among them floated over in front of Drummondax, who knew they must protect the Rogue Soul Spirit. Pointing at Travis, he commanded, “Spirit, attach yourself to this Dragon Warrior, for he will protect and carry you.” Drummondax gave Travis another stern look before he could protest, as Garret’s spirit once again entered his body.
While Travis was pleased Drummondax acknowledged him as a Dragon Warrior, he looked at his sister shrugging his shoulders. “I’m starting to feel like the Waldorf Hotel.”
Jessie coughed, “Yeah, only not nearly as clean on the inside,” she smirked.
“Ha-ha,” he frowned back at her.
Impatient with being ignored, Celeste once again addressed Drummondax. “Angel, again I ask, who are you? I have not summoned you here,” she waited for an answer.
He turned to face her, “I am the one who will free you.”
“Free me? What are you saying?” she scoffed at him, “I do not need your help, Angel.”
Her attitude saddened him, and he pitied her. “You need my help, even though you are unaware that you do.”
Celeste stood, as her gaze twisted to an ominous glare. Her lovely face contorted into something unrecognizable, and she moved towards him. Understanding the threat, Drummondax readied himself for a fight. The two circled one another, as the Celestial and Earthly realms collided. The walls surrounding them dissolved into blackness, blurring the lines of reality.
“Holy shit!” Travis exclaimed. Jumping up, he grabbed Jessie by the arm, pulling her to her feet. Pushing her as far back as he was able, he shielded her with his body. He knew something bad was about to happen.
Like prize fighters in the ring, the Angel and Medium circled one another. “I command you to leave, Angel,” Celeste’s voice sounded strange.
Drummondax, undaunted, issued his own directive. “I command you, to leave this woman, demon,” his voice reverberating through the dimly lit time paradox. Celeste’s face continued to warp into multiple strange shapes, and she screamed in agony, while Travis extended his arms out and back, sheltering his sister.
“I can take care of myself,” Jessie protested, pushing him out of the way. Turning his head towards the siblings, Drummondax appealed, “We could use your help, my brother.” Jordondey, emerged into full view, his great black wings extended in front of Travis and Jessie, protecting them.
“I am here, my brother,” he said to Drummondax, who gave him a quick nod.
Jessie complained, “Great, now I’ve got you AND your Guardian blocking my view.”
Celeste laughed at Drummondax with a high-pitched cackle.
“Celeste!” Drummondax shouted her name, “you must let me help you. Evil lives within you, you will die. Do you understand?” Her eyes flashed contempt, as they rounded together, predator and prey. “You must fight, Celeste. Fight for your life. Exercise these demons or suffer eternal damnation.” He pleaded with her, but she swore at him instead. An evil erupting from deep within her, voiced its rage.
“It is you, who must fight for your life, Angel,” the demon inside shrieked. For a fleeting moment, her face returned to normal, then to terror.
“Help me, please!” the panicked words screamed from her red lips, choked out by curses, growling, and more sinister laughter.
Drummondax advanced, positioning the possessed medium between himself and Jordondey. Without speaking, he telepathically instructed the Warrior Angel, to cause a distraction.
“Demon!” Jordondey commanded. Reaching over his shoulder between his wings, he grasped the pummel of a mighty gleaming concealed sword. Travis, turning his head, leaned back towards Jessie.
“He has a sword. Did you know he had a sword?” he whispered.
“Nope,” she whispered back, trying to get out from behind him to get a better view.
Celeste swung around to face Jordondey. As she did, Drummondax slipped in behind her. With his wings folded tight to his body, he wrapped one arm in front of her throat, holding her securely in the crook of his elbow. Then, with his free hand firmly on the back of her head, he shouted, “Leave this woman, demon. I command you, in the name of The Father!”
As Drummondax pulled back his hand, his wings spread wide, and he ripped the red mist from her body. It let out a blood-curdling scream as it left, followed immediately by another demon. Jessie, wanting to help Drummondax, fought to reach him. But Travis, and Jordondey would not allow it, running protective interference in front of her.
The now exorcised demon swirled around the room provoking Drummondax, while Jordondey, standing ready with his sword, his wings still outstretched, watched the demon’s every move. The demon mocked and tormented them.
“You think you have won, you have…” But before the demon could disgorge another word, Jordondey’s great wings pumped once, lifting him high. Raising his sword, he swung it down in one quick motion, slicing the demon essence in two, vanquishing it with a single blow.
With Jordondey watching his back, Drummondax focused on extracting the other demon, eliciting more ear-piercing screams. The fight far from over, Travis, and Jessie watched as Jordondey tracked the second demon mist, as it darted this way and that.
Without knowing why, Jessie reached for the water bottle Travis had given her in his office. Not taking her eyes off the demon, she unscrewed the top, and waited until the red mist came close. When it did, she hurled the contents of the bottle at her target. When the water made contact, it screamed and slowed down. Jordondey swooped in, sword in hand, exacting the same fate as the one before.
“Apparently, demons don’t like water, holy or otherwise,” Jessie exclaimed.
Meanwhile, Drummondax extracted another demon, followed by another, and yet another. Until, amid the shrieks, and curses, Celeste collapsed in his arms crying. Placing her gently on a chair, he then reached for the crystal ball. Holding it high in his right hand, he dropped to one knee, bowing his head, as the angry red demon mists swirled all around him. His voice strong, “By the power of The Father, I bind you to this crystal!”