The Beast flinched at the power being channeled through me.
“You don’t have any power over this place anymore. The sacred dead banish you, Marietta Lancaster! They banish all you evil Lancasters! You do not belong here! I banish you!”
The creature became the dead woman again. She slapped me stiffly, the scent of rotting flesh lingered on mine. I wanted to gag. The pain hurt but it would not drive me to my knees. I would not quit.
“My sacrifice…give me…”
She began to back away from me, the fog had returned. It would hide her; it would keep her in the dark. Would it follow Carrie Jo back to her time? I couldn’t allow that! I wouldn’t! I banged the staff again and felt the air shift. I could only hope that Ashland and Carrie Jo had left, that they were safe. I had to close this portal.
I had to close it for the last time.
And that would require a sacrifice.
The Watcher stood beside me; his knowing eyes gave me some peace, but I didn’t doubt that my death would hurt. I feared the pain but surprisingly, I had no regrets. I didn’t want this ending, but it was coming.
Marietta screamed angrily as she realized that the time slip had ended, that Carrie Jo was out of her reach. She wouldn’t steal her or her child. She stormed toward me. Her tattered gown fluttering around her. Her decomposing blue flesh blackening as she threatened to transform yet again.
How had all this started? I would probably never know. But I knew how it was going to end.
The Watcher chanted and I ran for all I was worth toward her. I clutched the staff like a spear. I wasn’t alone. All the dead watched, hoping for a good ending. Tears blurred my eyes as my tennis shoes tapped on the ground.
I ran toward her; the spirit of the Watcher ran with me. I lifted the shaft to chest level and sped up. Marietta screamed like a banshee; her wisps of remaining hair swirled around her skull. She was the most horrible creature I’d ever seen, could have ever imagined but her eyes…something in her eyes relayed to me that she wanted this.
Marietta wanted to be free, and this was the only way. It could only be me.
The wooden stick landed on her chest, but I didn’t let up. I didn’t stop and neither did Marietta or the Watcher. We came together in a collapse of flesh and bones. The stench of her body sickened me, but the shock of my own death separated me from her. I heard her sob once, then twice.
And then I was alone in a bright place. Long tall grass rubbed against my legs. Blue skies above me, the sound of a creek running nearby. Was this place heaven?
No, I wasn’t alone. The Watcher was here. And he was not dead, not a ghost. He was alive and well, his skin bronze and healthy. He was old and young. Alive and dead.
He was beyond time. As now so was I.
Meena hota! Come, brave one. You have a seat at my table.
I glanced down at my body expecting to see something bad. An open wound. A broken bone. The pain at the moment of the collision with Marietta had been excruciating but it didn’t last long. It was all over.
I wore a yellow tunic, soft blue moccasins. My dark hair was long and braided. I was Meena hota. Wise braid. That was who I had always been.
I couldn’t cry. I could only laugh.
And everyone came to greet me. Everyone I’d ever known, and ever would and there were so many. And he was there too. The one I’d loved forever. Not Angus. He’d only been a shadow of him. This was my own love.
Wise Braid…my heart. My soul. You are home again.
I am home. I never want to leave again.
Maybe you will. Maybe you will not. I love you.
I feel your love. All of you. I am home.
They all said it with me, “You are home.”
The brightness around me surged and I lost myself in it.
Everything else faded…
Epilogue—Lily
I dumped my bookbag on the floor of my bedroom and sank on my bed. I was exhausted from the daily physical challenges but also all the other stuff I’d been doing. Like sneaking into the woods to dream walk.
I’d only been gone for two weeks this time, but it may as well have been a lifetime. These tennis camps were tough, but I was such a better tennis player for it. Yeah, things were changing for me. How did I feel about that? I couldn’t explain it, but I sensed that everything changed. A shadow darkened the doorway.
“Hey, Bean. Need help with anything?” My uncle peeked his head inside the door but didn’t come in. Since I turned thirteen, he waited for an invitation before stepping into my room. That was kind of a new rule I established before I left for tennis camp.
This is my space, Unk. Please respect my space.
Today I regretted that request. I missed Uncle Ash and Aunt CJ barging into my room without knocking. Treating me like a child. Okay, not really but I do miss being considered a kid. Their kid. But I’ll still be their kid, even after the baby arrives. They weren’t the kind of people to kick me to the curb. No, this feeling…it wasn’t really about that. Was it?
This was about Mitchell and the feelings I had about a crush I loved and lost without even knowing about it. Not in my waking life. Life was so uncomplicated before I fell for a ghost.
And Aunt Rachel…would I ever find her?
“I’m good. I dumped my dirty laundry downstairs and I’m about to get a bath. Hey, I though you guys had plans tonight. Need me to babysit?” I’d stepped up since Aunt Rachel’s disappearance. Aunt Carrie Jo worried about me, she was concerned that I hadn’t cried, I wasn’t grieving.
That’s because I knew Rachel wasn’t gone forever. I don’t know what that means, except I was not ready to let her go. Not when the door was still open. As unschooled in dream walking as I was, I continued to look for her every chance I got.
“Are you available? I thought you had plans.” He leaned against the doorway and crossed his arms.
“Nothing, besides studying. Katrina and I are going to the movies tomorrow night. Have you forgotten? You’re supposed to drop us off. Her big sister is picking us up. I asked as I pulled my laptop out of my bookbag and put it back on my desk.
“No, I haven’t forgotten. Great. I’ll tell your aunt. Supper will be ready soon. Your favorite too.”
“Uh, pizza?” I guessed without much thought.
“Yep,” he grinned as if he were quite pleased with himself.
I didn’t bother telling him I didn’t need that many carbs. He wouldn’t understand it. Suddenly my aunt was beside him, a frown on her face. “Ash, please. No pizza. How about letting the kids order what they want? Did you tell her?”
That piqued my interest. “Ask me what? I already volunteered to babysit. That’s no problem.”
Aunt Carrie Jo walked into the room, a big grin on her face. She hugged me and ruffled my curly ponytail. “We don’t actually need you to babysit. We have something else planned. You’ve got friends coming over. In fact, some of them are here already.”
I was trying to wrap my tired brain around this. “What? Why? It’s not my birthday? I just got home.”
“Only because I stalled your uncle for more time.”
“I was wondering why on earth you wanted to go to the zoo. We’ve been like a dozen times,” I eyed Uncle Ashland.
“Surprise!” He laughed as he walked away and headed down the stairs.
“It’s not your birthday but it’s the day you came into our family, Lily Stuart. It’s like a birthday. It’s time to celebrate. Your friends are here so it’s not just boring Uncle Ash and me. And raincheck on the babysitting.” She did a thumbs up and made a clicking sound with her tongue.
I stepped back from her arms, a goofy smile on my face. “Really? You want to celebrate my adoption day?”
“Heck yeah. I think it’s a great reason to party. Ooh. Listen. Sounds the like the DJ is setting up outside.” Music boomed from somewhere outback.
“You got me a DJ? This is like a for real party?” My hands went to my mouth. I tried not to jump up and down like
a little kid.
“Yeah, a real party but full disclosure, Detra Ann arranged everything. You know it is going to be all kinds of extra. Put on something cute. I bought you a few things. They’re hanging up in your closet.”
I raced out of the room and down the hall to the French doors that led to the balcony. I couldn’t believe it. How had I missed all this when I came home? There was a big white tent, a dance floor squared off with purple lights and all kinds of purple decorations. It was amazing! The sun would be going down soon which would make it perfect. I could already see more lights coming on.
For reasons unknown, my eyes dampened with unshed tears. I wasn’t supposed to cry at my own party. Aunt Carrie Jo stood beside me.
“Hey! No peeking. Go get a shower and get ready to party.” It was then that I noticed some of my school friends were strolling around the gardens. Yeah, there was Katrina, Anna, Gabby, and her sister. A few guys too. Oh my gosh! Was that the new kid, Chris What’s-His-Name?
“How did you get them here?” I asked my aunt as she slid her arm through mine.
“What do you mean? Did I bribe them? Of course not. I got a list from Katrina. She really likes you. I’m glad to see that she doesn’t have such a chip on her shoulder anymore. I’m sure you had something to do with that. You’ve been a good influence I think.”
“You give me far too much credit, Aunt Carrie Jo. I’m no saint, you know. I make a lot of mistakes.”
“Who doesn’t? Don’t try to be perfect. Just be you.” She patted my back and urged me to hurry. The music really cranked up now.
“Aunt Carrie Jo?” I asked poised on the edge of telling her what I’d been doing. I decided against it. I’d continue to look for Rachel on my own. It would be good for me. I was not a kid anymore. It was time to do the things on my own.
“Yes?”
I hugged her neck and kissed her cheek. I didn’t usually show that much affection, but this was amazingly thoughtful. “Thank you for the party. You got me. I mean, you really got me.”
“You are welcome. Now get busy.” She left me alone and headed downstairs to help Uncle Ashland arrange things. I don’t know why they bothered. Detra Ann had things under control, she was like a drill sergeant when it came to parties and what not. This was going to be so much fun.
As I turned away, I caught a strange reflection in the glass. Not me, but behind me. I turned around but there was no one there. Who could that be? I slowly turned back to the glass and was surprised to see he hadn’t moved. Not an inch.
He wanted me to see him.
“Mitchell? Is that you?”
He didn’t answer me, but he looked angry. Very angry. But why? A chill passed over me and I scurried away from the balcony. I have no idea what just happened, but Mitchell wasn’t the same. He warned me that he would if I forced him to stay it would change him.
But I hadn’t done that. Had I?
I forced the frightening and heartbreaking image from my mind and decided to get ready for my party. I didn’t see him again and by the time I was all dolled up, as Uncle Ashland would say, I’d put it all out of my mind.
Aunt Carrie Jo didn’t dream anymore. AJ had shut himself down too. Even Uncle Ash wasn’t really using his gifts. Just me. Maybe that was why he was angry?
I’d think about this later. I had a life to lead. The music pumped and thumped, and my friends screamed for me as I came down the stairs in a cute purple mini dress. I couldn’t believe CJ would allow me to wear a mini. The look on my uncle’s face revealed that he knew nothing about it.
Happy to be home, I waved at my friends and family. I had a good life. I’d think about Aunt Rachel and Mitchell later. I wouldn’t abandon my search for her. Never. Not until I had the answers I needed. Not until I was sure she wasn’t stuck in between times, in between dimensions
But for now, it was time to dance.
Author’s Note
First, let me apologize for stalling the release of this book. As usual, I always add too many things to my plate, too many books on my calendar. But finally, here it is, Footsteps of Angels. I really wanted to make this an interesting story, one that wasn’t rushed or hurried.
It was so exciting to investigate with Ashland, Carrie Jo, and everyone in the ever expanding Seven Sisters world. Bringing in the grim tradition (which is true by the way) and the conflict with the holy Native American ground was a challenge, but I hope I did the story justice. Imagine two entities fighting one another over the centuries over the same piece of ground? No wonder the people who called that location home had such tragedies occurring in their lives.
Until last year, I’d never heard of a grim, except when used to describe the grim reaper which is not at all what I am writing about it my book. There are many grim statues commemorating buried black dogs in Mobile’s Magnolia Cemetery. It is a chilling practice and one that I am glad is no longer used in the modern age. However, one must wonder, are those poor animals still watching over their masters? Are they still pacing the graveyard at night challenging any demon or spirit that dare step too close? It is a thought that gives me shivers. I spend a lot of time in cemeteries, I am always respectful, but I am also very aware that I am never alone. Bones may be beneath me, but spirits are always around me. And they don’t appreciate disrespect of any sort. If you happen to visit Magnolia Cemetery or any cemetery for that matter, please show the proper respect. The dead deserve it.
Marietta isn’t an actual location. I based the house on Beauvoir, the last residence of Jefferson Davis. I had the pleasure of touring the home in May. What an amazingly haunted location! Let me tell you a little of what happened during our paranormal investigation. Thanks, by the way to SPARS Paranormal for allowing me to tag along. If you get a chance, book a tour with them. I’m not affiliated with them, but I highly recommend the experience. Especially if you are new to paranormal investigation. It’s a comfortable environment with lots of places to investigate from the Presidential Library to the Confederate Cemetery to the Beauvoir house itself, the property has a feel about it.
A true paranormal feeling.
When I went, there were thirty of us paranormal investigators. That’s a lot, I know but once we were divided into groups of six. It was awesome. We began our work, each group spent thirty minutes at one location on the property. At each location there was specialized equipment including an SLS which offered the most amazing evidence of the night.
What’s strange is, I didn’t know that Beauvoir had a grim on the property but there was! Don’t tell me that the paranormal world isn’t helping me with my stories. As a paperback medium, I am fortunate to receive these neat little tidbits from the other side. I live for telling stories of the past. I feel an obligation to the ghosts of yesterday, to bring them back to life through my stories. I truly do feel as if they are working with me, whispering their truths in my ear.
I pray that I’ve gotten the story right.
Next year, we’ll all be revisiting the original story but in a new way. I am releasing the Beaumont Saga on Kindle Vella! Can you believe it? Have you ever wanted to know why Louis never married? Why Olivia was so cruel later in life? Why couldn’t Christine find happiness with the man she truly loved? Look for that in the spring of 2022.
It’s going to be a joy to revisit some of my favorite characters and tell their stories too. I hope you follow along with me. Soon I am publishing Delivered Me from Evil, my autobiography. In my book, I share what it was like to live in a haunted house as a child and how it affected me for the rest of my life. Those first experienced lead to more terrifying ones until I found myself in the battle of my life. I hope by sharing my own journey I can help someone.
Thanks again for reading The Bones of Marietta and the Footsteps of Angels. Your love and support mean the world to me.
Make sure you sign up for my mailing list so you can receive my bimonthly notes. I usually share details from my paranormal investigations and let you know what books are coming out next and wh
at’s on sale.
I’m also active on Facebook. I frequently post cat memes (I am addicted to those) and dream cast information as well as other fun posts. If you’d like to email me, you can reach me at [email protected].
I wish you all the best. Until next time, my lovelies!
Monica Leigh
(M.L. Bullock)
Footsteps of Angels (Marietta Book 2) Page 12
