Lena (Gypsy Spirits Book 3)

by Marianne Spitzer

  “Hmm,” mumbled Daniel. “They have powers like Lena. No wonder I can’t control them. I’ll get to Bonnie and Carl, and then Steve and Deb are next. Annamarie will suffer when she loses her friends before she loses her own life.”

  Lizzy and Emmy raced into the room holding hands. They pointed to the mirror. “Daniel’s here. He can hear us. Go away, Daniel.”

  Bonnie pointed and shuddered when she saw the black fog in the mirror. Not sure what to do, she grabbed the rosary she always kept draped over her deceased mother’s photo and hung it on the mirror. The mirror cleared instantly and Daniel was thrown back to the cabin in less than a heartbeat.

  Carl was on the phone with his mom explaining the incident. He was furious and frightened. He gripped the phone as he spoke quickly. “I’m so angry, I can’t think. You call her, he was her husband. Maybe she has answers.” He slammed the phone down.

  Lena was curled up on the sofa reading when she looked up. “Mom, Daniel spied on Uncle Carl and Aunt Bonnie. Uncle Carl’s angry. Grandma is going to call you.”

  The phone rang.

  “Mom? Lena said you would call. I know about Carl. I don’t know what to say. They should have the house blessed the way we did and then use the white candles in front of the mirrors. Magdalena said they would work. I don’t want Carl leaving Bonnie and the girls alone. I have two boxes of white votive candles here. I’ll send Sam over with one box. Georg watches over Sam, he’ll be safe from Daniel. I hope Magdalena comes to our dreams tonight. Daniel is causing more trouble than I thought he could. I agree, it must be the help he received from the witch. Goodnight, Mom.”

  Annamarie dropped into a chair. “I’m not sure what else we can do, Lena.”

  “My amulet has been getting warmer, Mom. It is powering up for something. Either we are going to have a battle or I’m going to be facing Daniel. He’s going to lose. Don’t worry, Mom.”

  Annamarie inhaled deeply and sighed.

  Sam wasn’t sure what to expect when he knocked on Carl’s front door. They had been friends since they met, but things were tenuous to say the least now. He silently prayed they’d all be friends and safe when this was over.

  Carl opened the door. “Come in, Sam.”

  “I can’t stay. Something tells me we should be close to our loved ones tonight. Annamarie sent these candles. I hope they help. Daniel no longer bothers Paula and Theo.”

  “Tell Annamarie thanks. Take care, Sam. Stay safe.”

  Sam nodded. As he climbed in his car to head home he wondered if any of them would be safe.

  A clap of thunder caught his attention. He glanced toward the pines thinking it might be more than a summer storm. He breathed a sigh of relief when he saw it was a normal bolt of lightning. His head snapped back when he saw a glimmer of red remain in the sky for a moment when the lightening disappeared. He gunned his car’s engine and headed home.

  Mrs. Graysbe saw the red glimmer in the sky, too. She dialed the sheriff’s station, yelled in the phone, “The Martians are back,” and headed for her basement, a dog under each arm.

  Chapter Nine

  Bonnie found herself back in the pines listening to violin music floating toward her. Seeing the campfire in the distance, she knew where she was. She caught her breath as fear overcame here. How could she be here? Bonnie knew it was a dream, but was it? It felt too real.

  Magdalena saw her and sensed her fear. “Sit here mother of my precious great-great-granddaughters. You mean very much to me and I love you as my own. Your blood also flows through their veins and that makes you special to me.” She patted a spot on the blanket next to her.

  Bonnie sat and asked, “Why am I here? I don’t have powers to help you?”

  “Do not underestimate your importance. You love the girls and love is strong and necessary. Your love will help keep them strong when the final battle comes.”

  “Final battle?” A voice boomed behind them.

  “Carl?” Bonnie said, “If this isn’t a dream, who is with the girls?”

  “Here we are, Mommy.” Emmy and Lizzy bounded out of the forest in their baby blue nightgowns and dropped down on either side of Magdalena. They hugged her and she kissed them both.

  Carl repeated his question, “What final battle. I know you have to defeat Daniel, but why does it have to be a battle that involves my girls? I know you tried to explain this once, but I still don’t understand.”

  “We’ll talk more when Josef gets back and the others arrive.”

  “Where’s Grandpa Josef?”

  “He went to spy on the witch to see what he could learn about the magic she gave to Daniel and Garret.”

  “Oh,” nodded the girls.

  Carl looked at Bonnie and shrugged. She shook her head.

  Theo’s voice could be heard behind them in the pines. “Paula, where in blazes are we going?”

  “To meet my ancestors, c’mon”

  Paula and Theo walked into the clearing. Paula stopped when she saw her grandmother. She knew Annamarie resembled her, but with all the pictures destroyed in the war, she only had memories. Tears flowed like a river when she saw her. “Oma,” was all she could whisper.

  “Oma?” Bonnie whispered.

  “German for grandma,” Carl replied.

  Magdalena’s own tears covered her face as she walked up to her and embraced her grandchild. “I may not have changed in your eyes, but you have grown into a beautiful woman. You have given me great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren. Sit with me. I have missed you so.”

  Both women sat on the blanket and looked at each other through the tears that were still flowing. Annamarie, Lena, and Sam watched from the edge of the clearing. Annamarie and Lena cried as freely as Magdalena and Paula.

  Sam whispered, “Are we all having the same dream?”

  “I think so,” Annamarie mumbled through her tears.

  Garret mumbled as his spirit hid in the grass near the cabin, “What are we doing here? Let’s possess some bodies and have a beer or more pancakes.”

  “Shut up,” said Daniel. “I need to think. I can’t get to Lena or the twins. Sam has some spirit watching over him. Carl is protected the way Annamarie is. Forget her parents, after using Theo; they are going to work something out to protect them. I need to attack on another level and with another person.”

  “What about Bonnie?”

  “No, the twins will try and keep her safe. I’ve got it. We’re going after Deb. It seems they have forgotten about her in all that has been going on. Imagine what we could do if we had the Deputy Sheriff’s wife.”

  “You’re going to possess her, she’s a woman.”

  “For a little bit. I always wanted to know what it felt like to be a woman.” Daniel’s evil laughter reverberated through the woods. “First, you’re going to possess one of Deb’s neighbors. Then I’ll possess Deb and climb in her trunk. I’ll leave her body, she’ll know she’s being kidnapped and we’re off. We’ll stop someplace out of town and possess two strangers.”

  “Then what?”

  “Then we have fun.” Garret’s laughter joined Daniel’s and the animals in the woods scampered for safety. Several dogs living close to the cabin began to howl.

  Everyone in the pines heard the laughter. Magdalena said, “Daniel and Garret are planning something. We may know more when Josef returns. I hope he was able to learn more of what Daniel is able to do and how we can stop them.

  The portal appeared and Josef stepped through. His friendly voice boomed through the pines, “Hello, everyone. I have information that may be helpful.” He sat on the blanket with Magdalena and the others. “I was able to learn some of the flaws in the magic the witch bestowed on Daniel and Garret. When Annamarie saw the man in the store who was possessed by Daniel, she said his eyes turned black. She knew it must be Daniel and fled from him.”

  Annamarie said, “I thought it was him when he mentioned the perfume, but was positive when his eyes turned black.”

  “Yes a
nd there is the flaw in this magic. They can possess the body for as long as they wish, but it is true that the eyes are the windows to the soul. The possessed body will try to escape the possession and the first attempt is the eyes. The soul will try to take back control and when Daniel or Garret notices this, they will fight. This fight for the eyes results in them turning black. They may turn back to their actual color, but only briefly. The black eyes are your warning that it is Daniel or Garret since they can take anyone’s body. Watch the eyes of everyone you know. It could be anyone. You must be very careful.” Josef leaned back against a tree and lit his pipe.

  Sam walked forward and asked, “Then we are all safe as long as we watch the eyes?”

  Magdalena answered, “As soon as Bonnie and Carl have their home blessed, Daniel will not be able to enter. Use the white candles in front of your mirrors and he will not be able to hear you. You are safe at home. Only Bonnie has to worry about being outside her house. She doesn’t share our blood and doesn’t have any protection.”

  Josef blew out a thick plume of smoke and said, “When I was in Krystaqua, I asked about the evil the witch is capable of and what she might have given Daniel and Garret. I spoke to a wise man in the village and he gave this to me. It will keep you safe from harm, Bonnie.” He handed her a fine silver chain with a hand pounded silver cross. Bonnie slid the chain over her head.

  Josef continued, “Wear it against your skin. If evil is close, it will feel warm. Do not be afraid, it will keep you safe.”

  Bonnie nodded.

  “All of you be watchful for strange people and animals. Daniel and Garret are resourceful and evil. Together we are strong. Never forget.”

  Theo stood near the blanket feeling like an outsider as he watched his family learn how to be safe from evil. Josef stood and walked over to him. “You did not think I would forget you husband of my precious granddaughter? Carry this medallion with you at all times and you will have the same protection the cross gives Bonnie.” Theo looked down at the silver medallion in his hand. He slipped it in his pocket.

  Magdalena stood. “This has been a good visit. We will visit again. Sleep well children.”

  The pines were dark and everyone was sleeping soundly in their beds.

  The sun was beginning to peek over the horizon when Daniel and Garret began their plan. Daniel decided he was going to torment not only Annamarie, but the entire town. Deb’s kidnapping would terrorize Timmus Woods and especially Steve and Sheriff Richardson. His hatred for both men grew every moment he thought about them. He decided to hide her in the cabin instead of letting her go shortly after they grabbed her. The longer she was missing the more the town would panic. From the looks of the cabin, no one had been there in years and he didn’t expect anyone to look for her there.

  They flew to Deb’s and noticed Steve wasn’t home. That played perfectly into their plan. Daniel’s first step was to have Garret possess the neighbor. Looking in her windows told them she was alone. They flew in and Garret’s spirit encircled the woman and he looked at Daniel.

  “This is awful. These clothes are uncomfortable and I’m wearing heels. I can’t walk in these.”

  “Then kick them off so we can get going.”

  Deb opened the door and smiled, “Karen, come in. I’m glad you popped over.”

  Daniel immediately encircled Deb’s body and possessed it.

  “Okay, now we put the body in the trunk, drive to my parent’s house, and get a different vehicle. They’re out of town, they’ll never miss it.”

  “Let’s hurry,” Garret said, “I hate this body.”

  Neither Daniel nor Garret knew Deb had a child. Brian watched his mom and Mrs. Crowley talking in the living room. He watched from the doorway of his bedroom wondering why they were acting strangely. Brian saw them go out the back door and head for the garage. He followed them and didn’t see his mom’s possessed body climb into the trunk of her car. When the car pulled out of the garage, he could see Mrs. Crowley driving and hear his mom screaming.

  He rushed into the house as the car sped down the street. Within minutes, Daniel was in his parent’s house finding keys and opening the garage. He possessed Deb again and drove her car out toward the pines while Garret followed in Daniel’s mother’s sedan. At the same time, Steve and the sheriff were racing towards Steve and Deb’s after Greta had taken Brian’s panicked call.

  At the pines, Deb was placed in the trunk of the car Garret drove and her car was left on the side of the road. Garret hurried to the park and stopped as close to the logging road as he could. Daniel, in Deb’s body and Garret in Mrs. Crowley’s, ran up the hill to the cabin. As soon as Deb was blindfolded and tied up tightly, Daniel left her body and he and Garret hurried back to the sedan. Deb’s muffled screams were quieted when they closed the door to the cabin. She wouldn’t draw attention.

  Brian was trying to do his best not to cry when he explained the odd circumstances of the morning to his dad and the sheriff. He sat with his fingers tightly interlaced and looked at Steve.

  “Dad, mom was acting weird and so was Mrs. Crowley. They were laughing about how easy their plan was working. Mom was laughing until Mrs. Crowley drove her car out of the garage, and then I heard her scream. What’s going on, Dad?” Brian wiped his sleeve across his face quickly to hide his tears.

  “I don’t know, son, but we’re going to find out. I need to look for your mom. You can’t be here alone. I don’t know what is going on. You could stay at the station with Greta or I could call Annamarie, she’d let you stay there.” Steve hugged his son tightly. “Don’t worry, I’ll find her, I promise.”

  “I’d rather go to Annamarie’s if I can. Lena and I get along.”

  “Go pack your things, some for overnight in case I’m still working and I’ll call her.”

  Steve hung up the phone, “All set Brian? I’ll take you to Annamarie’s now.”

  Brian nodded.

  The sheriff walked in from the garage. “No signs of a struggle and no clues I can find. Take Brian and I’ll go back to the station and get things going. By the time you get back, I hope to have some facts.”

  He picked up Steve’s phone and called the station, “Greta, call Dennis Crowley at work and have him come to the station now.”

  Annamarie opened the door before Steve and Brian made it up the walk. “Come in.” She hugged Brian and he began to cry. Lena hurried into the room.

  “Brian, I have some new games. Want to play?”

  Brian looked at his dad.

  “Go on, I’ll be at the station or in my car. They can get a hold of me if you need me. Mom will be okay, I’ll find her.”

  With Brian out of the room with Lena, Steve looked at Annamarie fighting tears in his eyes. “Brian said Deb and Colleen were having an odd conversation about the plan working. What’s going on? Is it Daniel?”

  “I think so. He and Garret have the ability to possess another’s body. If they possessed Deb and Colleen, neither would know. They could be anywhere.”

  “I can’t tell this to the sheriff. We’ll look for her, try to find out what you can, please.”

  Garret and Daniel hurried to the sedan. They drove it back to Maureen and George’s house and parked it in the garage. Fortunately, the new home they had built was in the country away from neighbors. No one saw them. Garret ran as quickly as he could into the middle of a neighboring corn field and released Colleen’s body. She collapsed unconscious in the midst of the corn stalks.

  Daniel and Garret flew back to the cabin and settled outside in the grass. Neither was in the mood to listen to Deb’s screams and struggles. Daniel was too happy to be disturbed. He knew chaos must be descending in Timmus Woods.

  Chapter Ten

  Sheriff Richardson walked into the station and asked Greta if there was any news. She shook her head and said, “Dennis Crowley is waiting in your office. He looks extremely nervous.”

  “Hello, Dennis,” the sheriff said as he walked into his office and sat dow
n.

  “What is all this nonsense about Colleen kidnapping Deb? They’re good friends. Something bad is going on. If it happened, someone forced Colleen.”

  “That may be. We don’t have much info right now. All we know is Colleen visited Deb this morning. Brian said they were both acting strange and they left in Deb’s car. Colleen was driving and Deb was screaming.”

  “That’s all you know.”

  “Yes.”

  The intercom buzzed.

  “Just a minute, Dennis.” The sheriff picked up the phone, “What is it, Greta. Okay, tell him I’ll be there shortly.”

  “What? Is it Colleen or Deb?”

  “Steve found Deb’s car out by the pines, but neither woman is anywhere to be seen. I’ll let you know. Go home in case she or anyone else calls.”

  Dennis started to argue, but thought better of it. He dropped his head into his hands, and then shuddered. He rose and headed for home.

  Sheriff Richardson was standing by Greta’s desk when Mrs. Graysbe’s large 1973 dark green Pontiac Catalina pulled into the parking lot.

  “This is all I need today,” mumbled the sheriff. “Why doesn’t she get a car she can drive more easily?” He watched the petite woman climb out from behind the wheel carrying a wicker basket containing her two Pomeranians.

  Greta answered, “It was her husband’s car. Remember he was six foot two? He needed it and she won’t give it up.”

  The sheriff exhaled, “I wonder what she wants. I’m too busy for this today.”

  Mrs. Graysbe marched in the front doors, placed the basket on Greta’s desk, and looked the sheriff straight in the eyes. “Word around town has it that Deb and Colleen are missing. The other night I saw red lightening again. Martians must have taken them. Warn the town sheriff. Lock up the children. They’re back.” She grabbed the basket, climbed into her car, and pulled out of the parking lot narrowly missing the mailbox and an oncoming car.