by Jo O'Neil
Chapter Sixteen
The Karmic Debt
‘I knew it. Even in death you cannot leave us alone,’ Hope screamed in exasperation. ‘I know it’s because of our karmic ties, but I thought . . . I hoped in death that would be an end to your meddling. How foolish I was. I ought to have realised if we didn’t settle this matter in this life it would continue to plague us, as it has done so for many centuries, until we have balanced karma. However, I didn’t actually think you would stoop so low as to haunt me!’
I stood silent, shocked by the revelation that Hope knew we had karmic debt to repay which somehow linked us to each other, and until we did clear the amount outstanding we would be bound together for all of eternity.
I thought back to my audience with the Lords of Karma. They hadn’t exactly given me any clues as to why Hope and I were chained to each other in this karmic nightmare. I wondered whether Hope knew.
‘Was that you at MI6?’
Hope’s question jolted me back to the present.
‘I felt a presence,’ she explained. When I didn’t hurry to answer her she repeated, ‘Was that you?
‘Err . . . if you really must know, yes, it was, and I’ve already said, I’m not here to haunt you so quit saying I am,’ I snapped.
She didn’t look convinced as she demanded, ‘What were you doing at MI6?’
I carefully thought before I answered as starting every sentence with “Err” wasn’t convincing and was terribly unprofessional, as too was snapping at the soul God had placed in my protection.
‘I was following you.’
‘Following me!’ She looked worried. ‘Why follow me if you don’t wish to haunt me?’
‘I wanted to speak with you, and I’ve been following you waiting for the best opportunity to do just that. It hardly seemed appropriate to interrupt your meeting at MI6 to chat about old times,’ I said flippantly before silently reprimanding myself for another show of amateur behaviour.
‘No, I would suggest it would have been most inappropriate.’
‘Exactly,’ I sighed. ‘I’m glad we at last agreed on something.’
‘Did you hear what MI6 wish me to do?’
‘Yes,’ I shamefully admitted, adding quickly, ‘I didn’t intend to. It’s just it was a little difficult not to overhear.’
‘I often do jobs for the police,’ she said seemingly unconcerned at my snooping.
‘I know,’ I muttered.
‘And I’ve worked for MI6 in the past. This job feels different though,’ she finished with an air of unease.
‘It is. You’re looking for someone who wants to stay hidden.’ I then said in a whisper, ‘And God also wants him to stay missing.’ Reverting to my normal pitch I added, ‘Usually, you locate people who are desperate to be found.’
‘Apart from the obvious, it’s different,’ Hope answered me without any visible sign of irritation, but her choice of words and the slight undertone to her voice made me see I had underestimated Hope Harper, who wasn’t such a push over after all.
‘It’s this misjudgement of character that lost you Rupert in the first place,’ a little voice deep inside of me expressed its opinion inaudibly.
Hope continued, ‘And, I get the distinct impression the British Secret Service is not being honest with me. I’ve had no communication with spirit concerning the man Ryan Joshua Scott, which has never happened before. Normally spirits are lining up to give me information. Sometimes it can be a bit overwhelming and I have to ask them, very politely as they can be a tad sensitive, to form an orderly queue and speak one at a time.’ As Hope finished, she sat down on one of my leather sofas which would be replaced along with its matching partner once I was back to at least equal, if not exceed, the size and comfort of the one in Harry Goodwin’s office.
‘So just tell MI6 you can’t help them. I know losing the CIA bonus will be a sting . . .’
‘You looked over my shoulder to see the figure the CIA is offering,’ she stated accusingly. ‘Of course, that’s why I shuddered.’ She temporarily looked pleased at her deduction before she changed her expression to one of annoyance as she reprimanded me, ‘You really ought to mind your own business; in particular when it comes to other people’s financial affairs.’
I ignored her tantrum and continued, ‘If it doesn’t feel right to hunt down Ryan Joshua Scott, and you’re not receiving any messages from spirit, you will just have to tell MI6 you can’t help them.’
‘Wait a minute; you’re spirit. Can’t you help?’ Hope asked excitedly as she saw a solution to her problem.
‘I haven’t got the faintest idea where the supposed rogue agent is, so no, I can’t help.’
‘Then can you ask the other spirits to help me like they normally do?’
I thought it was amusing that Hope was appealing to my better nature, but far from laughing at her suggestion I kindly answered, ‘It doesn’t work like that, Hope. You have to ask them.’
‘I have and it’s like a brick wall has been very quickly built with steel lining to prevent any information leakages.’
I considered what she’d just said and thought it quite humorous that Hope was nearer to the truth than she could possibly imagine. God didn’t want Ryan Joshua Scott found. So unless Ryan’s free will changed and he suddenly wanted MI6 to capture him, which I very much doubted would happen, he was going to continue to elude the authorities.
Condensing this information to make it Hope friendly, I said, ‘Perhaps your hypothetical brick wall is spirits way of telling you this is one case you should decline.’
It was her turn to consider my words. After a moment’s pause she surprised me by saying, ‘You know, Serena, this may be one of those rare occasions where we actually agree. I wish it was as simplistic though.’
‘Hope, it’s only complicated if you allow it to be.’
‘You don’t understand, Serena. I get the distinct impression Her Majesty’s Secret Service will not allow me to refuse this case under any circumstance.’ She had anxiety in her voice as she spoke, and for a moment I almost felt sorry for her; that was until I remembered Rupert.
‘Hope, what did you mean when you said we needed to settle our karmic debt once and for all, otherwise we would continue to be haunted by it?’
She walked over to my drinks cabinet.
‘Do you mind if I help myself?’ she asked already holding my decanter of whisky.
‘Go ahead,’ I said as I grabbed my glass from my desk and settled myself on the sofa opposite to where Hope had been sitting.
When she resumed her position she took a large gulp, braced herself and then began.
‘Do you believe in reincarnation, Serena?’
I wasn’t sure I did pre my ‘heaven experience’. Now, after all I had witnessed I thought anything was possible.
‘Yes, I think I probably do,’ I answered her.
She looked at me as if weighing up whether she dared continue. As she dropped her eyes and took a deep breath she quickly launched into her story, as if she were afraid she wouldn’t if she delayed it any longer.
‘In a past life a very long time ago I had an elder brother who I adored.’
‘How do you know this?’ I challenged.
‘Please don’t interrupt, Serena. This is difficult enough as it is.’
Feeling chastised, I took a sip of my whisky and silently listened.
‘We were a wealthy family of good standing in the community. However, times were challenging and no family could afford to become complacent. So to strengthen our position further, my father arranged a marriage of convenience between my brother and a nobleman’s daughter.
‘My brother was naturally reluctant to hurt our family. But still he refused to enter into the arranged marriage as he was already in love with another. Sadly, his love was unsuitable, as even though her family had immense wealth their religious beliefs contradicted our own so an alliance was unthinkable. My brother and his love wou
ldn’t be separated, not even for God, so they ran away and married in secret.
‘I sympathised with my brother as I also had a love, but unlike my sibling I was blessed, or so I thought, since he was from a family most acceptable. My brother’s act of betrayal ruined our happy family; my father disowned his only son, and in an attempt to make amends for the insult my brother had shown the nobleman’s daughter, he forbid me to see my love ever again and married me to the nobleman’s youngest and most stupid son.
‘My love, unable to live without me, took his life. The dagger he used may as well have pierced my heart as I died metaphorically speaking when I lost my love.
‘Destined to an unhappy existence, I made an additional vow to my wedding ones which sealed yours and mine fate, Serena, and has lead to the karmic imbalance we are now faced with.’ She paused, drained her whisky glass and took another exceptionally deep breath. ‘I vowed my brother’s love’s misery would equal mine in her next life. You were my brother’s love, Serena.’
I sat statue like, but my brain far from being marble processed the story Hope had just shared with me. Hope stayed silent, aware I needed time to examine the facts. Still without saying a word I eventually stood, retrieved my whisky decanter and replenished both our glasses.
Placing the decanter on the coffee table separating us, I asked in a monotone voice, ‘What happened next?’
‘In our next life you and my brother found each other again, as you truly are soul mates. In this life I was not related to my brother of old, so I schemed and I plotted to steal him away from you so you would know the pain I endured.
‘Your love was strong so he resisted my efforts until I enchanted him with the help of a powerful sorceress. Under the spell he abandoned you and proclaimed his love for me. You knew black magic was at work so you searched the land for a wizard more powerful than the sorceress, but your attempts to break the curse were in vain. As you lay dying, alone and destitute, you promised to avenge the love you had stolen from you; and you did, most successfully.
‘I was destitute in the life after this and was saved from a life of hardship by our mutual love; that was until you came along. One look at you and no spell or potion was necessary; my love deserted me for you and I lived a life of karmic retribution for my use of dark magic before.
‘Again I cursed you and the tale goes on from incarnation to incarnation; I curse you and then you curse me. Even in the life I’m living now and the life you’ve just left behind, we have played our game. Evidently it was my turn to triumph. You see if you haven’t already guessed, Rupert was my brother when the karma between us was first unsettled, and unless we resolve our differences now our pattern will proceed into our next life and so on until we agree to use love to dissolve our hatred.
‘Hatred caused this karmic feud which Rupert is inadvertently caught up in. Love can disperse it for now and eternity. I for one am tired of playing this game, and I’m more than willing to call a truce. If we both agree, our karmic debt can be repaid in full and then there will be no need for our paths to cross again.’ Hope looked at me expectantly, the exhaustion on her face from relaying the drama evident.
‘How do you know all of this, Hope?’ I repeated the question I had asked at the offset, determined to get a satisfactory answer this time.
Hope weighed up my reaction as she carefully planned her answer.
‘I’m a psychic, as you rightfully said at the start. As a result, certain privileges are presented to me by spirit; one of which was an insight into my karma. When I understood the detriment the karmic debt I’ve amounted is causing the three of us, and anyone else who innocently gets tangled up in our lives . . .’
‘Such as your husband,’ I snidely commented.
‘Yes, now you come to mention him, my husband has been a casualty of our karma, and there have been many more victims over the centuries,’ she sincerely replied. ‘Now, as I was trying to say; I visited a therapist who specialises in past life regression. She helped me piece the story together so I could put an end to the darkness that can consume us if we do nothing. To do that though, to finally end our rivalry I need your consent, Serena. I can’t do it alone.’
‘Of course you can. We are all responsible for our own actions, Hope. If you decide not to keep stealing Rupert away from me, then all of this can stop now. By the way, what did you give him this time to get him to leave me?’
Her look was one of despondency. She sighed and said with an air of frustration, ‘First off, Serena, the karmic debt can’t be wiped clean unless we both consent to a peace agreement. And secondly, while I readily admit I did have Rupert enchanted many millenniums ago; I did nothing of the sort in this life time.’
‘Are you sure about that?’ I goaded her.
‘Serena, where do you suggest I found a sorceress in the twenty-first century to perform a spell to enable me to persuade Rupert to leave you?'
‘I’m sure black magic still exists, even in the highly technological world of today, and I’m in no doubt you’re resourceful enough to trace this old knowledge if you truly desired to.’
‘Well I didn’t.’
I looked at her suspiciously.
‘I didn’t,’ she repeated. ‘If you want to know my opinion; I believe Rupert left you for me because you’re, I mean you were already married to your career, Serena.’
Disgruntled by Hope’s truthful words I snapped, ‘No, I am . . . was not,’ I corrected myself; and then thought better of it and silently affirmed, ‘No, I’m not married to my career.’
‘Serena, it’s the only reason that makes sense. You and Rupert are soul mates. Believe me, I should know after spending eons witnessing your love. The only time Rupert has truly favoured me is when you’ve pushed him away.
‘Incarnated as the soul, Serena Lewis, you were very career minded. Goodness, my father even commented on the fact you were terribly young to make junior partner. He attributed your success to your drive and dedication which he said was second to none. That commitment comes at a price, Serena, and the price you paid was to lose Rupert.’
I deliberated all Hope had said.
‘That must have hurt you, Hope. To admit Rupert loves me more than you, was very brave.’
‘It doesn’t hurt half as much as the pointless game we’ve been playing. I take full responsibility for starting it. I appreciate you didn’t plan to fall in love with my brother to hurt anyone, and if you had both relinquished your love then you would have been miserable instead of me.
‘At the Spiritual University I attend I’m taught nothing is more important than the peace and happiness of my soul. This truth is so for all of us. By following our dreams we may inadvertently hurt others, whereas to appease them at our expense is to destroy our soul, even if it’s only a piece. This doesn’t give us an excuse to blatantly hurt another; yet we must protect our own soul at all costs.’
We both fell silent which gave me a chance to reflect on Hope’s words. Firstly, Rupert loved me more than he ever loved her. Secondly, I was career orientated to the detriment of my happiness. Thirdly, nothing was more important than my happiness. I nodded, pleased at my succinct account of our dialogue.
‘Do we have an armistice?’ Hope asked with anticipation.
‘It’s easy for you to talk about forgiving and forgetting. You’re very much alive and I, well I’m not, so you know I can’t cause anymore problems for you leaving you and Rupert to live a happy life together.’
I stated the obvious for Hope, despite the fact I was far from telling her the truth; that my death was temporary and God would return me to have my pick of eligible men.
‘Serena, you could cause more trouble for me than you know.’
‘What makes you say that?’
‘You’re a ghost and I can see, hear, and talk to ghosts. Rupert doesn’t know this, and nor do I want him to. If you haunt me my life would be hell.’
‘Now, there’s an idea,�
�� I said wickedly. I added, ‘I’m joking, Hope. My goodness get a sense of humour,’ when I saw the horror struck look on her face.
‘So do you agree to a ceasefire, Serena?’
I contemplated her offer. I was being a little unfair playing the ‘I’m deceased’ card. I wasn’t dead, and soon I would be very much alive and hopefully still armed with the knowledge Rupert loves me more than Hope.
Logic suggested to me if I adjusted my work/social life balance, naturally in favour of my social calendar, and I focused on love and happiness as suggested by the Archangels, then Rupert would leave Hope and come back to me.
I finished my second glass of whisky, placed my tumbler on the coaster on the coffee table and said, ‘All I can agree to at this stage is to help you with your fix at MI6. Once we’ve settled this secret service assumed national crisis; then we can review our karma.’
Judging by the astonishment on her face I guessed this wasn’t the answer she’d expected.
‘You will help me?’ she asked noticeably shocked.
‘Yes. Perhaps not in the way you would wish me to, but I promise you it’s what God wants.’
‘How do you know?’ She had dropped the shock look to replace it with one of intrigue. ‘Did Michael the angel tell you?’
‘Something along those lines.’ I wasn’t sure my sketchy answer would suffice. However, just as I finished speaking Hope’s mobile rang startling both of us, and pardoning me from the need to explain further.
She looked at the caller’s identity, flinched, and then took the call.
‘Caldwell. Good to hear from you so soon,’ she cringed with her blatant lie. ‘Have you managed to arrange for me to speak with Ryan Joshua Scott’s family?’
I silently asked Archangel Gabriel to amplify Caldwell’s voice so I could hear his reply, as I reminded the Archangel of Communication I was on God’s business. The loving Messenger of God didn’t disappoint me.
‘Hope, there have been some new developments. Intelligence reports Scott to be in New York. The Prime Minister wants you to fly out there immediately. On his command I’ve booked us on the first available flight. It leaves from Northolt Airport at twenty-three hundred hours this evening. I will send a car for you at twenty-one hundred hours.’
‘The Prime Minster wants me to go to New York?’ Hope asked somewhat shocked.
‘Yes,’ Caldwell calmly replied.
‘I can’t go. There’s my job to consider, and what will my boyfriend say?’
‘I will take care of everything. Your country is depending on you, Hope,’ and with this last emotional blackmail comment, Caldwell rang off.
Hope was understandably in a fluster. With her hands cradling her flushed cheeks she frantically asked me, ‘What am I going to do, Serena?’
‘It looks like we’re going to New York, Hope,’ I answered her; unsurprisingly, it did nothing to wipe the stunned look off her face. ‘In the meantime I have some snooping to do.’
As I stood, one of the counselling leaflets fell out of my cloak. When I bent down to retrieve the attractive, laminated sheet, an overwhelming sense to give it to Hope overcame me.
Guessing she was the “colleague in crisis” that Archangel Raguel had told me would need counselling, and remembering Archangel Gabriel suggested I may need the scroll to help Hope, I instinctively shoved the leaflet into her hand as I said, ‘Here, you may find this useful.’
‘What is it?’ she asked.
‘Just read it, Hope.’
‘Serena, you must read it to her,’ Archangel Raguel’s voice instructed me.
‘Did you hear that?’ I asked Hope, unsure whether Archangel Raguel’s voice had been for my ears only.
‘Hear what?’
‘Never mind.’ I pulled out the master copy of the scroll, unravelled it, cleared my throat and said, ‘Hope, please pay attention as God wants you to hear this.’
Before she had a chance to reply, I read, ‘“God, the Creator of all that is, all that has ever been before, and all that will ever be, loves you, Hope Harper. You are a holy child of God, Hope Harper, and as such you have power beyond measure. You do not have to remain in this place powerless. You can choose now to leave this unhealthy situation and live the type of life you deserve. A life so full of magic and miracles, it will take your breath away. God promises you if you allow Him, He will heal your world. But even if you turn your back on Him, He will never forsake you, for you are His most precious creation ever, Hope Harper.”’
