“That door leads to a room for storing garbage. There is actually a chute in there that leads to a lower room. We’ve never had to use the safe room, but it is here if we need it. My parents meticulously kept the food storage updated, and Decker continues their legacy with our help when we are so inclined-”
“Which is hardly ever.” Decker remarked.
Ignoring him, Brody continued, “The meat in the freezer is replaced every six months, and twice a year, the expiration dates on this stuff is checked.” He flicked a box of macaroni and cheese, one of many boxes of staples on the shelf.
“So, how long can people live down here?” Harper asked as she looked around. She seemed to be as overwhelmed as Jade was.
“Well, there is a traditional air-conditioner, a roof unit. That air can be purified and recirculated if necessary. If there is no power, the air comes from a compressor run by an emergency generator in a stone-enclosed room beneath us, where air is vented in from the outside of the hill we are on. It’s purified before coming to this level. There is enough food and water here for fifteen people to live on for a year.”
“So, knowing that this demon might someday find your family, your parents built an equivalent to Fort Knox in Sedona to keep you safe.” Harper looked to Brody. “Apparently they had the foresight to provide enough space for the three of you when you married and had families of your own.”
“Um, I guess so. They told us it was for natural disasters and stuff when we were little.” Brody’s lips turned downward as he shoved his hands in his pockets. “We never questioned why it was so big. It all makes sense now.” He sighed.
“We had drills twice a year when we were little and through our early teen years, and every couple of years we actually locked ourselves in for a weekend, so my parents could make certain we knew what to do, in case…well, I guess, in case something happened to them.” Liam sighed and looked around the room. “Now we know why they truly built a safe room,” he murmured.
“As we got older, we didn’t have drills, but by then we knew everything about the safe room. We never knew how dangerous Ciaran O’Sullivan could be. We only knew some old evil guy might come after us someday. Once I reached adulthood, I sometimes thought my parents might be a little overkill, I mean it was just one guy. I guess I never understood what a demon could do, until recently.” Decker’s hand moved to rub Jade’s back.
“Well, it’s a great room and all, but I am claustrophobic, so I am heading back up, and I don’t think I’ll return unless it is necessary,” Erin, looking a little pale, spoke up.
“Sure,” Liam stepped toward her. “I’ll walk up with you.”
As they heard Erin and Liam going up the stairs, Jade turned to Decker. “So just how bad can this Ciaran get?”
Decker shrugged. “We’ll know for sure when we find Mom’s notebook, or if we hear from her cousin in Ireland. I honestly don’t know. I wish to hell I did. I can’t help but wonder why our parents kept the most important information from us for so long. I mean, they went to the trouble to fortify this place. I don’t think they planned for anything to happen to them, and I know they wanted to talk to us over the holidays that year when Liam came home on leave. That never happened.”
“Tonight, Liam and I are checking Mom and Dad’s computers in both offices here. We may find more information to help us,” Brody offered.
“We seem to be very safe here,” Jade said with a relieved sigh.
“I believe that we are as safe as we could possibly be here, babe.” He slid his arm around her waist and led her toward the stairs.
They passed the room with bunk beds. Jade paused to peek in.
“Bunk beds! I always wanted a brother or sister when I was little so I could have bunk beds.” Jade smiled at Decker. “When you’re an only child, bunk beds are unnecessary.”
“Yeah? Do you see the one on the far wall with three tiers? My brothers and I fought over who could sleep on the top bunk when we had our drills.” Decker smiled.
“Who won?” Harper asked as she and Brody joined them.
“We would play board games, and the winner’s prize was to sleep on the top bunk. So basically, we all did at one time or another.” Decker smiled at the recollection of the fond memory from his childhood.
“I won the most,” Brody offered. “My brothers were always bigger than me, but I was just as smart as they were, if not smarter.”
“Hmm.” Decker laughed. “If that’s what you want to believe, bro.” Laughing, Decker took Jade’s hand and led her to the stairwell.
“Hey, it’s what Mom always told me.” Brody laughed.
“This is all so amazing to me. I mean, this safe room is fabulous. The house itself is incredible. I thought the house was safer than Fort Knox until I saw the safe room.” Harper shook her head in disbelief and continued to talk to Brody as they went back up the stairs.
The tour continued. On the other side of the kitchen and great room was another level that boasted a large office area in a spacious room that housed floor to ceiling bookcases filled with books. A wall of windows offered plenty of natural light. On a slightly lower level, four wide, tiled steps down, were a large laundry room, a cozy sitting room that looked over the pool area, and a media/movie/play room complete with a pool table. At the end of the corridor, there was a fully loaded fitness room. A row of large windows offered a view of the mountains, and a rushing creek that cut though a ravine far below.
“Is that Oak Creek way down there?” Jade asked in awe.
“Yep,” Brody answered.
“Wow, just wow! Can we have workout time first thing in the mornings while we are here?” Jade asked excitedly.
“Sure,” Decker answered as he opened a door that led to another room. The wall of windows in this smaller room shared the same view as the fitness room. A ballet bar was mounted on one wall. Mirrors covered the opposite wall. The polished pine floor gleamed. There were shelves in one corner stocked with yoga mats, fitness balls, resistance bands, and many other fitness items.
“This was your mom’s space?” Jade asked softly.
Decker nodded. “How did you guess?”
“Other than the yoga and Pilates equipment?” She raised a brow at him.
Decker laughed. “That would be a clue, yeah.”
“Truly, aside from that, it feels feminine to me. There is a very nice, comforting energy. There is a lot of love in here.” Jade gave him a smile. She had goose bumps and knew the hairs on her arms were standing up. She felt a warm energy crackle along her shoulders. She did feel love and caring. And that warmth? She felt certain she was feeling Decker’s mother. The energy was gentle and welcoming.
“There is a bathroom. Only a woman would think of a great bathroom like this in her private fitness area!” Harper added as she peeked into the bath complete with a shower. The space was decorated in shades of soft aqua and white. “It’s a beautiful spa bath, and definitely a woman’s space with these soft, thick rugs and fluffy towels.”
Brody leaned across Harper to open a door. She sighed when she realized what was behind it. “And a freaking sauna. How cool is that?” Harper beamed. “I’m definitely finding some sauna time while I’m here.”
Brody laughed. “The sauna is great. I’ll join you when you use it.” He looked to her.
“Fine.” Harper shrugged. “The more the merrier. Everyone could fit in that sauna.”
“Let’s start the search, shall we?” Brody turned to leave his mother’s space.
“Come on, babe.” Decker entwined his fingers with Jade’s and led her toward the door. He stopped at the threshold and looked back.
“Did you feel her too?” Jade whispered.
Decker gave her a wistful smile. “I think so. I always feel something really nice when I come in here.”
“I think it’s her. Maybe it’s because you think of her when you come in here, but I felt her too.”
“Yeah?” His smile widened. “That’s good to know.”
Chapter Fourteen
For the most part, Mr. and Mrs. Decker’s bedroom area remained as it was since they left six years before. A few of their personal belongings were still scattered about the large set of rooms. Liam, Brody, and Erin were in their office. Erin was searching the bookshelves while Brody and Liam searched through the files of the computer. Harper had wandered off.
Decker and Jade checked drawers, cabinets and even the closet, just anywhere they thought a book might have been stashed.
“Wow!” Jade said as she opened a large, ornately carved wooden box that sat atop the massive, antique dresser. She had expected to find jewelry. Instead, she found four plastic bottles marked ‘Holy Water’, two more marked “Water from Lourdes’, a bag marked ‘Salt from the Dead Sea’, an unused White Mountain sage wand in an abalone shell, and a corked glass bottle labeled ‘Jerusalem’ that held a fine brown powder. Underneath the name, Jerusalem, the fine print explained it was the same incense used in Catholic rites. She opened it and sniffed. It did smell like church incense.
She lifted a small sterling silver crucifix that sat atop a red silk bag to study it. Three black tourmaline pendants in a sheer, filmy, bag were tucked into the box. A handwritten sticky note that read, ‘Blessed by Navajo Shaman for the boys’ was affixed to the blue bag.
Decker now stood beside her and watched as she removed the items. She lifted a clear plastic bag filled with what looked like ground herbs labeled ‘To Banish Demons’
Decker took the bag from her hand and started to open the seal.
“No, don’t. It might contain poisonous herbs, and it may be ineffective if the seal is broken. We might need it.” She put her hand on his arm. He gave her a nod and set the plastic bag back in the box.
“I always thought this was a jewelry box. Obviously, we have never opened it in six years.”
Oh wow,” Jade said as she lifted the silver crucifix from the red silk and drew out a slip of paper tucked in the bag. “This crucifix is from Rome and was blessed by Pope John Paul II on July 7, 2004. I bet the holy water is from the Vatican too.”
“My parents did go to Italy and several other places that year. It was their dream trip. The first vacation they ever took alone,” Decker provided. He smiled as he added, “Dad said it was their honeymoon three grown sons later.”
“This is a good thing. I’m guessing the items they have collected, all special and powerful in their own right; the Crucifix, holy Water, Lourdes water, sea salt from the Dead Sea, Jerusalem incense, black tourmaline points, and the Banish Demon mixture might have an effect on our friend, Ciaran O’Sullivan.” Jade looked to Decker.
“That makes sense, because why else would they have it,” Decker said somberly as he picked up the bag holding the tourmaline pendants and read the sticky note.
Jade thought she saw his eyes water the slightest bit. She laid her hand on his arm and gave him a little squeeze.
“Black tourmaline offers very strong protection,” she whispered to him.
He pulled her close and pressed a soft kiss to the top of her head.
“Brody, Liam,” he called out when he turned toward the office door. “Jade found something interesting.”
Erin, Brody, and Liam joined them. They were looking through the box and talking about the contents when Harper burst into the room.
“I hit the jackpot in the big library!” Harper beamed as she set a stack of books on the center table.
“Did you find the notebook?” Liam asked.
“No, but look what I did find.” She picked up the first book and read the title, “How to Banish Demons.” She went through the stack, naming each title, “Banishing and Protection Spells, Demons in the British Isles, Irish Witchcraft, The History of County Cork from Ancient Times to Present Day, Ley Lines of Britain and Ireland, and Energy Lines and Vortexes.”
“That’s all good info. We can split up those books and read them in our off time. Clearly, we still need more direction, and I am hoping we find it in her notebook. I’m sure all of these books are significant, but without knowing what to do with the knowledge, it is just overwhelming.” Clearly frustrated, Liam ran a hand through his short, black hair, tousling it then ran his hand back over it to smooth it down.
“Okay, so we’ll comb the big library and this one in their bedroom for more clues.” Decker exhaled loudly. “And look for the notebook.”
“I saw some books in their office here with similar subject matter as those Harper found in the big library.” Erin informed them. “I’ll get those and add them to our, to be read, pile.”
“Get this. Mom had file folders in her documents of Irish witchcraft, ley lines, and lots of other subjects similar to these.” Brody rubbed his forehead.
“Okay,” Jade began. “You guys all said it wasn’t like your parents to leave Sedona at that time of night, and that they were not due back to Chandler yet when their accident occurred. You told us they always called one of you before they left Sedona, and they didn’t. Her cousin from Ireland’s email mentioned his personal account was hacked the week before that. Suppose your parents somehow realized Ciaran knew where they were, and they had the notebook with them while they were here. If they left in the middle of the night, it might be because something happened and they felt they needed to get back to you in Chandler right away, or maybe they were trying to sneak away, from someone like Ciaran. Does that make sense?”
The brothers gave her somber nods.
“Yeah, it does.” Decker exhaled loudly.
“Your parents had a book that we assume contains information so you three would know how to battle the demon. Maybe Ciaran showed up here or emailed them, and I’m guessing their first thought was to get to you, Brody and Decker, because Liam was in the Middle East at that time. So what would they do? Take the book with them, or hide it here?” Jade questioned.
Decker thought for a moment. “If they reached us, they wouldn’t need the notebook because they knew what was in it. If Ciaran was after them, they would have left it here. They had to know he would try to get to them, because it would be to his benefit to take them out before dealing with us.”
“I agree, so it’s possible they hid it here, in this house. Where is the safest place?” Jade asked.
“The safe room,” Liam said. He and Brody simultaneously headed toward the bathroom where the safe room entrance was located.
“Wait!” Decker called loudly.
Everyone stopped.
“If he knows where the Sedona house is, he could be watching us. I’m hoping he doesn’t know there is a safe room, because we may need it yet. It’s close to dinnertime. Let’s make dinner, eat, and hang out in the family room for a bit. We’ll act like we’re having an enjoyable Sedona retreat, then we’ll close and lockdown the shutters tight when it’s dark. After the shutters are closed, we’ll go into the safe room again. I should have thought of that earlier before we went down the first time, but I guess I didn’t think that he might truly know where we are. If he knows we left Chandler, he might guess we’re here if he, in fact, has been here before. From what we just discussed, there is a definite possibility he’s already been to this house. And if he wasn’t ever here he could have followed us.”
Brody nodded his head. “Good idea. That’s what we will do.”
“We’ll sit in our circle tomorrow after breakfast,” Jade announced. “We don’t have to work tonight. Finding the notebook is a priority.”
“It’s imperative we find it so we can make sense of everything,” Erin agreed. “I volunteer to get the vegetables ready for the kabobs.”
“Should I bring these books down, or leave them up here?” Harper asked.
Decker thought about it then told her, “Leave them for now, until after the shutters are closed.” He put everything back into the box except the small bag holding the three black tourmaline pendants. He closed the lid. He slipped one of the pendants onto the chain that held his St. Michael’s medal and put it back on. H
e handed the other two to Liam and Brody.
“I don’t have a chain with me.” Brody said in a disappointed tone as he studied the shiny, natural black tourmaline wand.
“I brought some of my jewelry making supplies. I can give you a leather cord for that tourmaline wand, if you like,” Erin offered.
“Cool, thanks!”
Liam removed a chain from under his t-shirt, and slipped his pendant on the chain with his medal.
Erin reached for the medal and studied it. “St. Christopher.”
“Yeah, it was from Mom. Dad too. They gave it to me before my first oversees tour.”
Jade’s heart constricted a little. Decker’s parents gave their eldest son, a police officer, a St. Michael medal for protection, and their military son, Liam, a St. Christopher’s medal for protection before going to Afghanistan. She knew they must have given Brody something, as well, but it was clear he wasn’t going to mention it.
Seeing that Decker looked a little melancholy she suggested, “Let’s take care of dinner, shall we?” She tugged on his hand and got a wink and a smile out of him.
“Yeah, let’s go. I’m getting hungry.” Brody breezed out of the room.
Erin and Harper cleared the wide, covered patio with a sage wand. They threw down some sea salt along the edges of the deck and sprayed holy water around the outdoor living area. They had brought the supplies from their shop. They wouldn’t be using the supplies Decker’s mother had collected until they found the notebook and knew how to use them properly against Ciaran. Once finished, they cast a protective circle around the perimeters of the outdoor space. It had been a unanimous decision that while in Sedona, they would be cautious, but still enjoy the incredible scenery from the comfortable outdoor living space of the house.
Decker and Brody were in charge of the grilling.
Liam sliced a loaf of French bread and made, what Brody proclaimed, was the best garlic bread ever.
“That’s pretty much all I make, except for breakfast,” Liam informed them. “And spaghetti. I do make a killer sauce.”
Decker's Fate (The Decker Brothers Trilogy Book 1) Page 25
