3:9
Jack pulled the Nissan into the driveway. The engine coughed and jerked to a stop as he turned off the key. Stacey’s car wasn't there. It had been more than two hours since he had left the house.
He got out and stepped up the porch stairs. Unlocking the deadbolt, he could hear the phone ringing inside.
It rang three more times before he could get to it.
“Hello?”
“Jack! Oh god, where have you been?”
“I had to go to town. Honey, what's wrong?”
“It's Mom. She had a heart attack," her words turned into tears.
“Oh god. How is she?”
“They don't know yet. She's not good Jack.”
“Where are you, Saint Thomas Moore?”
“Yeah. She's in the emergency room now, but they're taking her into surgery.”
“I'll be right there.”
“Hurry Jack. I need you.”
“I will honey. I will.”
Stacey hung up the phone. A small hand was pulling at her fingers. She kneeled down and looked him in the eyes. Christopher was confused. He didn't understand what was happening. She picked him up, hugging him tight.
“Is Nana gonna be okay Mommy?”
“I don't know honey, I don't know.”
3:10
The familiar humming filled his head as the heat took him. Moving up his arms and legs, it gathered in his chest. The swimming energy forced its way out and formed a cloud in front of him. It glided up to the ceiling. The astral mist peered down at the girl holding the twitching heart. Dark red blood ran all down her arm. The one beneath was still shaking in a violent spasm. He waited as the dying body gave out and became still.
He could see her now. Her living eternal essence was ascending. As she left her mundane body, her spirit retained the same shape. It glowed dark yellow, fizzling and popping. It drifted upward slowly.
Back in the material world, the scripture rolled off of Linda's tongue in an emotionless monotone. With the last magical word spoken, his attack became possible.
He pounced like a lion on top of the girl’s energy. Her soul struggled against him. He surrounded and imploded into her. His expanding light suffocated her. The ethereal cries were heard only by him. She was trapped inside his spiral. He began to absorb her. The searing heat made her shudder in pain. For a second time, she was dying. His light grew brighter as hers faded into nothingness. He had eaten her whole and could feel the power surging through.
The power of the Black Communion.
3:11
When Jack entered the hospital Stacey was sitting on the far side of the waiting room with her back to the door.
“Honey?”
She turned and rushed over to him. They stood there in each other's arms trying to make the fear and sadness subside. He was with her now. She no longer had to hurt alone. He would be there for her, no matter what happened.
“How is she?”
“They took her in to surgery. They're going to do a bypass.”
Jack looked around the room, “Where's Christopher?”
“I called your parents earlier. He's staying with them for awhile.”
They sat down. The television bolted to the wall was on. The weatherman was pointing at Colorado Springs on the map. He was talking about snow. Neither of them was even aware it was on. Stacey held Jack's hand tightly looking over at the receptionist.
“They said it didn't look good, that she might not make it through the operation.” She lowered her head down onto his shoulder, “I'm so scared Jack.”
He wanted to tell her that everything was going to be all right, but those words would've felt like a lie. He didn't know what to say. He didn't know what to do. All he could do was hold her close, and hope.
He did know one thing. It was something that had been spinning around in his head ever since he got the news. If her mother didn't survive there would be only one way for Stacey to see her, to say goodbye. The purple velvet box bulged in the side pocket of his thick winter coat. He needed to tell her about the power of the necklace before it was too late.
But she wouldn’t listen to me now, would she? With her mother in surgery? How can I tell her now?
It was too important. He had to try.
“Stacey?”
She looked up at him with teary eyes.
“Yeah?” she said faintly.
“I’ve always been a skeptic when it comes to all that spiritual stuff, you know that, right?”
“Yes, Jack.”
“You were always the one the believed in those things.”
“Well, I’m not sure what I believe. I like to read about it.”
She looked down at her hands on top of his, “I like to believe in the possibility.”
“Something’s happened to me Stacey. I believe now. It’s not just a possibility. It’s real.”
“What are you talking about?”
“This.”
His hand went into his coat pocket and emerged with the velvet box. He sat it down in his lap and creaked it open. The necklace caught Stacey’s eye for the first time.
“What is it?” She ran her fingers over the feathers carved in stone.
“This is what I’m talking about. It’s an ancient talisman. It has real power.”
“What kind of power?”
Jack looked at his wife and smiled, “It allows you to leave your body.”
“What?” Their eyes met. Hers were filled with disbelief.
“I swear to you, it’s real.”
“Oh, come on, Jack.”
“I’m not asking you to take my word for it. I’m asking you to try it.”
Stacey’s eyes drifted over to the emergency room door. “It’s not really the time for this. My mother…”
“No. If ever there was a time for this, it’s now.”
She could see that he was serious. She’d always thought of herself as open minded about that kind of thing. She was the one with three kinds of tarot cards and stacks of metaphysical books. She even had one on astral travel. She’d been searching for meaning just like everyone. “So what, am I just supposed to put it on?”
“Yeah, that’s it.”
She held out both hands. “Give it to me.”
Jack couldn’t believe it. He had actually convinced her to try it. He didn’t know how he’d done it. She was going to see for herself now. His job was done. He hung it around her neck carefully. “Go be with her. I’ll be here when you get back.” He gave her a kiss and took her hand.
Stacey sat looking down at the stone bird against her chest. The humming filled her head. The heat was rising in her arms and legs. The pressure was building.
“Jaaackk…” Her eyes were wide.
She was afraid.
“Don’t fight it. Just stay calm and soon you’ll see everything.”
Her spirit pushed out through her chest in a twisting whirlwind. She was hovering over them. She was glowing a brilliant blue. She could see the soft haze of her husband’s soul surrounding his body. He was sitting quietly, watching her body sleep.
Oh my God. It’s really happening.
Her vision was in every direction. She saw the television, the main entrance, the door to the emergency room…
Mom.
She flew over and passed through the metal door easily. Her mother was in one of the rooms beyond. She had to find her. She could only hope it wasn’t too late.
3:12
Linda was sitting at the large dinning room table. The book with the yellowing pages was open in front of her. The phone was ringing in another room. She did not get up to answer it. She didn’t have time for such things. Everything was happening quickly and when the time came, she would have to be ready.
She studied the words carefully, saying them over and over in her head. It had been more than twenty years since she’d had them all memorized. Some phrases were familiar while others seemed new to her. It was going to take some long hours to get all of it down. What had ended so abruptly two decades ago wasn’t over. Not by a long shot. Not as long as she had something to do with it. Her work was just beginning, finally.
It had taken what seemed like forever to convince those bastards at the hospital that she was fit to re-enter society. She was an old woman now, not in her best shape for what needed to be done. She hoped that she would have the strength required to continue the task.
There was a knock at the door. A man in a gray suit was looking at her through the window.
Damn it.
She got up and walked over. He was wearing a long dark coat. His hands were deep in the side pockets trying to stay warm.
She opened the door. “Yes?”
“Ms. Holland?”
“Yes.”
“My name is Tom Randal. I’m with the Canon City Police Department. Can I come in?”
“I suppose so.” She pulled open the door and backed up. A frigid blast of air entered with him.
“It’s really getting chilly out there. It’s gonna be a heck of a storm, doncha think?”
“Yes. It looks like it.”
“What I’m here about Ms. Holland, is this. We had a homicide in town last night.”
“Oh, my.”
“Yes, we were hoping to get you to come down to the station and answer some questions for us.”
“I’m not a murderer, Mr. Randal. I’m an old woman.”
“Well ma’am, no one is saying that you are. This situation has some similarities to a case in 1971, a case that I believe you remember?”
She knew full well what he was talking about. She hoped that her lover was not getting too careless. She hoped that the police didn’t know too much. She knew that she would have to be mindful of what she told them. She did not let any of her concerns show on her face.
“I’m sure I’ll never forget it, Mr. Randal.”
“I’m sure. So we thought that you, having the unique insight that you do, might be able to help us.”
“I don’t know how much help I’ll be, but I’ll tell you what I know.”
“Great. You can ride with me if you like. My car is already warm.”
“That sounds fine. Just give me a few minutes to get ready.”
“Absolutely, Ms. Holland. Take your time.”
She went in to the table. Looking back to where the policeman was standing, she quickly closed the book. He was busy watching it snow out the window. The storm was getting worse. It was close now.
Very Close.
3:13
Journal entry November 13, 1971 AD
The ritual was a success. It was like nothing I’ve ever felt. I am twice the man I was yesterday. I am denser, stronger, and more alert. Her power melded with mine completely as her will and consciousness faded away.
I could taste her fear. It was more satisfying than any death I have caused before. She became me. It was beautiful.
I am now more powerful than any human that has ever walked the earth. I believe that puts me in the demi-God category. And this is just the beginning. Soon I will be more powerful than the creator of the world. When that time comes, I will then eat him up and snuff out his consciousness. What a glorious day that will be.
The death of God.
I will taste his fear as I consume him. Perhaps he will beg for his life. Wouldn’t that be something? And, just maybe I will leave him alive. I could eat all but a tiny, little powerless puff of dim light. I could leave his existence inside of it. I would then make him suffer the way I have. The dominator could see what it was like to be dominated. What comes around, goes around.
Yes, that would be something indeed.
