The sun had long set in the western skies by the time Jacob got to his front door. The night air had that sweet fresh smell of clean crisp laundry right out of the dryer. He didn’t want to step out of the perfect cocoon of warm sultry breeze and cool tranquil quiet and into his formerly quiet clean sanctuary. These days his home had become the hub of busy lives intersecting and colliding because of supernatural trauma.

“Hey Jacob,” Cheri startled him out of his silent reverie. “How’d the meet go with Matty’s grandmother?”

“Answered a myriad of questions and produced countless more. Where’ve you been all day?”

“Wow.”

“Sorry, that came out harsher than I meant it. I just have to much crap on my mind.”

“No worries, I’ve had to work today. Unfortunately, I still have to pay my rent and bills regardless of Katie’s condition.”

“Let’s go in and I’ll put my marvelous cooking skills to good use and make some dinner and we can discuss what I learned. Is Jasmine still here?”

Jacob opened the door to see Jasmine stepping out of the hall towards them.

“I saw you two on the ring camera, I was coming to join the conversation.”

“I’m gonna go visit with Katie for a bit then I’ll whip up some dinner for us, then we can talk.”

Jacob slipped into Katie’s room while the others settled in on the living room couch. The faint chatting and laughter filled the hall as Jacob shut the door to close it out.

“Hi Hazel, it’s nice to see you again,” Jacob cheerfully chirped, a little to cheerfully.

“Hi,” Hazel looked up from her charting and smiled softly, then focused back on her work. After a few moments she sighed and looked back up. “I’m sorry I don’t mean to be rude, Mattie will be here in a few minutes and got caught up in my book and now I’m behind in my charting.”

“No worries. I’m gonna be with Katie for a little while if you want to go to the other room to get done faster.

“Thank you, yes I’m going to do just that.”

“Hey Katie Doll. You’re looking beautiful today.” Jacob pulled a chair up to the bed. “I miss you so much. Just to remind you it’s safe to come back. Everything is going to be good again. I promise.”

Before Jacob could say another word Mattie quietly slipped into the room. After setting her stuff down on the desk she turned towards Jacob and Katie.

“Don’t let me interrupt. I’m just getting set up for the night.”

“No worries,” Jacob turned back to Katie, gently he took her hand in his. “So, I’ve been thinking about our wedding. I know we were originally talking about having it at The Gardens but what do you think about setting something up at Well’s Peak. It’ll have to be smaller, but more intimate. Just close family and friends. Make it a full moon night with all the stars shining brightly, black velvet skies. It’ll be gorgeous with you in a white dress. Then we can traverse the trail down to the little cottage down the cliff and have a midnight reception on the beach. Since they rebuilt that little cottage it’s just so cozy and safe feeling. That little cottage on the beach feels so homey and safe. It’ll be beautiful. First and foremost, I want you to feel safe and loved.”

Tears rolled down his cheeks as he gently kissed her hand, placed it back on the bed, then wiped away his tears.

“I love you Katie, more than anything else in this world.”

“When you get a free minute, we should chat.”

“Katie and I are finished and I’m about ready to start dinner, you wanna chat after that?”

An hour later Jacob peeked his head into Katie’s room to call the others to dinner. The three ladies were all sitting around Katie laughing over something he had missed, and they didn’t look like they wanted to back track, so he didn’t ask.

“Dinners on the table ladies,” he smiled. “Mattie, why don’t you join us. Just bring the tablet so you can see the camera in case. But I think she’ll be fine for half an hour or so.”

“I would love that, thank you.”

Twenty minutes later they all were sitting at the table completely engrossed in Jacob’s angle hair pasta with meat sauce, Italian sausage, and garlic bread. To anyone looking in they would think they were a normal average happy family. Only the contrary was true. Sure, they were a family of sorts, brought together by their love and concern for Katie. Now, they were all living together in this one three-bedroom two bath modern house.

If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

“Jasmine, how long can you stay?” Jacob needed to know who was going to be around when they were ready, ready for what he didn’t really know.

“I already called in and handed off my cases. Tomorrow, I need to go down to the office and close out a few things, But I’ll be back tomorrow night, probably. And then I’m good for the foreseeable future.”

Jasmine turned to Tracy, who became visible uncomfortable at the thought of being without the love of her life just yet.

“Trace, do you want to make the ride with me. Maybe we can make it a night, sleep in our own beds, and go to Sha La Vey for dinner. I know it’s your favorite.”

“Yes, sound awesome!”

Jacob gave Tracy a small smile. “Tracy, I know you’ve already been traumatized by all of this, so I won’t ask you to do something you don’t want to. But I do need to know how you’re feeling and if you need to go to work.”

“I’ve already taken an indefinite leave of absence. I don’t know how I’ll be of use, but since I already seen what Katie is up against, I do want to help.”

“That’s good, but I don’t want to cause you any additional trauma.”

“I’ll be fine.”

“Cheri, what’s your plans?”

“I have the next three days off. Then I have two days next week I can’t get out off, after that I’ve requested two weeks off. Hopefully we can get whatever we need to do finished by then.”

“Hopefully your right.”

“Ok,” Jacob turned towards Matilda. “Thank you so much setting up the meet with your grandmother. She was a lot of help. I have a bigger understanding of what we need to do. She’s gonna help us when we get all the stuff.”

“I put my number up on the fridge so you can text me whenever you’re ready. I think I should get back to Katie. Thanks for dinner, it was fun.”

“Shayla did most of the talking, I have so many questions I didn’t get to ask.”

“Hit me, I’ll answer what I can.”

“What is it exactly that we are battling against? Is it Katie’s mind or an actual ghost?”

“Alexander Blackwell is a phylactery, an actual spirit trapped in an object. As long as he is in the mirror, he’s considered an immortal spirit. There are only two ways for him to free himself from his prison. The first would be to trade places with a willing person in the present. In other words, Katie would have to willingly, with full understanding of who and what he is, agree to stay in the mirror world and allow his soul to take over his body. He would look and be Katie but controlled by Blackwells soul. The second, which is what I think he’s going for, is the baby. The first few seconds of a baby’s life his soul has no defense. It’s usually provided by the mother’s soul. If he’s gathered enough power stored up, he’ll be able to reach out and inhabit the baby. He would be given a new life.”

“Ok, I think I kind of understand.”

“Who…” Tracy interrupted. “Who is the girl?”

“Abigail Blackwell. She’s Blackwell’s niece, and a witch at the time. She was the youngest member of the White Dove Coven.”

“How did she end up in there with the witch hunter?”

“Every prison requires a warden. Usually when something like this is being done a talisman or another object is used. If this object is connected to the prison, it will stand strong. However, the Coven forgot this step in their rush to get the ritual complete. The Gods chose a warden of their own, Abigail.”

“If Blackwell escapes what happens to Abigail?” Tracy’s concern for Abigail was genuine. Apparently during their short, interrupted time together she had bonded.

“As long as the prison exists, she’ll be the warden. If Alexander trades places with another soul that soul will be trapped there for eternity. If the prison is destroyed any soul within it will be destroyed also.”

“Which means we have to get Katie out before we destroy the mirror.” Jacob’s vitriol came out in full force. “What happens to my baby if Blackwell is successful in taking his soul.”

“I think… now I’m not sure, but I think you’ll have a baby with Blackwells soul. You’d have to decide whether to raise him. He’d be just like another child except in the back of his subconscious he would carry the memories of Blackwell. How’s he’s raise will determine who he grew up to be.”

Jacob’s anger and frustration boiled. He slammed his fist on the table so hard that every dish on the table bounced.

“Sorry.”

“How do we get Katie out of there?” Cheri asked what everyone wanted to know, but were to afraid to ask. Without letting Blackwell out of course.”

“I don’t know the answer to that question, but I think my grandmother knows. As a matter of fact I think she knew this was going to happen before any of us knew. And I think I have something to do with it,” Mattie pulled the pentacle out from under her scrub shirt and showed it to Jacob. “She gave me this three weeks ago and told me to wear it next to my skin. She gave you one too.”

Jacob pulled his out from his pocket and slipped it over his head. The two pentacles where identical except for the stones in the center. Jacobs included a large diamond and Mattie’s contained a large onyx stone.

“Diamond, your stone, traditionally represents strength, purity, and external love. This is why they are commonly used in wedding rings. Mine contains onyx which represents strength, protection, and focus. I guess Grandma knew I’d need these in the coming days.”

“Did your grandmother make these?”

“I don’t think so. They are forged from solid steel. I think these are originals from the White Dove Coven. If you look at them real closely you and see letters carved into them, WDC.”

“That would make them almost two hundred years old.”

“Yep, and I’d suggest you wear it next to your skin until we’ve… finished.” Mattie was quiet for a few minutes. The air in the room seemed to have gone stale and heavy. “I don’t know what’s going to happen next but I’m betting it’s not going to be easy. What did my grandmother tell you to do next.”

“Tomorrow Cheri and I are going to Katie’s house to find the journal and collect all the pieces of the mirror that are there. When we have them we need to meet with her again.”

“I think I know where the journal is. Years ago, we were like thirteen or something, Katie and I were playing barbies down there and found this old handwritten book filled with crazy stuff. We really didn’t think much of it, just shoved it into the bookcase and went on playing.”

Jasmine and Tracy let out a little laugh.

“I just can’t imagine you playing barbies, Katie yeah, but not you.” Jasmine laughed again.

“Well to be honest it was more like Halloween barbie. The basement was the perfect place for it.”

“With that,” Mattie stood up from the table. “I don’t think there is anymore information I can give you. That was already a lot to take in. I’m going to check on Katie.” With a half smile she started to leave. “Oh, I almost forgot. My grandmother said she can hear us. She may not be choosing to acknowledge it but what we say is in her subconscious.”

After Mattie excused herself Jasmine and Tracy cleared the table, Cheri split off to shower and Jacob excused himself to his office.