“Conor!”
Sandy gasped, seeing the spirit standing right in front of her, almost like it was in the flesh, how she missed him! She’d missed him so much and she doesn’t know how to let go at this time.
Good, Maggie thought. Sandy did a good job summoning the spirit as it came out on time, she kept on spreading the fumes as she signaled to the spirit seeker who was outside the square to hit the Goni drum louder, which would open a portal where Sandy would push the spirit into, banishing it forever just like Maggie had told her prior to this.
“Now!”
The drumming sounds became louder and faster, and Maggie spread the fumes round and round so as to weaken the spirit. Walden stood still on his side of his square as he’d been told, not to move a muscle, not to say anything so that the spirit won’t see him, realize what was happening and disappear.
The sage fumes weakened the spirit, and Sandy could see the sadness in his eyes. She felt so much pity for him. This man died in one of the worst ways possible, and for a crime he didn’t commit. It’s no wonder that the spirit is troubled, it’s no wonder the spirit refuses to leave to the afterlife.
Sandy was already beginning to reconsider her decision of letting this spirit go. What if there was another way to let it stay, and everyone would get what they want? What if there was another way to appease the spirit so it would leave willingly on its own? Sandy suddenly did not think it fair to banish the spirit so harshly like this.
The drumming sounds continued, and then the portal opened then. Maggie gave a “well done” nod to the spirit seeker for doing his job, and then she turned to Sandy, yelling, “do it now, Sandy! It’s open. Do it now!”
Sandy heard her alright, but didn’t wish to anymore. She didn’t want this spirit gone. She loved her brother, yes, but she also loved this spirit to. There has to be another way, she will find another way if she has to. Walden won’t be going anywhere and neither will this spirit.
“Sandy? What are you doing? It’s open! Do it now!!!” Maggie nearly lost her voice yelling through the loud drums that were beating.
Sandy decided to answer her, looking away from the spirit, “Conor doesn’t deserve to go like this now, Maggie! We can find another way to appease him instead!”
“What?” Maggie gasped. What is she saying????
“There is no other way, Sandy. If that portal closes, your brother is a goner. Do not be fooled by what you are seeing. Remember my words, Sandy. Remember my warnings. You have to let go when the time is right.”
“I have to… Let go?”
Maggie nodded. “Yes, darling. Please, let go.”
Sandy’s tears reached the ground as she closed her eyes, truly remembering Maggie’s warning as she tried hard to set her mind free.
“You can do it, Maggie,” her wolf led her on.
You have to let go when the time is right.
Do not be fooled…
Do not give into its persuasion to let it stay.
Do not give it the power to drown your brother in darkness forever.
If she lets go at this point, she will never see Conor again. Not even in her dreams. The only image she will ever have of his face is the one from her memories. All the moments she shared with him in the past will be lost forever. Is she willing to sacrifice all of this for the life of her brother, the man who gruesomely put an end to his life?
.
.
.
“I am sorry, Conor,” the last tear drop fell from her eye as she pushed the spirit into the portal with full force, as soon as it entered. The portal closed up and all the salt from the square swept with it. The spirit was gone. No sign of it anywhere.
The ritual was over and suddenly, Walden didn’t know why he then felt a sense of freedom and calm he hadn’t felt in such a long time, all thanks to Maggie.
**********
“Can I take the blindfold off now?” Maggie asked as she was beginning to get uncomfortable with this so-called surprise Walden said he had for her right after the ritual. After Sandy had retired to her room, he’d covered her eyes with the cloth, asking for a few more minutes as he had something to show her, Maggie modestly agreed.
He’d led her out to through the packhouse gates to a small vehicle which drove for about five minutes, before stopping somewhere Maggie couldn’t make out because of the cloth covering her eyes. As if something bad would’ve happened if he’d let her seen it right away.
Just a few more steps, he said. “I’ll tell you when to take it off soon.”
She hoped it would be like he said, as she was already getting tired.
“Now?” She asked again after he stopped her in front of what seemed like a door.
“Now,” he answered.
“Finally!” She groaned as she removed the blindfold which brought her vision back. Seeing that he’d brought her to a house, a small but generously furnished house that wasn’t too far from the night shadow packhouse, as one could see it’s tall rooftop in the distance from where they stood at the door. Why had he brought her here?
“What are we doing here?” She asked him aloud.
“Don’t worry, I’m about to answer that.” He told her as he briefly searched his pocket for something, before bringing out a pair of keys, handing them to her.
“Are these the keys to this door?”
“Not just to this door, but to the entire house. It’s yours, Maggie!”
Maggie didn’t understand, “you bought me a house?”
“Yes, for you and your daughter. I intended to use it as a thank you gift, regardless of if the ritual turned out successful or not. I’m glad it was successful so now I can thank you properly. I will also be appointing you both as omegas of the night shadow pack since we haven’t welcomed you both here well, not with all that’s been happening. Now we will have the time to do the ceremony.”
She hadn’t even reached to open the door yet, she just stared down at the bunch of keys in her hand, not seeming so excited about the huge gift.
“You’re… Sending us away?” The tone of her voice said it all as she didn’t hide anything. She didn’t hide the disappointment she felt, and Walden didn’t miss it at all.