Twenty-Nine

Bobby

"I've spoken to her, and she's very concerned about what all this means. Saorise says there has been rumblings through the psychic plane about a man who has been trying to gain a power that is too strong for him to wield. They had not known who that person was or how he was going to try to gain the ability, but they knew it had to do with reading thoughts and being able to control a person once he was in their mind," Mum said as she rushed through my door, her long blonde hair pulled back in a braid, her green eyes flashing with worry and intensity.

"Is she able to speak to Cole? Wait, did you say control a person?" I thought back to being in the car when Cole had to pull off the road.

"Yes, she was very concerned. But she has an understanding of those things that I cannot even comprehend so it's just best you speak to her. She'll be available tomorrow at six. It'll be the middle of the night for her, but she said she'll make sure she's there. Bobby, she also said to avoid any places where there is strong magic, it could have unforeseen consequences," Mum said.

"The carnival," I murmured.

"Yes, but you didn't know. So, from now on be careful until we figure this all out," she said.

"You'll be there too when we speak to her?" I asked, and she pulled me in for a hug.

"Of course I will." She was worried, and while I was happy not to be stumbling around without a clue, I also didn't like the idea of my mother being at risk from powers we didn't understand. "Don't worry, I have many protections. Whoever is behind this won't be able to influence me."

I let out a deep breath and squeezed her tight before releasing her. "What does Dad really think of all this?"

"He doesn't understand the magic part of the world, but as you know he'll support us in any way he can. He's a good man and he'll stand strong with us no matter what."

"I need to make sure Cole is safe. I'm not sure why but I feel very protective of him."

"It may be that the fates made sure you were there to protect him, or it could be that seeing him injured in that way bonded you to him but either way I understand, and I'll do whatever I can to help you both."

"Thank you. I feel like we've been so alone in this other than the woman in Hickory Crossing that saw Cole when he was struck."

"Who is this woman?" she asked, her brow furrowed with concern.

"Anna Avery, she's the aunt of the man that put everything in motion. She said her nephew had been trying to gain power for years, and she thinks he's the reason Cole was struck. But she also thinks he wasn't trying to give Cole the power, she thinks he wants to take over Cole's body."

"Where is her nephew?" Mum asked.

"She said she lost contact with him years ago and thinks he's dead and all that's left of him now is energy. That's why he wants to take Cole."

"Son, it's a very difficult thing to put one consciousness into another body. Are you sure he's dead?"

"I just trusted what she said. Cole knows her but I'd never seen her before the day he was struck. I noticed her standing in her field watching when it happened." Listening to myself say it all out loud, my mind swirled with worry and confusion.

"Please tell me you have not gone to her home," she said.

"Yes, we went there the other day. She told Cole she had information on her nephew and showed us his room." I took out my phone and showed her the photos I'd taken and the marks that were scattered throughout her house. "What's wrong?" I asked as she recoiled back from the photos and covered her mouth with her hand.

"Those markings are not protection. We need to find out exactly who this person is," Mum said. She looked at the mural and zoomed in on the picture to see the writing. "This is spellwork. If it wasn't her, then whoever painted this was using this drawing to bring this scene into reality."

"Cole called me before you came in and said he'd found a strange word in the writing, Haniel. I looked it up, it's one of the archangels. Do you think Cole is in danger?" A cold chill ran down my spine. I hadn't considered Cole was in any danger at home. I mean he worked at a sporting goods store in a small town in the middle of nowhere, how much trouble could he get into?

Mum thought about it before she answered, but when her eyes met mine, I knew she was still worried. "It depends on who this other person is and what they want. If they are indeed magical and they have a plan they've set in motion, then we'll need to find out what that plan involves. Saorise is a very talented psychic, but she's not magical and there is a limit to what she can do. But she should be able to give us a better understanding. I'm not knowledgeable about archangels but I do know most of them are very powerful and not all of them have good intentions."

Worry consumed me and it took everything in me not to drive right over to Cole and stay with him just to make myself feel like I could keep him safe. But I knew it didn't matter. Neither of us were safe from anything that was either magical or paranormal. We had no clue about it and didn't know how to protect ourselves or to keep it away. The symbols. "Anna told us those symbols would keep Cole's home safe." I thought about how we'd both put those symbols all over his house.

"Show me them again," Mum said. She squinted her eyes as she looked closely at the pictures I'd taken of some of the symbols that we'd used at Cole's. "This symbol here is to give an opening for spirits to contact you, this one is to call them. She's done the opposite of protection. She's put a bullseye on Cole." Her eyes were wide with fright and for a moment neither of us moved, but then her phone rang, making us both jump. "It's Saorise."

"Answer it," I said.

"Yes, I understand," she said while her eyes were locked with mine. "I'll make sure. Thank you, I know Bobby will appreciate it." She hung up and took both my hands in hers. "She said tomorrow around six is best. But in the meantime, to cleanse this area and reinforce it so nothing can come in that's attached to Cole."

"Is he going to be okay?" I asked, and hoped she really did know what she was doing.

"We're going to do all we can for him," she said while I hoped like hell that was enough.