Page 120 of Phobia

I called out to the spirits again, “I invite any spirits in the room to let their presence be known.” The candles flickered, then rose higher. A sound beside me made me look toward the door. I was startled by three apparitions, fully manifest. One of them, a man, looked exactly like Silas, raising the hairs on the nape of my neck. The second figure was a woman, about the same age as the man, with long brown hair. The third, a young girl, about fifteen years old. The man and woman were just standing there, holding hands, looking at Silas. I looked over at Silas, fully transformed into a werewolf. The young girl walked over to Silas. I knew theyhad to behis family, so I held my breath, watched, and waited. The young girl started gently petting Silas’ head. Silas’ screams stopped and he went from a snarl to leaning his head into the girl’s hand.

I exhaled, looked at the couple by the door and asked, “Who are you?” They looked at me and smiled. The man stepped forward and said, “familia.”

My hands flew to my mouth. “Are you Silas’ father?”

He responded, “Yes.” I couldn’t believe it. A tear ran down my cheek.

Looking back over at Silas and the girl, I whispered, “Gabby?” She turned to me and nodded. Itwashis family. The spirits weren’t here to harm him.

I looked back his parents. “Why have you come here?”

His mother, Ramona looked at me and smiled. “To protect and comfort him.”

My heart was beating fast. I took a deep, slow breath and flipped to a marked page in my book. On it was a spell for manifestation. I wanted to communicate with them more, especially since the veil was at its thinnest. “Spirit of the night, give me communion with these souls who bring good and light.” The candles flickered again. Javier and Ramona became even more visible, so close to their human form. So was Gabby.

“Javier, Ramona, and Gabriela, please tell me what you would like me to tell Silas.” I looked back and forth between them. My eyes landed on Silas and how peaceful he was.

Javier spoke first. “My son...he’s been alone. All we wanted, was for him to know... we’re with him always.”

Ramona spoke next, “We haven’t left this realm because we never able to say goodbye. Tell him we will always love him.”

Gabby looked up at me, still resting on Silas’s shoulder. “Please tell him that we wish him peace in his mind, in his soul, and in his heart. He should never be afraid.”

Tears streamed down my face. I could see that it wasn’t just Silas who felt tormented and stuck. His family did too, and I grieved for them. I knew I had to bring them closure.

Javier said, “Please. Tell him he is never alone. We will always be near, however he chooses to see us?in the forest, in the air, in a candle, through an animal... we will be whatever he needs, whenever he needs us. And... he has you, now.”

I swiped the tears from my cheeks and nodded. “I will give him your messages, and your love. I will give him the peace you desperately want him for him. He doesn’t need to be afraid anymore.”

Gabby reached her arms around Silas’ furry neck to hug him one more time. In that moment, he wasn’t a monster. He wasn’t evil. He wasn’t uncontrolled. He was a brother, and I think he was comforting her as much as she was comforting him, much like the night she was taken from him. On that night, he held her in his arms until he had to say goodbye. She heldhimthis time before she said goodbye. “Nos vemos, hermano.”See you, brother.She stood, kissed the top of his head, and rejoined Javier and Ramona.

The three of them stood in the doorway, staring at Silas. He stared back at them. I wondered if it was possible for him to know what was happening, or if he would remember when this was over. Even if he didn’t, I would bring him the peace he so badly needed.

I told his family, “Thank you, Javier, Ramona, and Gabriela,” as they smiled back at me. “Go in peace. Always. So may it be.” Then I said a spell for them. “Spirit of the night, free these spirits who bring good and light, and give them peace in the afterlife.” With that, they turned and faded away, walking up the stairs.

The candle flames lowered. Hearing a deep exhale and whimper, I looked over to see Silas lying on the ground. He was no longer in his wolf form. I rushed to him, threw his cloak aside, and covered him with blankets I had brought down before the transformation. He was sweating and shivering, but sound asleep. Sitting down beside him, I would stay there until he woke up. Bringing my knees to my chest, I wrapped my arms around them and rested my head on them. I cried and thought about how I would explain it all to Silas, if he didn’t remember. For the moment, I rested and watched him, protecting him.

Chapter 10

SILAS

I sat up in a scramble, not feeling the same as I normally do after a full moon. Instead of my cloak, there was a blanket over me. The hour hand on the clock over the door ticked over to two a.m.. Typically, my transformations take much longer and when I wake up, it’s morning.

Cressida was leaning against the wall, asleep with her arms wrapped around her knees. She was exhausted, but beautiful. I moved closer to her, not wanting to scare her, and whispered, “Cress, wake up.”

Her movements were slow until she popped her head up, startled. She said, “Silas! Are you ok?”

“Don’t worry, I’m fine. Just tired and confused. It’s only two o’clock in the morning. What happened?”

She looked troubled by something, but only said, “Let’s get you upstairs and cleaned up. Then we can talk. It’s eerie down here.”

“Cress, what happened? You’re scaring me.”

She finally smiled, reassuring me, “No, no. It’s ok, I promise, but I feel beat up from sleeping on the floor and I can’t sit here anymore. Anyway, you need to get cleaned up and dressed. Come on.”

I stood and reached for her hand out pull her up. She helped me free me from the chains and grabbed her items from the table, shoving them in her bag. She went up first and I followed behind, stopping for a second to look back at the basement. It was killing me not knowing what happened. Something was different. I could feel it.

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