Page 2 of Witch (Gray Wolf Security #24)

“You’re lost in thought, my love,” said Matthew, squeezing the fingers of the only woman he’d ever loved.

“I was thinking about how all this began with Gajon and Marie, the first one. And then Martha. We’ve all been so lucky, and some days, I wonder if they realize just how lucky they’ve actually been.”

“I think they know,” said Matthew with a solemn expression. “For you to have found me, our own grandmothers putting one another in the right place, at the right time, that could be nothing but magic.”

“Or witchcraft,” she grinned. “I’d known for some time that I could see the dead, help them to move on. I saw you and knew that I couldn’t, I wouldn’t help you move on. I needed you here by me.”

“And here I’ve been,” he said, kissing the back of her hand. “Right here, beside you, raising our children. All of them.” He swept an arm over the land and laughed. Hundreds. Hundreds of children that belonged to them, blood or no.

“It’s almost time, isn’t it?” she whispered.

“I’m afraid so. We’ll still be here, Irene.

They’ll see us, we’ll see them. They can touch us, they can speak to us, they can call to us.

In some ways, we’ll be more available to them, help them more, just in different ways.

Although we look young, thanks to the pond.

Our bodies are youthful, thanks to the plants, herbs, earth, and air.

We cannot live forever in these bodies.”

“Will it hurt when we go?” she asked.

“Only your heart, my love. There will be no pain. It’s time for them to follow their gifts, all of their gifts.”

“Where will we live?” she asked.

“Don’t you worry about that. I’ve built a place just for us.

For us, for Teddy, for Ruby and Sven. To ease the pain for the others, we will all go at the same time, and yet we will be near one another on the island just for us.

In fact, it’s called ?le Fant?me.” Irene laughed, tilting her head backwards.

“Ghost Island! Matthew, that’s just like you. It could bring ghost hunters,” she smiled.

“They’d have to find it first, and if they did, well, we’ll just have a little ghost fun.

I’ve built homes for all of us. The other ghosts have been out there for some time now.

You open your door or pass through it. They hear everything happening on the other islands and move back and forth as needed. Even ghosts need privacy.”

“I can cook? I can bake? I can tend to my plants and animals?” she asked.

“Anything you do now, you will be able to do there.”

“When will it happen?” she asked.

“We can go whenever you feel you’re ready. We can plan it, if you like.” Irene nodded, then smiled and turned to her husband.

“Halloween is coming,” she grinned. Matthew burst into laughter at his wife’s odd sense of humor. “It might help the children to be able to see us on the most ghostly of nights.”

Matthew looked up to see Gabriel and Claudette walking toward them. They both knew more than the others but had begun to share their gifts with their siblings as well as the senior team.

“Mama, we have to talk,” said Gabriel.

“What’s wrong? Y’all look like you’ve seen a ghost,” she smirked. Matthew nudged her, grinning.

“Mama, this isn’t funny,” said Claudette. “There is a man in New Orleans making claims that you’re a witch. He claims you called forth evil and used the devil to make a deal for youthfulness.”

“That’s ridiculous, and y’all know that,” laughed Irene.

“Mama, this isn’t funny. You need to talk to the others, let them know what’s happening,” said Gabriel.

“Son, we’ll do it when it’s time,” said Matthew. Gabriel vehemently shook his head.

“No. No!” he yelled.

Matthew and Irene stared at him, frowning. Gabriel, of all their children, was the most calm, quiet, considerate. He never raised his voice unless provoked. It was one of the reasons he was chosen by Matthew to continue the good works.

“I’m sorry, Mama. I’m sorry, Pops. We, Claudette and me, we’ve done everything you asked of us, but we cannot continue to lie to our siblings and those we consider our siblings. You have to tell them what’s happening. All of it.”

“Alright, Gabriel,” said Irene quietly. “Your daddy and I were just talkin’ about it. Here’s what we’ll do.”

“In a secluded part of the bayou, hidden from the eyes of the world, she practiced the magic that was gifted to her from her grandmother. She was known for her deep connection with nature and her ability to harness the earth's energies.

“She was selected because of her pure heart, and she used her powers to heal the swamp and all its creatures. The gift of seeing those who had yet to move on only amplified her gifts.

“One day, a desperate plea reached her ears, although she didn’t know who the plea came from. It was a man. A man she didn’t know, but he was dying. Or dead.

“Although she knew that she had to save the man, she wasn’t even sure where to find him. So, instead, she continued on her errand in the city. Leaving the safety of her home, she took a chance.

“Irene knew that to save the man, she needed powers beyond her own.

She ventured deep into the heart of the bayou, where the ancient trees whispered secrets of old.

There, she found a sacred grove, a place where the veil between the worlds was thin.

Kneeling on the soft moss, Irene prayed to the spirits of the bayou, asking for the strength and wisdom to save the man's life.

She offered her own energy, promising to protect the bayou and swamp in return for their aid.

“As Irene's prayers echoed through the grove, the spirits responded. A gentle breeze stirred the moss on the trees, and a soft glow enveloped her. The spirits granted her the power she sought, infusing her with the essence of the bayou.

“Irene felt a surge of energy, a connection to every living thing around her. She knew she had been given a great gift, but also a great responsibility. With newfound determination, she set out once again to find the man.

“When she arrived at where she needed to complete her errand, she saw the man, and she could see the toll his near-death was taking on him.

His skin was pale, and his breathing was shallow.

He was walking between the worlds of life and death.

After speaking to him only briefly, walking with him, she knew that he was the man she was to save. He was worth saving.

“She placed her hands on his chest, feeling the energy flow from her into him.

“The power of the bayou spirits coursed through her, guiding her actions.

Slowly, the man's breathing steadied, and color returned to his cheeks.

Irene continued to channel the healing energy until she was certain he was out of danger, the entire time praying and asking the powers around her to help.

“The man didn’t understand what happened. He stared at the beautiful woman who had stolen his heart and healed it. They’d both received gifts beyond their comprehension in those magical moments. And they both knew they would spend the rest of their days giving those gifts to others.”

“Mama?” Gaspar and all the boys stood staring at her as she told the story to the animals. They stared at her, then back at the animals, who seemed completely enraptured by her story. Gabriel stepped forward and smiled.

“I think it’s time, Mama.”