Annaldra

Ann woke before the sun; her nerves made sure of that. Today was the day she would cast the spell that would return magik to the world that in turn would allow the gates between the Otherworld and her world to open again. Then, she would be reunited with her parents, but it would take three nights for enough magik to return that would enable the gates to open; three long nights. Even though the spell itself seemed simple, it still made her nervous. This would be her first spell. The ritual of the spell required her blood, which she had empowered with her previous lives, and water from the Otherworld, but there was only one word used in the spell, Mehaney, though in truth it was more of a tuneful animal noise than a word. However, it was niggling something inside her, something she could not quite remember. Ann was sure she had heard it before, a long time ago, perhaps in a dream or another life, and when she sounded it, it came so naturally to her. Whatever it was, it felt ancient and powerful.

However, before all of this, she had Elaine’s party to attend. She had hoped to wriggle out of it. However, after spending so much time with Elaine preparing for the party, no excuse felt good enough as she now considered Elaine a friend. The more time Ann had spent with her the more she liked her. At first, she had tried to stay detached. She was, after all, the person standing between her and Swain. However, over time Elaine had changed from being Finley’s wife into Ann’s friend. She enjoyed her company a lot; she was kind, funny and was one of the most selfless people Ann had ever known; everything a minister’s wife should be—in the nicest possible way.

Preparing for the party had been hard work, but being busy had helped Ann to focus on something other than Finley. If she let him enter her thoughts, the feelings of guilt and shame were almost as bad now as her broken heart. By the end of the week, she had made the decision to forget him. Even if she had the choice, she would choose to walk away, allowing Elaine, Finley and Gracie to get on with their lives. She knew it was the right thing to do, and now she had made the decision she felt better as everything had gotten so complicated when she started to like Elaine. Once the gates to the Otherworld opened, she would live there with her parents, where she hoped over time her heart would heal.

Elaine also seemed to benefit from the hard work. She sometimes discussed Finley, but usually in a general way. When she did, Ann would try to imagine she was talking about someone else. Only once did she mention their troubles, and only because Finley did not call until the third day. She had convinced herself he was angry with her as not a day had passed since they had been together that they had not spoken; even though in the early days it was Elaine who had instigated all their calls. It was during this heart-to-heart that Ann learned when they started dating Elaine had been the pursuer, and Finley had been quite the hard one to catch. It was as though commitment scared him, or he was not ready for a serious relationship. They went out for five years before he proposed, and it was only when he made that commitment to her, did he seem to take their relationship seriously. And, ever since that day, Elaine had told her, whenever they were parted, it was Finley who made the calls. After he had called, Elaine was happier and more relaxed and never mentioned their troubles again, so Ann assumed they had reconciled.

Norlu had helped a couple of times, but she had spent most of the last week with Donald. He had taken her fishing, cooked her meals, they had been on long walks together and had even gone swimming in the sea. Norlu was smitten with him; she talked of little else. ‘But does he like you?’ Ann had asked on numerous occasions, only to be answered with a shrug. Ann hoped Donald felt the same. Everything Norlu told her indicated he did, but something seemed to be stopping him making a move.

‘Good morning,’ croaked Norlu from under her duvet.

Ann exited the bathroom with her toothbrush still in her mouth. ‘Hi, you’re awake?’ she mumbled half coherently.

‘Mm yes,’ smiled Norlu sheepishly as she stretched.

‘You seem happy?’

‘Maybe,’ she replied in what to Ann was an obvious attempt at a casual tone.

‘You’ve got something to tell me. Something happened, didn’t it?’ said Ann plopping herself down on Norlu’s bed.

’What makes you say that?’But Norlu’s smile gave it away.

‘Tell me,’ insisted Ann tickling her friend for answers.

‘Okay, okay we kissed.’

Ann sat upright. ‘You kissed?’

‘Yip, we sure did.’

‘That’s fantastic. I’m pleased for both of you… I think?’

Norlu heaved herself up. A frown had replaced her smile. ‘What do you mean you think?’

‘Well, you will be going home to Greenland soon. What happens then?’

Norlu shrugged. ‘Maybe I’m not going back.’

Ann’s expression was incredulous as she stared at her friend. She could not believe what she was hearing. Why wouldn’t she go back? Tunkeeta needed her, she loved Greenland, and she had only just met Donald. The statement made no sense.

Norlu studied Ann’s face for a moment as if gauging her reaction and then she smiled, rolling her eyes. ‘I’m kidding you, silly,’ she said giving her a playful slap on the arm. ‘Of course I’m going back.’

Something about the way she said it did not sound honest to Ann. Was Norlu planning to stay and only retracted the statement because of her expression?

‘Look, you are way ahead of us. It was just a kiss.’

Ann nodded, deciding to believe her friend against her gut instinct. Norlu probably was going back and was only testing the water with her on the chance things might develop with Donald. Anyway, Norlu would assume she would be going back as well, so why would she not think the door was open for her to leave. So long as Tunkeeta had one of them with her was all that mattered. God, I’m selfish. Especially since I’m the one who’s hiding the truth. She nodded, giving her friend a smile, and patted her legs. ’Whatever happens, be gentle with him,’ she said in a concerned tone that sounded more like a teacher. ‘Promise me.’

Norlu gave a mischievous grin and chuckled. ‘Don’t worry, Ann, I promise to be gentle with him.’

Ann shook her head and laughed too.

Ann was glad they had left their costumes until the last minute. It meant she would be spending the day with Norlu and Donald in the town instead of helping Elaine, especially now Finley had returned.

As usual, Donald arrived on time, and greeted both Ann and Norlu with the customary peck on the cheek. However, after kissing Norlu, he held her hand causing an unstoppable grin to spread across her face. Ann looked at her friends; they both looked so happy. She smiled to herself as any doubts she had had about Donald being ready to move on had vanished. It also gave her hope that one day she too could move on from Swain.

‘What are you dressing up as ladies?’ Donald asked once they had taken their seats on the bus.

‘I thought I would go as a witch,’ said Ann.

‘Me too,’ said Norlu smiling cheekily at Donald. ‘What about you?’

‘I dunno. I will see what there is.’

The afternoon in the town passed quickly. On their arrival, Donald left the girls to shop on their own. Ann and Norlu had great fun trying on different Hallowe’en costumes. It was the perfect distraction for taking her mind off Finley. The previous week, with the daytime party planning and evenings spent with her friends or pondering the spell, she had on the most part locked Finley away in a small compartment in her mind, where she hoped the thoughts would gather dust. However, just knowing he was back was enough to unlock the thoughts and start her obsessing again.

‘This is the one for me. Do you think he will like it?’ Norlu asked as she emerged twirling from the changing room in the sexiest, most buxom-styled, witch’s costume of the afternoon.

Ann’s eyes widened, her jaw dropping as she gawked at her friend in the smallest black and red satin dress she had ever seen. ‘Wow, it’s a bit… well you know—’

‘It’s perfect them. Just need stocking, high-heels and a pointy hat now,’ said Norlu turning and heading back into the changing room, voluptuous buttocks swaying as she went.

In contrast, Ann was a more traditional witch choosing a long black sleeveless lace dress. It had a tight bodice with decorative laces up the front, but the skirt flowed to the ground. All she needed was green face paint, a grey wig, a plastic green nose covered in warts, a cape and a witch’s hat to add the finishing touches to her costume. Unlike Norlu, who chose her costume with the sole purpose of attracting Donald, something she had no doubt her friend would succeed with, she wanted to look as hideous as possible for Finley.

On the bus back, Donald showed the girls the cape he had bought along with white face paint and fangs. Norlu refused to show him her costume insisting it would be a surprise.

‘Wow, you two look evil,’ laughed Donald as he greeted the girls in the hotel bar prompting them both to cackle.

The bar was full of demons, witches, zombies, vampires and a couple of people draped in white sheets, all destined for Elaine’s party so no one looked strange or out of place. Most of the partygoers nodded or raised a glass when they saw them, the camaraderie of the netherworld apparent as they received far more acknowledgements than usual.

‘Well, you look ever so dashing, Count Dracula,’ smiled Norlu admiring Donald in his costume. Donald had whitened his face and greased back his hair. His lips were black showing a hint of fangs and he had what looked like blood dripping down his chin. His closed cloak concealed the rest of his costume.

‘Thank you,’ said Donald kissing Norlu on the lips, before leaning in to kiss Ann on the cheek.

‘These are for you ladies,’ Donald said flicking open his cloak. Underneath Donald held a broomstick in each hand.

‘Wow, they are brilliant. Did you make them?’

‘I sure did,’ he replied, his eyes glued to Norlu’s dress.

Ann held her broomstick in her hand and turned it, taking in every detail as she did. The pole was a hazel branch with the notches smoothed, and the bristles willow, bound together with twine. ‘It’s a proper besom, Donald. You’ve made it exactly like they were.’ She grinned, remembering the brooms Eleanora used.

Donald smiled with pride. ‘I aim to please.’

Norlu’s lips curled to a wicked smile. ‘You certainly do that,’ she said with a pout.

Donald flicked his eyebrows at her and returned her wicked smile. ‘Well, will we have a drink in here first ladies?’

‘I’d rather not,’ said Ann knowing, full well, she would have to leave long before midnight to cast the spell. ‘I’m not feeling great tonight. I would rather go now because I don’t think I will stay late.’

Donald cast a fleeting glance in Ann’s direction then turned to look at Norlu who looked just as confused about Ann’s illness as he was, but only for a moment, because then she shrugged none too concerned. ‘What’s wrong, Ann? Are you ill?’ he asked.

‘No, I’m just a bit queasy that’s all. It is probably something I ate. An early night should sort me out.’

Donald nodded his curiosity seemingly abated.

The three friends stepped out into the crisp autumn evening. It would be a perfect evening to cast the spell; the night was still and there was not a cloud in the sky. Small patches of low-lying mist randomly blanketed the ground, as though the clouds, now tired, had descended from the sky to rest, on the earth, for the night. Ann secretly smiled to herself as she gazed at the full moon. Wow, so beautiful. The pearl of the night’s sky, and tonight it appeared larger than normal; almost as if it was aware of its purpose later. Throughout all her lives, it had been a constant; her different eyes throughout time, gazing at the same unchanging silvery disc roaming the sky as it had always done. Its eternal circling creating the rhythms of the earth. It had existed for all of history, and would exist for all the history yet to come, whatever it may be. But what would it care for human history, she wondered. In its mighty majesty, we were insignificant, mere dust particles blowing through the winds of time.

Donald was watching her admiring the moon. He commented on how lucky Elaine was getting such a perfect night for her Hallowe’en birthday party as the ghosts and ghouls would be out in force; well, the ones from the hotel bar would be at least.

The door of the church hall creaked open when they arrived thanks to some fancy sound effect Elaine had devised.

‘Welcome, do come inside,’ croaked Padraig dressed as the Frankenstein monster.

Norlu’s jaw dropped. ‘Wow this looks amazing. So this is what you and Elaine have been up to these last few days.’

Everywhere you looked there was something spooky: bats dangling from the ceiling, skeletons, giant spiders, skulls on sticks, hands coming out of the wall, a decapitated head on a silver platter, dummies hanging in nooses or cages; all interspersed with pumpkin lanterns and fake cobwebs. A strange green glow lit the room thanks to the green light bulbs they had bought, and even though music played, every so often a shrill scream or ghostly moans rippled the hall.

‘Hi everyone,’ said Elaine her smile warm and welcoming, ‘I’m so glad you’re here. You all look fabulous.’

‘Happy birthday, Elaine. You look amazing,’ said Ann admiring Elaine’s transformation into a sexy vampire.

‘So long as Fin likes it,’ said Elaine giving Ann a knowing smile and nod. Ann returned the smile hoping it would hide her jealousy. Even though she had made the conscious decision to let them get on with their lives, it was not easy. The thought of Swain being with someone else hurt like hell. It felt wrong. He was supposed to be hers, but this was the way; it had to be.

‘Happy birthday, Elaine,’ said Donald giving Elaine a bottle of his homemade wine.

‘Well, thank you, Donald. I will save this for a special occasion. I’ve heard it’s potent as well as delicious.’

Norlu gave Elaine the thumbs up. ‘It sure is.’

‘Well, what do you think, it’s turned out darn good, wouldn’t you agree?’

‘Yes indeed, it’s a lot different to the last time we saw it,’ said Norlu.

Donald and Norlu had helped earlier on in the week with tidying the hall. There had been heavy tables and boxes that needed put in the store cupboard, and with Finley away Donald had offered to help.

‘I’m not sure God would approve. This is after all the church hall,’ Padraig joked.

‘Give me your cloaks and I will hang them up. Go through to the kitchen, Finley’s there manning the bar. He will sort you out with your poison.’

‘Thanks,’ said Ann handing her cloak to Elaine.

’Oh, my, god, I’ve never seen anything like it!’

Everyone turned to look at Elaine to see what had prompted her outburst.

‘Your arm, Annaldra… it’s gone. It’s completely gone,’ Elaine grabbed Ann’s arm to look at the wound she had stitched.

‘No, I’m almost certain her arm is still there,’ joked Norlu, but nobody laughed. Everyone was staring wide mouthed at Ann’s green arm.

‘How the hell can that be?’

Ann’s heart sank deep into her stomach. How on earth, would she explain this one? She could not tell them she was a quick healer because her father was one of the Tuatha Dé Danann, not unless she wanted everyone to think her crazy.

Ann shrugged and forced a smile. ‘I’m a quick healer, that’s all… and you did such a wonderful job, Elaine.’

‘But there’s no scar, that’s impossible.’

‘Oh there is, I’ve just covered it with the green paint,’ she lied. ‘Oh, and Norlu’s grandmother makes this amazing herbal balm that works miracles. Doesn’t she, Norlu?’

‘She certainly does,’ agreed Norlu. ‘But I don’t understand what we’re supposed to be looking at?’

‘Ann cut herself badly about a week and a half ago,’ said Donald. ‘Elaine stitched it, but the wound is healed—and there’s no scar.’

‘That really doesn’t surprise me,’ shrugged Norlu, ‘I’m sure there are more than herbs in that ointment.’

‘What do you mean?’

‘Well, there’s probably a drop of magik as well,’ joked Norlu.

Elaine looked at Ann who forced a smile and nodded in agreement. Donald was still staring in disbelief at her arm.

‘People often say I have the gift of healing hands,’ said Elaine showing her palms. ‘That’s one of the reasons I wanted to be a nurse, but my hands are positively amateur compared to that ointment. I wouldn’t mind having a jar of that at the hospital-- ’

’It really is amazing stuff. Really amazing,’ said Ann hoping Elaine and Donald now believed her.

Ann had forgotten about the tub of ‘healing balm’ Tunkeeta had given her. She never had any cause to use it; well until now when just its existence was enough to explain her super-fast healing abilities. It probably did heal super-fast, but this was on the scale of miracles.

Just then, the cloakroom door swung open diverting everyone’s attention as Scott, dressed in his usual designer attire, exited putting on his coat.

‘Is that you off to get your costume?’ asked Donald sarcastically.

Scott looked Donald up and down as though he were the lowest of the low. ‘No, if you must know I’m collecting Mum.’

‘Seonag’s coming? Is that a good idea?’ asked Ann.

‘Probably not, but she wants to. Her medication seems to be working now. I’m only planning to bring her for an hour or so. I’ll take her back before everyone gets too drunk.’

‘Can I come with you?’ asked Ann seeing the perfect opportunity to remove herself from the uncomfortable position she found herself in, but far more importantly she would also avoid Finley.

Both Donald and Norlu spun their heads towards their friend and gawked in disbelief. Ann wanting to spend time with Scott was the last thing they had expected to hear.

‘Sure, of course you can,’ said Scott with a smile so smug it was as though she had asked him on a date. ‘Come on then, put your cloak back on,’ he said, his hand strategically placed on the centre of her back.

Donald and Norlu watched wide mouthed and frozen as their friend left the party with Scott.

Donald shook his head reviving himself from his stunned state. ‘Something’s not right,’ he said, ‘first she said she’s ill when you say she’s never ill, and now she wants to hang out with Scott.’

‘Hanging out with Scott, she must really be ill,’ Norlu chuckled.

Outside Ann jumped into the passenger seat of Scott’s flashy red sports car.

‘She’s a real beauty isn’t she!’ said Scott, tapping the dashboard.

‘I suppose,’ was all Ann replied not wanting to be rude.

Scott revved the engine to an uncomfortably loud roar. ‘Wait till you see Ruby move, she’s hot stuff. Come on, Baby.’

Ruby, he’d named his car Ruby and was talking to her. He really was an ass. Nevertheless, he was the ass who was helping her avoid his brother so she would smile and bear him.

Ann gripped the sides of her seat, her heart racing faster than the car itself as they journeyed to the hospital. Scott drove like a maniac, barely slowing down at all—even to go round bends; her stomach struggling to keep up. The nausea was back. She was unsure if the inappropriate speed on narrow country roads was because he was such a bad driver or because he thought for some strangely warped reason it would impress her. If it was the latter, it was having the opposite effect. If his driving was not bad enough, for the entire journey all he talked about was himself. He boasted what a great job he had and that in just over a year he would be the manager of his own branch making him one of the youngest managers in Scotland. He then told her how great he was at sports and had he been inclined, he could have been a professional athlete probably even competing in the Olympics. Next, he talked about money and how well off he was, and boy did he love money. This was his second sports car, and he paid for it in cash. He was also saving up to buy a flat in the town, but not just any flat; it was a four-bedroomed penthouse flat with its own roof garden overlooking the beach and pier. It was part of a high-class development currently under construction, but would not be ready until the spring. All Ann could do was nod and smile politely at him though she managed to slip ‘Will Dorothy be coming to the party?’ into the conversation. Only to be told ‘No way, she’s dumped, the fat, money grabbing cow.’ Ann’s jaw dropped; she had never met anyone as rude as Scott; not only that, he was shallow and conceited. She was looking forward more than ever to seeing Seonag. At least she could focus her attention on her on the way back.

When they arrived at the hospital, Seonag was sitting, hands clasped, in the chair beside her bed already wearing her coat. Peeking from below her coat were the lacy frills of a black dress; she had tied her hair back in a neat bun and her manicured nails were painted pink, matching her lipstick perfectly. She looked different, more like the Seonag from before the aneurism: the smart well-dressed woman Ann had seen in old photographs. The fact she had made this much effort bode well for the party.

‘Hi Mum, you look nice.’ Scott bent down to peck his mum on the cheek she offered him. ‘You remember Annaldra, don’t you?’

‘Yes, of course I do, how are you, Annaldra? I see you’re a witch tonight,’ said Seonag politely.

‘Yes I am,’ smirked Ann feeling a trifle embarrassed by her costume. ‘And I’m very well thank you, and yourself?’

‘I’m well too, my dear. Thank you for asking.’

The conversation did not sit well with Ann. It was too formal—almost rehearsed.

‘Are you absolutely sure you want to go, Mum? It’s going to be busy you know, and a lot of them will be drunk.’

‘Yes,’ confirmed Seonag with a determined nod. ‘I’ve been looking forward to it.’

‘Well, if you’re sure, let’s get you to this party then. Everyone is expecting you.’

Seonag and Ann both sat in the back seat of the car, Ann holding Seonag’s hand.

‘Not so fast on the way back, eh Scott,’ warned Ann.

As the car pulled out of the hospital car park, Seonag turned to Ann and grabbed her other hand. ‘Listen, my dear,’ said Seonag. ‘Listen carefully, I have to tell you. Nobody believes me, but you will. I know you will understand.’ Where a moment ago had been a demure expression was now a manic one. Seonag’s dilated eyes bulged in terror as the veins in her temples rose to the surface. The mad fountain woman was back in all her glory.

‘Understand what?’ asked Ann as Scott pulled the car off the road.

‘What is it, Mum, what’s happened?’ Scott turned to face the back. ‘Has something happened at the hospital?’

‘They are everywhere—in the wards, in the corridors and the streets. It’s like a sea of the dead, hundreds, no, thousands of them. They are everywhere. All I can see are wraiths. Look…’ Seonag’s shaking hand pointed out the window. ‘There are even some out here in the middle of nowhere.’

Both Ann and Scott looked at the empty road, silent and motionless in the moonlight, before turning to look at one another. Ann felt uneasy, but Scott looked like he was about to laugh; then secretly rotating his finger at his temple, he pulled a cruel face indicating he thought his mother mad. Luckily, Seonag had not noticed as she was still staring out the window at whatever only she could see.

‘What do these wraiths look like?’ asked Ann not wanting to dismiss her rantings without giving consideration to their plausibility.

‘There is a young couple with a wee lad right over there,’ said Seonag flicking her finger in the direction she was looking. ‘They look like people, see-through people.’

Ann looked again, this time homing in on all her senses. She had been aware that since the day she shape shifted, her vision along with all her senses were far more acute, picking up on the minutest of things which previously would have gone undetected. These, she knew, were remnants from her other existences that had greatly heightened senses. If she was going to be aware of the presences Seonag saw, it would be now. Stilling, she focused allowing her awareness to expand, but still there was nothing. Even her sixth sense, that awareness of your exterior surroundings that comes from within, detected nothing; well nothing out of the ordinary. Nothing unnatural. Ann sighed, feeling a little disappointed.

‘So are they invisible then, Mum?’

Seonag shot her son an angry glance. ’No, of course not, how could I see them if they were invisible?’She frowned, but then her face softened as she turned to address Ann again. ‘They are not completely see-through, well not like glass, but they have no colour. I can see their outline, where their edges blur, it is like a silvery, grey light and they are three-dimensional. They are exactly the same size and shape as they are in life. I suppose it is like an imprint or a trace of the people, if you imagine someone made of water, it’s a bit like that,’ she sighed sounding defeated. ‘If you can’t see them, it’s hard to describe.’

Ann smiled a sympathetic smile and rubbed Seonag’s arm. ‘Do they scare you?’

‘No dear, the wraiths don’t scare me. It is what they mean that scares me. These people will die. Nothing can be done now, nothing. Their fate is set in stone.’

‘Listen, Mum, it’s just your medication, it’s making you hallucinate or something,’ said Scott, trying to reassure her. ‘I will speak to the doctor and get him to change it.’

Seonag’s face hardened in anger. ‘I’ve never seen things more clearly in my life, Scott, so don’t you tell me I’m hallucinating! It runs in our family… this curse. Your great, great grandmother and your great aunt Catherine had it, and they even drowned one of your ancestors at the stake because of this exact same thing. They thought she was a witch.’

‘Who? I’ve never heard that story.’

Seonag bowed her head helplessly. ‘Her name was Cathy Morrison. She could see the wraiths of the living. Just like me, but they also said she stole the milk from her neighbour’s cow using a hair tether. They drowned her in 1732, along with her cousin Beth. They were tied to stakes in the harbour at low tide. Then they waited for the tide to come in. And do you know what they did while they waited?’

Scott shook his head and sighed, looking bored with the story. ‘No, Mum. What did they do?’

‘They flung excrement and trash at them, jeering them as though they were animals. She was only nineteen, and Beth just sixteen. Ah, poor Beth, she was pregnant as well, but because she was unwed, they thought it was the devil’s… and they called themselves Christians…’ Seonag’s voice trailed off.

Ann shuddered, what a horrendous way to die, freezing for hours in the filthy harbour waiting for the north Atlantic waters to take you, but she supposed, it was probably better than burning at the stake. Still, the thought unsettled her stomach.

‘They say the cow started producing milk, the moment she lost her last breath.’

Scott let out a long, exasperated sigh. ‘Listen, Mum, it is your mind… it is–’

’They are as real as the three of us. Everyone will die I tell you—everyone!’

‘Well, am I going to die, Mum, have you seen my wraith, or Annaldra’s? Have you?’

Seonag dropped her head and shook it. ‘No, I’ve not seen your wraiths, thank god.’

‘Well, have you seen Fin’s wraith or Dad’s or Elaine’s or anyone in the family?’

‘No,’ Seonag whispered.

‘So whose wraiths have you seen?’ Scott sounded angry now.

‘I’ve seen the people at the hospital, all of them: the doctors, the patients, even the visitors. When I look from my room window, I see the streets filled with strangers’ wraiths. You must believe me when I tell you they are all going to die!’ Seonag raised her hand, covering her face, and gently shook her head.

‘I need to take you back, Mum. I’m sorry, but you can’t go to the party ranting like a loony. It’s Elaine’s birthday and it wouldn’t be fair.’

Seonag looked up, her eyes wild like an animal; she leant forward and grabbed Scott’s arm. ’Please Scott, I must warn them. You have to take me, please.’

‘I can’t, Mum. I’m sorry.’ Scott turned and switched on the engine’s ignition.

‘You’ll be okay,’ said Ann reaching over to give Seonag a hug.

’Get away from me, you witch. Don’t touch me!’She pushed Ann back, with madness glinting in her eyes and her teeth on display.

Scott shook his head and mouthed the words ‘I’m sorry,’ to Ann.

Ann felt her stomach clenching. Did Seonag have a gift or was she mad? She could not tell, but she hoped it was the latter.

Back at the hospital after they tranquilised her, the doctors explained that one of the side effects of her medication was sometimes hallucinations, and because one of Seonag’s conditions was schizophrenia, her behaviour was not unexpected. She had obviously had enough of her wits about her to know not to talk to the hospital staff about her hallucinations, thought Ann. The doctor promised to review her medications and more tests to assess her.

When they left the hospital, Ann was only slightly more reassured. Seonag was ill. Her mind was sick, that was all it was, she told herself. If Tunkeeta was here, she could fix her without the need for chemicals in her brain… she hoped.

‘What if it’s true?’ said Ann as they got back to the car.

‘Eh?’ laughed Scott, taken aback by the question.

‘What if your mum has a gift?’

‘Listen, Annaldra,’ sighed Scott, ‘yes, mum has predicted a few deaths, but usually of people who are ill… terminally ill. Even I could have predicted them. Has Bob Dalrimpile died? Eh?’

‘No,’ she mumbled under her breath.

‘Well there you go,’ said Scott with a grin. ’Second sight, if you actually believe in it, like Elaine, is supposed to predict imminent deaths. How long is it since she predicted his death? About three weeks, wouldn’t you say?’

‘I suppose.’

‘There you go then,’ said Scott, but Ann still did not look convinced. ‘He would be dead by now if it was true.’

Scott paused and stared into nowhere, his finger gently thrumming his lower lip as if considering something. ‘Listen I shouldn’t tell you this,’ he eventually said. ‘No one knows not even Fin and Elaine. After the aneurism when we got Mum home, she was like a vegetable. She just sat in a chair all day and never spoke. She looked so lost and we were helpless. Nothing we did to try to stimulate her worked. The woman we knew had died when the aneurism damaged her brain. And, well, Dad believed…’ Scott hesitated for a moment. ‘Or maybe he just hoped that hallucinogenic drugs like LSD would stimulate the parts of her brain she had stopped using. He had read about some research in the sixties… but it had never been completed and what had he to lose?’ shrugged Scott.

Ann nodded; she had read about hallucinogens. Some indigenous tribes in remote parts of the world still used them as part of their religious ceremonies, but as brain medicine? She was not so sure.

‘Anyway, Dad got hold of some and administrated it to her once every two or three weeks and, sure enough, it started working. Mum started talking and was far more alert especially when she was tripping. It made her happy. It was great to see her smile and hear her laugh again. For the first couple of months we saw miraculous improvements,’ said Scott. He began thrumming his lower lip again as he thought.

Ann waited for him to continue but he looked a million miles away.

‘That’s when it happened, all this craziness started,’ he eventually said. ‘The first time she spoke of wraiths and apocalypses was under the influence of LSD. At first, we thought nothing of it. Maybe she had seen a film or something… and anyway, it was normal to talk nonsense under the influence. But to be on the safe side, the next time Dad gave her a little less, but this time she was distraught talking hysterically about it. We assumed it was a bad trip. After it wore off, she was quiet and withdrawn for a few days, which sometimes happens anyway, but then she began ranting about it again, and she hadn’t had the drug. Dad reckons she may have accessed a memory, perhaps from a film or a dream and she is confusing it with reality. LSD can do that… Her problem now is her mind keeps wandering back to that exact memory. That is all it is. Mum has good and bad times and this is just another bad time. You know, not long after this started, she began preaching in the town that the end of the world was nigh. That’s when Dad realised he couldn’t cope anymore and she went back to the hospital to stay. They give her drugs to calm her that help her forget but if she gets too much, well it’s as if she’s a vegetable again. It’s a delicate balance. Whatever happened on those last two trips caused this, not some special gift.’

‘I’m sorry, that is so sad, Padraig must feel awful about what he has done,’ said Ann.

‘He does, and he doesn’t. She might still be a vegetable if he hadn’t done what he did, and if they get her medication right, she is almost as good as before it happened and Armageddon is forgotten.’

‘But Elaine said she’s never been wrong. How can that be?’

Scott laughed and shook his head. ‘Oh, I am sure she’s been wrong. Well, Bob Dalrimpile is one. Everyone she has predicted would die, that did die, she saw at the hospital, that’s all. The wraiths she saw tonight are probably just a memory of people she has seen at the hospital. I bet you Bob Dalrimpile has been up visiting someone and her mind has confused him as a patient. Look, the first person she said would die was her friend Jean. It was Jean she was visiting in the hospital the day she had her aneurism and, yes, she died. Her mind remembered that and I suppose it is her mind’s way of telling her they may be dying. Don’t listen to Elaine, she would believe anything. I wouldn’t be surprised if she thought faeries were real.’

Switching on the engine, Scott instantly forgot about his mum and her problems and focused again on trying to impress Ann. Being so engrossed in himself he did not notice she was not listening.

‘I think I will go back to the hotel now, I’m not feeling good,’ she said when they arrived back. ‘Give Elaine my apologies, but I think I’ll go and lie down.’

‘Are you unwell?’ Scott asked realising for the first time how quiet she had been.

‘I’m fine, really. It’s just a headache. Nothing an early night won’t fix.’

‘Sure, I’ll let Elaine know. See ya.’

‘Thanks. Goodnight, Scott.’

Arriving back at the church hall Scott looked for his family. He found Padraig, and Elaine chatting to Donald and Norlu in the kitchen.

‘Where’s your mum?’ asked Padraig looking around, ‘And Annaldra?’

‘Oh, Mum wasn’t that good. She was fine when we got there, but as soon as we left the town, she started her ranting so we had to take her back. The doctors will review her medication in the morning so you should call them and arrange an appointment.’

Elaine turned pale. ‘What was she ranting about?’

‘You know, the usual. She even called Annaldra a witch,’ said Scott letting out a half-laugh. ‘Well, she was dressed as one,’ he added to reiterate when no one laughed.

‘But where is Ann?’ asked Norlu.

‘She’s gone back to the hotel. She was not feeling too well. Got a headache I think. She sends her apologies Elaine. I think Mum upset her a bit.’

‘I will go and check on her,’ said Donald.

‘Do you want me to come with you?’ offered Norlu.

‘No, it is fine, you stay here. I’ll be back soon.’

‘I wouldn’t bother. She said she was going to sleep,’ said Scott.

‘Come on, everyone back to the hall,’ said Padraig. ‘It’s a party after all. Let’s have some fun.’

Finley watched Norlu and Donald from the other side of the hall. Donald was readying to leave, and they were happily chatting. Then he kissed Norlu and left.

Casually he strolled over to Norlu. ‘So where’s he going?’ he asked gesturing to the door Donald had departed through.

‘Ann’s not feeling well, so he’s gone to check on her. He is such a good friend. He will not enjoy himself until he knows she is okay.’

Finley’s face tightened, his nostrils flaring. He knew exactly why Donald wanted to check on her alone. ‘Is that what you call it?’ he growled, letting the alcohol get the better of him.

‘What?’

‘What, you don’t know?’ his tone was casual again. ‘She hasn’t told you about them? They are a lot more than friends, believe me.’

‘Why are you saying that, she would tell me if they were?’

‘Well, they were seen together in his caravan… Annaldra was naked,’ said Finley emphasising the word naked. ‘I don’t know many friends that get naked together. Do you?’

Norlu shook her head dubiously. ‘No, you must be mistaken, one of them would have told me. Neither of them appears even remotely interested in each other… not in that way,’ she said, but instead of sounding as though she believed what she was saying, she sounded as though she was trying to convince herself.

Finley gave a superior snort, ‘Ha, whatever. Believe what you want to.’ Then he turned and walked away.