House of the Angels

“You really think this is gonna work?” Anne asked as she and Sybilla made their way down the street.

“Oh believe me Jacques ain’t gonna refuse.” Sybilla answered, quickening her pace. “He hates the bitch as much as we do and with his power she won’t stand a chance.”

The two women entered the house of Doctor Jacques who was always happy and eager to see his two favorites come into his home. “So what’s this I hear about the coven being brought back together?” he asked as Sybilla and Anne made themselves comfortable.

“Rumors are true.” Sybilla answered. “The gang may not all be here, but we’re still stronger than ever.”

“And what of that one that escaped the black house?” Jacques questioned. “What of him?”

“He’s safe.” Anne told him. “But I have a feeling trouble will come again because of it.

Doctor Jacques scratched his chin and thought for a moment.

“Ma cherie I believe you’re right.” He said. “It will come and it will come quickly.”

Anne and Sybilla both gave each other a puzzled glance. “What do you mean?” asked Anne.

“All I can say is that wherever you both tread, tread carefully.” Jacques explained. “After what happened in the graveyard I wouldn’t be surprised if she’s plotting some sort of revenge.”

“So what do you suggest we do?” Sybilla questioned. “I for one ain’t gonna lie back and take it.”

“No, no ma cherie.” Doctor Jacques said slyly. “But I do believe there is a way for you to know what she is up to.”

“Oh?”

“The spying spell.” Jacques said. “Have you ever had to use it?”

Anne and Sybilla shook their heads. “No, not for a long time.” Anne answered.

“Good for when you need to spy on people, especially if you want to remain hidden.” Jacques explained. “Just make sure you are never alone in case something goes wrong.”

“Will do.” Sybilla said. “I apologize for leavin’ so quickly. Jacques thank you for your help. We’ll let you know if anything is needed.”

“Anything for you ma cherie.” Doctor Jacques grinned before the two women left.

Anne and Sybilla made their way out onto the street, now wet from the short rainfall that had just occurred. Tonight was less busy than usual with many electing to stay indoors to avoid the heavy humidity and heat that never seemed to leave Bayou St Therese.

“I hope the spying spell works.” Anne told Sybilla as the two women quickened their pace. “It’s been years since we’ve practiced.”

“Well we’ve had no need until now to do it Annie.” Chuckled Sybilla.

Anne grew worried. Spying spells were extremely dangerous, even for those who had mastered the art. She herself had only seen them in practice only a handful of times, but even then it was still unwise to try and mimic the masters.

“Who do you want on hand in case something goes wrong?”

“The usual crowd Annie.” Sybilla answered.

Good Lord…..Anne thought to herself. She must be out of her mind to try and do this…..

The two of them walked several blocks until they came back to Angel Manor and quietly entered the house, shutting and locking the door behind them. No one seemed to be awake but the only light on in the entire house came from the kitchen where Dan was up and about, filling his water jug with ice and orange juice.

“Dan is everyone asleep?” Anne asked.

“Most of’em are.” Dan replied. “Keith and Josh went to sleep an hour ago and I think Bill did too.”

“What about Judith?”

“She’s sleepin with Bill.” Dan answered. “Everything ok?”

“Oh yes, yes everything’s fine.” Anne answered before heading up the stairs.

She quietly tiptoed down the halls, trying not to make any sudden noises that could startle the residents. First Anne went to Francis’s room, tapping on the brown door with a five-rayed winged crucifix painted on in white.

“Wazzup?” Francis yawned.

“Get up and throw on a shirt.” Anne instructed. “Sybilla and I are gonna need you.”

Francis asked no questions and did what was asked of him. Anne went to Kyle’s room and woke him next and Rowena last, beckoning for them to come downstairs immediately. They entered Sybilla’s dimly lit room, the lights turned down so low that they had to watch where they stepped.

“Hey Sybilla, why’d you wake us up at three thirty in the morning?” Francis yawned.

“Ain’t got time for questions Francis.” Sybilla told him sternly. “I need all the help we can possibly get.”

Sybilla assigned each present person a task which they carried out without question. Dan took a thick piece of pale yellow chalk and began tracing intricate symbols onto the rough hardwood floors, symbols he understood better than most of Angel Manor’s residents. Francis lined up a set of Sybilla’s brown candles in the shape of a cross and lit each individual one with his lighter. Rowena closed and bolted each of the windows shut with Kyle’s help but the air quickly turned stifling and heavy once the door was closed.

“Everybody know what to do?” Sybilla asked.

Francis, Dan, Rowena and Kyle nodded with uncertainty. None of them had ever been able to practice this sort of spell on their own and didn’t know what would be expected of them.

“Ya’ll are gonna do fine.” Sybilla assured them. “If anybody feels like they’re gonna slip up, concentrate on God or a saint…anything….and you’ll come back. But whatever you do, don’t get scared. Understood?”

No one said a word but Sybilla was sure they understood her.

Each of the angels, Anne and Sybilla sat at different corners of the room while Sybilla took bits and pieces of odd objects from her collection drawers, placing them in the clay jars at each corner. She then took her place in the center of the crude ring, sitting up straight and cross legged with her arms open.

Kyle, Francis, Dan and Rowena all closed their eyes and breathed deeply, the humid, musty air filling their lungs while Sybilla began chanting in some odd language that many of them had never heard before. Truth be told, Kyle couldn’t tell if her words were Creole French or of some obscure language that had come from Africa with Sybilla’s ancestors.

Every word that spilled forth from Sybilla’s mouth dragged them deeper and deeper into a space that felt as strange and unreal as a dream. It was as though they were being dragged along against their will, slowly drifting out of their bodies and disappearing more and more with each passing second. The space was cold and damp, like a room that hadn’t been opened in years and as dark as a tomb. Kyle could feel every square inch of his body going numb with the cold as did the rest of the angels. But it was only for a few long minutes that they stayed in that wretched, cold space before they were violently dragged into something else.

Now they were truly out of their bodies, so unnoticeable that no one could ever see or hear them. Kyle, Anne and all the rest of them, even Dan who was as big and strong as a bull, felt as though they were looking at their bodies sitting upright in a circle, legs crossed like an Indian and their arms wide open. They were in a completely different state too, a state where they could hear anything and everything going on around them with unseen voices speaking as though they were right there in the room with them.

“I trust that all the plans are in place?” said a woman’s voice.

“Everything is in place.” Answered a young man. “Now all we have to do is wait.”

What the hell are you planning? Kyle questioned to himself, wondering what sort of plot was at hand here.

“I’m sick of waiting Damon.” Snapped the woman. “You know full well that mother won’t allow me to do it. That’s why it has to be Mallory. She even said so herself.”

“Oh please,” spat Damon. “If anything she’s as incompetent as a dirt clod.”

“You think Mother trusts me?” sneered the young woman. “She thinks that I’m the stupidest person alive. Well not anymore. When we finally take back what is ours then we’ll be able to get rid of each and every one of them. Sybilla, Anne and every last brat in that house.”

“And when we’re done?”

“Then you burn that place to the ground.” Growled the young woman. “And mother will let you live.”

Kyle and the others were deeply disturbed at the sudden revelation, Sybilla more so than the others. Doctor Jacques had been right about the Caulfields causing trouble, but being driven to murder wasn’t out of their league. Something had to be done and quick.

“Come back….” Sybilla’s voice whispered. “Come back home, all of you, NOW!!!”

Kyle, Anne, Rowena, Francis, Dan and Sybilla were suddenly and violently dragged right back into their own bodies, shuddering and heavy headed from the ordeal. No wonder Sybilla had said this sort of ritual was dangerous.

“Everybody ok?” she asked.

Each of them gave her a weak thumbs up as they tried to rid themselves of the weight that crushed their chests and made it hard to breath.

“The hell are they planning?” Dan asked.

“Something that can’t be good.” Sybilla answered. “Whatever it is I’m sure it’s gonna wind up with one or more of us dying and I ain’t about to let that happen.”

“Isn’t there another way we can try and stop her?” Kyle questioned.

“I don’t know.” Sybilla answered. “If Sally Caulfield has a plan to destroy us, then we’ve gotta act as fast as we can.”

“So what do we do?” Rowena piped in.

“We’ll have to catch her at the right time.” Sybilla explained. “And I know just when to do it.”

“When?” Anne asked.

“Two weeks from now, she’ll be holding that annual gathering of hers.” Sybilla informed her. “We’ll go then.”

Anne flashed her a wicked grin. The idea of catching Sally at her yearly gathering would be perfect. That way they would be able to easily lure her and the rest of her demons in when everyone else was too preoccupied to notice.

“We’ll do it.” Anne told her. “As soon as we come up with the strategy, we’ll do it.”

Sybilla couldn’t have been more eager.