Old Family Books

Quietly, Castella quizzed Samantha. “Do you know what it says or mean?”

Samantha studied it again as strange familiarity nagged. “It’s like I should know it but the meaning is just beyond my reach.” She became frustrated, desperation clawed at her, doing nothing but pissing her off. “Damn it! Time is running out and I need answers to stop it before it’s too late.”

The outburst caught everyone in surprise, including Samantha. Sam could see how it startled her. “Sammie keep talking. What is it we need to stop? Do you know when or where?”

“I don’t know. It’s there but I can’t reach it.”

Castella’s hand covered hers. “You are trying to hard dear. Let it go. It will come to you when it’s ready.”

The warmth crawled up her arm. She shrank away from her touch and returned to Sam’s side. There was only one touch she wanted and that was Sam.

Mick didn’t like the painful struggle she was enduring. It was time for a different point of view. “Too many questions are floating around. Let’s start knocking them out one at a time. What is this book?”

“You are right Samantha.” Castella spoke a strange word and open the book. “In a way it is a journal, a journal of the women of my bloodline. From the beginning when there was some type of way to record events. The farther back you go, the more my ancestors were…gifted. They could remember past lives, and it wasn’t on this world I believe. They could do things like what you call telepathy and telekinesis. With the longevity of their lives, many thought them to be descendents of Gods. That put a target on them from kings and rulers. Most died from kings hands that couldn’t stand having anything powerful around if they can’t use it to their advantage. So my ancestors had to stay on the move all the time and well hidden. As time moved on with my bloodline, the gifts diminished to a few.”

Castella paused then continued. “It’s important to know the past so you can understand the book. What could be remembered or what was learned from others, like roaming spirits for example, was recorded. That symbol must been a vision because there isn’t a definition for it. I was hopping you could revile its meaning. It’s what prompted me to contact you.”

She flipped the book around and pushed it up to Samantha. “There’s a particular spirit in this book that refuses to be reborn until it finds another. It has talked about escaping from another realm, lost to darkness. My family has come across this spirit a few times. The last time, it took a shinning to my Garimion.” Mick face shown the communication breakdown. “Sorry, my granddaughter.  It likes to return to talk to her. She was the one that finally coxed the name ‘Malmisha’ from the spirit. I don’t find it as a coincidence that this symbol and Malmisha’s story are on or in the same book.”

She paused again and Samantha looked up from the book to her. “Samantha, I’m old and all I’m good for now,” a warm smile appeared, “is to advice. I’m giving you the books that have any connection with this spirit.”

Samantha was shocked. “Why me and not your granddaughter since she speaks to it?”

Castella face took on a strange calm air. “Faith, I have faith in the unseen hand that guides me. It tells me you are the one these books belongs to.”

* * * * *

The afternoon stretched into the evening‘s twilight as Castella poured over the three big volumes of information along with her opinions to vague writings in the books. She taught all four how to open and handle the books with emphases Samantha should be the soul keeper of them. She also expressed not to show anyone else or reveal the books existence, at least for now.

They all paused to stare at Goggons. Even though he finished off the plate of cookie, his stomach growled so loud it could have passed for a wolverine hiding under the table. The three of them had the same bad habit of forgetting necessities, like eating, when occupied with work.

Castella closed the book. “It’s late. I’ve given you a rough outline of the volumes. You can study them on your own. Now for the surprise…Your travels aren’t done. I told you about this spirit. It’s time for you to meet it. You will rendezvous with my granddaughter. She will take you to it. Try to learn as much as you can from it.” She stacked the volumes in a pile as the shell shocked trio watched.

Samantha spoke up. “Thank you for your help and the loaning us your journals. We will take great care and return them soon as possible.”

“Samantha, I don’t think you understood me. These are yours to keep…permanently…For you to pass on in your family.”

Each one of the trio tensed up over Castella’s last words. There would be no one in her bloodline to pass the books too. She made a mental note to be sure the books returned to her granddaughter in the future. “Thank you for such a generous gift.”

The brothers followed her cue to leave as Castella rounded the table, handing a book to Sam. As his hands wrapped around the heavy book, he felt Castella’s warm touch over his heart. She was distracted briefly then met his eyes. “You are her anchor…her heart, soul and strength.” A sly smile brighten her face. “Don’t let your feelings hide in hour pocket much longer. You both need it more than you realize.”

Swallowing a stone size knot in his throat, Sam tried to breath. “I’ll keep it in mind.” Castella drift onto Samantha, handing her the next book. “My dear, please call me anytime for any question or reason. I hope I have enough time to gain your trust and teach you all I can to help you.”

Samantha’s wryness slowly melted away the more time she spent with the old woman. “I’m hoping to be back again after we take care of some pressing issues at home.”

“You are welcome anytime.” Something snagged Castella’s attention then she snapped back. She startled Samantha as she placed a hand on Samantha’s tummy. “You are the key to the future. Don’t loose sight of who you really are.”

Samantha tripped over her airy words. “I am what?”

“Sorry, it tumbles out at times and I have no idea. I can see things, then other times it’s like I’m allowed a hint.” Snagging her in for a hug, she squished the ancient book between them. “I have great faith in you. Follow your heart and you’ll do fine.”

Samantha pulled away to read her face. This woman, which she only known for less than twenty-four hours, generally cared for their well being. “Thank you Castella.”

Mischief gleamed in her eyes as they shifted to Mick. “Mick Simon,” sliding the final book off the table, she held it out for him to take it.

An eyebrow rose as he looked at the book then to her. Gingerly he reached for it, holding the full weight in his hands. Quickly she slapped her hands on his. Flinching at her touch, “Oh man, that’s just not fair!”

Laughter filled the room. “You didn’t think I was going let you go without a little read? You, my young man, intrigue me.” Castella’s smile lit up the room. “Play while you can, for someone will be yanking a knot in your cat’s tail.”

“Now what’s that suppose to mean?”

“You will see.” The smile disappeared. “Do know this. You are the glue to this family…possibly for all humanity…Keep it together. The warm smile returned with the drop of her hands. “Take great care of my granddaughter. Goggons will see to your travel arrangements.”

He had drifted away from the group to a wall, resting on it while learning all he could from Castella’s mystical ways that use to scare the hell out of him. Now he found it as a very useful tool. “I can have them on the way tomorrow if you feel it’s urgent.”

“I do. Please make it so. He treats me so good. If I had a son,” she giggled, “I guess I should say grandson, I would have been honored if it was Goggons.”

The hard solid frame wrapped around Castella for a gingerly hug. “You know you’ve always been family to me. We don’t need to have the same blood to be family.”

If anyone would know the ring of truth in Goggons’ statement, it would be the three of them.

As the little group exited the house, complaints about food could be heard. Castella snagged Goggons’ arm at the front door. “After you see them off, come back to me…You need to prepare for your own trip.”

“Where am I going?”

“You will meet up with them at the States. They are going to need your help. Try to help keep their secret. It’s not time to, how they say it…let the cat out of the bag, on how special they truly are. They need time to find out who are friends or foes within the Hunters…You will be a good representative for us.”

Most of the time her requests didn’t surprise him but this one did. “Sometimes I think you have too much faith in me.”

“Nothing more than what I know you can handle.” She shooed him with a hand. “You better get going before our visitors become to restless.”

Goggons flashed a wink and hurried down the path to the occupied SUV.

Reviews

[Just Me]

Ok so castella doesnt creep me out so much anymore. She has amazing powers! This has a lot of detail and is a very good chapter. Nicely written with a lot of key points.

[.quan.011.]

“You are trying to hard dear. Let it go. It will come to you when it’s ready.”- 'You are trying too hard dear. Let it go. It will come to you when it's ready.'
This was an amazing chapter with a lot of details and plot points. I agree with Shep on the old lay. Awesome new character. You will want to read over it because there were tiny grammar mistakes.

[Shep]

So much to do so little time. Love the old woman she can read me anytime. Awesome chapter. I think I might be reading some of the same stories I been reading. For I am been among them.