Chapter Two; the Psychic
Weeks have pass since Myra’s incidence at the deserted mansion; it is now the second week of August. The local sheriff questioned Myra extensively about the corpse discovered there; she passes on everything she knows except the knowledge of Mariah. Reluctantly she gave them the Bible and they promised to return it to her. Myra safe returned relieves her parents and they think it is unwise for her to travel alone.
Although Myra is gratified to be home, she is at odds with herself, tense nerves, sleeping restlessly with horrific nightmares, little or no appetite and hallucinations! She is seeing fleeting, bizarre shadows in her peripheral vision, and transient, blurred faces in mirrors. She readily lays this on her paranormal experience with Mariah, and the stormy night spent in Worthington Manor. The county provided a funeral for Mariah at the cemetery in Spring Hope and she visits the grave almost daily in anticipation of contact with the spirit.
Mariah is concerned for Myra's well being, knowing she is in immense danger from the Dark Spirit, who pursued her from Worthington Manor. This incubus will do its up most to stop this mission now begun. An ally has rallied to assist in this venture for Mariah's liberation, a psychic with immense powers even he does not know he possesses. He recruits his mother to be Myra's companion, for she is most vulnerable to attacks when left alone. A blessing on Myra as well as her home will give a measure of protection against this incubus. Mariah seeks to give aid and booster Myra's spirit, for bleakness has taken over her personality, she carries a heavy burden in her heart, the same one Mariah carries. Mariah visits Myra in her dreams and the two have developed a closeness shared only by mothers and daughters. Mariah helps her increase her strength so she can endure the unendurable, for the worst is yet to come.
A stage is being set at Worthington Manor; Mariah knows that Myra and Adrian must make a return visit to the manor. The wraith has taken up residence once more on the third floor, reserving its energy and growing stronger to do battle with this atypical army. Having lost one skirmish of this war, the Dark Spirit is biding its time until the battle returns to Worthington Manor.
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Mr. O’Keefe invites Cyrus McGregor, the family minister from the First Baptist Church across town to Monday night dinner, which he graciously accepts. Reverend McGregor is in his early seventies, a gray hair portly gentleman whom most people love right from the start. He has an infectious smile and a benevolent way of speaking that makes you yearn to hear him.
Dr. Grey's mother, Carol, by now has flown down from upper New York and has settled in with Myra, both share the queen size bed. She is in her early fifties with dark hair peppered with white, worn mid-length and parted on one side. She is rather tall for a woman; about five foot ten, with wire-frame glasses, a slender build and is stern face with a no non-sense attitude.
A little before seven on Monday evening, Reverend McGregor arrives for this dinner invitation. The entire family greets him warmly, but with the perception of wisdom, he quickly sees the uneasiness of the whole household.
Family and company make their way to the dinning area at the back of the house. This is a long narrow room running the length of the house with the exterior wall constructed mainly of several large one pane windows, which allowed for viewing the beautiful garden. They are seated, and Adrian and Myra end up next to each other.
The family cook serves a real southern meal with the traditional favorites: for which she receives high praise Gerti has been with the O'Keefe family since before the birth of Myra.
“Aha, y'all ain’t taste nothin' yit, wait 'till yous gits a load of my chocla' cake. I am puts extra pecans on these top. Shore is somthin', I's tellin yous, yea sir, shore is.” With that, she waddles out of the dining room, back in the direction of the kitchen.
Asked to give grace, the reverend does so graciously, ending with a personal blessing on the family. “Tis a fine day for sure, but it's gloomy faces I see, there a problem I take it, care to tell me about it?” he loafs along with the Irish accent not lost in thirty odd years since leaving Ireland. The wise eyes of the kindly minister glance about the dinner table.
Myra's father makes the first move, explaining the circumstances to his old friend, who listens with furrows across his forehead, indicating the seriousness of this predicament. After the meal, the family and guests retreat to the living room where Gerti's daughter, Melinda, serves coffee and brandy. The conversation is grave, and plans discussed centers on how best to handle the exorcism of the Dark Spirit from Worthington Manor.
The blessing of the O’Keefe’s occurs tonight, before the reverend leaves. He requests two, identical, amber colored glasses, and a bottle of olive oil brought before him.
Melinda retrieves to a bottle of holy water from the Reverend’s car. Gerti brings in the two glasses and an unopened bottle of olive oil. Mrs. O'Keefe brings in several candles and two Incense Burners and places them in front of the pastor.
Everyone stand and join hands with bowed heads as the Blessings take place. First, each glass is half filled, one with water, the other with olive oil, and then each glass is individually blessed. With this done each candle is also blessed individually, and then the two Incense Burners. They light the candles and place one in each room of the house, with instructions that as they burn down another is to take its place. They fire up the incense Burners and place one at the front door and the other at the back; they must keep these burning at all times. They carry one each of blessed glasses of oil and water to each room and sprinkle some of the liquid at doors and windows. Each person in the house is also sprinkled and blessed.
A ceremony now takes place on the front lawn to bless the house itself.
Reverend McGregor faces the house, dashes what is left of the oil and water around the door and steps, then bows his head briefly. He then spreads his arms and in an authoritative voice, invokes the resident demon to vacate the O'Keefe's home:
“I exorcise this creature of old, all power of the adversary; all diabolical armies; all hostile attack; eliminating every satanic apparition, and all who use this would have health of mind and body! All those who are sick would be free of all weakness, languor, listlessness, all sickness and freed of any snares of the enemy and all the opposing powers that separate your creature from you. Be gone I demand you. Inhabit these dwellings no longer. In the name of Christ I caste thee out.”
Dropping his arms in weariness, the mild minister continues to pray while gazing at the O'Keefe's home. It is now well past midnight, the Blessings are completed, and at the last spoken prayer, a low rumble begins beneath their feet as a terrifying earthquake shakes the home and grounds. There are cries of surprise and reaching out to each other for support, not comprehending just what is taking place. An unearthly shriek erupts from the house as a yellowish green, iridescent fog ¾imaging the hideous face of the demon in agonizing pain¾ rises skyward and disperses.
The little assembly is hypnotized by what they see and for a minute are rooted where they stand. Myra reacts first with sobs while covering her face with both hands. Adrian puts his arms about her shoulders and talking softly reassures her that for now things are safe. The family and company together, go back into the house, for none will be able to sleep this night. Myra's parents, with the scene they have just witnessed, are now confirmed believers in the evils in this world that most people choose not to see.
During this long disturbing night, the little congregation have open discussions on the episode they have all witnessed, more prayers are said, this time with more sincerely and intenseness than before. Everyone is tired, and the events have exhausted Myra for she finally dozes off with her head resting on Adrian shoulder. Myra's mother and Mrs. Grey help her to her room and put her to bed, where she sleeps to the late afternoon. At dawn the rest of the family also takes to their beds with Adrian opting for the sofa so his mother may have his room, this so that Myra can sleep without being disturbed. They sleep until noon, when Gerti comes in for her job as cook; this awakes the family, all but Myra, who sleeps exhaustedly.