The Protector of Memories (The Veil of Death Book 1) (18 page)

Linda glanced around the library. “You found this written within our literature?” she asked Hope in amazement.

“Not as explainable as I have spoken it…” Hope shrugged, “the mistakes within the translations have altered its meaning. We will never know for sure whether the mistakes were deliberate or simply human error.” She looked at the image of the ghost and added. “The Veil of Death took away the knowledge and Hera has given it back.” She then asked Faith, “Is this where the ghost called David made the discovery… within the literature?”

“No. I found it in the Void of Emptiness.” David answered.

He waited until Faith had relayed his answer to Hope before continuing. “When I could not feel the presence of my mum to be anywhere, I thought that that monster had stolen it. Rage filled me. In his life, my father hounded and tortured my mum until her peace of mind and freedom were beaten to a pulp. He raped me over and over again until I felt nothing… until I was empty; a living ghost. That was why I killed myself to escape him. But had I known of this right of a claim, I would have killed my father to save my mum’s existence…” he flickered from intense hatred to cold-blue rage, “I feared him in life I refused to do so in death. I went into the Void of Emptiness to seek him out… seek out the essence of what he is – a rotten, decaying stench of waste. When I did feel his presence, I hurtled into him. But he spat me out as if I were of tissue paper. I refused to give up - not until he released my mum’s existence. With each attempt he spat me deeper and deeper into the Void of Emptiness until I stood before the empty ghost they call the ‘Saviour’. I demanded that no ‘being’ empty or otherwise has a right to claim the Soul of another. It was within that moment that she… enlightened me. An empty ghost residing inside emptiness enlightens me? But it is not empty is it Faith?”

Hope frowned at the sight of the ghost called David’s auras. “What does David say?” Hope asked Faith nervously.

“David has discovered that Hera is not empty.”

Hope stepped toward him and tried to offer some words of comfort. “Our parents meant the mortals no harm. They could not bear Hera to go into the Void of Emptiness without the memory of what it was that she had done unto the children. Our parents were blinded by their own needs…” she stammered as the feeling of shame overwhelmed her. “I’m so sorry.” She whispered.

“Sorry does not save us.” The ghost called David looked into Hope and saw that she also had the same silvery-grey particles of stardust that he had seen when within the Void of Emptiness. “Who sprinkled unto you this stardust?” He asked her.

But it was Faith who answered. “It was our…” but she hesitated.

“Who gave Hope that stardust?” He said to Faith with quiet coldness.

“It was our mother.” Faith answered.

“Your mother killed Hera and turned her into an empty ghost and yet she exists whilst mine does not?” He reached out toward the silvery-grey stardust and collected up a particle but it crumbled to soil and fell to the floor. “This Saviour has not the volume of stardust that Hope has. But it is this that she wove into my father. I know this because after my father spat me out I watched as he went into the network of veins that the Saviour is. When he went in, another vein grew.”

David’s image flickered. “He claimed my mum’s Soul and fed it to the Saviour.”

“Oh dear God,” whispered Linda.

“It has nothing to do with God.” David answered but stayed focussed upon Faith. “Only an empty ghost has the right to claim a Soul and they don’t intend to wait until the body is dead to claim it. Stardust allows them to take possession of the body before it is dead.”

Faith relayed to Hope everything that the ghost called David had just said.

David waited until Faith had finished speaking and when she had, he continued. “It is your species that has triggered this event but it is mine who crafted the Veil of Death.” And he flickered out of sight.

Linda in the meantime made her way back around the counter to sit down before she fell down.

Her mind attempted to adjust to the sight of so many ghosts flickering in and out of the library. “So this is what the world looks like to those who can see ghosts?” She whispered more to herself than anybody else as she attempted again to manage all that she could see.

The sight of the flickering images floating in front of her face reminded her of the times when she had worn 3-D glasses. But the world that she looked at had many more dimensions than three.

She looked over toward Faith and Hope and stroked her owl; the owl hooted contentedly.

Linda felt numb… numb and in shock at the thought of what had happened to Dawn Woodhouse. She stood up, steadied herself and made her way back to Faith and Hope.

But at that same moment, Sam came running into the library shouting out Hope’s name.

Linda looked up to see tears streaming down her face but it was the sight of Sam’s auras that were too much for her to cope with. “There’s so much.” She whispered. “Faith it’s too much.”

Her knees buckled.

Faith grabbed hold of Linda and helped her over toward the café’s chairs.

Sam ran into Hope’s arms. “Hope.” she said but the moment she felt Hope’s embrace, she couldn’t control her tears.

Eventually she explained what had happened to the squatters in the park. “Sarah has your rucksack…” she whispered, “She and Nigel stole their money. Set fire. I told the police but…” she trailed her words away and stayed in the comfort of Hope’s arms. She smelt the soft fragrances of lemon in her hair… the scent of a cream on her skin and tried so hard to focus onto those smells. “I’m so sorry I can’t stop crying…”

Hope held Sam tight within her embrace. “You are safe now,” she whispered. Her own tears flowed down her face and into Sam’s hair. “Whatever happens Sam you must remember that we are Soul mates. We are bound together for eternity. It is only the body that dies and not the life within it. Please Sam… you must never forget that.”

Sam remained quiet; her body shook and her tears continued.

Hope kissed the top of Sam’s head and smelt the wonderful fragrance of apples and when she felt Sam’s body shaking with the experiences that she has endured, Hope decided to say nothing else as she continued to hold Sam within an embrace.

Katherine had arrived earlier than the scheduled meeting time of three thirty.

She stood waiting beside the main entrance of the library and watched a small, chubby woman, hair dyed in a multitude of colours come dashing past her and into the library.

Katherine frowned with concern at what she could only describe as ‘a look of terror’ on the woman’s face

She looked at her watch; 15.30. “Come on Janet,” she muttered. “Where are you?”

The seconds ticked into minutes and then when six minutes had passed, Katherine was relieved to see Janet Crewmonger making her way up the steps. But as she drew closer, Katherine could see how distraught she looked. “Are you alright?” She asked Janet.

“I don’t think I’ll ever be alright?” Janet said in a whisper.

A silence developed between them and after a couple of minutes Katherine suggested. “Shall we go in?”

They ventured into the library and stood in the centre of its main lobby. “WOW.” Katherine exclaimed and became distracted by the shaft of light that was beaming down into the library.

It showered the floor with the colours of soft dusky-oranges and peaches. She looked up and stared open mouthed at the dome above their heads.

“Katherine.” Janet said and pulled at her sleeve. “We haven’t the time for this.”

“Sorry.” Katherine mumbled but as she followed Janet up toward the main desk, she was distracted by the alcoves that ran along the wall; within each of them were paintings depicting Gods and Goddesses of Greek Mythology.

When she finally reached the counter, she jumped at the sight of the woman with fiery-red hair and eyes the colour of silvery-white?

Katherine listened to Janet as she introduced herself.

“My name is Janet Crewmonger. We believe Charity to be in danger. My friend here seems to think that Faith might be able to help us in some way.”

Janet gently nudged Katherine.

“I am Katherine Adams. I was the nurse in charge of Charity. I know without a doubt that that woman has not suffered any injury to her face. I believe it is all related to Janet’s daughter… Alice. Alice was the young girl who was driving the car that crashed into the bus.”

Linda stared at the two women for a while.

Her attention then focussed onto Katherine because it was becoming more and more obvious to Linda, that this woman could actually see her owl. She remained quiet for a few moments longer then turning to Janet said. “I am very sorry about your daughter, Alice.” And as sensitively as she could, explained that they could not speak to Faith until after the medium session. “You’ll understand why it is that I insist that you wait…” she held up her hands and added, “I promise you that you will get to talk to Faith_.”

“I think Charity is in danger.” Janet insisted. “I believe they meant to kill Charity and not my Alice.”

Linda looked at Janet. “You must not trust Charity. We know for a fact that Charity has killed five people. Attend the medium session today. Hear what Faith has to say. It is all linked.”

She walked around the counter. “Please. Wait in the café area.” Linda pointed to the doors and explained. “When the doors open go straight into that room. Once it becomes full…” she paused, “it is full.”

Janet watched the woman as she walked away. “What did she mean by that? ‘We know for a fact that Charity has killed’_?”

“Did you see her eyes?” Katherine interrupted. “White…” she paused, “no… silver. They were silvery-white.” She looked at Janet and asked. “Did you see them? It is good to have met another person who has eyes as spooky as mine.”

Janet frowned. “Katherine my Alice_.”

“What about the owl?” Katherine said excitedly, “Did you see the woman’s owl?”

“What are you talking about?” Janet was beginning to get annoyed. “We are not here to have fun and there isn’t an owl.”

“Janet I am telling you there is an owl perched on that woman’s shoulder. Just because you cannot see it, it doesn’t mean it’s not there_.”

“For pity sake Katherine you’re acting like a child in a sweet shop.” Janet snapped out impatiently. “I really don’t know why we are here? You didn’t tell me that Faith is some sort of medium. How can a medium help me? And I did not like that woman telling me who I can and cannot trust.” Janet stood up and made her way over toward the doors.

Katherine made her way over to Janet, lowered her voice and said. “Charity has not severed all contact from Faith or Hope so if she lied about that what else_.”

Just then, the conference room doors opened.

Janet and Katherine were jostled and pushed along with everybody else. “Over there.” Katherine said and pointed to the last two seats in the front row. She sat down beside Janet, glanced over at Faith and saw that the woman with the owl was pointing in their direction.

She smiled at them both and returned their nods of acknowledgement before turning her attentions onto the woman called Hope. She frowned at the sight of the woman’s DIY eye patch and wondered what had happened to her since they had last met.

Katherine leant closer to Janet and whispered, “Faith has acknowledged our presence.” And recognising the smaller woman standing next to Hope, added, “She ran into the library as if the ‘Hound of the Baskervilles’ was chasing after her.”

When Janet made no reply, she added, “The one with the colourful hair_.”

A crackling sound, sounded out.

“The ghosts have arrived.” The regulars informed the visitors.

Faith took a couple of steps forward but doubled over as if she had been punched in the stomach. “I am the ghost called David.” A male voice boomed out of Faith’s mouth. “Now that I speak in a voice other than that of Faith’s do you believe that I exist? The essence of life is upon the brink of extinction and you concern yourselves with the minor details of proof? When we have succeeded in ripping down the Veil of Death, you will see us and then you will believe what my mum tried to_.”

Alan Bowling stood up and raised his voice. “Anybody can put on a different voice.” He said accusingly. “I know for a fact that Dawn Woodhouse was committed into psychiatric care by Trevor, her brother.”

He turned and addressed the room. “I’m sorry to say this but she died an hour ago from the injuries that she caused to herself. Phillip did not harm her… an empty ghost did not harm her_.”

“My mum had a broken nose, swelling to the left eye and a dislocated right shoulder.” The voice of David said.

Alan Bowling looked at Faith in distain. “It is easy to obtain information quickly.”

“That is not why I said it,” the voice of David said. “I said it for you to hear aloud the injuries of my mum and then tell me how she could have done that to herself.”

Alan Bowling looked up at the ceiling, ignored the question and asked his own instead. “Has anybody else actually witnessed a ghost?”

Trudy Dodge from ‘Haunted Buildings’ magazine said excitedly. “My equipment has picked up a surge of energy. That energy has to have come from somewhere_.”

“Energy surges?” He interrupted her and asked. “Can you actually see a ghost?”

Linda stepped forward. “I can see ghosts but that is not the issue. Have you not heard a single_?”

“Right,” he interrupted, “so that’s you, Faith and a piece of equipment. Do you not realise how ridiculous you all sound?”

A woman in her forties stood up. “I’m getting pissed off with your negativity.”

“Negativity!” Alan Bowling shouted.

The ghost called David used all of his life-force and raised Faith’s body off of the ground.

He lifted it higher and higher until he had everybody’s attention. “My mum came here yesterday and warned you what is happening and you do nothing but bicker.”

David floated Faith’s body toward the reporter called Alan Bowling. “Do you want to know what my mum’s last words were? Save them David. You must find a way to save the race of humankind.” He used Faith’s fingers and wrapped them around Alan Bowling’s neck. “Ask me what has happened to my mum’s Soul!”

“Faith…” Alan Bowling spluttered, “Take your hands off of me_.”

“I am not Faith,” David screamed out in anger. “I am the ghost called David and I want you to prove to me why you are worth saving?”

“David please put Faith down,” Linda said quietly.

She looked up at Faith and then to Alan Bowling; his legs were kicking and flailing, his fingers were trying to prise away the finger lock that was around his neck. His face was getting redder and redder.

“David.” Linda insisted. “David you do not want to do this. This is not who you are. Please put the man down.”

The ghost called David looked at the woman with the owl on her shoulder. “They don’t care about my mum. Why do they get the right to live?” David squeezed tighter the fingers around the man’s neck, raised his voice to a pitch so piercing, people had to cover their ears.

“Feel the strength of my might.”

“David.” Linda whispered and quoted. “’Strength without wisdom falls by its own weight’.”
[iv]

The ghost called David looked down and asked. “Why is it that we only learn after it is all too late? They do not even see that you are the light when all that surrounds us is the darkness.”

“Do not let that darkness consume you now. Look into my eyes. Stay focussed on the trickle of light that you see. That’s it. Slowly…” When David placed Faith and Alan Bowling back onto terra firma, Linda steadied Faith.

Brian and one of the security men caught hold of Alan.

As Alan passed Faith he said to her, “Faith I…” he coughed and rubbed at his neck, “I’ll get you arrested for this…” but his throat hurt too much and he said no more.

Linda sat Faith down into the chair beside the table and she watched David floating out of Faith’s body.

“Faith I am sorry.” He said.

Linda turned and stared at him.

She was angry at how he had behaved. “You used Faith’s vessel as if she were a toy. Who intends to harm the living David? Empty ghosts or all ghosts?”

“I didn’t mean for it to go that far. It was unforgiveable of me.”

Faith took deep breaths of air - deep, long gasps of air. When she felt that she could talk, she said. “David it was understandable.”

“No!” Linda interjected angrily and looked at the ghost called David. “Faith will be locked up… she will be sectioned because of what you have done to Alan Bowling. That is the fate that you have sealed for Faith.”

The ghost of David’s image flickered. “Forgive me,” he said as he disappeared out of sight.

The sound of chairs being scrapped along the library’s wooden floor told Linda what was about to happen next and she stepped in front of Faith, Hope and Sam - held her hands – palms up, “Stop right there!” she shouted to the crowd of people surging forward.

“Thank you,” she said when they did has she had asked. “Please give Faith a moment.”

Sam was staring in awe at Linda;
she’s just stopped a tidal wave of people with the palms of her hands?

Trudy Dodge stepped forward. “Perhaps my team could meander through the rest of the library. We won’t be a nuisance.” She promised.

“Don’t you understand what is happening?” Linda said to Trudy. She raised her voice so that everyone could hear her, “The ghost called David witnessed the death of his mum’s Soul_.”

A young man interrupted Linda and shouted at Faith.

“You have accused me and my girlfriend of killing. We have killed no one. We do not hear the voices of ghosts and our bodies are not being harmed. Liar. Liar. Liar…” he raised his arms encouraging everybody else to join in.

Nobody did.

Faith looked at the man. “That is not what your auras tell me.” And she pointed to the particles of grey that she now knew to be the remnants of the Souls. “You have the ash of Souls within your aura_.”

“Take that back!” The man’s girlfriend shouted. “That is a nasty thing to say.”

Faith flicked the air with her hand. “I know where you have buried their bodies… hidden them away like scraps of meat.” She stepped toward the man. “Your Soul is not ash is it! When you live within your next life you will soar… and dance with the energies of a life-force. I expect you will eventually forget what it is that you have done!”

Faith’s tears rolled down her face and she continued to shout out into the room. “You treat life as if it is a once in a lifetime offer. This is not a dress rehearsal. Your life does not end when the body ceases to exist.”

Looking toward the middle-aged couple who had killed fifteen young women, she raised her voice in anger and shouted. “When your bodies die your empty ghosts seek to claim their right on your Soul for that is not empty is it!”

Silence hit the room.

A reporter called Chris broke it and asked. “So what are you saying? That the end of the world is coming.”

“No,” Faith answered. “The empty ghosts are coming.”

Nervous laughter sounded out.

Chairs scrapped against the floor as people stood up again.

Chris asked. “And why should we believe you? Give me one good reason why any of us should believe you?”