Escort For The Witch

Sabrina lowered her head for a moment, and when she looked up again, I froze in confusion. Tears glistened in her eyes. But apart from tears, there was something else, but I couldn’t quite make it out just what. Fear? Perhaps. But what was she afraid of? That was what I had to find out…

Chapter 9

Michelle De Manshand

I continued to silently observe her. As if in response to this, Sabrina wrinkled her nose, casually tossed her wet hair back, and began pacing the room. She furrowed her brows repeatedly, pondering whether she could trust me. After several minutes of continuous pacing, she stopped by the window. Another loud sigh escaped her lips, filled with so much anguish that my heart nearly stopped.

“Come on, what’s wrong? ” I asked as gently as possible.

“You won’t believe it,” the girl whispered softly, covering her face with her hands.

“Maybe just start, and we’ll take it from there? Trust me, I believe in a lot of things,” I encouraged her.

She pondered for a few seconds, then looked at me fearfully.

“And you won’t tell anyone? ”

I raised an eyebrow questioningly.

“I mean, you won’t tell anyone that I’ve lost it and won’t start teasing me about it?”

“Are you kidding? Watching you in pain doesn’t bring me any pleasure, even remotely, ” and that was the absolute truth. “And I don’t believe you survive solely on expired food, ” I muttered. To my immense relief, she smiled.

“Okay, I’ll try. ”

Sabrina settled comfortably on the couch, contemplating where to begin her story.

“It all started on January twenty-fourth. Exactly a year after my grandfather’s passing.”

“Yeah, I remember,” my voice betrayed me slightly, but Sabrina didn’t seem to notice.

“That night, I…” she suddenly fell silent and took a deep breath. “That night, I heard his voice for the first time. In my sleep.”

I furrowed my brow but didn’t say anything. Instead, I cleared my throat, indicating to Sabrina that she should continue her story.

“I didn’t think much of it then, dismissing it as just a weird dream. But soon the dream recurred, becoming clearer. And another voice joined Alex’s. A woman’s voice. Then images appeared, becoming clearer and more distinct with each new dream. They argued about something, and… sometimes Grandpa yelled at her. And then the voices disappeared, for about a month, maybe more. But then they returned again,” Sabrina explained. I approached Sabrina and sat down beside her.

“Maybe my request will sound strange, but could you describe the woman?” I asked calmly, trying not to reveal my excitement, while mentally running through all the women of the De Manshand family that I knew.

“Yes, I can. She looks about twenty-seven. She’s not tall, with dark, almost black hair, light blue eyes. A very good figure, and also…” Sabrina suddenly fell silent and lowered her gaze.

“What’s that? ” I inquired.

“I swear to God, she looks very much like me! Almost identical!” Sabrina exclaimed.

I couldn’t believe it. Could Sabrina have seen her own mother? I frantically recalled everything I had ever read or heard about the De Manshand family. After Michelle and Alex had hidden the girl, Michelle decided to return home to France.

There was talk of an incredible scandal that had erupted in the family after Michelle had told Marie – Sabrina’s grandmother – that the child had died.

Michelle had never been seen again since. Some newspapers wrote about her death, and Marie did not deny it, on the contrary, she burst into tears, portraying herself as a grief-stricken mother, but Michelle’s body was never found. And now,

what if Sabrina is seeing Michelle’s spirit? What is she trying to convey to her daughter? And why is Grandpa’s spirit so persistently opposing this interaction?

Could it be that Michelle wants Sabrina to reach out to her Grandmother herself?

But why? Michelle was so desperate to save her daughter from the family fate.

She didn’t want Sabrina to grow up like all the other women in their family. Cold, callous, and merciless. Maybe… But was that Michelle feared? Grandpa was right; Sabrina’s mother was different from the other family witches. Michelle’s paranormal gift was being able to see both the past and the future. She knew the whole truth about the deeds of her numerous relatives and ancestors. All it took was touching any object belonging to someone even remotely interesting to Michelle, and their past lives with all their deeds, no matter how terrible, would be revealed before her eyes. It was this gift that made her different. Also kind, loving, and honest. And most importantly, she was capable of something that other members of the De Manshand family were not. She was an empath, able to feel deeply: guilt, shame, and even disgrace for the past and present of her own family.

That’s why she had turned to Alex for help…

“I’ve been visited by her during the day,” Sabrina said thoughtfully.

Her quiet voice interrupted my thinking. I widened my eyes in disbelief and stared at Sabrina.

“What? What do you mean she has visited you during the day? ” My confusion was so apparent that Sabrina became slightly alarmed. She squinted at me. I turned away to face the window and pulled out another cigarette trying to mask the emotions that had come over me at the most inappropriate moment.

“Mind if I smoke? ” I asked.

“No, of course not,” she replied.

I sat down on the wide windowsill and lit up, desperately trying to sort out my thoughts. However, what I had just heard made it difficult to think rationally, and some details of Sabrina’s “encounter” with her mother left questions swirling in my mind unanswered.

“So what’s this about her visiting you, ” I reminded her.

Sabrina sighed bitterly and turned towards the window. She looked so small and vulnerable in her Grandfather’s old robe that I felt a pang in my heart.

“I was in my room, getting ready for work and thinking up a plan to get Eric out of his binge, when suddenly the Mardi Gras beads hanging on my mirror fell down and scattered all over the floor. I started picking them up. When I finished, I habitually glanced at the mirror and was stunned. She was there, looking at me.

She was standing right behind me and I was looking at her reflection staring back at me!” Sabrina paused to catch her breath and continued. “I turned around but she was gone. I thought it was just paranoia or a hallucinations – just the product of my exhausted brain. But soon it happened again. And this time, the vision was much clearer. Then I started hearing Alex’s voice. And I swear, there are other voices too, but I can’t make them out. They… they mumble something, but I don’t understand. It’s madness. ”

I smoked silently, unsure of how to tell her that everything that was happening to her was neither madness nor paranoia, nor the product of twisted imagination. I couldn’t find the right words to adequately explain this. Now I knew why she had glances crazy look in her eyes sometimes, strange, erratic gestures, and mood swings. It was Michelle, accompanied by Alex. And they clearly frightened her.

“Jack,” Sabrina called out softly, “do you think I’m going crazy? ”

I tried to gather my thoughts and even shook my head, hoping for some enlightenment that would help piece together the puzzle. However, everything only became more tangled.

“You say you can hear Alex’s voice,” I ignored her question.

“Yeah…” Sabrina still sounded uncertain.

“What does he say? Or what is he trying to communicate?” I knew Alex’s character well and was sure that Grandpa would never dream of scaring his granddaughter for no reason, especially now that he was dead.

“He also comes to you during the day now?” I pressed further.

“Lately – yes. And he says something about me being different, that I shouldn’t listen to them and never, under any circumstances, believe what they say. Also…”

She paused and glanced at me sideways.

“Yes?” My patience was wearing thin, and it must have shown.

“He said I should be around you and Eric,” she said, staring at me intently, as if trying to read my mind. A faint glimmer of hope appeared in her eyes, hoping that I would be able to unravel the mystery of her strange visions. “That only you know

the truth and can help me deal with it ,” she continued, leaning forward as if afraid to miss something important. “What does that mean? What truth and who is he talking about?”

I sighed deeply, feeling the weight of her expectant, cautious gaze on me, stood up, and started pacing the room. I mentally thanked her for not bringing up that brief conversation she had had with Eric when he was still drinking, namely what he had said about me doing the job better than him.

“I, I don’t know,” I said a near-truth. “And the pain?” I glanced at her stomach.

Sabrina hesitated for a moment, then looked out the window again.

“It only hurts when I try to ignore it.”Ì stared at Sabrina in bewilderment, not believing my ears. Could such a thing really be possible?

“So? ”

“Well… I pretend not to see. I try not to notice. I think pain is how she’s trying to get my attention. ”

I now watched Sabrina’s every move intently. Genuine shock reflected on my face.

“Can she physically affect you? ” I whispered in horror.

“Yeah, maybe,”

“So that means…” I started, “in the kitchen then and then today…”

“Yes. But when you or Eric are around, something changes. She can’t get too close and it doesn’t hurt as much as when I try to ignore her,” Sabrina fell silent and tucked her legs under her.

“So that’s why you’re always hovering around me.”

She blushed and nodded, about to say something when the front door slammed, making us both jump in surprise and turn towards the direction of the sound.

“Hey everyone! I’m home! ” Eric’s hoarse voice echoed from the hall.

“Jack!” Sabrina jumped to her feet and, coming up to me almost face to face, grabbed my hand and whispered excitedly: “Please, don’t tell him anything! I don’t even know why I decided to tell you all this nonsense. ”

“No, not nonsense. Sorry, I need to… figure some things out,” I muttered, stepping out of the room uncertainly and heading towards the kitchen, where Eric was making a racket.

I caught my friend rummaging in the fridge, hoping to find something he hadn’t already nibbled on. He was humming some tune to himself and making dancing moves, completely oblivious to my presence. I reached him in two steps and slammed the refrigerator door right in front of his surprised face.

“What the heck, Jack! Cut it out! ” Eric hissed, startled, glaring at me. “What’s going on? I got your message. ” He added.

I didn’t know what to do. Utter confusion? Bewilderment? Doubt? It all hit me at once like a tsunami. Maybe my parents would? Damn, my parents! I completely forgot about dinner with parents! I glanced at the clock frantically. I still had to write my report on the latest developments. But what am I supposed to write about now?

“Jack! What’s happening? Is she having another episode? ” Eric’s concerned voice seemed to be coming from a distance.

“Stay with her. Don’t go anywhere. Got it? I need to talk to Dad. ”

Eric looked at me in confusion, but nodded, not asking further questions.

“You think it’s all that serious, huh? ” he asked after a pause.

“I don’t know.” I could see from Eric’s displeased expression that he wasn’t satisfied my reply.

“I gotta go. ”

I walked out of the kitchen, grabbed my coat, nervously fumbling with car keys, and was about to grab the door handle when I heard Sabrina call me.

“Hey, you!” She leisurely emerged from the living room.

“I’m all ears, miss, ” I murmured. She smiled. Well I never! She does nothing but bestow smiles on my all day.

“Have you forgotten about our little bet? ”

“How could I?! ” I feigned offense and grinned playfully.

“Well, tomorrow then? ” Sabrina asked flirtily.

“Tomorrow it is. ”

I leisurely walked out onto the street and headed towards my car parked the back.

For some reason, I felt extremely queasy. What did Grandpa mean only Eric and I could help? I was at my wit’s end. But one thing I was sure of, Sabrina saw her mother, and the vision wasn’t just scaring her, it was causing real physical pain.

What’s worse, both Eric and I saw her writhing in pain and both felt completely powerless and useless.

Chapter 10

The Council

Having parked in front of my parents’ house, I sat in the car for some minutes, gathering my thoughts. I kept replaying the details of Sabrina’s story over and over. Then I noticed the time and winced. Almost six o’clock. I was running late and risking a lecture from Mrs. Renton. I got out and trudged towards the house.

My thoughts were all over the place, making it hard to fully concentrate on the impending meeting with my father. Six months ago, we had a big row over my then girlfriend, and since then we had barely said a word to each other. Today, at last, there was a good reason for us to start talking again and maybe reconcile.

The door flew open before I could even knock.

“What took you so long?” Mom asked, deep hurt in her voice, and motioned me into the house.

It took about forty seconds to walk from the car to the house. Was it really that long?

“I’m not late, I’m on time,” I said, meeting her reproaching gaze. Mrs. Renton made a grunting noise and, adjusting her glasses, headed towards the kitchen.

The house smelled of roast chicken. My stomach issued a hungry growl. No wonder, I haven’t eaten all day except for an apple, which I shamelessly stole from Claire during our history of literature class. Claire, being a kind soul that she was, pretended not to notice.

I hung my coat on the rack and slouched into the living room. And there I saw her…

She was lying on the couch, her warm brown eyes looking at me as if seeing me for the first time. There was so much adoration and loyalty in them that I couldn't help but smile. I didn’t even realize how much I had missed her until this very moment. And now, my beloved blonde stood up and leaped towards me, almost knocking me over.

“Whoa, Abby! Calm down!” I yelled, and our family’s darling, a golden retriever named Abby, jumped back on the couch and resumed watching me with her dark, impatient eyes, wagging her tail happily.

I stroked her big, fluffy head.

“I missed you too, Abby.”

“How sweet,” Mom’s voice came from behind me, “a reunion of old friends. It’s always so touching.”

“Yeah.”

I looked around. Nothing has changed here at all in the past eight years since I moved out. A perfect time capsule. The same white marble fireplace, same weathered high back armchairs, a small dining table, mom’s favorite vase on a small coffee table by the couch…

“Wow, a new TV!” I exclaimed.

“Yeah,” mom laughed, “and a new spot for Abby. Now she sleeps on the couch, as you’ve probably noticed. I hate to chase her down every time, she’s not as young as she used to be.”

I looked at the dog that was jumping all over the couch like an over-sized puppy only stopping to diligently chew on a rubber bone toy.

“An old lady now, Abby, are you?” I smiled, remembering that Christmas when Dad had given mom a tiny pup as present…

I was sixteen then, thinking it would be cool if we had some kind of pet at home.

Something to bring joy to our parents, not just disappointment. Turns out, I wasn’t the only one thinking that. Dad had deliberated for a long time before eventually settling on a puppy. A little golden retriever.

That’s how Abby came into my parents’ lives and became an instant favorite, a ray of sunshine that brightened all the hardships and sorrows that my family had to

endure. Nothing could make my parents mad at her, not even a ruined couch and chewed-up shoes.

“How’s college going? ” a voice came from the depths of the kitchen. I walked over and leaned against the kitchen door, watching Mom skillfully plate up.

“Everything’s fine. Although, today I skipped a few classes,” I was careful to stress the fact that skipping classes was not a regular thing for me. Mom looked at me disapprovingly and tutted.

“Oh, come on, mom, you skip too,” I grinned.

“I don’t skip. I have a day off. And you? Overworking yourself, huh? Poor thing…”

“No. Sabrina wasn’t feeling well, so I drove her home.”

I saw those words had an effect on mom. She turned sharply and stared, waiting for explanation which I was purposely delaying.

“What…” she didn’t finish, as Abby rushed to the front door, barking madly and jumping around.

“Dad’s here,” Mom said, thrusting a towel into my hands and rushing to open the door.

“Hey, darling,” I heard Dad’s cheerful voice and went to greet him.

“Hey, son,” Dad’s eyes swept over me disapprovingly. He never liked my way of expressing myself, nor my lifestyle, but has apparently accepted it and no longer voiced his opinions out loud. I furrowed my eyebrows returning his gaze.

Before me stood the same tall, broad-shouldered man with a shock of half-gray hair, a little too luscious for a male; the same mustache, same piercing green eyes, and a huge beer belly. Dad was clearly uncomfortable under my scrutinizing gaze and waived his hand dismissively as he handed mom his coat and made his way to the living room, clutching onto his briefcase.

“Hi, Dad. Nice to see you too,” I addressed Dad’s back.

“How was London?” Mom asked dad, and I stared at her in surprise. She hadn’t said a word about Dad going to London.

“London… it’s all the same, nothing ever changes in Great Britain,” Dad chuckled as he settled into his favorite leather armchair by the fireplace.

“Well then, wash your hands and let’s get to the table,” Mom sang, turning me around and nudging me towards the bathroom as if I were a four-year-old.

I nestled in my favorite spot at the table, and Abby settled next to me, resting her big head on my knee.

“Let’s begin, shall we?” Dad said briskly, casting another glance at me. “I flew to London.”

“I figured that out already,” I replied, scooping a hefty portion of mashed potato onto my plate. “Just haven’t figured out why yet.”

“Carlos Wallace asked me to come,” Dad said.

If Carlos Wallace himself had asked my dad to fly to London, then it must have been serious.

“He found out that Marie is looking for her granddaughter and even sent Wallace a letter asking him to ‘bring the girl back home.’ ”

Mom and I exchanged astonished glance.

“No!” she exclaimed, throwing her hands up. “The audacity! Sabrina should decide for herself what to do. And I doubt her decision will be in Marie’s favor.

Even though it could have consequences…”

“Gabriel, please calm down,” Dad intervened. “I don’t think Sabrina is in any danger.”

Mom cast a worried glance in my direction and reached for the salad. Naturally, this didn’t escape dad.

“Now, is there something I don’t know?” he asked, staring at us both intently.

I felt like my brain was about to explode.

“Well?” he persisted.

“Well, it’s like this, Dad, um… recently I noticed that Sabrina… has been having some health issues. And today, as I drove her home after she had felt unwell at university, she told me that… um… She said she’d been seeing a ghost.”

“Oh…” was all mom could utter.

“A ghost of…?” Dad asked, ignoring Mom’s outburst, now completely focused on me.

“Michelle.”

The parents’ eyes widened in surprise.

“And she also hears Alex’s voice occasionally shouting at Michelle, and other voices, too, but she doesn’t understand what they’re saying. And when she tries to shut the vision of Michelle out, she does something to physically hurt her. I’ve seen her a couple of times writhing in pain, but I had no idea what was happening to her because she blames it all on expired yogurts, bread rolls, and other crap she eats,” I blurted out, then took a deep breath and dived back into the cooling dinner.

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