Mirrors

It wasn’t until the dawn broke the next morning that she remembered, or more accurately realized, that she had forgotten. She had forgotten what she did with Timothy’s bloody body. Everything in the foyer was pristine; the only damning evidence that he had been there was the box of white lace and pearl wedding invitations still sitting on the delicate maple wood foyer table, right in front of the splintered baseball bat. Where did that bat come from anyways? She didn’t play, and Jacob didn’t play. No one who lived in the house had been into sports. Not her father or her grandfather. Her sweet, beautiful mother had run track in high school, she wouldn't need a bat for that. Katie shook her head to herself to try and rid herself of the bewilderment of the baseball bat. Maybe He played baseball when he was with the living. She should just toss the broken bat into the trash. Be rid of it.

“What day is it?” She softly asked to know one in particular. After missing so much work she was losing track of days and time. When this was over her boss would definitely demand a viable explanation, if she had a job to return to. And this never-ending winter storm wasn’t lifting her out of this gloomy depressed funk at all. Katie quickly glanced around the deadly silent foyer. She desperately needed a shower and to put away the mail that had been sitting there for several days.

Everything felt so dark and dreary despite the beams of light emanating from her grandmother's prized Vienna Grace Chandelier and the green lush plants that thrived sitting in the rooms large bay windows. Katie clearly remembered the day her grandmother brought the chandelier home from the store. She was only ten years old, but the shear delicacy of the fine crystals and the intricate lacing of the glass beads left her in awe. Once a year her grandmother would climb a latter and spend hours gingerly cleaning away the dust and dirty that had built up. Surprisingly not a single drop of blood tarnished the exquisite piece. Katie had hated the chore but continued the annual spring cleaning after her death.

Turning her attention back to the mirror she wondered who he was and where he was now. She slowly scanned the reflective surface for any clue until her eyes landed on the small Latin etching, Vesanus Mortem. She hadn't taken any Latin in college, but hell that's what google was for. Before she could retrieve her phone Katies eyes once again found the crack. That tiny little crack in the corner of the mirror had gotten larger overnight, a river of blood flowing from the mundane world filling the other side with the essence of life. Katie Lynn knew this should concern her, but it didn’t. A slight wry smile found its way across her ruby lips. Cracks are good, she didn’t know why, but they were good. Lightly touching the growing crack made her feel warm, like He was with her again. She needed more cracks, He needed to more cracks. Her soul screamed out to her for more cracks.

The room around the five robed women was dark, only illuminated by the five black candles lit in front of each and magnified by the large mirror that stood with them against the wall.

"Elenor, we've discussed this over many days. He's already killed 7 of us and he won't stop until our entire bloodline is destroyed. After tonight Alexander Blackwell with either be trap in this mirror for all eternity or we all might as well serve ourselves up for the slaughter. I, for one, do not wish to see the hereafter." She turned to the woman in the center "Abby, start."

Abby stepped forward with what looked like a red crayon and began the chant. "Vesanus Mortem, with the power from the Spirt Gnoma of the Earth We call upon you. In order to provide peace for those whose innocent blood has fallen we call upon the high power of Themis Goddess of Justice to aid us in this night. " She drew a pentacle in the upper center of the mirror then took a step back.

She, along with the rest of the group began softly chanting Vesanus Mortem.

The next woman stepped forward, "Vesanus Mortem, with the power from the Spirt Unda of the Water. He who causes harm shall feel the pain he has inflicted form this day to the end of time. " Another pentacle was drawn on the mirror.

The soft chanting continued as the third women stepped forward. "Vesanus Mortem, with the power from the Spirit of Silphe of the Air. This window which is not will serve as an eternal prison for a soul so black."

"Vesanus Mortem, with the power from the Spirit of Salambe of Fire. Let it be known that he has confessed the mortal sin of murder and his intent to continue even after death. For this his soul cannot be laid to rest for it will rise again in another."

In unison the soft chant change to "earth, wind, water, fire" over and over the electric charge in the air grew.

Helen stepped forward with the red wax stick and finished the fifth pentacle. Quickly she turned and pointed the stick at the man tied to the chair in the back to declare. "You, Alexander Blackwell have confessed and found guilty of the slaughter of innocence and condemned to spend eternity in reflection!"

With that final statement fire erupted from the wax and smoke filled the air. Quickly she turned back to the mirror and connected the pentacles to create one large pentacle covering the vast mirror and trapping the dark soul inside.

As the smoke cleared the women began to scream and cry as they noticed only four of them still stood in the. Elenor, the one woman who has expressed concern was gone. Only a faint image of her could be seen standing behind the screaming man in the mirror.

Katies rumbling stomach brought her back to the reality of the foyer. Food, she hadn’t left the house in a week and her pantry must be running low. Not that she remembered eating anything in the last a couple of weeks, or even being in the kitchen. Krueger’s Food Mart delivered, didn’t they? There was that smile again, and the warm hand on her shoulder. He was back, and he would stay with her forever all she had to do was crack the mirror just a little more and given him what he craved.

Less than an hour later there was a soft gentle knock at the front door, it was a young girl from Kruger’s. Peeking out the window Katie Lynn told herself she couldn’t do it. The girl could not have been more than 19 years old. She had her whole life ahead of her. And she was so pretty, sweet smile and soft golden hair that flowed easy around her shoulders. Everything about the girl was opposite of Katie Lynn with her short dark hair and thick body.

‘I need this,’ He whispered in her ear and she was finding that she needed him more and more as the days sped by. She sighed with a bit of relief and contentment. She wasn’t alone anymore. He would never leave her as long if she bestowed him what he desired. Katie Lynn opened the door and invited the young girl inside. There were four more bags in the truck. She had ordered enough food to feed a family of four. Drea, that was her name, was a freshman at the University, not that she cared. Slowly, as they carried the bags into the foyer Katie Lynn could feel the intense need building up. Blood, the smell, the feel, the power it bestowed. He needs it, she needs it. But how? Not the knife that was Ms. Josephine Mantles, not the bat that was Timothy’s. Looking to the mirror for courage and help He pointed to the table.

"Good morning, Miss Summers, I haven't seen you in the store in a while."

"I've been busy," Katie struggled to keep her voice soft and light but all she wanted to do was bash this girls head in and to smell the sweetness of fresh blood.

Katie fiddled with the gold and diamond bracelet that Jacob had given her on their first anniversary. She wanted to be wearing it when she surprised him with the baby news. News that he’ll never hear now. In that moment Katie made up her mind to move away and never darken the doorsteps of this town again and raise her baby alone.

As Drea sat the last of the bags on the floor next to the table, she grabbed a hand full of the black pens and jammed the points into the girl’s neck. She grabbed Drea's trembling body to prevent her from falling to the floor and pulling the pens out to soon and held her firmly against her unyielding body. Slick gurgling noises escaped Drea's dry lips as dark crimson blood spurted out of the girl's throat, pulsating with every beat of her heart. The last of the blood finally drained out from the gaping holes in her neck soaking the blue and white Kroger t-shirt. With a thud the lifeless body slumped to the floor.

Turning back to the mirror, smiling she noticed the blood on her hands. It was good, but not enough. The small cracks have spider webbed out. Starring into His eyes Katie Lynn could feel his desire, his love. No matter where they land, He will take care of her, keep her safe.

“More don’t stop now.” He was whispering in her ear again. With that little urging and Drea still lying dead on the foyer floor Katie Lynn picked up the phone again. Will she have the time to clean up this mess? Katie didn't care, she couldn't stop now.