Chapter 1

I awoke at 5:30am., Monday morning the 23rd of May with four horrible beasts sitting on my chest, breathing their stench into my face. Their names were, fear, disease, poverty, and indifference.

Tears overflowed my eyes, flowing down my face in silent regret, for I didn't wish to disturb my sleeping husband.

I tried to reach towards the face of God. This is when the doubters would say, "He has forsaken us." Not me, I knew the beasts that rode me, plus my own human weakness, mainly my anger. I knew all these things blocked my prayers and Imprisoned my spirit.

I knew why my prayers weren't working this day, the other rode my will and its strength was growing.

I could not lay in bed a moment longer. The other urged me to move and be about our business.

I made myself a cup of tea instead of my usual coffee. Standing at the window, I watched the rain wash the earth to grey. I could feel it already beginning. The pathway was opening.

Quickly and quietly I called Mira, "It’s time." This was all I needed to say. We, my clan and I had planned for this time for more years then I wanted to count.

I got the bag I had stashed in my closet, wrote a quick note to my husband claiming an illness in the family, then I drove my car to the airport.

The sun slide through the fog to splash upon the window of the cab, making me reach for my sunglasses. When I got to the airport my plane was already boarding. I hurried through airport security and ran for the plane.

As I sat staring at the clouds the pull of Jubal's Bend grew stronger. I closed my eyes letting my memories flutter beneath my lids like butterflies.

The dreaming had started a week ago, as yet I hadn't had any memory lost, so I assumed the change had not yet begin.

I tried to see the path I was to walk, but the other still kept it hidden from me.

Most people have to walk down dark paths, but other people don't see the paths as plain as I do. My spirit calmed and I slept.

The dream came. I was in flux, how I knew this, the hands on the old clock above the stove was going backwards., forwards then stopped.

The shadows were on the house seeming to craw over the bricks as if they were alive. The shadows were sending out other shadow like spokes on a wheel, but there was way to many spokes.

My grandmother rocked by the table as she snapped green beans into a bowl. The brightness of her spirit was blinding, yet even she had a cobweb of shadows.

She looked at me with faded eyes” It’s the sins of Adam, child."

Then her flesh seem to fall in on itself, until she sat before me little more than skin and bones. The shadows were deeper and I knew I was looking at the disease she bare. She held up her nicotine stained hands, "We pay for our sins.

Then the light within her shot upward through the ceiling and only the shadows were left.

The wheels of the plane touched the runway and I woke up.

Mira's Mazda was waiting so I didn't have to call a cab. There wasn't but one cab in town, so I was glad I didn't have to call.

As we loaded my bag into the car, my cell phone rung. It was my husband, he wanted to know if everything was alright. The other resented the intrusion of my other life, so it was hard not to sound angry when I spoke to Paul.

As Mira drove through the woods, she didn't speak, I could tell things were beginning for her too.

As the woods grew darker I felt the other stir, as if it knew we were coming home.

The when it popped into view it almost seemed it materialized out of nowhere. Maybe it did. It hadn't changed so it seemed like it was from another time. It was still ugly, like a large toad, ready to dart out it's tongue and swallow you up.

I noticed a Scout parked in the drive as we walked to the door.

The steps were light, that came to the door. I gasp in surprise at the young girl who opened the door.

Her smile, I knew. "When did this begin, Marianna?" I ask as the house swallowed me up.

She made me and Mira a cup of tea, "It begin last week." Smiling, "The years fell of very quickly."

Mira said, "It will happen soon."

I ask, "Are you reading or guessing."

"A little of both." she said. "Are you seeing shadows yet?"

"Something’s still holding me back."

"So your not seeing the shadows yet?"

I took a sip of tea, "Only in the dreams."

Marianna got up , Mace said he'd come if we really needed him, but Rachael is ready to give birth any day and he'd rather bring the child when they come.

Mira noticed the cloak I wore as I took it off. Her green eyes widened. "Is that it, Marti?"

"Yes," I said softly. "It appeared after the big storm in April."

Marianna and Mira whispered, "The same day as the arisen one?" I nodded and smiled through my tears.