First off I would like to wish all my American Hivelanders a Happy Thanksgiving and remind you whether you prefer turkey or ham, bean loaf or lentils, white meat or dark, when it comes to pie, pecan is for those with truly discerning dessert taste:)

Now to some other business. Some of you may have seen the movie Died Suddenly is out. I watched it and it was disturbing. It is not completely fabricated, but it is surely sensationalized and hyperbolic. If you haven't watched it yet; DON"T. If you like horror, may I suggest the Walking Dead; and please do not have your Vaxxed family and friends watch it.

Remind yourself we stood strong and held the line to protect the young and enact some damage control for those who were fooled. Died Suddenly is really only going to do one of two things: completely turned off the scientifically and rational-minded because of its inconsistencies and Hollywood treatment, or terrorize your friends and families. It is not helpful.

This not the way you want to spend your Thanksgiving Holiday, I am going to suggest instead you watch the lecture given by Dr. Malhotra. He better explains what was done and with a less conspiratorial heart. But either way, give it until Monday and enjoy your weekend.

Here is the Odyssee link should youtube pull the plug.

https://odysee.com/@deanandsuzy:3/Has-Big-Pharma-Hijacked-Evidence-Based-Medicine:f?r=MRDjTkjo9DUvX3b8NLvJ5LdJVr8Mt4zR

The Wisp

Bara regained the power to move. She turned to see the same golden light that Courtney had used come from Ms. Korey and the dark-haired boy. Ms. Korey’s light settled on Courtney, and bathed her in a protective glow. The Wisp continued to shoot silver. It now glanced off the gold. The dark-haired boy aimed at the Wisp. The Wisp was forced back until she stood just inside the broken window. She stopped taking aim at Courtney and turned her attention to her attacker. Silver bounced off the dark-haired boy in a shower of sparks.

With Courtney no longer under fire, Ms. Korey also focused her energy on the Wisp. The Wisp wasn’t fazed. She used a hand to aim at each of her foes. The match was even. Then movement from the other side of the room caught her attention. She’d seen Amy. Her silver eyes widened with fear. It wasn’t Amy who frightened her. It was the diary she held, the amber on its cover. The Wisp stopped fighting. Stirring up a tremendous wind, she rose several feet above the ground, turned fast, and flew out the broken window.

Like a blanket lifted over an unmade bed, the wind the Wisp had stirred settled. Dust hung but more and more of it landed, coating everything in a two-inch layer of silver. The smoking cinders in the fireplace were the only evidence that the study had been, until recently, functional. Bara stood among the debris, not sure what she should do. Amy was helping Colin limp to a chair. He moaned, complained, and joked. He’d be okay. Ms. Korey and the dark-haired boy were seeing to a bleeding and bruised Courtney. Her future was less certain. She sat propped up against the wall. Her head lolled disturbingly to one side.
“Will my stepmother be okay?” Bara asked.
The dark-haired boy had eyes even bluer than they had been in her dreams. Odd under the circumstance, with Courtney near death, but he grinned and winked. He closed his eyes and put his hands together as in prayer. Slowly, he pulled his palms apart. A globe of blue light formed. Beginning at her head, he put his hand inches away from her golden hair, immersing Courtney in the glow. His hands moved down to her toes, never actually making physical contact. He stepped back and left her awash in energy. Courtney closed her eyes. Bright flashes moved over her body. Silver dust lifted from her skin and clothes. Cuts closed. Bruises faded and disappeared. When the light dimmed, she appeared healed. She opened eyes now free of any pain.
“Your powers are weakened,” the dark-haired boy told her. “I don’t know how much longer you have.”
He spoke with an accent. Irish. In her dreams, she’d never heard his voice. It was a pleasant surprise. He sounded truly wonderful to her ears.
“Yes,” Courtney said with a wearied acceptance. “It is the way of borrowed magic.”
“She is healed,” the dark-haired boy announced.
Everyone turned to look at Bara then. There was a long silence. She looked once more at the ruined study and understood. Her hatred of Courtney had blinded her to the Wisp’s evil intentions. Worse yet, she’d coaxed Amy and Colin along on her crazy trip. She was to blame for everything. She opened her mouth to speak but then closed it again. What could she say, really? I’m sorry seemed woefully inadequate.

The dark-haired boy gave her a sympathetic look. He read her thoughts. “The demon is very cunning.” He tilted his head in Courtney’s direction and added, “You should have been given more warning.”
Ms. Korey gave an annoyed look. She helped Courtney to her feet and guided her to a tattered wing chair. Courtney was greatly improved but still wobbly.
“She tried to tell me,” Bara admitted. “I wouldn’t listen.”
“The Demen play on our weaknesses and …”
Courtney interrupted the dark-haired boy.
“You were mine, Bara.” She smiled with tenderness. Her smile then turned suddenly sour. She turned from Bara to the dark-haired boy and said one word. “Mathew?”
The dark-haired boy had a name. Mathew, but Courtney didn’t seem all that wowed to speak it.
“How long have you been back in Windfall?” she asked.
“Long enough,” he responded in kind. “Given my timing, I’d think you’d be more pleased to see me.”
“I’d have liked to have seen you a lot earlier.” Courtney turned to Ms. Korey. “You knew he was here all along?”
“I keep his secrets as I do yours.”
Ms. Korey spoke with an accent too. Her real voice.
“Of course, you do,” Courtney chimed in return.
“Perhaps we could be grateful he is here now,” Ms. Korey replied. She nodded in Bara’s direction.
Bara held the arm that had been cut by the dagger. Courtney sighed and turned back to Mathew. He took a step in Bara’s direction. There was a small trickle of blood on her arm, and she had more than a few other cuts and bruises. Colin let out a gasp of pain from the other side of the room. Amy was checking him over. He seemed in far worse shape.
“Could you help him first?” Bara asked. “Please.”
Mathew gave a queer smile, almost pained. He put a hand out to Colin. Like Mathew had tried to touch him with a rattlesnake, Colin drew back.
“Whoa, dude! What are you doing?”
“Bara,” Courtney suggested. “You should go first.”
Mathew shrugged and grabbed for her hand. He led Bara a few steps away to the fireplace. A warm glow danced across his face. He continued to hold her hand and stare into her eyes. She felt a strange rush of energy. She couldn’t help herself. She blushed. He gave her hand a reassuring squeeze and then let go. Her cheeks were still aflame when the blue light came. Silver lifted from her flesh and clothing. Her cuts closed and bruises faded. The light dimmed and the healing stopped. Mathew examined her arm, tracing a finger along the one remaining cut. There was that rush of energy again.
“This wound is from the dagger,” he told her. “It won’t be healed with the light.”
Bara was on the verge of a swoon from the feel of his fingers on her skin. Her stepmother brought her back from the edge. Courtney let out a small gasp.
“The cut isn’t deep,” Mathew reassured. “It will heal on its own and with time.” He turned again to Colin.
Colin continued to hesitate. He had that same odd look on his face Mathew’d had just a short time earlier. “Can’t one of you two do it?” he asked Courtney and Ms. Korey. “I’m not sure I want the coffee guy practicing voodoo magic on me.”
Coffee guy? Bara connected the dots. Mathew must be the new Tragic Sip barista, the one the Goths had been so excited about. She understood their reaction now.

***

Words and Images are my own.

Manta Ray is published in Monsters, Avatars & Angels.

Monsters, Avatars & Angels and the Wisp are available in paperback or digital through amazon and your local libraries and bookstores. Click on any title below to further explore and support my writing.