Drake Sisters 02 - The Twilight Before Christmas

Kate,” Matt agreed. “Is there any way to minimize it?”
    The seven women looked at one another. As usual, it was Sarah who answered. “We al handle it in different ways. Most of us find our own space and live there, as shielded as we can manage to be.” She smiled at Matt. “I know it wil help Kate to have you. Damon helps me.”
    “So far I haven’t managed to keep her from wearing herself out. Every time I think we’re going to get a little respite, the fog comes in again,” Matt pointed out. He was extraordinarily happy that Sarah had accepted his relationship with Kate.
    “You’ve helped enormously,” Kate acknowledged.
    El e leafed through the journal. “You said there were symbols on the seal, Kate? Could you read it at al ?”
    “The first Drake settlers must have been the ones to seal the restless spirit, El e. It was definitely formed around the time the town was settled.
    From what I could read, it was something about rage and sealing until one is born who could do something. I went back to take another look, but most of the seal was crushed and the actual writing lost,” Kate admitted.
    “Until one is born who can do something,” Sarah repeated aloud. “Something to do with a voice.”
    “Here it is,” El e said triumphantly. “‘He who wil not receive forgiveness shal remain sealed until one is born who can give him peace.’”
    There was a long silence. Matt stared at the cranberry candle as the three flames leaped and burned. Hot wax poured over the side like a lava flow, forming a thick pool around the holder. It was a fascinating sight, deep purple wax flowing almost like dark blood. “Why would he need peace?”
    El e pushed a pair of glasses on her nose and studied the faded writing. “One of the sisters who helped to seal the spirit must have had precognition the way Mom does. If that’s the case, it means we should be able to find a way to al ow him to rest.”
    “Unless the earthquake opened the crack in the ground and al owed him to escape before his time,” Matt said.
    “I doubt it,” Sarah said seriously. “Things usual y happen the way they’re supposed to happen, Matthew. It’s obviously our time. We have no choice but to figure this out. It’s our destiny.”

    Matt wiped his hand over his mouth. He wasn’t certain he believed in destiny. He felt Kate’s hand in his hair and changed his mind. “Hannah, are you feeling any better?” She didn’t look better. Without her, he wasn’t positive they could have managed to get El e back up the cliff in the midst of the thick fog or drive the entity out to sea and away from the townspeople time after time.
    “I’ve been resting. Libby’s helped.”
    Libby Drake. Matt looked at her. She was legendary in the smal town. She was the only Drake with midnight black hair and pale, almost translucent skin. She was a natural-born healer, the real thing. He smiled at her. “It’s good to see you again, Libby. Maybe you better hide out while you’re home. If word gets out you’re back, you’l have everyone in town lining up for a cure.”
    “I do want to visit Irene’s son while I’m home. My sisters went to see him and did what they could to make him comfortable, but I promised I’d go see him.”
    “Libby—” Matt shook his head—“you know he has terminal cancer. Even you can’t get rid of that.” He waited. When no one said anything he looked at her. “Can you?” The idea was unsettling.
    “I won’t know until I visit him,” Libby admitted.
    “What would be the price?” Matt couldn’t imagine what it would cost Libby to actual y cure someone sent home to die.
    Libby smiled at him. “I can see why Kate loves you so much, Matt. You’re very discerning. It’s a trade-off. I might save one person, but while I’m recovering, I might lose a hundred others.”
    “That bad?” He reached his hand for Kate. The thought of what the women had to go through on a daily basis moved him. In their own way, they were warriors, and he had a deep respect for them.
    “Does anyone want more tea? I’m getting another cup,” Hannah volunteered.
    “I can get it,” Matt offered. He felt a little useless.
    Hannah paused just a few feet from the entrance to the kitchen. “I’m already up, but thank you,” she said, and took two steps, halting abruptly, staring at the flickering candle in the bay window facing the sea. “Sarah, you need to come look at this.”
    Matt got to his feet, pul ed Kate up