The Supernatural Eye (rewritten)

[ILLYRIAN]

The Supernatural Eye

During the time they were with Giles in England Willow and Buffy agreed to start a service to help those who survived the death of a friend or close family member who had recently departed. Dawn and Xander suggested they start a service to help all those who were left dealing with the loss. Willow and Buffy suggested they form a business too make some money. That evening Willow had prepared a cup of tea and made some sandwiches with Xander for when Buffy and her sister Dawn arrived at her place that evening.

After much discussion they agreed to start a business, Buffy and Dawn agreed that the house they had bought could be used as a base for the business, Buffy stated that she would go to the Tax office to register the business. Xander said he would go to the local police station to notify them about what their intentions were. They all agreed that the intention of the business was to better understand how the dead felt in the first few days and weeks after their death and what the future had in store for them. Willow said she would make up some business cards and design a logo.

Buffy went to the Tax office the following day, Xander went to the police station to notify them of the intention to start an investigations business Willow found herself alone the next day which suited her as she could concentrate about designing a business card. Several hours passed by with no success then Willow thought about what they were doing, gaining knowledge about the death of a friend, thinking about that Willow had the idea of making up a name that spoke of that subject and what they intended to do. Willow told herself the business name should reflect the continuation of the dead.

Willow decided The Supernatural Eye described the subject and it had a description of what they looked with. The business card had the business name across the top of the card, the logo was an eye though to be a Supernatural Eye Willow designed it with an all black eye. The address and telephone number was underneath, Willow liked what she had done and looked forward to hearing what the others thought of it that evening. Buffy, Dawn and Xander returned at about five thirty that evening, while they were having a cup of coffee Willow casually passed a mock up business card to each of them.

Willow was happy that each of them liked what she had done. Buffy said the Tax office liked the idea and would notify her officially of the business name. Dawn and Xander reported that the police were very supportive about their idea. They stated they would fast track a reply, Dawn was grateful she stated the sooner that happened the sooner they could start having conversations with dead people. It was about a week before the Tax office gave them a certificate that let them know the business had been registered. The police were happy to offer any help they could.

Willow said she would start a web site for the business, Xander said he would buy a van for business use, Willow said she would have the van painted. She decided to have the colour Mission Brown with Yellow lettering. On each side the name was above the eye and would be three foot long and two foot high, when viewed from the front or back of the van the eye appeared to be just like any normal eye, however when it was viewed from directly adjacent to it, it became all black. The front and back just had the name on displayed.

Several weeks later they decided the first job would be to go to a haunted Inn that had used to be a stopping off point for stage coaches. The place was known as The White Bear Inn, it was only twenty miles from where they lived, on the agreed day at midway through the morning the Eye team wandered into the reception of The White Bear Inn, the girl behind the counter in the reception area told them they would need to wait a while as the owners car had broken down at a hypermarket near the centre of Bellsdon, a short fifteen minute drive away. The Eye team waited there for over twenty minutes.

The girl in the reception apologized to them, she said she would take them on the tour until the owner showed up. The Eye team faced her, they wanted to know who she was.
“You can call me Bekky, that is the name everyone uses to speak to me so of you have any questions don't be afraid to ask them of me,” she said.
Xander looked at her then leant to Buffy, whispering to her. “If you will follow me we can go into the main bar, I bet there is a ghost there just to keep us happy. Going into the bar Bekky told them that there was four figures in long raincoats although, no one knew who they were.

Walking behind the bar Bekky went to the end of the bar and lifted up a trap door.
“If you people would care to follow me we can go down into the cellar.”
Buffy, Willow Xander and Dawn did as Bekky wanted, carefully going down the wooden steps. When all four of them stood on the cool concrete floor Xander began to shiver,
“Is the cold down here due to the temperature to keep the barrels of beer okay?” asked Xander.

Bekky was about to answer him when a babies cries gently floated through the cellar.
“Now that was a good experience, I take it that was a ghost baby?” asked Dawn.
Willow leant closer to Bekky, “Was that for our benefit?”
“No, now that one is a strange one, that crying has been heard in all the rooms of the Inn and even outside in the courtyard,” said Bekky.

“So where does it the sound of the babies crying come from?” asked Willow.
Bekky replied to her, that is a problem really, no one knows where the babies crying comes from, plus there is another problem about it, no one has ever registered in the Inn with a baby,” said Bekky.
“That might be easily explained there is a report of a in a supermarket in Welshpool who was haunted by the ghost of her six year old son.

Once in that supermarket at the checkout a bar of chocolate was seen to float into the woman's shopping trolley. That upset a couple of people in the queue, not the woman though she had become accustomed to that sort of thing happening. Mind you, what happened next caused a much bigger reaction.”
“After the bar of chocolate had been priced it was seen to float out of a bag. It unwrapped itself then a bite appeared on the bar of chocolate. There was a lot of swooning by many of the other people in the shop but all the woman said was, he usually waits until we get in the car outside before he does that.”

“Come on you lot, move along, we are expecting a delivery soon,” a cellarman appeared at the back of the cellar.
Xander turned to where the voice came from, catching a fleeting glimpse of a figure.
“Ok,” he said.
So Xander led Buffy, Willow and Dawn out of the cellar and up the steps into the bar. Willow faced Bekky, she was puzzled why Bekky was grinning so much.

“Oh, it is nothing, it is just that I liked the way you turned to leave the cellar, that's all.”
“Well, if your going to have a delivery, we don’t want to get in the way,” said Willow.
“Thank you but the Inn is not due for a delivery for three more days,” said Bekky.
Willow was confused, “So why did the cellarman just say the Inn is getting a delivery soon.”

“And he did say that but that cellarman died a hundred and ninety three years ago. He once owned this place, he still likes to help out here,” said Bekky smiling to Willow.
“But?” added Willow. "Maybe the ghost likes you," added Bekky.
“He is the main reason I brought you into the cellar, he is the ghost of Robert Saunders. Right then next we will go into the courtyard! It can be referred to as nice out there, they walk up from the cellar into the bar then out the door into the courtyard.


To Be Continued

 

[ILLYRIAN]

THE SUPERNATURAL EYE Part 2

Bekky explained to the Supernatural Eye team that the Inn was once on the main route for horse drawn carriages from London to the north, she stood in the entrance where the stage coaches would enter the Inn from the town's main road.
“This is my favourite part of the Inn,” said Bekky.
Buffy appeared to be surprised by Bekky’s revelation though the group followed her into the courtyard.

Willow turned about when she heard some-one calling to them, then she tried to hear what the person was saying, Willow suddenly saw who was calling to them and what she said.
“Excuse me, but I thought we had arranged to meet in the reception area.”
Willow looked to the woman, though she didn't recognize her. “And you are?” asked Willow.

“I am the current owner of the Inn, I am Mrs. Fischer.”
“Oh, then (Willow turns to speak to Bekky) where are you Bekky?” asked Willow.
“Why am I not surprised that you have met our Bekky? I must admit she is a lovely person. She is somewhat mischievous at times but a very nice person. Her full name was Miss Bekky Kelder, did she say this was her favourite area of the Inn?” asked Mrs. Fischer.

“Yes, she did,” said Dawn feigning to listen intently.
“And did she show you around?”
“Yes, we stood in the bar she said about the four who were in the bar although no one knew about them, we heard the babies cries and we saw a ghost in the cellar,” said Xander.

“We did?” asked Willow.
“Miss that one did you, a ghost introduced you to a ghost,” said Mrs. Fischer.
Willow and Buffy look surprised to each other.
“We did? What can you tell us about Bekky?”

“You know, I never understood why Bekky likes this part of the inn so much, I mean, it was here about a hundred years ago that she saw the headless bodies on a stage coach arrive here,” said Mrs. Fischer.
Dawn stared at Mrs. Fischer.
“Wait a minute, are you saying Bekky is a ghost,” said Dawn.

At the time the stage coach was being brought here after a nasty robbery, there was a blanket covering both of the drivers headless torso's but it fell off. Mrs. Fischer grimaced at the thought of what Bekky must have seen. “We have no more information about her and the same for the baby. In fact there has never been a baby die here, I’ve no idea whose baby it is either,” said Mrs. Fischer.
“That is a thought, Bekky said about the man in the cellar?” asked Buffy.

“Yes, Mr. Robert Saunders. He was a respected figure in these parts. He did own this place and on occasion he would work here, but he didn’t die here.”
“So he had a link to this place. About the crying, is there any record of anyone staying here, with a baby?” asked Willow.
“There are many ghosts here, several more than I care to mention. Sorry but that is about it, mind you this might be a first for you people,” said Mrs. Fischer.

“How do you mean, what might?” asked Dawn.
“Well, you were given a tour of a haunted Inn and you were given that tour by a ghost,” said Mrs. Fischer.
Willow faced Xander and Dawn, smiling, Mrs. Fischer grinned to them.
“And you have not seen the best area yet and dare I say it possibly the most popular ghosts,” said Mrs. Fischer.

Willow faced her then looked at where they were standing.
“I have put a blue potted flower by the door to the old outside kitchen,” said Mrs. Fischer.
Buffy looked at the flower, she could not see the reason why it might be there.
“One of the ladies who works in the kitchen likes that colour, she has been known to get disappointed if she doesn't get a flower,” said Mrs. Fischer.

“When you say she has been disappointed, what sort of things does she do?” asked Xander.
“That is the strange thing, the air in the kitchen begins to turn black and not just any old shade of black, everywhere seems to be an oily black.”
“So if you’d care to join me for a cuppa and a bite to eat, in the main bar you can tell me about your little adventure,” said Mrs. Fischer.
Sitting down, Dawn appeared to think about what was said.

“Do you mind if we wait until after we have had chance to think about what was said?” asked Xander.
“That Siobhan, she seemed to be such a nice person. I will go to the room and write this down while its all clear in my mind,” said Willow.
“Like her did you? Well I suppose she did appear to be a nice person. I hope you two do not get together though, I mean, isn’t there a word for sleeping with a dead person?” asked Mrs. Fischer.

Sitting in his room, Xander had just finished writing an entry for May. While reading through it to make sure there were no errors he heard a woman’s voice just behind him complementing him on his handwriting.
“Thanks,” he said then he suddenly realized whose voice it was, he turned to face her.
“Siobhan? What are you doing here in my room?”

“I am a woman Xander! I’m alone. I like you, I have spoken with quite a few people over the years and they were quite happy to talk to me, until they found out I am a ghost, please tell me you are not like them Xander,” said Siobhan.
“I would never thought about a ghost being lonely before, that could be my fault though, I think of a ghost as being a normal person, only dead.”
“Thank you Xander, I know you will have a question or two for me, all I ask is that you will still talk with me afterwards.”

Xander smiled to Siobhan. “I do have a few questions for you, I was told how you died, but I am curious about who you are, or were. You died when you saw what was on that carriage; Why were you there and all that crying?”
“First of all, the carriage belonged to Lord and Lady Strathborne. Maybe I should ask the ghost Mr. Saunders about them. As for me, I think it was my first day here.”

“Did you work here Siobhan or were you staying here in one of the rooms?”
“I really don’t know the answer to that one, why do you ask?”
“It will make understanding who was who here a bit easier. A part of the puzzle that is this place is still missing. Have you seen any other ghosts here?” asked Dawn.

“Well yes, I have seen many more, I am not to sure about the crying, there may be something in what your friend said.”
“Remind me about that please, I cannot think what that was,” said Dawn.
“About the woman being haunted by the child. It’s just that most times when I have seen the other ghost I hear the cries which makes me wonder, the other ghost, does she go to the same place often?” asked Dawn.

“Anyway, the thought I had was, if you go to the local church and have a look at the records for births and deaths, for a child here. I will do a bit of snooping myself,” said Xander.
“What are you going to do Xander?” asked Dawn.
“I will go to the reception and see Mrs. Fischer, I will try and get a look at the records of this place.”

As Xander approached the counter in the Inn's reception area.
“Hello Xander, what can I do for you?”
“I have just been thinking, I am going to try and find out about the other ghost and that baby.”


To Be Continued

 

[ILLYRIAN]

The Supernatural Eye Part 3

Dawn was confused,
“Do you mean you were just talking with Siobhan, the ghost? And the two of you were talking about another ghost, then she suggested that you go to find the baby?”

“I saw the ghost standing there, that she was just looking at a bare bit of wall, I went to where I had seen her and had a close look at the wall, it could be that there used to be a picture there, it looked as though there was once a hook there,” replied Xander.
“Now I think know that place, there was a picture of a stately home in an attic, the frame needs repairing.”

“About the frame, is it broken in the upper left corner, as you look at it?”
“I would have to check, but you might be right. In fact, I will get it now. If you will be alright to wait here? If any-one does come, tell them I will be back in a minute or two.”

Dawn watched Mrs. Fischer go.
Happily Xander went and stood behind the counter, pleased with himself, he surveyed all around. “Now what do I do?” he said to himself.
Buffy was going to her room, she saw Xander at the reception counter, smiling to himself, she went to him to ask for her room key.

Xander handed her the key to her room.
“Hello Xander. Why are you waiting here?” Buffy continued.
“Mrs. Fischer has gone to get a picture for me, from the attic,” said Xander.

“A picture what of?”
“I don’t know yet Buffy, but hopefully I will soon. The ghost said she had seen a ghost there. We had a chat and between us we figured out that the baby has something in common with the appearance that other ghost. So I thought the ghost is the babies mother? Ok.”

“Yeah! it could be,” replied Buffy though she was unsure what the picture had to do with it?”
“That ghost always looked at that bit of wall where that picture used to be.”
“You're hoping for a house, of where the ghost used to live? So why is the ghost here? I‘d have thought you‘d have been drawn to your son," said Dawn.

“Who? Oh I give in, I am so confused,” said Buffy.
Dawn said, “The picture is of The Blairs house.”
Buffy stood very near and pushed Dawn aside,

“Excuse me Dawn, that is where I stand,” she said.
Dawn stepped back trying not to allow her body to rub against Mrs. Fischer as she regained her place at the reception desk, both of them stopped as the baby’s cries were once again heard. “I would really like to know where that crying is coming from,” said Dawn.

“So try asking the person next to you.” Dawn looked at the empty space.
“I meant the other way Dawn,” said Mrs. Fischer.
Dawn looked the other way. “Oh! Who are you?” she asked.

“My name is Esme, that is my baby you can hear crying, but I can’t find him.”
“This is a picture of the Blair W. house, did you work or live there?” asked Mrs. Fischer.
Esme studied the painting. “No, I’ve never been there where is it?”

“It is near Dumbireton,” said Mrs. Fischer.
“Oh? So, why are you drawn to the house Esme?”
“That is where I can hear my baby crying,” said Esme.

“To a house where you have never been?” asked Mrs. Fischer.
“If my baby is there, why is she here?” asked Esme
“Esme, your baby is with us, we will try to find out why you are here and about your baby,” said Dawn.

“I’ve been trying to make sense of a few things here, so just bear with me, can you remember when you were first here?” asked Mrs. Fischer.
“I have a vague memory of coming to this place, all I now know is that I keep looking at this picture,” said Esme.
“This Inn was a coaching Inn so you might have come here by a stagecoach, I wonder? When did you come here Esme?”

“I am fairly sure it was in the year eighteen eighty one, why?” asked Esme.
“It might fit,” said Dawn.
“What might?” asked Mrs. Fischer.

“Esme? Can you remember why you were coming here?”
“I think it was to see a cousin,” replied Esme.
“Good,” said Dawn, “I will need to do a few more checks, but this is becoming more and more likely,” she continued.

“Can I help you?” asked Esme. Dawn started to shake her head.
“The way I see it is, if I tell you something I may forget it, so I will keep it all together until it can all be explained. But those answers might help you. Mrs Fischer, did this place keep records of the visitors, who was booked in to stay here? in the year that Esme mentioned.”

“I know that records have been kept, we looked a few years ago, just in case any-one famous stayed here. We were hoping that royalty stayed here, why do you ask?” asked Mrs. Fischer.
“We might be able to find out where you are from Esme and who you are.”

“How?” asked Mrs. Fischer.
“Check the records again, when you look this time I should be able to give you a name and a date. Till then, can my I have a cuppa?”
“I will go, but I would like to see you later,” said Esme.

“Okay David, tea or coffee, and I think I will join you,” said Mrs. Fischer.
They had been sat in the bar having tea and cakes for a while before a ghost breezed in and joined them.
“Let me guess, there was a birth notice with the mothers name, dated about eighteen eighty. But no mention of the baby’s father,” said Dawn.

“Let me see if I am following this correctly Dawn,” she kept reading the account of the baby, “It does say about a married woman and her baby, the young woman did give birth to a child. She was married, but her husband died. There is a record of when she died though there is no mention of the baby's death though I am not sure why, still the fathers name was Captain Olivier Strathborne.” Dawn smiled then shouted “Yes!” .

“What is it Dawn, what have you found?” asked Mrs. Fischer.
“Mrs. Fischer, Strathborne was the name of people who were due to stay here in eighteen eighty one. That was when Siobhan died. The bits of the jig-saw are starting to fit together.”

Mrs. Fischer continued looking at the Inns register of visitors.
“I think this is the one you wanted, Dawn, said Mrs. Fischer.
Dawn looked at what Mrs. Fischer had just found.

“It is time for me to read the book and if it is alright with you, I would like that other ghost to be with us,” said Dawn.
“That is okay Dawn, I will go back to the graveyard while I was there before, I started to look at the headstones, I will go back and spend some more time there.”

Mrs. Fischer found evidence of Esme's family. They went for a drive to the ruins of a big old house that Esme's family came from.
“It is starting to get dark, maybe we should try this tomorrow,” said Mrs. Fischer.
“Not really, if anything the darkness will only help us,” said Esme.

Turning to Esme, Dawn looked into her eyes. “Esme, I want you to listen to my voice, to see a vision in your mind, start to make a picture of what I am saying, now close your eyes. I want you to remember the house, the night of the grand ball that was in celebration of your wedding, the music being played, I want you to re-live it and see it. Believe that you are there.”


To Be Continued

 

[ILLYRIAN]

The Supernatural Eye Part 4

As they approached the ruins of the old stately house Willow called to the spirit of the house, and the ten foot tall heavy wooden archway doors opened to reveal the ballroom. Mrs. Fischer and Willow stood in the entrance of the room and looked about the ruins of the room as the walls began to take shape on them, the floor became highly polished wood, ornate walls appeared and encapsulated the ballroom.

Intricate pillars of marble with lashings of golden paint appeared each side of the large windows that were partially covered with long red velvet curtains. An impressively large mirror proudly stood over the opulent fireplace. The hand painted ceiling revealed a full landscape of the surrounding area. People appeared to fill the room, dressed in the best finery of the day.

Women’s dresses spoke of their opulence with glorious colours that reflected the lights that were placed at small intervals about the room. A stage began to take form at one corner in the room where the finely attired musicians played the melodic music that wafted around the room. Disbelieving all that it was, Mrs. Fischer watched what was unfolding before her eyes.

She looked to Willow and asked her what would be happening next?
Willow smiled to her,
“Esme is bringing the memories of that special night in her life for you to see them.”

Guests joined hands in the large circle of relatives who wanted to support the wedding of the elder son of Lord and Lady Strathborne. Captain Oliver took pride of place in the center of their relatives and friends. Captain Oliver was proud of Esme who had wanted her dress to respect the naval attribute of her new husband. Buffy wanted those who were part of the team to mingle with the wedding guests on the dance floor.

Buffy stated they were looking for two people imparticular. She did not say who but said they would know who she meant when they saw the person, Buffy grinned then announced that the person who she wanted them to find was a ghost even then Buffy refused to disclose the ghosts name. Moving between the wedding guests the Eye people, gazed at the ghosts.

They continued to look at the wedding guests who daintily danced around them. Willow stopped to admire one of the oil paintings on the wall opposite the fireplace, she noticed a well attired man at the back of everyone who were featured. Staring at that figure she glanced to Mrs. Fischer,
“I am sure I have seen him before,” she said.

Mrs. Fischer smiled to Willow,
“And you have for that is who I wanted you to see here, he is Mr. Robert Saunders the cellarman for The White Bear Inn.”
Willow grimaced.

“If only I had see the ghost not just a person in an oil painting, Dawn looked surprised at Willow's demeanor, she turned about to see what Willow had seen. She was just as surprised as she saw Siobhan with her hand resting on Mr. Saunders elbow, the Inn's cellarman." That must be who that was meant. As they turned Willow lightly gripped Mrs. Fischer’s elbow.

“One might be forgiven for imagining that they are friends,” said Mrs. Fischer.
“That does explain what we saw,” said Dawn.
Each of the Eye team was surprised as they faced Dawn for saying that.

“What does it explain?” Buffy asked Mrs. Fischer.
“Judging by the way Mr. Saunders smirked at Siobhan when he asked us to leave the cellar, I am now not thinking he asked for all of us to leave, he just wanted Siobhan to leave.”

“Oh,” declared Buffy.
“Do you mean that you think he was an uncle to Siobhan?”
Mrs. Fischer was about to react as a ghost walked through the wall next to her.

“It seems as though our presence is requested,” she said.
Wandering into the courtyard the team noticed a short line of five blue flowers.
“What are they for?” asked Xander.

“Not what, they are for one of the cooks in the scullery, she does like to get presents of blue flowers. She gets upset when no flowers are left for her,” said Mrs. Fischer.
She unlocked the three locks on the door. Buffy wanted to know why there was three locks on the door.

“If no blue flowers are given to her she can get very upset, she makes the air in the scullery turn black, not just any black she can make the air become an oily black, it gets so dark you cannot see your hand when it is pressed onto your nose,”
Mrs. Fischer handed each of them a potted plant as they entered the room.

“Put it on the bottom step,” said Mrs. Fischer.
Each of them wandered into the scullery but was stopped beside the twin sinks,
“You ought to notice that the sinks are full of pots and pans that need cleaning, I suggest you remember the sinks when you leave. “

If you look to the back door you can see the outside, a garden which is odd because at the back of the scullery is the wall between the Inn and next door. We are to go into the next room, standing in the room Mrs. Fischer drew their attention to a table that has a thick wooden top to it.
“That is the chopping block, you may notice the door at the end of the room and a window to the courtyard,

does everyone agree the view from the window of the courtyard is quite good?”
They agreed with Mrs. Fischer.
“Remember that view because when we are outside you will see there is no window in the wall.”

As they look at the window four horses of colour trot passed the window, moments later the horses go back though they have riders on them.
“Who do you think they are?” asked Willow.
Mrs. Fischer grimaced to Willow, then answered her question.

“No one knows, though they do appear to be the four figures from the bar,” said Mrs. Fischer. She sat back and thought who they might have been.
“No other clues are available regarding who they are, I refuse to accept that the colours of the horses are cause for us to define who ride them. Can you decide who rides a black horse, a white horse, a slightly pale green horse and the last one has a reddish colour.

I accept who they might be given the colour of those horses, I refuse to acknowledge who they are or even guess who they might be,” said Mrs. Fischer.
Mrs. Fischer guided them from the room where animals were cut up on the chopping block then back into the scullery.
“Before we do leave the room have a look to the top of the wall opposite where the courtyard is, do you see the windows at the top of the wall and in

the end window, anyone recognize who is looking in?”
Dawn looked at the face in the window then shook her head.
“Right then now here is the last questions that need to be answered. How long were we in the next room, a minute or so.

That being so have a look at the twin sinks. Do you notice there are no pots or pans and that there is no water in the sinks plus if you run your fingers on the inside of the sinks I doubt you will feel any wetness on the sides of the sinks, not bad for a minute or so,” said Mrs. Fischer.
Wandering up the steps Mrs. Fischer closes the door behind them and locks each of the locks.

They all go across the courtyard to the door into the bar, as Xander is about to open the door the door it opens for him though he sees no one who opens the door.



To Be Continued

 

[ILLYRIAN]

The Supernatural Eye Part 5

When they had returned to the base of operations, Xander went into the kitchen to put on the kettle. Buffy and Willow went into the front room to start making the reports of the various supernatural entities at the Inn. Dawn went into the lounge and prepared the seating for them,

by the time Xander brought in a tray of food and hot drinks for them Willow and Buffy had just sat on the lounge. Dawn stated that she was surprised at the level of interaction she'd found with ghosts. She had been so impressed at the knowledge of the deceased, about how one ghost might talk with another ghost.

Willow agreed and continued with that line of thought saying the ghosts she met were quite willing to discuss another dead persons willingness to talk pleasantries about whom so ever she had wanted to know about. Buffy was a bit upset though they were no closer to finding out how the recently deceased might feel in the first few moments after their death.

Dawn asked Buffy to describe how a dead person would talk about the next dead person? Dawn said she thought that it spoke well of how one ghost reacted with another dead person, implying the better side of a beings personality did become common knowledge.

The following day Xander took the van to a local garage to see if they would check over it. "And could they see about doing any repairs that needed to be done?" he asked. Mid morning while Dawn was seeing what was written on their site she saw that an e-mail had been received from Detective Watts.

It was about a hotel not far from the Inn they had been in the previous week, about it having had some extensions added, the name of the hotel was The Smugglers Arms. Detective Watts stated that a few ghosts had been seen wandering through the newly built rooms.

The police wanted the Eye team to investigate who the ghosts were and do what they could to make life easier for the living, Detective Watts added that some rooms would be made available for the Eye team for the duration of the stay. Agreeing with each other they decided to go to the Smugglers Arms.

Willows questioned about if the place was a new hotel or an existing one that had been improved. On arriving at the place they were given a brochure that spoke of the history of the Smugglers Arms. That answered Willows questions, Buffy read aloud that three of the buildings had received alterations.

Also that four more rooms had been added to the ground floor, with the rooms above them at The Smugglers Arms increased its size by eight rooms. Dawn said that the detective had told her about the ghosts having been seen walking through rooms on the ground floor.

After investigating the route the ghosts had walked Dawn discovered they were on a path that came from the nearby river. though she was unclear about where the ghosts were headed. A map informed Dawn that the river was a lower part of an estuary, it made itself known to Dawn that those ghosts were in fact the smugglers of the name of the hotel.

Dawn told Willow what she had discovered and together they sought about finding more secrets of the smugglers. Willow traced where the ghosts had come from, she even tracked them to a cavern on the coast where a store of barrels of drinks were found, she even found a name plate from the ship the smugglers used.

Dawn was able to follow where the smugglers had gone to once they had supplied the Arms and was amazed to discover that one of the places was the home of Lord and Lady Strathbourne. It was through that place the smugglers supplied the drinks for the wedding of Captain Oliver and Esme, at The White Bear Inn.

Being a bit inquisitive Dawn asked Buffy if they could meet and talk to the smugglers, three nights later Buffy and Willow waited at the room the ghosts were reported to be seen in most often. Not knowing how many ghosts they might be expected to see they were pleasantly surprised to only meet five ghosts (four blokes and a woman.)

Buffy and Willow were quite astounded when they heard screams coming from one of the rooms, a female naked ghost had come out of the shower in a couples room. Seeing a ghost appear naked passing through a wall, the displeasure at having seen a ghost was only surpassed by the man who saw her naked was in a relationship with a man.

At first the ghost was afraid that a man had seen her without any clothes on then she realized that it was an unwelcome shock, not only because she was a ghost but also because the man preferred men. Her shock was eased when the man gave her a towel to cover herself with.

Making themselves known Buffy and Willow calmed her down, Willow then asked the ghost who she was with and why they were in the hotel, the woman introduced herself as she was known to his crew, “My name is Katherine, I am here with Captain Ryan O'Niel,” looking at the surroundings she was surprised to see that she was in a hotel.

“I came here on the path through the trees to discover what drinks were wanted here. When we have done that we will go somewhat further inland to the Wicked Cat drinking house after that we will return to the cavern after visiting the Captains loved one at the White Bear Inn.”

Buffy smiled in recognitition of the name, “Why do you like going there?” she asked. Captain Ryan O'Niel had a sister who worked at the Inn, “He is so glad that he can see her,” said Katherine. She faced Buffy, looking distraught she continued, “It has not been so good of late though,” she added.

Willow looked to Buffy, “Is that what Dawn was on about before?” Willow took out her mobile phone and rang Dawn. Dawn was able to reply to them a short time later, "Willow told Dawn about the connection between the ghost of Captain Ryan and his sister. Dawn started to smile at hearing that.

Something Dawn had thought about Esme, about her visitor who was close though other than a lover, “I never thought it was her brother,” admitted Dawn. Esme appeared next to Captain Ryan O'Niel who smiled to her, “Where is the baby?” he asked. Willow, Dawn and Buffy pointed to him just before the babies cries were heard.

When the baby appeared between the smuggler Capt. Ryan O'Niel and Esme. Willow, Buffy, Dawn and Xander suddenly realised they had just helped the ghosts and they became quite pleased with themselves. That evening they found they could relax, after having a meal they went to see the receptionists.

While at the desk, two receptionist appeared from behind a partition. They asked who each of the Eye team were and why they were there. The younger of the receptionists leant forward to her and asked Buffy not to speak to loud, the receptionist did not want her to scare the other patrons at the hotel.

The other receptionist invited them to join them behind the partition, once there they sat around a large desk, the more mature receptionist introduced herself, “I am who you know, my name is Antoinette, but you can call me Netty.” Willow continued to say why they were at the Smugglers Arms for.

"We have been asked to investigate about the recent problems of the ghostly sightings. Antoinette acknowledged them, saying that the ghosts were usually seen in that were recently added and occasionally they had been seen in the cellar of the bar. When they leave they always go off across the marshy ground, no idea where though.”

Dawn asked the receptionist, “If anyone has asked any of the ghosts where they were going?” Netty was shocked at Dawn's statement, “Speaking to a ghost, are you serious?” Buffy was surprised at Antionette's comment even though it was the normal thing for her to say.

“Antoinette, you can talk to ghosts, I have done so quite often,” said Buffy, “And on occasion they even reply.” added Willow. Netty tried not to laugh especially when she saw that Buffy was being serious. “I have no idea who or what they are,” said Antoinette. “When we took this job it was thought that the ghosts might have been actual smugglers."

"Do you know if that is right?” asked Willow. Antoinette shook her head, although given where this place is, she saw the look of surprise on Willow face. “There is a river across the field, with the river that passes passed here from the estuary, so yes it might well be that the ghosts were smugglers,” said Antoinette.

Dawn indicated that the additional rooms recently added are on the same side as the river. “Plus if we search along the coast we might find the cavern that could have been used by them to horde their contraband,” said Xander. "I wonder what else they may have kept in the cavern?” asked Antoinette.

Dawn went to the reception and picked a small notepad and pen which she brought back and gave it to Antoinette. “People often want all sorts of stuff, so what I want you to do is call all the shops in town and ask them what they'd want the smugglers to get for them?” asked Dawn.

“While you are doing that can we go to the rooms where the ghosts are heard and look about in them,” said Willow. As the younger receptionist opened the door of the room they heard the water in the shower cubicle. "Do you think Katherine might be using the shower again?" asked Willow.

"It might be," said Buffy "I doubt that a ghost will get much cleaner after having had a shower," she said.


To Be Continued

 

[ILLYRIAN]

The Supernatural Eye Part 6

Having contacted most of the shops in the town though only a few of them requested any produce from the smugglers. Given what they learnt Willow, Buffy and Xander began to learn of the smugglers nefarious intent. “I see what you mean as I had never given it much thought, just because they are dead,” said Willow. Xander wasn't very impressed.

“Does that mean we can ignore them I meant I had never given it much thought about what could be smuggled. I hope we can return to life the young men and the maidens who had become creatures of the night. It was the ghosts who were the prospects of them,” said Buffy. “What I find hard to understand is what became of those whom we were told of from the scenario at the hotels rooms,” said Xander.

Buffy hugged Xander, stating “You have gained the importance that we have with them.” It may be that because Xander was lost to them that they saw the need to be lost to us I see the need to contact those who have sent us against the ghosts, to find out where we need go to next. The three of them were happy knowing their time spent investigating the ghosts had just given them the knowledge that those who led the ghosts were aware of them.

Now they needed to understand more of the intentions of the ghosts Buffy began to have doubt about them being smugglers she started to think they could be pirates or at the very least until we talk to them we won’t know for sure. “What should we do now?” asked Buffy. Xander put a hand on their shoulders, implying his thoughts to them were as words.

“I know it is not what we set out to do but I think we have experienced all that we thought we could learn from, all that we might have learnt was from the four coloured horses though I have no idea where that may have led us.” Buffy blinked several times before she shrugged, “There is one possibility, in one of the towns we visited on the way here here there was talk of a doppelganger having been seen.

I would like to understand more about what was really there,” said Buffy. Willow looked to Xander, a smirk started to be present on her face, Xander agreed with them. “So tell us the name of that town Buffy where are we going to go next?” asked Willow. Wandering to their van Buffy told her friends the name of next town bore the name Warnock.

“The history of the town that we need to understand was centered in the depths of the castle,” said Buffy. “In the eons that have passed there was once two daughters, one was very beautiful but the other had looks that were regarded as plain in comparison. Trouble was that without the comparison to her sister the plain one would have seemed quite beautiful herself,” said Willow.

Buffy thought about what Willow said, “That was the reason why the sister had become jealous of her sister, so much so that the green fairy of jealousy crept into the ears of the plain sister. She planned her retribution for something that may or may not have happened, she needed to be sure though,” said Willow.

“The plain sister suggested to her beautiful sister she had found a broach that would suit her sister but wanted to make sure it might appear to be suitable for her sister,” said Willow. Willow took several sips of wine to loosen her tongue and for it to keep her awake, ashe was reminded of what was said to her in one of the places.

“Going into the dungeons the plain sister opened the doors to a specific cell, the beautiful daughter saw the beauty in the cell and ventured into the room, she went to where her sister said the broach was but did not see it, she turned to her sister but was horrified to see her sister closing the door of the cell.

Hearing her say she would never have to worry about you stealing my man from me again stated the plain sister stated as the cell door was locked,” said Willow. “Did she just leave her there and if so for how long?” asked Xander. Willow immediately replied, “That for several days the plain sister ignored her sister then began to feel a bit sorry for her.

So he took her food in the morning and the evening and took her water and soap so she could keep herself clean. The sister soon began to despair of her situation though she did not try to escape she started trying to remember the bed of flowers she had always chosen to visit. Every day she would concentrate on the group of flowers that she loved, imagining them to be in front of her.

That continued for every day of the first month, then near the end of the second month the beautiful daughter started to feel the gentle breeze on her face while she greeted the beauty of the flower, such was the impact of that beautiful time that she concentrated more on her imaginings of the flower garden. For many years that continued until one fateful day that she found she had become walled into the cell.

Knowing that she would soon die without food or water she chose to ignored her despair and continued to accept the beauty she found in the garden each day. But all was not well and one day while she was visiting her flower she found that she was visited by herself, initially she was shocked, though after a while she took pity on herself and smiled to her, then hugged herself.

“Now that would have been a sight to behold,” said Willow. Buffy agreed with her friend. “The thought of two versions of the same person being next to each other, of them hugging each other would have been such a sight to behold.” Xander smiled to both of his friends. “Such is the sight that was, of the ghost and the astral being of the same person appearing with each other.

The belief that was of the Doppelganger would only be increased, though not as the dictionaries described a Doppelganger to be, that was the story of how the town got its fame,” said Xander. Once the light of day greeted them Xander suggested they go back to the base of operations, to learn what they should need do next. Buffy and Willow agreed with him though they soon fell asleep in the back of the van, neither of them knew of it though.

(THE NECKLACE)

Xander had found what they were to do next he had been in their house when he heard someone knocking at the front door so he had gone to answer it. Opening the door he saw Detective Watts. He invited him in and directed him to the kitchen. “What have the police found for us to do next?” asked Xander.

“There was a break in at one of the house in town the daughter of the person at the house found her daughter and told us she believed the girl had killed herself though I have no real reason why I should not agree with the senior officers at the station, I do not think that really happened so could you people investigate it to find out what really happened?” asked Detective Watts.

“I see your problem but would a psychic be better to help you,” suggested Xander. “A psychic might but I have my doubts about why the girl was there, I do not believe anything that has been said,” said Detective Watts. “Ok, we will look into what was then let you know what was, do you want us to let you know in such as a way that you can pretend it was you who found out the real reason?” asked Xander.

Detective Watts thanked him. Later that day after Xander had told the girls about what was they all ventured to the house. “You must learn to rely on me,” said Xander. Willow slung an arm around Buffy's shoulder. “I think Xander is withholding something,” said Willow. Buffy wanted to know what it was. “True we do have a case to keep us occupied.

The police were called to the scene of the break and though the room was not particularily messy they found the body of a girl there. Detective Watts wants us to look into how the girl died he does not think the girl killed herself I get the opinion he does not believe what has been said,” said Xander. Willow smiled to Buffy, “It seems as though we do have something to do, do we have an address to go to?” asked Willow.

Xander smiled. He told them to get in the van and took them to the house. Not having a key to get in to the house via the door he searched about the house for another way in. Part way around the house Willow nudged him. She pointed to a broken window, big enough for one of us at a time as long as we are careful. “There are shards of glass in the window frame,” said Willow.

“I'll do it,” said Buffy, she went to the window frame and pushed her back hard against the frame so she could squeeze her legs through in front of her body. “I am glad I wore my old jeans today,” said Buffy. Xander grinned to Willow though Willow was unimpressed. “What I am concerned with is the force Buffy pushed back on the window frame with, why are there no marks on the back of her jacket from the glass shards?” asked Willow.

To Be Continued.

 

[ILLYRIAN]

The Supernatural Eye Part 7

continuing the saga of the The Necklace

The police told Buffy and Willow that they had no idea why the murder had happened nor what was the reason for the break in, they were confused by the break in. Could the reason for the break in have been over money owed, the police had no idea why the beakin had happened. Willow looked to Buffy who was pointing to a photograph of the girl and her mother,

in the background behind them hanging on the dressing table mirror was a necklace with a locket. Xander wondered what picture could be in the locket. Buffy grunted then laughed at the sound that had just emitted from her throat. Xander said he thought the picture might have been instrumental for the reason for the girls death.

Willow wanted to know what reason that could have been. Buffy looked into the eyes of the person in the picture and was troubled by what she saw, I am not sure, are they the eyes of a human man or woman?” asked Buffy. Willow looked at the picture and wondered if Buffy's insight could be correct. “I think it is a woman,” said Willow before she caste her gaze on Xander, he looked deep in thought.“

I did see her once she was with a man in February of nineteen twenty three, thankfully she did not recognise me, especially because but I was unsure about what she was trying to do, the man she was with were closing the doors of an abbey, he had just led some people from there into the field beyond its doors.

The abbey was known as the Abbey of Thelema, in Italy. “That name rings a bell, I think it was the name of an abbey that was ordered to be closed by the Italian government,” said Willow. Buffy looked to her. “Could it be that the face in the locket was the reason for the theft, that the girl just happened to be there at the wrong time,” said Buffy

and if my memory serves me correctly those at the church were trying to contact the Devil, the person in the locket might have been one of those who were successful thing is did the necklace get stolen by some of the followers of that church or by christians who wanted all memory of him to vanish,” said Willow. Willow warned Xander not to touch the necklace, especially the locket without wearing protective gloves.

Another thing to be wary of was those who found the locket, the three other recent murder may have been linked to that murder, of the three other recent murders we now think they might have been linked with this one, those who died were all related to the girl, another thing we discovered was about those pictured in the locket.

That either the people pictured in each locket were cursed or those who sought each one who were in the congregation at the abbey were cursed,”said Buffy. Given that those who were ordered to be kicked out of Italy did get out of Italy, where are they now or more importantly where are those who sought to have then kicked out of the country

Buffy announced that one of those who had chased them from the lands near Plymouth now sought them in a village or on the outskirts of Southam though we are yet to discover her name. “The policeman we once had contact with has risen in the ranks, he is now known as D.I Watts. He told me the womans name we have sought is Altham Orea,” said D.I. Watts.

Wanting to know the truth about who murdered the daughter at the scene of the break in Willow got the table ready for contact with the dead and bound a key with two in the page where the Lords Prayer was in the bible. Those at the table were Buffy, Xander and Willow. Each of them were sat of a coffee table while Willow had her back towards the windows.

Willow asked for Veronica to honour them with her presence, and several times again before Veronica announced she was in the room. Willow pushed the glass to the letters to spell her question, she suggested that as the were all adults would they like to hear her asked the questions. Xander asked her if there was a specific reason? Veronica pushed the glass to reveal that she was very bad at spelling.

Xander smiled then told her that none of them wished to embarrass her. Veronica was pleased at what he said and thanked him for it. The home was invaded by people of the abbey, they wanted to reclaim the necklace, the face in the necklace was someone who had been thought to have been at the Abbey of Thelma.

Veronica stated that two men from the religion that had once congregated at the Abbey, they had beaten her until she was dead, Veronica stated she could tell them where their descendants were living if they wanted but neither Willow, Xander nor Buffy saw the value in knowing where they lived. Hearing that said about her attackers descendants pleased Veronica she then stated that they Abbey had once been a catholic church,

run by a Father Graythorpe he had a library of books once said to be the Grand Grimoire's used by him to learn the names of demons from hell so he knew who he was calling out when doing an exorcism. Some witches referred to the book at important reading for black magic and Devil Worshippers but the Father Graythorpe disagreed with them,

“After all,” he said, “If reading a Grand Grimoire made a person a devil Worshipper what was he?” Willow said that Father Graythorpe though he often read the book of magic that was often read by evil doers as it contained the names of demons that did not masked them performers of black magic.”
MOTHERS BIRTHDAY GIFT

At 18 years old Melanie was wandering along the hall where she lived. She stopped and removed her sheep skin jacket from one of the hangers in the wardrobe and put it on she looked at her reflection in the mirror. “Not bad,” she said and pushed her hair back over her head. Melanie stepped towards the front door, she opened it then she met her father as he was about to enter the house.

“Off to get your mother’s birthday present are you? Glad to hear that you are doing something worthwhile,” he said. Smiling to her father Melanie stood on her tip toes, hugged then kissed her father on the cheek. “You just remember that in the shop you get your mother’s birthday present gift and have it gift wrapped before you come straight home, don’t go and see your friends first understand?”

Melanie wandered out of the house and along the road towards the town’s park, going across it she goes through the industrial estate then towards the main shopping center, eventually going into the Jewelers shop. Going to the counter the shop assistant she asked her for what she wanted, Melanie smiled then stated she was there to give the final payment for a bracelet.

It is going to be a birthday gift for my mother, “Can you gift wrap it for me please?” Melanie happily smiled as she watched the sales assistant carefully wrap the box. Melanie did not disclose that she would have a job there in twelve months though she hoped she would be as good. When the package was ready Melanie carefully placed it in an inside pocket next to the pocket with her purse in then began the journey home.

Humming to herself as she walked along an alleyway, at its end she stood at the roadside. Waiting until it was all clear, about to step from the edge of the footpath a car swerved from the middle of the road across to the path knocking Melanie back from the footpath to a gutter outside a shop. Her purse and the present went from her pocket into the garden beside the alley.

Dazed she tried to pick herself up and straightened her clothing. She tried to persuade the other people at the scene of the accident that she was okay to continue to walk home. Knowing that she did get home her father would be pleased with her, just for a change. As she rounded the corner that would put her in her road she met her father.

Further along the road Melanie saw a friend (Andrew) and had a quick chat, Melanie said she had just bought a present for her mother. Ten steps further Melanie began to feel very dizzy then fell to the side, covered by bushes her body lay undisturbed for three days. At home her father thought the worst of his daughter although he was doubtful she would do anything against her mother.

At their home David was getting lessons from Erica in how to contact Siobhan when he couldn’t see her. Siobhan had gone to the clothing shop with Brian, he wanted some new clothes that the girls wouldn’t poke fun at him. Back at the house David was sat cross legged in the middle of the floor listening to Erica.

“What I am teaching you is an advanced form of Astral projection, projecting your minds thoughts to Buffy for her to contact you Xander so you can breathe easier, your breathing needs to be thoughtless, you ought to be able to forget that you are breathing. With your eyes closed you will allow an image to enter your mind hopefully an image of someone who needs to make contact with you

though I doubt that would happen until you are better at this, oh.” A figure appeared in the room.


To Be Continued

 

[ILLYRIAN]

Mothers Birthday Gift Part 2

Willow sat upright when she felt the ghosts presence, she told Buffy to open her eyes. David was not impressed by the talking. “I take it your eyes are open,” he said. “Yes but not for the reason you think, I felt there was a ghost in the room so I opened my eyes,” said Willow. David smirked then noticed there was a ghost in the room. “Who are you?” asked Willow. The ghost stared at her then took in the room.

“My name is Melanie.” “Why are you here?” asked David. Melanie stood in front of David, “I think I live here or I used to why, who are you?” asked Melanie. David smiled then said, “I was brought in to contact you, so what did happen to you?” Melanie took the present for her mother from her pocket, “I remember walking home, meeting a friend but then that is where it all goes blank,” said Melanie.

“Thing is, what are you doing in my home,” said Melanie. She looked at David, Buffy, Willow and Xander. “ We are three members of an investigations business that specializes in supernatural beings, the business name is The Supernatural Eye. David was teaching us to do Astral Projection. For some reason you appeared here,” said Buffy.

"So why are you here?" asked Melanie. "The house was empty, the people who used to live here are dead or in prison, is there anything you need to ask or tell?” asked David. “I had no intention of asking you anything although now that I am with you, I had just been to get a birthday present for my mother. So I suppose I wanted to be here to give her the present,” said Melanie.

“Well we can give her the present,” said Willow. “What we need to know is where is your mother?” asked Xander. Let us find out about your mother getting the present. “Melanie as a spirit you can visit a person without them knowing you have been there,” said David. “So find out what they know of your death.

Just make sure you do not let them know you are there as it might frighten them,” said Erica. They watched as Melanie left the house. Buffy leant closer to David. “So how about a cup of coffee while we wait for Melanie to return,” said Buffy. David smiled to Buffy, “Oh, you meant for me to make the drink!” Buffy smiled to David.

After they had almost finished their drink Willow looked behind her as Melanie had just walked into the room. “You look sad, what is it?” asked Xander.
“Everything has gone wrong, the friend I met along the path he has been charged with my murder, he did not kill me he just got in my way so I fell over, we were always friends.

My dad blames me for not giving my mother her birthday present. What can I do?” asked Melanie. “I would suggest you find your mother and tell her about the present though be careful not to scare her. Then locate your father,” said Willow then she went into the next room, immediately calling to Melanie to join her.

When Melanie joined Willow she wanted to know why she was there. “When is your mother birthday?” asked Willow. “I was going to the shop to get the gift as mums birthday is tomorrow the fourteenth of July, why?” asked Melanie. “One possibility is that you were in the bushes a couple of days then put in the morgue.

Your mother died of a stroke and your father has been blamed for your death, he is in prison. To help you I'd suggest finding your mother then seeking your father, now to clarify everything so far we were trying to contact an old girlfriend of mine when you appeared in the room. I’m sorry to be the one to tell you this but, well, you are dead. Today is the twenty seventh of October.”

Willow picked up a newspaper, this is todays issue look at the newspaper. “That explains why when I think of a place I appear there,” she turned and stared at the floor. Willow smiled to her, “You might not think so at the moment but we can help you, we are the best people to help you right now.”
“How can you? if I’m dead are you dead?” asked Melanie.

“No, I’m not, but my friends and I are seeking the dead to help them, you and learn about you to help others like you, the first thing you need to do is accept that you are dead the quickest way is for you to walk through that wall them come back.” Melanie looked to a wall of the room, “If I go through there I will be in the hall, you want me to walk through that wall?” asked Melanie.

Melanie walked through the wall then came back by the doorway. “I just wanted to see if I could,” said Melanie. She sat on a chair. “So that is it I am definitely a ghost, what now? What else can you teach me? how should I get people to know I am dead, I wouldn’t want to scare people.” “Your death was reported in the newspaper but your mother and father found out another way, so for now they are the most important.

Something you need to accept is that you mother might not be a ghost, we can find out where your father is though you will need to convince some people he did not kill you,” said Willow. Melanie looked to a photograph of her dad, “How could I do that?” she asked. “We should go to the local police station and clear you fathers name, find out the prison he is in then go to his cell.

I suggest we come back her after the police tell us where your father is,” said Willow. They went outside to the car. Xander was watching the news on the television when a ghost entered the room. He called for Buffy and David to join him, when they did. “She just walked in here I have no idea who she is or why she has come here.

“I was at rest in a lovely field when a person came to me, he told me my daughter was looking for me and my husband, then I was outside the house,” she said. Buffy held a hand towards her, “Are you Siobhan, Melanie's mother?” asked Buffy. Siobhan smiled. “They are at the police station, they will be back soon, I hope,” said David. They all watched the news of the day on the television.

At a nearby city in the prison there a guard had just finished his rounds and was walking back to the office when Melanie and Siobhan walked through the wall into the main hall and into the prison office. The office officer ran to get away from them, other guards came to see why he was running. They saw both the women, both were still walking towards them.

“What are they looking for?” Leaving the office the girls looked about. Siobhan asked one of the guards. “Level 4 South Wing, where is it?” The guard pointed to it, “Go up the stairs to that floor.” At the correct level Melanie and Siobhan began to walk though the walls of the cells looking for Melanie’s father. The prison guards knew exactly where the girls were, as the alarms started ringing from one cell then the next.

One of the guards was about to ring the riot bell when another guard stopped him, “What will happen, how will the riot squad stop two ghosts?” At that moment Buffy thought what they might be doing, “I'd like to be a fly on the walls in there right now.” Melanie and Siobhan went to level 4 south wing though neither of them knew which cell to go to.

They eventually wandered into the correct cell. “Hello father,” said Melanie. He looked to Siobhan, “Have you accepted Melanie?” he asked. “And the present you both gave me,” said Siobhan. Both the ghosts sat on his bed, “We have had a talk with the policemen who arrested you and explained what really happened, you should be released in the morning.

In the morning Melanie was beginning to get impatient waiting for her father, she began walking side to side of the room, occasionally she stopped to see what programme was being aired on the TV. It was during one of those times that Buffy and Willow went into the kitchen. Back in the lounge room Willow put a potted plant on the table. Siobhan took a close look at it.

“Hmm Peppermint, thank you but you didn’t need to but it does mean a lot.” Melanie moved it to the windows ledge where a leaf fell off. “You’d better give that to David,” said Siobhan. She moved and stood in the doorway to the TV room, she stood and watched her daughter kneeling close to the television. “You still shouldn’t watch that too close....” Melanie span around, “Dad! She ran to hug him.

THE CARNIVAL

Returning from the local newsagents Xander gave one copy to Buffy and another to Willow he kept the third one for himself. He sat back in a chair and began to relax. “Anything of interest in yours Buffy?” asked Willow. “Not really,” replied Buffy. Xander looked to each of them, “You do realize that both of the newspapers are the same don't you?”

Xander had been working on an account of a case they were about to be involved in, May looked up from the computer, “What are you guys on about?” “We are looking at the paper,” said Xander. “I can see that, but you are all looking at the same paper,” said May. “And your point is?” asked Willow. “You just asked Buffy if there is anything worth looking at!” exclaimed May.

“Yes but Buffy is reading the front half of the newspaper while I am reading the back half,” said Willow. “And the logic is?” asked May. Xander rolled his eyes, “May, surely it is obvious as when we get to the middle we swap papers, that way we do not spoil half of the paper each of us has just read.” So we can put them back on the rack in the shop afterwards and we do not have to pay for them.”

Buffy grinned to May knowingly. May was confused, “But Buffy, Willow those newspapers are free any-way,” said May. “Really, oh bugger!” exclaimed Willow and she threw the newspaper into the air. May laughed “You are an idiot,” she said. “Have you only just realized that?” asked Willow. “No, I suppose I have known it for ages,” said May.

“So who is the biggest idiot here? Me for trying to sound intelligent, or you for trying to have an intelligent conversation with some-one you know is an idiot?” asked Willow, grinning.


To Be Continued

 

[ILLYRIAN]

The Supernatural Eye Part 9

The Carnival (continued)
“I'm going to get myself a bottle of water,” said May. Buffy watched her leave the office, then with Xander they sat back and smiled to themselves. “We had best start making plans for how we are going to better next weekend,” said Buffy, Willow agreed then asked Buffy what was in her paper? “There is an account of some unexplained deaths up north,” said Buffy.

Xander asked Willow what was in the one she was reading, “This one might do us, there is a fun fair in town we could go,” he said. “That sounds ok, it should be fun. Do you think a Sunday afternoon outing would be good,” said Willow. Buffy agreed, “I will arrange for a taxi to take us, that way we can all have some fun.”

At one fifteen on that Sunday afternoon the taxi arrived to take them to the fun fair. “If there is a clairvoyant there, that could be good, to hear what the dead say about every-one,” said Xander. David pretended to be reading the weather forecast, “It says here about our Indian summer. The experts reckon it will break this afternoon and we will have some rain.”

“Rain indeed making up a lie like that? that is a mean thing to say,” said Willow. At the carnival Xander and Buffy wandered passed some of the side shows stalls, soaking up the atmosphere. Stopping at a gypsy palm readers tent, looking into the tent. “Well I'll be!” exclaimed Xander, as he faced the palm reader, “Nice costume and with that make-up, she looks quite believable.”

Reflecting on what he had just seen, “I take it that you did not recognise her Buffy as under all that make up was a boy we used to know. That was Sam,” said Xander. “I always said she would go far,” said Willow. “Where do we know him from?” asked Buffy. “He was the gardener for one of the witches in the Cornish coven,” said Willow.

Buffy looked at him, “So that was him was it, I never thought I’d see him again,” said Buffy. She took a note pad from her pocket and wrote about him. They stepped to the way in just as Willow and May reached them, the four of them continued to wander about the stalls for about an hour, Buffy noticed that May tended to stand back and watch them.

She went to an ice-cream van and bought four double flavoured ice creams with a flake in each. “Which one would you guys prefer, the Banana and Strawberry ice cream or vanilla and chocolate ones?” Willow stood next to her but she still looked to the entry to the next stall, “That person at the entrance of that tent, didn't he used to be dead?” she asked.

“I see what you mean,” said Buffy. “People that should be dead but are not, does that mean they are un-dead?” asked May. “Do you mean vampires?” asked Xander. Buffy and Willow faced him, “No, not vampires, not here.” “Although we are in a good country for them, not that this country needs tales of vampires, there is more than enough tales of witches and the supernatural, when the Civil War started, the first battle at Edge Hill.

Many mentions were made of the battle being refought in the sky over the battleground and when the temperature was right it was said a person could hear the sounds of the battle. At Totnes Castle it is possible to hear the sons falling to their deaths, children can be seen at play, on certain occasions successful devil worshippers can be seen in wooded areas.

Several monks are said to haunt the grounds at St. Nectan's Glen in Tintagel where the reputed castle of King Arthur is. Some of the Kings Cavaliers put them to death after the Catholic religion was outlawed in England. A ship can be seen guarding the estuary to Dartmouth where a submarine base was located in the second world war.

There are a few places where the number of dead people create a barrier to stop visitors to their graves, from the massed numbers of the dead where victims of the plague were buried. There is a grave site where a girl referred to as Kitty Jay hung herself is buried, her grave is visited by several dead beings, her grave often has flowers left on it though no one knows who laid the flowers there.

Her grave is said to be visited by many people from many countries,” said Willow. May was seriously intrigued by all the mentions of ghosts she was hearing, she added that in the area from the outskirts of Camelford in north Cornwall through to the end of the land many mentions are said about the land being known as the devils country.

So many places have mentions of the Devil having been seen in those places, some references are even listed in places you would not expect to learn of him,” said May. “Such as?” asked Buffy. “There is an account of the devil carved into an interior wall of the church at Widecombe. A sighting at Princetown and a sighting of his coach south west of Buckfastleigh a stage coach that glowed red.

There area so many other references, but then the whole area has tales of otherworldly creatures all over the place,” said May. She noticed Xander shaking his head to her. “Many instances have been noted in national newspapers and on the news programs on the television, like the Hairy Hands that hold a cars steering wheel.

A place where the Devil is said to wander on the land with his dogs, two miles north from Two Bridges and of Squire Cabell whose body was put in a stone coffin. Local people place a big stone slab on the coffin so his body couldn't get out of it. The coffin is reputed to be visited by howling beasts. One of the beasts is thought to be responsible for the tale known as The Hound of the Baskervilles, said Willow.

Buffy glared at her, “Do you mean the Sherlock Holmes story?” asked Buffy. “Yes but the story I do like to hear about is the folklore regarding a young woman by the name Felicity, she was nearly married to a handsome young man who left the ceremony on a winged black horse he was reputed to be in league with the devil she was almost captured about a hundred and eighty years ago.

Felicity never left the area though, it is said she was friends with a flock of sheep from about the same time. They would go wherever she went”
HOBS END
Having answered the phone, Buffy was happily talking to the person on the telephone.

Willow was out in a shed at the back of the manor. Xander was being shown how to make a video on the computer by May. Buffy announced to the group that she had finished her conversation, “That was Mrs. Priestly on the phone, one of the her friends said she was out for a walk in her local neighbourhood when she noticed several people going to one of the houses.

Mrs Priestly told me that the woman likes to know who is doing what so she followed them, she went along the drive to the house but all the lights were off. Mrs Priestly told me she thought they might have been devil worshippers, she hoped that we could prove her wrong. Any chance of us going out there?” asked Buffy.

“I should think so, would any time this afternoon or this evening be alright?” asked Willow. Buffy grinned knowing full well that Willow was referring to the next couple of hours. So, later that day, in the late afternoon they went out for their planned drive in that area. Driving through several of the local villages Willow noticed that Buffy seemed unsure looking at the map at each junction they reached, finally she admitted that they were lost.

“That place I told Mrs Priestly we would go to, it might have to wait until tomorrow night,” said Buffy .“Don’t give in to easily there is still time, besides, look at this place I mean I feel all warm and fuzzy inside,” said May. As they drove on, Buffy noticed that her warm and fuzzy feeling was beginning to be unusual, she asked Willow to slow down and stop.

She sat back and gazed at a couple of the places they had just passed. She noted that one of the cottages they had passed seemed to call to her. Xander noticed Buffy's reaction. “Is that the cottage?” she asked. “Yes David, I do not know the reason why but it feels different to the other houses.” As they watched, the lights in the house were dimmed, Xander suggested that he take a closer look and see what the people were doing.

As he quietly moved around the house Willow noticed another car drive up to the house and stop in the driveway. As the driver got out she noticed Buffy move around the back of the car, realising the driver wore glasses (they reflected the light from the doorway) Buffy got a good look as the person seemed like the normal middle aged person that lives on the corner, it was the way the bag was carried.

As the door was opened. “Excuse me, I am Buffy, I seem to be a bit lost, can you help me.” The person in the house was an attractive youngish woman, she came to the door wearing a black cloak and a long pointed black hat. “Ble..., Buffy? Is that you who are your friends?” she asked. “Suzy hello, yes these are my friends Willow, Xander and May.”

Suzy waved them into the house, “Where, or who are you trying to find?” asked Suzy. “My friends and I are out for a drive but we cannot find our way back to the main road, I was sort of hoping that you might point me the right direction to go in?” asked Buffy. Suzy invited them into the front room, “I will draw you a map of how to avoid the hazardous traps of those reputed successful devil worshippers,” said Suzy.

To Be Continued

 

[ILLYRIAN]

The Supernatural Eye Part 10

From where the damned witches lived

I am glad I managed to get each of you to wandered into my front room, you are so lucky that you agreed to come in here. Willow looked along the lane, “Why what is along the lane,” she asked. “If you had decided to keep going and not to have come in here you might well have regretted it,” said Suzy. “Why?” asked Dawn.

Suzy pointed along the lane, “Just a bit further along the lane at the end of the village there is a large mound of earth that used to be the home for a coven of Black witches, they were put to death there and in such a manner that most of them return to wander about occasionally, it is said that on certain misty nights several lanterns have been seen to glow,” said Suzy.

“What is wrong with that?” asked Dawn. “Each witch has been seen to carry a lantern,” stated Suzy. “One of the ways that the witches from the mound were tortured was to dunk them in the river, one of the ways those witches get their revenge to those descendents of them is to make a person believe they are drowning when they are not even close to a river. You know where the witches are because of the lanterns they carry,” said Suzy.

“I take it that you know the area well?” asked Xander trying to keep a straight face as he was more than a bit scared. “I don't think I will be going there,” continued Xander. “It does not work quite like that,” said Suzy, “It has been said by many of the villagers that many of those witches still seek revenge because of the way they were killed.

So even if you decide not to go home passed them the witches will know if you are a stranger to the village for it is the strangers that they target. One or more of the dead witches might decide that you ought to get trapped by their magnetism. Buffy faced Suzy, “Do you mean they can attract us regardless if we want them to or not,” said Buffy.

Suzy thought about what Buffy had just said. “Attract might be the wrong sentiment, for they could use their animal magnetism to get you, such is the pull they possess,” stated Suzy. “It has been noted that if they do not want your presence you might feel a pressure on your chest regardless on if you are in a car or if you are walking.”

Suzy had them look at them then she looked to the mound, “Can any of you see any of the witches, just don't ask me what each of them looks like, you cannot miss them they are clearly visible because the successful black witch has had a conversation with the devil and as such he or she will have red eyes,” stated Suzy, “That is another good reason not to drive beside the mound,” continued Suzy.

“Is that the same as many of the haunted site we have been to, some folk never experience the negative view while others like us do?” asked Dawn. “To true, they do seem to know who to target and who to leave alone, targeting a non believer especially one who lives in the village is a waste of time,” said Suzy. “Tell me why do the witches leave the villagers alone?” asked Willow.

People have said that any of the witches know who is a villager, it is almost as if the witch knows that the person who is a local can be trusted, Suzy grunts at her own statement, “It isn't though,” said Suzy. She asked some other people to help her but the ghost she thought she saw was now four ghosts. Willow wanted to know who else had there been.

Buffy told her that they had contacted them to find though it was the history of the place that let them know what was.” The Eye team left there and went to a villagers home in the village, several times on the way to the known house Buffy looked about for sight of the witches. There is no history of anything supernatural ever occurring at the house.

Curious though, Willow went to the house in the hope the owner would remember them. As they were talking to the owner she suggested they keep quiet. Pointing into the darkness of the shadows, “There is one,” Buffy stated and looked through the trees, she wanted the others with her to see what she was indicating to.

They would deal with the situation the owner had left to them. “What is it? I saw the way you reacted, is that one of the ghosts, the one name Dena for she knows that we are here now and that we are quickly going way out of our depth here. Willow was soon ringing the Manor, waiting for an answer, both Buffy and Willow were surprised when a voice came from behind them.

Both these girls and their friends came to this place, they thought they had done something wrong that is why they returned here. Buffy disagreed with her, “I am only here to find out what it is that the witches want,” Buffy smiled. “I don't think that we just saw the witches and feared for our safety, I asked Dena to come here with us to tell us what was, I need confirmation of what we saw.

“Dena can give you that?” asked Xander. “I was going to ask for Dawn to be here but then I was told to rethink my choices,” said Buffy. A few seconds later Dena and Dawn appeared beside them. “We heard that, is it here?” asked Dawn. Buffy described what she had seen from that description I think you should ask to speak with the owner, then she questioned all of the concerned looks then asked Willow.

“What if the owner came here as ordered to by the witches, will we need to vanish, getting ourselves ready to leave.” “What you described, it does not sound like a witch it sounds demonic, we would need to see it before we say any more.” When the owner did get to them they told her about what they had seen.

“The entity that was pointed out to us is very similar to one that used to be seen at another place.” Buffy said that she would be contacting some other people who specialised with what was there.” “When Suzy asked about it was she wasn't overly impressed because as they though they had not been doing anything wrong, although their manner all was calmed when they realised that they would be getting other people in.

Xander suggested that they find somewhere else to stay. As all that was there seemed to confuse them. Willow maintained that no activity they had done could have caused the witches to lay any of the blame on them, she implied quite openly that they needed to leave before one of the villagers tried to force the blame on them.

Buffy was glad the Eye team were leaving there, the confusion they had all felt was contagious.



To Be Continued

(did that confuse you as much as it did to me when I was writing it?)

 

[ILLYRIAN]

The Supernatural Eye Part 11

The Eye team had just traveled to the stone circle that is known as The Merry Maidens Stone Circle, Willow felt saddened when they got there because of the legend that each one of the stones represented one of the nineteen young maidens who were caught dancing in that field near the church on the sabbath by several of the church elders.

One of the church elders caused each of the maidens to each become a stone and that they would each form a circle, the two musicians who played for them were placed in an adjoining field. The stone circle was not far from the country town of Penzance.

When the farmer who owned the land the circle was on came to look at the place he shook his head in disgust the church had ruined what was good ground to grow crops on. Having pointed to what she saw. Buffy was very curious when she learned that the man from the church thought they were, in fact demons.

Willow said that she would ask that the others like the young women who fought the church elder, their parents should be notified and that it was imperative that the owner was not around when they started to arrive. “What were their names?” asked the farmer hoping his daughter was not one of them.

Willow thought for a while. “Just know this, that those in these stones are the most revered of the Riders, whilst they battle those who the church claims are living or dead it is said that if the Riders sword is drawn then a demons blood must be spilled by that Rider or another one,” “What else can you tell us of them for if we are to stand beside them I would like to know a warning about them,” Xander added.

Buffy and Dawn looked to each other, both were unsure what to say to him. “Yes we agree.”
Then they both smiled.

Both of them had wandered to the nearest stone circle, Dawn wandered about the outside of the circle while Buffy stayed inside the circle of stones looking up into the night sky suddenly she stopped and appeared to smell the air, suddenly she cried out “Beware there is something coming up from the ground. Dawn ran to Buffy's side, “What is it?" she asked.

“I feel a rush of air coming from the circle," announce Buffy. But before she could utter another sound tens of hundreds of Riders on their white winged Unicorns flew up into the sky. They flew in circles until the others who they waited for joined them, then they flew off in a certain direction. Hope landed beside them, “I have been asked by the Goddess to tell you why what just happened did happen, word was presented to the Goddess by Gods demon.

The where-abouts of the Sons location was made known, also that the whereabouts of the Sons Legions was made known. Thousands of Riders are making their way there from here and from many other stone circles. “We are going to a flat land that is near the ocean, many caverns are located below the ocean, in those cavern are the Sons Legions, the Son himself is located deep in a tunnel to the earths core where Magma resides,” said Hope.

The Riders stopped the eearly morning sunlight from reaching the ground as streams of them from the myriads of circles became as clouds on the horizon. When the Unicorns landed the Riders jumped down and ran to the caverns, the Unicorns rose up again to continue the blockade of the sunlight on the horizon.

Lines four wide of the Riders flowed into the gaping holes of the entrances to the vast numbers of caverns. The very air itself was pierced by the screams of the Sons Legions as the swords of The Two Swords cut them down.

Wandering from the caverns the Riders showed that the numbers of the Sons Legions were being depleated. God had the caverns walls give way to the vast waves of the rush of the ocean. With the pressure of the Magma removed from above while The Devil gave impetus to the rise of that magma the Son was caught-trapped by the elements then he was forced to reveal himself on the surface.

The Devil and God could work hand in hand to blanket the atmosphere above and below the Son, with nowhere to escape to the Sons became trapped, smothered by all that could be.

God and The Devil congratulated each other, they wandered off to where each of them wanted to be. God went to his heavens, to continue to build it as he wanted it to be, to allow the space for the Riders to relax with their Unicorns.

The Devil was able to go down into his home, Hell. To where he knew what he had been asked to do both them thousands of years before. The Devil knew his task would get easier as God had the time to control the climate and have mankind live on the planet in fewer numbers. Fewer numbers of those who lived meant fewer numbers would go to Hell.

That gave time for God and The Devil to meet in friendship on the rocky islands.


The End