Chapter #12 The Unexpected Trip to the Parsons House

Sally's point of view

Things were a little better then they were this morning after we got back from Gene's Barbecue and Take-Out, a restaurant in Greenville about thirty minutes from Katcher's Trail, for lunch. We ran into the Fentons and the kids on the way back and most the group stayed their cabin to talk about ghost-catching technology while Garrett, Edaurdo, and Peter decided to go fishing and Raymond and Kylie went for a car ride. I went home and sat in the living room, reading Inkheart by Cornelia Funke. I still felt bad about what happened this morning. I just wanted to make sure Raymond was alright, for this was the first time I summoned a spirit from the Spirit Realm to protect someone from evil.

"Don't let that bother you, Sasha." A familiar voice said in my head.

I blinked and placed a bookmark in my book.

"Dorothea?" I thought, placing the book on the coffee table. "What do you mean 'don't let it bother me'? I probably made Raymond uncomfortable."

"You didn't." My Spirit Guide said. "He wanted to talk about it."

"But why is he coming to me for help? Why can't he go to his friends?"

"Because his friends can't help him. Only you can."

"I still don't understand. I'm sure the former Ghostbusters have faced worse then I did."

Then there was a click and a squeaking noise as the door in the office opened.

"Oh, great. They're back." I thought.

"I have to go anyway." Dorothea said. "Be on your guard, Sasha Snow. I sense darkness raising at nightfall."

With that she was gone.

Oh, how I hate it when she does that. She tells me something is wrong yet she doesn't tell me what the problem is. Why does she always talk in code like she's a secret spy and I'm a clueless bystander.I quickly pick my book up and pretend to read as Egon, Janine, Roland and Winston entered the dining room, outside the living room.

"Hello, anyone home?"

"In here, Roland." I called

"Hey, Sally." Winston greeted as he and the others walked into the room. "You seen anyone come back?"

"Peter, Eduardo and Garrett are not back yet." I replied. "Neither are Raymond and Kylie."

"What'cha reading?" Roland asked.

"Inkheart, by Cornelia Funke."

"Cool."

I look up from my book to see Egon looking like he wanted to ask a question.

"Something on your mind?" I asked.

"Huh? Oh yeah. Sally." he said as he sat down in a chair next to me. "I know you're a Witch, but have you experienced anything strange about your powers?"

I placed my book on my lap and raise an eyebrow.

"What do you mean?"

"I still wasn't able to figure out the strange spikings in the readings I took from you a few months ago when you and your parents were attacked." Egon explained.

"Now, Egon." Janine said. "You're on vacation remember. That means no research."

"The Spirit World rests for no one, Janine."

"You can say that again." Winston said. Roland nodded in agreement.

I said nothing. They were right. The supernatural never go on vacation for anyone. Not even for me. Egon was about to speak when someone's cellphone rang. Egon reached into his jeans pockets and pulled his cell, which rang loudly.

"Hello, Egon here. Oh, hi Kylie, how's the...You're what!?"

We exchanged worried looks.

"What's going on?" Janine asked.

"They're at the Parsons House." Egon said quickly.

I felt the blood drain from my face. Raymond and Kylie are at the Parsons House. I thought in horror. Of all the days why did they go to the house on the anniversary of the Black Widow Bride's disappearance? No one would dare go there on that. I know Raymond wouldn't want to go. He said so yesterday. Was he possessed? Was the Black Widow Bride's powers growing?

"Calm down, Kylie." Egon said. "We'll be there as sonn as possible."

"What's going on?" Winston asked. "Are they ok?"

"They're not in danger." Egon answered.

"Why are they doing there?" Roland asked. "I think Ray didn't want to go there."

"He didn't" Egon said. "But Kylie said he was acting strange when they drove by Tar Lane on the way bak here and they somehow ended up at the Parsons House. Ray is blaming himself, saying he didn't know what happened."

Then everyone turned to me.

"Sally, you said the guardian could protect him." Winston said.

"It can protect him when he's asleep, Winston." Egon said, defending me. "It can't protect him when he's awake."

"What's going on here?"

We turned to see Edaurdo, Peter and Garrett were standing in the doorway of the living. Looking confused.

"Raymond and Kylie are at the Parsons House." I quickly.

"Sally!"

"Hey, they have to know."

Egon sighed. "She's right and we don't have any weapons."

"You have me." I said, standing up.

"That's nice, Sally." Peter said. "But busting ghosts is a job for the professionals."

"And besides, you're parents will freak." Garrett added.

That really pushed my buttons.

"Don't talk to me about professional work or freaking out!" I snapped.

I ripped off my scarf to reveal my choker. I rubbed the jewel and felt the familiar power surge flow through me as my clothes and appearance changed. When it was over, I landed on the ground, not caring about the reaction I'll get from the Ghostbusters.

"Holy Hell, Sally!" Garrett exclaimed.

"That's Sasha Snow to you!" I corrected. I turned to Egon and said. "Listen, I understand you're worried about my safety. But I've fought evil before just like you, your friends and your students. And I' not going to stand by and let Constance Black kill an innocent just because he looks like her sixth husband!"

With that, I turned into a gust of air and flew out of the room, up the stairs and into my bedroom. Once there, I transformed back to my solid form and grabbed whatever herbs and tools I might need and stuffed in my magical tote bag. Then I reached into my top dresser drawer and pulled out a thin long brown box. I set it on top of the dresser and opened it. Inside resting on a silk purple cloth were two sai swords. Made of pure iron with the handles and knuckles decorated with opal (my birthstone) ruby and blue sapphire jewels (my favorite gemstones) and complete with a belt.

I smiled as I grabbed the belt, strapped it around my waist and slid the swords into the small loops in the back. They were an eightteenth birthday gift from my Aunt Luanne, who loves swords of all kinds just like me. My parents were worried when Aunt Luanne gave them to me along with free lessons on how to use them, but she assured them I will only learn how to use them if I don't use them to hurt people.

"Well, Aunt Luanne." I said as I grabbed my tote bag, draped it over my left shoulder and opened the window. "I'm not going to hurt anyone. I'm saving someone tonight and so on."

I jumped out the window and hovered in the air for a moment before flying into the orange-red sky. I flew until I reached the Parsons House on Tar Lane.

I landed on the front lawn and looked up at the house. It was a white, three story building with peeling paint, sagging roof and porch with cracked windows.

"Wow." I said. "This house has seen better days."

I returned my attention to the white hearse that was parked in the driveway, which was covered in mud and leaves. I knew why I was here. To save Raymond and Kylie from Constance Black. Yes! I said it without cringing in fear! I was going to climb the stairs to the front door when it hit me.

The house is worn down and could fall apart under my weight. So, I spread my wings and hovers up the steps and into the house, the door closing behind me.

I wasn't too surprised when I saw the inside of the house. It was dusty, worn, sagging and smelled like mildew. Just like it did in my dream back when I was in New York.

"Ok." I thought as I landed and looked around. "No turning back now." And so I started my search for the two Ghostbusters lost inside the Parsons House.