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Chapter Three:
Simms hated acting.
"He misses you," she said with her hand raised over Ed Killian's favorite recliner. "He misses you, but he wants you to be happy."
"That sounds so much like him!" Erin Killian, her client said. "What else?"
"He says that he is always with you even when you can't feel him," she said. "He loves you and will watch over you forever."
Killian burst into tears.
"Oh, how I miss you!" she shouted. "I love you too Ed and I'll never stop. I promise!"
Simms let her hand and fall and hugged the woman.
"Thank you," Killian said. "It was so good to hear from him."
"I'm glad I could help you," Simms said truthfully. "I hope this gives you closure."
"It does," she said. "Now I know for sure he is watching over me."
"Great," Simms. "I better get going then."
"Wait, what do I owe you?" she asked.
"Five dollars and the promise you'll talk about my services to you knitting circle."
Killian pulled the five out of her purse carefully and smiled.
"I'll even mention your name at my red hat society lunch!"
Simms smiled the first real smile since the whole encounter started.
"Thanks."
She took the money and found her way out of the house. There was a reason she majored in psychology in school. When the real thing couldn't be summoned, tell them what they want to hear. Simms still hated it and didn't disclose pricing in her advertisements because she wasn't going to make an old, lonely, woman pay a high price for trickery. Her gabbing to friends would produce more business anyway.
As she climbed into her car, Simms felt a vibration around her neck. She sat down, closed her eyes and felt the crystal carrying Spencer's essence.
Blood. Hospital. Worried looks. Random Latin words. Fear. Lots of fear.
She turned on the car and it put it in drive.
"It looks like I'm Chicago-bound," she said out loud to herself. "Hold on Spencer."
…
"Disturbed sleep and stress?" Prentiss said incredulously.
"Have you heard of Jesus sweating blood?" Dr. Clarence Regis said. "That is actually a medical condition called hematidrosis where blood vessels connected with the sweat gland rupture due to extreme anxiety and stress. We're treating it with a beta blocker and should see improvements in the next twelve hours."
"What about the bits of Latin he keeps muttering and won't wake up?" Rossi said.
"You said he looked drowsy this morning," Regis said. "This may be his mind's way of responding to the stress overload."
The team continued to stare at him.
"I wish I had better answers," he said. "But I am confident, he will get better in the next several hours. You can sit with him, if you like."
Reid was in a private room. He looked miserable. There was blood soaking through cloths. His eyes were scrambled shut now as he tossed and turned. Every few seconds, he would say a few words and stop.
"I keep hearing 'fire, rage, storm, and wrath," Alvez said.
"All angry words," Lewis said.
J.J. looked like she was on the verge of tears.
"I don't know how we can help him," she said.
The snowy wind suddenly blew up against the windows so hard it made a rattling sound.
"How is it April and we're still dealing with snow?" Rossi moaned.
"He'd have the answer," Simmons said with a sigh.
Reid began to recite the same words again. Prentiss turned to the team.
"The doctor said he should be better in the morning. We should all get some rest. None of you have to stay here."
The windows rattled again. Prentiss at that moment that knew no one was leaving.
"Excuse me?" a small voice said.
Everyone turned to see a woman dressed in a flowing knee-length navy blue tunic over black pants with ruby slippers. There was a large black leather bag around her left shoulder. Her brownish red hair was shoulder length and slightly curly. She had a look of firm determination.
"Is this Spencer Reid's room?" she asked.
There was a rattling sound again.
"I'll take that as a yes," she said and stepped forward.
"Who are you?" Prentiss asked.
"I'm Ruby Simms and I am here to help," she said confidently.
She approached Reid and undid the top knot of his gown.
"What are you doing?" J.J. demanded.
Simms turned to her briefly. "The doctor probably told you this is hematidrosis and irregular insomnia. If every one of you can say you believe that one hundred percent, I will leave this instant. If not, let me try to help him."
No one spoke. Simms returned her attention to Reid and gently pulled the gown down to expose part of his chest. She shook out some red powder over his skin. Then she turned to look at the team.
"What you're about to see is going to scare you. I ask that you try to remain calm and I will take control of the situation."
She turned back and used her thumb to make strange symbols in the powder on his chest.
The powder rose from his chest and formed a ghastly horned figure. The windows shattered, and snow blew in. The figured twisted and grew larger with the addition of snow and glass.
The monster spoke in Latin that Prentiss could barely hear above the raging wind. It sounded angry.
Simms stood firm.
"I dare in the name of light, good, and hope!" she said fiercely.
She rubbed her hands together.
"I summon the elements of earth, water, air and fire where I stand! Banish this demon of destruction at my command!"
She threw her hands open and screamed:
"SMMISENAJYBUR!"
The snowy wind wrapped itself around her and then rushed upon the demon. The figure began to melt, and the winds died down. Before it dissolved completely it moaned out words in Latin that Prentiss could hear:
"Others will come after me," it said and faded into nothingness.
"And I'll be there to vanquish them, too," Simms said confidently.
Prentiss stared at her. She had a thousand questions for this woman who just literally killed a monster hiding in her friend.
"Guys?" a weak voice said.
Everyone turned to look at Reid.