Destiny's Gate (16 page)

CHAPTER TWENTY

Who is Trixie?

The weeks crawled by towards the holiday season. I was given two major school projects: an English project, in which I had to demonstrate how the media constructs reality, and a Spanish project, in which I had to recreate a scene from a movie. I was not interested in either of these assignments; I had grown bored and anxious. Luckily, I had Carole to help motivate me to complete my work as we were on the same teams in each class; she was the calm in my storm, always optimistic and
supportive.

Peggy had taken ill, not long after my birthday, which bothered me tremendously. She was being monitored at home by her medical doctor. It then hit me; Camlachie was a smaller community with the added advantage that a family doctor made home visits. We were not allowed to visit Peggy, as the Norwalk virus was highly contagious. I sent telepathic messages and images to her, wishing her well and hoped she was receiving them. Most of all, I prayed she was not suffering too much. Peggy was a generous and fearless spirit and had helped many on their rightful paths. It was only fair that she be spared some of the more humanly afflictions, or so I
hoped.

The full moon mesmerized Trixie and I. We stared at the glowing ball of light, and I wondered if it was foreshadowing the night of the evil yet to come. One day, I absent-mindedly began to wonder what Trixie thought about. I snapped out of it — perhaps I was spending too much alone time with my closest companion, a
dog.

Blue-Eyes was elusive. I had not seen him again since the day my parents spied him sitting at the edge of the forest. There was nothing worse than imagining what might happen next, compared to what had already taken place since our move to O’Brien
Manor.

Curiously, I began to notice a change in Trixie’s behaviour. At first, I thought she just missed her masters, Dexter and Delia. She would often take off into the forest and not return for hours.
What does she do in the time spent away from the manor
? Trixie had also started sleeping by the kitchen door on the brown velour blanket. Perhaps she was learning her place within our
family.

It was mid-December, the 13
th
to be exact, and I heard drumming as I squatted and used the toilet. Next, I listened to a matter of fact voice:
We’ve been expecting you, Paige
. I looked around the room, thinking to myself,
who is expecting me
? The drumming grew louder and chanting began. Then I heard the voice state:
You must be void of substance so you can vibrate at a higher rate to hear what you need to hear
.
Okay,
I responded and finished up my
business.

As I washed my hands, I glanced up at the bathroom mirror and saw the reflection of the old man with the white braided hair. I had not heard from him in some time. He spoke hurriedly,
Paige, you must begin to pray each night for the safe return of your parents. It is very important. There are dark forces stirring
... And then he disappeared. Woozy, I clutched the sides of the sink and began to feel dizzy and nauseous. I remembered there was only one given situation when my reaction was the same; a negative energy had somehow entered the manor. Gazing into the mirror, I was surprised when I saw Trixie’s reflection, her eyes were blood red. I whirled around, gasping for breath; her eyes appeared normal. She let out a low growl and I became paralyzed with fear; was Trixie not a friend to be trusted after all? She snapped at the air and then I saw it; a dark shadow had transformed. As Trixie snapped, it vanished. I ran over to her and threw my arms around her; she was just trying to protect me. She had saved me and I felt forever grateful. I had become accustomed to a lot of changes in my life over the past few months, but not to the earthbound spirits popping out at me whenever they
desired.

My grandparents asked Allan Brewer to move into the guest house, contrary to my opinion. As much as I had truly appreciated what he had done to save Carole and I over Halloween, I could not stop feeling that somehow he had connected me to the dark side of life. It also seemed to me that Allan was a forbidden love. He had confided to me that he felt at home living in the old dilapidated cottage, which I explained to my grandparents. They argued that it was no place for any human to live in the severe Canadian
winter.

Early one morning, I decided to see if Allan had settled in, with Trixie on my heels. Knocking on the door, I waited, shivering, wishing I had worn my tuque to protect my ears. I used my faux fur gloves to cover and warm them, thankful, mom had left them
behind.

A telepathic voice said,
come in, Paige
. I turned the door knob and stepped inside only to wish I had not. There before me stood several wolves assembled on each side of the corridor, as if waiting for my arrival. Trixie trotted in and lay beside me. Muffled growling began and I was scared they were going to attack her. Blue-Eyes strutted up the centre of the hall and rubbed noses with Trixie as she stood to greet him. I wondered if this could be the love of Blue-Eyes’ life? He once told me that we were connected for eternity. Perhaps not in the manner I had assumed. Blue-Eyes transformed into Allan, and Trixie shockingly transformed into a young girl with long black hair, white skin and beautiful brown eyes with red flecks. Allan introduced me to his stepdaughter. Initially, I could not process how a wolf and a black lab could be related, and as if reading my mind, Allan said,
remember, I said stepdaughter
.
Trixie’s from a long line of wolves and wild dogs
. And he insisted I leave it at
that.

“Paige, I’m glad you and Trixie are getting along so well. We made sure she stayed with your family to protect all of you. How are you doing, Trixie?” Allan turned to his stepdaughter and ran his hand along the side of her cheek. “You look great,
angel.”

“Thank you, daddy, I’m doing very well,” Trixie answered in a tiny voice. “Paige, I’m so sorry to deceive you...it was best you learned about me from my
dad.”

“Okay...Trixie, I just never imagined you were human. It’s so hard for me to understand any of this. Did you and Allan just reunite? I don’t understand? But in my world, this seems to be...well, my normal lately. You shocked me for a minute. No worries.” I returned a weak
smile.

“I’ve always known the whereabouts of Trixie. We’ve kept in touch while we were apart. I am not a neglectful stepfather, Paige. Besides she was in good hands,” Allan
responded.

As the three of us huddled in a semi-circle, I was aware the wolves had fallen in line as soldiers would do. Rows of three across filled the hallway of the guest house to the back door. It occurred to me that there was a dramatic increase in the number of wolves since Halloween and I wondered what the significance of that was; it made me anxious and
edgy.

Stealthily, a brown and beige striped wolf with a white face and one orange and one brown eye advanced. Allan commanded him to return to his place in line. The wolf’s ears were erect, his fur bristled, lips curled back, and snarling, as if he was arguing with Allan. Allan transformed into Blue-Eyes and stood stiff legged and tall with ears erect. This stance seemed to intimidate the other wolf and he returned to his spot immediately. I looked at Blue-Eyes imploringly and after a few yips to his daughter, Trixie announced it was time to leave. Before I could blink, she was again the black lab I had walked into the guest house with, her tail wagging. We exited and slammed the door shut behind us. Trying to forget the mental image of the wolves, I remembered when I had questioned whether or not Trixie had human tendencies on that dark night in the forest while playing fetch and smiled. Apparently, my perceptiveness had grown stronger. We raced home which was comical since there really was no contest between human and
animal.

As we approached the manor, I hesitated for further study. There was a stillness about it that disturbed me. The mansion looked the same as it always had, but there was no sign of activity within. Someone should have been milling about inside. Entering quietly through the kitchen door, I wandered into the living then dining room. Plates and glasses were left on the table — something Hanna would never allow, let alone grandma. There were no sounds of life. Trixie and I looked at one another then headed towards my bedroom. A note was taped to the door from grandpa:
Paige, we decided to go into town and wanted you to come but could not find you! We’ll be back soon
. I forgot how vast the manor was until I was left on my own; it was daunting. I was tired of this feeling of being out of control and
afraid.

Trixie and I jumped up on the daybed and I spoke to her as the person I knew she was. “What evil do you think I’m up against now?” I asked, awaiting an answer of some sort. Trixie did not telepathically answer me. I carried on and asked, “How am I supposed to fight this thing when I do not know what it is or how to fight it?” Again, there was no
response.

I lay down as Trixie jumped onto the floor below and mimicked me. She was on the front line, protecting me from anyone entering the doorway, and I felt safe. Perhaps she did understand me after all, in her canine form. I said a prayer for Peggy wishing her great health and strength, and another for my family and friends to protect them as well. Half asleep, I was aware Blue-Eyes had shown up and was speaking to Trixie; something prevented me from fully awakening to hear what was being said. Evidently, I needed my strength and dozed off. Next I heard Hanna calling my name and then letting out a gasp, as she entered the room. Allan and Trixie were in human
form.

“Allan, who do we have here?” Hanna asked standing tall, as if on
guard.

“Oh, Hanna, this is my stepdaughter Trixie.” Allan smiled at her and nodded towards
Trixie.

“Pleased to meet you, Hanna,” Trixie added,
shyly.

“You have the same name as the lab? That’s a coincidence. By the way, Paige, where is Trixie, the dog?” Hanna looked confused and ill at
ease.

“I don’t know. I just woke up. Maybe she’s in her bed by the kitchen
door?”

Hanna decided to find Trixie. Frantic, Trixie transformed into her canine form and trailed after her. It wasn’t long before Hanna called out, “She’s here in the kitchen, Paige. Not to
worry.”

I scrutinized Allan, wondering,
how in the world did Trixie beat Hanna to the kitchen without being seen by
her?

Allan grasped my hand and sat us down on the bed. “Don’t worry about that now. You have to be very careful. I hope you are saying your protection prayers and holding onto the angel charm Dexter gave you? Do you still have it,
Paige?”

“Yes, it’s in the top drawer of my nightstand.” I opened the drawer to retrieve it; it was
gone.

Allan saw the distraught look on my face, and suggested, “Perhaps, you moved it and with everything that’s been going on lately, it would be easy to misplace
it.”

I recalled the day of the funeral and remembered I wore my navy suit. I bounced to the closet and sure enough, there in the pocket of my suit jacket was the
angel.

“Okay, carry her around with you at all times. Make sure, Paige,” Allan
stressed.

I nodded. “What is going to happen? I’m
afraid.”

“Don’t worry, Paige. We’ll get through this together,” Allan said and caressed my hand. We looked deeply into each other’s eyes; my heart sped up and I had butterflies in my stomach. Allan leaned in and kissed me softly on the lips; it was otherworldly. Knowing someone could walk in at any second made me squirm. Allan, being the gentleman he was, stopped and made an excuse that he needed to leave. He paused at the doorway and said, “After all of this is behind us, you and I can have a relationship, but not now, Paige. We have to keep our focus on the reality of the situation.” He smiled and said, “Until we meet
again.”

My heart thumped so loudly, I worried Allan might hear it as he left the room. I ran into the bathroom and placed a cold cloth on my face while thinking,
focus, Paige! Remember what Allan said — he is so right
.
Now is not the time for romance.
He sure stirred feelings deep down inside that I did not know I
had.

I overheard Trixie saunter into the bedroom. Her paws clicked on the hardwood flooring, which seemed peculiar to me. I was stunned when I peered out. There was a black beast with glowing, yellow eyes, in the middle of my bedroom.
How can this be?
I slammed the bathroom door shut and locked it. Then I heard a voice,
don’t show it any fear. It feeds off your fear, Paige. Get a hold of your emotions and slowly open the door, and walk past it like it doesn’t exist. Remember you have so many aiding you — Mackenzie, Conall, and their mother, Peggy, Carole, Grey Owl, your grandparents, your parents...
the voice trailed off. I felt the love and started deep breathing to relax. When I opened the door, the beast was nowhere to be found. I felt certain its presence was the start of what was yet to come. With such a holy day approaching, how could this possibly be happening? Then it clicked; it was love that made me feel peaceful, unconditional love. That was the answer to fighting evil. Love conquers all! Had I not heard it expressed in so many movies and read it in so many books? I exited the bedroom and strutted down the hallway with a new attitude! Sick of being fearful and feeling ashamed, I resolved,
those days are
history!

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

Meet Journey

“Carole, if you don’t mind me asking, what sort of prayers do you say? Do you recite the Lord’s prayer or what?” I asked shyly, as we strolled along the halls of Camlachie High; it was almost as if we were invisible amongst the hundreds of students bustling around
us.

“In my family, we say an Ojibwa prayer that would be lost in translation to English. It’s the prayer itself, recited with family that unifies us and connects us to the universe and Creator and reinforces that we are not alone. We are all in this life, together, helping each other. We commit our minds and hearts to processes that heal, and this is a healing tool in itself. It’s all about the mind and feelings, Paige.” Carole stopped and picked up a cigarette butt off the floor and tossed it as a pro basketball player would, into the garbage
can.

I contemplated her words and thought what a beautiful way to see the world. She was so close to her father which is why I did not see much of her after
school.

“Mind if I ask you another question,
Carole?”

“Sure...go ahead,
Paige.”

“Why don’t you live on the reserve like your
uncle?”

“I knew that question was coming.” Carole smiled at me. “My parents began to notice many of our cats and dogs were born with deformities. And there is pollution from other cities and the surrounding area that infects our land and water. After my mother died, my dad insisted on moving us to a farm near Peggy’s where he grows plants and herbs for healing medicines. You know for our wellness
business?”

“That’s terrible. Is anyone doing anything about it? The pollution, I
mean.”

“Yes, researchers are studying the area and hopefully something good will come out of it. Our community deserves a better, safer place to live. But getting back to our conversation...the mind heals the body. It is true. I’ve seen it with my own eyes. We have an elder, a medicine man, who chants according to the type of illness, and if the patient believes, they are often cured and walk away whole. Oh and herbal medicine is given...it is only for our people to know and
understand.”

“Oh, I get that, Carole. And respect it. Did you know they are doing surgeries in China where the surgeon repeats a series of chants with his team, and the patient is cured? My parents found a video online and it actually showed the surgeons chanting. They feel in their hearts, and the patients’ feel in their bodies, the cancer is healed from unified prayer and ritual. I’ve seen the video of a patient with bladder cancer. The ultrasounds taken before and after the ceremonial ritual revealed the cancer was healed! Many cultures believe the same as yours.” I bowed my head; Carole lifted my
chin.

“Paige, lighten up, will you? You have enough to worry about and we have to help Peggy. I think something is blocking her from recovering. I’ve asked my uncle to help her with prayer and we should as
well.”

“I have said a few prayers. Are they enough?” I kicked a pop can towards the recycling bin then stooped over to pick it up and tossed it
in.

“Yes, you have to say them daily — sometimes more than once a day to really help
her.”

“Okay. You’ve got a point. I’ll do it more often.” I wondered how someone so young could be as wise as Carole and felt very fortunate to have her as my best
friend.

That night as I lay sleeping, a strange dream came to me. Carole and a man were standing next to a towering tree in the woods with equipment of some sort. They were deep in discussion when an eagle flew by screeching and dropped a brown feather. The man picked it up and laughed, and then placed it in Carole’s hair, tucking it behind her ear. Carole’s smile switched to a look of terror — she let out an inaudible scream. A massive black canine was the last image I could recall upon awakening the next morning.
What have I dragged Carole and her family into?
And then, distraught, I wondered if my family’s haunting was what was compromising Peggy’s
health.

A wooden cross lay on my nightstand, made to fit in one’s palm. I instinctively picked it up and began to pray for Peggy’s healing and all of our safety. The cross tingled in my hand, like something emanated from it. My first reaction was to drop it like a hot stone, onto the bed. I managed to continue holding it. I heard a voice say,
not to worry, my child. You are feeling the energy from the cross — it’s a holding cross and we have placed it there to cleanse and heal your soul. When you pick it up, you must pray and keep praying until you hear: That’s enough
.
Healing is what is needed in your family and you are affecting friends around you. There is a darkness surrounding your family and you must pray until the evil is defeated. Say whatever prayer you wish but keep on saying it and then ask for protection and healing from those of the light and Creator. It is important, Paige. Do it
now
.

I prayed for half an hour; something I had not been overly comfortable doing and had never done before the move to O’Brien Manor. It began to feel natural and peaceful. I then Googled prayers online and this one spoke to
me:

Prayer to Cleanse our House of Demon
Spirits

Dear heavenly Father, I acknowledge that you are my Lord of heaven and earth and that You have given us all things to richly enjoy. I thank you for this place to live. I claim this home for me and my family as a place of spiritual safety and protection from all the attacks of the enemy. Jesus Christ gave me the authority to use His Name and take authority over all demonic spirits and influences and cast them out. In the Name of Jesus I command every evil spirit claiming ground in the earth, structures, furnishings or roaming within this place based on the activities of previous occupants or any members of my family, to leave and never return. I renounce and break all curses, spells and assignments placed or utilized against this place and I send them back with confusion and I ask you Creator to bless all the people who have sent curses, spells and assignments against me or this place or people in this place. I ask you Heavenly Father to post guardian angels around this home to guard it from attempts of the enemy to enter and disturb Your purposes for us. We thank you, Lord, for doing this, in the mighty name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and
Saviour.

I recited the prayer until I reached a state of serenity. Once finished, a huge, warm hug enveloped me; it was full of grace. I placed the cross on the night table and heard the phone ringing in the kitchen snapping me back to the present. Hanna shouted my name to come and get it. Fantastic news — it was Peggy calling to say she was finally on the mend and that I could come and see her in a day or two when she was feeling more like her old self. Laughing, I told her how delighted I was to hear that and to hear her voice. She said when she was sick she could not contact me and that I was not to contact any human telepathically if I was ever ill. Sometimes the wires get crossed and you do not want that to
happen.

Grabbing my jacket and gloves, I hollered I was going to take Trixie for a walk. I counted one thousand, one hundred and forty-two steps, to the guest house and informed Trixie along the way how happy I was that my friend, Peggy, was better. We continued towards the brook as I announced my parents would be arriving home in five days and school would be out by then for the holidays. I was happy my projects and exams were already completed. We had parties planned in almost every class including a gingerbread house decorating competition. I was looking forward to that since mom had made one annually for my class at Christmas throughout elementary school. She taught me how to do it with flair as I grew older. I will never forget the day she brought the last one to the grade eight class; my friends who were too cool for school, gasped, ran over and started to pull it apart, gorging themselves on it. I looked at mom in disbelief as I got it that these same kids I had grown up with loved her gesture each and every year, as much as I did, no matter what their
ages.

Somehow Trixie had vanished. I called her name several times and thought how strange — the forest seemed quiet. It was usually full of the sounds of cardinals, chickadees, and juncos flitting about or the squirrels chasing one another. The silence disturbed me. I instinctively hid in the bushes, waiting for something most unexpected to happen. It was well below freezing and I could not stop
shivering.

Trixie emerged from the woods. I remained still as I detected danger. She was limping and as much as I wanted to come to her aid, something held me back. On her heels, was a massive grey wolf frothing wildly at the mouth. I felt completely defenceless and asked for help telepathically, from anyone, spirit or otherwise. Trixie glanced in my direction, as if commanding me to stay where I was and limped away towards the manor. My heart pounding, I knew I had to figure out a way to get to the manor first. Sprinting alongside the guest house while busting through bushes, I found a path leading to the east entrance of the manor. I flew open the door and stopped abruptly; the hallway seemed longer and narrower until I allowed my eyes to adjust to the dim lighting. I spied Trixie, her red flecked brown eyes ablaze, and began to call out to her. The wolf materialized from behind her, and my pulse raced.
Was this the evil threatening our family as forecasted? What was I to do now to fight against this
canine
?

I did not have the answers to these questions and slumped to the floor, simultaneously nauseous, dizzy and overwhelmed, as my head slung to one side and I watched my inner spirit wolf emerge. She grew into a larger wolf than I remembered from the last episode: Crouching on all fours, growling, then rising and snapping as the massive wolf charged my spirit wolf, I met it in mid-air knocking it down with my incisors locked on its throat. I felt life and death in my grasp and as I was about to chomp down, I was knocked over by none other than Blue-Eyes. He telepathically implored,
this is my
fight
!

I stood down and crawled towards Trixie to offer moral support. She leaned into me as I sat next to her. The back of her leg was severely mauled and blood flowed everywhere. I licked her wound until it began to coagulate. Trixie fainted. Tremendous anxiety overwhelmed me and I hoped Blue-Eyes would win the battle. I could not stick around to find out, nudging and pushing Trixie down the hallway until we reached my bedroom. I bit the scruff of her neck and picked her up and dragged her into the
bathroom.

What happened next is hazy — I must have blacked out and when I came to, I was back in human form. Peering down at my ripped shirt, the black tattoo had spread across my chest, shoulder and arm and formed the shape of a wolf’s head with its upper chest, again. Shirtless, I adorned a tee and snuck back down the hallway. It was hard to determine who was winning, Blue-Eyes or the grey
wolf.

I felt a pull to go back and check on Trixie and when I entered the bathroom, she had regained consciousness. I grabbed some towels and disinfectant, and cleaned her leg; she writhed in pain and snapped at me once. Thankfully, she was not close enough to connect. I covered her leg with cloth bandages, and Trixie limped to the bed. I picked her up and gently lay her down pulling the comforter up for her. Kissing her softly on the forehead, I whispered that I would return soon after I made sure her dad was all right. She barked in agreement and I fled down the hallway, only to find Blue- Eyes, unconscious. The grey wolf had vanished, which should have been a relief; but it only heightened my anxiety. The hairs on the back of my neck stood on end and it felt like someone watched me from the shadows. The wolf stepped into view beyond Blue-Eyes’ body, apparently awaiting my return, growling, teeth bared. Rage shot through my body. How dare he do this to my friends and protectors? My inner wolf sprang from my body, and as we fought, I bit down hard on his neck. His body crumpled to the floor — I did not let go until he was out
cold.

Allan was bent over my body as I recuperated in human form. His sage, blue eyes conveyed concern and gratefulness. While stroking my hair, he studied my
tattoo.

“You are one of us now, Paige, for eternity. Protectors and warriors against evil...in any form evil may want to appear. Some call us shapeshifters, others call us werewolves, and some folk do not want to know anything about us.” His eyes were dilated and his energy seemed overpowering; his animal magnetism strong with his musky scent. I was strongly attracted to him yet denied myself any indulgence. Allan continued, “We need to help
Trixie.”

Collecting myself, I followed him into the bedroom, watching in horror, as the grey wolf had Trixie pinned and was about to rip her throat out. Allan grabbed a marble paper weight and threw it at the wolf’s head, knocking it backwards. Allan then transformed into Blue-Eyes and jumped on his enemy until the grey wolf spontaneously changed into the tanned faced man with black vest and jeans; it was the man I had seen outside my bathroom window and who had stood in my bedroom.
How could I be such a terrible judge of character? This same man was my supposed friend, a
spiritwalker
.

He spoke deliberately. “I had to test you, my friends.” He stared into my eyes and explained, “Paige, I had to see if you could defend yourself...you too, Allan, with the purest of intentions. The biggest test of all is coming and I was sent here to make sure you are ready.” And as that was said, he faded
away.

I was dazed and confused. “That is the man whom I’ve seen a couple of times and was told he is a spiritwalker, here to guide me. Is this the kind of help we need?” I shook my head and pointed at Trixie lying on the
bed.