The noxious odor had returned a few weeks later after the cow had been mutilated, and this time, her husband had gone outside with his shotgun and dog to keep watch over his livestock. Aria had been terrified for him. She had lit candles and prayed, but Amato had forbidden her to leave the house. They had put strings of garlic at the doorways on the windows, although neither truly believed in the undead. They just weren’t certain what they were dealing with.
Two nights later, the dog went crazy, growling and snarling, then charged out of the circle of light toward the barn where the farmer had taken his prize cows. The barn had been illuminated with lights, but then was suddenly plunged into darkness. The dog screamed horribly as Amato chased bravely after it. Aria had rushed to get a second shotgun, her heart pounding, tears running down her face, when she heard the shotgun discharged outside, not once but, after a brief silence, a second time.
When she flung the front door open, prepared to run out to aid him, Amato was there with the dog in his arms. The animal was covered in blood and panting in pain. There were long lacerations on his sides and belly. Amato had wrapped his shirt tightly around the animal in order to save him.
“Hurry, Aria, or we will lose him. He saved the animals tonight. You have to sew him up. There is no time to get him to the village.”
When she saw the horrendous wounds, Aria didn’t believe there was a chance to save the dog’s life, but in the end, the animal had lived. The vet had arrived forty minutes into her meticulous stitching, bringing a blood supply and plenty of antibiotics. He didn’t recognize what creature had done the damage to their heroic dog but, like the couple, was determined to save him.
Adalasia wove her spell through the room with her easy smile and contagious laughter. She had Aria shuffle the cards and divide them into three stacks. Aria chose a stack from the three and chose six cards to lay out in the manner Adalasia asked her to, turning the cards over carefully.
“They’re so beautiful,” Aria exclaimed. “It’s strange, but I can almost feel them moving under my fingers.” She stroked her finger over the surface of one of the cards, the smile fading from her face. “My burning question is whether these incidents that keep happening will stop before we lose everything and my husband gets hurt or killed.”
Adalasia’s smile faded as well. Her eyes met Sandu’s. She has great psychic talent, whether she is aware of it or not. She believes in the tarot cards. She is aware I have some talent, or at least that the cards can tell her something. She glanced down at the cards and then back up at him. I don’t want to do this if I’m going to see her husband or her dead, Sandu.
We are going to take care of the problem, ewal emninumam. Her husband will live and so will she. Have no fear in giving her a reading, Sandu assured her.
He felt Adalasia take a deep breath. She flashed her million-dollar smile and had Aria turn over the cards one by one. The smile widened.
“I see a very bright future for you and children coming very soon to fill your life with love and laughter.” She looked up from the cards. “Grandchildren?”
Aria nodded. “My daughter and her husband have been considering purchasing the property next to ours. Her husband has wanted to get out of the city for a long time. He grew up here and has a good education, but he misses the farm life.”
“I believe he will purchase the property quite soon, and those children will be running back and forth.” There was joy in Adalasia’s voice.
“And my husband?” Aria held her breath, looking over the cards.
“These incidents that are happening will stop immediately.” This time Adalasia’s voice hitched the tiniest bit, and her gaze flicked to Sandu and the four guardians before coming back to rest on the cards and Aria. She managed another smile, this one not quite so bright or real. “Your husband and you will live a long life together free from these types of attacks.”
Aria clearly had more psychic gifts than they gave her credit for. She sat back in her chair and studied their faces, each of them, very carefully. She made the sign of the cross. “You came here to stop them, didn’t you?” She whispered the revelation as if she feared to be overheard, even with the silver crosses at each of the entrances. “We are under attack, and you are here to stop them if it is at all possible.” Tears filled her eyes. “It is very dangerous work that you do. And thankless.”
“Aria.”
Adalasia said her name gently when Sandu shifted toward the woman, prepared to erase her memories, if it was even possible. He didn’t know. Some people with strong psychic abilities were difficult to control unless he took their blood.