The Dream Weavers by Barbara Erskine (books you have to read txt) 📕

flashes of light, green and yellow flickers, pulsing shades of dirty maroon and above all that heavy dark grey entity that clasped her in a cloak of evil.

‘I think, Mrs Dalloway, that you would be advised to let me come in.’

‘So why am I suddenly Mrs Dalloway, Sandra? Have you forgotten my name?’ Bea’s hand crept up to her cross and she clutched it tightly. Sandra had invited something in. She had opened herself up to something vicious that was feeding on her soul.

‘Because I am no longer your friend, Mrs Dalloway.’

‘I see. Well, I’m sorry to hear that, but then I can’t let you in. I’m sure you understand.’ She looked the woman in the eye. ‘You could be anybody, in that disguise of yours.’

The venom in her visitor’s expression was fleeting but unmistakable. It was alien and all too powerful. ‘I’ll be back, Mrs Dalloway.’

‘And I’ll be waiting for you.’ Bea folded her arms again. She caught the sudden flicker of uncertainty in the woman’s eyes and she smiled. ‘Goodbye, Sandra,’ she murmured.

Sandra hesitated, then she visibly squared her shoulders, her antagonism back in place. ‘I’ll see you soon and next time I won’t knock on the door, I shall be in the heart of your evil doings.’

Bea watched as the woman turned to let herself out of the little wrought-iron gate and, leaving it open behind her, walked away across the Close, an almost visible cloud of malice trailing behind her. She did not go near the cathedral, Bea noticed, but veered away to walk past the west door, towards the gates of the Close and on out into the street, as if the creature clinging to her soul had been repelled by the presence of a sacred space.

‘Christ be with me, Christ within me …’ Bea’s whispered words circled her with their blessing and protection.

Closing the front door, she leaned against it for several seconds, allowing her pulse rate to steady, then she went back to find the phone. This was far more serious than anything she had anticipated and there was only one person she could think of who could advise her.

‘Meryn? I need your advice.’

‘I don’t think you do, Bea.’ The line to California was so clear it sounded as though he was in the room with her. It must be, she suddenly realised, the early hours of the morning for him.

‘I’m sorry. Did I wake you?’

He laughed. ‘You know better than that. I was expecting your call.’

Why wasn’t she surprised? ‘I may have met my match.’

‘Bea, you were my best pupil. There is nothing I can do that you can’t. You must have confidence in yourself. And you are far more than a match for this one.’

Bea paused. ‘So, you know what’s happening?’

‘I have a fair idea. Multi-dimensional phenomena are what we are discussing here at the institute, and yours is a splendid example.’

‘And this woman?’

‘Is an amateur. The ones you’ve got to watch are in the past, my dear. They have had more than a thousand years’ experience.’

‘Eadburh. She is very scary. And Nesta.’

‘As to that, you have to make your own judgements, Bea. I can’t do it for you.’

Bea bit her lip. ‘There is so much going on. Layer upon layer.’

‘And you can cope with it. But you must keep especial watch over the child. I’m right? There is a child involved?’

Ah, she felt her lips twitch into a smile, so he didn’t know quite everything. ‘Yes. There is. Emma. She’s seventeen.’

‘A dangerous age. Very vulnerable. Very open. Probably far too eager. She must be safeguarded.’ That word the social services loved to use.

Bea was chewing her lips. ‘How? Her parents are a part of the problem.’

Both of them in two such different ways.

‘That is beyond my scope. You will have to deal with this yourself. Are you still married to that splendid clergyman?’

‘You know I am.’

‘Then you are not alone. Don’t be afraid to ask his help. This may not be his acknowledged speciality, but his job makes it such and he has a strong and very genuine energy field. He will be there to guard you, Bea.’

It was what Mark had said.

‘When are you coming home?’

‘In the autumn. I’ve spent too long in the States. I need some good Welsh rain to refresh me. You and I will have some master classes then, and you can tell me all about how you coped with this situation. Just remember, be strong and have faith in God and in yourself, Bea.’

‘And you will watch over me?’ It was a frantic plea, but he had gone. The line was dead.

She sat staring down at the phone in her hands and it was only then she realised there was a list of messages, two from Emma, one from Heather; three from Simon, increasingly urgent in tone. Simon first. She pressed the button and waited for him to pick up.

‘Would you like me to come over?’

‘She’s asleep for now but she wants to see you so badly. She’s in quite a state.’

‘I’m on my way.’ She had a quick look at Heather’s message. Before going to see Emma, there was something else she had to deal with. She had to find out how Sandra had become so powerful. All this could not have come out of the blue.

Heather picked up the phone at once. ‘Are you OK, Bea? I’ve been thinking about you.’

‘I need Sandra’s address.’

There was a long pause, then Heather replied. ‘Can I ask why you want it?’

‘Things have escalated. She seems to have become mixed up in something extraordinarily stupid; I’m not sure she even realises what she’s done, but I have to try and fix it before any more harm is done. I have to go and see her.’

‘No, Bea. You mustn’t go near her.’ Heather hesitated, then she went on resolutely, ‘Besides, you know I can’t give you her address, even if I wanted to. It’s confidential information. I’m sorry. Is there anything I can do?’

‘I doubt it.’ Bea