Chapter 6: The Invitation

Mrs Feeney backed away as the stench of death emanating from the vile spirit became too much to bear.

Dear God,the evil of this was overwhelming.

“So you asked who I am and now you know old woman,”the spirit said,as the shadows drew closer to her.

Mrs Feeney saw this.The dark spirit was exerting herself,getting weaker and drawing strength from her guardians.

“I asked for your name spirit and you have yet to answer me,”Mrs Feeney said,bile rising in her throat.”You play games,nothing more.”

The spirit smiled,showing her decaying teeth once more.“Why is it so important for you to know who I am?So you can find a way to stop me?”

“I will stop you regardless.You will not hurt Bethany!”

“Really?”the spirit asked flippantly “Then how about your dear Emma.”

Momentarily Mrs Feeney felt a shudder go through her.The spirit would be capable of anything once her full strength was restored.Emma was as precious as Bethany to her.She had to find a way to end this once and for all and send this creature back to hell where she belonged.Emma was her life and no harm could come to her or Bethany.

A name,just a name.That was all she needed.

“Don’t worry old woman,”the spirit said.”Your precious Emma is worth nothing to me.It’s Beth I want and will have.She will be my vessel.”

Mrs Feeney pulled her wrap tighter against her as the temperature went down even further,the cold chilling her to the bone.

“Your vessel?”she asked incredulously.”You mean to possess her?”

“And then kill him.”

“God have mercy on us all,”Mrs Feeney whispered.”One last time spirit…who are you?” “You will find out,perhaps sooner,rather than later.”

As silently as she had come,she disappeared.

..........

The call came just as Beth stepped out of the shower.

“Hello Beth.”

Hearing Ethan's voice on the other end of the line sent a sudden shiver down Beth’s spine.She had truly not expected to hear from him ever again and now he was calling her.

To think she had almost left her cellphone at home,looking forward to a weekend of doing absolutely nothing!

“Ethan,what a surprise.How are you?”

“Surprised as well,”he said with a chuckle. “I was just sitting in my office and I had the sudden urge to hear your voice.”

Beth felt a tingle through her entire body,her ears unwilling to believe what they were hearing.He was thinking about her?

“Really?”she asked,in as cool a voice as she could muster.”Not that I'm complaining.”

Ethan let out another laugh in his baritone voice.“Beth,for some reason,you’ve captivated me.I find myself bewildered,perplexed and undeniably attracted to you.I think you feel the same about me?”

For the longest moment,Beth held her breath.Had Ethan just asked her if she was attracted to him,and even more importantly,did he just admit his attraction to her?She felt a warm glow in her chest.So it was true what Emma had said all along.

She had always believed in honesty,so she decide that was the route to go.

“Yes Ethan,”she admitted,”I feel as you do,although I’m not sure where this infatuation comes from.We barely know each other.Where could this lead?”

“Don’t you think we owe it to ourselves to try and find out?I’m not going to lie to you. Things are complicated and I owe you an explanation.Would it be possible for us to meet?”

Beth explained to him where she was.”I'll be back Sunday afternoon,we can get together then.”

When the call ended,Beth felt happier than she had in years.

Emma was almost more excited than Beth at the prospect of seeing Ethan again and once she knew that he had confessed his attraction,there was no stopping her.She basically wrestled Beth to the bed until she told her word for word all that Ethan had said.

Beth laughed,pushing her friend off of her as Emma went into a mock swoon.

“I told you,”Emma finally said,”I told you this man had feelings for you.Maybe now you should worship my brilliance!”

Beth aimed a pillow at her as both of them burst out laughing again.She could still not believe it.

Ethan Hollingsworth,a man she was sure had women falling at his feet,had told her he was attracted to her.Could it be possible that this was her second chance?She had invested so much emotionally into her marriage to Edgar that she had never thought it possible to feel that way again,to love again and be happy.

“Em,I don’t know if this is a dream but if it is I never want to wake up!”

Emma held her in a warm embrace.”It’s not a dream Beth.This is what you deserve,what you have always deserved.Happiness,joy,love.all the things you gave to Edgar that he could never give to you."

"I'm concerned about one thing though,”Beth said,”the fact that Ethan said it was complicated and he would explain it to me at our meeting.”

“What do you think it could be?”

“I don't know,it could be anything.I guess I just have to wait and see.”

He had sounded so lighthearted during their conversation on the phone,but his voice had taken on a darker tone when he said those words.He was a mystery.It seemed as if he harboured some deep heartache that he never shared with anyone.

Not that she was judging him.Lord knew she was taking a whole lot of baggage of her own into whatever they would soon have.

It just felt so damn good to be desired again,to not be the dutiful wife of an absent and cheating husband.

Her whole world had crumbled the night Edgar had told her he was seeing someone else and then cruelly had brought his tramp along for the big revelation.In their own home.

“Serena?”she’d said,as Edgar put his arms around his hussy's waist and she had clung to him like a cheap suit.His secretary,her friend.”How could you?”

“We never meant to hurt you Beth,”the tramp said,”it just happened.”

She’d sat down on the couch,numb with shock and disappointment.

“Of course I will be very fair to you in the division of assets,”Edgar droned on.”I love you Beth,I'm just not in love with you anymore.”

“Were you ever Edgar?You two whores deserve one another.”

That night she had imagined her whole world had collapsed,not once thinking she would get another shot at happiness.

Now,all that had changed.

For the first time in months,Beth felt her own heartbeat.