Dark Shadows of The Mind - Chapters 1-5

1

Prologue2

It was unnaturally quiet for a balmy summer night Seraphina thought as sat on the deck, a glass of wine in her hand, looking out into the moonless night.  The usual sounds of the cicadas and other night creatures were absent, the sounds of the waves crashing onto the rocks below her fading out until Sera was surrounded on all sides by chilling stillness.  She put down her glass, getting to her feet.  Something wasn't right; something bad was going to happen - she just knew it.3

She scanned the darkness, looking for the reason her senses had gone so haywire.  There was nothing.  Sera began to feel the familiar crawling on the skin of her back and shoulders, the slow escalating terror that reached deep inside her, causing the unwelcome reactions.  She ran to her backdoor, sliding the door open so she could retreat inside to relative safety.  As her hand touched the glass, she pulled it back as if burned.  The glass was icy cold, a rippled image of a young woman greeting Sera as she looked into the darkness of her living room.  Sera gasped in surprise, screwing up her eyes in protection.  4

"Help me!"  The young woman's voice said inside Sera's head.  Sera screamed and covered her ears.5

"Leave me alone!" She screamed, dropping to her knees on the wooden deck.  She cowered, wishing at that moment to be anywhere but here.6

Finally after what seemed an age, Sera opened her eyes looking around her.  The cicadas had begun their usual night time chorus, the waves crashing loudly and comfortingly against the rocks.  Sera began to cry, overcome for a moment by the ceasing of the visitation.  She walked inside, keeping her eyes lowered as she almost ran through the house to her bedroom.  She dived into bed, pulling the quilt over her, blocking out visitors both dead and alive from her life for one more night at least.7

Chapter 18

Callum McKenzie walked down the steep cliff path, the sun beating down hard on his black company uniform of a three-piece suit and polished shoes.  He swore for what seemed the thousandth time as his foot slipped on loose pebbles lining the path.  This place was a death trap; if he didn't need to see the woman so badly he'd never have bothered.9

The small white house nestling against the cliff-face stood just ahead and Cal uttered a silent prayer. At last he thought as he opened the small wrought iron gate and walked up the little path to the front door.  The door was open and he walked inside, sighing in relief at the cool interior.10

"I hope you wiped your feet?" A stern voice uttered close to his ear and he jumped in spite of himself.11

"Yes I did, ahem, I'm Special Agent Callum McKenzie. I spoke to you on the telephone."  He said straightening up; he looked around him for the woman to go with the voice.  She was sat on a lounger at the other end of the house, through a pair of huge sliding glass doors.  He couldn't see her very well. He frowned, how had she known he was there.12

"Come through Agent McKenzie, I can't see you from there." She Demanded.  Cal walked through the cluttered living room and through into the bright sunshine of the deck where she was now sitting.  13

He was surprised to see that she wasn't older than about 25; slim with what looked like an all over tan and long honey blonde hair.  She was wearing a white bikini, her long legs spread out along the lounger.  Cal frowned.14

"I understood that the reason why I had to come here for our meeting was that you were incapacitated and unable to travel into the city."  He said an edge of annoyance in his voice.  Sera chuckled.15

"And so I am.  I have agoraphobia."  Cal frowned sitting down in a chair next to her.16

"I thought that meant that you couldn't leave your home, couldn't go outside."  He said in question.  Sera sighed drawing her legs up so they bent at the knee.  Cal found himself looking at the pale pink nail polish on her perfectly manicured toenails.17

"If you can stop raking over me with your eyes for one moment, I'll tell you why I'm not able to come into the office Agent McKenzie."  Cal blushed in spite of himself, mortified to have been so transparent.18

"It's quite all right Agent McKenzie." Sera said with a smirk. "I quite like the compliment to be honest.  I don't have a lot of visitors here, of my own volition."  Cal felt confused and sat down with a plop on the chair next to Sera.19

"So why the meeting here?"  Cal asked his voice edged with steel.20

"I can't travel into the city, it's not healthy for me."  Sera said looking down at her hands, which were trembling slightly. Cal shook his head, still not getting what she meant.21

"You look fine to me." He said.  Sera narrowed her eyes, this man was an imbecile, she thought bitterly.  She sighed.22

"You were born into an Irish Catholic family in Hells Kitchen, New York. Your younger sister Angela died when she was four after a car hit her; you were supposed to be looking after her. Your Father was a drunk, your Mother a saint.  You decided after watching a TV programme when you were 12 that you wanted to be an FBI agent and you never listened when they told you, it would never happen."  Sera turned away, tears springing into her eyes.23

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have done that." She said quietly.  Cal took in a deep shuddering breath.24

"What are you?"  He asked and Sera turned back to him, her eyes filled with pain.25

"I'm a psychic, a medium and a telepath; one of the most powerful in the world. I can't be around people otherwise it consumes me."  Cal nodded, still shaken at her reading.  This woman was one of the most amazing people he has ever met.26

"So what brings you to my home today?" Sera asked, dashing away her tears with the back of her hand.27

"We need your help, my supervisor said you were an expert in locating missing persons.  I had no idea you were a psychic." He almost spit the word out like an obscenity. 28

"Do you have a photograph? Personal belongings? Any information?" Sera asked reaching for a crocheted throw on the back of her lounger. She tied around her like a dress, reaching for the files that Cal proffered.29

She closed her eyes, taking a deep breath.  She opened the file, her fingers resting on the photograph within.  A pretty young woman, long dark hair and dark eyes, slim build.  She liked to ride horses, drive her red sports car, and dance at the salsa club down at her home in Miami.  30

"Theresa Milano."  Sera said, looking down at the photograph again.  Cal nodded.31

"What can you tell me about her?" He asked.  Sera took a deep breath.32

"She saw something she wasn't supposed to, they saw her watching them, and they chased her.  You had her in custody, but she slipped away. She's so frightened, scared of ending up like the young woman at the club who she saw raped and murdered."  Cal nodded not quite believing her accuracy.33

"Go On." He said and Sera closed her eyes again, seeing images.34

"She's blonde now, her eyes are blue with contact lenses.  She's living in a big city, with a landmark, a tall tower, Seattle.  She's working in a record store; Virgin, her name is Mary.  She's frightened, when you go and get her, be gentle with her, she's had a hard time."  Cal took his mobile phone out of his pocket and spoke into it quietly.  Sera looked away from him exhausted.35

"Is that all?"  Sera asked getting to her feet.  Cal nodded, standing up beside her.36

"That was amazing." He said his eyes shining with admiration.  Sera swayed on her feet.37

"Can you please leave now."  She said breathlessly. Cal frowned as she gripped the doorframe pulling herself inside her living room.  Cal followed her, watching as she swayed on her feet.  He caught her as she passed out, her body going limp in his arms.38

Cal laid her down on the sofa, looking down at her unconscious form.  She was amazing, someone that he would really like to get to know.  He brushed a stray lock of hair away from her face. He Felt protective and another more disturbing emotion that he couldn't place at the moment.  He sat down in the chair opposite, determined not to leave her alone, while she was still so vulnerable.39

Chapter 240

It was the pounding in her head that brought Sera back to consciousness.  She frowned as she sat up, the throw that was covering her, slipping to the floor.  For a moment she forgot where she was, thinking with dread that it had happened again.41

"Oh good, you're awake."  Cal said with a smile in his voice.  Sera turned to face him, her eyes screwing up with emotion.42

"I asked you to leave." She said, her voice croaky.  Cal frowned quizzically.43

"I couldn't leave you alone, I wasn't sure if you were ill."  Sera glared at him, swinging her legs to the floor.44

"You're the one that made me ill."  She said with anger in her voice.  Cal's eyes opened in surprise.45

"I don't see how I did that." He said, in hurt tones.  Sera got to her feet, swaying a little as before.46

"I can't be around people, it makes me ill.  Please leave."  She said walking off towards her small kitchen.  Cal got to his feet following her.47

"I'm not leaving till I know you're alright!" Sera slammed the kitchen door, stopping him in his tracks.  She reached into the fridge for a bottle of ice-cold water, holding the bottle against her burning forehead for a moment.48

"Are you alright?"  Cal asked through the door.  Sera swore under her breath.49

"Can't you take a hint?" Cal frowned leaning against the wall.  He sighed; she had to be one of the most difficult people he had ever had to deal with, and one of the most beautiful.  Why did she have to be alone? Sera chuckled from the safety of the kitchen.50

"I suppose I should take that as a compliment." She said opening the kitchen door.  Cal shook his head.51

"That must be really unsettling for you, being able to read minds."  Sera sighed.52

"And now comes the pity.  It always comes back to the fear and pity.  You ask why I am alone, I'll explain if you like - if you promise to leave right after."  Cal smiled.53

"Ok."  He followed her into the living room, where she sat down on sofa near the sliding door.  He sat down opposite, watching her face as it went through a myriad of emotions.54

"I was born like this, I've never really known any other way to live.  My parents were frightened of me, frightened of the words I uttered at inopportune moments.  They were wealthy, had status - I was their freak of nature that they kept away from people, more for their convenience than my safety.  When I was sixteen I was sent away from my home, to live here.  The visions had become more violent, the visitations more vivid and I was slowly losing my mind.  The only peace I had from the relentless visions and voices was when I was totally alone.  I have tried to leave here so many times, but it's not possible - this is my sanctuary and my prison. And so now you see why I asked you to leave.  I can read every nuance, every hidden thought that you think - I can feel your pity even now as I am talking to you."  Cal blew out a long breath, he hadn't realised he had been holding it as he listened to Sera tell her story.55

"So how did you get involved in helping the government?"  He asked, more as a ruse to stay in her company a few moments longer.56

"When I was eighteen, the ghost of a dead girl came to me and told me where she was buried.  Having no television and being too far from civilisation for newspapers, I hadn't realised that the whole country was looking for her.  I called the police and told them where she was buried.  For a time they thought I was involved somehow, until they tried to take me into custody.  I didn't make it past the end of the cliff path before I fell into a coma and they had to return me to my home.  When I roused, I gave them the details of the killer, his name, where he lived.  They picked him up and he confessed to everything.  The authorities couldn't believe my accuracy and so began my life as a consultant.  The government pays me well, allows me to stay in my home and basically leave me alone.  That is until you walked through my door today."  Cal cleared his throat.57

"So you're stuck here forever?"  He asked sadly.  Sera nodded unhappily taking a drink of her water.58

"Yes, I have my groceries delivered once a week along with my mail.  The only visitors I have are Police or FBI or one of the other government agencies.  It's not so bad - I'm not lonely."  Cal shook his head. He found that very hard to believe.  He got to his feet.59

"Thank you for explaining things to me."  Sera smiled.60

"That's ok - it's nice to talk for at least a little while.  I have no doubt you will return at some point - so I won't say goodbye."  She got to her feet walking through the sliding doors and on to her deck.61

"Please close the door when you leave."  Cal nodded.  That was a dismissal if ever there was one, he thought bitterly.62

"Thank you for your help." Cal said, his voice sounding hollow.  He was overcome with an intense feeling of melancholy although he wasn't sure why.  He picked up his briefcase, making sure the photographs and files were inside; then he turned away from her as she stood looking down at the white crested waves slamming against the rocks below her.63

"Do you ever want to throw yourself onto them?"  Cal asked sadly.  Sera felt tears spring in her eyes and she sighed.64

"Frequently."  She said simply, as the tears began to roll down her sunburned cheeks.  Cal moved quickly, wanting to be away from the oppressive atmosphere of the small white house.  65

Once outside the sun warmed him as before; he realised with some incredulity that he'd been very cold his entire time inside her house.  The thought unsettled him as he began his three-mile hike back to his car.  Had she been telling the truth, when she had said she would see him again soon? He thought, because at that moment he couldn't think of anything that would make him go there again.  He lifted his face to the sun, revelling in the heat on his skin.  He smiled in spite of himself, trying to put her to the back of his mind.  He had bigger things to deal with now, namely Theresa Milano, now Mary who worked at Virgin Records in Seattle.  He walked faster, and with purpose managing at least for a while to exorcise Seraphina from his mind.66

Chapter 367

The sun began to dip down into the dark water on the horizon, filling the sky with a myriad of rainbow colours.  Sera sighed in happiness, leaning against the wall that surrounded her deck.  The nights were always best, the time when she felt most at peace - usually.   She lifted a glass and took a sip, loving the plumy flavour of the red wine.  Her mind wandered, reliving the moments of the day in frightening clarity.  Agent McKenzie intrigued her, although at that moment she didn't know why.  He had blundered into her home and refused to leave, even when she had told him his presence would make her ill.  He was stubborn, handsome in a rugged way and with a hidden sadness that Sera had connected with almost immediately.  Perhaps that was it, she thought taking another sip, perhaps he roused maternal instincts in her.  Sera smiled turning away from the ocean and walked inside.  She put her wine glass down on the coffee table, sitting down on the sofa, her legs curling instinctively beneath her.68

Sera opened her mind, inviting in the entity, which had been circling her for the past few nights.  She sat quietly for a moment; before she felt the temperature in the room plummet making the hairs on her arms stand up.69

"Help me." The voice said weakly.  Sera closed her eyes concentrating hard, giving over energy to the entity.70

"Who are you?" Sera asked, opening her eyes.  The girl stood in front of her, her skin pale and covered in green algae.  Her long blonde hair was caught through with more of the same, her nightdress wet and sticking to her slim frame.71

"Help me." The girl said again, holding out her hand to Sera.  Sera extended her hand, knowing that what she was doing was dangerous, but wanting to be free of anymore-ghostly visitations.72

"Tell me your story." Sera said, her finger touching frigid air around the ghostly figure.  Suddenly the girl's icy fingers grabbed Sera's hand, sending a cold fission of electricity through Sera's body.  All at once Sera was pulled into a terrifying vision.73

Sera was inside the woman, seeing the events of her death unfold as they happened, frightened, but unable to pull away.  A name spoken, Melissa Fearnley, Georgetown, Virginia, aged 19 years.  74

Melissa was walking down a familiar street, carrying a backpack full of college textbooks and her laptop.  She was humming a tune, her long legs strutting down towards her apartment.  She was returning from her business studies class, stopping for her lunch before she went onto her next class.  A black van pulled up to the kerb, the window rolling down - it was someone that she knew.  She stood closer, talking to them, laughing at a joke.  Then she felt arms surround her, pulling her inside the darkness of the back of van.  A sharp pain in her head and she blacked out.  75

Melissa watched the rest from outside her body, unaware that she was going to die.  They used her keys to ransack her apartment, taking her laptop, phone, TV and electrical equipment.  It was then that they spotted the photograph on her bedside table, the photograph holding her famous Father - Senator Joseph Blake Fearnley. Melissa heard the word ransom and million dollars before she had been overcome with dizziness.  She had faded in and out of awareness. Finally she found herself being thrown into a swamp.  They didn't even wait to see her body sink to the bottom before they had driven away.76

Sera screamed pulling back finally from the ghost.  Her eyes were filled with terrified tears.77

"Help me, please." Melissa said sadly. Sera nodded dragging air into her lungs.78

She reached across to the side table and picked up the telephone. She dialled the number of the card lying beside it.79

"Hello Agent McKenzie? This is Seraphina Daniels, I need to speak with you urgently."  She left the message on his answering machine, letting the phone drop from her hand.  She was exhausted, feeling sick and disorientated.80

"I promise I'll help you, Melissa."  Sera said feeling herself lose consciousness.  Her eyes blurred as the figure of Melissa Fearnley disappeared leaving Sera lying curled on her living room floor.81

Chapter 482

Cal swore for the thousandth time, as his running shoes slipped on the winding cliff path.  He'd been in the gym, just about to work out, when his phone had rung.  He'd allowed it to go to answer machine while he was tying his laces.  He wished now he'd answered the phone when it had rung.  Sera had sounded disorientated, her voice soft and indistinct.  He shone his torch on the path in front of him, noticing with relief that the house was only a little way ahead of him.  He was filled with a sense of dread, although he didn't know what she could possibly tell him that would make him feel that way.83

The door was open when he walked up to it, but he had known it would be.  No one would be out here at this time of night in the middle of a storm, except maybe him.  He swore, this had better be important.84

"Miss Daniels?"  Cal shouted as he walked inside.  He turned on the lights looking around the large room for any sign of her.  He felt a knot of fear almost choke him when he spotted her unconscious and lying on the floor of the living room.  He ran up to her, checking her pulse before he lifted her into his arms and onto the sofa.85

"Sera? Are you ok?"  He said, his fingers brushing her cheek.  Her eyes fluttered open, and she began to cry, clinging to him.86

"They killed her, they stole everything she had and then they murdered her."  She said her voice soft with fear and outrage.  Cal made calming noises his fingers moving to caress her hair.87

"Who are you talking about Sera?" He asked, his eyes watching her face intently.88

"Melissa Fearnley, Senator Joe Fearnley's daughter."  Cal felt as if he'd been punched in the stomach.  He took a deep breath to steady himself.89

Melissa Fearnley had only been missing for three days; she'd been snatched Monday walking home from one of her classes at Georgetown University.  Her Father had been on every TV network coast to coast to appeal for any information. They were treating it as a kidnapping; they thought she was still alive.90

"What do you know?"  Cal asked gently.  Sera licked her dry lips and took a deep breath.91

"She came to me, not long after you left here.  She was dripping and covered in algae and swamp water.  She gave me the vision of her abduction, they were only going to ransack her house, but that was until they found out who her Father was.  Then they changed; they wanted to hold her for ransom.  One of them had hit her hard on head at the time they snatched her, and she developed a blood clot on her brain.  When she lost consciousness they panicked and dumped her body in a swamp.  She wasn't even dead when they dumped her, she drowned."  Sera began to shake uncontrollably.92

"Do they know she's missing?"  She asked and Cal nodded sadly.93

"She went missing around Lunch time Monday on her way back from class. Her Dad's already been on TV offering a reward for information."  Sera's eyes widened.94

"They haven't called for a ransom yet?" She said and Cal shook his head.95

"No, there has been no contact from Melissa's captors."  Sera lowered her head.96

"What are you going to do?"  She asked biting her lip.  Cal sighed.97

"I need you to come with me, we need you to help us track down her killers and bring them to justice."  Sera shook her head violently launching herself out of his arms.98

"NO!!!!!! I can't do it! I can't!" She screamed grabbing her head and shaking it so violently that Cal thought it would come off her shoulders.99

"But you must, there must be a way to get you to our building without you falling ill."  Sera screwed up her eyes tightly.100

"There has to be another way. I really can't do it!"   Cal sighed, taking his PDA out of his pocket.  He touched the screen with its little pen a few times, and then held it up to Sera's face.  It was a photograph of Senator Fearnley and Melissa, both of them laughing obviously very happy.101

"Do you want her murderers to get away with it?"  Cal said with an edge of steel to his voice.  Sera dissolved into tears.102

"This isn't fair! I didn't ask for this! I didn't ask to be able to see these horrors." Cal stood up putting his arm around her shoulders.103

"You don't have a choice Sera and I'm sorry."  Sera's eyes filled with anger.104

"You bastard!" She said with venom pushing past him and walking outside onto her deck.  Cal followed her, feeling guilty as he put his hands on her shoulders.105

"I'm sorry Sera, I'm sure we can get through this together."  Sera turned around and fell into his arms sobbing.106

"I'm scared Cal, this is all I've known for so long."  Cal kissed her hair, thinking to himself how inappropriate it was to be holding her in his arms like this.107

"Don't worry." He said with conviction. "I'll be with you the entire time, we'll get through this together."  And he meant it.108

Chapter 5109

Cal looked down at Sera's sleeping form.  The strong sleeping pills that she had consumed before she left the cottage, had worked in less that 20 minutes and he had had to carry her the rest of the way to the car, her slim form nestled in his arms.  The Lear Jet had been waiting at the local Airport ready to take them to Washington DC - nearly six hours flight away.  110

Cal turned back to his laptop, connecting his PDA to it.  The latest information on the case downloaded to the laptop in seconds, and he clicked on the icon, watching as the document opened in front of him.  111

Senator Fernley had not taken it well when he had been informed that a psychic had been conversing with his daughter and that she was dead.  He had flown into a rage before dissolving into hiccupping sobs.  He had sent the Lear Jet, and was waiting for them to arrive.  It had been his wife, Drew that had finally talked him around convincing him that they should pursue every avenue to get their daughter back.  Cal was happy about that; he'd had visions of ending up in a field office in some backwater till he retired or died of boredom.  112

The seatbelt sign pinged above his head and he reached for the belt clicking it into place.  He clicked Sera's belt into its holder securely, his fingers lingering for a moment on the bronzed skin of her naked arm.  She stirred, a soft sigh escaping from her pink lips.  The injection the medic had given her at the airport had been strong enough to sedate a full-grown horse; but it had been necessary when she'd become agitated before they boarded the jet.  Cal shivered; he felt a little guilty about forcing her to leave her home, but as he had said maybe a hundred times to himself during the flight - it was a necessary evil.  To catch Melissa's killers you needed the best team - Sera was the best at what she did.113

Cal frowned as he remembered Sera's impromptu reading of him.  It had been on the nose, so much so it had frightened him.  He hadn't thought about Angela consciously in years, although she haunted his nightmares frequently.  He'd been ten; Angela had been four.  He'd angry that he'd had to watch his annoying little sister.  He'd taken her to the park at the end of the street and told her not to leave the jungle gym, while he played ball with his friends on the grass.    114

Cal took a deep breath, blowing it out loudly.  He'd always resented having to watch Angela, always having to leave the house in the late afternoons before his Dad came home from the docks.  Now he was older he knew why his Mother had sent them to the park, and why whenever he came home from there, she looked like she'd been crying.  Joseph McKenzie was a drunk and a wife beater, who despised his life and who took comfort in spreading around his displeasure.  Maggie McKenzie had just been trying to protect them from being a target of Joe's nasty temper.  He shook his head violently, wanting to block out the unpleasant memories of his childhood.  What did it matter now anyway? He was alone in the world; his Mother dead of Cancer at forty-two years old and his Father dead of a drunken fall soon afterwards.  That had been while he was still studying at Quantico, the FBI training centre.  His colleagues didn't even realise he'd had a bereavement because he had worked through, ignoring the pain in his soul.  He wanted nothing more than to become what he had dreamt of; An FBI agent.115

The jet descended to the small private airport close to Washington DC.  It landed with barely a bump, Cal sighing in relief – he wasn’t the best flyer in the world at the best of times.  He got up from his seat, unhooking Sera’s belt and lifting her light body into his arms.  She barely stirred as he carried her down the jet to the waiting steps.116

Senator Fearnley stood on the tarmac watching them from beneath dark sunglasses.  Dark suited men surrounded him on all sides, with barely concealed weapons beneath their jackets.  Cal walked gingerly down the metals steps, careful not to bang Sera’s legs as he went.117

“Agent McKenzie, I’m Senator Fearnley.  Please follow me to my car.”  Cal nodded walking the short distance to the black limousine.  He laid Sera carefully across one of the long seats, sitting down next to her.118

“What’s the matter with her?” Senator Fearnley asked his voice edged with steel.  Cal took a deep breath.119

“Sera lives alone in the middle of nowhere by her own volition.  Apparently from what she has told me, when she is exposed to a great many people it overwhelms her abilities and is very dangerous for her.  That’s why she’s had to be sedated.”  Senator Fearnley nodded.120

“Well she will be quite safe at my country estate – I have few staff and apart from yourself and a couple of body guards we will be quite alone.” Cal looked down at Sera and smiled.121

“You seem quite taken with Miss Daniels, Agent McKenzie.” Senator Fearnley said dryly.122

“Only in the sense that she is my responsibility while she is away from her home.  I promised her I would keep her safe.”  The Senator smiled satisfied with his answer.  Cal looked down at his watch, hoping that the sedation wouldn’t wear off before they reached the sanctuary of the country estate.  For a moment the guilt overwhelmed him once again.  Why did he feel like he had exposed Sera to a pack of ravenous wolves?123