Jake smiles because he knows what’s coming. He has seen her in action. Taking a breath, he waits for the other’s reaction. Her parents have always known Elina is special, so they are not surprised when she disappears, but Polly, Elsbeth and Hunter are all shocked.
Elina watches the shocked looks on the faces of those she is protecting. Energy is everywhere, good energy, bad energy and Elina has the ability to move between the physical plane and the spiritual plane. She can see the energy that each person carries, and the threads that connect each person to the physical world. Looking at her family, she sees they have strong threads. Ruby, Ronnie, and Polly all have strong, gold threads. Looking at Hunter, she notices his thread is blended with the electric blue glow of his aura. Fascinated, she moves closer to him. Reaching out, she almost touches him, but he jumps back before she can.
Elina turns to look at Jake and Elsbeth. Her smile fades as she looks at Elsbeth. She sees the soft pink aura that once glowed so bright is now dimmed and flashing. The energy field around her body is riddled with holes and they are leaking a trail of fluorescent light. Elina knows that as her energy drains, so, too, does her life force. The golden thread that connects her to the physical world has grown weak. That can be fixed, the demon said; But how? Turning to look at Jake, she sees that his aura is a dark emerald green with a halo of bright white around it. His aura is strong, but it is the lack of a thread that shocks Elina the most. A soft glow draws her attention, and Elina moves closer to him and sees that he wears a necklace with a red stone and it radiates a soft white light that seems to be shielding him.
Quickly returning to the physical world, Elina finds she is standing directly in front of Jake. Eyes wide, Jake finds Elina flashing to solid form only two feet away from him. Jumping a little in his seat, he looks up at her and sees that she is stunned.
“You have no thread, Jake. How is that possible?” she asks looking at him.
Slowly shaking his head at her he replies, “I don’t know? Does everyone have a thread?”
Ronnie walks over saying, “Yes, most people have a silver thread that connects the spirit to the physical world. Our people have golden threads. Are you saying he does not have a thread?”
“I have never seen anything like it. He has a thread, but it is shielded by this,” she says, stepping forward, she slips her hand into the collar of his shirt and gently lifts the shield. Inside the shield is a blood stone cut to fit the shape of a cross. “Where did you get this, Jake?”
Turning to look at Elsbeth, he says, “My sister made it for me.” Hunter moves up behind Elsbeth as if protecting her, not sure where this is going.
Jake looks at Elsbeth and asks “Tell me how you did that, where did you get the stone?”
“I made it for Jake from a stone one of the children gave me. She said it was from the local mine. It is a blood stone. When I placed it around Jake’s neck I felt a spark, but I didn’t think anything of it. What does it mean?”
Polly answers for them, “The Blood Stones are special and they are used to aid in protection and healing. It is a good stone, are you saying it is shielding his thread?” Everyone goes quiet for a moment to process this new information.
Ruby asks quietly, “Can you make more of these charms, Elsbeth? If you can, we have a new weapon, a strong weapon to shield us against the demons.”
Ronnie walks over and pulls his wife close, “Beauty and brains, which is why I married you. Think of the possibilities!” Smiling, they look at the group.
Elsbeth shakes her head no, “I do not have any more stones.” Looking at Hunter, she asks, “How far is it to the mine? Can we get more?”
Thinking about the risks involved, Hunter says, “The only mine that carries those stones is thirty miles from here on the reservation. The mines were closed due to the high number of deaths.”
Elsbeth begins to pace and talk to herself. “I need more stones. I can make pieces for each of us, to protect us when we watch. This is amazing! Can you take me to the mines in the morning, Hunter?” she asks coming to a stop in front of him.
Before Jake can speak, Hunter says firmly, “I can, but I will not put your life at risk for a few rocks.”
Everyone begins speaking at once. Elsbeth moves close to Hunter, and pokes him in the chest. Tossing her blonde hair over her shoulder she places one hand on her hip, snapping “Oh, I am going to those mines, with or without your help. I will not live in fear any longer!” She stomps out of the room, and slams her bedroom door.
Everyone goes quiet at the sound of Hunters voice as he asks, “What of Elsbeth’s mark? What did you find?”
Looking at Elina, Jake is scared by what he sees in her eyes.
“She is in trouble. Her spirit is damaged, she is weakening. We can provide a shield for her, but I am not sure how to heal a broken soul. The demon Asa, he marked her, Jake. It is why she can’t rest and grows weaker.”
“There has to be a way to heal her, Elina, you are the Keeper!” Jake demands, “What did the demon in the alley say to you, tell me again.”
Hearing the desperation in his voice, she answers him “He said only the son of the One, or a son of the Light can heal her. We both know Asa is not
