Serenity’s Sight:
Lessons
By
Cynthia Sisco
Argus Enterprises International
New Jersey***North Carolina
Serenity’s Sight: Lessons © 2011 All Rights Reserved by Cynthia Sisco
No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping, or by any informational storage retrieval system without prior permission in writing from the publisher.
A-Argus Better Book Publishers, LLC
at Smashwords
For information:
A-Argus Better Book Publishers, LLC
9001 Ridge Hill Street
Kernersville, North Carolina 27285
www.a-argusbooks.com
ISBN: 978-0-6155239-2-7
ISBN: 0-6155239-2-7
Book Cover designed by Dubya
Printed in the United States of America
Dedicated to: My grandmothers; Ella Garrett who watches me from above,
& Betty Wagner who still stands by my side.
I love you.
Chapter 1
Maggie Magoris
She awoke in the morning as she normally did, with those nagging voices bombarding her, telling her what she must do, or what was to happen. It had been this way for most of her life. The spirits could be just as relentless as the other seers, and maybe even more demanding. They were louder than usual, meaning the day had finally arrived. Serenity would come to her today, and the first book would be handed off to its rightful owner. She rolled out of bed hoping not to disturb Robert. Her husband was going to need his rest. His role in protecting her would now be more difficult than ever once this first book was being passed on to Serenity.
Once in her rather small bathroom, she splashed cold water on her face, dried it with a hand towel and then closed her eyes. She knew once she looked in the mirror, it wouldn't be herself she would see. She needed a moment to collect herself. She didn’t want to miss a single clue, or a detail she may need later to prove herself to Serenity. When she was sure she was ready she opened them, she did so slowly, and sure enough, it was Serenity's face she saw where her own should be. When Maggie normally saw the girl, she was designing some outrageous combination of dark make-up and wild hair, but not this time. Serenity was sort of just throwing herself together, so it was obvious to Maggie Serenity’s mind was elsewhere.
“She's angry with you, Maggie.” said a voice in her head.
The voices weren't really all in her head. She had a gift, much like Serenity, yet Serenity's was much stronger. The voices were of spirits. They didn't need to be near her to talk to her, and with Robert around, the bad spirits could never get through. Robert was her “watcher”. He kept her safe, but only as long as he was around her. For “normal” people, the bad spirits couldn't really do anything to harm them, unless they opened themselves up to it, but for people like Maggie and Serenity, they could destroy them. Not with the possession which could destroy others. Bad spirits were like pure, contagious, insanity. They could drain a seer of their energy, and leave madness in its place.
“Yes, she's angry, but she won't be for long. Leave me alone now so I can get ready for the day.” she said aloud. She glanced once more at Serenity and then closed her eyes tightly, clearing her mind. When she opened them once again, Serenity was gone. She could now see her own image in the mirror just like she should. She started the shower and prepared to get in when another voice broke through.
“They want to see her too, you know. They’ll do almost anything. Don't let them get her. Once she starts to reads the book, they will want to know the secrets, and they’ll be desperate to find out what she learns.” it was a soft whisper, almost sad.
“They won't... they can't. I won’t let them, I’ll keep her safe or die trying.” she said, and then she continued to ready herself for the day.
Serenity had been awake for hours, replaying in her mind all the questions she wanted to ask Mrs. Magoris after school. She could just imagine the other kids in her grade who were right now in the middle of trying to find the right outfit, the right hairdo, and anxious about all the pre-school shopping they did, hoping their clothes were “cool” and “in”. She also could picture one other girl approaching her last middle school year in much the same way as Serenity was; Vanessa. Would she even be at school today? When she saw Vanessa the previous day at Twin Willows Park's ribbon cutting, she had looked awful. Looking back, she wished she had said something to her, but knew Vanessa's parents would have prevented any contact. Her outburst at David's party, if “outburst” was the right word to use when someone thought it best to kill you, had been a flaw in their otherwise “perfect” lives. Vanessa's parents only believed in power over others and viewed the incident as an embarrassment to the Shilling name.
Of course there were other nerves building in Serenity. She would be seeing David today. He had been such a great friend through the whole summer of paranormal discovery. Of course there was also Lizzy to think about. She would definitely be hyped up to start school. She would want to impress (and scare) all the younger kids, but then Lizzy also wouldn't be able to resist the temptation of being a mentor. Her soul was too kind. As an afterthought Serenity realized it was only one whole year until high school...wow.
This whole ghost thing had her so pre-occupied. All the vain ideas of her previous years seemed to pale in comparison with the mixed-up world of the afterlife. Her whole summer had been consumed by it; she felt she hadn't had a break at all.
After dressing and making sure she had all her supplies in order, she sat in her desk chair by the window and watched the birds playing in the trees and the playful bantering of squirrels as they stumbled across lawns in what appeared to be a friendly game of tag. For all Serenity knew they could be in a serious argument over territory and food. Even nature held its secrets, much like the secrets she had.
She was just about to turn around and head downstairs for breakfast when something... or rather someone, caught her eye. Behind the house across the street a woman was peeking up at her. She had mousy brown hair and the same grayish look of the ghost or spirit thing in the mall, which she had seen the previous summer on two occasions. She was sure, though, she was seeing another one, and she wasn't friendly, Serenity could just feel it. She was staring intently on the face which was looking up at her. It was hard to make out any features aside from the round face and dark eyes, but she thought the woman was smiling at her, it was a malicious sneer. Serenity began to shake, and just when she started to actually feel herself shaking, she spotted another figure running at the woman, in a bright blaze. The woman was startled and vanished. The brighter figure stopped in mid chase and vanished as well.
Serenity couldn't move, her legs were like jelly. Was this what she would now see for the rest of her life? Now she didn't want to go to school, she wanted to hide in her room and never leave. She realized she more than likely wouldn't be able to hide from them here either; they would come and get her no matter where she sought refuge. She needed information... this was the bottom line. She might not like Mrs. Magoris, but if the woman had answers, she would make Magoris tell her what was going on and what she could do to stop it. If she couldn't stop it, she needed to know how to at least live with it. She felt there was more of a purpose behind this “sight”.
Once her heart found regained regular pattern of beating, and the feeling returned to her legs, she rose slowly and went downstairs to face the rest of the day. Her mother, Jackie, was waiting for her. She looked really tired, but managed to raise her mug of coffee in a morning hello, with a smile. Serenity smiled back, and proceeded to get her cereal before sitting down in front of her mother.
“What are the big plans today? Are you going to talk to her?” asked Jackie.
“Yes, I plan on it. I might be late getting home after school... the discussion may take awhile and I don't want Grandma to worry.” Serenity said.
“I will pass along the message,” said Jackie taking another sip of coffee, “but we are all going to be worried till we know what she says. I'm sorry, sweetie, we shouldn't have kept so many things from you. I wouldn't blame you if you hated us right now, but you do have our support. Even though I didn't want to believe all this stuff about ghosts, I should have handled it better.”
“Don't let it consume you, Mom. You still have school to worry about, and the amount of therapy I'm gonna need is gonna take a doctor's salary to pay for.” Serenity said trying to lighten the mood.
She thought about telling her mom about what she saw outside, but her mom already looked so wiped out. She would tell her... later, when she had some answers. The incident may make more sense then, and she could explain it better.
She didn't know if it was nerves or what, but the air felt electric. She felt something very important was about to happen. It wasn't just the feeling her life was about to go through a spectacular yet terrifying change, but there would be a change in everything... the world... the meaning of all life. It was a strange feeling, she felt on fire, yet ironically enough she was filled with this feeling of… serenity.
A knock at the door forced her out of her thoughts, and when she opened the door she was surprised to find David standing there in front of Lizzy.
“Hey, what are you doin' here?” she asked David, pleased to see him. He looked happy but hurried as if he had run to her house.
“Just thought I would walk a few lovely ladies to school, on this fantastic first day of our last year at the crappy middle school, in which we have suffered horrendously to get to,” David said, offering Serenity and Lizzy each an arm.
“You are so weird.” said Lizzy, but happily took it. Lizzy hadn't changed a thing about herself. She was in full flare as usual, pink highlights and all.
“Serenity, what’s up? You forget to get dressed today or what?” Lizzy was staring at her with disappointment.
“I have other things on my mind today. My parents told me a bunch of stuff last night which would make your head spin. I have to talk to Mrs. Magoris after school today, she has some answers to my questions about all this ghost crap I guess. Which reminds me, don't wait for me after school, it could take awhile.” she said staring at the ground.
“No way! You’re… you’re crazy. What? Mrs. Magoris, she like knows stuff about what you’re going through? I am so waiting for you... are you kidding?” Lizzy was stammering, and Serenity could tell she was excited by this news and was hungry for more.
“No, Lizzy. I'll give you a call later; I still don't know what I'm going to say to her. Looks like you were right, David, maybe I should have talked to her in the beginning.” said Serenity. She was looking hard at David. He knew the woman, and he did not look surprised at this sudden turn of events at all.
“Did you already know something?” Serenity asked and suddenly halted, staring him down.
“No, I just knew she was a good person to talk to.” He was looking her in the eyes, but he was lying, she knew it. She started to walk ahead of her friends, very angry and desperately wanted to get away from them and get to school. They were just passing the park when Serenity suddenly started to feel dizzy. Looking at Thorn's store, she saw in the parking lot, a beat-up black Chevy. As they approached, Serenity slowed and David put an arm around her, which she tried to shrug off in irritation, but was surprisingly too weak to do so.
There was a boy sitting on the hood of the car smoking a cigarette. He had long black hair, and was wearing a black tee-shirt with skulls on it and faded black jeans. As they passed Serenity spotted another person in the back seat of the car. Another boy with shaggy dark blond hair sitting there staring at her through the window. He was smiling at her and something about it was very spooky. The way he was just staring at her, smiling. He raised his hand and Serenity caught a glimpse of what could have been a wave, but she was distracted when the boy on the hood suddenly spoke.
“Good morning, ladies... want a smoke?” He hopped of the car and started to walk toward them. He seemed to only be looking at Serenity, and she finally was able to shrug David's arm off her shoulders.
“Sorry, we don't smoke.” said Serenity, looking him in the eyes.
“Speak for yourself, sweetie, I'm not as good at being good as you are.” Lizzy said and took a cigarette from the boy. He took a lighter out of his pocket and lit it for her, while still looking at Serenity, never taking his eyes from hers.
“My names Jessie.” he said, “I'm new around here, but I like making friends,” he said, still look-ing only at Serenity.
“Cool, we gotta get going.” David said.
“Oh, okay, man. I get it. Well at least let me get your name, since now you know mine.” Jessie said still not looking away. “Just in case we cross paths again and want to be polite.”
“I’m Lizzy, this is David and she's Serenity.” Lizzy exclaimed holding out her hand to the boy. Jessie turned to her, shook it, nodded at David and then turned back to Serenity. To her surprise he took her hand, kissed it and quietly said, “pleasure.”
By now David was physically moving her along, and Jessie just kept smiling.
“Yum,” said Lizzy as they began to pass the store's front doors. They swung open and out walked a girl which Serenity had met at David's end of school year party, celebrating the beginning of last summer; Roxie. “Oh.” Lizzy said as Roxie walked up to Jessie, put his face in her hands and kissed him. Behind them the other boy was out of the car and still smiling at Serenity. David put his arm around her again and struggled to make her walk faster.
“Well, wonderful, I see we have a new creep in town.” said David.
Serenity started to get her bearings back; this had definitely been a weird encounter. Then again, everything about her life seemed weird.
“It’s strange, I never even heard the other guy get out of the car.” Serenity said, more to herself than her friends.
“Honestly, girl... there was no other guy.” Lizzy said. “Are we starting our next mystery already?” Serenity could almost feel Lizzy rolling her eyes.
“What? No, you were so into Jessie you didn't see him, you saw him, right, David?” she said, hoping at least someone had seen him.
“Sorry Serenity, if there was someone there, I didn't see him either.” he said.
“I hate this! What would a ghost be doing in the back of Roxie's car?” Serenity cried.
“I don't know honey, but she really freaks me out. Wonder what any guy would see in her?” Lizzy said mortified.
“She's easy.” David said.
Both Lizzy and Serenity looked at him with surprise.
“Hey, guys talk. She's an older chick and she likes her guys a little younger. In my opinion, I think it’s a control thing. He didn't seem to be too enchanted though, he seemed interested in Serenity.” he said, trying but failing to hide the spite in his voice.
“So, he's got good taste.” said Lizzy. “Although I wish it would have been me he was eyeballing. Serenity didn't put her face on today and still manages to have guys drooling at her feet.” she huffed.
“Hey, don't be so jealous. I just happen to know one really wonderful guy who would move the world for you if he could.” David said.
“Is it you, my love? Cause we could seriously skip school, go to my place right now and well... get to know each other better.” Lizzy said smiling and batting her eyes.
“Oh, my dear, how you make me blush, but no. So, what do you think of Jason?” David replied.
“He's sweet, I guess. He's shy though, or at least he is around me, because he’s never given me any reason to think he likes me.” Lizzy said.
“He's interested alright, but you scare the crap outta him, he's just been trying to build up his courage.” David said, “If you tell him I said anything I'll steal Serenity from you forever.” he finished.
“Don't think so, David.” said Serenity as the approached the school.
“Why? I would love to take you away from all this.” he said.
“Well, then you either learn how to lie better or how not to lie at all.” she said remembering her anger at him. At least he now had a clue why she was pissed, and had all day to think about it.
“Gonna get this day over with, so I can get to what I really came here for.” Without anything further Serenity stormed into the school and lost herself among the throng of students reuniting after summer's long separation.
She walked through most of the day in a haze. The first day back always included the same old introductions which they didn't need, since most of them had known each other since kindergarten. There were handouts of class curriculum, and the occasional suggestions to read this or that chapter, like anyone would take it seriously until it was actually assigned. There had been no excitement until her last period; science.
She was already nervous because of her need to talk to Magoris. The thought had been nagging at her all day and she played scenario after scenario in her mind. She was just replaying one such incident when she spotted Vanessa. She was sitting at a lab table in the back of the class all by herself. She looked pale, and for once, completely out of place. This was not something she really wanted to do, but instead of ignoring it she walked straight to the back of the class, amid sniggering from Vanessa's old crowd. Vicky Valenso was being particularly crude. She then sat down next to her old childhood friend.
Vanessa smiled at her weakly, “Thanks, but you don't have to. It’s been rough today, it'll get better. At least I hope it will anyway.”
“No it’s fine. Looks like neither one of us has any friends to sit next to. We both have so much on our minds; we might as well ignore Mr. Baden together. Has it really been bad?” Serenity asked.
“Yeah, it has. No one will talk to me, because they think I'm crazy.” Vanessa said.
“You'll get used to it. They've thought I was crazy for a long time. Go with it, it can be fun.” Serenity said hoping to lighten the mood. “You'll be back into cheerleading mode, and ruling the school in no time.”
“I don't think so.” Vanessa said quietly.
“You'd think you'd be a hero for trying to kill me. If I can get over it, they should.”
“After all I've been through this summer, being their hero is not top on my list of priorities. Thanks for trying to cheer me up. I'm lucky to have at least one person to talk to.” She looked at Serenity and a smile spread across her face, probably the first in a long time. “Where's your costume, witch?”
“Same place as your face and your blonde hair, snob.” Serenity said with a wink.
Then Mr. Baden walked in the room, the bell rang and class began; only forty-five minutes till she met with Mrs. Magoris. She looked out the window and let the teacher's voice fade to a low mumble. A shadow moved by the window in a flash, which caught Serenity's attention. She began to stare out the window, and slowly a face started to peer in. The same gray flesh she was becoming accustomed to. A woman, possibly the same one from the morning, peeked in at her and smiled. The spirit put one of her hands up to the window as if to push on it, but instead her hand started to go through the window. Serenity dropped the pencil she had been lazily tapping on the granite surface of the lab table, and it tumbled to the floor. The spirit’s features changed from triumph to rage as it turned its attention to something else outside. Its mouth contorted into a scream, which pierced Serenity's ears, making her cover them in shock. She almost screamed herself. Then the ghost vanished and an elderly man walked by the window. This man was definitely alive from what Serenity could tell and as he crossed by the window he looked in and winked at Serenity.
Vanessa leaned over and whispered “You okay?” and she put a hand on Serenity's shoulder.
“Yeah fine, just wishing this day was over.” she said back. She couldn't be more desperate now; she needed to see Mrs. Magoris.
Chapter 2
The First Book
The bell signaled the end of their first day back to school, and Serenity couldn't have been happier. This was her chance, and she was hopeful the help she was seeking was only minutes away. She walked to her locker, taking her time as the other kids rushed out of the school glad for it to be over and enjoy what was left of some summer air. Knowing winter would be here all too soon.
Once the majority of the students had vanished, Serenity started toward the main offices. Her stomach was in knots. Too much had already happened today. She was seeing more and more of these spirits, and most of them were of the un-friendly variety. If Mrs. Magoris couldn’t or wouldn't help her, she was sure to go insane. She stood at the office doors and paused, there was not a single staff person to be seen. Did the school employees also have a habit of dashing off as soon as the bell rang? She tried the door only to find it locked and got angry. An overwhelming desire to just smash the glass and watch it crumble came over her. She turned her back on it and leaned on it instead, putting her head in her hands and wanting to cry. She ran her fingers through her hair and was about to give it a nice tug when a man's voice brought her back to reality.
“I've got a key, miss, Maggie is waiting for you. I was supposed to be here earlier, but got caught up.” he said gently.
Serenity recognized him instantly as the man who crossed her class window after the last creepy spirit tried to get in the school to get to her. He looked kind enough, gentle and distinguished. He was wearing a janitor's uniform, but for some reason it didn't look right on him. Serenity could envision him in a maroon sweater vest and khaki pants smoking a pipe and reading Hawthorne, not some mop jockey.
“Well, kid, it’s not far from what I normally am doing, but as Maggie's husband I have to find a way to be near her.” he said.
Serenity's jaw dropped.
“Not to worry dear, I don't read thoughts all the time. Plus you were looking into my mind as well. So let's not go getting off on the wrong foot. Names Robert Magoris.” he said sticking out a hand to shake hers, “and I am very honored to meet you Serenity Ann Waltz.” he said, again very gently. Serenity felt instantly at ease, a familiar safety, much like the feeling she had around David, without the crush, of course.
He unlocked the door and let her lead the way to Maggie’s office, where he opened the door, letting in the odor of wood polish, books, and incense which Serenity had familiarized herself with on their last, and unsuccessful, meeting. Serenity crossed the room and sat timidly across from Maggie who suddenly seemed way too small for her enormous high-backed chair and desk, almost like a child playing office.