Ghosts Of The Past

Chapter 3

Lily parked her car at the retirement community where Granny stays and went in. She was a little nervous about asking so much about this strange man from her grandmother, but there was a subconscious need in Lily's soul to do what she could to help Ichabod find what he needed. She knocked on the door to her room and smiled as she walked in.

Lily: Good morning, Granny! (She walks over to Granny and smiles as she hugs her) How are you feeling?

Granny: Wonderful, my sweet Lily. This is a lovely surprise! Where is your young Andrew? Did he come with you to see me? (Granny stands in the kitchen making tea)

Lily: No, ma'am. Not this weekend. Just you and I for once. I thought maybe we could have a nice, quiet visit?

Granny: We never have a quiet visit, child. How are your classes going?

Lily: Pretty good. I actually got a new research case for the end of my residency. (Lily hesitated for a second but decided to share a little about Ichabod) Actually, I have a patient that thinking he is Ichabod Crane...

Granny (furrows her brows as she hands Lily a cup of tea and sits at the table): Oh? How very interesting, but, you aren't far from Sleepy Hollow.

Lily: True. But it made me curious about some things with the family. It kind of feels weird all the sudden?

Granny: Oh, I seriously doubt it's more than an issue with someone being rather overactive with their imagination. What feels weird?

Lily: Well, first of all, he CALLED me Katrina. How would he know my middle name? And he said I look like her. How would he know what she looks like? This is not information in the story you told me OR in Irving story. And how did he know about the Sisterhood of the Radiant Heart? (Lily looked directly at Granny when she mentioned the Sisterhood. That fact had NEVER been shared with her. Granny stared at Lily)

Granny (whispering): How did you know about that?

Lily: He told me Katrina was a leader and pure-blood witch.

Granny (stood up, completely shocked): He couldn't have known that... Katrina never would have told anyone...Not even her family. (Lily watched Granny with wide-eyes as she went to her hallway closet and pulled out a box and came back and set it down in front of herself and opened it) This is Katrina's diary. I was waiting for the right time to give it to you, and I guess now will have to do. (Lily takes the tattered book) Remember how I told you the women in our family have the gift? This will explain what it is and how to use it. These are Katrina's spells.

Lily (takes the book and slowly opens the cover, suddenly feeling a rush of wind hit her before she quickly closes it and jumps up): Granny! This is insane! You mean to tell me I'm a witch? Like a witch WITCH?!?!?!

Granny: Lillian, calm down! Haven't you ever wondered why you sent what others feel so deeply? Aren't there thing that you have noticed that are just off? Like how it rains when you are sad? Or when you want someone to do something, it usually happens? THIS book will explain ways for you to do SO much more! But you mustn't use it for evil, my girl.

Lily (sits back at the table): You mean to tell me, that my patient, is REALLY Ichabod Crane? (She rubs her hands over her face, shocked)

Granny: You have to read the book Lily. Katrina will show you the way.

Lily: Have YOU read the book Granny? Are you a witch? I mean, you said the woman in the family. Is Mom one too? OH MY GOD DOES DAD KNOW?!?!!?

Granny (shaking her head): This is something only passed to email defendants. I married into the family and was given the book by my mother-in-law. Katrina cast a spell that would only allow women to bear the gift. Only men have been born to the family until you. When women marry into the family, they are given the book to wait for the next email descendant. When your mother had you, I kept the book to give you myself. The spell Katrina used was to save Ichabod. (Granny takes the book and opens it to the entry for September 5, 1781. Lily could hear a voice in her head as she read it)

5 September 1781:

It is over. My poor Ichabod has no chance here, so I must do what I can to allow him to be resurrected when the time is right. But none shall have my powers unless it be a woman. She will be the one who can save him and bring him back to me when her powers are fully recovered. Only then will he be able to return to his Katrina.

Id quod mortuum, nunc oriatur.
Hoc quod cecidit, nunc revertatur.
Id quod mortuum, nunc oriatur.
Hoc quod cecidit, nunc revertatur.
Hoc quod cecidit, nunc revertatur.
Orimini. Orimini. Orimini. Orimini! Orimini!

Lily closed the book and looked at Granny. Her sensible side felt like this was totally insane, but there was bigger part of her that thought this was real. She remembered when she was little and would want something and somehow her mother or father would show up with it like magic. And it did happen to rain more when she was sad. Could this man BE Ichabod Crane? And was it her mission to learn Katrina's way to reunite them?