The Raven

Chapter Three

Jack had to go to work later that day, and my heart was racing the entire time he got ready to leave. I stood in the doorway watching him get dressed and all while I struggled not to tell him the real truth. I didn't want him thinking I had gone neurotic. When he was ready to leave, I almost protested him leaving but figured he had to go incase my friendly smoky man showed up again. I wonder if I could somehow summon him to me instead. I decided to try that as soon as Jack's car disappeared down the road.

I ventured into my bedroom and dug out five white candles. I chose white because it's not a true color, it contains all the colors, and can take the place of any color. But also, for truth, and I was looking for truth. I placed each candle in the position of a direction in a circle and kept the fifth one in the middle with me to represent spirit. I lit each of them, and the middle one last. I sat with my legs crossed, closing my eyes to make contact with my smoky man.

I imagined myself finding him within the spirit realm, pulling him out into my house in front of me. Normally this kind of spiritual contact is metaphysical, but for the first time in my life it became physical. I had brought him into my room literally and he was standing in front of my circle.

I jumped up, afraid of what I had just done. I had never literally manifested a spirit before me. But at least it was the one I was searching for. Spirits can come and go as they please, or they can stay until banished. But by manifesting him here, I had grounded him to this place, and only I could make him disappear.

"You are very powerful to have brought me here, and to keep me here. What is it you so desire to know?" His voice was clear, and he sounded as real as any human.

"I want the truth of what's to come." I knew I was getting myself into more trouble than I could handle.

"You mean of Jack?"

"Yes."

"What's to say you dare try to change the outcome after I've told you?"

"Then you wouldn't have been warning me in the first place."

"Is that what you think my appearances have been, warnings?" He was cocky.

"What else would you be here for?"

"Such a young little witch, do you know nothing? I am here for more than a few warnings as you call them."

"Intrigue me then. What is it you want with Jack?" I folded my arms.

"It isn't what I want with him, it's what He wants with him. But you have no business interfering with His affairs."

"What are you talking about?"

"Things are coming that are inevitable. You aren't allowed to know for fear of messing with the cosmic order of life. There is a grand design to life, and the structure must be kept intact. One unknowledgeable thing that is obtained must be destroyed before it can change the design. For instance, you mustn't know beforehand what is to come, or else it could change life as you know it. The unknown isn't to be known until it is too late. That is how life keeps moving on."

"So, for instance, knowing about a death before it happens and trying to change it could change this 'grand design'?"

"Yes. But there are those they say that are clairvoyant, and they have the ability of foresight. But even then, they are limited at what they can do so that the grand design is not messed with."

"The natural order of life. The cycle of life."

"One can put it that way."

"But your appearances, won't they mess it up?"