"Deacon Ash"

Chapter 18: Agatha's Last Words

Dearest Seth,

If you are reading this then I am already long gone and unable to come to you in your time of need. I wish I were there to be your protector, take you by the hand and set you free. I tried to warn you and my final attempts at advising you during our many telephone conversations were unsuccessful, my letters to you completely ignored. I'm not upset by the fact that you did not want to be bothered by this old woman. I don't blame you and I forgive you. I was never upset, only worried. But we're past that now. Back to the matter at hand. My reason for bothering you was to warn you about Deacon Ash. He is no Deacon, he is no man, of which I'm sure you know this by now since you are reading these words. The demon filth that has trapped you is pure unadulterated evil, walking the earth with others that want nothing more than to wreak havoc on our livelihood, our families, all for the purpose of taking as many of us as possible. The demon tried to take me like he did many of the other folk of Blackwood but I never let him in the house. I saw right through him the first day he appeared in town in the guise of a lost traveler. I couldn't quite put my finger on it, but I knew something was wrong. By the time I figured things out he had caused some much pain and suffering, so many deaths. Every poor soul he came in contact with invited this demon into their home. They were dead in three days and they didn't die peacefully. They were found mutilated beyond recognition. He couldn't take me but to get to me he told me that he would take you from me. Like I said, I tried to warn you. The times that I called and left word with Amanda I never told her what I had discovered. It was from me that you had to hear those things. Would you have believed me? At the time, most likely not. But at least you would have seen the nature of this demon, being familiar with his ways beforehand and not after you're his prisoner. By now you've met Angelos, but will probably never see him again. The caretaker was your last chance. On a prayer, he came to me when I fell ill to protect me from the demon's new host, Deacon Ash, during my last days. My last day of life, he instructed me to write you this letter, leave it in the chest down in the basement so that you would find it. I didn't question it. From the first day I met him, the trust was instilled. He is my friend, my guide. He is rather gifted. To be more specific, he can see things before they happen. He told me that you would end up in this situation and that I wouldn't be able to help you. I didn't want to believe it and I could not sit idly by without at least trying to warn you. As I write these words, I'm afraid for you, afraid that you will have no chance against this evil. Angelos swore to me that he would seek you out and warn you after I pass. Much to my dismay, he told me that he is prohibited from warning you directly. He told me that there was an affliction that you suffer from that you must realize on your own if you are to even have a chance. I'm sorry to say that he could not share it with me. So I die without knowing what ails you or what will become of you. Even Angelos with his foresight ability could not foretell your fate therefore I will not rest easy during my last days not knowing if you'll be alright. The emotional pain of knowing you're in trouble and being powerless to help you is much worse than the physical pain that I bear. Truthfully it doesn't matter now, right? Angelos's foresight, not withstanding, I died praying for you. It's not too late to get yourself out of your situation so that you can fix yourself once you're free. I don't know what's wrong, so I couldn't begin to suggest what it is you must do. Ask for Angelos and perhaps with him you will have light in darkness.

Sincerely,

Mother