Eternal Love

Chapter 11: The Possession

Sheila was rather excited this morning. After seeing Thomas again; she had been in a much better mood. No one had a clue she had seen Thomas and she planned to keep it that way. She went about her morning ritual and then asked John if he wanted to walk the grounds with her and the children. He heartedly agreed and off they went.

The day was a brisk, cool day. The last leaves on the trees had fallen and the fountain pool was beginning to freeze over. The children ran around the bell gardens while John and Sheila sat and watched them. John commented how nice it would be to be that young again. Sheila agreed she missed the innocence of childhood.

The afternoon went on and suddenly a gust of cold wind blew through. John shivered and yelled for the children to come with them back to the mansion. Sheila commented she would like to stay a bit longer. John said okay, then took the children back to the mansion. Sheila was relieved to finally be alone.

She felt another gust of wind and heard her name. It began as a whisper, however with each gust of wind; the voice got louder and louder. She suddenly heard a mournful howl coming from behind her. She turned and saw John standing behind her, howling. She nervously asked him what he was doing there; he responded with a low growl.

She walked forward, towards him. Each step carefully placed as she walked. She wasn't sure what was going on, but this was definitely not like John. Suddenly she heard him growl out why would she want a spirit when she has something so much stronger in him? Sheila didn't really understand how to answer that; she was shocked he even knew about Thomas returning.

He stopped her by putting his hand on her shoulder; then cried to her how much she meant to him. She felt confused; she loved John, but now she was finding she was fearing him in his present state. He fell to his knees and began to cry out. His body began to change. He was transforming right before her eyes.

She turned and ran back to the mansion. She screamed out as she got inside for her father's rifle. The Butler brought it to her straight away. She stepped out on the porch, loaded and c****d the rifle; then shot. She heard a mournful cry and she decided to venture out. She got a few steps away from the porch and found John laying there; half human, half wolf.

She helped him up, when she realized he wasn't going to hurt her. She brought John inside and sat him down in the parlor. She didn't want the children to see him; they wouldn't understand. She stoked the fire in the fireplace and sat down next to him. She asked him sternly why he had not told her of his transformation.

He said he wasn't even aware of it. He explained on Halloween night, when he was at the pub he and his buddies found what they thought was a injured wolf. He said the creature woke up as they approached and bit him, then ran off. He told her that over the last few weeks, he hadn't been feeling well. Now, he was transforming into something he wasn't sure of. He was afraid it would cause him to harm her and the children.

Sheila was surprised to hear this. She was moreso surprised by the fact he took so long to tell her. She told him not to worry about it. She accepted him as he was. John hugged her and she felt that loving warmth she so desired from him.

Sheila told him to stay in the parlor until his transformation was completed. The children wouldn't understand something like this. John understood and agreed. Sheila went out of the parlor and locked the door behind her. She knew it was only a matter of time before he was full wolf.

Sheila was bewildered by all of this. What was she to do about Thomas? He certainly couldn't possess John now, could he? She decided to call it a night and set up a chair outside the parlor door. She had decided it best to sit outside the room for the night.

The night went on without incident. She could hear John writhing inside the room all night. It didn't really scare her, but it did worry her. She wasn't sure if this transformation would change his personality as well. She couldn't take the chance of him freaking out and taking out the whole family, so she sat all night with her father's rifle.

As soon as the sun rose in the east, Sheila went inside the parlor. She wasn't sure what she would find, but she knew she had to look. The room was cold due to the fire had gone out in the fireplace. It was dark as well, due to the curtains being drawn closed. She walked slowly around the room, aiming the rifle in front of her; ready to shoot at a moments notice.

Sheila called out John's name and heard nothing. She continued to walk the room, finding nothing. All that was there was John's clothes he had on the night before. Sheila went to the window and drew the curtain back. There on the ground was paw prints, leading out off the property.

Sheila figured he had run out for the night, she knew once he was back to normal, he would be back. She went upstairs and got the children awoken and dressed for breakfast. They got to the kitchen and cook had their meal sitting and waiting for them. They enjoyed their meal and decided to go into town for the day. The carriage pulled up and they all piled in.

They had a good day in town. The children each got a hot chocolate and a bag of goodies from the old lady at the library. Sheila was glad the children were so happy. They didn't even ask about their father; which was exactly what Sheila was hoping for. They went home after the day had been done and the sun was just setting in the west.

The carriage pulled up to the mansion and Sheila saw John sitting there, looking as normal as he could ever be. Sheila was a bit bewildered, but was glad he was back to normal again. She hugged him and they all went inside. After dinner, her and John retired to the parlor. There, John stoked the fire and then sat down next to Sheila.

He began by telling her he wasn't John anymore. She looked at him like he was crazy, then he continued. He informed her that after he had been but, something had moved inside him; slowly taking him over. She sat and listened quietly. John finally told her he was Thomas, not John.

Sheila hanged her head down and burst into tears. She couldn't believe she nearly shot him the night before. He told her that when the wolf had bitten John, Thomas saw the chance for him to possess his body. Sheila could hardly believe what he was telling her. She was pleased she could finally touch Thomas, it was all she had longed for since they met.

Although, Sheila didn't understand why he was physically transforming the night before. Thomas wasn't sure either, he figured it had something to do with the wolf biting John. Then it dawned on Sheila, she could ask madam Gabriela. She thought madam Gabriela would definitely know about something like this. She had a servant go fetch her in town and bring her back to the mansion, then the servant left.