Lake of Shadows

Entering her apartment she saw Clansey. His usual smile faded as he nodded behind her.

“You shouldn't bring strays home Meg.”

For a split second her anger flared thinking he was referring to Zeus. Then she realized he had nodded toward her left and Zeus was standing on her right.

“Silence! You're sad and pathetic. Silence or I will...” The spirit had followed her home and was trying to subdue Clansey. Clansey wasn't having it.

“Or you'll what? Kill me? You're a century or so too late!” He laughed.

“Quiet, both of you!” Meg demanded. The spirit faded in, materializing beside her.

Clansey's silence was from shock at seeing her angry-something he hadn't seen in all the years he'd been with her. The spirit however became quiet and angry at being spoken to in such a manner. She became vaguely aware of Zeus' presence and turned toward him. His expression was of surprise but not shock. Anger welled up inside her.

“How can you be so calm? Why are you accepting this so readily?” She held up a hand to stop whatever he was about to say. “Hold that thought. I've got something to do first.”

Meg closed her eyes briefly, calming and centering herself. She inhaled slowly and deeply calling on the bright white light of love and divine protection to enter her from the head down through the rest of her body. In doing so it would push out the darkness camping there that had caused irritation and anger. The irritation and anger the spirit had put there. Exhaling the darkness within her left. She opened her eyes and looked at the spirit.

“Be gone!” It stepped closer, it's stare intensified. “You won't control me again. I won't allow it! You have no power here. Be gone!” She quickly turned to Zeus.

“Zeus, I surround your with the bright white light of love and divine protection.”

Immediately a bright white light appeared above his head and entered him. He felt it and inhaled sharply. It spread throughout his body in the flash of a second. He glowed from it as the light emanated off his body by several inches.

“Good show!” Clansey shouted. Meg turned to him. He held up his hands, palms toward her. “I'm good. There's nothing worse than a glowing ghost!” Meg smiled at him. “Besides, I'm immune. I've chosen a different path.”

Meg glanced around, then took stock of her emotions. The spirit was gone. She looked at Clansey.

“That was the darkness you saw around him?” Referring to Zeus.

“That would be it.”

“Him who, for crying out loud?!”

“You.” Meg and Clansey said together, though he could only hear her.

“Me?!” What just happened anyway?”

“What just happened was that spirit has been around for a while but wasn't letting us see her. Clansey felt her presence around you and noted the darkness I couldn't detect. She changed our moods, or at least mine. I've been angry and off center and didn't know why. Things that shouldn't have gotten to me, did. Sometimes not knowing why made me angrier.”

“She said she wanted you, though I don't have the foggiest idea why. She was doing her best to keep us from being together...which leads me to believe there's something about this case we're both working on it doesn't want us to find out.”