Harbinger in the Mist (Arms of Serendipity) by Anabell Martin

the barn, keep Wind Dancer company tonight?” Michelle suggested as they looked up the stairs, each wondering if they were brave enough to go back up to Lindsey’s room.
    Lindsey steeled her resolve, said a quick prayer, and marched up the stairs, the twins on her heels. She grabbed her cell phone, pillow, and comforter then marched back downstairs. She called the hospital and left a message with Darby. The trio then locked the back door, left through the front, locked it, and drove over to the Robbins’ barn without looking back.
    The howl of the storm drowned out the low, sad moan that echoed through the empty house.

Eight
    Priory of His Holy Powers, Southern Cloister

    Calliel paused before the Rector’s door. Uriel did not like to be disturbed during reflection, but this was urgent. He toyed with the scroll in his hands, the waxy seal on the opening still warm and pliable. He raised a fist and knocked twice on the heavy oak door.
    “Enter.”
    Calliel stepped into the misty, candle-lit chantry at a deep bow. “I am sorry to disturb you, sir, but Pater Michael said that you should see this. There has been a spiritual breach. It isn’t urgent enough to disturb Camael, but that it is still enough of an issue that it is going to require immediate attention from a specialist in the area.”
    Uriel looked up from leather-bound book on which he’d been concentrating and searched Calliel’s face before asking, “Where?”
    Calliel wiped sweat from his bronze brow and loosened his grip on the small scroll. “Sector 32, sir. The old Retreat place.”
    Uriel ran his hand through his thick, blonde hair and sifted through a stack of papers on his brass table top. “That place again? I thought that area was cleansed and sealed by other agents a while back.”
    “It was sir, but something unforeseen has happened. It appears that a possibly malevolent spirit has been released into the house. The specifics are here.” Calliel extended the scroll in front of him.
    Uriel took the parchment from the messenger’s outstretched hand. He broke the seal, unfurled the letter, and read silently. “Hmmm. There are two residents in the home. Are they both aware of the issue?”
    “As far as I know only one of them has had an experience. Nothing dangerous, though. At least not yet.”
    “Who alerted Michael to the event?”
    “I am sorry, sir, I do not know. All that Pater Michael said was that a witness to the activity in the house notified him just before dawn.”
    Uriel nodded. “Is Brother Thamy back from his watch?” he asked.
    “No sir, I haven’t seen him.”
    “Who, then, do we have to take care of the issue?”
    “Pater Michael suggested Brother Elion. He knows that area well.”
    “Hmmm. Is he currently in chambers?”
    “Yes, sir, he is. I just saw him at the sunrise assembly this morning.”
    Uriel bent over his desk and hastily wrote something at the bottom of the scroll, rolled it back up, and resealed it with dripping wax from a flickering votive candle.
    “Take this to him, please. Tell him that he is to leave at once and to keep his guard up; we don’t know what has happened at that address.  It could be nothing, but we can never tell these days.  Tell him that I expect a report from him as soon as he has assessed the situation. And above all, tell him that I expect discretion.”
    “Yes, sir.” Calliel bowed at the waist again and backed out of the gilded room. Once the door clicked shut, he straightened and hurried down the hall to his friend’s chambers. He knocked quietly although he was sure that Elion was already aware of his presence.
    “Calliel, my brother! How can I help you?”
    “Uriel would like for you to check on a situation that has arisen. The details are in here,” Calliel passed the scroll to Elion. “He wants an update as soon as you know what the severity of the situation is. God speed.”
    Elion nodded as he scanned the report. He hadn’t seen anything like this in a while.