Chapter84 A Family Curse

"Now, just one cotton picking minute there, Professor; now you're saying that Mary's this Brother Dominguez person?" The sheriff runs his hand through his hair while taking a seat at the kitchen table with the others. "I believe so." The professor replies. "I don't get it, Professor; when did he even get into the picture?" The deputy asks. "When Helene Steinman's spirit told us about the Hawthorne family's curse, it started me thinking; but, when Beth told me that Mary told her ‘Carpe diem', I was pretty sure he had something to do with all this somehow. And, that's when I had Father Ezperanzo do some research on the monks; and, the events occurring back then." "So, what's the deal with this ‘Carpe diem'?" "‘Carpe diem'…or ‘seize the day' as it translates to…is a Latin term, Deputy Hopkins. How many six-year-old girls do you know that speak Latin? Not many that I know of. But, just about every priest or monk that I've come in contact with has studied the language at one point during their teachings at the seminary. Besides; Beth mentioned that Mary always seemed to carry herself as being older than six. Her vocabulary, I believe it was you said, was pretty advanced, Beth?" Beth nods, and Professor continues. "Naturally; whoever's Mary has to be an adult. The use of a Latin term is more than a striking coincidence, if you ask me; especially now that we're aware of Brother Dominguez's curse on the Hawthorne family." "What did Father Ezperanzo find out?" Cindy asks. The professor takes off his glasses and starts wiping them as he answers, "To start; the monastery…the one located on the outskirts of the town as Helene put it…was located right here on this very property. As a matter of fact, according to Father Ezperanzo, that monastery stood where this house is now." Sheriff Faulkner blurts out, "Well slap my fanny, put me in a dress and call me Susan!" "There you go again, Lloyd. I think after we finish up with this, we have to start working on these personal issues of yours." The deputy teases. The professor continues, "Anyway; back in 1698, Brother Dominguez and the other monks were arrested, charged and found guilty of practicing witchcraft. The monastery was burnt down the ground. Jebediah Hawthorne led the group who arrested the monks and prosecuted them in court; which was why Brother Dominguez placed the curse on his family line just before being executed for his crimes. Does anyone care to hear how it was they were executed? I believe you may find it quite interesting." "I'll bite;" the deputy inquires, "how?" "According to what Father Ezperanzo discovered; their hands were tied behind their backs, while their feet were bound with chains…which were attached to heavy anvils. Then, they were taken out one at a time by row boat to the middle of Miller's Lake, where the anvils were cast over the side; dragging the monks down with them. They were left there to drown at the bottom of the lake." "Leaving their bodies in a standing upright position…just like we found those families buried out there; with feet down first." The sheriff adds. "Correct. As I said before; I thought you might have found that interesting." "Tell me something, Professor;" Cindy wonders, "assuming that Brother Dominguez's Mary…why would he want to recreate the night Mary killed Chelsea?" "If that's what the plans are, Ms. Lidestrom. We're still not sure what this spirit's plans are; the real reason has yet to be determined. But, if I'm correct…and, it is Brother Dominguez…then, at least we have the intent behind all this. Beth and Anna have the Hawthorne blood in them. Perhaps Brother Dominguez is looking to make them suffer for what their ancestor did to him." "I don't know, Professor; it just doesn't make sense to me." "What is it, Ms. Lidestrom?" "If it is Brother Dominguez…and; if he's just looking to get back at Beth and Anna because they're related to Jebediah Hawthorne…why kill all those other families over the years?" "Who knows, Ms. Lidestrom; perhaps it was a case of territorial dominance." "Territorial dominance?" Sheriff Faulkner asks. "This is where the monastery once stood; so, those families were invading his space so to speak. He wanted them gone; and, took drastic measures to do so." "But; if that was the case, Professor;" Cindy rebuttals his explanation, "why just the families? According to what Trish told Beth, there were others who also lived in this house; even if only for a few months. Why weren't they killed? Why only the families; who coincidentally, all happened to have daughters around Anna's age?" The professor's momentarily at a loss for words, and removes his glasses to clean before finally responding, "I don't know, Ms. Lidestrom." Cindy continues. "Helene said Chelsea haunted this place for years; but, she never mentioned anything about Brother Dominguez haunting this place. And, Helene specifically mentioned that it was Mary who was present; not Brother Dominguez." "But, if Brother Dominguez's pretending to be Mary, Ms. Cindy; then, maybe she didn't pick up on it." The sheriff suggests. "I don't think so, Sheriff. I think she would have known. After all, the man supposedly cursed her family." Cindy notices her uncle standing off in the corner of the kitchen; in apparent heavy thought. "You alright, Uncle Mike; something the matter?" "I'm fine, Kiddo; I was just thinking." The sheriff cuts in to kid with his deputy. "Thinking…really…I didn't know that was an activity you partook in, Deputy." The deputy smiles. "Yeah; I do it from time to time…but, I try not to over exert myself with it." The sheriff laughs, "Me neither. So, seriously; what's on your mind, Mike?" "Honestly; this whole thing isn't sitting right with me." "What do you mean, Uncle Mike?" "Well, first of all; I'm still trying to come to grips with the fact that we sat here having a conversation with the ghost of a dead woman." The sheriff attempts to ease the tension. "Well now, Mike, we certainly couldn't have a conversation with the ghost of a live woman now; could we?" The deputy laughs, "I suppose not, Lloyd." He continues. "But; all this ‘he said - she said' stuff…I just don't know what to believe anymore. Everything seems to be conveniently contradicting itself; as if one lie's being followed by another in order to prevent us from finding out the truth…or, recognizing the truth when we do finally happen to come across it." "I take it then, Deputy Hopkins; you don't believe what Helene Steinman told us?" The Professor asks as he puts his glasses back on. "No, I don't; and, I'll tell you why. When Helene Steinman was providing us with all this information, she was claiming to be Vivian Steinman. Can I ask you something, Professor?" "Go ahead, Deputy." "Going back to this schizophrenia theory you and my niece were talking about at first…is it possible for a schizophrenic to realize that they're schizophrenic?" "Generally they don't; but, there have been instances where some patients were aware that they were displaying multiple personalities in their behavior. Why do you ask?" "No reason; I was just wondering." "Come on, Mike; let the ol' bobcat out of the bag." "Let the ol' bobcat out of the bag? Really Lloyd, we have to do something with these Texan anecdotes of yours." "Spill it, Deputy; what's on your mind?" "Okay, Lloyd; here it goes…Helene…while pretending to be Vivian…told us that both Chelsea and she suffered from schizophrenia. If she was a schizophrenic; isn't it possible that she could be involved in all this too…that maybe she's behind it? I don't know about the rest of you; but, I'm not going to put any value into what Helene Steinman told us until I find out more about her…and her psychological condition." "How are you going to do that, Uncle Mike?" "I don't know, Kiddo; there has to be someone left who knows something about her and her condition. Somebody who use to work at the asylum maybe; if there's anyone still around from back then. I just don't know. But, if she was a schizophrenic, then, she's a suspect in my book; and, I'm not relying on getting the truth from her either."