Lusting For Ralph
Chapter 32

They spent the whole ride to Shani's in total silence, Madison would still look at him and Ralph would caress her cheek trying to assure her that everything would be okay. But she hadn't told him what she saw. Was it a premonition? if it was, would he be dead and taken by the monster?

Her brain was still busy trying to process the thoughts when they finally arrived at Shani's.

"You know we could have our holiday here?" Ralph tried to joke referring to their last coastal escape, but she was still remembering about holding him in her arms. Lifeless. "I couldn't wake you, you're dead... bleeding, your stomach sliced open, I can't...I didn't..."

She was teary, and he took her into his embrace. He didn't know exactly what she meant by her words, so he was trying to calm her down while his hand knocks on Shani's front door. "Hey, Madison...baby, I'm fine. I'm right here."

And just like on cue, the door opened and Shani greeted them. Her husband Arkael was beside her holding their little boy.

"Madison? come inside...Arkael, would you get Audric back to bed?" Shani was a bit startled with her condition, and swiftly let the couple into their home.

She kissed the sleepy little boy and her husband nodded and smiled at his pregnant wife.

"I'm sorry to bother you, I didn't know..." Ralph started his words, he didn't realize that Shani was pregnant until that day.

"It's my clothes, I don't like people giving me the look for being pregnant, come on..." Shani was hiding her pregnancy, knowing she has a very special baby inside of her.

Shani ushered them to sit in her small yet comfortable living room, Ralph didn't leave Madison's side as her hold on his hand was still strong.

"Ralph, would you go to the kitchen and make her some tea? both of you will be fine, he's here. My house is protected."

"No." Her words her small but she looked into her eyes with determination as Madison took his hand to her lap and keeping him close.

Shani looked at her possessiveness and the burn behind her eyes and suddenly she feels the need to touch their hand.

"May I?" Shani asked the still teary young woman and she nodded showing her trust in the pregnant witch.

Shani closes her eyes and tries to reach beyond Madison's vision but the wall was too thick for her.

"Walter," she murmured the word at the same time as the knock on her door. She opened it and let Walter sit on the one chair sofa beside them.

"Okay, now that you're among friends please tell us about your dream." Shani put Walter's hand on hers and she puts hers on Madison's, then told Ralph quietly to put his hand on Walter's.

Shani was flowing her positive energy into the circle, Madison felt the calmness almost instantly then she started her words.

"I don't know if it was a dream, but I was in a dark forest looking for Ralph. My feet were tired but I kept on walking and calling out his name, then more walking until I found a large abandoned house. That's...I found him on the floor... hurt, I... try to wake him...then... the shadow...monster, big...black, hairy...so tall..." her words were choppy but Shani squeezes her hand, giving her more positive energy and Madison continue with her words.

Ralph was silent throughout Madison's explanation, deep down cursing, thinking how could the same setting and same entity haunted her.

Such a thing should not even be possible.

Walter looked at him and shook his head, silently telling him to wait. Then Shani, let go of her hold the moment Madison finished her story.

"You need to call Suzy, she went with you when you're getting Ralph back from the other realm. This is the same entity, I need to know why he's not letting you go. But for now, I'm making her a protection spell that should be enough until we figure out what's happening."

"Madison, why don't you helped me prepared your Amulet. And let the guys find out more from Suzy,"

"But I need to know about..."

"Madison, you can't see and hear her anymore and I need your energy in making this Amulet, it'll be faster this way. I don't want the entity attaching itself to you."

With her last word, Madison left Ralph to continue with Walter and she followed Shani to another room where there were old books, herbs, various candles, and more witchcraft stuff that she wouldn't know what they're called. Madison was to her side, while Shani was opening her big old spellbook.

"I didn't want to ask you this in front of Ralph, because I didn't want him to start blaming himself..."

Her initial words made Madison wary already but she was silent, patiently waiting for more of her words.

"...are you pregnant?"

The question shocked her and she put her hand on her stomach spontaneously.

"No...I don't know, I don't think so. No..." Madison was teary, her back was to Ralph's who was still busy talking to Walter. Madison kept on looking at Shani while shaking her head.

She hugged her warmly and told her that everything would be okay. Shani wiped her tears then carry on with her task of making the amulet, opening her old-looking book while she explained everything to the younger woman. "...because it's Ralph's baby, it relates inside you that's why you're experiencing the real like dream. But in my personal opinion, I think you were taken there that's why you have the wounds."

"But I was sleeping, he was right there with me..."

Madison wiped her tears when Shani whispered that Ralph was coming their way.

"Hey, what's with the tears? is everything okay?"

"She will be fine, we're going to do another cleanse after I'm done with the amulet. She should be okay, but she has my number just in case." Shani took her hand and chanted a spell while the amulet is placed on her hand. The warmth of the bluestone on the antique-looking pendant was felt on Madison's hands and she relaxes the moment it was placed on her neck.

Walter called out for Ralph, and the man kissed her hair and walked back to the other room.

Ralph was in his seat talking to Walter when Shani said not to take off the amulet until the baby is born.

Madison wiped her tears and took a deep breath to calm herself down.

"Please don't tell anyone about the baby, I will let him know in time. I just need to let reality sink in."

"I won't, but you can call me, you know that right? you don't have to handle this alone."

Shani pulled her in for another hug and they both went back to sit with Ralph and Walter. The men had talked to Suzy and noted the details.

"So Suzy describe the same entity as yours, the surrounding, the abandoned mansion, even the footsteps leading to the open window." Ralph took her hand in his, the moment she sits beside him.

"...and Walter also confirmed the similarities though he was a bit distracted." The younger man continue.

"Yeah, looking for you then carrying your weight can be such a distraction,"

"Guys, come on... what's the conclusion?" Shani asked the question.

"We think it's the same, don't know how. Maybe because you two are getting close? and her vision was affected?"

"Well, for now, the amulet will protect you. I'm confident that the entity won't bother you again."

The four of them talk about the entity, and Shani kept her word about letting Madison break the news to Ralph.

And it wasn't long until Walter's phone buzzed with his beautiful wife's face on the screen.

"Alright then, that's my cue...my wife just realized that I left the house. But, I trust my life with Shani and you should too. Whatever you guys are going through, we're here, call us."

Walter said his goodbye and Ralph decided that they should go too, Shani reminded Madison to call her again for anything, even if it's just to talk.

"Thank you, Shani, I really appreciate this." Madison hugged her for a little while longer.

*****

"There's something you're not telling me," Ralph said the moment he put the car in drive. "Let's just get back first."