Chapter 46 The Young Heir of the Shaws
The Crawford family came across the boy. Who were the Millers trying to fool by taking credit for it?
Tina anxiously uttered, “What do we do?”
The Shaws and Crawfords were two of the three giants of Clodston. They were the movers and shakers of the city compared to the Millers…
Now that an opportunity to kiss up to the giants was presented before them, they did not want to lose out on it.
Thomas fell into deep ponder before exclaiming, “I got it!”
There was a telephone number making rounds in their community amid the search for the Shaw family’s heir.
Thomas dialed the number and sounded concerned over the phone. “Hello, is this Mr. Shaw?
“I’m Thomas Miller… Yes, yes. Here’s the thing. The Crawford family’s heiress stumbled upon your son while running around the fields. Mr. Anthony told me to call you…”
After Thomas hung up on the call, Tina showered her husband with compliments. “Wow, that was smart of you! You have a way with words, pleasing both families all at once.”
Thomas was pleased with himself.
Through the examples of the adults around her, Cheryl believed she picked up on something…
…
Back in the Crawfords’ tent, Gilbert cleaned the boy’s face and changed his clothes. He finally had a good look at the boy’s face.
Looking solemn, he pulled Anthony to a corner outside.
Lilly got down next to the air mattress and stared at the boy lying there.
Pablo was showing Lilly the trick to summon souls.
“His soul is not complete. While our souls remain within our bodies for the most part, a piece of our souls tends to wander off, so it’s easy to lose it.
“The boy had a near-death experience, and now the piece of his soul is missing.
“Here. I’m going to teach you how to summon the soul back.”
Lifting her chin, Lilly seemed to be missing the point as her attention was elsewhere.
“Master, why can’t we chain the soul together if a piece of our souls tends to wander off?”
Pablo choked. He waved his arm and answered, “You’ll understand with time.”
Afraid of Lilly’s millions of questions, he added.
“You need to memorize an incantation to summon lost souls. Also, you need to light a candle and let the fire burn the clothes of the person with the missing soul before reciting the incantation.
“Now repeat after me – Hear my pleas in the dark of the night, touch the spirit that’s out of sight, however cold despite my plight, help my soul see the bright…”
Pablo recited the long line before asking Lilly, “Did you get that?”
Lilly gave a firm nod. “I got it!”
Pablo was impressed. The girl definitely had the talent…
“Now it’s your turn,” He said. “The incantation can be a little hard to remember…”
Lilly bobbed her head. “Here are my peas in the dark to bite, much the spirit that’s tonight, however cod excite my fright, help myself see the kite…”
It was not difficult for Lilly.
Pablo was speechless.
?
What the hell?!
Sure, the intonation was there, but that was not it at all!
With that in mind, Pablo suddenly felt the rush of air circulation. Lilly’s incantation was taking effect.
The corner of Pablo’s lips was twitching.
Cocking her brows, Lilly asked, “Why do I have to eat peas at night? Why a cod? Why do I need to see a kite?”
Pablo had no words.
Nearby, Bettany overheard Lilly mumbling to herself, singing something about seeing a kite.
Her eyes reflected worry.
Lilly would often talk to herself or Polly.
She talked about a master on occasion…
For some reason, Bettany had a sinking feeling in her stomach.
Pulling herself together, she smiled and inquired, “What are you doing, Lilly?”
Lilly answered. “I’m trying to save the boy.”
Bettany was dumbstruck. Instead of having her mind at ease, she grew concerned.
“Oh, Lilly. Can you tell me who you are talking to?”
A child could develop another personality after facing trauma at a young age and could see an imaginary friend. This was a mental illness.
Lilly nodded her head and replied, “I’m talking to Pablo.”
Pablo chimed in. “Ahem… Lilly, didn’t I tell you not to mention to others about me…”
Lilly appeared conflicted. “But Granny isn’t someone else…”
With Lilly engaging in a monologue again, Bettany’s heart sank to the pit of her stomach.
Poor Lilly. Did she really develop a mental illness?
“Oh, Lilly. You have me, your granddad, and uncles now… You’re in a safe place…”
Bettany was heartbroken and worried. The family had prioritized Lilly’s health examination recently, but they had left out checking on the girl’s mental health.
She must let her boys know later.
Not only was she going to inform the boys, but Bettany also insisted on taking Lilly out of there.
Bettany suspected that the boy’s bloodied state triggered unhappy memories in Lilly and caused her to hallucinate.
Lilly put up a fight. “Huh? Hold on, Granny. I’m still trying to save him.”
She looked puzzled.
Everything was going well up until now. What had gotten into Granny?
Bettany uttered, “Don’t worry, Lilly. Look, the doctors and police officers are here.”
Lilly looked over and saw the police cars arriving with blinkers flashing. Other than that, a few black vehicles followed behind.
The Shaws were in these vehicles.
The Shaw family was desperate. Having been waiting by the road, Tina and Thomas exclaimed, “Here…”
The duo seemed eager as if they were in the rescue operation.
For some reason, the Shaws looked past them and headed straight to the Crawford family’s tent.
Thomas and Tina looked embarrassed and humiliated.
Tina said, “Um… Why are they ignoring us…”
Thomas remarked, “They must be anxious. It’s okay. We have a reason to check in on the Shaw family’s young heir later.”
“The Crawfords are there now, so we can’t show our faces yet. We might get caught up in our lies.”
The pair mumbled among themselves as they returned to their tent.
A poker-faced man, exuding a no-nonsense vibe, approached the Crawfords’ tent.
Curious, Lilly stared at the incoming group.
She silently asked, “Master, why do they have a golden aura to them?”
The middle-aged man in the lead especially could blind her.
Pablo explained, “They had done a lot of good in their lives. They can be heroes who served their country.”
With her query answered, Lilly pursued with another question. “Why is there death lingering amid the golden aura?”
Through Pablo’s teachings, Lilly was able to identify death. Aunt Winona carried the stench of death because she had blood on her hands.
It was strange that the man was basking in a golden aura, but death drifted around him too.
Pablo answered, “He had killed others, but he only did it to the wicked.”
That was why the aura of death could not get too close to the man. The golden aura shielded the man from death.
Lilly saw the light.
Now, she got it.
The man was one of the good guys, the type who got rid of bad guys.
Meanwhile, the middle-aged man drew close.
Colton Shaw’s straight face often scared little kids. However, the little girl gave him the biggest smile rather than burst into tears.
“Hello, mister!” Lilly greeted him.
Colton paused.
The girl…
