207 Rescue commander

Ahmed stops the car in front of an ominous-looking house just outside of the town's limits. He tells them to wait in the car. 

"About my delay this morning, I was visited by the spirit of the young girl from last night. She told me not to trust Ahmed that he is not what he seems. He is not telling us everything he knows. Now that I know who we are up against I think I understand why she would say that. I think he is a good guy but he also has a family. Astila I think he may not have a choice if he is asked to betray us. He may not even know he is betraying us . You know him better than we do, you will know if it is a betrayal for gain or to protect his family. Up till now he may have just followed orders and unknowingly betrayed those he called friends. Now that he knows who is the ghost it will be a different story. Look there in the window . It's the spirit from last night this must be a part of the puzzle." Astila looks where he is pointing he sees at least fifteen spirits. All are looking in the same direction. He knows this is the place, now he just hopes Ahmed has not hand delivered them to the ghost. looking at the other two men they get out of the vehicle and stand behind it. Onacona pulled out a pouch and begins to burn Palo Santo wood. The three join hands will the wood burns inside their circle. They begin to pray and meditate. The spirits begin to leave the house and surround them. One small child about Crystal's age tugs on Onacona's pants. Looking down the boys points to an out cropping of trees. The three nod at each other and start walking towards the trees. Following the child they find an in trance to the cavern hidden beneath the crop of palms. Going inside the cavern they hear Ahmed calling for them. Looking at the spirits Astila tells them. 

"We need a diversion, he cannot know we came this way. His buddies spirit nods and starts giving orders to the other spirits. They erase their tracks and make a new trail towards an abandoned building on the property. The two children spirits stay with Astila and Onacona. They lead the three men to where their essence is. Inside the cavern Onacona's eyes widen in surprise. There are hundreds of bodies with the same crystals as Morrigan's sister used. He knows what to do . Onacona begins by telling Astila and marshal what must be done. 

" first we need to douse each body along with each crystal with this oil, then we sprinkle salt and sage on each of them. Make sure the crystals are covered by the sage and salt. Then we light the bodies with palo santo wood. This will release their essence and weaken the fallen one. Now do you want to do this before or after we find the commander and his unit. " 

Astila looks at the two spirits and asks them. 

"we can release you all right now but we need to find our family and the fallen one. Can you help us ?" 

The girl takes Onacona's hand and posses him. 

Marshal grins and tells her. 

" I am not as strong as you think I do not have much power except when I hit things. " shaking Onacona's head she tells him. 

"No you are more powerful than you think, you are like the girl child since you have earth elements you can control all of them. You just have to use them and call them forth. Do not use them until the blood seeker is dead. Then use your power to destroy this place forever." 

Marshal understands and they go to release the others. The spirt leaves Onacona's body, thanking him for allowing her to possess him. 

Going over to the door Astila lays explosives to knock the door down. They hide behind a cabinet when the explosive device detonated. When the door is moved he hears the Commander calling. 

"Who is there ?" his voice is very weak. Marshal turns on his flash light and sees the commander. Going over to his uncle he starts to untie him and talking to him. 

"Uncle it's me Marshal, we have come to rescue you and your men. Where are the others? " Steve hugs his nephew and wearily tells him

"they are in the cage to the left. How did you get here ? Please do not tell me that Aisling or Remi brought you. They cannot be here he will devour them . If you put my girls in danger I will never forgive you." 

Marshal chuckles at his uncle . 

"Do not worry we came the normal way by plane. Astila and Onacona are with me we are your rescue party. Though your little imp was not happy that she could not come. We are all grateful to her for alerting us to your predicament. Now let's get you and your men out of here. " 

marshal holds his uncle up as Astila and Onacona get the others out. In the other cages he noticed that there are a lot of decaying bodies of which is his buddies. Turning to the girl spirit he asks. 

"Why are they like this?" 

She lowers her head and tells him. 

"They were corrupt souls , they has darkness about them he could not use their essence . They were used to keep him alive where we do not know what we are needed for. " 

Onacona knows the answer.

"Morrigan's sister used the energy of the soul crystals to be reborn and to live forever. She used the energy of the living to heal and stay alive. When those who could not be used for soul crystals she allowed to decay. The bodies in there the crystals are in the transfer stage of the process. When Crystal dream walked she must have interrupted it. " 

"ok so let's light this place up and get out of here." Astila sets a fire in the room as they leave it. Looking sadly at his buddy he tells him good bye. They go into the crystal room and Onacona sets the the room aflame as she says a chant releasing the spirits as they go by each of them. Once outside they get catch their breath and the spirits wave goodbye as they cross over. Onacona and Astila see lights all over the property flashing as a new spirit crosses. They help the injured men back to the vehicle. They know that it may not be over but they have who they came for. 

Ahmed is at the vehicle waiting for them fear is on his face as he sees they have the missing unit. Astila noticed it right away. 

"Ahmed , just tell why did you betray them and us? " 

Ahmed looks at his friend and falls to his knees. 

"My daughter was only twelve years old. She had a gift for magic . One day she went missing, I revived notice that she would be returned; if I made sure that anyone looking for the ghost was delivered to this house. I only wanted my child back. My wife and I cannot have anymore children ,she is our only one." 

Steve kneels beside Ahmed and places his hand on his shoulder. 

"My friend it is okay, I understand unfortunately your daughter was already dead by the time you were even contacted. He was using her energy to live. The man that you believe is the leader of the republic gaurd is not an ordinary man. He uses the blood and energy of others in blood magic to stay alive. He was harvesting her essence to keep himself alive. Look , let me show you." Looking at Marshal Steve asks. 

"I know you found the thumb drive there is an encrypted file that only I or Astila would be able to open. Give me your computer." Taking the computer Steve opens it up. Opening the encrypted file he shows them. 

It's the blood seeker preforming a ritual with the crystals and living people. They watch as he drains their bodies of energy and traps it inside of the Crystal. Once the transfer is done he wears the crystal for the persons life essence to keep him alive. Ahmed lets out a scream when he sees his daughter lying there on the computer screen. He looks at Steve and asks how?

" I had one of my men infiltrate the organization. His family is Iraqi and some still live close by. So his cover was perfect. He joined the gaurd and worked his way into the personal unit of the leader. When we were told that he finally had evidence . That is when we came. This ritual was done three days before you brought us here. Our man left clues for Astila to find the thumb drive if anything happened to us. I'm sorry my friend but in order to free her from him we had to burn her body." Just as he was explaining a loud explosion erupted and the house began to collapse and you could see where the fire from the underground rooms was now engulfing the house. 

" Come we must go he will notice his strength weakening soon. To be gone from here before then." 

they get in the vehicle and start to drive towards the base . Just outside of the town they are stopped by Iraq forces.