212 Commander’s trials 2

Astila, Inola , Onacona along with the commander go hike to Macha's old shack while Aisling stays behind to help HeJin with dinner.  Aisling is hoping that the residual energy of the area will help her uncle , giving him a boost of healing. Since it's healing energy from the released souls . While helping HeJin, Aisling prepares healing teas and charges healing crystals to place around the house to help absorb some of the negativity and anger. HeJin sees her take a large ruby from a chest her eyes open as large as saucers. Aisling grins at her as she asks her. 

" I hope you don't mind but you are going to have a gem garden under your bed. I am going to place several gemstones that are for neutralizing anger and negativity. Rubies and diamonds are the strongest so I have a several large raw gemstones as well as loose cut ones. You will have bloodstones, amethyst, rhodonite, turquoise howlite , rose quartz and Smokey quartz mixed in with them. I also have a bracelet for him to wear. For you there is black tourmaline and tigers eye. I have made him lavender tea to drink when he starts to get angry. My hope is that these will help him stay more balanced.  Along with love and prayer he should be ok till Maureen's babe is born. Now I know your worried but it may not be all bad, he has kept some traumatic feelings buried deep with in. This could be a chance for him to get rid of what he has refused to deal with. I have a feeling that the anger and hurt was already there that Marbas just brought it out and used it against him. This could be a blessing in disguise to help him get rid of it completely so he can have a more peaceful heart from now on. It may be one of the reasons he has refused retirement until now. I know my Uncles both have scars from their time in the military especially from the Vietnam war . John dealt with his through religion and he still has  hard times. Steve has never acknowledged them, and just kept going as if nothing happened.  Now this is just my observation but if I'm right these preparations could help. That and dealing with the feelings as they surface he will get through it. We just need to make sure he knows our love is unconditional ." Aisling heads upstairs with her basket of freshly charged gems and stones to place under the bed and around the house. HeJin smiles at her niece knowing that it is her way to help. 

While the ladies are working at the house the men are hiking and just chatting about random subjects. When they arrive at Macha's shack Steve 's head begins to buzz. Onacona feels the energy in the area, it's spirit energy and it's powerful. He notices Steve's reaction. Onacona asks him. 

"Steve how are you feeling?" Steve looks at him angry and grows.

Inola looks at John and gives him a signal. John takes out a bottle of oil and each of them rub some on their hands. Inola explains to Steve what they are about to do. 

"This is the place that Macha lived and trapped many souls to keep her son and her alive and to be reborn over and over again. When we released the souls the area became charged with soul energy . it's a healing energy that is warring with the negative energy that Marbas released. We are going to anoint you with oil and pray that you will release this anger and let healing start. " Steve closes his eyes his breathing erratic and labored. The men circle him and place their hands on him. His brother John begins to pray. After a few minutes, Steve feels the anger lifting and the buzzing begins to calm. His breathing starts to become normal. Steve sinks to the ground the men back away and let him be for awhile. 

Steve is not with the others in his mind he is in a jungle. He looks around feeling frightened. He is in a cage in the jungle his unit around him , the cage is too small to stand up in.  Looking at the bowl of rice in front of him he sees it's moving. There are maggots in the food bowl. Opening his mouth to call out to the others but no sound comes out. Hearing the engine of a chopper over head , crawling across the ground to see if it's one of ours." It is I have to get us out of here. If we stay here we will die." Steve thinks to himself

Looking around counting how many men there are standing gaurd. Whistling a signal to the others , using sign language to come up with a plan.  Finding a smooth hard stone with a slightly sharp edge. Looking at it Steve thinks

" let's see if my years of Boy Scouts and training from my Dad will pay off."  

Using the water and another stone grinding the edge to a razor sharp edge. Grinning when it's sharp enough to cut through the thick vine like a knife.  When the new guards at dusk come, it will be time. Waiting for that time is agonizing with bugs crawling everywhere no food or water.

"I need to have the strength to get us out. "Steve thinks to himself. "I cannot die here , im barely twenty years old I need to have a life beyond this. " 

when the guard opens the cage to give him more food . Steve gets the sharpened rock that he had been working on all day. He cuts the guard just above his boot line slicing the tendon so he can't walk. Grabbing his gun and knife, slitting his throat. Taking the keys crawling on the ground quietly opening the other cages. Once everyone is free Steve opens fire on the camp killing every solder he sees in his wake. In the command tent he finds their weapons and supplies grabbing them they head towards the direction the chopper was flying. Moving quietly and quickly through the jungle avoiding the other enemy camp they make camp. The next morning they hear the chopper. Setting off the smoke flares signaling their position they get ready to open fire if needed . It's not long after the signal goes up that they are picked up headed back to base camp. 

John watches his brother rolling on the ground in pain and hears him talking . He knows his mind is reliving when he was captured in Vietnam. The men stayed in a circle around Steve while he was locked in the trance of his memory . Letting his mind play out the nightmare was all they could do to help him. If the anger is out then it can no longer hurt him. Now John understands why Aisling wanted them to bring him here. Once he is lucid again he will be able to release this pain it will no longer be poison in his soul. 

Steve sees a bright light before him and hears a voice calling him. 

"My son, what is it you wish to ask?" 

Steve closes his eyes from the light and cries out. 

"Father forgive me for the lives I took to save the men in the jungle. I know that I am not to kill but it was the only way to survive. I was barely a man but had to kill to save others." 

The voice in the light answrs him. 

" My son , you were a soldier in a war, you did  what was asked of you to save those around you. What you did in the jungle I forgave you for many years ago. Do not carry This pain or burden any longer. Allow the energy around you to heal your mind and give you strength for the next battle. Have faith, stay true and you will win." 

Steve opens his eyes and sees that the sun has nearly set. John comes over and takes his hand and asks. 

" So are you ready to go enjoy your wife's cooking. I know I am." Pulling Steve to his feet the group heads back towards the house. Steve turns to see a young man  by the area they leaving. Looking at Astila he knows it's a spirit. The young man smiles and waves whispering to Steve . 

" Thank you because of you today I was set free. "  the boy turns and disappears. Steve and Astila walk a little slower so that Steve can ask him. 

"The boy who was it?

Astila explains your Steve who he saw and why. 

"That was Macha's son , Crystal's great-uncle. He was killed during the battle with his mother. His guilt over doing his mother's bidding kept him here. Her younger sons were human they were compelled to do her bidding with no will of their own. So when you were guilt ridden over what you did to survive it drew his spirit to you. He was killed nearly at the very spot you fell to the ground. So when you cried out for forgiveness so did he. That released his spirit to be able to cross over to heaven and be at peace. You know I'm learning that it's takes a stronger man to face his demons than to face an army of enemies. "