The month in the Regency Hotel suite passed like a breath, a time of calm and learning amidst the luxury that Vatican resources allowed. Cassian and Susie made the most of each day, turning the spacious living room with ocean views into a space for spiritual practice. Mornings began with opulent breakfasts—fresh fruits, freshly baked croissants, and single-origin coffee—before Cassian guided Susie in using her gift, teaching her not only how to open it to perceive the invisible world but also how to close it when the weight of visions became unbearable.
On the first day, Cassian sat with her on the floor, a circle of salt traced around them as a safety measure.
"Susie, your gift is like a window," he explained, his voice calm but firm. "You can open it to see what's outside, but you can also close it when you need peace. Let's start with the basics: sensing without being overwhelmed. Close your eyes, breathe deeply, and tell me what you perceive."
Susie obeyed, her hands trembling slightly as she focused.
"I feel… something light, Cassian. Like a breeze, but it's not air. It's in the corner, near the window. I don't see anything yet, just feel it."
Cassian nodded, his own sensitivity confirming a benign presence.
"That's good. Now, imagine a light in your mind, soft and white. Let it grow until it fills everything, and tell me what you see."
Susie frowned, then smiled faintly.
"It's a woman… older, wearing a blue dress. She's smiling, but she looks sad. She says her name is Margaret, and she misses someone."
Cassian pulled out a small notebook, jotting down the name.
"She's a benign spirit, Susie. She doesn't want to harm anyone; she's just trapped. We can help her. Ask her what she needs."
Susie nodded, her voice trembling but determined:
"Margaret, what do you need? Why are you here?"
She paused, listening, then spoke:
"She says she lost her son years ago, at sea. She wants to know if he's okay before she can move on."
Cassian stood, reaching for his phone.
"Let's look into it, Susie. If we find peace for her, she'll be able to cross over."
They spent the morning investigating local records with the help of Vatican contacts until they found a shipwreck from 1978 off the coast of California. Margaret's son, a fisherman named Thomas, had survived and was living in San Diego. Cassian then showed Susie how to close her gift afterward:
"Imagine that white light again, but now make it small, like a candle you're extinguishing. Tell your mind to rest."
Susie tried, breathing deeply, and opened her eyes with relief.
"It's gone, Cassian… I don't feel her anymore. Did it work?"
"Yes," he replied, smiling. "You brought her and closed it. Now, let's call Thomas."
That afternoon, after contacting the man and telling him about Margaret, Susie reopened her gift so the woman could hear that her son was alive and well. Margaret smiled in her vision, fading away in peace, and Susie cried with joy, hugging Cassian.
"We did it… we helped her. I never thought I'd feel this way."
Throughout the month, they repeated the process with other benign spirits: an elderly man in the hotel lobby searching for his lost wife, a child in a nearby park wanting to say goodbye to his dog. Cassian taught her to distinguish presences by their "weight"—the benign ones were light, the malevolent ones oppressive—and to close her gift with the image of the extinguished candle, a method Susie perfected until she could do it in seconds.
One morning, while practicing on the suite's terrace, Susie decided to try on her own.
"Cassian, I want to try without your guidance. Can I?"
He nodded, watching her from a chair.
"Go ahead, but if you sense anything bad, close it immediately."
Susie closed her eyes, breathing deeply, and spoke after a moment:
"There's a man… young, with a torn jacket. He says his name is Paul, that he died in an accident nearby. He wants someone to know it wasn't his fault."
Cassian let her lead, listening as she asked more:
"Paul, who needs to know? What happened?"
"He says his brother, Mark, thinks he killed himself on purpose. It was a crash on the highway; the car failed. He wants Mark to forgive him."
Cassian handed her the notebook, his tone gentle:
"Write down what you need, Susie. We can find Mark and bring peace to Paul."
She did, and that afternoon they located the brother in a nearby town, telling him the truth. Paul faded from Susie's vision, leaving her with a mix of sadness and pride.
"Cassian, this is hard, but… I like helping them. Knowing they're not alone."
He smiled, placing a hand on her shoulder.
"That's what matters, Susie. Your gift isn't just about seeing—it's about bringing them light. You've learned quickly."
The month ended with Susie more confident, able to open and close her gift at will, and with several souls at peace thanks to their combined efforts. On the last day, Cassian loaded the Jeep with his and Susie's belongings, driving from California to Pennsylvania to take her back to her parents. The journey was long but peaceful, the landscape shifting from coasts to golden fields. They arrived at the Salmon house at sunset, Jack and Abigail waiting anxiously on the porch.
Susie got out of the Jeep, running to hug her parents, while Cassian unloaded her backpack. Abigail approached, her eyes filled with gratitude:
"Cassian, I don't know how to thank you. They told us you took care of her, that you helped her with… what she sees. Is she okay now?"
"She's better than okay," he replied, smiling. "I taught her to control her gift, to use it when she wants and close it when she doesn't. We helped some lost souls this month—benign spirits who needed peace. She's skilled, Abigail, and strong."
Jack shook his hand, his tone serious:
"You're a good man, Cassian. We were worried this would change her, but she seems… more herself, if that makes sense."
"It does," Cassian said. "I didn't force her into anything; I just gave her tools. Now she can live her life, study, be a normal kid. If she wants, during vacations, she can look me up, maybe help with something small, but that's up to her."
Susie approached, her voice soft but determined:
"Cassian, thank you for everything. This month… was strange, but good. I learned so much, and now I'm not afraid of what I see. I'll look for you during vacations; I want to keep helping, even if it's little by little."
Cassian looked at her, her purity shining as always.
"I'm glad to hear it, Susie. Rest, finish your studies, live with your parents. When you're ready and want to come, you have my number. I'll always be there."
She hugged him tightly, and he returned the gesture before getting back into the Jeep. Abigail and Jack waved goodbye, and Susie stayed on the porch, watching him leave with a brave smile.
Cassian drove east toward North Carolina, where Helen was waiting for him at her home outside Raleigh. The journey was quiet. He arrived at dusk, parking in front of Helen's cozy house surrounded by pine trees. She came out to greet him, her blonde hair glowing under the porch light, a tired smile on her face.
"Cassian, finally," she said, hugging him. "I thought your vacation would be longer, but I see you didn't rest much."
He laughed, stepping inside with her into the warm, familiar living room.
"Not as much as I wanted, Helen. I helped a girl, Susie, with her gift, and dealt with a tough case with the Lamberts. But now I'm here, and soon we're back to work, right?"
Helen nodded, pouring him tea as they sat down.
"Yes, the Vatican already informed me. Things are moving, Cassian—big things. But for now, rest a little with me. Tell me about Susie; she sounds special."