then the winds stopped and a glowing came from beneath the tree , a light that shone through the shadowy tendrils , and they ceased to pray and stared , afraid , and the glowing grew into luminescent shapes that rose and shimmered and fell upon them and they cried out and crawled to the house , to the great oak door and in , and the shapes followed ... and they knew that ahriman was with them , was listening , and melissa alone knew what must be done .