disturbances and will soon become overwhelming. You must dredge up your anxieties and expose your soul so you can reclaim your true spirit. Don’t accept illusions because they might cause bad judgment. Do not fear the unknown. You will be deceived, but your latent powers will come to the surface.”
She flipped the last card and paused. “This is the Tower. This is the final outcome of your situation. Your foundation will be shaken. There will be many more changes in your life. It is up to you to reach for the Star, for your joy, or else you will be stuck under the influences of the Devil.”
She fell silent. “But what does that all mean?” I cried.
“I think you know,” she told me.
She was right. What she had said seemed pretty clear. I reached for my wallet, but she stopped me. “This one is on me,” she said.
“Are you sure?” I asked.
“Of course. I told you I would help you, Raena. I’m not going to charge you for my help.”
“Thank you.” I stood up. “I should be getting home.”
She stopped me. “Wait, there’s something I wish for you to have.” She unfastened the necklace she wore and pressed it into my hands. “Wear this. It’s citrine. It protects against negative energies. Be sure to wear it at all times.”
“Thanks.” I put it on.
“Don’t hesitate to call me or come by the shop if you need anything else. I’m here most days.”
“All right,” I agreed as I left the room.
I walked out of the shop, shaken by what Ismene had just told me. Everything she had said just pointed to what I’d already realized—I needed to get rid of Andrei. If I let this continue, things were just going to get worse and worse. He could turn more violent. I wished I had never met him and gotten involved with him. I couldn’t stop thinking about it the whole way home.
I made it through dinner in a numb haze, and then wandered back up to my room. My phone rang several times that evening. All of the calls were from Andrei. I ignored him.
Before I knew it, midnight struck. I dragged myself out of my chair, where I had been slumped over my desk attempting to finish my homework. I drifted toward the bathroom to get ready for bed. When I picked up my toothbrush, I noticed my wrist had a blue-green mark in the shape of Andrei’s fingers. I sucked my breath in sharply. I knew it had hurt, but I didn’t think he had grabbed me that hard. I decided I had better wear long sleeves the next day to cover it.
I finished brushing my teeth, washed my face, and headed back to my room, where I threw on some satin pajamas. I unfastened the necklace Ismene had given me and dropped it on my nightstand.
Finally, time for sleep. I felt relieved I wouldn’t have to think about anything that had happened for a few blessed hours. I flicked off the light and settled into bed, Nuada taking over the extra pillow. I lay wide awake. I don’t know how long it took me to get to sleep, but boy was I wrong about my sleep being blessed…
I was at the beach again, running, running…always running. I wasn’t sure what I was trying to get away from. There was something dark and foreboding at my back. I headed for the pier, but for some reason I didn’t want to cross under it. I felt if I did, I might not come out the other side. A pervading gloom surrounded me, enclosing me. Just before I reached the pier and the corresponding darkness, a beam of light shot out of the sky, enveloping me with a sense of warmth. I felt the ghost of strong arms around me, and it seemed as though I was flying. The surrounding fog began to evaporate, and the beach appeared to fade. I could just make out a face in the beam of light. It looked like…
I woke with a start. I thought I saw something at the foot of my bed and turned on my bedside light. Nothing there. I glanced around my room, feeling as though something wasn’t right. My curtains fluttered in the breeze.
Wait a minute! I didn’t remember leaving my window open. I climbed
She flipped the last card and paused. “This is the Tower. This is the final outcome of your situation. Your foundation will be shaken. There will be many more changes in your life. It is up to you to reach for the Star, for your joy, or else you will be stuck under the influences of the Devil.”
She fell silent. “But what does that all mean?” I cried.
“I think you know,” she told me.
She was right. What she had said seemed pretty clear. I reached for my wallet, but she stopped me. “This one is on me,” she said.
“Are you sure?” I asked.
“Of course. I told you I would help you, Raena. I’m not going to charge you for my help.”
“Thank you.” I stood up. “I should be getting home.”
She stopped me. “Wait, there’s something I wish for you to have.” She unfastened the necklace she wore and pressed it into my hands. “Wear this. It’s citrine. It protects against negative energies. Be sure to wear it at all times.”
“Thanks.” I put it on.
“Don’t hesitate to call me or come by the shop if you need anything else. I’m here most days.”
“All right,” I agreed as I left the room.
I walked out of the shop, shaken by what Ismene had just told me. Everything she had said just pointed to what I’d already realized—I needed to get rid of Andrei. If I let this continue, things were just going to get worse and worse. He could turn more violent. I wished I had never met him and gotten involved with him. I couldn’t stop thinking about it the whole way home.
I made it through dinner in a numb haze, and then wandered back up to my room. My phone rang several times that evening. All of the calls were from Andrei. I ignored him.
Before I knew it, midnight struck. I dragged myself out of my chair, where I had been slumped over my desk attempting to finish my homework. I drifted toward the bathroom to get ready for bed. When I picked up my toothbrush, I noticed my wrist had a blue-green mark in the shape of Andrei’s fingers. I sucked my breath in sharply. I knew it had hurt, but I didn’t think he had grabbed me that hard. I decided I had better wear long sleeves the next day to cover it.
I finished brushing my teeth, washed my face, and headed back to my room, where I threw on some satin pajamas. I unfastened the necklace Ismene had given me and dropped it on my nightstand.
Finally, time for sleep. I felt relieved I wouldn’t have to think about anything that had happened for a few blessed hours. I flicked off the light and settled into bed, Nuada taking over the extra pillow. I lay wide awake. I don’t know how long it took me to get to sleep, but boy was I wrong about my sleep being blessed…
I was at the beach again, running, running…always running. I wasn’t sure what I was trying to get away from. There was something dark and foreboding at my back. I headed for the pier, but for some reason I didn’t want to cross under it. I felt if I did, I might not come out the other side. A pervading gloom surrounded me, enclosing me. Just before I reached the pier and the corresponding darkness, a beam of light shot out of the sky, enveloping me with a sense of warmth. I felt the ghost of strong arms around me, and it seemed as though I was flying. The surrounding fog began to evaporate, and the beach appeared to fade. I could just make out a face in the beam of light. It looked like…
I woke with a start. I thought I saw something at the foot of my bed and turned on my bedside light. Nothing there. I glanced around my room, feeling as though something wasn’t right. My curtains fluttered in the breeze.
Wait a minute! I didn’t remember leaving my window open. I climbed
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