by S. L. Watson
Moans echoed from the haunted house hosted by a town building. We weaved through the line that spanned several blocks. If you liked haunted houses, it was worth the wait. The time Jasper persuaded me to go inside with him was the one and only time I’d ever done it. I’d had nightmares for a week after.
We stopped in front of a huge three-story Victorian home renovated for dual residential and commercial use, like many on the downtown strip had been.
A mock witch sat propped at a table with a set of tarot cards spread in front of her, and a bright crystal ball. As we neared, a mechanical voice came from the dressed-up mannequin: “Sit and receive a reading you’ll never forget.” A low cackle vibrated from the witch’s plastic lips.
Melodic chimes jingled as Darion pulled the front door to Freya’s shop open. My mom walked through, but I lingered, staring at the table of tarot cards laid out and wondered what menace lay ahead of us.
“Ev,” Darion urged.
I met his silver eyes and hesitated at the door, unable to shake the ominous feeling that rocked my core. Something was coming for us, just as the Spider Witch had predicted. I could feel it in my bones. I searched the shadows as they played their tricks.
“Come on.”
Darion’s voice yanked me from my thoughts, and I followed him inside.
The crystal shop was as mesmerizing as the last time I’d visited, with Molly, when she’d been looking for a heart-shaped pink quartz, which I now suspected had something to do with Darion.
Shelves of crystals of all shapes and sizes lined the walls, and baskets of them sat atop tables situated throughout the open space. Bundles of dried herbs, tarot cards, and books on tarot and crystal healing were also sprinkled throughout shelves and tables, as well as candles, miniature statues, and crystal singing bowls. Bracelets, necklaces, and rings adorned with all sorts of gemstones filled a glass case. Several lit candles placed strategically throughout created a peaceful ambiance and added a hint of cinnamon to the air. The space felt both welcoming and magical as soft hymns played from hidden speakers.
A girl about my age greeted us from behind the register. Her rich bronze arms shimmered under the glow of the light. She was the same girl who’d helped Molly find her crystal. Besides having blue eyes that were hard to look away from, she had a unique energy field that I couldn’t make sense of. Since honing my magic, I’d become sensitive to the differences between Vitarian and human energy. Hers was neither human nor Vitarian, but something in between.
“Hello.” Long curls cascaded down from the mass of thick ringlets she’d wrapped atop her head, and framed her heart-shaped face. “Welcome. Please let me know if there’s anything I can help you find.” Her friendliness was genuine, and her warm, melodic tone made me think of Selkie, and some of the tension knotted in my shoulders eased.
My mom smiled in return. “We’re here to see Freya.”
The girl’s eyes scanned us more thoroughly this time. “Is my mother expecting you?”
Her mother? But Freya was Vitarian. Did that mean that humans and Vitarians could procreate? If so, then that explained both the human aspects and the magic I sensed in this girl’s energy.
The clatter of beads clinking in the doorway behind the register distracted my closer examination of the girl. A woman of much darker, mahogany skin came into view. Her onyx eyes landed on me. “I’m expecting them, Anya.” She held back the beads, revealing a hall that led to other rooms. “Come.”
My mom went first. Darion and I followed her lead while Freya whispered something to her daughter before I heard the beads clink, followed by Freya’s footsteps behind us.
“Straight ahead,” Freya instructed when I paused at a staircase.
We came to a landing just past the staircase and took the few steps down into a living room. Furniture and tapestries of earthy tones made the space feel just as tranquil as the shop upfront.
A rug with frayed ends accented the center of the hardwood floor where we entered. A tray topped with teacups, a cast-iron teapot, and a bowl of loose tea leaves had been placed in the middle of the rug.
“Please, sit in a circle.” Freya motioned to the setting on the floor, where four plush round cushions lay.
“What’s this?” Darion kicked a corner of the rug, revealing a large circle painted on the floor underneath.
“A protection spell. No evil may enter this space, nor may any other witch use magic to cross this threshold.”
My mom reached out her hand. Her fingers locked around Darion’s. “It’s okay, son. I’ve been here before, and I’m aware of the spell. It is what Freya says.”
Darion kicked the corner of the rug back in place and glanced warily toward Freya as the three of us lowered ourselves down onto the cushions.
It wasn’t the easiest or most comfortable position to be sitting in while wearing a knee-length flapper dress. I folded my knees and shifted my legs to my side while wishing I’d chosen an ankle-length dress, like my mom’s, or better yet, a costume that included pants.
“Please pick up your teacup, and place a scoop of tea inside to steep. You may sip throughout our session, and I’ll read your leaves before you go.”
Darion humphed, earning a peaked eyebrow from Freya.
We each added tea leaves and hot water to our cups as Freya moved about the room, collecting items and setting them within our circle. She brought a bowl of stones, a large quartz crystal, and a deck of tarot cards, then arranged several tall white candles along the edge of the circle. They sparked to life as Freya chanted.
Freya joined us in the circle and scooped up the deck of tarot cards. She fanned them out, blowing on their edges. Then she packed the cards back together in a neat deck and knocked on them.
“What’s she doing?” Darion glanced sideways toward our mom.
Freya answered, “I’m cleansing the deck of old energy that may have clung to the cards from a previous reading. I perform the cleansing ritual after and before each use, as a precaution.” She held the freshly stacked deck out to me. “Take these in your right hand,” she instructed. “Close your eyes and breathe onto the cards. Continue to do so until you feel a warm energy encompass you. When that happens, you’ll know you’ve established a connection with the cards, and you can pass them back to me.”
I did as Freya said.
Holding the cards tight, I took a deep breath and released it, long and slow. After a couple more breaths, a charge of energy zapped through my fingertips as my heartbeat quickened. My skin grew hot as another surge of energy wrapped itself around me like a tight blanket, and the cards hummed with life.
“Good.” Freya’s fingers curled around my wrists. “You’ve created a strong connection with the cards.” Her grasp loosened as she clasped her fingers over the cards. “You can release them to me now.”
My fingers felt stuck to the cards and clung to them even as I tried to pry them away. My eyes snapped open as my heart fluttered.
“Relax, Everly. The spirit realm is on the cusp of life and death tonight. You’ve drawn a great deal of energy, but you are safe.” Freya blew over my hands and chanted as a bright violet hue bloomed within her own energy field.
A tingle spread through me as my body cooled and the invisible blanket peeled away, leaving my skin feeling sticky with residue. I shook as Freya took the deck from me and laid out three cards in the center of our circle.
“Past, present, and future.” She breathed heavily as she flipped each from left to right, revealing the Devil, the Tower, and the Moon.
My shoulders trembled as I looked down at the winged creature with clawed feet and horns sprouting from his head.
Freya sat directly in front of me, holding the remaining deck in her right hand while her left kept contact with the cards that lay on the rug. “The Devil can have multiple representations. As an element of the past, he is tethered to resentment, vengeance, and greed. The individual this card beholds has sighted you as a piece in the puzzle to achieve an ultimate g
oal.” Freya flattened her left palm down over the Devil’s face, revealing symbols tattooed on top of each of her fingers. “He has waited patiently for his revenge, building his strength and power.” Freya’s onyx eyes pierced mine. “The Devil is cunning and manipulative. Don’t let his glamor fool you.”
The candles flickered as Freya’s fingers trailed from the Devil’s face to the next card. A chill hovered over our circle, and flames shot up from the candles as if they were torches.
Darion stiffened as he searched the darkened room for a threat.
“It is only the wind of the spirits,” Freya assured him without a hint of worry in her voice.
My left hand warmed as my mom covered it with her own.
“No,” said Freya. “If your energies cross, it will interfere with the reading.”
My mom snatched her hand away. “Of course, Freya. I apologize.”
Freya inclined her head and directed her attention back to the cards. “The Tower is your present. It represents challenges that have yet to come. When the walls collapse, you will be forced to surrender to the power of the Tower.”
“What does that mean? What will she be forced to surrender to?” My mom’s voice shook as she dug her fingernails into the sides of the cushion.
Candlelight danced across Freya’s onyx eyes as she shifted her gaze to my mom. “You know as well as I, Cacsha of the Ever bloodline, that the messages that travel the spirit realm are fragments and metaphors. Their true meaning can only be learned as events unfold.”
A blotchy haze shrouded my mom’s aura as her concern grew. We both knew that what Freya had said was true.
As Freya’s fingers walked to the third card, the future, an eerie calmness washed over me. Whatever was to come would come regardless of resistance. My only option was to face it head-on. Freya’s fingers stopped on the Moon. The luminous circle glowed between two towers, shining down over a dog and a howling wolf.
“Internal and emotional turmoil has already begun, but soon you will choose a direction.” She reached out and clasped my wrist. “Let the wolf guide you past your fear and into the unknown. Your path into the darkness of the soul will be your family’s salvation.” Freya released her grip on my arm.
More candles hissed to life, and the room brightened.
My mom wrung her hands in her lap. “There must be something we can do to stop this.”
Freya took my mom’s hands in her own. “There are always choices. Here.” She picked up my mom’s teacup. “Drink this. We will see what is written in the leaves.”
What Freya said reminded me of the Spider Witch’s message.
“The Spider Witch told me the answer was written in the stars. Do you know what she meant?”
Freya thought and shook her head. “I’m sorry. The Spider Witch practices many types of Earth magic. Maybe if I knew the source of the magic she used, I could decipher the meaning.”
Darion spoke up. “From what I’ve learned about her and her kin, they guard their practices well and are not likely to share their methods. We’d need to speak to her directly, and she’s disappeared.”
I glanced up. “What do you mean she’s disappeared? How do you know that?”
Darion shifted his body on his cushion to face my mom and me. “I’ve tried relocating her since what happened last night, but she’s covered her tracks well. Better than I’d expect of a human.”
Darion’s news didn’t surprise me. Of course he’d searched for the Spider Witch.
“Why would she vanish?” I thought aloud.
Darion rocked his hips on his cushion as he adjusted his long legs. “She never remains in one place very long, and when she departs, she takes all signs of her existence with her.”
“Perhaps the witch will make herself known when she’s ready.” Freya held the bowl of stones out to Darion. “Take one. And hold it in your hand while you drink your tea.” Freya extended the bowl to each of us. “Don’t look at it,” she instructed Darion. “Tuck it into your palm and wait.”
Darion pinched his brows together, but he followed Freya’s instructions. The three of us quietly drank our tea at Freya’s urging.
As I sipped my tea, I glanced about the room. A protective energy vibrated around the entire space. It reminded me of the spell surrounding Felix’s place.
Crystals adorned every corner. And Freya had an abundance of plants. Green foliage or colorful succulents could be spotted everywhere I looked. A female statue stood tall near an altar, with her hands held in prayer.
Peeking over my shoulder, I saw giant windows faced north and overlooked the Columbia River and Sand Island. I imagined a spectacular view throughout the day.
Glass rattled, drawing my attention back to the present. I gulped down the last of my tea and flipped my cup over on its saucer, as Darion and my mom had.
Freya started with Darion. Her eyes narrowed at his cup. “You care for someone deeply, but you guard your feelings from yourself as much as her.” She glanced at Darion over the teacup. “But you’ve trusted her with a great secret.”
Darion glanced nervously at both my mom and me and pinched his lips together.
Was Freya talking about Molly? And what secret had Darion shared?
Freya’s fingers traced a line of tea leaves leading to the rim of Darion’s cup. Her neck muscles strained, and energy whirled around her as she lowered her face closer to the leaves so that her nose practically touched them. “I see a shadow hovering over the girl you love. She’s in danger. The shadow is stalking her this night.”
Darion jumped up so abruptly that Freya swayed backward, dropping the teacup to the floor. The fragile glass cracked apart, splattering Freya’s rug with wet tea leaves.
“What are you talking about? What’s going to happen to her?” Darion’s panic latched onto me, and my legs trembled as I stood. My mom swooped an arm around my waist to steady me.
Freya snatched Darion’s cupped hand and took the stone he’d been squeezing. “The dream stone.” She stood on tiptoe and whispered something to Darion in Vitarian, then pressed the stone back into his hand. “Keep this with you.” She led him to a side door that led directly outside, and Darion raced away without looking back.
“Thank you, Freya,” said my mom as we rushed out to follow Darion, but he’d already vanished at inhuman speed.
“Good luck,” Freya said, and the two women clasped hands. Freya went back inside and closed the door.
“My cell phone’s in your car, and we need to call Molly,” I said.
We started to run, and my mom whipped out her phone from her purse midstride.
Running in heels was a lot harder than the movies made it look.
The Old School of Music, where the ball was already in full swing, was only a few blocks from Freya’s, so we didn’t bother going back to my mom’s car.
“No luck. She’s not answering.” My mom held the phone at her side as we kept moving.
“Damn it! Try Jasper.”
After a few seconds of holding her phone at her ear, she shook her head. “Cal and Selk aren’t picking up either.”
I could only think of one other person. “Mom, call Sam.”
She shot me a questioning look. “He’ll wonder how I know to warn him.”
We were still a block away from the school where the ball was being held, and where I knew Molly would be. “We’ll worry about that later. Just call him. Now!” I picked up the pace while my mom stopped to dial Sam’s number. If we hadn’t been nearly there, I’d have kicked these ridiculous shoes off and run barefoot.
Darion wasn’t anywhere in sight as I plowed past the line waiting to get inside the school. Thank the lucky stars I’d remembered to put on the VIP pass Jasper had given me. As a faculty member of the school, they allowed him a certain number of passes for family and friends, which meant no line, and we’d all gotten one.
I whipped out the pass I’d secured around my neck and tucked inside my dress earlier and flashed it at the security
guard as he waved me to stop. He ushered me inside, and I ran straight into a billowing patch of fog filling the room from hidden dry-ice machines.
Overhead rainbow spotlights made the fog appear in a stream of colors. I pressed through the crowd filtering up the stairs, trying not to push anyone over in the process. It was almost impossible with how many bodies filled the stairway and how hard it was to see.
Inside the ballroom was even worse. Black lights flashed down on the crowd, making it impossible to recognize anyone, especially in costume. The heat in the room felt suffocating as I squinted into the mass of glowing dancers. I fanned the back of my neck with my hair.
Where are you, Molly?
I used my other ability and sifted through the vibrations, but between the sea of people and the vibrations coming from the instruments onstage, I couldn’t tell whose energy was whose.
Jasper’s voice boomed over the speakers as he, Ty, and Lucas rocked the crowd with spooky cover songs. Ty beat the drums, while Lucas ripped on the bass, and Jasper tore up the electric guitar while covering vocals the crowd sang along with.
My heart raced as I spun in all directions. Twisting and turning bodies bumped into me as I searched for the Morticia character Molly had chosen as her costume.
I spotted Selkie directing her catering staff near the buffet table, where purple lighting shone down over the food. I kept my eyes on her crisp white shirt while I edged her way and swiped at the trickles of sweat beading down from my temples.
A hard body bumped into the back of mine, and a cold chill tickled my scalp. I spun to apologize but breathed a sigh of relief when I saw Darion standing behind me.
“Thank God. I’ve been searching everywhere. Did you find Molly? Is she okay?”
Darion stared down at me with a twisted scowl, not responding to my question. Ice flushed down my spine.