The Celestial Curse (17 page)

I give it my best shot but with no luck. After ten minutes of trying Lilith says that’s enough for today and to keep practicing.

“Try to put some of that hidden power you have into making what you imagine a reality.” She says and ends the session early before leading us back up into the main part of the house. I say my goodbyes and head home.

Chapter Twenty

Monday morning I find myself manning the front desk all by myself, while Kate tells Gail about her quitting her job. We met up on Saturday like we arranged and talked over different ways Kate could tell Gail she was leaving.

Kate had told me that she and her boyfriend had decided they were going to travel for a while then settle down, possible in another country to raise a family. After hearing the reasons Kate was handing in her notice, I told her to just be straight and honest with Gail and tell her the same thing she told me in the exact same words. After half an hour of drinking coffee in one of the many cafes around Wetherby, we made our way back to the Holistic centre so Kate could break the news to Gail.

Finally they both emerge from one of the many consultation rooms looking a little red around the eyes. I paste on my most sympathetic smile as they both walk towards me. Walking arm in arm they wipe stray tears from their eyes. They hug it out before going their separate ways. Kate starts restocking the shelves, trying to look busy and Gail comes straight to me asking about shop business while I was on my own. I reassure her everything was fine and that only one customer came in and bought something while two others called and made appointments for Reiki sessions. This seems to please Gail as she goes back to the office to do whatever it is bosses like her do.

The rest of the day flies by and before long I am pulling up outside of my apartment. I sit and think for a moment and come to the conclusion that now would be a good time to call Duncan. As long as he isn’t with April in my apartment right now that is, since I need him to fulfil his end of the deal we made a while ago. I take out my mobile and dial his number I got from April’s phone book. Yes I went into her room without permission and yes I looked through her stuff without her knowledge but in my defence it was all for a good reason. And with that in mind, I let the phone ring and ring and ring, until finally a male voice answers on the other side.

“Hey Duncan it’s me Amber.” I say and listen for him to remember who Amber is.

“Hey Amber, what’s up?” He replies.

“Nothing much, I just wanted to know if you were still ok to pick up Aprils birthday present for me.” I ask with bated breath as he takes his time answering.

“Yes of course!” He finally replies. I release the breath I had been holding and tell him what he needs to pick up when and where.

“Then after you have gotten the right one I will need you to bring it to the apartment without April knowing, so I can gift wrap it for the party. You are still coming to the surprise birthday party I am having for her aint you?

“Yes I am and yes I will. Listen Amber do not worry about a thing, I can handle this one simple thing for you so you just concentrate on everything else you have to do. Maybe you should get some help, I would offer to help you but I am kind of busy at the moment with work and not this pick up that you want me to do, not that I am complaining, I am just saying is all.” I listen to him ramble before finally it ends and I can think again.

“Yes I know Duncan, you are being very helpful and I appreciate it. I think I may know someone who might be able to help me with the other stuff so don’t worry about me. Plus I’ve just just had an idea about where to have the party. I will get back to you with details when I have them. Good night and good luck.” I say before hanging up, not even giving Duncan the chance to say goodbye, too many thoughts racing through my mind to sit and give idle chat. He is right though about needing the extra help and with the magic lessons getting a little harder, or should I say interesting, I think I may have to ask Caleb to help me out. And as for the party, I know Aunt Betsy would not mind me having it there as long as I clean up the after mess. With plans in place, I make my way to my apartment and find myself looking forward to the foreseeable future.

The next couple of days pass quickly as I put my plans into motion. Aunt Betsy has offered to help me set up the part decorations and has recruited Caleb to help out too, which is fine by me since it means I no longer need to ask him myself. Having said that, there is still a little tension between us since we still haven’t spoken about what is going on with us since that last time we were alone together.

It’s Wednesday morning and Gail has let me book off this afternoon using one of my holidays, so I can go party shopping. I booked off the day before the party, since it is a Friday, so I can set up everything at Aunt Betsy’s place. Duncan is going to go pickup my present for April next Wednesday and Aunt Betsy once again has agreed to help me out by storing it at her place in one of her many rooms.

The morning passes quickly and in no time I say my good byes and rush out the door. Driving down the highway, I make a mental list of all the things I need to buy. Coming into Leeds city centre I find a parking space near Trinity shopping centre. I pay my parking fee and make my way through one of the many entrances to Trinity. I browse through every shop window I pass, going up levels and back down again until I find party stuff decorating one of the windows I had passed on my first walk around, but hadn’t noticed. I walk into the shop with my eyes set on the happy birthday banners and balloons. I take a basket and fill it up with a few decorations and plates etc. Thirty minutes later I pay before making my way out of the shop with two bags. Deciding I have enough for the party, I go shopping for a new outfit before heading for my car. I want to get this stuff put away at Aunt Betsy’s before it gets too late.

I place the bags in the boot of the car before sitting in the driver’s seat. Backing out of the car park I head for the fastest route to Aunt Betsy’s. Hoping I do not run into Caleb again is becoming a reoccurring thing at the moment. He always appears either when I least expect it, or when I least want him to. Before it was because I just did not like him, now it is because I like him too much and find that I do not know how to act around him, after he kissed me. Even just thinking of that night makes me blush and squirm in my chair!

Putting such thoughts out of my head, I turn into Aunt Betsy’s driveway, parking the car and walking up to the door. She answers after one knock and welcomes me with open arms. At least Aunt Betsy will give me something else to think about other than Caleb.

Five minutes later with a cup of strawberry and mango tea, the first thing out of my aunts mouth is,

“So why did you leave so fast the other night? I got the impression you wanted to talk to me about something, that is until you saw Caleb sitting in the lounge room.” She says all innocently. So much for not thinking or talking about Caleb huh! I let out the breath I had unconsciously held in at the mention of Caleb’s name and think of a quick response before the old meddler starts to make all sorts of conclusions on Caleb and myself. Remembering the original reason I had come to visit that night, I tell her about my tarot reading sessions and the success it has had so far.

“Before your imagination gets the better of you Aunt Betsy, I only came around to tell you about the tarot readings I have been doing for people at the holistic centre. I even have my own client list now.” I tell her, which is true. Word of mouth has spread so far that I find myself giving readings to people who have travelled miles to have a session with me. And that reminds me of another matter I wanted to discuss with Aunt Betsy.

“I actually wanted to talk to you about things my clients have experienced and told me about after having a session with me.” I say in all seriousness. Aunt Betsy listens carefully as I repeat to her what my clients have told me over the past couple of weeks.

“Amber you do know the Celestial tarot cards are not normal cards, don’t you?” She asks me, to which I reply with a yes.

“It is also the power you have within you that allows the cards to make the predictions and positive influences in people’s lives. Anyone else who tried to use the cards would not get the same response from them, because they are not you. The cards would act just like any other deck of cards, like playing cards.” I listen as she explains and I take in the things I did not previously know, or forgot, but I realise there is still a lot for me to learn when it comes to these powerful cards.

“Anyway the cards are not what I was referring to Amber and I think you know that. Caleb and I had a long talk that night so I know there is something going on with you two.” I look at Aunt Betsy and sigh. For a split second I thought I might have gotten away with not talking about Caleb, but I was obviously wrong.

“Oh um what did he tell you?” I ask her. I try to play dumb and get her to say how much she actually knows, rather than me telling her everything. I do not think Caleb would have told her much of anything.

“Oh just that you two had a thing not long ago and that he isn’t going to wait any longer to pursue you like a man does a woman.” She says offhandedly. I stare open mouthed at her for a moment while I think of something to say.

“It has been a love hate thing between us but I wouldn’t bring out the wedding bells anytime soon Aunt Betsy.” I say jokingly but the look in her eyes makes me nervous. Deciding that maybe giving her some small detail may actually be better than letting her think whatever is going through her mind right now, because I can guarantee it isn’t even close to what she is imagining!

“I am only telling you this so that your imagination doesn’t get the better of you, but all we did is kiss. Yes there maybe sparks there but it doesn’t mean something more is going to happen. Not if his mood swings keep up anyway.” I say the last part under my breath but the old witch heard it anyway, if the chuckling is anything to go by.

“Well honey I think you need to watch yourself where Caleb is concerned because I think he is done waiting for the curse to be lifted before he makes a move on you.” Chills race down my spine as Aunt Betsy gives her advice with a shrug of one shoulder.

“Um thanks for the heads up.” I say not really sure what to say at this point. Although mentioning the curse I wonder if she has found out anything on having it removed. Neither Caleb or Aunt Betsy have said anything to me about it, since the day Aunt Betsy said she was going to ask around the witch covens to see if she could learn anything from the others. I decide to ask anyway for my own curiosity more than anything else.

“Did you manage to find out anything from the covens on how to lift the curse?” Aunt Betsy sighs and states that she is still looking for answers. No one seems to know what spell was used and without knowing what spell it was, then they would not know how to reverse it.

“Although they do think Clarabelle may have used one of her made up spells as the curse.” I think for a second and almost instantaneously come up with a possible idea!

“By any chance did Clarabelle store her spells and potions in something, like a book perhaps?” It’s a long shot but I figure we don’t have anything to lose at this point. Aunt Betsy mulls over the thought before answering.

“She most likely did record her spells, potions and even inventions, but the more important question is, if there is indeed a book then where is it now?”

“Well if she died outside her home, then the first place I would look is at the cottage.” I say still thinking through the probability of any of Clarabelle’s magical stuff surviving the test of time. And even more so, hoping we are lucky enough to find it. If it was me, I would have put some sort of magic protection spell on anything that was of worth to me to make sure no one could touch it.

“You’re forgetting Amber that people will have gutted out the cottage, probably right after poor Clarabelle was buried.” She does bring up a valid point. I think back through the stories I was told as a child for any clues that might have an answer.

“In the stories I was told as a child, Clarabelle had a working conservatory that she used for anything relating to magic. Is it possible it could still be there?” I ask with rising hope.

“I don’t really know, I suppose it could still be there, although it would have been modernised by now.”

“What if no one knows it’s there?” I ask as my brain spews out more ideas on where Clarabelle could have hidden such a book, if she had actually created one.

“What do you mean? You’re not making much sense now Amber.” Aunt Betsy is starting to lose the plot now, she just isn’t thinking along the same lines as me, but I think I may be on to something here.

“What if Clarabelle had a secret room to her conservatory that she protected from others with a spell? Is there a chance it could still be there?” Excited at my own thoughts has me sitting at the edge of my seat. Aunt Betsy is coming around to my way of thinking now and it is beginning to show in her eyes. She wants to have hope that we are finally on to something but doesn’t want to build the hope up too much, that is devastates us if we are wrong. Which I can understand, but what is that saying? Nothing ventured, nothing gained…