The Celestial Curse (2 page)

Chapter Two

Amber Clarabelle Kendall – Present

Ok, so last night I got a call from my favourite Aunt Betsy. She told me she had a present for me. More like an heirloom, since it has apparently been passed down through the generations. She got it from her grandmother and her grandmother got it from her aunty. Seems to be a pattern here eh? Glad I aint the only one who noticed. Anyway, I’m headed over there now since I have a break in my university classes today and I don’t have to be back until this afternoon. By the way I am in my third year of Business Management and cannot wait for it to finally be over! 

It’s a warm day for spring. It will most likely be a hot summer. Not that I’ll be able to enjoy the outdoors that much, or party since I will be working. I have a part time job as a research assistant. My work allows me to use my job as my work experience in the psychology researcher programme where I help grade the test papers for some extra cash. This allows me to work and earn a wage but still have some free time to hang out with my friends. Plus since my parents paid for my University course, I agreed to work part time to pay for my apartment that I share with my friend April. At least my job isn’t far away from the university or my apartment since it’s inside the university grounds, so that is a bonus as far as I am concerned.

Anyway…I’ve been sat outside my aunt’s house for the past five minutes. Guess I should go in. After all that’s why I’m here. So why do I suddenly feel like someone is walking over my grave? Just the thought makes a shiver crawl down my spine!

Have you ever though that you would like to be buried at sea? At least that way if anyone tried to dance on your grave they would have a hard time finding you, that is of course, if they were even able to find you. Hopefully they would either drown or be eaten by a shark if they did! I know, I have an active imagination, or that’s what I was always told by my teachers growing up.

The front door opens as I exit my car and my aunt greets me with a warm smile. At five foot five, wild curly hair and a personality to match said hair, no wonder Aunt Betsy is one of my favourite people to be around. I jog up to her and give her the biggest squeeze I can manage without breaking her bones!

“It’s so good to see you again Amber.” Aunt Betsy murmurs.

“It’s good to see you again too Aunt Betsy.” I say, “So what was so important that it couldn’t be said over the phone?” Her expression takes on one of secrecy that makes me a little uneasy.

“Come inside and I’ll explain. Would you like a drink? I have tea brewing or instant coffee in the cupboard if you would prefer that instead?” she asks me as we walk through the entrance and into the dining room.

“Tea is fine thanks. But sit down and tell me what it is that you want to give to me first, then I’ll get the drinks” I say as I lead her to the couch. I can tell whatever it is has been playing on her mind quite a lot, so I try to ease her of any nerves she is probably feeling.

“Ok but first I need you to go to the attic and bring down a mahogany box with a hand carved sun on the lid. You go do that and I’ll make the coffees.”

“Ok.” I say and pass her my bag to take into the sitting room while I make my way towards the stairs. A mahogany box with a hand carved sun shouldn’t be too hard to fine. Although I haven’t seen anything like that before in the attic, you never know though what my aunt brings back from her shopping sprees. I make my way through the top floor landing to the stairs that lead into the attic. I don’t hesitate to open the door and walk into the attic. Maybe I should have. As soon as I stepped over the thresh hold, I felt a sudden punch to the gut. I am not exaggerating either! It actually felt like someone had taken a swing at me and connected with a kidney, except there’s no one else in the house but Aunt Betsy and myself. And I’m the only one in the attic.

Slowly I make my way to the centre of the room. This will sound strange but I feel like I’m being tugged by a rope to the left side of the room. I start to walk in the direction the tugging sensation is coming from. You know the saying about curiosity killing the cat? Well I must have been a cat in a previous life because my curious nature always gets me into trouble. Oh well, I think I still have one life left. I might as well use it on something weird and mysterious. There’s a mirror on the wall with my reflection in the centre. As I get closer my image gets bigger, until I can see myself staring back. A heart shaped face with a straight button like nose, high cheekbones and full pink lips shaped in a cupids bow. Thick fiery red hair cascades down the sides of my face and down to the middle of my back. The red really off sets the blue of my eyes, which hide behind long thick black lashes and finely arched eyebrows. I take a moment to study my reflection before I remember why Im here. As I get closer to the piles of papers and boxes near the wall, I see a small coffee table behind one of the smaller piles. I can feel that’s where the tug is coming from so I walk behind it and see a draw. I pull the handle to find it’s locked. I look around on top of the desk and spot a key sat beside some papers. Thankfully the key fits. My heart starts to beat faster and my breathing becomes a little shaky. The draw opens and sat in the middle is the mahogany hand crafted sun box my aunt wanted me to bring down. My breathing slows to calm and steady. I reach out to touch the sun. As my fingers brush a ray and the box clicks open startling me. My heart beat is a little unsteady now as I debate opening it to see the contents inside. I reach my hand out to open the lid and gently push it open.

“Amber! Have you found it yet?”

Ah damn! I dropped the lid just as I had been about to open it fully and see what was inside and now it’s shut. I try to open it but it won’t budge. Feeling a little annoyed I pick up the box and head for the door. Leaving the door open behind me I race downstairs and into the sitting room.

“Found it. Now do you mind telling me what it is and what’s inside it?” I look up into Aunt Betsy’s beaming face and I know I’m about to lose another cat life I didn’t know I had remaining, because of my curiosity in the world around me.

“Take a seat Amber. I’m going to tell you the extended version of our family history that not many know about.” Aunt Betsy says as my curiosity pikes even more.

“I was hoping it would choose you but I always had that spark of doubt in the back of my mind. Anyway, I will tell you the extended version of the story and we can take it from there. No doubt you will have plenty of questions afterwards.” She mumbles so low I can hardly hear her. Her mumbling does not put me off though as I am getting a little excited now as I always loved Aunt Betsy’s stories growing up.

Tales about witches and hunters, magical spells and curses, but most of all, the twelve cursed souls, who were cursed back in the Salem days, for burning a witch. The tales say that those cursed are searching for a witch powerful enough to undo the curse and set them free. As the curse dictates, all are hoping they have earned the right to walk through the pearly gates when the time comes.

Sitting down beside me and taking the box in her lap, while taking my hand in hers, Aunt Betsy began to tell me about the Salem witch trials, the burning at the stake and our ancestor Clarabelle River, who was convicted as a witch and burned at the stake. I had already heard all this but it seems there was a lot more to it than I was previously told. I could feel my heart flutter as Aunt Betsy told in detail what happened to the twelve people, whose souls were trapped in their bodies as punishment, never to feel any sense of peace. My heart went out to the people who were so misguided back then that it make them commit such horrible acts. Then Aunt Betsy said something that was about to turn my world upside down.

“Amber, do you remember the tales I used to tell you as a child? About the Celestial Tarot Cards and the power they possessed? Tell me what you remember” Aunt Betsy said as she pressed the box into my hands.

“I remember you telling me about a deck of cards that choose their keeper and have the power to make a positive reading come true. Sometimes in more subtle ways than others, and that they had been lost that night, until Clarabelle’s distant cousin Penny, who was the great granddaughter of her grandmother’s sister, found them when she bought the cottage at the town auction.” I said.

I hear a click and looked at the box and noticed the lid has unlatched. Looking with wide eyes Aunt Betsy for guidance, who gives a nod of approval, I open the box. Inside lined with royal blue velvet padding, sat on top of a black cushion was a black draw string pouch. I reached in for the pouch and lift it out. It was quiet heavy so I gently placed it on my lap and pass the box to my aunt who takes it from me gently. I pick up the pouch again and take a moment to feel the energy pulsing from it. I never realised it upstairs in the attic but it actually feels like the energy is wrapping itself around me, cocooning me in its vibrant warmth and power. I close my eyes and sparks of colour explode on the backs of my lids. As I think of the sitting room and where im sat, I can see forms take shape as if my eyes were open. Surrounded by multi-coloured lights, the far wall comes into focus next, the coffee table, the carpet, the rug, Aunt Betsy laughing! And I realise I have a huge grin on my face too! I open my eyes and everything is normal but the power is still thrumming through the air. The hairs on the backs of my arms and neck are standing. My long red hair whips around my face, emulating the waves still echoing around the small room. I hear a gasp from beside me so I look to Aunt Betsy, who quietly hands me a compact mirror from my bag. I place the pouch back onto my lap and take the compact mirror and as directed, I hold it up to see my eyes. Reflected back at me are my eyes but from soft pale blue to electric ice blue with a hint of a shimmer.

“It seems the Celestial Tarots have chosen you to be their next keeper” Aunt Betsy says as she takes back the compact and sits it on the coffee table. As she turns away, I pick up the pouch again, take the cards out and place the pouch in the box beside Aunt Betsy on the couch. 

“Understand though Amber that being a keeper of the cards comes with a great deal of responsibility, one that you will have to be trained in, so that you fully understand their capabilities. Your lessons will start this wekkend. The cards will stay here with me until I am secure in the knowledge that you know all you need to know to care for and use the cards. For now have a look through the cards and familiarise yourself with the names and pictures while I go get some booklets and notes for you to study.”

I nod in agreement and lightly shuffle through the deck. The first thing I notice is that there are some cards which are numbered. I take these out and place them onto the coffee table separate from the non-numbered cards, seating myself on the floor beside it. I grab a cushion from the sofa and perch myself upon it. Refocusing my attention to the cards, I reach over and pick up the larger of the two decks and flick through them again. This time I note the different colours; red, blue, green and gold. Each colour or suit if you will has fourteen cards. Ace to ten, then page, knight, queen and king. As I handle the cards I can still feel a low thrum like static in the air. I look at the pictures as I continue to shuffle through, noting how each card progresses from the one before. I look up when I hear footsteps making their way towards me and see Aunt Betsy with a stack of books and paper binds in one hand and two cups of tea balanced in the other, headed towards me. Very efficient is Aunt Betsy. 

“Take this book and study the contents.” She says.  “I have some other books and papers for you to take too. These were given to me by my great aunt Mary. She passed the Celestial Cards to me when I was about your age. Take them with you and read through them when you get a chance and we will start your lessons at the weekend.”

Passing me a well-used book, Aunt Betsy said “Look through this book first, it has the meanings to each card and different spreads for you to practice as a beginner. Also take these practice cards and practice the Cross of Truth and the Celtic Card spreads. These two will be the easiest for you to learn from as a beginner.”

Taking the books and papers from her I thank her and put them into my bag. With my mind full of this morning’s events I drink my coffee and make my excuses while walking to the front door. I think I’ll go back to my apartment and look through the books aunt Betsy just gave me. Class can wait till this afternoon.  I head to my beautiful car that was a birthday present last year and is currently parked at the curb and pull out my sunglasses from my bag. My bag has practically everything in it, except a pen but only because I keep forgetting to put one in…you know you do too so stop judging! Digging out my keys I open my car door and climb inside. Starting the engine, I back out the drive and begin the long journey back home.