The Celestial Curse (9 page)

“Well in that case I would love to work here with you.” I say with a smile on my face. Everyone is smiling now and Gail says how she cannot wait to get me started as we sort out my official start date. I tell her I am delighted to start working with her and learning tarot reading on clients and she laughs at my enthusiasm, what she doesn’t understand is that she has just saved me the trouble of having to look for another job for some time. Before we leave Gail gives me a contract to read through and sign. I had it back along with my bank account details and university expected grades. We say good bye and Caleb goes ahead again to start up the car. Aunt Betsy and I walk out together discussing the turn of events and when we are seated in the car and as Caleb drives us home, I tell Aunt Betsy what happened in the shop and that the stuff I purchased was because of my guide drawing me to each of them. She said I had a kind of vacant look in my eyes and that she suspected that a higher being make have been involved and that it explained why I picked up such an old book when there were countless others to choose from. Talking about the book, I remove it from inside the bag next to me on the seat and look at its older more used cover and wonder why this book was important enough that my guide would insist I buy it.

I open the pages and read through the contents. Chapters containing herbal remedies, healthy diets and yoga positions for a balanced core were not really what I was expecting so I continue I flick through the pages until something catches my interest. A paragraph of what I assume to be ancient English has been written in the middle of the page. There are a couple pages after this that is blank except for some symbols drawn in black, blue and red ink. I do not know what the symbols mean nor do I recognize them. I turn the pages and the next couple are empty. I turn the page again but this time there is a hole, shaped like a rectangle in the middle of the book. Feeling confuses by this sudden find I decide I had better show Aunt Betsy. I turn the pages back to the first symbol. Aunt Betsy who is sat in the front seat again, which makes it easier to gently place the book in her lap. Startled she looks down to her lap and sees the symbols.

“The rest of the book has healthy eating recipes, herbal remedies and yoga positions but then I came across these symbols and a paragraph that looks similar to old English writing, possibly sixteenth Century. Then after these two blank pages there is a box like hole in the middle of the book.” I tell her, Caleb is listening as much as he can while driving on the highway. I turn the pages as I talk and show Aunt Betsy what I am talking about and let her figure it out. As she looks through the book and studies the symbols and the verse, I sit back and watch out of the window. After five minutes or so I drift into a light sleep and miss the conversation between Aunt Betsy and Caleb.     

Chapter Eight

I wake up as we stop outside Aunt Betsy’s house Caleb comes around to the door I am sat next to and opens it to help me out. I thank him for his help and walk to the front door while he deals with his car, then he follows me into the house. Aunt Betsy is sat in the dining room and tells us to join her. She already has the kettle on for a cup of tea so gets straight to the point.

“First of all, Amber I would like you to take the Celestial tarot cards full time now. I believe you are ready to start practicing with them on your own, just remember though that these are used as a guidance tool only and cannot control anyone’s fate or destiny.” I nod to show I understand that she is telling me she has taught me all she can in theory and that now I can only get better with practice with the real thing. I am actually pretty excited to finally have them full time and start a new diary of my practice readings with the Celestial tarots instead of the other deck Aunt Betsy gave me to use all those weeks ago. 

“I will leave them here on the table until it is time for you to leave Amber.” Aunt Betsy says and she indicates the box sitting on the far side of the table.

“I would like to tell you about the discussion Caleb and I had on the drive back, while you were sleeping. And before you think we left you out on purpose, we did but only because Caleb recognized some of the words and we didn’t want to worry you.” She says just before Caleb took over the conversation.

“From what I can remember these words are the words of the curse that was placed upon me and the other eleven people by your ancestor Clarabelle River. It looks like someone recorded the words she used to curse us but I do not remember ever seeing the symbols at all.” He explains.

“I will try to find out what the symbols are and what they mean. With me not having much luck with the covens they maybe just the break we needed to find out how to break the curse.” She says with an encouraging smile at Caleb. He returns her smile and looks to me.

“Would you like me to drive you home?” He asks and since my car is at home I will have to accept the offer or get public transport, I decide to let Caleb drop me off.

“I will go with you if you don’t mind; I do not like the idea of waiting for public transport. Plus it will be quicker in the car.” I reply.

“Ok we will set off in about five minutes then.” He says. I murmur and agreement as I drowned in the deep pools of his eyes. It’s like a swirly vortex that sucks you in and tells all your other senses to take a hike. He is looking back just as intense so neither one of us are aware of Aunt Betsy taking a sly picture with her digital camera. She quickly puts her camera back in the draw behind her in the cabinet and stands up, pretending that she didn’t notice we were staring at the other. I start to feel embarrassed again that this seems to keep happening today and I am not really too sure on where it is going. I get the feeling he might like me in a romantic way but he hasn’t said anything yet so I don’t say anything and just let it progress if that’s the way it’s meant to. We say our goodbyes to Aunt Betsy and I pick up my bag of shopping and the sun carved box with the tarots inside. Caleb takes the box from me and goes out to the car while Aunt Betsy gives me some instructions on what to do with the crystals tonight. I walk to the car thinking I will probably just ask my guide for guidance with the crystals and the cards since she has helped out so much already today so she has kinda earned my trust. I thank Caleb for opening the door for me and slide into the front seat. He is a gentleman like that, will always hold doors and is always polite even when I am not, that shows he not only has a good temperament but he has been raised well by his parents too. He climbs in and starts the car, before I know it we are almost at my apartment. To say I have a lot on my mind would be an understatement so I will say I do have a lot on my mind and it kept me distracted for most of the journey. Caleb seems to understand my need to analyse the events of today and concentrate on the things I need to do tonight, so he doesn’t say a word, he just glances my way from time to time when he thinks I cannot see him through the window reflection. We pull up outside my apartment and Caleb insists on helping me to the door with my wooden box and bag.

Jaxon

Standing in the shadows I watch as the pair disappears into the apartment complex. My attention immediately going back to the context of the box the woman was carrying. If I remember correctly, the Celestial cards were rumoured to be contained within a box with the exact same designs carved into the wood. I will have to keep an eye on the woman, this Amber, to see what her connection to Clarabelle is and possibly the cards. Her relationship with my old friend Caleb is intriguing me also and may play in my favour in the future. With plans circulating in my brilliant mind, I step back further into the shadows and disappear.

Amber

We take the lift up to my floor and walk down the hall way. There are only two other apartments on this floor so the noise level is usually pretty low so it comes as a surprise to hear the commotion at the end of the hall. Caleb ushers me inside my door and goes to find out what the problem is. I stand in the door way with my head hanging out watching Caleb confront a man standing outside a woman’s door shouting at her. Caleb intervenes and advices the man to leave and get sober before probably coming back again in the morning. The man takes one look at Caleb’s tall frame and decides he has no change so mouths off some words his mother would wash his mouth out with soap for saying and disappears down the steps at that end of the hall. Caleb makes sure the woman is ok and that she is ok staying by herself tonight. She replies yes she will be fine but might call over a friend to keep her company. In front of my eyes she starts flirting with him not even caring that I could be his girlfriend and Caleb, the rotten piece of work is lapping it up and actually flirting back! I think I’ve seen enough to know I escaped something that could have turned potentially very bad for me. Sulking I close the door and head to my bedroom taking my bag and box with me. A couple minutes later I hear banging on the front door. I walk calmly to the door and open it slowly with a neutral expression. Caleb stands on the other side face slightly red from embarrassment I hope.

“What?” I ask “I am safe and sound now so no need for you to stick around.” I say in my most bored voice I can muster. Caleb looks at me before smiling.

“Why are you jealous? I was just helping that woman get rid of her abusive ex.” He says with a lightly amused look to him handsome features, which just makes me even moodier.

“I am not jealous, there would have to be something between us for me to be jealous and there isn’t so how could I be jealous?” Making sure I keep my tone neutral. He watches me for a second before responding.

“Your right there is nothing between us.” He says and walks away towards the lift, not once looking back. I close the door and decide today has been a long day and all I want to do at this moment in time is go to bed, so leaving the crystals until tomorrow I have a quick wash, then climb into bed.

Chapter Nine

I put my pen down after reading through my final exam and exhale in relieve. No more exams, no more studying and no more stress. Well university stress anyway. Since that day I went to Gail’s holistic centre, I have cleansed the crystals of protection and placed it with the Celestial tarot cards. I have not done a reading yet using the cards, I have been concentrating more on studying for my exams but I have left them with the crystal in the pouch under my pillow for the past seven days. Tonight I may try to do a reading on myself and see what happens. Aunt Betsy has stressed over and over again to be careful with the cards and make sure I record every single reading as she doesn’t know what could happen during a reading with me being the decedent that Clarabelle spoke about.

Before long we are free to leave but as I pack up my things a piece of paper is tossed in front of me, landing on the table. I look around but everyone is busy getting their stuff together. I turn my focus to the paper and open it up. Inside is a request for a date. Again I look around in the direction the paper came from but do not see anyone paying attention to me. I decide it was probably passed to the wrong girl and hurry out the doors. Just as I make it outside and take a deep breathe.

“Do you throw away all requests to take you out on a date or am I just special?” A voice in my ear whispers. I jump and almost trip over my own feet when an arm around my waist halls me back against a hard chest. My breath catches in my throat while I wait for whoever has me to release me. At first I thought it was Caleb but since this is university grounds and the voice was different, it had a huskier tone to it so I come to the conclusion that a stranger is taking liberties with my persona.

“Do you take liberties with all the girls or am I just special?” I ask in condescending tone. He scoffs and comes back with,

“I saved you from falling on your face and you’re talking to me like that? Ok now I am starting to understand a little bit more on why you’re single.” He says wryly.

“I thank you for saving me from tripping and probably landing on my face.” I say all syrupy sweet but with a little more edge I continue. “Now take your hand off my boob.” It takes a moment for my words to register but when they do I almost end up on my face anyway since he practically throws me from him, as if my boob burned his hand or something. He stammers an apology and I turn around to see who my knight in shining armour is. It’s the guy with the green eyes that picked up my phone for me a while ago. This is the first time I have seen him since. Then it registers that he is the one who sent that message to me back in the exam room. He wants to take me on a date?

“You want to take me on a date?” I ask voicing my uncertainty. I watch his face and realise he is a little red around the cheeks. I have already forgiven him for touching without permission when I saw who he was but seeing him blush for it gives me a sense of satisfaction.

“I would like to take you on a date if you will let me?” He asks a little unsure of himself. Do I want to goof off for a while? I answer my own question with a resounding “Yes!” And smile at the handsome young man.

“Great.” He says looking at me through his messy hair. “My name is Duncan by the way.” He says with a smile “I will pick you up at seven this evening at your place then.” He says. We swap numbers and I text him my address, that way he has my address and mobile number. With a promise to make sure I have a good time he walks away backwards smiling at me until he turns the corner and vanishes out of sight. I didn’t even notice what he was wearing or if he had his lip ring in, all I see is those eyes and I melt. Oh well guess I will have to wait until this evening I think with a smile. For the first time in weeks I feel giddy. That is until I see who is stood outside university grounds looking as miserable as ever. He hasn’t seen me yet so I sneak around to the other side of the building and out the exit located in the opposite direction. I call Aunt Betsy while I walk to my car. She confirms we are still meeting tomorrow and that my training as a witch will start. I think we will be starting with Clairvoyance, which has actually nothing to do with witchcraft or anything to do with the power that resides deep inside me. After all that is what I need to learn if I am going to break the curse on Caleb. I make it to my car in record time and head home to get ready for tonight.