The Celestial Curse (14 page)

I spend the next ten minutes absorbing the vibrations and energy around me, completely relaxed while feeling the waves, wind and sun on my skin. Faintly I hear Lilith’s voice in the background getting louder as the seconds pass by.

“On the count of three I want you to open your eyes; one, two and three.” I open my eyes to find myself sat in Lilith’s living room again. She smiles at me and helps me to my feet. Pins and needles have set in my lower legs so I gingerly make my way to chair behind me and sink into the cushiony depths.

“How did you find your first experience of subconscious astral projection?” Asks Lilith, I think for a moment before answering.

“It was different but a pleasant experience. One I would like to try again.” I reply. Lilith smiles and nods her head.

“Good because that is your homework for the next couple of days. Our next meeting is on Wednesday so I want you to practice the meditation you just did but set an alarm for two and a half hours to bring back your subconscious to the here and now.” I nod to show my understanding and look at the time. My eyes widen when I see the time. Two hours have passed by but I could have sworn we only started roughly thirty minutes ago. I look to Lilith who smirks.

“Time flies by when you meditate. That’s why I said to set an alarm, wouldn’t want you to spend too much time meditating just yet. Not until you learn to control your exit without using something or someone to snap you out of it.”

“Ok well I think it’s time for me to set off since it is later than I though.” I say as I stand up. Lilith leads the way to the hallway where my coat is hanging on a peg and passes it to me.

“If you have any questions Amber then you can give me a call. I programmed my number into your phone while you were meditating so use it. Also remember what I said about Caleb. Let things happen in their own time and don’t stress yourself out about it ok?” I decide Lilith gives good advice so I promise to follow her wisdom. We say good bye and I walk to my car. As I settle into the driver’s seat I think of all the new possibilities that have been opened up to me through meeting Lilith. I start to feel a little giddy thinking about learning real magic from a real magic teacher.

I drive home thinking about the day’s events. It really was a great experience and one I hope to be able to do again on my own. My mind comes back to the present to find myself pulling up onto my street. I park my car outside the building in the car park while thinking of the possibilities of using magic. I have more confidence now of finding a cure for Caleb’s curse than I did before and so my spirits are high as I walk from my car to the apartment. I keep that feeling for the rest of the night and hopefully it will still be there when I wake in the morning.

Chapter Fifteen

Morning came way too soon!

I like my sleep but before I knew it, I was out my bed, through the bedroom door and out the apartment heading for the little café a couple streets over for a lovely hot breakfast sandwich and a steaming cup of cappuccino. I pressed snooze and didn’t wake in time this morning to grab something from the kitchen, hence the rush this morning and why I am currently standing in line for my breakfast. Patience is not my strong suit so I find myself fidgeting with the strap of my bag while I wait for the queue to hurry along.

Slowly it dwindles down to a couple in front of me who thankfully, are quick to order and be on their way.

“Hi can I have a large cappuccino with hazelnut syrup and a breakfast deluxe sandwich to go please.” I say to the girl behind the counter. I give my order and pay before standing off to the side. While I wait I casually look around the room. Sat off in a corner all by himself is Duncan. I haven’t seen him since that night I had done that tarot reading for him and April due to having been busy with work commitments and now the whole learning magic thing. I decide I might as well go say hello while I wait for my order so I make my over to his table and sit down facing him.

Startled he looks up and takes a second to recognize my face.

“Amber! I wasn’t expecting to see you here. How are you doing?” He asks with a genuine smile.

“Im good thanks Duncan. I’m working full time now so haven’t had much time for socializing unfortunately.” I say with a playful pout before continuing,

“But hopefully we can get together at some point and catch up after all, you and April have some gossip to spill me thinks.” I laughingly taunt. April doesn’t know I’ve heard her and Duncan talking on the phone at night sometimes when I have come in late but I think things are starting to get interesting between the pair.

“Um, I think I will leave April to do the spilling.” He replies blushing slightly, which shows me a hint of the vulnerable boy he keeps hidden behind that sexy confident badass persona, he sometimes pretends to be.

“Ah ok but you do understand the way girl talk works right?”

“I don’t think any guy will ever understand the way girls talk but please do enlighten me into the female mind.” Duncan says as he looks at me sarcastically. I give him a look of my own just before my name is called to collect my order. Calling to the girl who served me earlier that I am heading to the counter, I give one last look at Duncan. I look him up and down lazed over the back of the seats, taking in the cocky smirk of his mouth and the challenge in his eyes I make my threat.

“Just for that sassy mouth of yours I will make you a deal. By the end of tonight I will know your deepest, darkest, most embarrassing secrets and I will hold no shame in posting said secrets to every girl within a fifty mile radius and watch the chaos take hold unless you do one very tiny thing for me.” He listens intently for me to continue. I must have guessed right that he and April have gotten pretty close for him to be worried about what she might tell me of his personal details. In my mind’s eye I rub my hands together in glee, while back in reality I continue with my negotiations.

“I promise not to ask April more than the usual girl stuff in a new relationship and leave all the naughty embarrassing stuff between you two, but you have to go pick up April’s birthday gift for me and keep it a secret from her.” I say. Seeing that I caught him off guard with my request I quickly nip over to the counter and pick up my order and return to the chair I was previously sat in.

“All you want is for me to pick up a gift and keep it from April until her birthday? May I ask why?” He asks.

“Every year we try to guess what the other has gotten for our birthday but last year April got really close to finding my hiding place. This year I have gotten her something really precious to her and I don’t want to take any chances of her finding it.” I try to portray the importance of my request through my posture and words. I exhale as he nods his head once.

“Ok. I will help you as long as you don’t try to dig up any dirt on me to use in the future. I know April wouldn’t stand a chance against you in an interrogation for knowledge.” He says with a little respect shining in his eyes and a tilt to his lips.

“Ok done!” I beam and jump to my feet.

“Ok I will call you with the pick-up location and a description of the item when it is ready for collection.” I say before turning around and heading for the door.

“Bye.” I wave over my shoulder, walk out the door and head to my car. I drive to work relatively happy with my morning so far and hope the rest of the day goes just as well.

Chapter Sixteen

I think it is relatively safe to say the rest of my day went better than anticipated. The moment I saw Gail she took me into the office and showed me all the booking I had from clients starting from the next day. Happy that things were starting to look up for me spent the rest of the day shadowing Gail and her sessions, taking in as much as her technique as possible. After each session Gail would talk through with me all the to do an not to do things in a session, I mentally take notes and assure her as well as myself that things will be fine and that after the first client is out of the way, I will no longer be nervous. The rest of the day passes by quickly and before I know it I am pulling up outside my apartment.

As I am locking my car I notice the car parked across the street. I notice Caleb at the same time he exits his car and walks across the road towards me. Standing on the side waiting for him, I remember what Lilith said to me about letting him make the first move now and to just go with the flow until he lets me know one way or another whether or not he is interested in in pursuing something more than friendship.

Caleb

I see Amber pull up outside her building and park the car. Yesterday she had her first lesson with Lilith and although I trust Lilith to teach Amber magic, I do not trust her to keep her affairs out of personal matters that do not concern her. I exit my car and walk over to Amber, who has by now noticed me walking towards her and waits just outside the door way to the apartment complex. Without saying a word she opens the door and invites me in.

“It’s been a long day so I hope you don’t mind if we talk about whatever you came to say upstairs?” She asks while walking ahead.

“No I do not mind.” I say walking behind her and watching as her red hair sways with her movements. She carries on, oblivious to the reactions she causes in me. Every time I see her i want to ask her to dinner or a movie but then I talk myself into waiting until this curse has been removed before starting something I might not be able to continue if the curse doesn’t end the way I am hoping.

Lost in my own thoughts I do not realize we are at Ambers apartment until she opens the door and ushers me inside.

“Let’s go into the kitchen, I would like a drink and maybe something to eat.” She says while walking through the hallway to the living room and into the kitchen.

“Sure.” I say as I follow her lead.

I walk into the kitchen as she opens the fridge and takes out some left over pasta. She takes out two plates and divides the food between the two places.

“Here, I don’t like to eat alone.” Amber says while passing me a plate and sitting down at the table.

“I missed dinner today so was going to get a take away or something after, but this is better so thanks.” I reply, which is true I had missed dinner so I chow down as Amber does the same. We finish eating in silence and I watch Amber from the corner of my eye as she gathers the dishes together and takes them to the sink. I grab a tea towel and dry the dishes she has already washed. I decide to stop stalling and ask Amber how the lessons have gone with Lilith.

“How was your first lesson with Lilith?”

“Ok I guess Lilith wants me to practice meditating before we start with any of the serious stuff.” Amber replies while drying her hands. We walk into the living room with a couple cans of soda I got from the fridge. After taking a long drink from mine I sit it on the floor and turn to face Amber while I ask my next question.

“Was meditation and practice all Lilith spoke about then?”

Amber looks at me and fidgets slightly with the arm of the couch. A tell-tale sign of nervous tension which tells me that no, Lilith did not respect my privacy and keep her infuriatingly nosy self out of my affairs, like I had previously warned her too. Looks like I will be making an unexpected visit to the wicked witch of the nearby forest.

“Well she did ask some questions about you and I but I didn’t tell her anything she didn’t already know. And there isn’t anything really to tell about you and me anyway is there?” She replies.

I think it over before replying.

“I guess not although it doesn’t mean there couldn’t be at some point.” I say, slyly watching her out the corner of my eye. She looks at me in open mouthed shock as a blush creeps up her cheeks and remains at a loss for words. I decide not to wind her up, no matter how tempting the thought may be and let out a sigh.

“Ok, well I guess I should be going since you have to be up early tomorrow for work.” I say as I stand up and stretch the kinks out of my arms and shoulders. Amber quickly stands, eager to have me leave the apartment and I laugh to myself at how jumpy she has been tonight. I collect my coat from the kitchen table where I left it earlier and re-join Amber in the hallway. Again I walk behind Amber so that I can watch her hips sway as she walks to the door. I ask one more question as I leave the apartment, effectively preventing her from closing the door in my face like she probably just spent the last couple of minutes imagining.

“How are the tarot card readings coming along and your job at the holistic centre?” I lean against the door jamb as I wait for her to reply. She tells me things are looking good and that she will have her very own clients starting from this week. I can tell she is excited by the way she perks up, becoming more animated while talking and the way her eyes begin to sparkle. Gone is the blush from earlier and in its place a rosy glow that transforms her whole face to one of immense beauty.

My eyes gravitate to her lips as I pretend I am listening to her but to be honest I haven’t heard a word since she started talking. All my thoughts are currently on imagining if her lips would taste as sweet as they look and so with parted lips, I find myself leaning in. As I do she stops talking, not really sure of my intentions she asks me what I am doing. When I just lean closer instead of answering, her breathing becomes choppy and little puffs of air fan my lips, making them tingle. Her eyes become drowsy but she stands her ground waiting for me to make the move we both have wanted since we basically met.