Total pages in book: 247
Estimated words: 248926 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1245(@200wpm)___ 996(@250wpm)___ 830(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 248926 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1245(@200wpm)___ 996(@250wpm)___ 830(@300wpm)
On this image, a full moon greeted my eyes. It was my favorite phase of the moon. She always sat there so bright, glowing in the darkness and reminding me about mysterious powers that I would never be able to comprehend.
I had met Emily on the night of a full moon.
I looked at the gold words and read them, “Full moon. Surrender to the Divine.”
“I wonder, Lion, do you even know what it means to surrender?”
I gritted my teeth.
She placed her hands on the desk and threaded her fingers together. “Surrender is misunderstood by many. It is considered weak when it is one of the bravest things a human can do.”
I ran my fingers through my hair.
“But, to surrender to the Divine?” She held her hands up in the air and whistled. “To understand that you may not have all of the control, and that people and things are coming into your life due to a bigger picture that you cannot see or understand.”
She lowered her hands. “You accept each thing, each person, each situation. . .and do so with love. . .that is surrendering to the Divine.”
I swallowed.
“When Paolo first came to us, I saw his visions just as clear as day.”
“What did you see?”
“Your laughing and wrestling with him in a garden. And Pavel’s ghost stood off in the distance smirking.”
I opened my mouth in shock.
Baba pushed the other glass of vodka my way. “Then, I stopped seeing Paolo’s visions a few days later.”
“Why?”
“It was my fault. I fell in love with that little boy, so much that I cannot read him as much as I would like.”
“But. . .you think Pavel can see us?”
“I know he can. I feel his energy whenever you are around me. He is following you, hoping you will do the right thing.”
A cold chill ran up my spine.
Baba looked around the room. “I feel him now.”
The candles’ flames wavered as if Pavel’s ghost flicked them. The room brightened with the light of a hundred candles and then dimmed. It set the hairs on the back of my neck on edge.
Goddamn it. I have smoked too much tonight.
My hand shook as I grabbed the glass and took a long gulp of the vodka. The cold bitter liquid spilled down my throat.
“Pick the next card. We must see if you will be victorious with Fela.”
“But, how do I heal Emily?”
“That question was already answered. You heal her by healing yourself.”
“And how is that?”
“Open your heart and let Paolo in.”
Frowning, I took another sip of the vodka.
“The only reason why you will not accept that little adorable boy into your life is because you have regrets for killing Pavel—”
“I did it for Emily—”
“Emily did not want you to kill Pavel. I was there. She unraveled right in front of me—”
“Still, it was to keep her safe—”
“Do you really think Emily has difficulty keeping herself safe? Should I refer you to the two people that died this evening.”
I slammed the glass down on the desk. Some of the vodka spilled out. “A message needed to be sent to everyone.”
“And what was the message?”
I yelled, “Do not fuck with my mouse!”
She watched me with a bored expression. “I must inform you that even with Pavel’s death, more people will bother your mouse and you.”
I sneered at her.
“Pick the next card, Kazimir.”
I did.
The next one showed a bright orange moon hidden behind several trees. At the bottom of the card, a white mouse nibbled on cheese.
A mouse. Is that good. . .or bad?
I couldn’t even read the words. Instead, I shivered in disbelief, picked up the glass, and took another swig of vodka.
Baba leaned over and read the golden words, “Full Moon Eclipse. Conclusions are within reach.”
“I do not like that a mouse is on the picture.”
“Be lucky that it is a white mouse and not a black one.”
“What does that mean?”
She let out a long breath. “That is Emily in the forest. Of that I have no doubt.”
I slid my finger along the glass. “She is eating cheese. Is that not good?”
“It is a great sign. That speaks to enjoyment and pleasure. Yet. . .”
“What?”
“The cheese also points to nourishment. The mouse is feeding itself. Surviving, but. . .” She scratched her head. “Hmmm. No. I do not think that is what the cheese means.”
“Then, get your jeweled stick and figure this out. Where is it anyway? Did you lose it along with my true cards?”
She ignored me and studied the card. “Emily will be the one that ends this war with Fela, however, she learns something within this victory. That is the cheese. But. . .for a mouse, cheese can be food or bait to a trap.”
“Wait.” I rubbed my chin. “What do you mean she will be the one that ends the war?”
“That is what this says.” Baba pulled the card closer to her. “But that is not what worries me. I am missing something. Hmm. The forest means spiritual renewal.”