Kassia was walking with Tarik hand in hand. But not only were they holding each others hands, but a silken cord tied them together. They wandered through a forest and then a meadow. The sky was a brilliant blue. As she looked at Tarik she smiled. He smiled back at her and her heart swelled. She loved him with all her heart, she knew...
Suddenly, they were at the edge of a cliff. The view was beautiful as they looked out over a valley far below them. Yet suddenly, the blue sky changed from blue to a cloud-covered red. Thunder and lightening began raining down from the sky. The scene began to unsettle her, but she didn't move. She looked to Tarik who also seemed just as mystified as to what to do.
Then, from behind, they heard a growl. As they looked, there was a large black wolf. The size of the animal was amazing. It's strength and power was incredible. Kassia looked at the creature in awe, though frightened. Suddenly, the creature leapt at them. Kassia thought for sure the wolf was going to attack one of them as they both cringed as a reflex, but instead, the wolf snatch at the bond between Tarik and Kassia. In an instant, the silken cord was broken and a sense of falling had overcome her as she realized the wolf, in it's leap had taken her over the cliff with it!
"TARIK!" she screamed as she saw him reach for her and noticed that the sky had turned purple.
"KASSIA!" she heard as everything turned black.
With a start, Kassia woke up in bed alone. She looked for Tarik, but realized that he had already left. She took a deep steadying breath. It had been awhile since she'd had a nightmare that had made her wake up still shaken. But she was shaken. She had this uneasy feeling and she couldn't break it.
Slowly, she dragged herself out of bed and readied herself to get Tiyanna up and ready for school and her day of work. But her mind was definitely preoccupied by her nightmare... The visions having so disturbed her.
Kassia had seen her patients, made her reports, seen to fitness evaluations and all that was necessary for her job. After that, she met Danni at the shop to pick Tiyanna up and see how everything was going. As she walked in the fragrant smell of incense hit her and she relaxed a little. But the nightmare had never left her. And she knew, when dreams were that vivid they ultimately meant something. The question was, could she figure it out? As she entered the store, Danni smiled.
"Hi!" Danni greeted, her dark eyes sparkling. "I took your suggestion about the incense Peace and it has really seemed to help! It also seems to be a big seller along with that Selurian Tranquility Tea."
"I thought it might," Kassia smiled. "Where's Tiyanna?"
"Oh, she's in the back doing her homework. Then she wants to help stock the shelves. I don't know why she would want to do that, but... well, I guess when you're a kid doing stuff like that seems fun!" Danni laughed as she reasoned it out in her head, thinking back to when she was a child.
Kassia laughed along with her for a moment. "Yes, it's a chance to be an adult for a moment in a safe setting."
Danni raised an eyebrow but shrugged her shoulders. "Well, I told her she could restock the books over there on the bottom shelf and then maybe some of the crystals if it was okay with you."
"Well, you are a partner too!" Kassia laughed. "If it's okay with you, it's okay with me!"
"Then Aunt Danni says it's okay!" Danni replied with a smile.
"Yea!!" came a little voice from back. As the adults turned they saw Tiyanna standing there almost clapping. "I just finished all my homework too!" she said excitedly.
"Well, we need to check it over to be sure it's right," Kassia said.
Tiyanna gave her mother one of those looks. "Mom, you know it's right. The teacher showed us in class..."
Kassia knew that Tiyanna referred to their ability to learn things after being shown once. She smiled. "I know, Tiyanna... But it's my job. Just like it's your job to go to school and be a little girl."
Tiyanna sighed. "So do I get to stock the shelves now?" she asked excitedly.
Kassia and Danni couldn't help but laugh.
"Okay, you can do that," Kassia replied. "Danni, can you keep an eye on her? I need some time in the back."
Danni wasn't sure what Kassia was going to do, but she had a feeling she needed some alone time and nodded. "Don't worry. Take all the time you need," she replied, her dark eyes making contact with Kassia's green eyes.
Kassia smiled. "Thanks."
With that, she disappeared into the back room. Once in there, she lit all the candles and some sticks of incense. She then pulled out her Tarot cards and sat at the table covered with a red cloth.
"Tell me my future with Tarik..." she asked as she shuffled the cards.
As she sensed the tingling sensation that was her cue to stop shuffling, she did and began a 6-card spread. She wasn't sure why she was doing a 6 card spread, but she knew there was a reason if she was lead to do it.
The first card was the Lovers. It was not always a good card, but at this juncture, it represented her and Tarik.
The second card was the Two of Cups - a card of unions, bonds, partnerships... even marriage.
But the third card brought her world down. It was the Tower. The worst card in the deck. It always foretold disaster.
The fourth card was Death, which usually was representing a new life. A rebirth. But she couldn't imagine how at this juncture. What was going to happen, she thought. Her mind was a whirlwind.
The fifth card was the hermit - it represented a spiritual journey alone. A discovery of one's self.
And the last card was The High Priestess. The card of Knowledge. Hidden knowledge...
She sat and looked at the spread and was bewildered. She didn't understand. What was going to happen, she wondered. How could she draw the tower? She thought. Her and Tarik were soulmates... Weren't they? As she pondered the cards, she lost track of time.
Suddenly the door opened. "Mom... Is everything okay?" Tiyanna asked.
Kassia realized that her daughter had probably sensed her distress.
"Honey, don't worry. Everything's fine," she smiled as she put the cards back into the deck.
Tiyanna looked at her. "No they aren't," she replied. "You're afraid of something..."