Bloodstone Read online

  At that moment, I had this strange urge to open the bag containing my crystals. When I arrived at Ilaria’s house, I’d popped them into my jeans pocket. The heat from the crystals burned with an intensity so hot that my leg felt like it was on fire. Trying not to draw too much attention to myself, I pulled the bag out of my pocket and poured the gems into my hand. So much for trying to be inconspicuous. Jade caught me.

  She stared at the stones, her eyes widening. ‘They’re alluring crystals, Amelina. They glow with such a mesmerising bright light. Where did you get them?’

  I realised my stupid mistake and poured the crystals back into the pouch.

  ‘Hey, I didn’t get a chance to hold them,’ said Jade.

  ‘Me either,’ said Joselyn, jockeying Jade aside to see what I had been doing.

  Ilaria had been standing off to the side, copying my air guitar pose, but by now even she was staring at me with curious eyes.

  My reluctance to talk about the crystals or to let anyone else near them bubbled up inside of me. I felt protective of the gems but knew my friends wouldn’t leave it at that. To keep the peace, I offered them a tiny snippet of information. ‘I got them from an older lady who lives in a charming house down by the river.’

  Jade looked puzzled. ‘I’ve never heard of or seen any charming houses by the Riverwalk. Are you sure, Amelina? I often ride my horse by the river. How could I have missed a house with that description?’

  I knew I had to improvise, so I fibbed. ‘It’s not a house. It’s more like a private club you have to join.’

  ‘A private club?’ asked Joselyn. That’s interesting. She tapped her finger on her cheek.

  ‘Really,’ mumbled Jade. Her voice took on a crisp edge. ‘How fascinating. Wonder if I could become a member?’ She raised her chin in defiance and stared me straight in the eyes.

  ‘I don’t think so, Jade. It’s by invitation only.’ My eyes wavered, and I turned my gaze away first.

  That set her off. Jade put her hands on her hips and said, ‘That’s mean. Why can’t I get an invitation? What’s wrong with me?’ She faced me, pulling a disappointed face.

  ‘We could gate-crash,’ suggested Ilaria with a cheeky glint in her eyes.

  ‘Where exactly is it?’ asked Jade firmly in a voice that suggested she would not take ‘no’ for an answer.

  ‘Yeah, tell us where we can find it, Amelina,’ coaxed Ilaria.

  I didn’t want to share my precious secret with the girls. The Crystal Cottage was hush-hush. I had received an invitation to go there whereas my friends had not. I should have kept my big mouth shut. I gauged my reply to be vague.

  ‘Down by the river on the right-hand side.’ I absently waved my hand in the air.

  ‘Near the old terraced houses?’ Jade probed.

  I remained silent. Why did I open the bag of crystals where everyone could see them? I had made a mess of the situation.

  ‘C’mon, Amelina, why won’t you tell me where it is?’ asked Jade, her voice rising to a high pitch.

  I squinted from the force of her words. I thought for a quick moment and said, ‘The wacky old lady owner doesn’t like unexpected visitors, at all.’ I emphasised, “at all,” and shook my head to affirm my statement.

  ‘Sounds like my mum,’ said Joselyn. She threw her hands up into the air and laughed.

  ‘Mine too!’ I nodded and laughed, hoping that a touch of humour would direct their minds elsewhere.

  ‘Oh, I understand,’ said Ilaria. She’s like me on PMS days, irritable and moody.’

  ‘Okay,’ Jade interrupted, ignoring our jokes. ‘I promise to knock and be very polite. You can bet I’ll have a look next time I’m in that area.’ Jade caught my eye, and I saw a strange glint, one I had never noticed before.

  I knew I’d said too much. A deep unease came over me. I didn’t want to encourage Jade, but I left it at that, hoping that she’d forget all about it.

  Puzzle Piece 34:

  The Sleepover – Séance

  Séance has begun,

  An uninvited spirit,

  Tells us who we are,

  Beware tardy gate crasher,

  He is to be feared the most.

  I clapped my hands to get everyone’s attention. ‘Now it’s time for the séance,’ I announced. I had to stop the turn this dangerous talk had taken. Leanne would be furious that I had broken a confidence. Besides, she would not appreciate my friends being in such proximity to the crystals.

  My conscience pricked and stabbed at my heart. I’d brought the crystals and now perhaps they could help me in the conjuring of dead rock-star spirits for our séance. Leanne’s words rang in my head: ‘You must be very careful with these stones, all three are powerful. You must guard the Wizard Stones, the Black Obsidian, and the Merlinite. Keep them safe. Beware. The power they may unleash could overwhelm you.’ I swallowed hard, remembering how much trust Leanne had placed in me.

  From within the pouch, the Black Obsidian stone burned against my leg as it had done before. This time the gem made its intention clear. A high humming noise like the sound of a hive filled with bees echoed in the room. The sound intensified, and I realised the crystal summoned me. In response, I pulled the pouch out of my pocket. I reached inside and grabbed the stone. I cried out as the beauty of the stone captured my gaze and held me suspended in time.

  My friends rushed forward, wide-eyed with curiosity. Their greedy hands reached out, clamouring to touch the Black Obsidian. I stepped back, clutching the gem to my heart, shielding it from view. My friends edged forward, crowding me. The first person to reach my side was Jade. In my panic that some harm might befall her because of her closeness to the stone, I pushed Jade away, shouting, ‘Get back.’

  I didn’t need to say anymore. In my hand, the Black Obsidian fizzed and spat in an angry retort. The crystal lost its sheen, and a horrible sulphur smell filled the air. My friends pulled back, choking, clutching their throats, and gasping for air. Jade stood nearest to the stone and seemed to experience the ill effects more than the other girls.

  With the girls now at a safe distance away from the rock, the Black Obsidian returned to its natural black colouring. Little by little, the gem glistened in the light and dazzled us with its beauty. I held it in the palm of my hand, basking in the luxurious, dark glow emanating from the crystal. Instead of the sulphur smell, an earthy sweetness filled the room.

  The gem’s powerful aura attracted me, and rather than being put off by its power, I felt sure I could command it. The sulphuric smell had distressed my friends, and yet I could see a growing unhinged desire shining in their eyes. The girls begged me to let them touch it, but I feared that would be dangerous. So, instead, I suggested they join in by lighting candles to encourage the spirits to bless us with their presence. Jade was the hardest to convince, but at last, she agreed.

  While the girls were busy lighting candles in the lounge, I followed Leanne’s advice regarding the necessary rituals. First, I ran into the kitchen and turned on the tap, running purifying water over the crystal. I tried not to handle the gem more than was needed. I grabbed a towel and dried the stone to a high sheen. Once again in the lounge, I grabbed a velvet cushion from the settee and placed it in the centre of the room. I then arranged the Black Obsidian on the pillow, and to soften its power, I added the Rose Quartz and set it to the right of the Black Obsidian.

  I clutched Joselyn’s hand and indicated for the other girls to hold hands and sit down in a circle. We dropped to the floor, holding our positions. I reached over to the floor lamp and switched off the light. After our excited chatter, we all quietened down.

  I broke the silence first. ‘To allow the spirits into the room, we must all concentrate on the Black Obsidian. If this is too disturbing, shift your gaze to the Rose Quartz. Let your emotions flow. If anxious thoughts occur, don’t worry, everything will be all right.’ Pausing for a moment, I cleared my throat. ‘Don’t be afraid. Whatever you do, don’t forget to relax.’

 
My friends giggled nervously. I gazed at the magnificent stone and experienced a powerful, immediate emotional bond with the gem. My intuition was high, and yet I sensed that somehow my bond wasn’t enough. The Black Obsidian desired more from me, so much more. I stood up, reluctantly releasing Joselyn’s hand. I heard a little whimper escape from her lips. The girls joined hands, completing the circle without me. I took a deep cleansing breath and gathered my courage. I grasped the stone in my fingers and picked it up. At first, nothing happened. The gem felt warm in my hand. Without warning, a jolt of power hoisted me up into the air, lifting me as if I was weightless. For a second, I hung suspended before I was deposited back onto the floor with an almighty thump. Ilaria gasped. Joselyn’s eyes did a triple somersault in their sockets. Jade jumped up, intending to catch me, but seeing I had landed safely on the floor, she sat back down again.

  A black ribbon of silky light emerged from the obsidian, flowing around us in snaking wisps of energy.

  ‘Oh, my God!’ shouted Ilaria.

  ‘Fricking Nora!’ screamed Jade.

  Joselyn began to whimper. ‘This is freaking me out. Can I go?’

  ‘No way!’ I shouted. ‘No one’s allowed to leave, not now.’ I ran to Joselyn’s side. I squeezed into the circle again. Jade held one of Joselyn’s hands; I held the other.

  Spellbound, we watched the eerie light hold together in a single spot, harnessing such power that its brilliance blinded us. This source of the power focused on me, streaming forward like a river, becoming a reservoir filled with terrifying images. The Black Obsidian glowed with a demonic light, creating a rock face of emotions, urging me forward on a steep, treacherous climb, which left me scaling a multitude of buried thoughts.

  The gem evoked treacherous emotions within me, and I felt my friend’s pain twisting and turning as if it was my suffering. I closed my eyes and felt Joselyn’s sadness when her father left her mum. Ilaria’s suffering at the hands of bullies replayed in my mind. I cringed at her torment. Tears slipped out of my eyes as I experienced Jade’s loss when her much beloved horse had to be put down.

  My own poignant sorrow at my father’s disappearance overwhelmed me. A sob escaped my lips. In an instant, a new image exploded in my mind. It revealed Ryder, clutching my crystals in his hand, an evil glint shining in his eyes. The image receded, and many thoughts and feelings stirred—memories and hidden personal moments. Everyone sat in shocked silence, transfixed, locked inside our own personal experience, staring at the black, beguiling ribbon of light pouring from the rock.

  Our clasped hands shook with fear. I waited, afraid to witness the effect the Black Obsidian would have on my friends and me next. Our eyes met, and we strengthened our hold, clasping our hands tighter. The blackness of the moment grew. A flowing ribbon of dark, velvety light encircled our hands and bound our palms together, sealing our bond.

  I knew if we let go of each other’s hands, the terrors would invade and become stronger, tearing us apart. Our hands shook with the stress of staying together, our knuckles clenched white. Emotions flowed through each of us, uniting us, at this moment captured in time.

  Once again, each vision of individual terror held the appearance of each of our personal sorrows, exaggerated to extremes in our woe. At the centre of the circle played the optical illusion of Joselyn’s father’s face twisting and contorting with hatred as he left her mum. Then the bullies’ ugly faces and voices warped beyond recognition, taunting and yelling at Ilaria. The image of Jade’s horse lay barely breathing, its chest rising and falling, unable to lift its grotesquely inflated head. Replacing that were the pained expressions of my mum and dad, and their two hollowed-out living ghosts floated before us, without a place to find peace. The last terror to emerge was Ryder. His face appeared a pasty white colour like a clown’s features. His lips twisted into a cruel smile. My lipstick, a red smear on his lips.

  The visual terrors continued to float above us, taunting, shouting and screaming, poking fun, and harassing. Joselyn’s whimpering raised to a fever pitch. Jade sobbed uncontrollably. Ilaria stammered, her words stuck in her windpipe, unwelcome lodgers with no easy exit. I hid my face in my hands. In contrast to all this noise and commotion, the horse in the vision now lay silent, its dead eyes reproaching. Nevertheless, each of us held steadfast in our bond of friendship. We clung to each other, longing for this self-induced misery to end.

  It was then that I sensed the terrors’ power began to weaken. They were no longer able to break through our circle of trust. The terrible spirits that were once strong now grew weak and began to fizzle out. One after another, they vanished into thin air. At long last, the chain of negativity that had held us began to break down, and our emotions started to balance out. We loosened our grip on each other and rubbed our cramped hands and knuckles. We peered at the Black Obsidian through red-rimmed eyes. It was apparent that there had been a shift in the energy field of the room, and it had linked us together. Our fingers and hands tingled. A ribbon of effervescent energy travelled from me to the rest of the girls. Nobody spoke, and we remained united in our bond of friendship.

  A hazy image materialised into a multitude of glistening sparks, which transformed into a vibrantly glowing object. I heard the pounding hearts from each of us becoming louder and more distinct as we gazed at the object. The sparks coalesced, and no longer separate entities, they’d joined to form a spirit or a ghostly apparition. The spectre sparkled like a million candle lights, speaking to each of us in a wisp of a voice that drifted like the wind.

  The spirit addressed me, knowing I possessed the gift to understand the crystals. ‘You have called me forth to open your heart to the truth. You must accept who you are and not be afraid. Embrace your true self. Encourage others to do the same. Then you will be a truly magical person, able to rekindle your family’s happiness. Beware those who want what you possess.’

  The spirit turned and pointed at Joselyn. ‘Joselyn, you must move on from your past and accept the challenges of the future. Don’t be fearful. Your confidence will grow the more you follow your dreams.’

  The phantom floated above us on invisible currents and pointed at Ilaria. ‘Ilaria, you have no more to fear from the children who taunted you. Your laughter protects you from their wickedness. Heed my words and use your skill wisely.’

  Jade was last, and the spirit hovered near her face. ‘Jade, you possess the skill and craft of working with animals. You must cherish and nurture it. Be faithful to your friends, and most of all, beware of those who may lead you astray.’

  When the spirit finished speaking, the ghostly form drifted toward the candles and hovered above them. Slowly, the flames were extinguished one after the other, and we found ourselves sitting in total darkness. The phantom had vanished. No one spoke. We were shocked into a stunned silence. Ilaria switched on the light, and with one glance, we all knew things between us would never be the same again. That night signalled the beginning of our own personal voyages toward self-discovery.

  Later, I hid the crystals away in their pouch and placed them back in my overnight bag. Nobody could sleep a wink. Instead, we huddled together and whispered about the mysterious appearance of the spirit. ‘Hey, that was unbelievable! I think I overdid it with the crystals,’ I confessed. ‘We better not do that again. That Black Obsidian rock is scary!’

  ‘No kidding,’ replied Ilaria. ‘That was the weirdest, strangest event that ever happened in my entire life.’

  ‘Yeah, it should’ve been a regular bit of fun, but it wasn’t. Now I know not to mess with those Wizard crystals,’ I said, moving from the edge of the bed.

  ‘That sulphur smell at the beginning weirded me out,’ said Ilaria, squeezing her nostrils together, pulling a hyper-dramatic face.

  ‘Talk about a smell from hell!’ said Jade. ‘But joking aside, that rock could be a black-hearted demon when messed with.’

  ‘I knew it would be creepy, but I never imagined it would be that creepy. You know what? I think it happene
d for a reason. The spirit spoke to each of us,’ replied Joselyn, as slight frown lines creased her forehead.

  ‘I know, wasn’t that incredible? Do you think the spirit was real or did we imagine it all? Maybe we had too much sugar?’ Jade wondered out loud. I glanced at her face and realised she was as high as I’d ever seen her. She gulped down another shot of hot chocolate.

  ‘Yeah, perhaps that sulphur smell had something in it which made us hallucinate. Whatever it was, it was real sweet of that spirit to gate-crash your party, Joselyn,’ joked Ilaria, her eyes wide with excitement.

  ‘What a birthday party. It sure was different. Thanks, everyone. You know, I feel supercharged after this experience,’ exclaimed Joselyn.

  ‘Me too. Maybe I will be a horse whisperer; you know a person who can communicate with horses,’ added Jade.

  ‘Yeah, that would be great. But not as handy as someone who can chat up boys. Now that would be useful. A guy whisperer,’ said Ilaria, laughing.

  ‘Yeah, that would be more than useful,’ Jade said with a chuckle. ‘I wonder what the spirit meant by beware of those that may lead me astray.’

  ‘You’re always getting led astray, Jade,’ replied Ilaria, as she threw a magazine of the latest boy pin up at Jade.

  ‘Yeah, but I think Amelina’s the one to watch. She’s magical. No surprise there,’ said Jade, catching the magazine and surveying its contents with interest.

  ‘Yeah, I always knew you were a weird one, Amelina! But Jade’s the one who’s boy mad!’ said Ilaria, laughing.

  I’d started the conversation, but no one noticed how quiet I had become. My friend’s laughter and banter helped me to hide a secret. Even though the conjuring of the crystals had strengthened our friendship in ways we would never have imagined, it had also revealed something. No one else had mentioned they’d seen Ryder in the way I had. His terrifying image hadn’t appeared to my friends, but I’d seen him. That knowledge scared me. I perceived that the spirit had sent me a message to be careful around Ryder. My conscious prickled, I decided I had better listen. Deep down in my heart, I knew I mustn’t share what I’d seen tonight about Ryder with anyone else.