Chapter 22

I managed to get back to the inn later that evening with the Silverlake Sapphire safely in my possession. Maybe it was wrong of me to pocket it, but the fact that my conscious felt light and clear told me that my intentions had been pure. I only wanted the gemstone safely where it belonged.

When I walked in, Aunt Thelma sat with Amelia on the couch in the lobby. They had their eyes closed. Amelia's mother, Jane, sat across from them, sipping a mug of hot apple cider. Aunt Thelma loved to entertain, which was why I loved it when she was at home. She had goodies on the side table for guests to help themselves to almost every night. Tonight, there was a crockpot full of steaming apple cider and a tray of shortbread.

"Now, can you see a door?" Aunt Thelma asked.

"I can," Amelia confirmed.

"Good. Now, I want you to picture a screen door in front of it. Do you know what a screen door looks like?"

"Uh-huh. Like what we had at our old house."

Aunt Thelma cracked open an eye and looked at Jane, who nodded. "That's right. Now, the screen door lets some things through, but not everything. That's what we're going to do with your psychic visions. What do you think about that?"

"Okay. I'll try."

"Excellent. Remember that screen door? It's going to be rainbow colored.

“Oooh, I love rainbows.”

"Perfect. Now, this rainbow screen will filter your visions so they are always happy and as pleasant as can be."

"I like the sound of that."

"I thought you would. All you have to do is repeat after me: Filter the dark. Let in the light. Show me the goodness and none of the fright.”

Amelia repeated the spell after my aunt.

"Let's say it three times." I listened to my aunt and Amelia repeat the spell, locking it in place.

"Now, whatever visions you see will be happy. If you want to remove the spell, all you have to do is open the screen door and say: Show me everything that I can see. Hide no more. My vision is free.”

“Don't worry. I'll write the counter spell down for your mom."

"Are you sure this will work?"

"It should, and if it doesn't, we will find the spell that does."

"Thank you, Ms. Nightingale. I appreciate it."

"As do I," Jane replied.

Watching the scene unfold, I couldn't help but wish I could filter everything in life through rose-colored glasses. Then again, maybe it was as simple as training your mind to focus on the positive. It was something to think about, especially as I looked toward the future. One thing I knew for sure was the world better watch out because I, Angelica Nightingale, was stepping into my power.

“Excuse me, is this the Mystic Inn?” A woman with short brown hair, wearing a disheveled business suit, and looking at bit ragged stood before me.

“Yes, ma’am. What can I do for you?”

“You can first tell me where I can find David Haggerty. He left me at the airport and told me we were headed to Silverlake, Iowa! Can you imagine? I have been all over the country looking for this little magical community of yours. What a nightmare. When I see that man, he is going to get it!”

“Let me guess, you’re Catherine Kelly.”

That stopped the woman in her tracks. “Why yes. You’ve heard of me?”

“Here, have a seat. I’ll grab you some hot apple cider. You have a lot of catching up to do.”

“Is that so?”

“It is. Welcome to Silverlake.”