Free BitterSweet (Book Two) (The Blood Moon Chronicles) by June Spears Page B

the center of the table. 
    "Come, sit down." The fortune teller gestured to the chairs opposite her. “Let Lady Carmen tell your fortune.”
    Lady Carmen shuffled her cards. She stared at me, and her eye twitched. She flipped the first card over and gasped. The three of us leaned forward.
    She took a good long look at me, then flipped the second card.  "You r poor souls. You are all doomed to darkness," she whispered.
    Lady Carmen spread the cards on the table.  After staring down at her cards for what seemed liked hours, she slowly looked up. Sweat glistened on her forehead; she looked genuinely concerned.
    “You all are in great danger,” she said finally .
    The three of us glanced at each other and burst out laughing. 
    “Nice try, lady,” Zeeb said. “You’re not going to scare us. We’re not high schoolers anymore.”
    Lady Carmen simply continued to stare at us, a hint of fear in her eyes.
    “Ah, screw it,” I said as I stood to lea ve. "I told you this was stupid, it’s Just a gimmick to steal our money."
    Zeeb stood to follow me. "Yeah, she's right."
    Lady Carmen pointed at him. “Son, I see you have already begun to see the darkness.”
    “You’re crazy!” Zeeb ducked under the flap and left.
    As we walked away, Lady Carmen called after us. "You can't escape it. It only gets worse as time goes on."
    "Wait for me here you guys." I went back in. 
    Lady Carmen pushed one of the cards across the table so that it faced me.
    "You drew the High Priestess card." 
    "And what exactly does that mean?" I asked.
    "Something in your life remains yet to be revealed. Duality and mystery.  Hidden influences affect your life and intuitive insight brings new solutions.  You will have great things happen for you, child, b ut you will suffer tremendously ."
    I couldn't believe I was sitting here listening to all of her mumbo-jumbo. I hated psychics. Even so, something in my gut knew she was right. I could feel it. 
    "You belong to the night my child. Use it wisely. "
    "What do you mean 'I belong to the night?” I asked.
    "Your time is up, that's all I can tell you." She shooed me out the door.
    I should have known better than to fall for this crap, but I let her lure me into her game. I stormed out, angry at myself for listening to the old hag.
    I gave Zeeb and Zoraida my congrats and told them I would see them both later at the party .
    "I'll walk you home if you want," Zeeb said.
    "Thanks, but I need some time alone, if you don't mind." I said politely.
    He didn't seem to mind.  He was probably used to me rejecting him by now. 
    "See ya later then."
    I watched as he walked away.  I always caught myself watching him.   Any girl at our school would love to date him, and I had the chance. To be honest, I wanted nothing more than his strong arms around me.  But I couldn't let it show. It would ruin everything between us.
     

Chapter 2
    -zelenia-
    I loved walking home at night. Shadow Valley is a nice, quiet small town of about five hundred people, located about sixty miles outside of Atlanta.   
    Shadow Valley gets its name from the trees that provide shade through the entire town. The air here is nice and fresh; I love to sit and take it in.  It's far away enough to get away from the hectic life of the city, but it's also close enough to go into the city when you need to.  Everyone knows everybody, and when someone new moves in, they are the talk of the town.
    I started down the long gravel road that led to the small two-bedroom shack we call home.  Mamá does her best with what she has.  And for that I am grateful.  She is so small and fragile; sometimes I wonder how she does it. 
    Somehow I don't think I was born here.  Maybe we came here from another place.  If so, she has never mentioned it .
    I sometimes wonder if I even belong. Maybe that psycho psychic actually knew what she was talking about.
     
    ***

    My head pounded.   I shoved down some medication in hope that it would go away before