“I don’t want to be an agent of doom,” Lilly declared. “I want her to wake up and develop her own power and leave me, and everyone else, alone.”
Her stomach clenched with dread. Regina had been scrying her for years, searching for the signature of her power. She had tapped into Lilly’s awakening energy from her home in California. Securing the cover of a partner and a shop, Regina had come to New Orleans to find her and drain her power for herself. Finding her nemesis was the guardian of the Jewel of Inanna had been an unexpected bonus. She stepped up her plans to annihilate Lilly, drain her power and claim ownership of the ancient crystal.
Aware of the danger she was in and the possibility of losing the violet crystal, Lilly mustered her energy, stood up and dragged the futon out of Regina’s dark magic circle. Crawling around the circle she blew out all of the candles, but one. She piled the remaining candles next to the futon. Her mind and emotions were blunted allowing the instincts developed over many lifetimes as a priestess to guide her. Weakly, she felt around for the crystal. She ran her hands along the floor nearby. Staring into the darkness, she saw a dim glow of violet light. The crystal, her sacred responsibility, lay tossed on the floor amid a whirl of dark feathers. The gold chain was broken. She took the crystal into her hand and stared into the violet light. She lay back on the futon placing the crystal over her heart. Her breathing slowed, her fear subsided and she slept.
Chapter 37
Astral Scrying
She woke in total darkness, sat up, pulled her shivering legs up to her chest and wrapped her arms around them. Long moments passed as she rocked back and forth in the darkness. ‘There has been enough blame and retribution,’ she thought. ‘Reconciliation is needed in this lifetime, but now is not the time to initiate a reconciliation. I am in danger and I must get out of this attic.’
Lilly knew she needed help. The person she had the strongest psychic connection with was Roland. He had connected with her on the dream plane earlier. Possibly, with the help of the crystal, her emotional connection with him would be strong enough to call him forth in waking time. She chewed on her lower lip, took a deep breath and exhaled loudly, ‘It may be a long shot, but it’s the best option I have for rescue.’
The hissing and fluttering continued in the darkness. Lilly closed her eyes and ignored it. She focused on her in-breath and out-breath, held the sacred crystal in one hand, opened her eyes and stared into the tiny candle burning beside the futon.
“Great Goddess hear me and look with favor upon me. I am your servant in this physical world. I seek your immediate assistance in the dimensions free of space and time. I travel the astral planes in search of assistance and rescue. Guide and guard me with your love and ancient power, bright glow and glimmer, sparkle and shimmer. The magic of my inner sight, spring to life on this night.”
Pulling the rhythmic chant from the air, she chanted until the violet light of the crystal flamed brightly. It was then she felt the magic stir. Releasing all attachments, she lay on the filthy futon and allowed her physical form to release her astral body. She drifted through the astral plane surrounded by the light of the violet fire.
She sensed the cool marble floor beneath her feet when she stepped into an astral temple. Soft light infused the space and columns of lapis lazuli soared into the shadows of the high vaulted dome. Lilly drank in the sacred beauty of the astral temple and gathered energy. She approached the raised altar in the center of the temple and mounted the three wide marble steps. Leaning over the delicate jade bowl in the center of the altar, she saw her reflection in the still water. A bloody gash glowed red on one cheek. Despite her bruised and swollen face, her eyes were clear, opened and aware.
A series of ripples disturbed the smooth surface of the water. When the ripples calmed, Lilly was looking into the eyes of a Goddess. Her presence was magnificent. An ethereal halo of golden hair surrounded her face. A woven silver band adorned with a sapphire encircled her head. The Goddess held Lilly in her gaze as she touched the sapphire on her third eye, smiled and faded slowly.
Once again, ripples crossed the surface of the water. Holding her hand on her heart, Lilly leaned over the jade bowl. Roland appeared, sleeping soundly. Lilly spoke quickly, “Wake up Roland, I need you. Wake up Roland, I need you. Wake up Roland, I need you!” She spoke firmly and he stirred slightly. She focused her mental energy on her need and sent the message to Roland through the scrying bowl. His human figure remained still but his astral body sat up. “Roland, it’s Lilly. I need you. I am in danger.”
His astral figure rose and Lilly saw the powerful Druidic energy he carried within his shining form. The crystal she had given him radiated white light in the center of his chest. His hands closed around the crystal and he held it before him. Looking within the clear facets, he spoke “What is it? Lilly? Where are you?”
“Roland, I have been poisoned and kidnapped. I am in the attic of on Decatur St. Regina Valraven is trying to destroy me. Pleases help me. I am in danger.”
Roland repeated her message, making sure he heard her correctly. She thought she saw his head nodding as the water rippled and his image faded. Satisfied Roland understood her message and would come to help her, she curled into a ball and fell into
