Page 20 of Dark Witch: Twin Destinies

The willow tree was known for its connection to deep waters and hidden things. It was supposed to be cut during the waning moon to enhance its receptive qualities, but she didn't have time to wait for the moon to wane. Hopefully, it would work just as well without it.

After all, it was just a tool to focus on her inner ability, and it would do what she believed it could.

As Jasmine worked, a sense of calm settled over her, and soon the scrying stick started taking shape beneath her hands. Jasmine lost herself in the repetitive motions, her mind turning inward, seeking the place of stillness and clarity that would allow her inner energy to flow as the smooth wood emerged.

It didn't take her more than an hour, and when it was done, she anointed the stick with sandalwood for protection and clarity and a drop of moonstone elixir to open her psychic pathways.

In a quiet corner of her room, she placed the candles in a large circle around the map of Tibet, closed the drapes, and lit the candles.

Sitting cross-legged inside the circle, her scrying stick laid beside her, Jasmine closed her eyes and took deep, measured breaths, each inhale deeper than the last, each exhale a release of worldly concerns.

As her body relaxed and her mind cleared, she imagined her thoughts drifting away like leaves on a stream. She visualized herself as a pool of still water, un-rippled and reflective.

Jasmine focused on sharpening her intuitive senses, and connecting her mind with the subtle energies of her scrying stick would help her amplify them. When she felt the energies swirling around her and recognized their nuances, she held the stick gently in her hands and felt the pulse of its energy. She focused her intent on locating the missing escape pod, tracing her fingers over the lines and contours of the map spread out before her.

As she passed the scrying stick over the map, her hand trembled slightly when it hovered over a particular region—Mount Kailash. Trusting her intuition, she marked the spot with a small stone.

Jasmine didn't know much about it, but she felt it was a spiritual center of some sort. The escape pod must have been guided there to seek its resting place.

Her heart raced with excitement at the discovery and the hope that her scrying had been true, but she wouldn't trust this one result. At least two more attempts were needed to confirm the location, and until she did that, she wouldn't even mention Mount Kailash to the others.

15

KIAN

"Do you want me to ring the bell, boss?" Anandur asked as their group stopped before Kian's old penthouse door.

"They know that we are coming," Kian grumbled. "But ring the damn bell anyway. They are the residents of this place for now."

Julian glanced at the bag William was carrying as he shifted it to his other hand. "Do you want me to carry that for you?"

William cut him an offended look. "Of course not. It's not heavy. It's just that the damn handle pinched the skin of my palm."

The doctor frowned. "Let me take a look at it."

William's ears reddened. "No need. I'm fine."

As Aru opened the door, the god's gaze flickered over the group, and when it settled on Julian and then Ella, he lifted a brow. "Good afternoon. Please, come in." He took a step back to allow them to pass. "I didn't expect the doctor and his mate." He looked at Kian with a questioning expression on his face.

"I'll explain why Julian is here in a moment. Let's move to the dining room where we can comfortably fit around the table."

Aru nodded. "As you wish."

Greetings were exchanged with the other members of the group, some casting curious looks at Julian and Ella, but no one questioning their presence, probably because they had all heard Kian tell Aru to wait for the explanation.

When everyone was seated around the large dining table, Kian took a position at the head of it, his gaze sweeping over the group. "I'm not much for speeches, so let's start with the tech first." He turned to William. "The floor is yours."

William rose to his feet and put his paper bag on the table. "I have satellite phones for Jasmine, Margo, and Frankie." He pulled three boxes out of the bag and distributed them to the three ladies. "The phones I gave you before have limited capabilities." He looked at the two friends. "These are much better. I would like the old ones back, please."

Frankie pouted. "What about all the pictures I took with that phone?"

"Everything you had in the old phone has already been transferred to your new one." William smiled indulgently. "You can check."

Her eyes sparkled as she opened the box and pulled out the device. A moment later, she confirmed that all of her photos were there.

"Okay," William said. "Next are the earpieces. Please don't lose them because I have only one pair per person, and they are not replaceable. Well, they are, but not easily where you are going to be. I would have to air ship them to you."

He pulled out the small pouches with the earpieces and distributed them to everyone around the table. "These will not only allow you to communicate between yourselves and us, but they will also protect you from compulsion. Under no circumstances should you approach the pod without these firmly in your ears."

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