Page 7 of A Dream of Stars and Curses

Lady yawns even before I close the front door and wanders over to the sofa for a nap. I guess exploring this exciting new place with Kate’s dogs has really tired her out, bless her.

The shower’s running, so I knock on the bathroom door and shout a ‘Good morning!’ to my sister, then I sit on my bed and open my laptop. Kate has given me so much homework to do, but for the first time in my life I’m actually excited for it. Who knew that was possible? I flick open my notebook and write down everything I remember. I leave one double page free for scrying research, one for elemental spirits, and one for tarot. These are just for my initial notes and questions, though. I know I won’t be able to summarise everything in so little space. Since I can start with cloud scrying anytime and Kate has told me a little about different elementals, I search the internet for tarot cards.

There are so many.

I knew there were a few different decks, but I didn’t realise there were hundreds. I see oracle cards mentioned, too, and make a note to ask Kate about them.

How does anyone pick just one? Would it be terrible if I bought decks just for the art? Kate did say to buy a deck that calls to me, but I’ve no idea how any one of these is supposed to stand out when there are so many vying for attention. I see one recommended for beginners a lot, but the art doesn’t speak to me. There’s nothing wrong with it, it’s just not my style. I guess I can start eliminating them one by one like that...

And I’d still be here a few days at least.

I start a list in my notebook with decks I like. Whether I’ll still remember what any of the names are tomorrow, though, is another matter.

The bathroom door opens. Bonnie, wrapped in towels, sticks her head into my room. ‘Hello.’

‘Late night yesterday?’ I ask with a smile.

She breaks into a grin. ‘I’ll tell you all about it, just let me get dressed first.’

Bonnie had a date last night. With Sunitha, the diving instructor lady.

I grin, too, and get back to my research while Bonnie gets dressed, or I try to, anyway. I quickly suffer from choice overwhelm. Maybe I should have asked Kate for a recommendation? I worry I won’t feel a connection to any of these just from looking at pictures online. Wouldn’t it make more sense to find a shop that sells them, look through the cards, hold them in my hands? But we don’t have anywhere nearby that sells them, and complaining won’t fix that.

Bonnie comes in and sits on my bed. ‘I saw your note. Thank you for walking Lady.’

I shrug. ‘Always a pleasure. Kate came with me; we did our first lesson while Lady tired herself out. Did you know there’s a forest just around the corner?’

Her eyes go wide. ‘Seriously?’

I nod. ‘I’ll show you! But first, how was your date?’

I still feel like the worst sister ever because we’ve barely talked about her and Sunitha at all, but with the Dreamcatcher messing with my dreams... my mind was elsewhere. This was only their second date. I’ll do better.

Bonnie can’t help grinning, and she blushes. ‘It was great. She’s so sweet, Esta! I can’t wait for you to meet her. I know you’ll love her.’

I wiggle my eyebrows. ‘Not as much as you do, hopefully.’

This is the happiest I’ve seen Bonnie in a while. She does love her degree, but deadline pressure isn’t the natural habitat of joy. It’s nice to see her like this.

‘What did you guys do?’ I watch for any signs on her face that I don’t want details.

But Bonnie relaxes against the bed frame. ‘We went for drinks. We talked until about two a.m. I only actually got home around three-thirty.’ She sighs happily. ‘She asked me out again, to Brighton this time. She suggested we go swimming together.’

‘Sounds serious,’ I say. ‘I’m excited to meet her, too.’

She gives me a careful look. ‘So, how’s it going with Leverett?’

I freeze. It’s not that I don’t want to talk about him or even daydream about him—it’s difficult to stop, actually—I just don’t know what to say. Or rather, I don’t have anything new to say.

‘It’s not.’ I turn the laptop around so Bonnie can see. ‘Kate has offered to teach me tarot and said she’ll buy my first deck if I order it through him.’ She hasn’t technically made that a requirement, but I have. I could order whatever deck I’ll choose quite easily online, but ordering it through him will give me a reason to see him. Hopefully I can behave like a normal person who isn’t constantly wondering what he looks like naked. How his hands would feel on my skin. Between my—

Hopefully, I’ll simply move on soon.

‘Oh wow!’ Bonnie takes the laptop from me. ‘These are gorgeous! Which one are you getting?’

‘Haven’t decided yet. I’m not sure— Are you scrolling?’

She freezes with her finger on the laptop. ‘Sorry. Do you remember where you stopped?’

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