In Darkness We Must Abide: The Complete Second Season: Episodes 6-10 Read Online Free Page A

then I always thought of her abilities like parlor tricks, but that was when it felt really real. I asked her what the message was. She said it was for me and I would know when it was delivered.”
    Vanora raised her eyebrows. “What happened?”
    Crystal sighed, running her hand lightly over her hair twists. “She died a month later. Nic and I rushed to Houston to be with you kids. We grabbed the first plane. Nic was in no condition to drive. He was a mess. We both were. I fell asleep on the plane and I dreamed that Carys was sitting next to me. She told me that you would come to me on your eighteenth birthday and ask if she was a witch. She said I was to tell you that what she is and what you are is rare. You are more powerful than she ever was, but you haven't unlocked it all yet.”
    Vanora drew in her breath sharply, barely able to believe what she was hearing.
    With a weary sigh, Crystal continued, “Tonight was the first spell, Vanora. Two more will come when the time is right. What you need to understand for now is that you control your own fate. You must live your own life. Don't stop living because you're afraid.”
    Vanora wiped a tear from her cheek. “Did she really say that?”
    “Yeah, she did. In my dream. And the fact I remember all that after all this time says something. I stayed up tonight waiting for you, baby. I didn't want to believe in that dream, or in what Carys was, but here you are. Here I am.” Crystal gripped Vanora's hand, her ebony skin a contrast to Vanora's paleness. “We're family, honey. I'm here for you. I love you. And whatever is coming, I will do my best to be the person you need me to be.”
    “ I'm afraid,” Vanora whispered, resting her cheek against their clasped hands.
    “ So am I. Are you going to tell me what happened?”
    “ I can't.” Vanora wanted to, but instinctively knew that what she had seen was for her alone.
    Crystal nodded, seeming to understand. Leaning over, Crystal plucked a small blue box from the stack of gifts waiting for Vanora. She set it before Vanora. “Open this one.”
    “Who sent it?” The box looked familiar.
    “ I don't know. It just showed up on the doorstep this morning. I'm dying to find out what's inside. So if you're not going to tell me what happened, at least open the damn gift.” Crystal gave her a wry smile.
    Carefully removing the wrapping, Vanora felt her heart speeding up. It was nearly identical to the gift she had opened a year before. Inside was a small jewelry box.
    “No card, huh?”
    “ I know who it's from,” Vanora said in a quivering voice. She opened the box. Inside were tiny earrings in the shape of half-moons. Each crescent was adorned with tiny, sparkling diamonds. In spite of everything, Vanora smiled.
    “ Armando, huh?” Crystal made a scoffing noise.
    “ How did you guess?” Vanora carefully extracted the delicate earrings.
    “ The look on your face said it all. You're still in love with him,” Crystal decided.
    Vanora took off her small gold hoops and replaced them with the new earrings. “Yes, but I'm afraid of him.”
    “But you're going to wear his earrings and bracelet.” Crystal folded her arms across her breasts, disapproval dripping from each word.
    “ It doesn't make sense, but, yeah, I am.” Vanora touched the tiny earrings tucked into her earlobes, not even able to explain to herself why they meant so much. She knew she could never be with Armando, but there had been moments when he had made her feel incredibly loved and safe. Maybe the key to healing was concentrating on the good things she remembered, not the bad.
    “ I can't tell you what to do, but I'm not sure going back to Houston was the right move,” Crystal said at last.
    “ It was, but not for the reasons I thought.” Vanora took another sip of her tea, relishing the cold sugary drink. “Going back made me realize I don't belong there. It's not home anymore. I didn't see any of them, but I was completely haunted by their