Read Online Dark Before Dawn by Stacy Juba - Free Book Online Page A

heart. Since moving to Maine, it felt as if she’d lost what little she had of her father.
    "She would have copied more of the murals if she’d had the energy," Ken said. "She didn’t."
    Dawn bit her lip. Her mother had told her a little bit about Ken’s mom, and the months before her death sounded terrible with seizures and strokes all resulting from a change in a lifelong mole. Dawn didn’t know what to say other than, "I’m so sorry."
    "Melanoma’s curable if it’s caught in time, but her doctor didn’t have a clue. She showed him the mole and he told her not to worry about it. He still gets to see patients, while my mom..." Ken sat up and gripped a rolled-up sports magazine in his fist.
    Suddenly Dawn saw herself at age seven, eating macaroni and cheese as the phone rang. Her mother answered it, expecting a friend to be calling back. A minute later, her mother dropped into a chair in a daze and Dawn’s world collapsed around her.
    "I don’t know what’s worse, having it happen suddenly like with my dad, or watching someone you love suffer." Dawn curved her back against the doorframe, the wood cold through her shirt.
    "Stinks either way," Ken said. "My friends gripe about their parents getting divorced and hardly seeing their mom or dad. At least they can pick up the stupid phone."
    "I know." Dawn turned her head, so Ken wouldn’t notice as she wiped her eyes. This must be why he had been acting friendlier lately. They had a lot in common.
    But as much as Ken tried, he would never understand Dawn the way her new friends did.
    ***
    The next day, Dawn sipped mint tea in Serina's dim sitting room, the warm liquid comforting her. She and Candace sat cross-legged on the loveseat with Jamie perched on the matching chair. Dawn closed her eyes, the tranquil forest sounds and soothing music washing over her. The music, bubbling tabletop fountain, candles and cinnamon-scented incense lulled her, made everything surreal.
    "You like it, don't you?" Candace asked.
    Dawn's eyes shot open. "What?"
    "The tea."
    "Oh. Yeah, it's good."
    A smile hovered on Jamie's lips. "Is Ken Magnuson really your stepbrother?"
    "You know him?" Dawn asked.
    "Sort of. He's way cute, and he's a sweetie-pie too. Ken helped me open my locker once. You’re so lucky."
    Candace made a gagging sound. "He’s practically her brother. What do you think, they’re gonna fall in love?"
    "I saw a movie about that once," Jamie said a little defensively.
    Dawn laughed. "Sorry to disappoint you, but trust me, it won’t happen. My mom’s married to his dad. How gross is that? It is almost like we’re related."
    Serina drew back the sheer curtains and entered in a tan blouse and flared black skirt. Her rose perfume scented the air. "Hello, Dawn. I'm delighted you're back. I hope you find this exercise enlightening."
    "Thanks for inviting me," Dawn said.
    Serina smiled. "Before we start, we're going to get centered. Meditation is the foundation of psychic abilities. It’s a time to recharge your battery and clear your head of debris. Our minds like to jump around and must be told to sit still. It will help your intuitive voice, your will and your highest energy become available to you."
    Dawn noticed the others had closed their eyes and were breathing long and deep. She imitated them, trying not to feel self conscious.
    "Fill your lungs, hold your breath for a second or two, then let it out, emptying your lungs." Serina walked over to Dawn, her skirt sweeping across her sandals. "Allow your conscious mind to rest. This isn't anything paranormal. It's simple meditation that can benefit anyone."
    "Okay." Her chest rising and falling, Dawn listened to Serina's quiet instructions.
    "Become aware of being in your body, your bones, your internal organs, your skin and muscle. The beating of your heart."
    Heat radiated from Dawn's toes to her forehead, fuzziness that wrapped around her like a swaddling blanket. Serina had them imagine warmth tingling through each