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

body part, from their head to their toes. She then told them to envision a cool green forest under a canopy of trees. Dawn didn’t know how much time had passed when Serina steered them back to reality.
    "You might open your eyes a little and become aware of your surroundings," Serina said. "Notice that you feel much better than you did before. Now you’re back completely and are totally calm."
    Warm peacefulness enveloped Dawn. She hadn’t felt this relaxed in a long time. If ever.
    "Dawn, let me give you some background." Serina remained standing in the middle of the room, hands on her hips. "As we’ve discussed, we have four psychic senses, even though you hear them all grouped together under the ‘sixth sense.’ We’re generally stronger in one or two of them. You said that you’ve picked up people’s thoughts. That means your psychic hearing is well-developed."
    "What does that mean, exactly?" Dawn asked with a shiver.
    "It’s so close to your own thinking, you may not have realized you were hearing psychically," Serina said. "It’s not just hearing people’s thoughts. In fact, that’s unusual. It’s asking a question of the universe and getting a response from our spirit guide. As we do these exercises, try to become aware of which senses seem the most natural. You can improve the others, but they won’t be as reliable."
    Dawn nodded. She understood what Serina meant. Kind of. She’d heard a voice of reason her whole life, but assumed it was her own intuition. Having a personal spirit guide sounded cool.
    "I see you nodding, Dawn," Serina said. "Do you communicate with a spirit guide?"
    Dawn sneaked a glance at Jamie and Candace, who were listening with interest. Speculating about spirit guides didn’t faze them in the least. Unlike the rest of the world, they wouldn’t think she was crazy if she admitted that Serina’s words struck a chord.
    "I do get this gentle voice in my head giving me advice," Dawn said after a hesitation. "I figured it was just my own thoughts, or my mind playing tricks on me. Once in awhile it’s really loud, like when I had to call an ambulance for Mrs. Frazier or when Scott ran out into the street."
    One of Serina’s eyebrows lifted higher than the other. "Be careful not to trust it too much as not all spirits are watching out for our best interests. Some like to play games. We often pick up psychic trash, equivalent to a radio between stations. Just because you intuit something with your psychic senses doesn’t mean it’s of value."
    Was that what she was tuning into? Psychic trash? A slow flush heated Dawn’s face and neck. She stole another look at her friends, hoping they weren’t amused by her naiveté, but Serina owned their attention.
    Serina picked up a wooden antique box with a metal latch and scalloped metal trim from the table, rose and handed it to Jamie. "I think we're ready. All of your personal items are inside, holding the energy of their owners. Why don't you go first and concentrate on the object that Candace brought?"
    Squeezing her eyes shut, Jamie traced circles over the carved walnut finish. "I don't know. I'm not getting anything."
    "You're trying too hard, not using your unconscious."
    "I see … a ring?" Jamie asked.
    "Tell us about it." Serina's tone didn't change.
    "I can't."
    Relief flowed over Dawn that Jamie was faltering. It shouldn’t have been a surprise since Jamie had confessed to her lack of ability, but seeing it firsthand eased the pressure a bit.
    "You’re trying to visualize," Serina said. "Remember, your strength is feeling. You need to accept and analyze even the most fleeting impressions. Does the object feel new? Old? Does it give you a sense of happiness? Sadness? Don’t limit yourself to Candace. Perhaps you can get a better read on what Dawn brought."
    "I feel sad, I guess," Jamie said. "But that’s all I can tell you."
    "That’s okay. It was a fine start."
    "I’ll get the hang of this stuff, Serina. I promise." Jamie