by Isobel Bird
“If you choose wisely, your life will be in balance,” the man continued. “But if you choose badly, then you will feel it in everything you do.”
Annie heard jingling behind her. At the sound, the Lovers pointed down the path.
“Another comes,” Rowan said. “You must go. But be warned. You will be tested as you go deeper into the woods.”
Annie moved on. As she walked, she heard more jingling in the trees around her. She wondered how many of the class members were running around in the forest now. Where was Cooper? She’d gone in first. How far ahead of Annie was she? Had she chosen the same paths? Annie had no way of knowing.
The path was following a little stream now, taking her farther into the forest. The sun was going down, and the trees were casting deep, dark shadows over the pine needles and leaves that carpeted the forest floor. It wasn’t dark enough yet for Annie to need the flashlight, but the shadows gave the place a spooky feel. She wondered what she was going to come to next. Rowan had said that she would be tested. But how? What was she going to have to do?
The stream suddenly dropped between two rocks, and Annie found herself half sliding, half running down a little slope. There the stream formed a pool, and standing beside it was a stern-looking woman wearing a long robe of dark red. Her hands were covered in long black gloves, and she held a set of scales. When she saw Annie standing near her she fixed her with a steady gaze.
“I am Judgment,” she said slowly. “Are you ready for my test?”
“I guess so,” Annie said, not sure she was at all ready.
The woman held up the scales in her hand. “Balance is the key to successfully completing your journey,” she said. “So tell me, which is more important—pleasing others or pleasing yourself?”
Annie was about to say that pleasing herself was more important. But then she thought about her aunt selling the house. Maybe it was making Aunt Sarah happy, but it was making Annie miserable. And look what had happened when she’d started doing readings for the girls at school. It had ended up helping her, hadn’t it?
“I think you have to do both,” she said. “Sometimes you need to do what you want to do, but sometimes you need to think about what would make other people happy.”
The woman nodded. “You may pass,” she said simply. “But your choices will become harder as you journey. Remember what you have learned, and you will go safely.”
Annie looked to see which way the path went on, and saw that it once more split into two different paths. One continued to follow the stream while another turned to the right and went into a grove of pine trees.
She decided to go into the grove of trees. It was getting dark now, and she turned her flashlight on so that she could see her way without tripping over anything. But the path was smooth, and soon she found herself pushing her way between the branches of the trees.
She came to a clearing. The trees formed a ring around her, and the center was filled with soft moss. Above her, the twilight sky was a deep purple color, fading quickly to black as night fell and the stars came out.
Annie looked around to see which of the characters from the Tarot was going to greet her this time. She was enjoying her journey as the Fool, and she hoped the others were having as good a time. She shook her head, listening to the sound of the bells ringing.
“Who has come to my circle?” a voice called out, startling her.
She looked around and saw something emerging from the trees. When she saw it, she was tempted to run away. Unlike the others, this one frightened her. It was a tall figure wearing a simple black robe. But instead of a head, a grinning white skull sat on the shoulders. It carried in its hand a tall sickle, and Annie knew immediately who it was. Death.
Death came closer, moving silently across the grove. Annie had to keep reminding herself that underneath the head there was a real person, someone she probably knew. But she couldn’t help being a little bit frightened as the skull-headed figure moved toward her. When he reached her he stopped, simply staring with empty eyes as she waited for him to speak.
“You have come quite far,” he said finally.
“Is this the end of the journey?” Annie asked.
“Perhaps,” Death answered. “Do you wish it to be the end?”
Another question. All of the Tarot characters were speaking in riddles. Annie wished they would just come out and tell her what it was they wanted. Especially this one. Judgment had told her that the tests were going to become harder as she went along. What was Death going to ask of her?
“You can finish your journey now,” Death continued. He pointed a pale hand toward one side of the grove of trees. “Through there is a path that will take you back to your friends,” he said. “Some are already there waiting for you.”
“What’s my other choice?” Annie asked.
Death pointed toward the other side of the grove. “There, too, lies a path,” he said. “But that path takes you deeper into the woods, where you might encounter more difficult challenges. The way is dark, and along it are some of my fellow cards. They may tell you more secrets, but what they ask in return may be more than you are willing to pay. Which path will you choose?”
Annie looked from one side of the grove to the other, trying to decide between the easy path and the difficult one. She’d been in the woods for quite a while, and she liked the idea of getting back to the house and the others. Now that it was getting dark, she wasn’t sure she wanted to be running around in the forest by herself. She’d met some of the cards and had a good time. Maybe it would be better if she just stopped.
But there might be something really interesting on the other path, she thought to herself. It would be kind of fun to see some more cards.
Laughter erupted from the trees to her right, and Death cocked his head. “Your friends are calling to you,” he said soothingly. “Would you like to go to them?”
“No,” Annie said confidently. “I want to keep going.”
“Very well,” Death responded. “Go through those trees. And remember, to die is not always a bad thing. Sometimes when you let go of things you think are important you find that there are even more wonderful things awaiting you.”
I certainly hope so, Annie thought as she walked through the trees. Part of her was already wishing she’d decided to take the easy path out.
She appeared to be in the darkest part of the forest now. The trees grew close together, blocking out the moon and stars that she knew were shining overhead. There was only the dimmest light, and she needed the flashlight to see even a few feet in front of her. Even that light wasn’t very bright, and she walked slowly, trying to follow the faint path that wound through the trees.
She walked for what seemed a long time without seeing anyone. Even the jingling of bells that had followed her for a while had disappeared, and she wondered if maybe she had somehow gotten off the path altogether. She looked around her, hoping that something—anything—would look familiar. But it didn’t.
“Hello?” she called softly. “Is anybody there?”
There was no answer except for the faint chirping of crickets hiding in the leaves. The wind blew against her face, and it was no longer comforting. She was scared. What if she really was lost? Did anyone know she was out there? She thought about everyone else gathered safely around a fire somewhere, and suddenly she felt cold and alone.
“Hello?” she called again. “Is anyone there? Does anyone hear me?”
“I hear you,” a voice behind her said.
She wheeled around, thankful that someone was there.
“I thought I had wandered off the path,” she said, relieved.
“You are always on the path,” the voice said. Someone stepped forward into the tiny ring of light cast by Annie’s flashlight. It was a woman. She was cloaked in black, and her face was hidden by the folds of the hood that covered her head.
“Which of the cards are you?” Annie asked.
“Do you not know me?” the woman aske
d. “I am she who sometimes hides her face and other times looks down upon you. I call the waters to me and push them back again. I make some mad and fill others’ heads with dreams.”
Another riddle, Annie thought to herself. But this time I know the answer. “Are you the Moon?” she asked.
The woman nodded. “The oldest of them all,” she said. “The grandmother of time and the daughter of the night. Who has sent you to me?”
“Death sent me,” Annie said.
“Then you passed his test,” the woman replied. “But will you now pass mine?”
“What is your challenge?” Annie asked her.
“The Moon is ever changing,” she answered. “Even tonight I pass from fullness into darkness. Are you willing to change as well?”
“Change how?” Annie asked, confused.
“Are you willing to go into the darkness?” the woman asked. “To pass out of the bright light and seek out those parts of yourself that have been hidden?”
Annie didn’t really understand what the woman was asking her. “I think so,” she said. “But how do I do that?”
“I will show you,” the woman answered. “For now it is enough that you are willing.”
“Then yes,” Annie said. “I am willing.”
“Go then,” the woman said, pointing away from her. “Go straight through the trees. You will find a path. It will lead you home. Go, and I will come to you again when the time is right.”
“I go this way?” Annie asked, turning around to see again which way the woman had pointed. But the woman was gone, and all that remained were shadows.
Annie looked again, shining the flashlight around in the trees, and then she saw the path. She had only stumbled off it by a few feet. Once she saw it she was able to follow it easily back through the trees, and after a few minutes she found herself leaving the forest. When she emerged she saw that the others were standing around a fire that had been set in a ring of stones.
“There you are,” Kate said as Annie approached. “We were wondering what happened to you.”
“I took the long way,” Annie said.
“I hope you had a good time,” said Rowan. Still dressed as one half of the Lovers, she was pouring drinks for everyone and handing them out. “This is one of our favorite exercises. People tend to get a lot out of it.”
“I did,” Annie said. “I particularly liked the Moon.”
“Thanks,” said a woman standing to one side. “But I don’t remember talking to you.”
Annie looked at the woman, whose face was painted silver and whose robe was covered in stars.
“Not you,” Annie said. “The woman in the black cloak.”
The woman looked confused. “I was the only Moon in the woods,” she said.
Annie felt a chill run down her back. “But what about the woman who was on the path outside of Death’s grove?” she said, confused.
“The Moon wasn’t outside the grove,” Rowan said. “The Hanged Man was. You didn’t see him?”
Annie shook her head. “No,” she said.
“Well then,” Rowan replied. “It looks like your journey took you someplace really unexpected.”
“What did you see in there?” Kate asked.
Annie looked at her friend. “I guess it was just someone else following the path,” she said doubtfully.
But the more she thought about the woman, the more uneasy she became. If it hadn’t been someone from the coven, who had it been? The only possible answer was that Hecate had come to her. But this hadn’t been a dream. This was real life. How was that possible? She wanted to ask Rowan or one of the others, but it seemed so crazy. Maybe you were so caught up in the game that you imagined it, she thought, trying to convince herself of that. But she knew it wasn’t true. She had seen something—someone. And that someone had said that she would come again. When would that be? And what would she want then? Most important, would Annie be able to give it to her?
CHAPTER 10
“Maybe I don’t care what you think!”
Annie watched as Tara slammed her locker shut and turned to face Sherrie, who was hovering behind her with her arms folded across her chest.
“What did you say?” Sherrie asked, her eyes wide with surprise.
“I said maybe I don’t care what you think,” Tara repeated. “What part of that don’t you understand? I’m tired of you criticizing everything I do.”
“I was only trying to give you a little advice,” Sherrie snapped.
“Well, don’t,” Tara said. “You know what your problem is, Sherrie? You think people actually care what you have to say. Here’s a news flash—they don’t.”
Tara turned and stormed down the hallway, leaving a shocked Sherrie staring after her. A crowd of onlookers had gathered during their fight, and they looked at Sherrie expectantly, waiting for her to say something. But all Sherrie could do was stand there fuming, her mouth opening and closing as if she were dying to say something but couldn’t get the words out.
“What was that all about?” Cooper asked as she and Kate arrived at the lockers.
“Oh, it was good,” Annie told them. “Sherrie was making fun of Tara’s outfit, and Tara let her have it.”
“Tara?” Kate said in disbelief. “Tara stood up to Sherrie?”
“Big-time,” Annie told her. “As you can tell, Sherrie still isn’t sure what hit her.”
The three of them laughed. Sherrie heard the noise and glared at them. Then she marched over to Annie and pointed a finger at her.
“This is your fault,” she said. “You and that stupid reading you did.”
“My fault?” Annie said, bewildered. “What did I do?”
“You’re the one who told her she had to stand up to me,” Sherrie said.
“I never said that,” Annie protested. “All I told her was that she had to stand up for herself. I didn’t say it had anything to do with you.”
“That’s true,” Cooper said. “We all might have thought about you when it came up, but Annie never said that.”
“It’s the same thing,” Sherrie insisted. “You just wanted to make me look like an idiot.”
“Like she needed any help?” Kate said.
Sherrie shot Kate a look. “Don’t think I don’t know whose idea it was,” Sherrie said. “But if you think you can take Tara and Jessica away from me just because you decided to hang out with losers, you’d better think again. They’re my friends. Got that? They’re not going to come running to you just because you trick them with your stupid games.”
“It’s not a game,” Annie said. “All I did was read the cards, just like you asked me to.”
“You made it all up,” Sherrie said. “I knew it that first time at the carnival.”
“Oh, yeah?” said Cooper. “Then what about your trip to Paris?”
“Lucky guess,” Sherrie said. “It’s summer. People take trips in the summer. She just happened to guess right.”
“Whatever,” Cooper said. “Why don’t you run along and find something else to be paranoid about?”
“I always said the three of you were freaks,” Sherrie said. “This just proves it. That’s really classy, trying to steal people’s friends because the ones you have aren’t good enough. Well, you can change your hair and your clothes all you want to, but underneath it you’re all still losers.” She looked Annie up and down and sneered at her. “Especially you.”
She wheeled around and stormed down the hall, leaving Kate, Cooper, and Annie alone by the lockers.
“I’d give anything to have seen that fight,” Kate said.
Annie didn’t respond. She was thinking about what Sherrie had just said. Reading fortunes had made her more popular than she’d ever been. People were noticing her. And now, with her new haircut and new clothes, people really had been treating her differently. Loren and her friends said hello to her in the halls. She’d even been invited to a party that weekend. That had never happened to her before.
“She’s
just jealous,” Annie said confidently. “She’s mad because she’s not the only one getting attention anymore.”
Kate and Cooper were looking at her in amazement.
“Well, it’s true,” Annie said. “Why else would she be so upset? She just doesn’t like it that I can do something she can’t.”
“Look at you,” Cooper said. “A new haircut, a new dress, a couple of Tarot readings, and you’re ready to take over the school.”
“Maybe I will,” Annie said. “Or at least make people know who I am.”
“We’ve created a monster,” Kate said to Cooper.
“I knew we should have kept her in the lab,” Cooper replied.
“The lab!” Annie said, looking at her watch. “Come on, Kate. We’re about to be late for chem.”
They left Cooper to go to her class, and the two of them hurried to the second floor, trying to make it before the bell rang. As they turned a corner, they saw Cheryl Batty walking ahead of them, balancing her books on the cast that covered her arm.
“Need some help?” Annie asked, walking up to Cheryl.
“Uh, no thanks,” Cheryl said. Something in the tone of her voice made Annie pause.
“I’m sorry about your accident,” she said.
“Yeah, well, you warned me,” Cheryl said. “I guess I should have listened.”
“I guess so,” Annie said.
“It was weird, though,” Cheryl said. “There was no rock on the path or a tree root or anything. It was like the bike hit something invisible and just threw me.”
She looked at Annie curiously. “It was weird,” she repeated, then turned and continued on down the hallway.
“She thinks I had something to do with it,” Annie said, knowing that what she said was true.
“How could you have anything to do with her accident?” Kate asked. “You’re imagining things.”
“No, I’m not,” Annie said, shaking her head. “I saw the way she looked at me. She was afraid.”
“The thing with Sherrie just has you worked up,” Kate said. “Let’s get to class.”
