AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“It’s simple, though not easy. It takes practice,” Everly said kindly.
“You have experience with intuition?” I asked.
“We all have it. It’s not unique to the Miriamic Coven.”
“Mine is supposed to be quite strong, so I can receive messages from Mother Miriam,” I stated. “But I don’t think I quite get how to listen to it.”
“Intuition always speaks calmly,” Everly said. “If you feel fear behind your ideas, that’s your ego talking—the human part of your brain that’s trying to keep you safe. Intuition speaks from your spirit. It sees no threats, because it knows that your decision to follow it will lead you in the right direction.”
“So I just follow whatever feels safe?” I asked.
“No, because sometimes we’re afraid of perfectly safe things, due to our limiting beliefs. And sometimes the things inside our comfort zone are not serving us as well as we believe. If you can clear your fears, you will be able to hear your intuition more clearly.”
“That’s why the priestesses are acting the way they are,” I said thoughtfully. “They’re afraid of the Waning, and so they can’t hear their intuition that might tell them how to fix it.”
“Most likely.”
“What if your intuition is telling you to do something that is unsafe?” I wondered. “Like going up against the priestesses, even if it could get people hurt? Do I still do it, even though my fear is justified?”
“Consider then if the potential outcome is greater than the short-term danger,” Everly said. “Not everything your intuition tells you to do will be a safe, sound decision. It won’t always be easy. But even when a threat is present, your intuition knows that going through that journey will lead to greater things, and you will come out safe on the other side. Allowing yourself to explore short-term struggles may help you see that the outcome is the safer long-term option. Your intuition will always lead you to the places you are meant to be.”
I came to a stop sign and looked over at Everly. I felt so at ease in her presence, and I knew with every fiber of my being that I could trust her. I hated the thought of putting anyone else in danger, but Everly was sincerely offering her support. I couldn’t turn her down, because without her, we may not win.
“My intuition trusts you,” I told her. “I just don’t want anyone getting hurt.”
“That’s a choice I’ll make for myself,” she said. “You should be proud of what you’re doing. I understand it’s not easy to be part of a prophecy like this, but I know you have what it takes. You have something the priestesses don’t. You have a desire to learn and to do better.”
Her words struck me. It seemed natural to want to do better… but maybe it wasn’t.
“Thank you, Everly,” I said. “And welcome to The Coven’s Shield.”
I dropped Everly off at her shop, then drove to Grammy’s. I had so much information to process. Right now, I just needed a big hug from my grandma.
When I arrived, she sat in the living room, crocheting a blanket. She looked surprised to see me. Cornelius perked up when he spotted Isa at my feet.
“Nadine,” Grammy said kindly. “I’m so glad to see you! I was going to wait to show you this, but I guess the cat’s out of the bag. What do you think?”
She lifted the afghan she was working on. It was half done and beautiful, with an intricate swirl of purple and teal colors.
“It’s lovely, Grammy,” I said.
She smiled. “You inspired me with all those tie blankets you make for the nursing home. I wanted to donate one myself.”
“They’ll love it, Grammy. We… uh, need to talk.”
She looked really confused as she set her afghan aside. “Is everything all right?”
I shook my head and sank into the cushion beside her. “Not really. I just had a meeting with the priestesses. They’re talking about cutting student health insurance. I know I have a supplemental plan, but that only covers a portion. I don’t know how I’m going to pay for dialysis.”
“It’s okay,” Grammy insisted, but she sounded a bit distressed. She hurried over to a stack of bills and found my most recent medical bill. “Let’s see. It looks like your private insurance pays for half… this doesn’t seem so bad. Three treatments a week… oh, dear.”
Her features fell, and my stomach twisted. I knew what dialysis cost, and it was more than the average family made in a year. No way was Grammy making that kind of money.
She must’ve noticed the hopeless look on my face, because she sat down and wrapped me into a hug. “I’ll pay for it, Nadine. Don’t worry.”
I leaned into her hug, but it didn’t ease the pit forming in my stomach. The priestesses were messing with so many people’s lives. “Where are you getting the money? I know you don’t brew enough potions to cover everything—my tuition, my insurance, my bills. It’s too much!”
“We’ll figure it out,” she promised.
