Dark Before Dawn by Stacy Juba Page A

you." She pulled out two pairs of shiny star earrings set in sterling silver, exactly like Candace's. The blue gems glittered, winking as if they knew a deep secret.
    "I want you to wear these," Serina said, bringing one set to Jamie and the other to Dawn. "Crystal earrings worn on both sides of the head will help to balance the left and right sides of the brain, as well as open the third eye. If you all wear them at the same time, you’ll be united in strength."
    Dawn removed her own gold studs and fastened the new pair onto her lobes. The stars dangled, brushing against her cheeks. She touched one, heat radiating through her fingers.
    "These are beautiful," Jamie said. "What type of stones are they?"
    "Lapis Lazuli," Serina said. "It’s a stone of total awareness that stimulates emotional, mental and physical clarity and enhances the third eye. It’s valuable for developing self acceptance. The Afghanistan Lapis has been likened to the night sky bedecked with stars, promoting a connection between the physical plane and the celestial kingdom. I chose crystals shaped like stars as a reminder. Indigo blue is also the color associated with the sixth chakra, so a gem like lapis is particularly stimulating."
    "It’s funny you picked that," Dawn said. "Our school logo is the Blue Stars."
    "Ah, more synchronicity," Serina said with a hint of mysteriouness, and Dawn wasn’t sure whether her teacher had known about the logo or not. "Now you’ll always remember that no matter what those kids say about you, you’re special."
    She dipped back into the chest and withdrew a pair of silver necklaces with royal blue star pendants. She clasped the cold chain around Dawn's neck, and moved to Jamie. "I'm giving each of you one of these also. If you concentrate, the crystals will calm heated emotions and improve your ability to see truth from higher places."
    Candace nodded, touching her own pendant. "It works. It really does."
    "Thank you, Serina," Jamie said.
    "Yeah, thanks," Dawn echoed.
    "You’re welcome," Serina said, taking a seat at her table. "We’re going to practice psychic hearing. You’ve probably never thought of it this way, but we’re all like radio stations, broadcasting across the airwaves. How many times has someone around you been angry or depressed, and the mood has rubbed off on you? You’re picking up on their vibration. If someone’s happy, it’s contagious. We’re sending out signals all the time, and we’re all in tune to each other’s channels."
    Dawn fingered her necklace, pondering Serina’s words. It made sense. When she was younger, sometimes Dawn would overhear her mother crying in bed and sadness billowed straight into her own heart.
    "Tonight I’d like you to practice telepathy, communication across time and space," Serina went on. "Close your eyes and picture a special room with crystals in the walls and ceilings. Imagine that the room has broadcasting and receiving facilities, perfect acoustics for telepathy. Then set the dial for receiving or sending."
    She chuckled. "Consider it the most natural form of Instant Messaging."
    "I can’t wait to try it," Jamie said.
    "Your mind will be particularly receptive just before falling asleep or upon waking up," Serina said. "It might help if you set the stage first. Get into a deep meditative state and visualize yourself walking down a hallway until you reach a door with your name on it. Imagine opening it and finding a staircase. Climb up and step inside your special telepathy room."
    Dawn wished she had a notebook. She was never going to remember all that.
    "I want each of you to choose a time, then you’ll practice sending and receiving one another's thoughts while wearing the crystals," Serina continued. "Start tonight, around bedtime. We'll do this frequently, helping you to grow stronger."
    "I feel like we're in a special club," Dawn said.
    Serina gave her an approving nod. "That’s exactly how I want you to feel. Being surrounded by kindred