Tawny knew before she opened her eyes, he was there, standing at the end of the bed — his hands wrapped around the top rail of the brass footboard, head down, his normal position. Cold air swirled around her face and seeped through the lime green comforter.  A lump of dread settled in the pit of her stomach. 

How did he find me? 

She fluttered her lashes in order to catch a glimpse. 

He's there.  Just like every other night.  Why? 

Waiting didn't help.  She'd tried it before, but he stayed until she looked.  Slowly opening her eyes, her nose flared as she sucked in a quick breath.  The sight always shocked her, even though she'd witness it hundreds of times.  He was there, but at the same time, he wasn't.  She stared at his white knuckles clasped around the shiny brass as if it would save his life, but there was no way it could. 

                                                           The Necklace 

Sabina dropped a silver chain into Tawny's hand.  Several crystals entwined in circular cages shimmered on it.

"What's this?"

She tapped one of the silver cages.  "This necklace will help you with your ghost problem."

"How?"

"Each of these rocks has a function.  See this long, clear, pointed one?"

"Yeah."  Tawny grasped the chain and hung it in front of her.

"The crystal increases the powers of the other elements included on this necklace.  Each stone will assist you in divining what your ghost needs."

"How are rocks going to do that?"

Sabina glared at her.

"Sorry.  It's cool, I mean it's beautiful.  How did you know I would need this?"

"Before I came here, I dreamed we'd meet and saw what you would need, so I made this necklace.  There's a catch to all this though."

"What's that?"

"You have to be willing to go where it leads, no matter what."

What is she talking about?  Go where?Tawny rolled the silver chain between her fingers.  "Okay, tell me more."

Sabina pointed at the first stone on the right hand side — a see-through purple one with little bubbles and specks of white.  "This is an Amethyst, it will aide you in connecting with your spirit guides and will protect you from any kind of psychic attack."

"Psychic attack?"  Tawny clutched at her chest and the necklace dropped into her lap.  "What do you mean?"

"There are two kinds of spirits, good and bad.  You don't want to have the bad ones honing in on your ghost's time."

"Am I safe?  I mean —"  

"You'll be fine.  Your spirit guide will deter most of them."

The wind blew a strand of hair across Tawny's face.  She tucked it behind her ear.  The water tinkled in the moment of silence.

"What's a spirit guide?" Tawny retrieved the necklace from her lap then studied Sabina's blue eyes surrounded by black eyeliner. 

"Well, there are many kinds, but yours is someone special, someone who has watched over you for a very long time."   Sabina's face was pale, but she seemed to glow as she talked.  "I sense she wants to lend a hand with your ghost."

"Do I know this person?"

Sabina's eyes narrowed.  "That's part of your path of discovery.  Anyway, this stone connects you to this guide."

"Cool, I think."  Tawny played with the second silver cage.  "What's this black one?" 

"Iolite.  But it isn't really black.  Look closer."

Tawny examined the rock.  "You're right.  It's sort of bluish, no lavender, or maybe both."

"Right.  It increases your awareness of the spiritual realm and uncovers your psychic abilities."

"Why do I need psychic abilities?  I thought that's what you were for."

Sabina laughed.  "I can't do everything.  If you're going to communicate with your ghost, the more abilities you have, the better.  I can't do this for you."

Tawny leaned back against the chair as the golden clouds changed to pinks and purples.  "How did you know it was a male?"

Sabina sighed.  "I saw him standing at the foot of your bed.  You looked at him and he disappeared.  I never saw his face, but I could tell by the clothing and his build he was a boy."

"Really?  You've seen him in my room?"

"In a dream, just like my meeting you and what happened to my parents."

"Oh, I get it.  Was it hard?   I mean, seeing the thing about your parents?" 

Sabina crossed her arms, her eyes turned stormy and she turned away.  "I don't want to talk about it."

"Okay."  Tawny wished she could take back her question then figured it would be best to change the subject.  "What's this pale green stone called?"

"That's Aquamarine."  Sabina faced Tawny and her eyes lit back up.

"What does it do?"

"This one brings you peace and calms your fears.  It also helps with communication."

"This is interesting stuff, but they're rocks.  How are they going to do anything?"

Sabina's eyebrows lifted.  "Don't you believe me?"

"No, it's not that . . . it's just . . . well . . . I mean, how do you know all this?"

"Everything is connected."  Sabina rested her head on the back of the chair.  The wind had no effect on her short spikes of dark hair. 

I wonder what she uses to make her hair so stiff.

Sabina continued.  "The earth and everything it's made of comes from our Father."

"Our Father?  What do you mean?"

"Oh, come on, Tawny.  You've gone to church.  You know what I'm talking about.  God: the being that created us all?"

"Oh, yeah.  I've never heard him referred to as Father before."

Sabina sat up and shook her head.  "Of course he's our father.  He created all this and put us down here to live as mortals.  We each have a mission and a path to follow.  Part of yours is to help this spirit.  Now, let's continue with the necklace.  This next stone is Blue Calcite."

"You mean this grayish-blue one?" Tawny asked.

"Yep."

"Okay and its purpose is what?"

"This increases your intuition; helps you choose the right way."

"I could use that."

Sabina nodded.  "Tell me about it."

"I already apologized for what I said and did."

"I know, but you chose wrong at the moment."

"At least I admitted it."

"I'll give you that.  Anyhow, then you have your crystal Quartz, which increases the stones' powers.  This next lighter blue-gray one is called Celestite."

"That's a cool name. And it's purpose."

"To aide in contacting your spirit.  It will allow you to listen better to what he's trying to say."

"Great," Tawny mumbled under her breath.

Sabina shot her a warning glance.

"Sorry, I just want to be rid of him, not understand him.  But I'll do whatever it takes."

"Good, glad to hear it.  The next is Blue Aragonite."

Tawny stared at another light blue stone.

"This will also enhance your psychic abilities and help you have empathy for your ghost."

Empathy, why would I want empathy?  She shot a glance Sabina's direction, but didn't ask.  Studying the next silver cage, she asked, "Okay.   What's this white one with the black lines?"

"That's called Howlite; it will strengthen your spiritual connections.  And the golden colored one is Citrine.  This will help you solve the problem, and give you courage and self-confidence."

"Awesome, that's some necklace."

"Here, let me put it on you."

Tawny surrendered the chain and its cages to Sabina, who clipped it around her neck.  The two of them sat back and watched the last of the light fade from the sky.

"Now what?" Tawny asked.

"Now what, what?"

"You said I needed to do something."

Sabina laughed.  "Yeah, you need to wear the necklace all the time, even to bed."