Chapter 18: Sienna’s Struggle with Her Powers
Sienna tossed and turned in bed, flashes of visions darting through her mind. Frustrated, she finally sat up, pulling her knees to her chest and burying her head. She’d been having visions since the school fair, each one more intense than the last, but lately, they felt almost… consuming. Every time she closed her eyes, she saw fragments of events, people in danger, and shadowy scenes she couldn’t quite make out.
That morning, she couldn’t take it anymore. She grabbed her phone and texted Madame Zephyra, who quickly agreed to meet her.
---
Sienna arrived at Madame Zephyra’s small, eccentric shop on the edge of town. The bell above the door jingled, and the room was filled with the familiar smell of sage and incense. Madame Zephyra was waiting, dressed in her usual vibrant, flowing robes, her eyes wise and calm.
“Ah, Sienna,” she greeted warmly, gesturing for her to sit.
“I had a feeling you’d be coming today.”
Sienna took a seat across from her, running a hand through her hair. “Madame Zephyra, I’m… I’m struggling. These visions… they’re becoming too much. I feel like they’re controlling me instead of the other way around.”
The older woman nodded, listening carefully.
“It is not uncommon for a newly awakened seer to feel overwhelmed by the power of her gift. You are peering into realms that are not yet fully under your control.”
Sienna took a shaky breath. “I don’t even know how to control them. Sometimes, they just come out of nowhere, and I can’t stop them. It’s like… I’m drowning in other people’s lives.”
Madame Zephyra smiled gently. “That is the nature of visions. They are not bound by time or will, and they reveal themselves to those who have the strength to see them. But there is a way to channel them so they become part of you, rather than something that happens to you.”
Sienna’s eyes lit up. “Really? How? I’ll do anything.”
Madame Zephyra raised a finger, leaning forward. “First, you must learn to let go of fear. Fear clouds your mind and obscures your intuition. It is your intuition that will guide you, allowing you to see what is necessary without overwhelming yourself.”
Sienna frowned. “But it’s hard not to be scared. Some of the things I see are… they’re horrible. People getting hurt, in danger—sometimes I don’t even know who they are or how to help them.”
“That is natural,” Madame Zephyra replied. “But the fear you feel—can you trace its source? What exactly are you afraid of?”
Sienna thought for a moment. “I guess… I’m afraid of seeing something I can’t stop, of watching people I care about get hurt and not being able to do anything. It’s like I’m constantly bracing myself for the worst.”
Madame Zephyra’s eyes softened. “I understand. Visions are indeed powerful, but they are also gifts, Sienna. They come to you for a reason. But if you fear them, they may respond by becoming harsher, more urgent, as if trying to break through your resistance.”
Sienna stared at her, unsure. “So… you’re saying the more afraid I am, the worse it gets?”
“Precisely,” Madame Zephyra replied. “Think of your gift as a river. When you resist it, the waters become turbulent. But if you learn to flow with it, it can be calm and gentle.”
Sienna nodded slowly, though she still felt uncertain. “But what if I see something that’s too much for me to handle?”
Madame Zephyra reached across the table, taking Sienna’s hands in her own. “Trust your instincts, Sienna. You have a strong intuition; it has already helped you more than you realize. Trust it to guide you. If a vision feels too intense, remember that it is showing you what you need to see, not more and not less.”
Sienna closed her eyes, letting Madame Zephyra’s words sink in. She took a deep breath, allowing herself to relax a little. “Okay… I’ll try. But how do I start?”
Madame Zephyra released her hands and leaned back, gesturing toward a small bowl of crystals on the table. “Take a crystal, whichever one calls to you.”
Sienna scanned the bowl, her fingers grazing over the stones until one seemed to “buzz” under her touch—a smooth, deep-blue crystal. She picked it up and looked to Madame Zephyra.
“That is lapis lazuli,” Madame Zephyra explained. “It’s a stone of inner wisdom and insight. Hold it when you feel a vision coming on. Focus on its energy, let it ground you. It will help guide you through the vision without letting it overwhelm you.”
Sienna nodded, holding the crystal in her hand. “Thank you, Madame Zephyra.”
The older woman gave her an encouraging smile. “Remember, Sienna, you are in control. The visions are here to help you, not harm you. And the more you accept them, the more they will become an ally.”
---
The next day, Sienna was still carrying the lapis lazuli in her pocket as she went to school. The memory of her conversation with Madame Zephyra replayed in her mind, her words about not fearing the visions echoing as she walked through the crowded hallways.
Just then, she felt a strange sensation—a tingling along her fingertips. She froze, her heart pounding as she reached into her pocket and clutched the crystal.
A familiar image flashed before her eyes: a child, maybe six or seven, standing near the edge of a busy road. The child’s ball rolled out into the street, and he started to chase after it, unaware of an oncoming car speeding toward him.
Sienna’s grip tightened around the crystal, forcing herself to breathe, to let the vision flow. She focused on the details: the crosswalk near the school, the little boy in a red jacket, the car’s license plate half-hidden by dust.
The vision faded, and Sienna opened her eyes, realizing she was standing at the entrance to the school. Without wasting a second, she rushed outside toward the main road. Just as she reached the sidewalk, she saw the boy from her vision, the red jacket unmistakable. He was laughing, holding a small rubber ball in his hands.
Sienna’s heart raced as she ran up to him. “Hey there, kiddo! That’s a cool ball you have.”
The boy grinned, nodding. “Thanks!”
Sienna crouched down, her tone warm but firm. “You know, you have to be super careful around the road, okay? It’s best to play somewhere safer. Wouldn’t want to lose that awesome ball, would you?”
The boy’s eyes widened, and he nodded slowly. “Okay…”
Just then, his mother appeared, looking relieved. “Oh, thank goodness! I thought he was running off.” She thanked Sienna and gently took the boy’s hand, guiding him toward the school.
Sienna watched them go, feeling a wave of relief wash over her. The vision had come true, but this time, she had intervened.
---
That afternoon, she met Garner at the café, feeling a sense of calm she hadn’t felt in weeks.
“Hey, you look… lighter,” Garner noted, grinning as he took a sip of his drink. “Did something happen?”
Sienna smiled, holding up the crystal. “Kind of. I’ve been working with Madame Zephyra to understand my visions. And today… I actually used one to help someone.”
Garner’s eyes widened. “Really? That’s amazing, Sienna. I mean, I know it’s a lot, but… you’re really doing good with this.”
She nodded, her smile growing.
“Yeah, I guess I am. It’s still scary, but I’m learning. Madame Zephyra said I should trust my intuition. And… it feels good. It feels like I’m finally in control.”
Garner reached across the table, taking her hand.
“I knew you could do it. You’re stronger than you think, Sienna.”
Blushing, she gave his hand a grateful squeeze.
“Thanks, Garner. I don’t think I could’ve done it without you either.”
They sat there, hand in hand, their connection stronger than ever. Sienna knew she still had a lot to learn, but for the first time, she felt ready to face her gift and whatever challenges lay ahead.