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were on a mission to collect as many of these precious and rare paintings as we could find. Unfortunately, most of the time we ended up with a replica of the original.”
    There was a peacefulness about Mrs. Ashton that I always admired. Hearing her talk about enchanted paintings with such calm authority made me admire her even more.
    She excitedly showed me her paintings hanging around her living room. She said she cherished each of them as if they were her own children. She casually mentioned that she still time traveled every once in a while, but not nearly as often as she once did.
    “You’ve been accepted into a very special and sacred circle, Lexi. You need to guard this secret and not share it with anyone.” She was almost whispering.
    Oops! Too late. This is all I needed—to beckon the wrath of a haunted painting.
    “The girls know,” I said.
    She must have known I didn’t keep secrets from my two best friends. Besides, I was going out of my damn mind, I had to tell someone.
    Mrs. Ashton just looked at me, giving away nothing.
    Besides, how was I to know I was the keeper of a universal secret? Had she told me about the painting before this, I would have handled things differently. I didn’t want to point fingers at anyone, but if I had to—it was Mrs. Ashton’s fault…completely.
    “Lexi, I know you’re thinking I should have told you about the painting, but I couldn’t. Each one has to choose its keeper, but also choose its traveler. Telling you would have been fruitless if the painting decided against coming alive for you.”
    My silence confirmed my understanding and she nodded in acknowledgement.
    “Okay, so now what? I know the girls won’t tell anyone. They’re helping me with research so I can go back undetected.” I hoped she’d volunteer her help as well. “Do you think I was selected because I’m fluent in Latin? Would the painting have picked me if I was fluent in French or German?”
    Mrs. Ashton’s response was exactly as I expected—the painting chose me because of my spirit and nothing to do with my Latin expertise. Naturally, I wondered whether my initial attraction to the Latin language was somehow orchestrated by the Universe in anticipation of this day. Nah! I couldn’t think like that because that would mean that I had no control over my own decisions or destiny.
    Since she was a pro at time traveling, I felt confident she would come up with key information. I hugged her good-bye and headed back to my apartment feeling renewed and in a better state of mind.
    I couldn’t stop thinking about our conversation. Every chore I intended to do before bed was forgotten as I sat on the couch in bewilderment. I drank a large glass of wine and went straight to bed.
    Having a secret project was exhilarating and the week flew by. I found myself bombarded with random real-time events related to Pompeii, like a charity event with Pompeii as the theme with some of the proceeds going to the local museum in Pompeii. They even wanted a mini replica of Vesuvius! The higher powers of the universe were hitting me over the head with continuous signs of my destined adventure. “I hear you, I hear you,” I hissed.
    When preliminary artwork for the charity event popped on my desk by accident instead of the creative director’s desk, I threw my hands up in surrender. “Okay, I got it. Thanks for the messages,” I yelled at no one. My co-workers must’ve thought I was nuts, but I didn’t care.
    Friday night, I arrived at Crazy Fish Sushi a little early to grab us a table instead of a seat at the bar. The place gets packed quickly; the bar was usually our only option. Most places wouldn’t even seat anyone ‘till everyone in their party had arrived, but being a regular at this heavenly hole in the wall guaranteed some perks.
    Charlotte and Kate arrived within minutes of each other. There was a slim possibility I was reading them wrong, but they seemed as giddy as me. We ordered wine and sushi,