Read The Queen of Sinister for Free Online

the risk of souring our friendship, then, let me tell you that my family always believed they were gifted with what they called the sight ... second sight.'
'Oh, they could see the future.' Caitlin smiled superciliously. 'Did they win the lottery?'
'Not just the future, missy. Ooh, you really are asking for a clip round the ear.' She poured herself another drink. 'They ... believed ... they could see things happening at a distance, too, and the past ... Anyway—'
'And you've got it.' Caitlin laughed. 'Do you want to read my palm, too?'
There was silence for a few seconds, and when Caitlin looked up Mary was deathly serious. 'I can do a lot of things you'd be surprised about.'
'Go on, then.' Caitlin shrugged. 'I could do with some entertainment.'
Mary shook her head, thought for a moment, and then recanted. She disappeared towards the kitchen and returned with a large glass bowl half-filled with water that shimmered in the firelight. Despite herself, Caitlin was growing intrigued.
'Have you heard of scrying?' Mary asked.
'What's that? A new sport?' Caitlin poured herself another drink, enjoying the fuzzy edge of detachment that the Jack Daniel's gave her.'It's a trick to contact the subconscious. You stare into a bright, mirrored surface - in this case, water - and try to reach a trance state. And then spout whatever rubbish comes to mind.'
'How will I tell when you're under?' Caitlin teased.
Mary waved her silent with mock-weariness, then placed the bowl on a coffee table in front of the fire. 'I use it sometimes to try to ... understand what's going on with this world.' Caitlin was puzzled to see a shadow cross Mary's face. 'We might find something that would comfort you.' She winced. 'That's probably not the right word ... something that might give you a bit of perspective, perhaps.'
'You're serious?'
'No talking now.' Mary gave a smile, but there was a weight behind it that made Caitlin obey instantly.
Silence descended on the room beyond the crackling of the fire; even the gale at the window seemed to abate. Mary leaned over the bowl and stared into the depths of the water. Caitlin watched her for a while until her attention drifted to the fire and then to the patterns made by the occasional raindrops trickling down the panes. She thought of Liam, snuggled up in his bed, and then of Grant. The lucidity surprised her; she saw past the last few years and was overcome with a surprising rush of warm memories, all the reasons why she had fallen in love, the gentleness, the humour, the way she always felt secure around him. It left her with a deep regret that she had run out in such a temper. She'd make it up to him when she got back; perhaps they'd even have sex. If he was asleep, she could wake him ...
'I see something.' Mary's voice was dreamy. Her eyes flickered in the depths of a trance. 'I see ...' Her words floated languidly.
Caitlin leaned in closer, curious to hear what she had to say.
I see ...
At first Caitlin wondered if Mary was playing a joke to distract her; it was the kind of thing she would do. But there was a strange cast to her face, muscles held in an unnatural position, that suggested it was real.
'I see a dragon,' Mary said dreamily. 'Lying in the land. It stirs ... a trail ... blue ... so blue.'
Her words brought a tingle to Caitlin's skin. Though she couldn't explain why, she felt a strange connection.
'It's rising ... on powerful wings ... above the land now ... changing ... changing ... becoming ... Caitlin
Caitlin shivered. Instinctively, she was sure there was some meaning hidden in it.
'And now changing again ... Caitlin becoming the dragon once more ... and flying ... flying over the land..
A spasm crossed Mary's face. After the stillness it was like a bolt, jerking Caitlin out of her intense concentration.
Mary's voice dropped to the barest whisper. 'Something is watching ... in the night sky ... like a hole in everything ... so deep ... it goes on for ever ... it's sending out ... things ... to