Chapter 1: The Stranger.

A stranger sat at her table, claiming to be her soulmate. She got up and started walking away. He was cute but no man ever said things like that to her. She was considered a weirdo in this town. She reached the door when he called out to her. 

“Ember, look at your cards. You will know I speak the truth we are meant to be and nothing can keep us apart.” He claimed.

Ember went home deciding not to go back to her shop. She didn’t know why she had even opened the shop in this small town with close minded people. Ever since her brother died she decided to stop hiding who she was and embrace her talents, but no one here would give her the time of day and she was three months behind in rent. 

She sighed and thought again of just packing up and leaving. Without her brother nothing was keeping her here. She sat down on her couch and started shuffling her tarot deck.

That man told her to look to the cards for answers. His eyes had been so earnest and to be honest he wasn’t unattractive. Still he was a complete stranger which was an anomaly in this town. She stilled her hands, felt the deck and drew two cards while thinking of the man. She pulled two of cups, and 8 of pentacles. 

Interesting looking at the cards she had an overwhelming sense of love, commitment, and new opportunities. This was a strange development, she knew no matter what the cards said even if she listened to this man and gave him a chance their relationship wouldn’t always be easy but it might just be what she needed. 

She looked at herself in the mirror then headed back to the bar to see if the stranger was still there. She didn’t know what was going to happen no matter what the cards told her but for the first time in a long time she felt something like hope. 

The man was gone when she got to the table but there was a note written on a napkin that hadn’t been cleaned up yet. 

“When you are ready, go to the lake. I will find you there my spark.” Signed D. 

Ember went home and changed into a nice dress and shoes that would be able to walk around the lake in. She didn’t apply makeup; she never saw a need for it. People called her plain but she just shrugged and said she preferred herself the way she was born, she did put on a necklace though and then she headed to the lake. 

The sun was starting to set when she got to the lake and she wondered how the man would know she was there, but she sat down on the grass and waited. 

While she was waiting she watched the ducks chattering and playing in the water. She smiled thinking of what it must be like to be that free, she felt someone sit next to her then she heard his voice. 

“They are free but they have to worry about predators and sickness just like everyone else. They don’t have to have jobs but they have to be constantly vigilant to stay safe my Spark.” His deep voice rumbled. 

She wondered how he had known what she was thinking and just who he was. 

“I can teach you more about the world and magic if you want. I can also tell you visions I have seen of our future if you want to pursue it.” He says. 

“I don’t even know your name, stranger.” Ember responds. 

“My name is Dominic.” He replies.