Initially, there was no reaction from the crystal ball. Perhaps a slight change in colour of the smoke from grey to a shade of blue, but it continued to languidly curl and fold in on itself. This didn’t seem to perturb Estrella too much, though her toothy grin had now been replaced by a look of furrowed concentration.

  “It has been many years since I last did a reading, the tool needs time to remember her master.” She swept her hands across the surface of the crystal ball, sometimes bringing it to within an inch of the glass, other times keeping it a finger width or so away.

  The change came quickly; the smoke became white and opaque, rushing outwards, as if desperate to get away from something chasing it within. Ever’s gaze flicked towards Estrella, who had a crooked smile of satisfaction on her face.

  “Watch.”

  The smoke slowly dissipated. The curvature of the ball distorted the view somewhat, but the vantage point he was looking through looked like he was floating from the corner of a room. His heart skipped a beat as Zoe materialized. Sitting directly opposite her across a neat desk was a man in a white coat.

  “Are you able to get closer?” Ever asked, leaning in. “Or change the angle?”

  Estrella didn’t say anything. The smile on her face had been short lived as the intense focus came back.

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  Inches away from the crystal ball, Ever focused on the little, moving image of Zoe. She sat up right, hands folded in her lap. Her face was passive, giving nothing away.

  “Before you ask, I can’t hear what they’re saying.” Estrella murmured. She stroked her hands right to left over the crystal ball, as if stroking a cat. “The man talking looks to be some sort of doctor.”

  The Zoe contained in the crystal ball dropped her head. He could make out her hands clasping each other tightly. She suddenly stood up, snatched a stationery holder off the doctor’s desk and pitched it at the wall, sending pens scattering everywhere.

  “Zoe…” Ever murmured, frowning. “She never gets that angry.”

  The man came across, tentatively shuffling into view. Just as he lay a hand on her shoulder, the white smoke returned, billowing across the inside of the orb until nothing was visible.

  Both Ever and Estrella sat back at the same time. The ghost was puckering her mouth in thought. “The visions I show are usually much longer than that. It almost felt like…” she hesitated not quite believing what she was about to say. “It almost felt like something was blocking me from showing you more.”

  Ever stood. As much as he was disappointed with the information he had gleaned, now wasn’t the time to dwell: a soul he reaped was crossing over.

  “Thank you, Estrella.”

  “Best of luck to you! Don’t forget that you are a very special human!” She bowed, dread locks swaying as she faded away, leaving only cockroaches in the musty, old flat as company for him.