Author's note: As promised here is chapter 20 ! In this chapter Celia uses her powers and we get an answer to the question we have been ourselves since the coronation ball...

This chapter was harder to write because there are a lot of dialogues, but I hope you like it anyways !

Enjoy !

Chapter 20 - Tarot reading

When Celia woke up that day, she knew it was time for her to take advantage from her daddy's lessons and make her ancestors proud. It was only five in the morning when her eyes opened but she got out of bed right away. She opened the curtains. Outside, everything was still dark. The sun would not rise before six.

"Good" she whispered

Her powers were stronger during the night, and she needed of all her strength for what she was about to do. Behind her, Dizzie turned around in her bed and mumbled with a sleepy voice:

"What are you doing ? We still have time before classes start."

Celia gave her a mysterious smile.

"Go wake up everyone" she said "And tell them to call King Ben. It's time for a reading."

Dizzie's eyes opened wide before a big smile fell on her lips. For some reason, Dizzie was obsessed with her best friend's abilities. In her eyes, communicating with spirits was super cool and she always liked to see Celia read cards. She got out of bed too and sprinted out of their little room - still in pyjamas.

Fifteen minutes later, with different levels of enthusiasm, everyone was gathered in the girls' room. Even Harry and Gil were here, after Celia had longly insisted on their presence. So, all the VKs - and Ben - were sitting in a circle, around Celia, waiting for something to happen.

"What's going on ?" mumbled Jay - clearly not a morning people and grumpy to had been woken up so early

Celia gave him an annoyed look but still answered his question.

"I usually don't this, okay? I almost never do this. But I thought that today, it would be useful to reads the cards."

"Like… read the future ?" asked Gil

Celia nodded and Dizzie squealed. Now, the others were exchanging looks, even more puzzled.

"Listen" said the black girl. "I don't care if you guys believe in divination or not. But you need to understand that this is something serious. Everything has a price. If I read the cards, I am indebted towards them. If I ask the cards a question regarding your future, you also are indebted to them. This is why, I only use this when we don't have any other choice."

"Hold on" interrupted Carlos. "Aren't you running a business of tarot readings? I heard that you tell the fortune of anybody who asks you, for 30 box."

Celia smiled, mischievously.

"I do" she admitted "But usually, I just tell people what they want to hear and take the money."

And they all laughed, impressed by the little girl's cleverness.

"Okay, but why do a reading now ?" asked Ben

Celia shrugged.

"I can't explain it" she said "Sometimes I just know that I have to do one."

No one had anything to answer to that, so they all nodded silently. A short silence fell on the little group. Celia placed three candles in front her, lit them up, and started shuffling the cards. They were all observing her movements, but Carlos still had questions.

"How does it work ?" he asked "Are you going to have a vision of something ? How can you know the future only by looking at playing cards ?"

Celia laughed.

"The cards don't exactly tell the future. Humans don't have the rights to know their fate. So, they give us "hints"."

Harry sighed loudly - clearly losing his patience.

"Enough with the riddles already !" he hissed "If that's what you woke me up for, let's get it over with already."

Celia repressed a snicker.

"Looks like someone already knows what they want to ask the cards."

Harry was staring at the girl with mistrust in his eyes, and she answered with a mysterious smile. The pirate looked away, an uneasy feeling in the chest. He had already crossed the path of Dr. Facilier in his life, and voodoo had always made him uncomfortable. Even the biggest and strongest gang was no match against spirits and shadows. The pirates had always been careful to not step on Dr. Facilier's territory, and he was the only business on the Isle of the Lost allowed to not pay taxes to the gang. Harry knew better than to doubt the powers of Dr. Facilier's daughter. In fact, Celia might have been the only person in Auradon he genuiely was scared of. That been said, if her cards could answer his questions, he would pay any price without hesitating.

And just like she had read his thoughts, Celia said:

"Sure, we'll start with you. The cards probably know where she is. Pick one."

Evie was about to ask who was that "she" Harry was looking for, but Dizzie put a her finger on her lips. To work her magic, Celia needed silence and focus. The girl spread her pack of cards in front of Harry, face down and told him to pick one with a gesture of the chin. But as he was reaching out towards the tarot cards, she stopped him with a hand.

"Not with the hook" she hissed.

Harry frowned.

"It's my lucky charm."

It was also a symbol of his link to Uma. But the girl shook her head and gave him a dirty look.

"Trust me" she said. "Doing voodoo with the hand of a dead man is not a good idea."

Harry gulped, and put down his hook without further arguing. Carefully, he touched a card with the tip of his finger, and Celia turned it around to stare at its image. Her eyes darkened, a non-existent wind flowed in her curly hair and slowly her expression changed. When she looked back at Harry, she seemed panicked.

"What ? Where is she ?"

Celia opened her lips but nothing came out. Instead, she grabbed a pen, Harry's hand and scribbled coordinates on his palm.

"You need to hurry!" she said "You're gonna need a ride, though."

This time, the pirate was completely lost. And since he was not moving, Celia added:

"Go! She needs you!"

As if those words had electrocuted him, Harry jumped on his feet, grabbed his hook and turn over to Jay.

"Can I borrow your motorcycle ?"

"Hell no !" answered the guard

But Evie hit him in the ribs. Just like the son of Jafar, she was suspicious of Harry, however - she trusted Celia's discernment. And the girl looked genuinely worried. So, Jay threw his keys to Harry and the black haired boy left the dorms almost running - typing the coordinates on Google Maps.

Celia blew off one candle.

"King Ben" she then said "You're also looking for something."

The boy nodded, but before he could pronounce Mal's name, the girl continued:

"Your kingdom has been stolen. Your dad needs cure. But I'm afraid that it's only the beginning. Pick a card."

Now, they were all paying attention and when Ben handed over a card to Celia, they all waited patiently for her analysis. With her eyes still dark and a whispery voice, she said:

"Tonight, someone will break in the museum again. Maleficent's scepter will go missing."

"Fuck !" cursed Jay

Ben buried his hand in his face, desperate.

"Please, tell me you're kidding" he begged

But already, Celia had recovered her usual face and looked as shocked as them. She addressed a sorry look the King Ben who was clearly on the edge of a nervous breakdown. And she blew off the second candle.

"The cards never lie" she answered sadly.

"Fuck" repeated Jay.

"And… we still one left to draw."

Celia marked a pause.

"Evie. You're also looking for something. Someone. Your best friend."

Evie's face lit up and she answered in a rush.

"Can your cards tell us where Mal is ?"

"I hope so."

She breathed in deeply and Evie turned over one card. They all bended over to observe the drawing, and gasped in horror. The image was, with no doubts the representation of a gravestone. Evie let out a weak cry. Mal was dead ? Already, their hearts were aching. Except… when they looked closely it appeared that the image was not the representation of a gravestone - but of a gate. Celia's face darkened and her jaw dropped. The gate to the spirit world.

Losing all of his patience Ben jumped back on his feet.

"What does it mean ? Where is Mal ? Is she okay ?"

Celia shivered.

"It means…" she whispered. "That I will have to go get her. Wherever she is."