Chiastolite

- strength, problem-solving, insight -

Nephele sleeps terribly throughout the night, twisting and turning as her dreams berate her with misshapen images and faint songs. she wakes up at 3am from a dream about a forest. the trees the forest extended so high into the sky that their trunks were consumed by the clouds before one could catch a glimpse of the top. she feels uneasy and decides to get up to grab a glass of water before descending back into her fitful sleep, but the sink yields no liquid as she turns the knob. crawling back into bed she stares at her bedroom ceiling considering a piece of peeling paint as her eyes become heavy once again.

----

it is noon.

Nephele awakes, her throat incredibly dry. when she tries the faucet this time she is disappointed that what she hoped had been a dream was, in fact, reality. she opens the fridge and grabs a juice box, the last one. she takes one sip and decides to ration it for the remainder of the day as she has run out of money for the week.

with nothing to do and a steady feeling of discomfort Nephele dresses warmly and grabs an old book, “the meaning of Stones, stars, and spells.” she makes her way to her safe place, St. Cecelia’s cathedral and sits on the still wet grass. she reads.

----

it is 3pm.

Nephele is deep into her book, again finding herself on a page on Lapis Lazuli, when she hears her.

“interesting title.” a voice says. Nephele jumps, startled.

“I find it extremely informative. I don't believe in witchcraft. I like collecting stones...they've got a certain draw you know?" she responds shyly, unsure of herself. the girl is wearing a Turquoise necklace and Nephele gives her a small smile as she recalls that the gemstone is widely considered the cousin of Lapis Lazuli. "you know...it's all about the energy."

the girls talk briefly, exchanging names; her name is colette.

“it’s funny, i was just reading about Lapis Lazuli when you came up.” Nephele says, segueing out of the small talk.

“oh, really? isn’t that one associated with truth?”

“yeah… and friendship and wisdom and awareness.” Nephele smiles again, the feeling is somewhat unfamiliar.

----

it is 9pm and Nephele writes.

I made a friend and she understands.

Dalmatian Jasper

- alleviated negativity, nightmares / / new patience -

Nephele is an early riser, but today she sleeps later than usual. she might have even slept longer if she hadn't been woken up by a sharp knock on her door.

her eyes are still heavy with sleep as she rolls out of bed, literally, on to the floor with a quiet thud. sitting up and then standing up she pats her brown hair down and smoothes her t-shirt before she goes to the door.

she looks through the peephole she sees a short, balding man with a 5 o'clock shadow and a slight scowl.

another knock.

"yes?"

"are you available, for an interview?" the stout man drawls the ends of his phrases.

Nephele backs away from the door in both confusion and fear, people don't knock on her door, they know not to. several years ago a UPS man had come up to her door to deliver a package and, long story short, the day ended with an ambulance, a broken table, and a small order of breadsticks.

"uh, sorry. no."

"ma'am, it will only take about 10 minutes, maybe even less. i'd be very appreciative."

Nephele's heart races and her hands shake, but she reaches for the door and soon looks down upon the pushy little man. she had to try.

she motions towards the lumpy couch against the wall, inviting the man inside.

"thank you ma'am" he nods and waddles inside, "now, what is your name? and how did you get here?"

"my names nephele, pronounced neff-eh-lee, neil and i live here with my aunt. well, kind of. she's rarely here. she just pays the rent really..." nephele trails, wishing she hadn't invited the man inside as she grew more and more uncomfortable.

"tell me about that name." the man replies, furiously scribbling on his notepad.

"Nepehele, the goddess of hospitality and the mother of centaurs. she was a cloud that zeus created to look like Hera in order to test ixion in containing his lust for Hera. he failed and fathered the centaurs. she is a forgotten one and not so individual in the eyes of many, as she was created in the image of Hera." Nephele picks at the skin on her fingers, gritting her teeth, "i'm sorry but i don't think i have it in me to continue this interview."

before the man knows better he is being ushered out of the door and soon stands in the hall, dumfounded by his interaction with such a strange girl.

----

again Nephele sits down to write.

my name suits me in more ways than one. i am forgotten. i am fragile like the clouds that occupy my name. nephele. nephele. nephele. even my last name argues my lack of permanence.

Nephele stops and rips out the page, tossing it in the trash. she sits down to read. set in stone lies open in her lap to a page on Chiastolite. it reads "Chiastolite can be helpful during a state of change, assisting one to traverse disquieting situations and to gain a foothold in the new. It can also be used for problem solving and to provide insight to answers to mysterious occurrences."

Prehnite

- remembered dreams, meditation, prophecy -

"did you see the clouds today?"

"no, i missed them i suppose"

Nephele lays in the grey twilight, soon to be drenched in darkness, talking to no one.

...or perhaps there is someone, but they can not be seen.

-----

fumbling for her keys, Nephele drops her stack of books. she has been reading on the lawn of St. Cecilia's cathedral. it is the only place she feels safe from the almost eerie atmosphere of the city. often, it feels as though she is being watched. by someone. by something.

entering her modest apartment, she sighs, letting the door hang open as she tosses book after book onto the floor of her living room.

a collection of poems by anonymous authors

another on the meanings of stones

and one discussing Newton's laws and their deeper implications

Nephele is an avid collector of stones and gems. she figures that something from the earth must have a natural aspect of power.

"it's all about the energy." she says into her 1986 tape recorder, "the law of conservation of energy. it states that the total energy of an isolated system must remain constant. is that not applicable to our planetary ecosystem? the energy we possess must go somewhere. why not a stone?"

------

later that night Nephele lays in bed awake. unable to shut her thoughts out.  

she decides to write as she often does in times like these. the lights do not come on when she flicks the switch so she lights a candle instead.

i can't. i can't. i can't. i can't shake the feeling that something big is coming. that something will be revealed to me sooner than later. something that will change everything.

shit. i forgot to pay the rent again.