An Unexpected Client

that's... not what that's used for....

a/n- inspired by a comic strip by Aidee See. Follow them on Instagram at afterdeathcomics.

Dana had sold to her fair share of unlikely customers. An old man asking for an enchanted laptop, a tiny fae who definitely couldn't wield the giant axe... she didn't make her living by asking questions. But this little boy - a pudgy, soft little thing with long dark lashes, and a lip that stuck out more than a selkie trying to surf a tsunami - might just be the cause for her to break that streak.

"Do you have any magical items, Miss Witch?" the boy asked, peering curiously at her wares.

A smile crept across Dana's face as she waved a scarred hand over the table. Miss Witch, huh? 

"Enchanted technology, magical potions, charmed or cursed jewelry... magic comes in many forms."

Like many customers before, the boy's eyes scanned the table briefly, drinking in his options. Piles of glittering rings with various charms winked at him enticingly; smooth, sleek tablets enchanted to change shape as the user needed sat patiently. Dozens of potions lined the trays, meticulously crafted and carefully labeled by the multitalented witch herself. Whatever the boy might need, Dana likely had it.

Her trained eyes watched him like a hawk as the boy's attention seemed to rest on one necklace in particular. It wasn't anything pretty - just a simple amulet on a leather cord - but his gaze seemed transfixed on it, as if he could sense its long history of tragedy. With a gusty sigh, Dana gathered the necklace in one gloved hand, silently cursing the Ethical Trade Association for its annoying regulations on selling cursed wares.

"Ah, be warned, little boy... the wearer of that necklace will die seven days later!" There, that should be sufficient warning to keep her from getting dragged into court. If the boy had his wits about him - which he did seem to, despite calling her Miss Witch - then his attention would be redirected towards something more... age-appropriate. Perhaps the gaming console enchanted to enable the user to avoid hackers, or the notebook that took notes with a synced audio recording. He seemed about school age, after all.

Instead, the boy ignored all other wares and perked up, staring at the necklace with intense interest. "Seven days? Are you certain?"

As certain as the Ethical Trade Association is going to give me a headache about this trade, Dana wanted to say, but she simply nodded to the boy. "The village from which I relinquished this necklace was very sure: Every time someone wore this necklace, they passed exactly seven days after initially putting it on." 

"Has it ever failed before?" The boy looked at Dana with deep sorrow in his eyes mixed with the tender beginnings of hope. "Can we... How do I know I can trust this necklace?"

By this point, Dana was rather confident about two things: Number one, this boy wasn't looking to use the necklace himself. He'd almost immediately zeroed in on the necklace, as if he were going by item description rather than personal interest. If Dana was right - and she nearly always was - he was probably running errands for a wizard. Those irritating fellows were always hiring errandsfolx far too young to fetch items far too powerful for their good.

Number two? The boy didn't care about the necklace, or his employer. He wanted to know if Dana was about to trick him. If he was safe.

How do I know I can trust you?

She opted for the honest answer.

"I suppose you can't."

The boy looked crestfallen.

Normally, Dana would have disregarded the loss of the purchase. He was a little kid, trying to buy a cursed object. She was doing him a favor... but for some reason, Dana couldn't help but feel like he truly needed this necklace. It wasn't her duty to keep him safe, anyway- well, okay, the ETA required her to warn customers of any cursed objects, and keep messengers from dying prematurely due to accidental curse transferences (an unfortunately common conundrum resulting from the fast-paced life messengers lived) - but Dana was starting to really feel responsible for this kid.

"Alright, little boy." She started wrapping the necklace in several layers of enchanting paper, hoping it'd be enough to keep the spell from activating throughout this kid's trek back home. "Keep this necklace wrapped in this enchanted paper and away from your chest to avoid premature death. The curse is stagnant until it detects a conscience passing through the cordage - also known as your head - but bad side effects can happen if you carry the necklace near your heart." 

The boy nodded seriously, grabbing the necklace in his left hand before turning to run off. "Thanks, Miss Witch!"

And with that, Dana was alone again... alone, that is, save for the inescapable urge to follow the boy and ensure his safety.

Had she been a more self-disciplined witch, she might have successfully ignored such impulses; might have stayed and gotten more sales, earned enough to finally go on a proper vacation for once. She could have spent Christmas traveling to a lovely magical land full of wholesome magic rather than trudge through the muck and trauma of tracking rare magic items and potion ingredients.

But Dana had not acquired her plethora of enchanted wares and tools by being restrained and cautious. Plus, that kid was just asking her to give the wizard a stern lecture on child labor. So, as she packed up her stand four entire hours earlier than usual, losing out on her main source of income... she felt absolutely zero remorse casting a tracking spell on the coins the boy had given her.

Honestly, what had he been thinking, purchasing such a dangerously enchanted object all by himself? 

A dozen turns, winding streets, two shops, and a couple stairs later, the tracking spell brought Dana to a small child letting himself into a small, rustic house made of brick. Dana chuckled to herself as she saw the boy hold the necklace package far away from himself.

He'd make a good apprentice. I'll have to keep an eye out for him when he comes of age.

The smallest murmuring of voices alerted Dana to the fact that she had not yet activated her Eavesdropping spell, and she quickly corrected it to figure out who this boy was working for.

"I'm sorry, Lad, there's nothing I can do. She won't make it through the night." A deep, kind voice echoed; there must not be a lot of furniture in this wizard's house.

The boy's voice was meek and small. "Can I see her now?"

The deep voice Dana attributed to the wizard answered again, full of sympathy. "Of course."

Footsteps sounded, and Dana stealthily crept towards the window on the side of the house. She watched for wards and security measures - evidence of a wizard living here - but to her surprise, there were none.

"Hi, Mama," the boy whispered, and Dana looked carefully through the window, praying no one would notice her. The little boy seemed even smaller sat upon the plain bed, under the shadow of the wizard standing watch in the doorway.

Oh, I'll have a word with that wizard, alright! Dana thought furiously. How DARE he take advantage of the little boy? What would he know of  her health?!

"I found something that might help... at least for a little while."

Dana strained her eyes to see what was happening in the dimly lit room and was able to make out the little boy draping the necklace over the sleeping woman's head, letting the amulet rest on the thin blanket covering the rest of her body.

The cursed necklace had been for the boy's mother.