The Third Time is Fate

~Chapter 1~

"I only know the first time is accidental, the second time is inevitable, and the third time is by fate."
~ Ji Cun Xi (Fated to Love You)

A small jingle startled me as I pushed open an old rustic wooden door to reveal a calm antique shop. I found that the shop was not empty as I nervously glanced around. In a near corner, a boy danced around his mother, while she admired a piece of glass professionally shaped like a tiger. My entrance alerted a larger man behind a counter who I assumed was the owner of the shop, closed a drawer with a thud and looked up at me. His eyes narrowed, peering over his long fat nose that protruded from his large face. I ignored the cold stare and turned my focus to a box that held a glistening object. I recognized the object was the same comb that Carolyn drooled over for months. The poor girl would solemnly stare at the comb every time she visited the shop with the mistress.

"Can I help you?"

The man still stared at me with his glacial stare clearly impatient and irritated of my presence. I acted as if his inhospitable aura didn't bother me and straightened.

"I would like to purchase the item in the box there," I indicated to the box holding the comb.

His eyes narrowed even further, but said nothing more and turned to the box. He delicately picked up the box and placed on the counter in front of me. My breath caught as I peered at the old silver comb resting inside the box. The silver comb held delicate little carvings with clouded blue gems embedded into the handle. The comb could definitely use a little cleaning before being handed over as a gift, but there couldn't be a better gift than this to give to Carolyn before I left. I was so captured by the beauty of the comb that I almost didn't hear the shopkeeper speak.

"Twenty-six silver pieces."

"Wait, what?"My eyes widened as I processed what he said, looking back and forth between him and the comb, "I'm sorry there must be a mistake. Such a price is unimaginable.¨

"With such a valued object naturally the price would fit," A twisted smile began to spread across his face and then repeated, "Twenty-six silver pieces. Pay the price or leave."

My hands clutched my pouch hanging by my waist. I have been saving all I have earned for over six months. Working in an inn with a witch watching your every move was not an easy way to earn anything. Whether it was from the smallest tips, nickels left in the rooms, or stealing from drunkards. It was the only way for an orphan like me to earn something. Inside I knew I barely had the equivalent of five silver pieces. I started to panic as he spoke again:

"Is there something wrong, miss?"

I looked up to see his sarcastic face with the same twisted evil smile. That's just how someone with no power like me would normally be treated. It's just how the world works, a pecking order. I straightened again standing taller and looked him in the eye and smiled.

"No, nothing is wrong. I have the coins right here."

He narrowed his eyes as he watched me unlace the pouch from my waist. Suddenly as if a miracle rained down from the sky a movement caught my attention. Out of the corner of my eye I saw the same small boy, who was with his mother just a second ago, tip over an expensive looking vase. The shopkeepers mouth slowly dropped open as the vase fell. This was the chance I needed.

Crash

In the time the vase crashed to the ground, my arms shot forward grabbing the comb. Immediately I turned and sprinted to the door as the shopkeeper was in shock.

I could hear the shopkeeper start to shout, but I ignored whatever he said. I reached for the door handle and quickly threw the door open. I didn't even notice anything behind the door until I launched myself into what felt like a stone wall. My shoulder connected first, taking most of the blow that sent searing pain throughout my arm. The world spun around me as I felt the rapid sensation of falling. I squeezed my eyes shut waiting for a harsh connection into the ground. I was puzzled when I fell into something a bit softer.

I was shocked when something beneath me grunted. Slowly I opened my eyes blinded for a moment from the bright sunlight. Once my eyes adjusted I could see what looked like a white cloud underneath me. I craned my neck and looked upward to see where I was. I froze when I met a face staring right at me and I stared right back. With the sun's bright light, his golden blonde hair, and crystal blue eyes, I could have sworn he was an angel. My breath caught as I realized that I had fallen right on this angel. During the fall my hands must have been searching for something to grab onto because I found my hands clutching the soft white fabric of his shirt.

With this realization, I immediately threw myself backwards, scurrying a safe distance away, clutching my shoulder. The crowded street suddenly fell silent as they realized what was happening. I felt a hot blush spread across my entire face as I knelt and looked down to avoid anymore eye contact. A shocked, deep voice sprang out, followed by a chorus of numerous thuds. Loaves of bread and a couple of apples were now scattered on the ground around the scene.

"Prin...." The deep frantic voice stumbled,"P...Peter are you alright?"

I glimpsed up to see a large muscular man who held an empty basket in shock. He towered over the two us, creating a massive shadow. My eyes widened and readied myself for punishment I was about to receive. Instead, the large man tossed his empty basket aside then knelt next to Peter, who I had just ran into, with a clear worried expression. Peter rose into a seated position holding his head.

"I'm fine," he said shortly. I caught his grimace as he moved his head towards the worrying man."I will just have some slight bruises."

At first I didn't notice the footsteps thundering behind me, but when I did it was too late. A hand gripped my wrist and yanked me to my feet. My head whipped back to find two town guards reaching for my arms and pinning them behind my back.

"You thief!" The shopkeeper snarled, "you'll end up in the dungeon for this!"

The comb! Where's the comb! I ignored his threat and frantically searched with my eyes around where I fell for the old rusted silver comb. Through the kicked up dirt a silver gleam poked out. Without thinking I pulled away from the guards grasp and rushed toward the comb. Before I could reach out a hand wrapped around the silver artifact. I stopped in my tracks and followed the hand to the face of Peter. He was now crouching and examining the comb.

A shout from the shopkeeper broke my trance and I dodged the large hands of the guards reaching for me. I pushed the guards out of the way and darted toward the crowded street. I paused and took a quick glance back to see the guards fallen to the ground, the shopkeeper yelling at the guards, and the large man still looking frantic. I giggled at the sight, then froze as I saw Peter staring right at me with the comb still in his hand. I could have sworn he sent a omniscient grin towards me, but I couldn't tell because he turned to whisper in the large man's ear, who stopped panicking and also looked towards my direction.

"Catch that thief!"

A shout from a guard from the other side of the street startled me, and I pushed my way into the crowd again. Before the guards could catch sight of me, I ducked into a small gap between two shops and launched myself over a wall.
After a moment of silence, I confirmed I wasn't being pursued,I fell to the ground with a sigh. I leaned back against the rough stone wall that I had just climbed over and a pang of sadness and anger hit me. I will be returning home with no gift, and I lost almost all the money I had. Many of the copper coins had fallen out of my pouch during the encounter and only seven remained. There is no way I can buy another even if I had the money. I looked upwards at the peach colored sky. The sun was getting lower, and the light would soon fade. With another great sigh, I staggered to my feet and headed home.