Lucian's Mark

Chapter Four

            Luckily Beth had showed me a local department store yesterday, so I knew where to go. It was in an outlet so I made a mental note to check out the neighboring shops if I had a chance. Once inside, I found a proper toned concealer and threw it in the cart. As I walked the aisles, I decided I would see if the place was hiring because I needed a job. After filling up my cart and reaching the register, I asked for an application. The boy who cashed me out, a young kid named 'Capone', happily obliged, handing me an application with my receipt.

            I was in the process of putting the grocery bags in the trunk when a particular corner shop caught my eye. It was almost hidden, small and in the far back. It had mirrors reflecting in all its windows, prohibiting any passerby from looking inside. The windows themselves were lined with thick colorful drapes with unfamiliar designs. There was a large black dream catcher on its deep red door and a small wooden sign above that read 'Vintage Secrets'.  A stark contrast from the plain stores neighboring it, it resembled something out of a book and immediately gnawed at my curiosity.

            I racked my brain, trying to remember if Beth had mentioned anything about the unique shop, but couldn't remember if she did.

            "Ok," I decided, closing the car trunk, "Just this store."

            I walked up to the door and cautiously opened it, causing many tiny bells to jingle and alert someone of my presence. The place smelt of strong incense and thick smoke causing me to cough.

"Come inside," Came a thickly accented voice from within. It had come from a lady in the corner, smoking a tall black hookah pipe.

 "Hello," I said thickly, trying to breathe as little air in as possible, "I just wanted to look around."

The lady remained silent. She was staring at me, something in her expression intense. Was she not used to customers? I walked over to a nearby glass display which was filled with very old looking jewelry. My eyes widened at the contents; there were necklaces with thick medallions with unfamiliar designs, rings adorned with intricately detailed snakes, and many earrings consisting of varying sharp horns.

"Nice jewelry," I remarked to be polite.

When I turned around she was right behind me. I winced at the sudden closeness. The woman had to be no younger than fifty, her face adorned with wrinkles and heavy makeup. Her lids were thick with kohl, framing her eyes which were a sight themselves; the right eye being a bright blue and the left a deep green. She was draped with scarves and jewelry, resembling her storefront exactly.

 I felt my heartbeat begin to accelerate.

"Commmme, I vill vead yourrr palm."

"Um—," I scanned the room; eyeing a pink scarf within arm's reach and grabbing it, "Actually, I was really just wanting to get a scarf."

She shook her head, "Come."

Feeling trapped, which is never a good feeling I reminded myself, I obliged. I had no other choice.

Still clutching the pink scarf I nodded, following her back to the corner with the hookah pipe, a small coffee table, and two seats. She took a seat, her eyes still focused on me. The seats were facing each other, so I took the opposite one.

"Vwat eeez yourrr name child?"

I cleared my throat, "L-l-lilly Stone."

She nodded, more to herself than to me, "AndonisaKaymari. That eeez my name Lilly Stone."

I nodded as she got up to light an incense. The scent reached me almost instantly, a mixture of smoky rose and vanilla. I inhaled deeply, it wasn't that bad, and it strangely left me less nervous.

She sat back down, "Open yourrr palm."

I held my right hand out slowly, uncurling my fingers to display my now sweaty palm. She grabbed it with both of hers and I felt the cold metal of many rings. I prevented myself from retracting, curiosity beginning to seep into the cluster of emotions this place was evoking in me.

She smoothed an index finger over my palm, rubbing out the fine lines. I watched as she inspected, her eyes scanning the flesh carefully. Then I heard her gasp.

She let go of my hand immediately, her eyes widening.

"Oh—," she looked into my eyes, her expression frightened almost.

            I felt a tingle go down my spine, something was wrong. "W-what, w-what is it?" my voice sounded far and detached.

            "Eet eez vorse then I thought. My deeear, you varr eeen serious danger."

            Danger? Was she joking? I tried to find a hint of laughter in her face, as if this was one big joke Black Forest was playing on me, like an induction of some sort. I went so far as to imagine Beth's blonde head of curls popping out with a "Gotcha!"

            But nothing of the sort happened. Instead Andonisa Kaymari got up slowly, whispering unrecognizable words under her breath. I watched her walk over to a shelf in the back, where a bust of a woman's head sat. She removed something from it and turned around.

            "Thiss vill help," I heard her say aloud.

She was still muttering the cryptic sayings when she reached me. I was immediately mesmerized by her hands. For draped delicately around her aged spiderlike fingers was a long chain. Hanging from the chain was an emerald diamond etched with odd markings and symbols—markings that looked strangely familiar... like I had seen them before...but I couldn't recollect from where. And in the center of the emerald was a very small glass circle which contents held something that looked very, very similar to blood.

I was in absolute awe by the jewelry's beauty. It looked very old, very delicate, and very expensive.

She came towards me, "Lilly Stone, keep theeesss on yourrr neck alvays."

I began to shake my head, making my hair fly around me. "I can't accept this; I don't have enough money for something like this."

            She ignored my protest, putting the necklace over my head anyways. "Thiss amulet vill prrrotect you, take eeet Lilly Stone. I see thee good eeen yourrr eyes and soul. Take theeesss vithout payment. You vill need eet."

            I looked down at my chest, where the 'amulet' reached my bust.

            "Protect me from what?"

            Her mismatched eyes glared into mine and I felt another tingle in travel down my spine.

            "Evreeetheeng."