Playing by the Cards

Chpater 3

Chapter 3

I walked down the cold street, took a left, and TA DA! I was here, at Madam Ophelia’s shop. It sounds weird, but you’d be surprised how many people come to get love charms and their fortune read. I opened the door, and heard the little bells jingle, which they always do when someone comes in.

“Mystique, is that you?” came a voice from the back of the store.

“Yes, Madam! It’s me!” I yelled, placing my bag behind the counter and walking to the back room.

“Oh! Hello, my dear.” Ophelia said, kissing me on the cheek. She smiled one of her lovely smiles, and began to rummage through a box, on the cabinet. Her graying hair was pulled back into a loose bun, with a flowery bandana on her head. She was dressed in her favorite white shirt and red skirt, with bangles and all sorts of other jewelry. Ophelia was like a second mother to me. She was always there when I needed advice, and helped me learn my heritage.

“Am I doing any readings today?” I asked, grabbing my ‘outfit’ and the tarot cards.

“Yes, you’ll have to do about three readings today. By the way, Mrs. Bay is coming in today, again. I swear that lady makes half my profit these days.” She said, grabbing a few charms from a box. “You quickly change and come out. Knowing Mrs. Bay, she’ll be here any minute.” She said, walking out of the room, leaving me to change.

I changed and took one look into the mirror. This was one of my most favorite outfits to wear. Ophelia said the blue skirt flowed like the ocean and that the white shirt showed my innocence. I smiled and wore my bangles and earring. I quickly tied my bandana, grabbed the tarot cards, and walked to the front of the shop.

“Mrs. Bay, what brings you back to my little shop?” Ophelia said, offering a smile.

“Oh, well you see, my nephew just came into town and he’s…how can I word this… a bit… disturbed. He just lost his parents in an accident recently, and all this change doesn’t seem good for him. I just came to get a few charms and a crystal angel for protection.” She said, smiling back.

“Of course, Mystique, fetch me the crystal angel from the cupboard, please.” Ophelia said.

I nodded and walked towards the old oak cupboard. I opened it to find a clear crystal angel, carved with such beauty and standing with such strength, that you just know it would never let you get hurt. I carefully took it out and walked back to the front to see Mrs. Bay paying for the items.

“Thank you Mystique.” Ophelia said, taking the crystal angel from me. She packed it into a box and handed it to Mr. Bay.

“I wish your nephew well.” She said to Mrs. Bay.

“Thank you, Madam Ophelia” Mrs. Bay said, walking out of the shop.

Ophelia and I stood there for a few seconds, listening to the bells jingle from the departure of Mrs. Bay.

“You know, her nephew’s about your age.” Ophelia finally said, breaking the silence.

I had nothing to say. I know it has hard losing just one parent, since my father died right after I was born, but two? I could never imagine life without my mother.

“Must be hard.” I finally said, looking at Ophelia. I touched the necklace that mother gave me and felt coolness and tranquility flow into me.

“Did you have a bad dream today?” Ophelia asked, looking worried.

I sighed. “I might as well hold a banner that says, ‘Mistique Destineè had a bad dream’.” I said sarcastically.

Ophelia smiled. “It’s not obvious! I asked because you’re wearing a Blue Lace Agate necklace.” She said, walking from behind the counter to the back room.

I followed her. “Yes, I kinda had an extremely bad dream.” I said and sat down on a chair.

“Well, tell me about it.” Ophelia said, bringing two cups of herbal tea to the table. She gave me one and then took a seat across from me.

I sighed. “Well, someone was dead in my dream – well, more like burned to death. And then there was this boy in my dream, and I saw the same boy today at the bus stop, and on the way here. That’s not even the weirdest part. You know how my hand twitches sometimes, yeah…I ended up drawing a lighter in Math class and I know it’s a red and black design an–”

“Show me.” Ophelia interrupted, taking a sip of her tea.

I nodded and went to get my bag. I quickly came back and sat down, taking out the sketch pad.

“Oh! What a beautiful sketch.” Ophelia said, smiling. She studied the picture for a few more seconds in silence. “It could mean something, but at the same time, it might not mean anything at all.” she said.

“I know I’m too young to have those ‘dreams’, but for some reason, I feel like it’s true.” I said.

Ophelia opened her mouth to say something, but the door bells jingled, informing us of a customer.

“We’ll talk about this later. Get the table ready and the tarot cards, it must be an appointment.” Ophelia said, walking towards the counter.

I sighed. Honestly, it seemed like the dream meant something, but it’s impossible, since I’m not of age yet. The lighter must have had something to do with it, but maybe it doesn’t. Maybe I was still freaked out from my dream, and unconsciously thought of a lighter, which burns stuff. My head started to spin, thanks to these thoughts I could not push away. I could hear Ophelia coming back, so I placed the tarot cards out as she and the client walked in.

Really short again, oh well Vote and Comment :D