The Inheritor

Part 1

A bell chimed above the door of a little store as a young woman walked through the door. She was an attractive thing, with shoulder-length black hair drawn back in a ponytail and a head-turning figure. She was also very fit, with well-toned muscles that she kept in check through daily routines. In fact, she had just finished today's routine, and was still sweating in her workout clothes. The reason a woman like this walked into a small antiques store on a warm day like today is something we may never know.

A weary-looking woman stood behind the store's front counter and saw the other woman enter. A grin tugged at her lips as she looked at the fit-looking lady.

"Hello, there, miss!" The woman behind the counter called. "What's your name?"

"Elise," Elise said. She walked over the counter curiously and looked around. "I found this place interesting...what've you got?"

"Oh, I think I've got the perfect thing for you," the store owner breathed. Her tired eyes got wide all of a sudden. She lifted her hand, and on it was a shiny ring. It was gold-banded and had a glittery pink crystal in its center.

"This ring," the lady said, putting her hand in front of Elise's face, "is very special. I think you would be the perfect person to have it."

Elise was a bit startled. "Oh! That's nice...but uh...why would you give me your ring?"

"Well, I've had it for months, and I really don't want it any more," the lady insisted, "And you look like the perfect match for it. It needs someone young and strong to wear it, and you look to match that description!"

"Hm," Elise muttered, observing the ring. "What's so special about it?"

"The person who wears it becomes a sort of, uh...inheritor," the lady explained. "She gains the ability to take away other people's, um...problems, and face them on her own. It's a very noble task, indeed. And very worthwhile!" She added the last bit at the end quickly, as if trying to be more convincing.

Elise mulled it over. This lady's explanation made it seem like the ring gives its owner a job. But was that really true? The lady looked kinda crazy, so it was probably just a story. And besides, the ring did look pretty...
"All right, I'll take it!" She decided.

The woman behind the counter nearly jumped with joy. "Really?!"

"Yeah! How much is it?" Elise asked, opening up the wallet app on the smart-watch strapped to her wrist.

"Oh, you can have it for free!"

"Wow, thanks!" Elise said, again a bit surprised at the woman's generosity.

"Shake on it?" The lady asked, outstretching her ringed hand.

Elise chuckled. "Sure, why not." She lifted her hand to meet the woman's.

As soon as their hands touched, Elise felt an odd sensation. It was as if a warm gust of air came through the little store and swirled around her. It seemed to enter through her pores and put some kind of energy all throughout her body. She blinked, and when she looked back down, the ring had somehow moved from the woman's hand and on to hers.

Taken aback, Elise stumbled out of the store without another word. As she went down the sidewalk, she looked back in the store through a window. The woman at the counter was jumping up and down, as if in celebration.

Suspiciously, Elise looked at her new ring. It looked pretty normal, despite giving her a weird vibe. Just a basic band and jewel. It was quite beautiful, though. She tried to wipe the strange handshake from her mind and be grateful for the gift.