The Marionette

Chapter Eight - Tarot Cards

Chapter Eight- Tarot Cards

Over the next few days, I poured over books at the library. Anything I could get my hands on about what was transpiring between myself and Vladimir. I couldn't find much. I researched for hours, pouring over countless books. I was frustrated. I gingerly rubbed the knot of tension out of my neck and slid from my chair, swiping my things from the table.

I needed to find another library and keep searching until I come across something; anything.

It was late evening and I had finally arrived at New Orleans Public Library when they were closing. Damn it! Sighing, I slung my backpack over my shoulder and went in search of one that was open. All of the major libraries were closed at this time of night. Looks like I will be searching for a local bookstore.

Actually, that might give me more information than a library would.

I came across Erzulies Authentic Voodoo Shop and chewed my lip. They deal in supernatural, surely? What's the worse that could happen?

I opened the door and walked inside, and immediately, I was taken aback. There were Voodoo Alters set up among the shop, Voodoo Dolls were upon the altar along with candles and black skulls. Black and deep-purple and deep pink were the themes of the shop. It gave off a very dark vibe, in my opinion. The pink only just barely brightened the room, but with the skulls and black candles, voodoo dolls and alters, it negated any brightness the color should have given it, and in the process, gave me a weird feeling.

Warily, I walked around examining products on the shelves. I decided to skip the long and tedious process of searching through unnecessary products and go straight to what I needed.

I approached the woman behind the counter and before I even got a word out she said, "Follow me." I swallowed. That couldn't be good, could it? I followed her behind the counter and through the dangling beads that covered the entrance to the next room.

As I followed behind her, an uneasy feeling crept over me like the legs of a creeping spider crawling up your spine. What was I doing? This is a shop for dark magic and I am willingly following this woman to the back room with no idea what she was going to do to me or why I was following her.

"The moment you stepped foot into my shop, I sensed it. An invading presence in your mind — your soul. Like a leech, he's feeding on you. If you are open-minded, I can help you. I have some things that might ward him off for a while. Here, sit."

She led me to a round table that was covered with a deep-purple and black tablecloth, a black skull was placed in the middle of the table. Beside the skull was a deck of Tarot Cards.

The woman took her seat and I finally got a good look at her. She was mid-forties, she had a little crows feet at the corner of her eyes and her lips were in a thin line, pressing together. Her dark eyes spoke volumes, though. Her auburn hair was straight but wavy at the ends.

I chewed my nails and shifted uncomfortably in my seat. Is she for real or is she a fraud? How can you tell the real from the faux?

"I'm sorry?"

She leaned closer, her eyes crinkling as her expression took on an innate seriousness, "Have you been sick recently? Experiencing headaches, migraines, nausea, lightheadedness, anything like that?"

How the hell did she know that? Okay, well, she could be for real... or she could have guessed because of my sickly appearance. I look like death.

"Yes... how did you know that?"

I tilted my head to the right as I waited for her response. This is weird. I feel so out of place here. I feel like I shouldn't be here. This was a mistake.