Millions (#2)

Truth Dust

After work, Charles decided to take a longer path home.

The path was cluttered with debris and tall seaweed, and the occasional stray crab. Charles gripped onto his satchel as he navigated his way through the thicket. A knot twisted in his stomach with every rustle.

There was a figure in the distance in front of him. Charles kept his distance from the stranger, but unfortunately, the two were going on the same path.

A small, glowing bag unraveled from the mysterious mermaid's bracelet, but the figure didn't seem to notice. Charles swam over to it and picked it up.

"Hey, you dropped something."

The figure turned around, giving a sigh of relief, "Thanks, Charles."

Charles gave Frank the bag back. "Where're you heading?", Frank asked him.

"Home.", Charles answered, "I just wanted to switch things up."

"Well", Frank took out two gold coins, "Angelmento's gonna be open tonight. That'd be quite switch-y."

"I'm 15. I wouldn't be able to go."

"You could be my plus-one."

"You're 16. How would you get in?"

Frank smirked, "I have my connections. Are you coming or not?"

~

Bioluminescent creatures lit the room. Stained glass portraits showed ancient legends. Mermaids were dancing with their arms covered in tattoos with beads woven in their hair and in bracelets. The sirens could barely be heard over how loud everyone was.

Charles had never seen anything like it.

"Here it is, home.", Frank said proudly.

"Sick..", Charles marveled.

"So sick..."

"What's that?", the grey eyed mermaid asked, looking at a room off to the left with white and purple curtains hanging to cover it.

"That's where Xander tells fortunes.", Frank replied.

Charles studied the room. He could know anything about his life, maybe even his family.

He turned to Frank, "How much does it cost to have your fortune told?"

"One jewel."

Charles took five gold coins or of his satchel. Frank raised en eyebrow, "You believe that stuff?"

Charles shrugged, "Not really, but it's worth a shot."

~

Charles poked his head into the room.

"Cross threshold."

Charles blinked.

"That means 'enter'.", the fortune teller chuckled.

Charles sat at a chair while Xander took it a box.

"How are you, Charles?", Xander asked, taking out a glowing bag similar to the one Frank had.

"How did you-?"

The fortune teller waved his hands, "MAGIC, LAD!"

Charles gave a slow nod, his eyes wide, "I'm... fine..."

"So", Xander plopped down on a chair, "what're you here for?"

"Can you tell my fortune?", Charles asked, sliding over the five coins.

"Indubitably.", Xander nodded.

Charles blinked.

"That means 'yeah.' What are they teaching you guys..?"

Xander untied the bag, "Give me your hands." Charles did as he was told. Xander poured some of the colorful dust on Charles' hands. He inspected how the colors swirled in different symbols and patterns, "Hmm..."

"What does it say?", Charles piped.

The fortune teller put his hair in a loose ponytail, seagull feathers sticking out from a braid in the front, and looked up at Charles. He chuckled, "Do you want for me to save you a lot of confusion?"

Charles tilted his head, "What's wrong?"

Xander took out some beads and jewels, and began to put them on a piece of string. "Nothings wrong.", he glanced at the dust on Charles' hands before finishing the pattern and making a bracelet, "In fact, something with you is incredibly right."