Short Stories

Fortunes

Akantha pierced the traveller's fingertip. Her nose involuntarily wrinkled at the sight of the blood. Akantha suppressed a shudder as she tried to ignore the sick sense of longing to cut deeper into the troubled traveller's hand; To squeeze their hand until it turned white, causing the blood to ooze out and then paint every inch of the room with the warm crimson liquid. "Sorry, I have not done any fortunes for some time now, so please excuse me, it might take a few moments" Akantha warned, squeezing his finger, hard. The traveller nodded and winced as the blood trickled into a peculiar looking goblet filled with an opal-like fluid. Blood spread out and coloured the surface, before curling and winding around in the cup, almost as if it had a mind of its own. The brass goblet was ornate, but at the same time not bright; Striking details of skeletons, talons, and terrified expressions carved into the brass goblet.Akantha shut her eyes as tight as she could and slowly dropped her long boney finger into the cup, dragging her finger around in circles, focusing on the feeling of the warm mixture on her skin. As she stirred, she felt a whirlpool start to form under her touch. Akantha's eyes rolled to the back of her head, quivering and shaking and threw her head back so fast it would give you whiplash. Her awareness of the physical realm dissipated.Tendrils of her mind stretched out, far into the future, focusing on the traveller's face and the feeling of his blood. The wickedness that she was one with seethed, yearning for more horrific nightmares to become a reality. "No!" she shook forcefully, slamming her other hand aggressively on the wooden table causing the sound to bounce off of the walls. The room was silent other than the heavy pants of Akantha. Within fortune telling, it's crucial to control the evil thoughts; Otherwise, you might fall into depravity and never be the same. The darkness hissed but allowed Akantha to continue to lead. In the distance, Akantha could see a skeletal body, its fragile old bones slowly turning to dust with every step it took. The figure looked right into the soul of Akantha, raising a finger to what was left of a rotting mouth, motioning to Akantha to be quiet. She followed its other boney arm that was pointing towards something else in the foreground; it was two wild red-haired children unlocking a safe within an old run down bank to reveal an abundant amount of gold. They both look towards Akantha with mischief glimmering in their eyes, uncontrollably giggling. "Well.... What do you see?" The traveller's voice broke her concentration causing the vision to fade slowly. Akantha opened her eyes to an eagerly awaiting face."You will die soon. Possibly murder, but your family will be looked after with abundant wealth" Akantha couldn't look him in the eyes and twiddled her fingers nervously"Thank the sun and stars! I-I was concerned. Many people are out for my head. I was- I was so worried about my family. It's reassuring to know that they will not be impoverished without me."She gulped hard, as the man gleefully waved goodbye and left the dark, gloomy hut.