To Seduce A Siren

7. Crystal Healing

Selene parked the pickup truck, with more dents than she had found it with, in front of a shop.

The street was deserted at three in the morning. She had driven for hours, bleary eyed and exhausted. She still had human needs, although she wouldn't die from them, she would be severely weakened. At this point she hadn't slept in days from negligence.

She regretted that sorely now.

It was times like this when she hated being a siren. The fragile immortality didn't bother her. The dependence on such comforts as food and sleep did. The Redeemer would have no such disadvantages and he would be faster than her.

At least he wasn't a werewolf. Then he could track her scent and she'd be really done for.

Several stores were lined up neatly in this quiet street in the suburbs of a nearby city .She only cared about one of the stores.

A palm reading store.

It was a dismal location to have such a store, frequented mostly by middle-aged housewives who secretly had a desire to be swept away from their boring lives.

Selene shivered as she got out of the dusty vehicle. It was a cold night and none of the warmth of the spring day remained. She was hungry.

Crystals in vibrant colours gleamed in the moonlight from the storefront windows. A large sign exclaimed 'Accurate palm reading! Healing crystals! True fortunes told!'. Last time she was here, the sign didn't exist.

Selene pushed against the door. It didn't move.

She resisted the urge to groan. It was too much to hope the door would be open. She didn't recall the code.

The little pin-pad mocked her.

Was it eight six one four?

She punched the numbers in. A little buzz droned for a second.

Four five eight two? Seven nine four two?

Selene was just about to punch in eight nine four one when a voice from behind her said, "It's eight five four two."

She whipped her head back to see a young woman in a black dress that swept the floor, elbow length black gloves and a mane of raven hair.

"Do you always wear floor length dresses? You going to a ball or something?" Selene gestured to her dress.

"It keeps the mystique around me."

Although the woman wouldn't have looked out of place in a stock photo for a fortune teller, she was one of the most powerful witches in the world. She charged like it too. The human store was a little prank Kali liked to partake in. Most of her customers were served by human employees but Kali was known to use her magic for some humans from time to time. The true marvel of the store was the attic where she did real magic for supernaturals.

Like Selene, Kali was a loner. She was in a coven but didn't keep to it.

"I need a spell."

"Oh?" Kali raised one elegant eyebrow. She started at Selene for a few seconds before nodding and opening the door to her store.

Kali glided into her store, motioning for Selene to follow. She flicked the lights on and sat on a lounge. The interior looked like a high end living room. An antique mahogany desk worked as reception with comfortable chaise lounges for clients. The walls were lined with large crystals in all colours, slabs of candles and small bronze and marble statues. A few ornate rugs and cushions served as spaces for palm reading and fortune telling.

"A redeemer is hunting you?"

Selene nodded, not at all surprised Kali could learn that. She had a unique talent for diving futures and uncovering pasts without the use of tools.