Till We Ain't Strangers Anymore

CHAPTER SIX - Tainted Love

Elena weaved her way through the small crowd of people, with Alaric not far behind her, talking to someone on his phone. They had just got out of the subway, Ric coming from work, and her from the university. It was all part of their daily routine. They go to the subway together, take separate trains to their destinations, and meet back at the subway station later during the day after classes, before they either head home or dine out. Jeremy usually joined them, but the younger Gilbert was still in school at the moment, busy preparing for an upcoming art exhibit.

Elena busied her eyes as she strolled around Central Park, waiting for Ric to finish with his phone call. This was her favorite time of the day in New York City. That time in between late in the afternoon and early in the evening when the park is filled with young people who just came from school, mixed with the professionals who just got off from work. You'd see the occasional couples in the park, holding each other's hands while walking, most probably on their way on a dinner date.

She turned around, shaken from her musings, when she felt someone tapped her on the back. It was a woman, in her forties, dressed in a colorful, long, flowing dress, and a matching scarf wrapped around her head, looking at her intently.

"Madame Sabrina...Soothsayer Extraordinaire, at your service, " the woman introduced herself, her hands flailing dramatically in the air.

"Sorry, not interested," Elena replied.

"I can tell your fortune, young lady. The future predicted. Your life foretold." Madame Sabrina offered.

"No, thank you," Elena refused. She started to turn away from the woman, but Madame Sabrina stopped her again.

"Don't you want to know if you're going to be happy?" the woman asked.

"I'm happy right now, thanks," Elena told her.

"You got chestnut hair. The reading's free for chestnut-haired girls," Madame Sabrina insisted.

"Okay, fine," Elena finally agreed.

Madame Sabrina led her to one of the nearest benches, and motioned for Elena's hands. Elena held out her hands, palms up, and the soothsayer traced the patterns on her palms.

"Oh...fascinating." Madame Sabrina smiled and looked into Elena's eyes. "I can see a man. The most remarkable man. You will meet the great true love of your life very soon," the woman informed Elena.

"Uhm...no, I don't think so," Elena replied. "I've already met the great true love of my life," she corrected Madame Sabrina. She tried to pull her hands away, but the woman grabbed her by the wrists, and held on tightly.

"Returning...returning...returning," Madame Sabrina whispered eerily, as she started to shake as if she was having a seizure, her eyes suddenly turned all white. "They are slowly returning...from the darkness...and the void...and the light...and the blood. Always returning...returning to this world...what once was lost...and HE is returning, and they are returning, but too late. Too late. Far too late. They have returned. It has begun. Death is only the beginning." Madame Sabrina repeatedly ranted on and on.