Josh's Destiny

Chapter 26

Destiny admired her look in the full length mirror behind the bathroom door. She had added a long-tailed black scarf which she put over the top portion of her hair and tied pirate style. The tails hung over her shoulders.  For jewelry she had chosen charm bracelets-two on each wrist, several chunky silver rings, dangle silver earrings, and a large set of hoops. To complete her ensemble, she added two silver belt chains, one adorned with silver circles, the other thin.

Destiny thought she looked spectacular, but more than that Destiny brought out the magic in the ceremonial clothes she shimmered like a trail of glitter followed her. She was glad that Josh was finally getting to see the real her.

Thoughts of Josh made her smile. She was engaged! She looked at the peridot again and admired it. Peridot had always been her favorite stone and Josh had remembered. She was one lucky girl to be marrying Josh and knew it. She would teach him all she knew and make sure he had the best teachers to finish his training.

Destiny consulted her watch again. Almost six, she thought.  Time for the fair to be opening. She checked her look one more time, grabbed her bag, and hurried down to the lobby where she called a cab. As she waited, several men looked her up and down and Destiny preened. She knew it was mostly the magic of the outfit, but she revelled in it all the same.

Her cab arrived and as she began to settle in the cabbie said, "No need to tell me, you're headed for the Gypsy Faire. At least in that get-up I hope you are!"

Destiny laughed. "I am going to the Gypsy Faire. And don't you like my outfit?"

The cab pulled away from the curb, then the cabbie replied, "I like it just fine, Miss. Suits you." He was silent a moment then added, "When you get there, see Vanda. Vanda will want to see you."

"And who is Vanda?" asked Destiny.

"She's our seer," said the cabbie.  He was quiet the remainder of the drive, leaving Destiny wondering for the rest of the journey. They drove to the edge of town and by a river. Destiny didn't need the cabbie to tell her they had arrived she could smell the magic on the air.

She paid the man and stepped out of the cab. She knew in a minute she had made the right choice to come. She checked the time again, almost six-thirty. She knew Josh's gig started at roughly eight, so she would call his cell at about seven-thirty.

She set out and thoroughly loved everything about the fair. She talked to several of the gypsies and watched with awe the fire-eaters and sword swallowers. These acts ended up in circuses too, but Destiny knew it took a great deal of skill to eat fire and she knew something else too.  Two of the fire eaters were shifters. Dragon Clan. She watched these two intently. They were born in fire and knew it like a lover. The crowds applauded when the fire-eaters did something they thought was particularly dangerous, but Destiny knew different. The fire-eaters were in no danger.

One of them caught Destiny's eye and he inclined his head in greeting. She smiled and greeted him back. If she had time, she would like to talk with him. She kept to the main thoroughfare as she had promised the guys she would and took her time shopping.

Destiny marveled at how many of her kind were here.  She loved seeing the gypsies in their colorful clothing, dancing and singing. Destiny got pulled into a few dances herself and she wished Josh was here with her.

She stopped cold. Josh! Checking her watch she saw the time was almost nine. She had been having such a good time, the time had gotten away from her. The guys would be in the middle of what she hoped was a magnificent show. She couldn't call them now.

It was getting time for her to go. She began making her way back to the front of the caravan when an old song caught her ears. She stopped and listened. The music was hauntingly beautiful, the lyrics, sung in the old language, were equally so. Destiny made her way to a tent behind one of the larger vehicles. This was where the singing was coming from.

The singing suddenly stopped and an old voice said, "Come in, Child."

Destiny hesitated only a moment before she stepped into a dimly lit tent. Incense filled the air, what kind she couldn't say and there were candles lit, most of them around the old woman that sat at a small table in the center of the tent.  Destiny noted the table sat within a ring of salt and there were arcane symbols drawn with salt as well. On the table was a deck of tarot cards and a small bowl filled with river water. The old woman motioned to her to come closer.

"Come closer, Child, you may enter the circle. Do not disturb it but enter and sit."  Destiny did as she was bid. When she had taken her seat, the old woman said, "My name is Vanda."

Vanda, the seer.  The one the cabbie had said for her to see. Destiny used air quotes in her mind, but she knew right away the old woman was no charlatan. Vanda was the real thing.

"I'm Destiny."

Vanda nodded and took her hands. After a moment she said, "You are one of us, no, one the special ones. Yes, there is a special purpose for you."

Destiny was silent as the old woman looked into the bowl of water. It was a scrying bowl Destiny realized.

Vanda hummed softly as she looked deeply into the water.  At length she said, "The energies are murky, Child. There are three paths to choose, but which one you will take is unknown. You must be careful, you must choose wisely."

"I --- I don't really understand. Vanda, can't you see a clearer message?"

"I see a death's head over your shoulder, Child. Who it comes for is not for me to see. As I said, you must choose wisely."

"But..." Destiny began and the old woman dropped her hands.

"I can see no more for you, Child."

Destiny knew her time was up. She rose and opened her bag but Vanda said, "No need to pay. May the Gods bless you."

Destiny thanked the old woman, stepped over the salt circle and exited the tent. She quickly made her way to the front of the caravan and called a cab again. She knew Josh would be frantic by now.  She made it to the venue just as the band was playing it's last number. But there would be at least one encore. And she would be there. She dug out her "All Access" pass and flew by security.  She made it to the side of the stage just as Josh was coming off.

"Destiny! Where the hell have you been?!"

But, before she could reply, Jake grabbed Josh and they took to the stage for their encore.  Destiny wasn't sure she should tell Josh about her reading. She couldn't make sense of it, what chance did he have? Three paths to choose, she thought. And one of them led to death. But for whom? And what was the point? She was sure Marcus and his rogue band of Pagans were intent on holding a human sacrifice at the Solstice this year and that was less than a month away.  She could go to the cops with her suspicions, but they'd think she was nuts. Destiny had to handle this and that meant telling Josh all about Marcus. She did not look forward to their conversation.