5 The Future

In their dark-colored cloaks, the five young women slipped through the streets towards their destination as quietly as they could. The King's soldiers protected this city and its inhabitants. If they saw such lovely girls out at night alone they might ask them where they were coming from and where they were going. Both questions better left unanswered.

At last, they came to Uncle Win's and up the stone steps to the heavy wooden door. Delaney knocked and I window slid open just long enough to see it was the before sliding closed. The door opened to reveal a mountain of a man named Cecil. He let people in and out of the card club and settled any disputes that came up. He rarely had to though. Just his presence was enough to dissuade an intelligent person.

"There you are, girls!" Uncle Win boomed when he saw them come through the door, "We were about to start the fun without you!" The young women smiled and he hugged each of them and told them how lovely they looked. When he came to Delaney he stopped and shook his head, clucking his tongue, "Men are going to be losing their money tonight it appears."

"Only if I'm the better card player," Delaney feigned innocence. The old man chuckled.

"Alright, I've got a surprise for you all! Follow me!"

The women hurried to follow Uncle Win as he headed to the back of the club where there was a small private room. When he opened the door and stepped aside to let them in, they saw his surprise was a strangely dressed woman. She smiled at them and seemed nice enough but Delaney could tell there was something was off about her.

"Girls, this is Helena! She's a woman I met long ago but she still looks just the same," he paused to wink at the woman, "She is here to take a glimpse into your futures. My holiday gift to all of you before you all grow up and get married and I never see you again." He chuckled but they all knew that would have to happen eventually.

"See our futures?" Selina asked quietly, "How?"

"Well now," Uncle Win shuffled, "She's a particular kind of lady who can... do things not everyone can..."

"She's a witch?" Olive asked in surprise. Luckily for them, the woman seemed amused, not insulted, but Uncle Win still hushed her.

"Win we couldn't," Selina gasped, "Using magic is against the King's laws!"

"Speak for yourself," Cora snapped and pushed forward to sit at the table across from the woman, "I want to know if Miles is going to drive me to kill him one day."

"I want to do it too," Constance said urgently, eyes wide.

"Surely you're joking?" Selina looked from one to another, "Delaney you won't do this, will you? Your Mother used to tell us stories and the witches always did terrible things. Magic is never free."

"Is that true?" Delaney asked Helena, "What is the price for doing this?"

"Fortunately, the only price for hearing your future is the hearing of it. I can only tell you so much."

"I'm in," Cora nodded.

"Me too," Constance repeated.

"And me," Olive stepped forward.

They all turned to Delaney who gave Selina a quick glance before nodding as well.

"Well I can't do it," Selina shook her head, "I would never stop waiting for something terrible to happen afterward."

"That's fine," the witch spoke then, "Please leave now."

Selina was caught off-guard by the woman simply dismissing her. She looked at each of them once more before walking back out the way they'd come. "You girls go ahead," Uncle Win smiled, "I'll go keep track of that one." And with that, he disappeared as well.

"Alright Cora," the woman started without having to ask her name, "you'll go first." There was a shallow dish in front of her which she poured water in from a pitcher at her side, "Place your hand in the water and press it down."

Cora did so without hesitation. Helena stared at the surface of the water, at something none of the rest of them could see. "You and your husband will both be strong-willed," she spoke softly, "This will cause problems but eventually you will both realize who needs to be in charge... Your friends are going to need you, Cora. You can't save them from everything that will unfold although you will want to. Stay close to them."

Helena looked up at her then with a gentle smile, "That is all I can tell you." Cora nodded wide-eyed and whispered a thank you as she stood and moved out of the way. Constance was next to take the seat and press her hand into the bowl of water.

"Oh my girl," the witch sighed, "There will be a heartbreak in your future..." Constance immediately looked crushed, tears gathering behind her eyes. "It will be very hard," the woman whispered, then her eyes brightened, "But after the heartbreak, you will find love deep and true. It will not be where you are looking for it. It will find you." All the girls breathed a sigh of relief and Constance thanked the woman happily. They all knew Constance worried she would live life alone.

Olive was quick to take her place, eager now to hear what would come for her.

Helena smiled warmly looking down into the bowl this time, "You, my dear will have a son you are going to love madly. He will bring such happiness to you for all your days. Your friends will love him as well and always help to take care of him. He will be a happy boy."

Olive looked anxious at the woman's words but smiled and thanked her as she got up. At last, it was time for Delaney.

Helena stared at the water for a long moment in silence. At last, she nodded, "You have a long and hard road ahead of you. Things may end happily for you but it appears to not be certain yet. It will all depend on your choices. I do see this is not the last time the two of us will meet however so I will look forward to seeing you again."

Delaney looked at her in confusion but knew the woman wouldn't be telling her anymore. She slowly lifted her hand from the water and thought over the words. Things sounded like they would not be easy for her or even good. She could end up with her own happy ending but it depended on her choices. Her stomach twisted and she felt her breathing quicken. What if she chose wrong?

"Come on Delaney," Constance stepped forward to take her hand, seeing the worry in her eyes, "Let's find you a good table and you can take these poor bastards for all they're worth."

Delaney went along but her mind was wheeling. The road ahead did not look bright and if she made wrong choices it would never get better. She realized this was the price the witch had referred to. The cost of knowing your future was in the knowing of it.