Salina

My nostrils are immediately assaulted by a combination of various aromas upon stepping inside. I recognize the scent of sage along with that of lavender. Jasmine happens to also be mingling in the mix. There are many more, but they're so highly concentrated that it hurts to even breathe. I can't imagine I'll last in here for more than fifteen minutes.

The interior of this place is exactly like I'd pictured it. The dim lighting makes it a little hard to distinguish the colors around, but as long as I can see where I'm walking, I won't complain. 

Bones, skulls, jars full of herbs and candles of many colors and sizes riddle the shelves that cover the walls from top to bottom. 

"So, where is this fortune teller?" I ask Izzy when my eyes fail to see the owner of this place.

"A witch!" a raspy yet warm voice comes right from behind me.

"Jesus!" I flip around on my heels to find an unexceptionally, ordinarily clothed woman. She seems on the older side; I'd say in her sixties. Nothing really particular stands out about her. She remains quiet after that and just stares back at me like we're the only people in the room.

Izzy appears to have noticed it as well. So, she decides to break the silence, "So, you… umm… What do you do, exactly?" 

For the first time, in what felt like an eternity, the "witch" acknowledges Izzy's presence, as though she just realized that the two of us are not the only ones here, "I will do what I said I will do," she pauses before continuing, "I want to read it all, and I'd like to start with you," she points her finger at me.

She advances towards us, but it's not until she walks by me that something hits me; a realization. 

I know this woman but… I can't remember her name to save my life.

"Who are you?" the words escape my lips as soon as the thought crosses my mind. I don't even take the time to consider it. 

"Don't be rude!" Izzy scolds me.

The old lady on the other hand doesn't even bother turning around. She keeps on moving ahead, towards a medium size, round table. The entire thing is covered with a black piece of fabric that I don't need to touch in order to tell that it's velour. 

"I've seen you before, but I can't remember your name. That's not normal," 

She ignores me and instead gestures to the two seats facing her own from the other side of the table, undoubtedly inviting us to sit with her.

"Can you make an effort, please?" 

"What? I can't help it if she's suspicious," 

"Do I need to remind you that learning the name of every inhabitant of this town isn't exactly a popular activity around here? So, keep your judgments for someone that actually deserves them," Izzy and I practically make ourselves at home. Talking like we're sitting in our living room. 

"My name is Salina," she captures both of our attentions at the same instant.

No matter how hard I strain my memories, the name "Salina" is nowhere to be found in them. Although anyone can call themselves a witch, this alone is enough to convince me she can be a real one.

The moment I sit down in front of her, the words run out of my mouth, yet again, "So, you're a witch? Mind telling us a bit more about that?" I am not really sure what kind of questions she's willing to answer, so I'll play it safe for now.

She… Doesn't say a thing. She just keeps on staring at me. She then lays both of her palms flat on the surface of the empty table, slowly and gracefully. She proceeds to flip her right hand around and extend it a little in my direction.

I catch her drift and place my hand in hers. She did say she wanted to read me first. 

Salina shut her eyes and did not move a muscle after that. Me and Izzy waited and waited… But nothing came. Needless to say, Salina did not give us the performance we've been expecting.

It's been almost three minutes since it started. The longest three minutes of my life.

I decide that I've had enough of this. I try to retract my hand away from hers, but she grips it tighter and prevents me from moving.

"I don't want to be rude and pull my hand harder, but can you let go, please?" I utter calmly but firmly.

The air around us feels so thick I can hear my heart beating in my chest. Even Izzy hasn't said a word, which is, by every mean, the biggest anomaly. 

Salina's eyes shoot open, and I'm not surprised to see that they are locked on me, "Your life has seen quite the change recently, hasn't it?" she pauses before adding, "And yet, you're like a fish in water. Like nothing has happened," 

That's such a vague statement; I bet she says the same thing to everyone that walks into her shop. 

I break eye contact with her to go over her figure one more time. Again, nothing. Nothing on her tells me anything new about her. The only jewelry she's wearing is a small amulet around her neck. I can't tell if she has any earrings on; her hair is in the way. She's confident, but that's about it. 

Part of me wants to believe that she's just throwing darts hoping they'll hit the mark, but another part… Well, what she said does apply to me.

"You're gonna need a lot of help going forward however. My advice for you would be to not do what you usually do when you have predicaments," 

"Don't do what? Get shit done?" I don't even bother keeping up a façade anymore.

"Act like you can do everything by yourself," she says.

She finally looks away from me, towards Izzy, but I immediately draw her attention back to my person, "Right, can I use your bathroom?" 

"Naturally. Behind the curtains, follow the hallway to the right then head for the last door to your right again," she points at the black curtains behind herself.

I head straight in their direction and then to the right like she'd indicated. If I can't get anything out of her, then maybe her house will, at least, tell me something about her. If I stumble upon someone else, I'll just say I'm looking for the bathroom.

I very carefully turn the knob and open the first door in my way. It turns out to be a kitchen; a quite plain one, might I add. 

Every room in this place looks just as ordinary as can be. I keep on going until I reach the end of the hallway. There's one more door to open before the one to the bathroom. 

Fingers crossed, I peek inside to see, hoping this one will be the one. 

"You've been invited to the Ferwulf ball? Haven't you?" 

My heart drops to my heels. I jerk around to find Salina standing behind me. She remains calm and collected despite the fact that she'd just caught me snooping around her house. 

"You're a real witch!" is all I can utter.

"Are you planning on going to the ball?" she ignores my words and asks about the upcoming ball again. 

"Yes. What's it to you?"

"I need a favor," she states.

A favor, huh? On one hand, I like the prospect of having a witch indebted to me, and I sure as hell don't want to anger her. On the other hand, however… I want to make sure she truly is a witch. She didn't deny it, but I am making conclusions on my own without any proof. 

For this entire day, my mind has been split between two subject matters that consumed my thoughts; Izzy receiving an invitation to the ball, and the situation with Marry Morgan that I promised Mr. Griffin to solve. She called in this morning to ask if the clock had been repaired and I asked her to give us another day, but I am not sure I'll be able to stall any longer.

This is the perfect opportunity, the perfect demonstration for Salina to prove she's a witch, "That's very convenient, actually. I need one of those too," 

"I was hoping a free reading would settle the bill," she says boldly.

"You didn't tell me jackshit! Nothing I didn't know, at least. How do you know about me anyways?"

"I was under the impression that your friend out there doesn't know the truths. Didn't you want to keep it that way? And I have my methods," 

She has a point. I still want to keep Izzy out of this, "Fair enough, but I don't care. I'm not doing anything for you unless you agree,"

"I suppose, I can afford a favor. What is it?" 

"Marry Morgan, I am sure you know her. There's a young man and I think he's trying to fleece her. I need to know if he's manipulating her, and if yes, then I need him gone. Not dead though, just out of her life," 

"That's quite the request," she folds her arms across her chest. 

"C'mon! I know that whatever you're about to ask of me is far more complicated than this. I want it done by tomorrow. If you really are a witch then this should be a child's play for you," fingers crossed again.

"Alright then, I'll be coming by the antique shop tomorrow with Marry in order to pick up the clock you're keeping. I'll tell you exactly what I want from you then. How does that sound?" 

Oh… She knows about everything then… 

There's a chance she's the one that's been stalking me for the past few days. At this point, she's flaunting, but there's still a possibility that she just knows the right people.

We both head back towards the shop where we left Izzy. As soon as I see her, I declare, "We're leaving!" I reach the door, but I stop in my tracks in front of her lack of response. I turn around to find her behind me, completely silent, "Izzy? What's wrong? What is it?" I ask.

"What?" she snaps out of her daze momentarily to mutter, "Nothing, I am just tired. I want to go home,"

She moves past me, exits the shop and climbs up the stairs without another word.

"What's going on? What did you say to her?" I turn to ask Salina.

"Nothing she wanted to hear, I am afraid," she gives me this vague ass response before disappearing behind the curtains again.

I catch up to Izzy and walk by her side. I wait and wait, but she doesn't even acknowledge my presence. It's as though I am nothing more than a ghost. Her eyes are glued to the ground beneath her feet. 

Many words bubble up in my throat, but I struggle to line them up in a way that will make most sense. She clearly needs comforting, but for what? The only way to find out is to ask her, but something tells me she's not in the mood to chat about it…

Our feet lead us home, where I finally drop the bags out of my hands. I follow behind Izzy, hoping we can talk, but it appears she doesn't want my company either. In fact, I don't think she even realized I was following her to her room. She just slams the door in my face.

I stand here, debating whether to knock or… To give her some space, but I don't get the time to decide on that since my phone rings in my bag. 

Picking it up, I recognize the caller, "Nathanael?" I say upon answering. 

"Are you home right now?" he asks.

"Yeah, why?" 

"Great! Uhm… I just sent a package out for you, you should receive it in a few minutes,"

"What kind of package?"

"I'd honestly prefer it if you just find that out when you open it. I hope you'll like it,"

"O…kay,"

"I have to go for now. Let me know what you think of it when it reaches you,"

"Sure! Will do," I promise.

That was the entire conversation we had before he hung up.

The questions and wonderings feast upon me. I patiently wait the minutes he told me it'll take for this package to arrive, nonetheless. 

I hear a soft knock on the door; one that I don't recognize. 

"Miss Reed?" A young man asks me when I open.

"Yes,"

He doesn't even give me enough time to look at his face. He shoves a red box into my hands and says, "This is for you,"

"Thank you," I say.

He leaves as I turn around and push the door behind me shut with my foot.

My entire focus falls on the mysterious box. Luxurious, red and rectangular wrapped with a magnificent golden ribbon that comes together at the top in a beautiful butterfly knot. 

Stunned, I freeze upon pulling the lid off of it…