chapter 1 - a little bit of rain

The pen tap tap taps against the note book.

The old clock hanging on the wall sounds the same chime over and over again.

I narrow my eyes at the cards in front of me, my back hunched. A betrayal...? No. A new love...? Perhaps. Boy adventures into a new strange land only to realize that he is the only one that can save the people, finds out he has been fighting on the wrong side this entire time but it's to late? Nope, already written that.

A groan leaves my lips and I sit back in my seat, letting the pen fall onto the paper. I rub my eyes as I glare daggers at the tarot cards. Usually this is so easy.

"Of course you refuse to cooperate when I have a deadline," I hiss at the inanimate object. I close my eyes and breath out harshly, I haven't been able to think today, not since the dream that I had last night. It's a dream that I've had many times before during my teenage years, why it came back last night is beyond me.

I blink a few times before looking out the window at the sunny day and then at the clock, I've been working(trying anyways) for four hours? Time really flys. "I really must go out today." I sigh and stand up, feeling the strain in my back. I ignore the pain, knowing from experience that it would go away eventually.

I leave the cards on the table and I gather everything I would need together in my book bag, my laptop and charger of course. Who knows, I might spot a nice place to finish up some editing. On my way out, I check my hair in the mirror, the bun looks like I slept with it in and the light blond hair seems to go everywhere. No need to fix it, it'll pass as a messy bun. And if not, I couldn't care.

"Not like I'm going out on a date or anything," I chuckle to myself. I haven't had a date in what, three years? I decide not to dwell on that thought. I open my door and walk out into the hallway, locking it behind me. I walk down the hall towards the outside door, just as Mrs. Hallmen, an elderly lady from B1 walks out of her apartment as well. She looks ready for a storm, blue umbrella and all.

"Good morning Mrs. Hallmen, you do know it's not raining right? It's a beautiful day," I told the old women politely. She laughed and patted my arm as we walked out of the apartment building.

"I know dearie, but rain is coming, mark my words, I can feel it in me bones," she promised, certainly in her voice. She shook her head sympathetically, "those poor trick-or-treaters." I smile back at her.

"I believe you Mrs. Hallmen, I'll make sure to get back here before it starts," I promise her, a lie. It's not scheduled to rain anytime soon today. She really is a sweet old women, I don't want to discourage her. She smiles a warm smile at my response and pats my check.

"Good good, I wouldn't want you to catch a cold. I'd better be on my way now dear, meeting with a few friends," she tells me. I nod and we say our send offs before heading down the side walk in different directions.

If it was never supposed to rain, then how the hell did I end up running down the wet street, rain and thunder falling upon me; praying, that my laptop wouldn't be ruined where it sits in my book bag. I glance up at the buildings as I run past, looking for an open sign. I don't find any though, most stores that aren't Halloween themed are closed for the holiday. The holiday of Halloween is iffy for me: because of the town that I live in, it's always a busy and chaotic time leading up to it. And considering the type of books I write, one would think I loved the holiday. But you really shouldn't assume.

Luckily, my bad luck doesn't last long, the neon OPEN sign almost makes me pause in awe. But it's raining. So in turn, I run inside, the bell jingling as I enter. I fact, I run in fast enough that I don't have the time to read what type of store this is, or the name. Arcana Tea and Readings is what I would later learn it to be known as.

I lean against the wall, panting slightly as I finally let myself rest (it is no surprise, I'm no runner, my creative and athletic levels are not the same).

"I can't believe the old lady was right," I murmur to myself in disbelief.

"Caught in the rain?" a silky smooth voice and the sound of shuffling cards brings my attention back to my surroundings.

"Huh?" I look at the owner of the voice, a women just a smidge older than me. She sits at a nicely laid out table, beautiful black altar cloth and candles lit. And ironically, the cards she is shuffling are the one and only tarot cards.

The unknown woman looks at me with a crooked eyebrow and upturned lip, amused.

"I was saying that you look drenched from the rain, you must have if you ran in here like that," she chuckles. I blush in embarrassment, shuffling from foot to foot.

"Sorry, I just didn't want my laptop to be ruined," I apologize sheepishly, rubbing the back of my neck. She waves it off, literally, she does a small wave. Quirky.

"Its not a problem, I would have done the same," she gestures towards the seat across from her. "Sit sit, you can stay here until the storm passes." I chew on my cheek hesitantly, I look out the window, rain drops slide down the gllass at a fast rate and pain pours outside.

"Yeah okay, thanks," I murmur slightly, knowing I would never make it back to my apartment in time without my laptop getting soaked. I slip off my now soaked wind breaker and hang it up on a nearby coat hanger before walking over to the table and sitting down. I reluctantly place my bag against the wall.

"Good choice, water damage is a pain," she grimaces. She places the cards down, she had been shuffling this whole time, and sticks out her hand in a friendly manner. "I believe I forgot to introduce myself, my name is Terrwyn , it's nice to meet you." I smile slightly, starting to relax in the strange environment, must have something to do with the earthy smell of the tea.

"Oh, it's nice to meet you," I shake her hand, surprised at the gesture. "Payton." I drop my hand and look around the shop, taking it in for the first time.

The whole room has an earthy feel to it, the lights aren't blinding and there is subtle calming instrumental playing. The room is also very light, different types of plants are dotted across the room It's a welcoming atmosphere, on a nice day, I can see why people would venture into here.

"What sort of shop is this?" I ask her, looking around.

"Well, it's pretty much tea-" she guesters to the fancy tea boxes along the side of the walls on shelves. She then nods to the tarot cards on the table. "-and tarot readings."

"I guess if I paid attention, I would have noticed that," I chuckle, slightly uncomfortable. I'm a writer, social situations just aren't my thing. I watch as her hand swept up the tarot cards on the nicely laid out fabric.

"Speaking of which, would you like a reading?" she asks, shuffling the cards with skilled hands.

"Erm, no thanks. I already deal with tarot cards enough as it is," as much as this woman seems trustworthy (although they all do), I can't be sure that this whole thing isn't a scam. Her eyes very well might have lit up.

"Oh, so your a witch as well? Sorry, usually I'm able to sense such things," she apologizes, a grin on her face and she also must have been nervous, because she seemed to instantly relax. I can't help but chuckle a bit at the thought of me being a witch.

"Actually I'm not a witch, I just use tarot cards to create stories. You may have heard of me, my pen name is Quinn Alkaline," I told her, part of me hoping that she knows who I am; for professional reasons of course. She deflates sort of, chewing her lip slightly.

"Oh what a shame, I have a feeling you would make a good witch. Also, I actually haven't heard of that name before," she shrugs. I purse my lips, trying my best not to be offended.

"That's okay, I'm probably not very well know any-" she starts to laugh slightly.

"I'm joking, of course I know who you are. Your the one of the only authors that use tarot cards in their writings, I find it quite fascinating," she admits, her eyes shining with mischief to match her smirk. I duck my head in embarrassment and resist the urge to glare at the woman. Rude.

"Thanks, I guess," I say, biting my cheek. She chuckles and lays down the cards, shuffling done.

"Sorry, I tend to get out of hand sometimes," she chuckles and fidgets with her necklace. "The offering for a reading still stands though, usually I get people to call in advance, but because of my bitch personality I'd have to make an exception." She wears hopeful eyes. "I would hate to have one of my favorite authors not like me."

I blush at the sort of compliment. I focus on the question though, a reading might be interesting. "On second thought a reading would be great-" I pat my pockets, to find no wallet. I wince and curse under my breath. "-but it appears I don't have any cash on me at the moment, sorry."

"No need, it's on the house. What sort of reading where you looking for? Something more general, love, a specific question?" She asked, once again picking up the cards and shuffling. I watched as she skillfully shuffled the cards, 'It must a fidget toy of sorts for her' I observed.

"I think just a general reading about the future? Big things to look out for, that type of thing. If that's okay," I ask, oddly nervous. As silly as it is, I've never really gotten a reading before.

"Of course, and don't worry, everything will be fine," she says in a softer voice than before, as if reading my emotions. I smile hesitantly. She then focuses on the cards once again, shuffling, but this time it's different. Her hands move with accuracy, her brows knitted together in concentration and she murmurs to herself. The flames flicker, causing faint shadows to dance on the walls, and I jump when thunder strikes outside, reminding me of the storm outside the window. She doesn't even flinch, not breaking concentration, I can help but stare.

Her eyes flicker open and she stares back before fanning out the cards in front if me.

"Please pick whichever cards call to you," she instructs and I do as she says, I pick out seven cards and she flips them over. My heart jumps when I see one of the cards.

"Erm, please tell me the death card isn't literal," I speak, death being one of the cards in the spread. She chuckles and taps the card with her nail lightly.

"No of course not, it just means big change, give me a moment and I'll interpret the cards."

"I knew that," I scoff, embarrassed. She looks at me with a raised eyebrow and I give a weak shrug. She chuckles slightly and goes back to the cards.

"Okay, let us see," she observes the cards laid out, touching them ever so slightly with her fingers, thoughtful. "It seems that you are at a stand still in your career, specifically a project, a creative one. Your not sure where to go from here and something is stopping you from continuing. Whatever this is, is something big and life changing that will present itself soon, very soon. It will change your perspective on how you see yourself and the world around you, and will lead the way to bigger and better things. With the moon card being present I feel like it may have to do with something you are unconsciously unaware of."

"I- wow. I never expected it to be so accurate..." I murmur, running her words through my head again and again. How the heck did she know I was having problems with my career? The change part scars me honestly, I don't want change. She smiles and winks playfully.

"That's what everyone says when they get their first reading. Back to the reading though, your not going to like this change, well more so the thought of change, at all. But I assure you, it's a good change. Are you single? Because I'm also getting that there is going to be a change in your love life, a potential lover perhaps," she speaks, a twinge of curiosity.

"Way to call me out," I laugh. With her joking around, a bit flirty even, my nervousness has vanished. "But yes, I am sadly single."

"Well this is a good sign for you then, love is coming your way," she smiles, gathering the cards in one swoop and shuffling them back into the deck.

"God I hope so," I murmur. Three years I wanted to tell her, but of course didn't. "Thank you for the reading, I really do appreciate it."

She smiles. "It really wasn't a problem, I'm honored to be given the chance to read for the famous tarot writer," she teases. I huff. I knew mentioning my career would bite me in the but.

"Anyways," I murmur awkwardly. I side glance at the window, rain still pours down. And I try my best to think it a topic. "So you said that your a witch? I never knew that witches actually existed honestly."

"Oh we definitely exist. A whole community really. Now don't get me wrong though, it's not like Harry Potter, although I wish it was. Flying on brooms? Yes please," she chuckles at the last part.

"I guess I have a lot to learn," I laugh. "Next your going to tell me that werewolves and vampires exist." She shrugs and blows out the candles, the rain has stopped.

"I suppose you could say that they exist, yeah," she tell me, nonchalantly. I blink, my eyebrow raised in question.

"Your lying," I conclude, standing up, shaking my head. "It was nice to meet you, but I have to go, the rain stopped."

"Hey, don't be so quick to dismiss something you don't understand," she said, her eyes narrow. She also stood and walked around me, grabbing my wind breaker. She held it out to me. She tilted her head in question. "If your interested to learn more, feel free to stop by anytime. There's also business cards at the door, feel free to take one, it has my number on it." I took the wind breaker and put it on.

"Thanks. I-" I look at her then around the shop. Can't be any harm in learning about this, sure it's occult, but I'm sure it's not as bad as I think. "-I might just take you up on that offer." I bent down and grabbed my book bag with my laptop in it, can't forget that.

"I'm glad, I still stand by what I said earlier, you would make a good witch," she shrugged as she started to clean up the workspace.

"Thanks," I chuckled nervously. What the hell does that mean? I made my way towards the door and stopped. The business cards caught my eye and an internal battle wagged in my mind. A part of me knew that taking one of those business cards would change my life. Like the cards said. I took one of the cards and smiled at Terrwyn before making my way out of the store.

The reading weighed heavy on me, my mind still running over it. Maybe change is just what I need.

~☆~

Terrwyn started the ritual of closing the store once Payton left, clearing off the table, putting away tea, closing the lights and making her way up the stairs to her apartment. She herself was still shaken by the encounter, she didn't expect the girl to have such a big effect on her. She naturally was a flirt, apart of her nature, but with Payton she couldn't help but want things to go further in the future. Romantic or otherwise.

She sighed and rubbed her eyes tiredly and started to take her makeup off with make up remover that she blessed herself. There had been a lot of people coming into the shop for readings today, and it was draining. She hadn't planned on doing another reading, was going to close up shop, but then Payton came running in. There was something about Payton, something about her that tugged at Terrwyn's energy field. Something about the writer that made Terrwyn want to teach her about the supernatural world.

She looked herself in the mirror, letting her mind wander and her guard drop. As she did her eyes flickered from amber to gold and it felt like her canine teeth grew. The other plane for her has always been close, her other half. She could feel the pull, hear the whispers to join them on the other side in her other form. It took all of her will power not to do exactly that. She stared at the mirror more, her eyes going into a relaxed haze. A different picture appeared before her. Payton, running after a wolf in astral fields.

What an interesting day indeed.