Page 50 of Lovers Fate

The noise from the carnival fades in the background as I walk inside like it’s beckoning. The air shifts and becomes more potent, like the world behind me seems to vanish, leaving a table, a crystal ball, and a deck of cards near a hand belonging to a woman with curly, long black hair.

“Welcome,” the woman says in a syrupy accented voice. “My name is Madame Sable. Would you like to know your fate?”

“Hi, my name is Athena.”

She waves her hand. “Have a seat. I’ve been waiting for you, Athena.”

I smile at her attempt to stay within her character. I’m sure she says that to everyone that comes inside.

“Of course you have. I’m sure you say that to all the guests,” I tell her truthfully.

She begins to shuffle the deck of cards and says, “Um, no… just you.”

As I gaze into the crystal ball, a little girl’s voice suddenly whispers, “Mommy.”

My head snaps up, and I look around but don’t see a child.

She stops shuffling. “You heard her,” she says, narrowing her eyes like she’s trying to read me.

“I-I don’t…” I place my hand over my throat.

“It will come in time.” She picks up the deck of black cards and continues shuffling.

I lift my hair and place it over my shoulder, taking a seat in front of the table facing her.”How much?” I ask when she stops shuffling and cuts the deck in two.

“It’s on the house.”

I raise a brow. “You do free readings?”

“No, just for you.”

“But you don’t know me.”

She sighs, gently tapping a long black nail on each pile. “Pick a side, Athena. Light or dark. Dark or light.”

“Which one is which?” She leans forward. “If we knew which side is which, we would be better prepared.”

“Prepared for what?” I ask curiously.

She must be crazy or messing with me. Her fingers glide over the crystal ball as she waits for me to choose which deck. I look at the crystal. Shapes and shadows start to emerge, resembling a slide show of my life. My mother, Chris, the psych ward, the white door with one window, a glimpse of what he did, and finally, what I did.

I lean back. “That can’t be possible,” I whisper, staring at the crystal.

“Everything is possible,” she says softly, her eyes locking with mine, making my heart race. “You seek answers. You want to find your purpose in this life. When you’re ready to ask about your situation, pick a side.”

Her words hang in the air. The noise from the carnival breaks the suffocating silence. She’s right; I want to know. I know whatI saw in that crystal, and it wasn’t an illusion caused by the light. Whatever she is going to tell me isn’t bullshit.

She leans back with a knowing grin. I glance at the two decks, my finger hovering, and select the right one. She flips the cards, picks five from the deck, and places them on the table in a five-card spread in the form of a cross.

She flips the first one over, the devil’s card upside down. She says, “Don’t be alarmed,” her voice low and resonant like a distant bell. “When it’s upright, we have to worry.”

“What does it mean?” “What does it mean?” I ask, the worry leaving my lungs.

“The first card is the past influencing the present. The balance. You need to find balance in your life, but don’t worry. The cycle is about to begin. It’s getting stronger.”

“What cycle?” I ask, hoping whatever she is going to tell me makes sense.

“Your past life’s karma influences this life. What you did before affects what you are now. It’s how you pay your karmic debt.”

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