Uncle Constantine informed Darius and me that we would be meeting a self-proclaimed fortune teller. Back in my world, these people were known as con artists; however, judging by his description and the reviews from the townsfolk, Uncle was confident that she was 100 percent legit. Now, of course, that doesn't sway me easily, but Darius bought it and insisted that all of us should go. So, whatever plans I had were tossed aside because we were going to meet this person.
"I don't believe this fortune-telling crap, Darius. No way you do." I said, disbelief clear in my voice.
Darius, eager as ever, replied, "What harm is it if we check it out? It's not like we are putting our lives on the line, so quit being so worried."
I sighed in displeasure. "You know these people ask for our money. How else do they make a living? And by giving them that money, it encourages them to continue their scam."
Despite my pleas of disapproval, Uncle and Darius ignored me, and we headed out to the streets of Lumina, the heart of the Mograin Continent. We walked past the usual merchants, street performers, and, of course, the con artists offering to 'help us with our future.'
One of them came up to me, grabbing me by the shoulder and rambling, "Sir, if you give me money, I can tell you what the future brings. Who knows, you might even bask in the river of wealth?"
I paid him no mind; such a lowly person didn't deserve my response at all. Even Uncle and Darius could tell that man was no fortune teller. We continued on, passing street after street, until eventually, we reached an abandoned alleyway. There stood a little shop, rotting with rust, and the wood looked like it had been there for generations. No renovations were clearly made to the property, and whoever owned the place made no effort to refurbish it into satisfactory condition. Whatever the sign on the top had said, there was no use reading it since I didn't understand the script, never mind the language.
A woman with light brown skin and long, luscious dark chestnut hair, dressed in a peculiar style, came out to greet us. "Gentlemen, may you please take off your shoes."
We took off our shoes and put them on the shoe stand by the entrance of the building. It was strange; I mean, you would have thought the place was her home by how little she cared about redecorating the walls and the overall environment. Perhaps I'm complaining too much, although can you really blame me when she's a self-proclaimed fortune teller? That's a stab in the face at honest work, but who am I to judge? I don't even know the woman, after all.
"Okay, men, you may sit down on the floor. It's time we start." she instructed.
I would have thought she would have some crystal ball or something equally cliché, but instead, she requested that we hold hands and prepare for the "ritual to take place." Now, of course, me being me, I knew there were other forces at play. First of all, why would she say ritual if this was merely a way of peering into the future? And what did she mean by "prepare?" Would this be one of those sacrificial things? If so, I'm getting Darius, Uncle, and myself out of here.
That was it. I couldn't keep my mouth shut any longer. "What do you mean by ritual?"
She put her finger to her lips. "Shush, we must proceed."
I scanned the room, noticing a bunch of strange looking idols and books scattered around. It practically felt as if we were in some twisted horror novel, and there was no way earth I was having it.
"I have tried to be nice. But What in the world, are you doing?"
Ignoring me, she passed around a bowl and knife. "I want each of you to put your blood inside. Then, you shall be bound."
"Yes, Ma'am," Constantine and Darius replied in sync.
Seriously, was I the only one sensing something off here? My Uncle and brother just offered to give up their blood for some type of ritual, and then she goes on to say 'bound?' I mean, what is this supposed to mean? This is so unlike them. No way someone as careful as Uncle and someone as skeptical as Darius would agree to demands like this.
Fed up with the circumstance, I asked in a low, irritated tone, "What have you done to them?"
She looked at me with confusion, but her eyes told me a completely different thing. "I have done nothing to them. Stop being so paranoid and follow what I say."
That was enough to confirm my suspicions. Now, I was sure there's definitely something else going on here. I would have to be a complete moron to ignore that fact. But if the results are true, what harm would listening to her orders do? I mean, it sounds crazy, I know, but I need to keep up appearances here, and besides, whatever she did to both of them doesn't seem to be working on me at all.
I forced a warm smile. "Yes, you're right. Please forgive me, madam. I didn't mean to be so rude."
I sliced the edge of my finger, feeling a sharp pinch. There she began chanting.
"The Dark Lord, we serve you and are obliged to you. Please accept my offering and bestow upon me the wisdom to tell these men their future."
She started with my brother. "You shall be a man of great justice, burdened with a fate to destroy what is closest to you, yet also farthest from you."
Hearing that, of course I didn't buy into but at the same time I couldn't discern what it meant, with that she moved onto my uncle remarking. "You will be tasked with these twins, making them become the men they are meant to be, and ultimately assisting them in aligning with their fate."
Uncle smiled proudly and Darius appeared to be lost deep in thought. I couldn't help but think they were morons, but at the same time, were they under her influence? And who is the Dark Lord? I thought to myself. Drowned in my contemplation, I barely noticed when the woman suddenly dropped her bowl and stared right at me with pure horror. Her face drained of color, sending chills down my spine. She started to stutter; I couldn't make out what she was trying to say.
Her face was filled with utter dread, her words barely escaping her lips, clawing out her throat with force. "Why are you here, and why now...?"
I couldn't comprehend the question. What did she mean by why was I here? Wasn't it clear to her that I was practically dragged out to this place? Was my disinterested expression all along unclear to her?
"I don't know, maybe ask these two who accompanied me?" I proclaimed sarcastically
She screamed, "Get out! Please leave!"
I stood up, annoyed, "So you make me put my blood into your bowl, and now you screaming at me to get out without at least explaining to me what's going on? You better start talking..."
No more was I going to bite my tongue and just that thought came across my mind, a sharp pain began to form inside my chest. I fell to the ground, coughing, foam bubbling around my mouth. I tried desperately to breathe, darkness closed in. My vision blurred, my eyes grew heavy, and then... nothing.