[Chapter 12: The Black Widow Visits]
"Mr. Cross, I finally found you."
The young, striking blonde stepped confidently onto the steps in front of Cross Hall, calling out to Daniel inside the shop. Right behind her, a sturdy bodyguard moved with practiced vigilance, eyes scanning the surroundings for any sign of trouble.
Daniel appraised the woman before him. She appeared very young, barely twenty, not particularly tall -- just over five feet three -- but her figure was undeniably dramatic, sculpted like an hourglass. Amanda Seyfried's curves were already something special, but this woman's silhouette was even more pronounced.
There was something magnetic about her face -- a blend of innocence and a mature sensuality that made it impossible to look away. Just one glance and Daniel knew exactly who she was.
Scarlett Johansson -- the reigning Goddess of Arts and Literature, soon to be immortalized as the famed Black Widow.
Last year, at the Venice Film Festival, she had taken home the Upstream Prize for Best Actress with Lost in Translation. This year, the same film earned her a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actress, sending her star skyrocketing.
"It's you," Daniel said, nodding slightly. "Ms. Johansson, what brings you here?"
Scarlett smiled knowingly, unfazed that he recognized her instantly. "Aren't you going to invite me inside?"
"Please, come in." Daniel gestured toward the interior.
As Scarlett stepped into Cross Hall, the others around simply admired her beauty, but Lawrence, the spiritual goods shop owner, grew uneasy.
"Miss Johansson, don't fall for his tricks! He's got no real powers -- everything he sells is fake."
Scarlett glanced over at Lawrence, then back to Daniel.
Daniel offered a faint, unreadable smile but said nothing.
"Thanks for the warning," Scarlett said coolly to Lawrence. "I'll be careful."
She turned back toward Daniel and stepped fully inside. Her bodyguard followed close behind.
...
Once seated, Daniel asked, "Coffee or tea?"
"Coffee, please."
"Of course." Daniel disappeared briefly and returned with a cup of coffee.
"So, you came for me, but this isn't about yourself, is it?" he said.
Surprised, Scarlett replied, "How did you know?"
"It wasn't hard to guess. You carry no negative or malicious energy on you. Plus, you look healthy, untouched by any kind of 'taint.'"
Scarlett nodded. "Yes. I came because of my younger brother."
"What happened to him?"
Scarlett's expression tightened. "He's in trouble."
"Be more specific."
...
As Scarlett shared the details, Daniel pieced together the troubling situation.
Her brother Hunter was her fraternal twin -- both twenty years old this year. While Scarlett was already making waves in Hollywood, Hunter was still in college.
He'd met a girlfriend there, and things had been going well -- until recently.
His girlfriend had started acting strange, sometimes altering her voice as if she were someone else entirely. At first, Hunter thought she was just sick -- maybe a sore throat.
But the changes became more frequent, and then came the unusual cravings. She started eating raw meat -- first sashimi, then bloody beef and lamb. She had never eaten raw meat before.
One day, things escalated. She grabbed Hunter's arm suddenly and bit down hard.
Hunter bled heavily, but she eagerly sucked down all the blood, with a wild look in her eyes.
Terrified, Hunter suspected something sinister had taken hold of her. He tried taking her to an Exorcist, but she refused treatment.
Desperate, Hunter sought out an Exorcist on his own, to no avail; his girlfriend bit him again, and he dared not see her anymore.
Still, Hunter was deeply worried about her.
Out of options, he reached out to Scarlett.
Scarlett agreed: her brother's girlfriend was clearly possessed by some malevolent entity.
She'd heard that Amanda had dealt with a major supernatural event at her home, so she'd inquired and had been led to Daniel.
...
After hearing the story, Daniel nodded gravely.
"If everything you said is true, then your brother's girlfriend has certainly been possessed by something wicked. That would explain her drastic behavioral changes, her craving raw meat, and drinking blood."
Scarlett's eyes grew wide with relief. "That's exactly what I thought! Can you save my brother? He's terrified and in real danger."
"As her boyfriend, Hunter is indeed the prime target of the possessing entity -- and could very well be at risk of death."
Scarlett's face paled. "What should I do? Mr. Cross, you have to save him."
"Where is he now?"
"New York. He's still attending university there."
"That far away?" Daniel considered briefly. "Here's what you can do: buy two seals from me and have him wear them. They will guarantee his safety."
"What kind of seals?" Scarlett's eyes brightened in curiosity.
Daniel pointed to a set of small slips of parchment displayed on the shelf.
"Those."
Scarlett looked closely, surprised. "These little papers can protect my brother?"
"Absolutely."
Daniel picked down two shimmering seals -- one the Clarity of Mind Seal, the other a Body Protection Seal.
"The Clarity of Mind Seal calms the mind and gathers scattered thoughts," he explained. "The Body Protection Seal wards off wicked entities, preventing them from approaching."
Scarlett studied the tiny papers and listened in awe. They sounded almost miraculous.
"How much?"
Daniel indicated the price tag on the shelf: "One hundred thousand dollars each."
Scarlett gasped. "That expensive?"
"Whether you buy them or not is your call," Daniel replied evenly.
Scarlett hesitated, then tightened her jaw. "Fine. For my brother's safety, I'll buy them."
She pulled out her checkbook.
Just then, Lawrence stormed over again.
"Ms. Johansson, you can't buy those! Don't let him fool you -- his wares are all fraud, no real effect!"
His voice trembled with desperation, as if letting Daniel close the deal would be like signing his own death warrant.
Scarlett froze mid-motion, casting a wary glance at Lawrence, then shooting an enquiring look at Daniel.
*****
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