Snippet #1370321

Ariella was preparing herself a pot of tea in the kitchen when she heard the bell on the door in the other room ring. "Oh, a customer. It's okay mom, I'll get this one."

"Alright, honey. I'll finish the tea. One sugar or two?"

"Two please." Ariella smiled at her mom over he shoulder, making her way into the other room where the shop was set up. She saw a strange looking, old man, who appeared to be a merchant or something of sorts, as he had lots of trinkets hanging off his multi-compartment coat. "Oh, hello there.. how may I help you today?" Ariella asked, her usual bubbly personality shining through.

"I would like a fortune, please.." the man said, nearly struggling. Ariella figured he must have been sickly, or something. "Very well," she smiled. "will it be cards, or your palm? Or perhaps the magic mirror?"

"What do you recommend?"

"People love the mirror, and it tends to be most reliable for myself, personally." she wasn't trying to run a scam on the man; her words were genuine. For whatever reason, she did tend to have the best luck receiving messages using the "magic" mirror.

"Alright, magic mirror it is" the old man smiled. Ariella couldn't help but notice his smile was rather bright and infectious. In fact, she caught herself smiling too in reaction. She sat down at the small, scarf-covered table with several little magical trinkets on it. In the center was a flat circular piece of glass, bordered by silver embedded with multicolored jewels. The old man sat in a seat directly across from her. Ariella went to work, closing her eyes and gently sweeping her finger across the surface of the glass. She began to feel warm and tingly.. that was always how it started. Then, the images began flashing through her mind. She effortlessly made mental note of each image that flashed across her brain. "I see... a special item. An item of great value.. it has recently come into your possession." she spoke, her eyes still closed and her thoughts still focused on the images. The old man smiled and nodded to himself. "This item will be of great importance to someone. I see silver.. and, eyes.." Ariella was starting to get rather disturbed by the images, her gut telling her something wasn't exactly "right" about them. She had to stop..

"I'm sorry. I don't know what came over me. Um, it's okay, you don't have to pay me.. I wish I could have given you a better fortune but, yeah.. I think the universe's vibrations are a little "off" today.."

"Oh, please my young girl.. it's quite alright. I figure these days my future does not hold much except perhaps a timely death.. all my friends and family are gone, you see." the old man described. Ariella couldn't help but realize how innocent this man seemed, even though he was likely a scammer on the streets in the city outside. She was smiling again. Please, I insist you take this for your troubles.." and there it was, dangling there from the man's gnarled, wrinkly fingers.. the exact item she had seen in the images. It was a silver eye necklace; the pupil in the center was genuine sapphire, she could plainly tell. It must have been worth a fortune.. a much better fortune than she had supplied the man with, that was for damn sure.

"Oh, I don't think I can ta-" "Please, I insist. As I said, my days are numbered. If anything, it will bring this old man pleasure to see such a bright and priceless bauble in the hands of a beautiful young girl such as yourself." he was smiling big at her. "W-well .... alright, I suppose..." she reached out and hesitantly took the necklace from the man's hand. "Thank you, very much, sir. You are most kind.."

"Oh no, it is I who should be thanking you for the lovely fortune. I will see you around dear." the old man stood up, smiling big one last time at Ariella before departing out the door, and merging into the crowd of people who flowed by the shop windows on the sidewalks outside. Ariella looked down to the necklace in her palm and studied it for a moment. She walked back into the kitchen, not taking her eyes from the necklace. "Hey mom.. you'll never believe what just happened...."