Muddy Waters

Before the Skies Come Down

Chapter 7

“Well, how was your reading?” Rhyan asked as soon as she saw her friend emerge from behind the curtain.

“I don't even know what it meant,” she said, trying to make a joke out of it, but honestly, inside she was discontent. She didn't know what to think about what Madame Despoina said. She didn't know how to process what she had heard.

“It's my turn,” Betsy said, brushing past them. She walked into the room and immediately sat down in the chair.

“Hello, what is your name?,” the woman said.

“Betsy,” she said quickly. “I want to get a love reading,” she demanded. Clearly indicating they could skip the introductions.

“Of course, Betsy. We can do that,” she responded, cutting the deck again. She held up some of the cards. “Okay, go ahead and pick three cards and then sit them down on the table in the order in which you pick them, please,” she said patiently. Betsy grabbed the three cards at the very end and laid them down on the table. “Thank you,” the woman said, as Betsy did as she was told.

She turned over the first card and stared in disbelief. Her eyes grew wide, and she flipped the card back over, making sure that it was from the same deck. She turned it back again to the front side, nothing but blackness. There was no image on the card. How was that even possible?

“That card is all black. Is this a joke?,” Betsy asked, not in the least bit amused. This lady was wasting her time.

“No, this isn't a joke. Something is blocking the reading. You need to get some sage and a black tourmaline crystal from the shop. There may be something negative attached to you, Betsy,” she said as she shuffled the cards and began putting them away.

“Wait, no. I am not paying for this s**t. You didn't even do anything. And your games don't scare me. This is a scam to get me to buy more stuff,” she exclaimed, getting up out of her chair. “Thanks for nothing,” she added as she went back through the curtain.

“Yours was quick,” Rhyan stated when she saw Betsy already coming back through.

“Yeah , because this place is a joke,” she said, flipping her back over her shoulder. “Come on, let's go get a drink or something,” she said, heading toward the front door.

Lorraine and Rhyan exchanged glances at each other and followed behind their friend.

“What was that about?,” Rhyan asked as they sat themselves at a bar across the street. It was barely noon and the place was already bumping. The music was blaring, and the main lights were already off, with colorful rave lights beaming off of the walls and the floor in a circular motion.

“What?,” Betsy asked, pretending to have already moved on.

“Your reading? It didn't go well?,” Lorraine asked.

“No. They tried to scam me. I don't have time for that s**t,” Betsy said, waving the bartender over.

“What do you mean? We had pretty decent ones,” Lorraine said, looking back at Rhyan.

“Well, I didn't,” Betsy replied, cutting her off to order a drink. “I'll have a Bud Light draft, and go ahead and start a tab,” she barked at him, throwing her card down on the counter.

“Betsy, I don't want to be here that long. There are things I want to see today,” Rhyan said, encouraging her not to plan on staying long.

“Well, I want a drink or four,” Betsy said in a nasty tone. Betsy gave them a look that neither of them had ever seen before and they both knew that they needn't push her any further.

An hour and a half went by and Betsy had finally had her fill of drinks. It was the most awkward time with very little talk and mostly silence, well as silent as it can be with music blaring overhead. She paid her tab while Rhyan and Lorraine went to the restroom.