SEDUCTIVE SUPERNATURALS: 12 Tales of Shapeshifters, Vampires & Sexy Spirits (196 page)

Forever Rose: Chapter Two

Taylor leaned back to enjoy the slow spin of the giant Ferris wheel. She’d decided to have a ride before finding the fortune-teller’s tent, also wanting to spend a few moments thinking about all that had happened.

Especially hearing her father’s voice so clearly.

The weather had stayed warm, and the ocean breeze smelled fresh and felt moist and cooling on her skin. Sitting there now, somehow the air seemed different—charged with energy that surged with every revolution of the wheel.

She let her gaze fall on a small canvas tent—Madame Rosalinda’s tent, she guessed, a faded red rose gracing its peaked roof. A sudden chill traveled up her spine causing an uncontrollable shiver. She rubbed her arms, now thankful for the warm sunshine.

The wheel spun more slowly, now, and stopped regularly to allow its riders to disembark. Taylor’s gaze locked on the tent as she waited her turn.

On the ground now, she circled the base of the Ferris wheel and looked for the tent she had seen from above. A few moments later she stood in front of a hand-painted sign at its doorway.

She gazed at the sign and read aloud, “Madame Rosalinda, Clairvoyant. Dare to enter the Astral World and experience the Third Plane of Being. Madame Rosalinda has the power to travel to the Astral Plane to see your future and your past...if you dare. Astrology. Tarot Cards. Palmistry. Tea Leaves.”

With her hand at her neck, Taylor felt the throb of her heartbeat quicken.
What am I doing here? What if this fortune-teller’s message is not what I want to hear?

She leaned around the sign to peek into the tent, and sniffed the faint aroma of ginger incense, then stepped forward to get a better look. It was pleasantly dim and definitely cooler than the July heat outside. She felt the difference in temperature even at the entrance. Feeling suddenly a little nauseous and breathing uneasily, she took another step forward.

The sides and ceiling of the tent were draped with shimmering, silky cloth of dark green and blue hues that created an exotic ambiance. In the center of the tent, a table sat—on it a candle created a flickering pool of light on the jet black cloth that fell in satiny folds to the floor. Two intricately carved chairs of dark cherry wood sat on opposite sides of the table. Taylor’s breath caught in her throat and, ignoring her pounding heart, she walked into the tent.

The floor was covered with a thickly padded rug in a floral design and her sandaled feet sunk into its cushiness. Dark red roses bordered the carpet and she saw it was shabby and worn in spots, though still elegant. Not really knowing what else to do, she sat in one of the chairs.

In her peripheral vision, Taylor saw a movement at the back of the tent. When she turned she saw an area sectioned off by dark, thick drapes. A shadowy figure came out from behind the fabric, and she watched intently as the person stepped into view, quickly recognizing the old woman she’d met in the garden pavilion. Noiselessly, the woman approached. Though still dressed in black, she had added a fringed blood-red shawl over her shoulders.

The woman certainly looked the part of a fortune-teller, she decided. With trembling hands she reached into her pocket for the card the woman had left for her by the rose, placed it on the table and waited.

“Ah, yes. You have come for a reading, I see.” The woman sat in the empty chair, smiled at Taylor and stared openly into her eyes.

* * *

Madame Rosalinda felt a spark of excitement as she stared at the young woman’s face. It was a plain face, free of make-up, framed by mahogany-colored short-cropped hair. Though she did nothing particularly to enhance her looks, she had nice eyes and good bones.

Could she be the one?

“Let me see your hands.” She reached out her own pale, wrinkled hands and waited.

When the young woman obeyed and extended her hands, her fingers trembling slightly, she noticed, she said, “So tell me, are you interested in palmistry, perchance? Or perhaps we should talk to the Tarot, hmm?”

As she grasped the young woman’s hands she turned them both palm up and carefully inspected the long, artistically slender fingers. When she shifted her focus to the major lines of her palms, a jolt of heat coursed up her arms and caused her to gasp unexpectedly.

It was an omen.

She’d been right to leave the card for her.

It was the first sign.

“Are you all right?” the young woman asked as she pulled back her hands.

“Oh, not to worry, now. I just had a bit of a rheumatoid twinge in my old bones. Not to worry.” She once again held out her hands and smiled warmly, hoping she hadn’t frightened her into leaving before she’d fully discovered what she felt certain she was about to find.

Visibly relieved, the young woman reciprocated with a weak smile, putting her hands back on the table.

Taking her right hand, Madame Rosalinda turned it gently to examine the area on the side opposite the thumb, hopeful at what might be revealed there. Just below the little finger she noted the mount of Mercury, then looked down to the mount of Mars just at the edge of the palm. She saw a great steadiness in her, and the mount of Moon indicated the young woman’s great imagination.

Then she studied the lines of travel.
Oh, my.
It had been a long time since she’d seen that particular configuration and she was careful not to react. The young woman’s lines of travel delicately crisscrossed into an ethereal star-shape. From the star-shape, a shallow, barely visible line extended all the way to the palm and eventually intersected with the line of destiny.

The second sign.

Could she be the one? The thought made her tremble inside, though, once again, she held her reaction in check, hoping to not reveal to the young woman the intensity she felt with every cell of her being.

“Do you see anything interesting?” The young woman’s voice was quiet, barely audible.

“I see much happiness for you, my dear, in the very near future.” She released her hands and stared into the young woman’s luminous green eyes.

Yes, you could well be the one. The Tarot will tell.

“Would you like to see what the Tarot cards show for you?” She reached into a pocket of her long black skirt and then placed a small deck of cards on the table. “Place your right hand on the cards. Try to empty your mind. Think of nothing.”

Waiting for the girl’s breathing to become relaxed, she observed her carefully. Though mostly hidden under the brimmed straw hat, wispy curls framed the young face, her complexion creamy and fair. Laugh lines creased the corners of her eyes and there was a hint of a dimple in each cheek. Yes, her first impression had been correct. The young woman was not overtly feminine, but she was attractive in a natural, plain sort of way, which would serve her well.

As she squinted at her, she guessed the young woman to be somewhere in her twenties. Hopefully with enough life experiences to cope with what might come, but young enough to have an open mind, the old woman hoped. Slight of build, she appeared to be in good physical condition and there was a clear sense of inner and outer strength in her.

“You may open your eyes now, my dear.”

The old woman tipped her head back and, closing her eyes, she said, “May the angels and guardians of all worlds be with us today as we consult the ancient Tarot. May we see clearly and trust that the truth...is before us.” She felt her head gently drop forward, almost as though she were no longer in complete control. No matter how many times she’d felt it, it still frightened her a bit. She breathed deeply, raised her head, and then opened her eyes. “Let us begin. What is your name, dear?”

The breath the young woman apparently had been holding escaped from between tightly pressed lips. “Taylor. Taylor Martin.”

“Ah, an unusual given name. Taylor, please mix the cards and choose a number lower than twenty-two, and we will begin our inquiry.”

“Eleven,” Taylor answered after she had shuffled the cards several times.

“Now, take the eleventh card from the deck and place it face down on the table. Mix the cards again, and choose a number below twenty-one,” she said. Taylor obliged, and they repeated the process until five cards were face down on the table.

As Madame Rosalinda held her hands over them, she felt a distinct vibration rising from the five cards.

The third sign.

As she closed her eyes for several seconds, she silently asked the blue light of protection to surround them during the reading. Finally, she opened her eyes.

Turning each card over one by one, Madam Rosalinda knew she needed to remain calm and reserved no matter that she was filled with excitement mingled with apprehension.

If she is the one, I must tell her the truth in such a way that she will do as the spirits command without fear or hesitation.

“Taylor,” she began, “our inquiry today will be answered from the twenty-two cards of the Major Arcana of the Tarot. The first card you chose is in a position of the Affirmation. The second is one of Negation. The third, Discussion. The fourth, Solution. And the fifth card, Synthesis.”

After pausing a moment, she then said, “Let us behold the prophecy of the Tarot.”

She watched as Taylor set her shoulders in determination, and continue to silently gaze at the five cards on the table between them. She appeared to be listening intently, her mouth tight and grim.

Would she be ready to hear?

“The first card is the card of Judgment, which indicates change for you. You are about to begin a journey of great change, Taylor. The change will be significant and will take a form that will be astonishing to you.

She noticed Taylor’s face brighten at the suggestion.

Clearing her throat before proceeding, she chose her words carefully. “This journey of change will be precipitated by a real journey, one by train it seems.” Having already confirmed the astral signs of travel on Taylor’s hand, she had also distinctly heard the rhythmical chugging of a locomotive when she concentrated on the first Tarot card.

When Taylor’s stare met hers, a momentary look of discomfort crossed her face. Surprise, perhaps, though she sensed that already the reading was accurate.

“Your second choice is the card of The Moon. There will be danger on your journey. Beware of hidden enemies in the form of false friends.” She paused to let the words sink in and briefly glanced at Taylor for any sign of a reaction. She saw only what seemed like an expression of eagerness.

“Ah, The Lovers take the third position. There is passion for you on this journey, my dear. You must put your faith in this love, for it will guide you through the danger.” Again she paused to observe Taylor’s reaction to the reading. She still sensed concentration, but now also a degree of disbelief.

“The fourth card is The Empress. Your journey will place you in a position of importance and you will need to look within for strength. Your actions will be…pivotal to you…and especially to others.”

Should she say more? Should she explain that Taylor’s choices looked to be ones that would determine life and death?

A long moment passed as she listened inside, then decided to trust her own intuition. No, saying more might frighten Taylor away from the path being presented to her.

Finally she allowed her breath to escape in a sigh of relief, confident she’d made the right decision.

“The last card shows us The Stars. The Stars promise hope. You must remember, my dear, to believe in your own power to create a positive outcome.”

* * *

Both women sat motionless. Only the sound of their breathing and the muffled voices of the crowd passing by the tent disturbed the silence.

Taylor stared at the cards and tried to absorb what she’d heard. The reading sounded mysterious, and the only part that made any sense at the moment was the train trip. The rest sounded too curious, unconnected.

Certainly, the romance part would be a nice change. There was no doubt in her mind that she’d welcome the chance to meet a tall, dark and handsome stranger, and she hoped the stars had better luck in finding someone special for her.

Madame Rosalinda caught her gaze and Taylor watched as the old woman gathered the Tarot cards and returned them to the pocket of her skirt.

“Taylor, do you understand what the Tarot has revealed?”

“Well,” she began, “in a few days I’m taking the train to Santa Barbara, but the rest seems unrelated. Not much else makes sense, really.”

Then the old woman covered her hands with pale, wrinkled ones that felt warm against her skin. Warm and strangely reassuring.

“You must believe in whatever you feel, my dear,” Madam Rosalinda said. “Believe in what you see, and believe in what you might hear.” She hesitated for a moment, then continued, saying, “Have you ever had an experience of Clairaudience—hearing voices from those who have passed on?”

Taylor felt the blood drain from her face and, at the same time, her stomach pitched. She nodded mutely.

“Believe in voices, Taylor. Let them happen. The spirit-world is all around us and is here to assist us. Remember that.”

She watched, still speechless, as Madame Rosalinda pulled back her hands, and then stood.

“Goodbye, Taylor. I bid you a safe journey. Our reading is finished.”

Without another word, Madame Rosalinda walked to the back of the tent, disappearing behind the floor-length black drapes.

* * *

Behind the heavy curtains, Madame Rosalinda dropped heavily into a chair, her entire body weary from the reading. She bowed her head, then put both hands over her eyes and said a silent prayer of protection for the young woman.

The three signs had been revealed. Better yet, she’d sensed that the young woman’s character was pure, and her determination solid. The journey would undoubtedly be difficult for her to accept at first, but she knew Taylor had no choice.

She had been chosen.

Forever Rose: Chapter Three