"Crimany monkey fudger," Myrriah babbled. She had actually intended to say a few real curses, but her brain and her mouth didn't seem to be properly connected at the moment. The head just arched an eyebrow skeptically.
The woman, or rather her head at least, appeared to be in her late thirties or early forties. She had large, dark eyes that were the same shade of dark green as the cloudy swirls in the crystal ball. Her skin, lips, and even her black hair had been tinted green. She was very pretty in a sharp sort of way, like a beautiful crystal that will slice your hand if you try to grab it.
Myrriah looked at a pile of tarot cards on the table. "Are you some sort of fortune teller?"
The woman smiled like a viper trying to coax a rabbit towards it. "Yes, I'm a reader of minds, voice of the other realms. I can see into your future and past."
"How about the present?" Myrriah said with a grin.
"Do you have any idea who you're joking with?" asked the woman with a smug smirk.
"Oh, I know who you are!" Myrriah cried out. "Madam, um, Madam… Oh, what was it you used to say? Oh, right. 'Call me now for yah free readin'!' Madam Cleo, that's it! Man, I knew times got pretty tough for you back in the late nineties, but you shouldn't have committed suicide."
"I am not," snapped the head, "this Madam Cleo you speak of." She sniffed indignantly. "I am Madam Leota. And I know perfectly well who you are, Myrriah Harolds."
Myrriah blinked several times in astonishment. She had the sudden feeling that she didn't want to be here. "Wow, um, you know, I'm just going to leave now and, uh…"
"You were crying when you ran in here," said Leota coolly. "I know what you were crying about. And yes, it IS your fault. It was all your fault!"
Myrriah could feel the tears rushing back.
"It was all because you had wanted to sneak into that high school party. But no, you couldn't go alone could you? No, you had to drag your friend along. 'You know I wouldn't have any fun without you,'" Leota mimicked in a high-pitched, nasal voice. "'Come on, it'll be fun, there'll be lots of cute high school boys there.' And then what happens? Your brother had to go fetch you."
The image in the crystal ball swirled and changed. Leota's face was then replaced by the image of a large house with multiple cars parked in the driveway and on the front lawn.
The lights in the house were on and music blared. Drinks were poured and kids laughed and danced.
A small, red car pulled up and parked in the road in front of the house. A young man, hardly more than eighteen jumped out and ran to the house, flung open the door, and bolted inside. The music stopped and he marched back out, dragging Myrriah and Courtney by their wrists.
Myrriah didn't want to hear the arguing she knew was coming, but she still strained to hear the words that faintly came from the crystal ball.
"What do you think you're doing?!" screamed Myrriah. "We were perfectly fine, Cody. You didn't have to barge in and embarrass us like that!"
"I know what those people are like," said Cody. "Those guys do not want to be with you because they like to talk to you, okay. There's a reason they invite little girls like you to their parties! I thought you had more sense than this, Myrriah! You think that by hanging out with older kids it makes you more mature. Well it doesn't! Now get in the car, I'm taking you home! Courtney, I already called your parents, you are in serious trouble! Myrriah, you just wait until mom and dad get back from their trip!"
Courtney nodded silently and slunk into the backseat of Cody's car. Myrriah grudgingly got into the passenger seat. Before Cody could so much as open his door, one boy ran out of the house.
"Cody," he yelled, his speech slurred. "Whash your problem? They were obliviously having a goo' time." He put an arm around Cody's shoulder, swaying slightly. "Come on, I'll pour you a beer. You know, everyone loves the girls. So, lesh-let's all go back inside. 'Kay?"
Cody pushed him away. "Matt, dude, back off okay. It looks like you've partied a little too hard tonight. I'm taking them home." He tried to get back in the car, but Matt shoved him.
"You're always sush a party pooper, Cody," Matt slurred. He shoved Cody again. Cody pushed him back, knocking him to the ground. Matt jumped up and punched Cody, who quickly retaliated with a hard punch to Matt's jaw. Even after Matt fell, Cody kicked him in his ribs.
"Stay away from my little sister!" Cody quickly got into his car and sped away.
Myrriah shut her eyes tightly, not wanting to see what happened next. Even if she closed her eyes, she could still see the memory clearly.
After a few minutes, Cody noticed the headlights of another car speeding after his own. He cursed as Matt's truck pulled up alongside him, swerving closer and closer to him. He finally forced Cody off the road. The girls screamed as the car crashed through a guardrail and flipped once. Cody slammed his foot on the brake in vain as it careened down a small hill and drove right into a large oak tree.
"Cody nooo!"
"Nooo!"
"Myrriah! Myrriah snap out of it!"
Myrriah had the vague feeling she was being shaken. She opened her eyes to see Courtney standing in front of her, still shaking her shoulders.
"I've been looking everywhere for you. What were you screaming about?"
"My fault! It was my entire fault! I didn't get to tell Cody-"
"Oh." Understanding dawned on Courtney's face. She pulled her friend close and hugged her tightly. "No, no, it wasn't your fault. Quit blaming yourself."
Myrriah's sobbing ceased and she took a step back. She wiped tears away from her eyes. "I think I need to be alone for a little bit, Court."
"But-"
"I'll see you in the morning." She walked out through one of the walls.
Courtney decided not to pursue her. She sighed heavily.
"Poor child has so much guilt," said Madam Leota softly.
Courtney turned around. She hadn't even noticed the head in the crystal ball. "Oh my god. Madam Cleo what are you doing here?"
Madam Leota suppressed a scream and silently counted to ten. She sighed though clenched teeth. "I am Madam Leota, not Madam Cleo!" She regained her composure. "Your friend holds so much grief."
"I know," sighed Courtney. "I wish I do could something about it."
"You know," said Madam Leota brightly. "I think you can."
"How?"
"I can fix everything. I have the power to give you your life back. You just have to do something for me first."
"Wait, wait, wait. Time out. If you can bring us to life, why don't you do the same thing for yourself?"
"I knew you would ask that. You're such a bright girl, Courtney. You see, I was trapped in this crystal ball years ago and now my powers are so very limited. If you set me free, I will have all of my magic back. And then I can bring you and your friend back to life."
A terrible feeling nagged at Courtney. This isn't right, it said. But why would this Leota woman lie about something like this? There's a reason she's locked up, you know, the feeling continued.
"I need to think about this," said Courtney. "I'll get back to you." She walked out of the little, dark room and nearly walked right into George Gracey.
"Sorry about that," said George. "I was just checking to see if those two mortals were hiding in here. We can't find them anywhere." He glanced down at the camera Courtney was still holding in her hands. "What's that?"
"Oh, it's a camera I found out in the woods, sir." She handed it to him.
He looked it over, a look of childlike curiosity on his face. "Amazing," he breathed. "I haven't had a close look at any sort of cameras in at least fifty years." His blue eyes sparkled. "I used to love photography back when I was alive..." He stopped himself and cleared his throat. "Well, good job," he said, becoming serious once again. "That means that they definitely snuck out. Uh, do you mind if I keep this with me? You know, to keep it safe if the owner comes back to look for it?"
Courtney arched an eyebrow. "You're the Master of the Manor, sir," she reminded him.
"Right. Well, I'll lock up for the night. Get some rest for tomorrow's scares." He gave her a curt nod and then turned around and walked away. Courtney could tell he was playing with the camera's buttons.
A/N: Disney owns the character and the name Madam Leota.