Divine Fate and That Brotherly Angst Bullshit
Merle was still quiet as a church mouse behind her. As she trailed after the back of Lady Jadis, Beth glanced over her shoulder and saw him following with heavy feet and an even heavier scowl. Yet he wasn't uttering so much as a peep.
She wanted badly to remark on it but she didn't dare speak to him in the psychic's presence. At least not until she could figure out if Jadis was for real or not. And she got the feeling that Merle had the same intention - like they were both testing the waters. Maybe he was actually playing it smart for a change.
So far, it was pretty apparent the psychic couldn't see him because she certainly hadn't acknowledged him even though he'd been obviously standing just behind Beth the whole time. But what if she could hear him when he talked? It wasn't out of the realm of possibility just yet.
The half of the room hidden behind the big black curtain didn't look much different from the other half, except that it was heavily decorated and a bit smokier. It was all the usual kinds of things you'd expect to see in a psychic's place of business, though a bit underwhelming if Beth were being honest: posters of the moon's phases, Tarot figures, palm lines, Zodiac signs and the like, along with a lot of gaudy beads and crystals and weird objects perched upon shelves that lined the walls. There was no furniture except an overstuffed couch in the far corner and a small circular table set in the very middle of the room. There was a chair on one side facing the two chairs set on the opposite side. The table was draped in a long black cotton tablecloth and the chairs were nothing more than repainted dining chairs from a dining set that probably didn't exist anymore. Beth suppressed a grimace when she spotted a crystal ball sitting in the center of the table and a stack of Tarot cards beside it.
She'd tried to be optimistic and open-minded, but there were some things that simply came off as ridiculous to her. She didn't want to let Merle's doubt seep too far into her own mind yet she had to admit that he was right for being suspicious. She knew that there were far too many people with silver tongues and ill intentions, and she wasn't going to allow someone to take advantage of her.
Lady Jadis sat in the single chair on the one side of the table and gestured silently for Beth to sit as well. She took one of the chairs on the other side, sitting uneasily and watching from the corner of her eye as Merle plopped down in the seat beside her. The psychic still hadn't noticed his presence - or at least, she wasn't acknowledging him yet. Beth was losing more faith by the second.
The skepticism must've been apparent on her face because Jadis gazed at her from across the table with a confident smile and said, "Trust me, what I charge is a small price to pay for all that I offer."
Beth quirked an eyebrow but didn't say anything. She kept expecting Merle to let out a chuckle or a grunt or even a snort of amusement. But he remained silent in his seat. He still looked uneasy.
"Shall we begin?" Jadis's thin lips curved into a tight smile and she reached her hands out atop the table. "Give me your dominant hand."
Beth swallowed hard and reached out her right hand. Jadis clasped it in hers, palm up, and her cold skin made Beth shiver. She gazed down and studied the features of Beth's palm closely. Then she was tracing a long and pointy acrylic nail across the lines, humming thoughtfully. Beth shivered again but pursed her lips and waited.
"Very interesting," Jadis said. Her voice was oddly flat and almost emotionless without a hint of an accent, Southern or otherwise. When she spoke, the 'mystic' lilt in her tone sounded forced and a bit melodramatic.
But Beth listened intently anyway, the psychic's long black nail tips grazing through the indentions of her palm.
"Yes, my dear, you have many interesting tales to tell," Lady Jadis muttered, staring down at the lines as if enthralled. "You aren't quite like everyone else, are you?"
Is this some kind of ploy? Beth thought, holding back any agreements she might want to voice. She probably says things like this to all her customers. Everyone wants to hear that they're different or special.
When she didn't get an answer, Jadis went on, "Your love line is fascinating. It's common yet… uncommon. Like nothing I've ever seen before."
Beth nearly rolled her eyes. She didn't come here for predictions about her love life.
"And your life line - so many splits! What happened here? How could such a young girl have so many expeditions to different planes? I'd have never thought it possible." Jadis's voice was sounding a bit more genuine as she continued but Beth kept telling herself that it was all theatrics for the sake of money. "You have… something new here. Something astounding and inexplicably rare. I've only ever heard of it from friends of friends of friends, in tales long told to those of us within the paranormal and psychic community. I can only describe it as…"
Beth hadn't realized she was holding her breath until she took note of the complete silence within herself. Her heart pounded and it seemed like an eternity as she waited for Jadis to explain. She didn't want to give any signals, spoken or physical, that the so-called psychic might pick up on and feed off. She reminded herself that people like this were professionals when it came to reading body language and telling someone exactly what they wanted to hear. They were nothing more than actors.
Right…?
"What? Describe it as what? Am I dyin' or something?" Beth had become impatient and burst out, her voice nearly panicked.
Jadis raised her head and met Beth's worried gaze, giving a smile of reassurance. Though her eyes were still wide with disbelief and fascination. "My dear, you are farther from dying than every living person you've ever met. The description I want to use - well, are you a woman of faith?"
Beth nodded, brow creased in concern.
"It is Divine Fate. You were gifted by God. You were given a specific destiny; a purpose that few others on this earth have ever known… that few others will ever know."
Beth's breath hitched in her chest and she yanked her hand back, shoving it between the chair and her leg to warm it up. She stared across the table with awe, even though she wanted to keep a blank face. She knew she was failing at that.
It was just too weird to hear those words from someone who'd never met her before. What did this psychic know? What the hell had she seen in the stupid lines of Beth's palm?
"And what about the dead people?" She asked, raising her voice in an effort to push out the tension that hovered over them. "I didn't come here to find out about my 'purpose' - I just wanna know how to get rid of this dead guy that won't stop followin' me around."
Jadis placed her hands in her lap and blinked, perplexed and taken aback. Her mouth opened and closed and opened again. She paused, furrowing her thin eyebrows. Then she repeated, "A 'dead guy following you around'? You're being haunted?"
Beth shrugged a bit too nonchalantly. "I guess? Whatever you wanna call it." It came pouring out of her in a rushed wave; the real questions she'd been dying to ask all day, "All I know is that he's dead - very dead - and he swears I'm the only one who can see 'im or hear 'im and-and I don't know how ta help him. He says I have to help him, but I don't know how to help somebody cross over. I never even went to college!"
Lady Jadis blinked rapidly and took a long moment to absorb everything being said to her. She leaned back in her chair and folded her bony hands in her lap. Then she sighed. But it was obvious that she was masking her real shock, forcing a look of experience that almost came off as arrogance. Beth strongly doubted that this woman had ever been approached with a predicament quite like hers.
"Helping other souls cross over is no more than a service that The Gifted must provide in their lifetimes," Jadis explained calmly. "As I said, it is the purpose you were given by God Himself. And, my dear, service to others is the rent you pay for your room here on Earth... For your space on this mortal plane, where you would not normally belong."
Beth's heart skipped and she could see Merle squirming uncomfortably in his seat beside her, a huge frown on his face. But this wasn't what she wanted to hear. If she wanted to be preached to about her 'purpose' and 'service to others,' she'd just go to church with her dad. This woman wasn't giving her any real damn answers.
She shook her head and sighed in exasperation. "I don't care about service - I just wanna get rid of him!"
Jadis nodded patiently and didn't react to the palpable frustration in Beth's tone. She responded calmly, "Of course. I understand. Hauntings can take quite an exhausting toll on the mind and spirit. Tell me: where is this dead man right now?"
Beth kept her eyes locked with the psychic's and stated plainly, "He's sitting right next to me."
Jadis visibly reeled, eyebrows rising up so high that they disappeared behind her bangs. Then she quickly tried to cover it up with a tight-lipped smile to retain her faux confidence. But her shoulders were tensed and she was sitting up straight as a board, almost appearing shaken.
"Well, this is clearly a purpose designed for you and you alone," she said, her voice as flat as ever. "I can only assume that others - even those of us with the Gift of Sight - are not permitted to see him for a number of reasons. Perhaps this man is right; you may be the only one who can help him."
She could certainly think on her feet, Beth had to give her that much.
Fed up, Beth whipped her head to the side and looked at Merle with narrowed eyes. "Are you gonna talk or what? She obviously can't see you."
Merle shot her a loathing glare and sat up straight in his chair, crossing his arms over his chest and clearing his throat loudly. "I don't fuckin' like this place an' I don't like this weird bitch and 'er ugly haircut. The hell you want me ta say?"
Beth looked over at Lady Jadis expectantly, eyebrows raised, silently asking her, Well? You heard him, right?
But the psychic was staring back at her with a blank expression. She seemed to be waiting for something to happen, growing more and more skeptical by the second.
Beth sighed and turned back to Merle. "Talk louder - get in her ear or somethin'."
Merle rolled his eyes and grunted, heaving himself up out of his chair with far more effort than necessary. He drug his feet over the floor and Beth was reminded of a small child reluctantly going to their room after being punished. Then he leaned down until his face was mere inches away from the psychic's, his mouth so close to her ear that she must have felt his hot, cigarette-saturated breath.
"HEY! YOU HEAR ME IN THERE, STUPID PSYCHIC BITCH?! I'M RIGHT HERE, YA UGLY GYPSY! YOU GOT NO GODDAMN TITS! TELL THIS BLONDE BIMBO TA GO TALK TO MY BROTHER! SHE WON'T LISTEN TO ME! HEY!"
Beth rolled her eyes at his choice of words but watched Jadis's reaction carefully. The older woman was completely unfazed. She was completely unaware.
Merle grew bored and stepped back, sighing and crossing his arms over his chest. He shook his head and frowned. "Fuckin' knew it," he grumbled. "I told you. Ya shoulda listened to me, blondie. Waste of a good twenty bucks."
It must've seemed like several long and awkwardly silent moments to Jadis because she remained seated stiffly, waiting patiently for something that wasn't coming. She was reading Beth's changing expressions and detected the growing frustration.
Beth finally shook her head and slumped her shoulders in defeat. "You didn't hear… anything?"
Jadis blinked and smiled innocently. "Shall I try one of my communication devices? It might aid me in making a Connection and interpreting his messages."
Beth frowned. What is there to interpret? He's speaking in perfectly clear Georgian Redneck. "So that's a no."
"I'm sorry, my dear. It appears to me that this journey is yours to take alone. I have heard voices and interpreted messages from thousands of the deceased throughout my career, but if I am not meant to intercede… well, there's simply no fighting with Fate. There is no arguing with God. There is only acceptance," Lady Jadis said simply, shrugging her stiff shoulders. "I help where I'm allowed to help."
The long day was taking its toll on Beth's attitude, combined with the very little sleep she'd gotten the night before and the severe disappointment she'd endured for the last several hours. Not to mention, her tolerance for bullshit was at an all-time low after dealing with Merle for the last two days. She couldn't hide the anger in her response, nor could she stop her voice from rising.
"Yeah, whatever. But I'm almost positive yer just not trying hard enough. Whatever 'experience' - " she used air quotes mockingly " - you might have with helping a soul cross over obviously doesn't apply to my situation. You want my money and that's it. I think we're done here, Lady Jadis."
She shoved her chair back away from the table and stood to her feet. Merle had drifted over to the other side of the room where he was meandering around, bored, looking at posters and putting a good distance between him and the useless psychic while mumbling inaudibly to himself. When he noticed that Beth was about to leave, he stopped and spoke up.
"Hey!" He got her attention and she looked over to see him tapping a finger on one of the posters hanging on the wall. "Who's this? Ask her 'fore we leave - jus' real quick."
Beth sighed and took a step back from the table. Lady Jadis was standing to her feet, hands clasped tightly before her and a concerned expression on her narrow face. She was about to open her mouth and say something but Beth cut her off before she could.
"Who's that?" She asked, stretching out an arm and pointing at the poster across the room. Merle stepped toward them and watched the psychic expectantly.
Jadis turned and glanced toward the wall that Beth was pointing at. "Which one?" There were a few different posters of people, various illustrations of mythical characters and legends of superstition.
Beth kept pointing at the poster while describing it, "That one - the painting of the black guy with the hat and the moon an' the weird symbol in the corner."
"Oh," Jadis breathed out, her tone resembling amusement as she turned back to Beth and smiled. "That's a very infamous and powerful demon, young lady - "
"It's Beth. My name is Beth." She was so sick of being called every stupid nickname in the book. She was sick of being patronized and talked to like some kind of ignorant child.
Lady Jadis paused and blinked, struggling to conceal her obvious dismay. Her smile became more forced and her eyes grew darker. "Sorry - Beth."
Beth cleared her throat and nodded toward the poster. "A demon?" Her eyes shot over to meet Merle's and she recognized the expression of disbelief that was crossing his face.
She didn't care if this stupid psychic thought she was crazy or not. She asked Merle, "Why d'you wanna know? You recognize him? Are you tellin' me that you recognize a demon?"
Merle scoffed and began walking toward the big black curtain, breezing past her with his hands in his pockets. "I was just askin'. Get off my dick, blondie."
"Beth, that demon is a very powerful force. He is not to be reckoned with," Lady Jadis clarified, her tone suddenly very stern.
But Beth rolled her eyes. She was at her wit's end with both Merle and this 'Seer of All.' She knew even less than she had at the beginning of the day and that infuriated her. If anything, all these consultations had done nothing but instill her with more fear and uncertainty.
"Well I have a God-given purpose, remember?" She said sarcastically, digging into her jeans pocket for another twenty-dollar bill. She finally found it and pulled it out, tossing it onto the table before turning to leave.
"Wait - "
"I know - you said twenty-five, but I only have a twenty on me and quite frankly ma'am, I don't think I got my money's worth - "
"That's not it," Jadis insisted firmly.
Beth paused and turned back, reluctant and annoyed. "What then?"
Merle had already disappeared through the big black curtain, eager to leave the psychic's shoddy little inhabitance.
Jadis's eyes were wide and serious, one hand held up beside her as though she were testifying, the loose black sleeve slipping down below her wrist to reveal a dainty forearm beneath. She spoke with more genuine confidence than before, her gaze so intent and self-assured that Beth couldn't help but listen.
"Your Divine Fate may be a purpose given by God... but it is known that God often works hand-in-hand with His fallen brother, Lucifer."
Beth sighed and lingered where she stood. "So basically what you're sayin' is, 'the road to Hell is paved with good intentions.'"
Jadis pursed her lips and shrugged. "I mean - yeah, pretty much."
Beth rolled her eyes for the millionth time. "I already know that. Don't worry, lady, I'm not out here committing crimes or hurtin' people because of some annoying dead guy."
"That's not what I mean, though," Lady Jadis reiterated. "That old saying is truer than most, certainly. But what we all must remember is that Lucifer was not cast out because of his abhorrence. Nor because of God's rage, as we have all been told… but rather, because of God's envy. And even after all these millenia, that brotherly strife burns brighter than the flames of Hell itself."
Beth found herself speechless. She was frozen in place, hanging on every word that came out of Jadis's mouth. Surely it was all nonsense - she'd been taught all her life that God created Satan, not that they were brothers. Yet she couldn't help but entertain the idea. Because even after all those years of Bible study and church services and seemingly unanswered prayers… she still didn't have the answers she so desperately needed. Nothing ever quite clicked or made sense in a way that seemed plausible in her mind. Especially when she'd had so many inexplicable experiences that didn't line up with anything in the Bible or any other book. Nonetheless, she'd continued to believe and have faith and rely on all those things she'd been taught were true.
And then here was some fraudulent psychic standing in front of her, spouting a slew of things that would make Beth's daddy reel in disgust if he heard them. Maybe Beth should've reacted the same way.
But she couldn't. It made too much sense.
Not to mention, she was being followed by a man who was three weeks deceased and there sure as hell wasn't anything about that in the Bible. At this point, she figured just about anything was possible.
"The relationship between two brothers is something more complicated than you or I could ever understand," Jadis continued ominously. "But it cannot be underestimated. God and Lucifer may have an entire Earth separating them, and they may appear as enemies to the masses… but every destiny they design is designed together. Every Fate they construct leads to a greater purpose that serves Them both equally. When all is said and done, everything in existence belongs to Them and Them only. It is no matter who attains which, because They will always be two halves of one whole."
Beth's eyes were narrowed suspiciously but her mouth had gone dry.
Jadis lowered her voice and finished, "The two vastly different roads between them always lead to one destination. The bond between brothers is unbreakable; one cannot succeed without the other. God needs Lucifer and his demons just the same as Lucifer needs God and His angels."
There was a moment of awkward silence. Then Beth muttered, "Okay. But I still don't have any more cash to give you."
Lady Jadis shook her head and the faux mystical tone completely disappeared from her voice as she said, "You might think I'm full of shit, but I know a strong woman when I see one. I might not know as much as I claim, but I know that there is a reason you've been given this challenge. And I'm telling you to be careful. Your determination will either be your greatest fortune or your inevitable downfall."
Beth nodded doubtfully. "Right…"
Jadis raised her eyebrows and lowered her voice to add, "I'm serious. Remember this, sweet Beth: those who believe they lack a soul will sell it to the first bidder. And they will pay the interest at the cost of pure hearts like yours."
Beth sighed and shrugged, exhausted and deflated by all the melodramatic statements and theatrical warnings. "And what makes you think I have a pure heart?"
How pure could it be if I'm the only one who can see and hear a man as awful as Merle Dixon? She wanted to ask.
Lady Jadis smirked and clasped her hands in front of her. "God and His brother wouldn't waste their time in testing the faint of heart. You have a Divine Fate, Beth. Don't let it suppress your true abilities."
"Yeah, okay," Beth said, turning to leave. "Um - thanks. I guess. For… whatever this was."
She fast-walked away from the psychic and through the black curtain, out the door and back to the truck where Merle was waiting. He was leaning against the hood, chain-smoking and staring off into the distance. He still looked dismayed, though not as much as earlier. The sun was getting low and casting an orange glow over everything. When he saw her approaching, he flicked his cigarette and disappeared then reappeared a second later sitting inside the cab.
True abilities? Beth couldn't help but run through the words in her head. The only ability I have is putting up with this ignorant asshole. What else is there to suppress besides my growing rage?
She had hesitated at the driver's side door. Her fingers clasped the doorhandle but her mind was somewhere else entirely. In all honesty, she was stalling. She knew that a whole new onslaught of frustrating comments from Merle would be awaiting her as soon as she climbed into the driver's seat and she wasn't quite ready for that. She needed time to think in peace and mull things over on her own. She needed time to decide just how full of shit Lady Jadis actually was and how much of what she said could be taken to heart.
So she'd paused for a long moment while standing beside the big black Ford pickup. And that was when a black boy appeared from behind the bed of the truck and approached her so rapidly that she barely had time to react.
He was at least a half-foot taller than her, dressed in faded jeans and mud-caked boots and a moss green hoodie. The hood was pulled up over his head to cover his short and curly hair. Within the shadow of the hood, she could see dark skin and big, round, mud-colored eyes set amidst a round face. He couldn't have been older than 16 or 17 even though his voice was deep and slightly scratchy, and his Southern accent was thicker and more lilted than most in Atlanta. If she had to guess, she thought he sounded like he was from the deeper south - maybe Savannah or Florida.
"Yer big black Ford, the blonde hair, the cross necklace - did'ja already talk ta Lady Jadis?" He asked.
Beth's heart was racing in her chest and she was frozen. She'd never been approached by a stranger like this, in the glow of late evening while she was all alone in the city. Sure, there were plenty of people around, but what the hell was she supposed to do? Start screaming? What if he was just some panhandler looking for food money? Or someone who had mistaken her identity?
Before she could make a decision, Merle appeared at her side. His stance was defensive and his voice was low, menacing.
"Get in the truck an' drive away, quick," he insisted. "Before this li'l thug pulls out 'is weapon. Hurry, Beth! Go!"
But she didn't move, staring intently at the tall kid as he gazed down at her. She could see the unease on his face - he was nervous. He wasn't trying to hurt her.
"Christ, blondie, get in the truck! I can't defend you, this kid can't even see me! You gotta fend fer yerself!" Merle said frantically. "Lookit - he's got 'is hands in his pockets, he's prob'ly got a gun!" She tuned him out, decisively choosing to follow her own instincts.
"Who are you?" Beth finally managed to utter, eyeing the stranger up and down.
The black boy frowned and furrowed his brow. He spoke quietly and discreetly, "The Swamp Witch saw you in a vision. You need help… right?"
She immediately replied, "Yes, but - but it's a special kind of help."
He smiled knowingly and nodded.
She paused and added quizzically, "How'd you - who's the 'Swamp Witch?'"
"Swamp - what?! He's tryin'a distract you!" Merle was baffled beside her, still waving his arms around dramatically. "Let's get the fuck outta here! He wants ta rob you, blondie! You wanna be mugged an' raped out here?! Get in the truck!"
"Here." The boy reached into his hoodie pocket - Merle winced dramatically and cried out, clearly expecting a gun - and extracted a folded piece of paper, which he held out for Beth to take. She did so gingerly while Merle relaxed and huffed out a frustrated sigh.
"The Swamp Witch is anticipatin' yer arrival. Don't wait too long. Time is the vengeful enemy's most powerful weapon," the boy said.
Beth stared back, perplexed, clutching the folded piece of paper in one hand. Her voice was strained and nervous as she asked, "Can I come now? I need answers, I - "
But he cut her off sharply, "No. Not by yerself. The Swamp Witch's expectin' a pair a visitors - their fates intertwined like the unbreakable vines that climb a great ancient tree."
She suppressed a humorless laugh and said, "It wouldn't be by myself. I'm not alone."
He smirked knowingly and glanced over at Merle - wait, did he? Could he see Merle? She didn't have a chance to ask. Merle was rendered speechless where he stood, seemingly just as fascinated as she was at this point, and the strange boy's soil brown eyes were back on her.
Then, in his scratchy deep voice, he stated matter-of-factly, "Lemme reword that: a pair of living visitors. There's somebody else yer meant ta meet. He's vital in the outcome; his fate will be determined the same as yours. Don't put it off any longer. The clock is ticking. The Swamp Witch is awaitin' yer foreseen visit."
Beth opened her mouth to ask another question but he stopped her, "We'll see y'all soon." Then he turned and practically sprinted away, across the street and around the corner until he'd disappeared from sight. Calling after him would have done no good even if she'd been able to find her voice in time.
She glanced over at Merle and saw the indignant expression on his face, anger burning bright in his blue eyes. He met her gaze and she could tell he was about to speak so she quickly looked away, down at the folded piece of paper in her hands. When he saw that she was unfolding it, he remained silent. Apparently, he was too curious to continue being angry. She could feel him leaning in and gazing over shoulder as she inspected the paper in her hands.
It was a hand-drawn map of the Southernmost parts of Georgia leading across the border into Northern Florida. There was a thick red marker line that drew a clear path through highways and roads into swamps and greenery and presumably uninhabited land. Beth studied it for a moment with wide eyes, still reeling from all the mysterious words spoken by the strange hoodie boy. There was an unfounded intensity and certainty in his voice that rang in her ears well after he'd disappeared. As though he really did have all the answers she was seeking.
Or maybe this 'Swamp Witch' had all the answers.
"Well," Merle said after too many moments of quizzical silence. "'Spose that boy knew about me."
"Ya think?" Beth replied sarcastically.
He sniggered and leaned back, crossing his arms over his chest and gazing down at her smugly. "You heard 'im: he said two living people. Wonder who that could be…"
She knew what he was hinting at but she played dumb and tried to distract him. "I'ono - maybe there's somebody else who can see you an' help us." She shrugged.
His smile lessened and he scoffed, shaking his head. The smugness didn't falter. "You an' me both know what 'e means. Ain't no coincidence, that's fer sure. I reckon he's talkin' about Daryl."
She rolled her eyes and looked back down at the map. But she didn't have an argument. Eventually, she would have to admit he was right no matter how badly she wanted him to be wrong. Not yet, though.
"Yeah, you was in denial but'cha can't keep puttin' it off ferever, sweetcheeks. Yer gonna have ta talk to my li'l brother."
Beth pursed her lips and stared down at the map, too confused to be perturbed by Merle's mocking statements.
He grinned and added, "The Swamp Witch says so. I'ono the broad but she already sounds like my kinda people." Then he chuckled, all too pleased with himself.
Talk to your brother about what? Beth thought. How the hell am I gonna convince this complete stranger that his dead brother is haunting me? Or that a Swamp Witch in Florida is the only person who can help us? A 'Swamp Witch' that I've never even met?
She was beginning to accept the fact that she was most likely losing her mind.
to be continued...
