8.12.1878
England
Will Faust wasn't the most popular men in town. People looking for him was never a good sign.
He opened the door slowly. There was an old woman there, smiling at him.
"Excuse me?" he said carefully. Old ladies are usually not dangerous, but this one made him uneasy. Her presence spelled loud and clear that she wasn't the type of old ladies you can mess around with.
"Mr. Faust," her voice was dry and tired. "I hear your home is to be blessed soon."
Will stared at her. "Excuse me, ma'am, but who are you?"
"This is not important, my child."
"You know my name, aren't I entitled to know yours?"
The woman waved her hand dismissively. Then she realized this was a weirdly swift movement for someone who looked so old they could be dead, so she repeated it – this time slowly and with her hand shaking.
"Oh, I know many names." She said. "And I have not gotten to where I am by giving mine in return. As I was saying, Mr. Faust, I hear your home is to be blessed soon."
Upon noticing the blank look on Will's face the woman sighed. "Witch a child, my dear. You are to have a child soon."
"Oh, yes!" Will nodded, some lightbulb seeming to have turned on in his head. "Yes, indeed. Are you a friend of Anna's? Or a friend of her grandma, perhaps?"
The woman smiled. "Perhaps."
"So this is about the baby?"
The woman said nothing, but a much younger voice rang out in Will's head.
Duh this is about the baby! What else could I be here to talk about? Your career? Cause that's clearly going nowhere!
Will nodded uncertainly. "Of course, ma'am. My wife is expecting any day now."
"The stars have a lot of gifts coming to your little girl."
"Oh, we don't know that, ma'am. It could be a boy."
The young voice spoke again: Just shut up and listen!
"Of course, of course." Said the old woman. "But in case I am indeed correct and your wife is expecting a daughter,"
She opened her hand to show a necklace. Will took it mindlessly. The yellow material shined like gold, but he didn't dare make that claim.
"It is a family relic." Explained the woman. "I never had any daughters of my own, just a son. It is my last wish, as a very very old lady, for the necklace to have a new owner. May it bring magic to your girl."
Without waiting for a response, the woman turned around and strode off. Will stared at her for a little bit. He never knew old ladies can walk like a soldier on a mission. He shook his head, as if trying to clear it up, and lifted the necklace to his face. It was made of something pricy, alright. It was also weird enough to be made of something pricy. The chain was coming out of two sides of a circle. Under the circle, as if it was resting on them, were a pair of horns.
Anna's grandma sure had some weird friends.
