16. Behind The Blue Curtain
Sailor Raspberry
1380 Words

I was walking down the crowded sidewalk, minding my own business, when something caught my attention.

It was nestled between the candy store and the wedding gown store, the glass looking foggy and misshapen.

Of course, I found this to be quite peculiar, considering that it had not been there before this very moment. Still, the calligraphic letters sketched out across the windows were very much enticing, and something about the whole... diminutive structure made it quite attractive.

With my lips pursed, I glanced around, and found that no other person seemed to stop and admire this quaint little shop.

And that's why I decided to check it out. After all, if I was lucky, the owner would give me a discount for the "lack-of-customer" trait.

Slowly, I approached the store, silently repeating its odd name within my head.

Curtain of Wisdom.

Curtain of Wisdom.

Curtain of Wisdom.

Usually, stores hook a tiny little bell to the door that always tinkles merrily each time someone enters. But no, this strange store had wind chimes, the low octave echoing softly throughout the emptiness of the room.

That's when I began to have second thoughts.

See, I'm not chicken, not at all. It's just that this place gave me the heebie-jeebies. With all the wax candles, chimes, paper lanterns...

Oh! And the ceiling! It glowed an eerie yellow color. I mean, there was something seriously bizarre about this place. And just when I was about to make my way out, a woman's voice cut through the room.

"Come, my child."

She had a thick, unidentifiable accent, and it caused the little hairs on my back of my neck to stand. Slowly, I turned around, my eyes resting on a tall, gangly looking woman, whose hair was hidden beneath a silk cloth.

She stood in the corner, long silver sleeves billowing down to the floor. She lifted a frail hand, golden bangles clanking loudly. "You wish to have your fortune told, no?"

I clenched my teeth, eyeing the woman through squinted eyes. "What if I do?"

Oops. That came out far harsher then I intended.

She chuckled deeply, dropping her hand to her side. "You may call me Madam. Today, I shall tell you your fortune."

With that, she strode towards the back of the room, skirt fluttering out behind her. I arched an eyebrow in her direction, watching as she disappeared behind a blue curtain.

For a second, I considered high-tailing it out of there. But then, curiosity seemed to flood through my veins, and soon enough, I found myself peering into the room, my fingers clutching the curtain tightly.

Madam sat patiently behind a table, feet hidden beneath a ruby-colored table cloth. This room seemed even more disturbing then the one before, but still I sat, questioning myself the entire time.

She lifted her hand, palm up. "Cross my palm with silver," she said, the gem placed neatly between her two eyebrows glittering as it caught the glow of the ceiling.

For a moment, I stared at her as if she lost her bonkers. Then, realization hit me, and I laughed loudly. "You want me to pay you?"

She didn't respond, simply curled her fingers slightly, and I scowled, digging into my schoolbag for a coin.

Sighing, I dropped it into her outstretched hand, leaning forward in my chair. "I was going to use that for manga, so this better be good."

She 'tut-tut' ed me, shaking her head. "You mustn't insult my abilities, child. It will do you no good."

And then, she pushed her palms down onto the table, humming noisily. "Child," her voice seemed distant, fingertips white from the pressure she was applying. "You are far too tense. Just relax; I will not help you if you do not relax."

Okay, she was seriously starting to freak me out. And I could have sworn that a fog had started across the floor.

"Look, keep the money; I'm just going to..." I stood from the chair, backtracking towards the exit.

Suddenly, she inhaled sharply, head thrown back with a gasp. "Such wonderful things in your future, darling Usagi."

I felt myself tense, a slow, feverish fear running up my spine. Why I was scared when she said she saw good things, I wouldn't know. I guess I was in the moment.

"Sit, child." She hissed, fingers curling into fists. "I will tell you what you will want to hear."

I found my feet taking me back to the chair, and before I could even blink, there I was, sitting quite comfortably in its lush glory.

Madam must have laid cards out while I wasn't looking, because face down on the table was about thirty rectangular cards, their backs filled with swirling, red symbols.

Her fingers were laced, almost as if she was saying a silent prayer, black pupils so large, they drowned out the greenness of her eyes. "Such wonderful things," she muttered, fingering a card in the corner. "You will be such a happy child."

Is that her breathing, or is it mine?

Gradually, she inhaled, chest expanding with each passing moment. And then, she blew, lips formed in the smallest 'o'.

Faintly, I heard myself gasp as the cards stood, backs to me. I could feel myself becoming light headed, everything in the room spinning but her, me and the table.

She began to hum again, as if she were coaxing the cards back to the surface of the wood. Finally, they fell, only one card face up.

She swooped it between her fingers before I could catch a glimpse at it. She eyed it warily, clucking her tongue against the roof of her mouth in a mesmerizing rhythm.

She twirled the card so I could look at it. Her voice dropped to a low tone, chin upturned. "Love," she whispered, placing the paper delicately before me.

I watched her lace her fingers, resting her chin atop them. "I see... Someone special." Madam was smirking at me, and I knew I was blushing beneath her gaze.

"Is there someone special, my darling Usagi?"

I nodded, hypnotized by her voice.

"He has blue eyes, no?"

I blinked, shaking my head. What was she getting to?

"Black hair, yes?"

Blue eyes... Black hair? Who the heck do I know that has...

Oh crap.

"Look, Madam, this was great and all, but I don't think you have the right guy in mind. I mean, I really don't like him. He just is so-."

She held up a hand, silencing me. "He is your heart, your soul, my darling."

My mouth fell open, shoulders slumping. "You're lying."

"I would not lie to you, child."

Suddenly, I was overtaken with giddiness.

Was Mamoru really the one for me?

"Your time is up, my child. I have given you your fortune."

I snapped my head in her direction, and I couldn't seem to get rid of that ridiculous smile. "Thank you, Madam. This was so worth my money."

I jumped up, brushing past the blue curtain and out into the sunlight.

Mamoru was my soul mate! I wanted to pump my fists in the air, scream my joy. And I was just about to do so, before I was interrupted.

"Hey, Odango! What brings you to this part of the town?"

My cheeks enflamed almost immediately, and I couldn't even look up into his eyes. Without even muttering a word, I darted past him, staring at the concrete. Oh, imagine the humiliation if he were to find out if we were soul mates!

Mamoru watched with confusion as Usagi practically ran by him, her eyes trained to the ground. He swiveled his head towards the store where she had just exited, hoping to find some clue to her flustered state.

"Curtain of Wisdom?" He muttered disdainfully, pushing open the door, goose bumps traveling the distance of his arms at the echo of whispering chimes. "Hello?"

"I am right here, my child."

His head swung to the woman standing in the corner, one eyebrow arched.

"Do you wish to have your fortune told, my child?"

Mamoru found something unsettling about this woman. But, if Usagi had spoken with her, then why couldn't he?

"Then, please, my darling Mamoru, follow me behind the blue curtain..."