Authors: Marie Astor
“See? There’s no one there
. Y
ou probably have to make an appointment in advance or something like that.” Annabel was glad of an excuse to leave. “Let’s go. Maybe next time.” She tugged at Lilly’s sleeve.
Just then there was a rustling noise from the intercom receiver. “Who is it?” asked a distant voice.
“Madam Aurora? We’re interested in a tarot reading,” Lilly spoke into the intercom.
“Come on up
. I
t’s the top floor.” The front door buzzed open.
“In we go!” Lilly swung open the front door, leaving Annabel no choice but to follow her friend inside.
The lobby of the building was completely deserted. Lilly pressed the elevator button
,
and several moments later an elevator rolled down the see-through metallic shaft.
“I’m not going up in that.” Annabel looked suspiciously at the archaic contraption. “This thing looks like it’s from the
1920s
.”
“Come on! I’m not walking up five flights of stairs in heels!” Lilly pried open the elevator door.
“Only because you are my friend, but if we get stuck, it’ll be all your fault.” Annabel went inside the clammy-smelling elevator and felt the floor sink underneath her feet.
“O
kay
, up we go!” Lilly pressed the top floor, and Annabel shut her eyes as the elevator rattled into motion, hoping that this would not be the moment when the elevator finally succumb
ed
to its wear and plummet
ed
down the shaft.
“See? We made it just fine!” Lilly exclaimed after the shaky elevator ride ended with one last final thump. She pushed open the elevator door and headed down the hallway that looked like it had recently survived an explosion
. P
aint was peeling off the walls
,
and the floor was sinking underneath
their
feet.
“Are you sure about this?” Annabel asked, thinking that if Madam Aurora were indeed a reputable card reader, she would not be maintaining her establishment in such dingy quarters.
“Right this way,” came a voice from the opened door down the hall.
Great
, thought Annabel, abandoning all hopes of escape.
A sly grin twinkled on Madam Aurora’s face as she held the door open for Annabel and Lilly to enter.
“Please, come inside.”
The furnishings of Madam Aurora’s parlor were as old as the building, although
they were
slightly more dignified
. A
n oriental rug lined the creaking parquet floor
;
a well-worn, but clean plush couch stood against the wall; a large wooden table covered with a fringed tablecloth, two chairs, and a plush armchair completed the room. The color of the walls had once been maroon red, no doubt for dramatic effect, but the paint had long faded and now resembled the hue of watered down cranberry juice.
Madam Aurora’s appearance was equally worn
. S
he was dressed in a long black skirt and a red flowing blouse that did little to conceal the extra weight on her frame
. H
er ample shoulders were wrapped in a flowered shawl that was tied around her bosom. Her face, however, was striking
. She had
a delicate, chiseled nose, large, brown eyes that looked at you as though they were able to see to the very depths of your soul, and
a
red, full-lipped mouth that seemed to belong to a woman of a much younger age, as did her jet-black hair that did not have a speck of gray and was braided and pinned atop her head.
“Have a seat.” Madam Aurora motioned to the two wooden chairs that stood next to the round table and took a seat in
the
plush armchair that was clearly intended only for her personal use. “What is it you want, ladies?” she asked, keeping her eyes on Annabel the entire time.
“A reading,” Lilly chimed in. “We’d like to know,” she stammered, as Annabel kicked her foot under the table, “I’d like to know what’s in store for my boyfriend and
me
.”
“Hmmm,” Madam Aurora smirked, “wouldn’t we all. Very well
. Y
ou are in luck
.
I’m running a special today – two readings for the price of one.”
“Oh, that’s all right,” Annabel ventured, “I’m just here as an observer.”
“This is not a TV show,” Madam Aurora snapped. “You want the two readings or what?”
“Yes,” Lilly cut in. “Yes. Please, Ann, for me?”
Oh, what’s the harm
, Annabel thought
. T
he whole thing was clearly a sham, but if her friend wanted to try it, she would play along.
“Very well, we
’ll
start with the blond.” Madam Aurora nodded at Lilly. Madam Aurora’s fingers were long and elegant, like those of a piano player, and both Annabel and Lilly watched with fascination as the card reader imperiously laid out the cards on the table, one by one. “There was doubt and hesitation, but now I see all of that has changed.” Madam Aurora pointed to the cards on the right: “You have found the courage to overcome your fears
. T
hat’s what the strength card stands for
. T
he star card stands for fresh hope and renewal
. S
oon there will be good fortune
,
most likely something to do with your work
. T
hat’s the fortune card over there, and a difficult decision will have to be made shortly afterwards
. T
hat’s the lovers card over there,” Madam Aurora added.
“What kind of a decision?” Lilly asked.
“
A d
ecision that will concern the people who are important in your life, not just your lover boy, but your family. You will have to let go of a grudge
. T
hat is the only way you will finally be able to put away the fears and doubts that plagued you in the past and the only way you’ll have a happy union with the one you love.”
“What kind of a grudge?” Lilly asked.
“That is something only you can know.” Madam Aurora shot a piercing glance at Lilly. “And if you have the courage, you will come to fulfillment and finally find peace with yourself
. T
hat’s the world card over here.” Madam Aurora pointed to the last card.
Lilly stared at the cards with her mouth agape, but before she could say another word, Madam Aurora gathered the cards off the table and reached for a new deck.
“Now,” she said sharply, “it’s time for your friend’s reading.” Again Madam Aurora laid out the cards in an elaborate sequence on the table
,
and Annabel watched her with curiosity, thinking that while she could not judge Madam Aurora’s ability to foretell the future, she could definitely tell that Madam Aurora was an excellent actress.
Looking at the cards spread out on the table, Madam Aur
ora frowned and shook her head.
“Too much anger, too much fear,” she muttered. “You will drown in it unless you find the strength to rise above it.”
“Excuse me?” Annabel exclaimed, getting up to leave. “This is total nonsense
.
I don’t have to listen to this!” She understood that Madam Aurora had a performance to make, but this was going too far.
“No, you do not, but you should, my girl.” Something in the tone of Madam Aurora’s voice made Annabel sit down. “This is the sun card
. I
t is upside down, which means there was a failed partnership
,
a failed engagement.” Madam Aurora flashed a quick glance at Annabel’s left ring finger, and Annabel put her hand into her jacket pocket uneasily. “I don’t have to see your ring finger to know the answer,” Madam Aurora seemed to almost leer, “I can tell by the upside down lovers card and by the moon card over here. The moon card next to the upside down empress card also speaks of stifled creativity – dissatisfaction with you
r current job
. Now, the fool card promises a journey, and the star card right there promises renewal, but both depend upon your ability to overcome your hurt and lack of trust, which is the upside down hermit card right there. Only then will you find love in your life again.”
Annabel stared at Madam Aurora bluntly, too shocked to speak
. S
he had promised herself that she would not be fooled by this mumbo jumbo, and yet, somehow, the card reader’s words reached into her very core. It was as though Madam Aurora knew
precisely
what had happened in her life, which, of course, was impossible.
“Here,” said Madam Aurora. “I know exactly what you need.” She got up from her seat and walked toward the chest of drawers that stood against the far wall. She opened one of the drawers and returned to the table, carrying a velvet pouch in her hands. “This is for you.” She placed the pouch in front of Annabel.
“What is it?” Annabel asked, too afraid to open it.
“It is a charm, a talisman. Put it on.”
Annabel threw a dubious glance at Lilly
,
and her friend nodded in encouragement.
Her fingers trembling, Annabel pulled the pouch open
,
and its contents fell into the palm of her
hand
. I
t was a beautiful gold
chain with a heart-shaped pendant of hand-blown glass with flecks of gold in it that shimmered like tiny sun specks.
“Wear it
,
and it will bring you luck in love,” Madam Aurora chanted. “But in order for the talisman to work
,
you must open your heart to new possibilities
. W
hat’s the expression I’m looking for…” Madam Aurora frowned, rubbing her forehead. “Ah, yes, go out of your comfort zone
. T
hat’s it
. T
hat is what you must do
. T
ake chances on new things, try doing something you’ve never done before. But you must be patient
. I
t takes time for the charm to work.” Madam Aurora rose from her chair. “Now you must pay for the reading,” she added abruptly
.
“
F
ifty dollars.”
Lilly reached for her purse, but Annabel stopped her.
“I
’ve
got it.” She handed the money to Madam Aurora. “Thank you.”
“She turned out to be pretty good, huh?” Lilly asked once they were standing on the pavement outside of the building.
“I don’t know,” Annabel answered hesitantly. “At first I thought the whole thing was a sham, but now I’m no longer sure. She seemed to know everything about us: your distrust of men and my break up with Jeremy, and that stuff she said about a journey
. T
hat’s our upcoming trip to
Paris
. It’s just way too spooky
. A
re you sure you’ve never been to see her before?”
“No, of course not
.
I would tell you if I ha
d
. Why can’t you believe that she was for real?” Lilly frowned. “The stuff she told me made total sense
.
I’m not sure what she meant about the decision to be made in the future, but I sure hope she was right about the professional success part.”
“I sure hope so too,” Annabel added. “And what’s all this business with the lucky charm?” Annabel reached for the necklace around her neck. “It looks pretty expensive
.
I doubt that the fifty dollars we gave her covered its cost.”
“Well, maybe it is what Madam Aurora said it was – a lucky charm
,
and lucky charms are priceless, you know.”
“Yeah, well, what’s the harm
.
I’m going to wear it and see what happens.” Annabel touched the pendant around her throat, feeling its smooth shape in her hand. “Are you still up for that drink?”
“I am, but it’s kind of late
.
I’m supposed to meet Simon at nine
,
and it’s already eight
-
thirty,” Lilly explained apologetically.
“Don’t worry about it
. H
e is leaving in less than a week
,
and
you and I
can hang out any time. Have a good night
. W
e’ll talk tomorrow,
okay
?”
“Are you sure you don’t mind? Do you want to join us for dinner?”
“No
,
thanks
.
I don’t think you guys need a third wheel tonight.” Without letting Lilly say another word, Annabel hailed a cab. “You take this one, I’ll take the next.”
“All right, thanks! I’ll call you tomorrow.”
With Lilly gone
,
Annabel waited for another cab, but none seemed to be in sight
,
and she started walking along
Third Avenue
, hoping to catch one on the way. Finally, ten minutes later she was in luck
,
and a cab pulled over to the curb.