Tabitha’s office was as it always looked – dishevelled. Every surface was covered with an array of curious knick-knacks, crystals and plants. In some large glass jars were insects, the likes of which Raxx had never seen anywhere other than in this room.
With a heavy sigh, Tabitha collapsed into a leather armchair and flicked her feet up to rest on the desk. The strong smell of lavender and brimstone lingered in the air. Raxx sat obediently in the wooden chair set out on the opposite side of the desk.
“I’m exhausted,” Tabitha whined, rolling her neck and reaching back to rub her shoulders. She dipped her fingers into her ample cleavage and pulled a small coin purse free, throwing it across to him.
Raxx caught it, eyeing the purse curiously with a smirk. “Has that been in there the entire time?”
“You don’t want to know where I keep the rest of my money,” Tabitha winked and Raxx groaned. “That’s for your help with that bastard who was messing with poor Helena.”
A few weeks ago, Tabitha had mentioned one of her newest coven members was being hassled by a man who had refused to pay her for her services. Whilst Tabitha herself was more than capable of dealing with scumbags, she had asked Raxx to pay the man a visit in her stead whilst she focussed on more important business. The shadow demon had only been too happy to help. The man had paid in full the very next day and Raxx doubted the prick would ever get over his newly founded nyctophobia.
“I didn’t expect payment for it.” Raxx shrugged, but pocketed the purse.
“Nonsense, you know how we do business around here,” Tabitha scolded. She sat up and opened a drawer, digging around inside. “I’ve got something else for you, too.”
Raxx sat forwards with curiosity. Tabitha pulled free a small, silk handkerchief and laid it out on the desk. She unwrapped it, revealing a silver crystal.
“It’s a fortune crystal. I thought of you as soon as I saw it,” Tabitha cooed, holding the crystal out to him.
Raxx eyed the offering suspiciously. Tabitha rolled her eyes and snatched his hand, pressing the crystal into his palm and folding his fingers closed around it.
“Hold it tight a moment and I will read it for you.”
“Do you really believe in all this rubbish? These crystals are a con.”
Often peddled by beggars and pseudo fortune tellers, fortune crystals were said to be able to tell a person’s future. In reality, they were cheap fragments of glass, painted with a substance that changed colour based on body heat. Different colours were said to represent different fortunes, typically all vague and non-descript.
“No, but I have it on good authority thatthisparticular crystal is a little different.”
Raxx waited with the ice-cold crystal still wrapped in his palm. A deck of old, tatty cards materialised in Tabitha’s hands. She shuffled them before laying the deck down and splitting it in half. The witch laid out three cards on the desk, turning them over to reveal mysterious symbols. She hummed thoughtfully.
Without warning, the crystal in his hand grew hot and Raxx dropped it hastily onto Tabitha’s desk. “Fuck,” he gasped, blowing on his palm. “You could have warned me.”
“I didn’t know it was going to do that.” Tabitha’s eyes lit up with interest.
The once dark crystal was now glowing brightly, illuminating the room like the noon sun. Raxx shaded his sensitive eyes from its onslaught.
“There’s going to be light in your future, Del’raxxin,” the witch murmured.
“What does that mean? Can you turn that thing off? It’s giving me a headache,” he grumbled.
“I see great expectations, followed by grave frustrations. You’ve got disappointment in droves coming your way.”
“Fantastic,” Raxx sighed, inspecting his burnt palm. Though there were no marks to indicate injury, he could still feel the sting of the crystal against his skin.
“You’re also going to disappoint others in return.”
“I’ve always been thoughtful that way. For fuck’s sake Tab, haven’t you got anything good to say about any of this?”
Tabitha laughed. “Not really. You’ve got a terrible fortune.”
The witch turned over a fourth card, laying it on a separate row above the other three. Her eyes widened.
“What?” Raxx asked curiously.
“The cause of all this pain and let down? It’s a woman.”
“Aren’t you girls always more trouble than you’re worth?”
