You have a beautiful face, Lauren heard herself blurt out.
Susan inclined her head slightly, acknowledging the compliment. When she lifted her eyes again, she smiled. Youre artists?
Im a graphic designer, actually, Deanna said. Heidi and Lauren can draw anything in the world, though. Theyre fabulous.
And youd like to sketch me? Susan asked, looking at Lauren.
Id love to.
Thats not why were here, though, Heidi said.
Ah, yes, the future, Susan said. She lifted her hands. What will it be? Would you like a reading of your palm? Or shall we see whats in the cards? And then, of course, there is always the crystal ball.
We should each do something different, Deanna suggested.
Tarot cards, Heidi said.
Ill take a palm reading, Deanna determined.
Lauren shrugged. Crystal ball.
Susan nodded, indicating several small fold-up chairs inside the tent. Lauren, you are welcome to sketch. Ill begin with the bride.
Lauren always carried a small sketch pad in her handbag, but she wondered how Susan knew that, and she was slightly disturbed. Or slightly more disturbed, if she were being honest Then she told herself that Susan already knew they were artists. Guessing that she carried a sketch pad was just a logical assumption. No doubt most people who did this kind of thing for a living learned how to assess people, how to read a great deal in a few words and intuit where to go from there.
Deanna had unfolded the little wooden chairs. She sat on one side of Heidi, while Lauren backed her chair away a bit and took out her sketchbook. As she sat, watching Susan instruct Heidi on how to choose her cards, she could hear the sounds around them. Music in the distance, coming from the bars. People talking, then stopping to ooh and aah at the artwork available on the street. Across from them, near the Cathedral, a lone flutist had set down his cap, and now he performed a plaintive and beautiful tune.
She looked up at the sky. Clouds still rode heavy over the moon, like a red curtain in the air.
She studied Susan. The woman was soft spoken. Elegant. Not at all what she had expected. Her pencil moved over the paper. She drew the lines first, then filled in the shades and shadows. Finally she added background, the greenery around the Square, the sidewalk, the tent, the statue of Andrew Jackson rising far behind Susans back.
Ugh! What does that mean? Heidi asked, drawing Laurens attention to the table, where Heidi had turned up a card with a skeleton.
Itsdeath, isnt it? Heidi asked.
Susan shook her head. It often signifies change, an ending so that there can be a new beginning. You are about to end your single life. You will start into a new life.
Whew, Heidi murmured. Though she spoke lightly, Lauren thought she was seriously relieved, and she felt a new wave of discomfort.
Whats that? Deanna asked, pointing to another card.
Love. Susan looked at Heidi. You can rest assured in thisyour fiancé loves you very much. You are all he has ever wanted, all he could ever need in life.
Oh, Heidi breathed happily. Ditto.
Yes, I can see, Susan murmured.
Will the wedding go off without a hitch? Heidi asked.
No wedding goes off without a hitch, Susan said dryly as she scooped up the cards, patting them back into a neat pile. But you are deeply loved, and you love deeply in return.
Thank you. Heidi rose and looked at Lauren with an expression on her face that plainly said, See? Nothing to be afraid of.
Lauren smiled back weakly, wondering if Heidi had really been listening. Susan hadnt said anything specific about Heidis wedding at allshe had just generalized about weddings. And she had said the skeleton card often indicated a change.
Then again, Lauren told herself, maybe she was the one hearing words that werent being said.
On to the palm, Deanna said. She and Heidi changed seats. As Deanna started to sit down, she glanced at Laurens drawing and frowned.
What is it? Lauren asked.
Uh, nothing, I guess. Its a great drawing. Its just thatwell, you made the skeleton card the focus of it.
I did not! Lauren protested and looked down at the sketch. It was one of her best, she thought. Shed captured not just a two-dimensional image but given it great depth. Shed found the strange and arresting beauty that was Susans. Shed caught the atmosphere of the Square. You could look at the drawing and almost hear music.
And yet
Deanna was right. Somehow she had detailed the tarot card down to the finest line so that it unerringly drew the viewers eye and became the focus of the picture.
Dont draw me, Deanna whispered to her.
Okay, Lauren assured her quietly in return.
Susan was watching them both. Deanna noticed and gave her a rueful smile. Lauren was engaged once.
And her young man died, Susan said. Wow, damned good guess,
Lauren thought irritably. Though it was a fifty-fifty shot. Either theyd broken up or he had died. She knew that she was just one of many young women of her day. Shed fallen in love with a soldier. Hed gone to war. Theyd emailed for six months, and then shed stopped receiving replies.
Until the army lieutenant had come to her house.
Shed gone through it all. The devastation, the anger. And the healing. She didnt feel that she had any terrible psychological hang-ups. She just wasnt actively looking to find love again. But if the right person came along
Would she be ready?
She really didnt know.
Im so sorry, Susan said to Lauren gravely. She was clearly sincere, making Lauren feel vaguely guilty, though she wasnt quite sure why.
Thank you, she said, ignoring her uncomfortable feelings. But, hey, thats the past, and were looking to the future, right? What does Deannas hand say to you, Susan?
Susan studied Deannas palm and looked up gravely.
What? Deanna asked impatiently.
So far, it has told me that you do not like housework at all, Susan said.
Even Deanna laughed. Okay, I suck. Seriously, Im really bad at it, so I gave it up.
Dont worry, she has a wonderful woman who comes in twice a week, Heidi assured Susan.
Susan traced a finger down a line in Deannas hand.
The life line, right? Heidi asked.
Susan shrugged.
It doesnt look very long, Deanna said worriedly.
Susan shook her head, looking at Deanna. Often, things are what we make them. The lineits like the card. It might not mean anything bad at all. It signifies change. A change in life. Heidi is getting married.
Im not even dating steadily, Deanna said.
Youre a beautiful woman, Susan said, sidestepping.
What else do you see?
Susan pointed. Hereartistic success. You are clever and determined. Susan looked up and stared hard at Deanna. When you set your mind to something, you can make it happen. When we fail, far too often, it is because were afraid. Remember, you have the talent and the will. Dont be put off by circumstances that seem dire. You are very strong. And there will be changes.
Will I ever get married? Deanna asked.
Will I ever get married? Deanna asked.
Susan shrugged. Your palm is not telling me. I can say that you are passionate and giving, and that you are quite capable of creating fire, passionand lovearound you.
I like that, Deanna said.
Lauren looked at her, trying to avoid Susans eyes. Lots of people could have said that to you, her stern gaze said.
Your turn, Deanna said.
Ah, the crystal ball for our talented young artist, Susan murmured. She didnt move, though, and her eyes were downcast.
I think Susan is tired, Lauren said.
Oh no, you are not getting out of this! Heidi insisted.
May I see more fully? Susan asked.
Lauren handed her the drawing she had done.
You are very kind, she murmured. You have caught me on paper with great beauty.
I want to work more on it. Ill send you a copy when Im done, Lauren told her.
Susan nodded and handed back the drawing. Lauren flipped her sketchbook closed and returned it to her purse.
It seems like youve had a busy night. You look tired. You really dont have to do another reading, Lauren said.
Shes trying to get out of this, Heidi explained.
Susan stood. She wasnt smiling. I think that we must look into the crystal ball.
Heidi and Deanna started to rise.
There is only room in the tent for oneIm sorry. The crystal ball is quite different from the palm and the cards.
Susan waited gravely, and at last Lauren followed her into the tent, the sounds from the street and the night receding. As she sat in the chair opposite Susan, the world outside all but disappeared.
Your fiancé, he was a soldier? Susan asked, staring into the crystal ball.
Startled, Lauren looked at her. Yes.
Im very sorry, truly. Butthere are those who believe there are certain fates we cannot avoid, and others who believe we have a hand in our own futures. Perhaps many people lived because your young man died, she said softly.
Thank you. I like to think that, Lauren murmured.
You dont date much.
Ive dated.
Susan smiled enigmatically.
What? Lauren asked.
You dont date much because you feel that you meet nothing but dimwits and users since you lost your man.
Its hard to meet the right person.
They had been chatting casually, almost as if they were engaged in a normal conversation at any one of the smaller cafes or bars in the city. But Lauren realized that something had been subtly changing since she had come into the little tent.
The crystal ball had begun to glow, to fill with a red mist.
She stared at it, unable to tear her eyes away. She only dimly noted Susans face, registering as if from a great distance that the other woman looked tense, even distressed.
You must leave hereyou and your friendsmust go.
Yes, Lauren said.
But she couldnt move. It felt as if she were frozen where she sat, as if her very muscles were paralyzed.
There was something dark at the core of the crystal ball, dark and red, finding form as the milliseconds ticked by.
It was a bird. A winged thing.
Then it was not.
It took the shape of a man. Tall, the face dark, the figure imposing.
A sound seemed to rise in her ears, and she realized that it was laughter. Deep, rich, taunting-and cruel.
She heard words.
So soft at first that she couldnt understand what was being said. Then she knew.
Im coming for you. Im coming to get you.
No, Lauren murmured, struggling for sanity, for reality. Someone had heard them talking earlier. Someone had heard the words that Deanna had spoken teasingly.
Lauren The dark figure called her by name. Im coming to get you, Lauren.
No!
Im coming to get you, and youll be mine in a world of blood and death and darkness.
Susan suddenly jumped up, as if she, too, had suddenly broken of the invisible bonds holding her there.
She made a strange sound and her arm flew out.
The crystal ball flew off the table and shattered on the ground.
But even as it flew into a thousand pieces, it seemed to Lauren that she heard a husky whisper of evil laughter.
2
She wasnt sure how shed gotten there, but Lauren found herself outside the tent. It seemed so normal now, nothing more than a little red canvas tent again.
She was back outside just as if they had finished their session completely normally,, as if she had casually strolled out after hearing some nice normal prediction for her future. She was back outside, in the midst of the neon light and movement of the night. The very normal night. She could hear footsteps and laughter, bits of conversation, the sound of mules hooves as they clattered on the pavement, drawing carriages filled with tourists.
Both Heidi and Deanna were staring at her in surprise, and that wasnt normal at all.
Lauren turned to look back inside the tent. The images she had seen now seemed ridiculous, but the shattered crystal ball was there as proof that something out of the ordinary had happened.
Lauren! Heidi said, shocked. Susan, were so sorry. Well pay for your crystal ball, of course. What on earth happened? She stepped forward, slipping an arm through Laurens, lowering her voice to a whisper. I knew you werent exactly into this, but did you have to break her crystal ball?
It was an accident! Lauren protested.
It had been an accident-and she hadnt even been the one to break it. But beyond that, she couldnt have seen what she thought she had. She had been tricked. It must have been some kind of a parlor trick, though that seemed impossible now, with all the light and noise around her.
Even now, the details of what she had seen, what she had heard, were slipping from her mind. She tried to hold on, but they were all escaping her. And she was beginning to feel like a fool.
Was she worse off-mentally or emotionally-than she had thought?
No!
Susan was still staring at her. And she didnt seem to be concerned about her crystal ball but about Lauren herself.
Where are you girls staying? Susan asked.
The Old Cote, Deanna said.
Susan frowned in puzzlement. I dont know it.
Its a lovely place, made up of several cottages. It was kind of a family compound before the storm, but theyve opened it up as an inn now as way to recoup some of their losses. The grandmotherthe family matriarch, I guessis enjoying it, so I guess the place will stay around for a while. I found it on line, Deanna said, her enthusiasm for their little discovery evident.
But where is it? Susan asked.
Deanna seemed a little surprised by the fortune tellers persistent tone. Off Conti and a good bit back from Bourbon, luckily. The noise is great when youre part of the party, but when youre trying to sleep, it can be a bit much.
You have to move. Move into the biggest, most crowded hotel, and room together, stay together, until you can get out of New Orleans, Susan warned.
But were not leaving, Heidi said. Not for several days. This is my bachelorette party.
Susan shook her head, a look of dismay on her face. She stared at Lauren, and Lauren knew that her own expression must have shown the woman that she was already feeling silly and skeptical, as if she had been the target of a trickor a joke.