Chapter 2: Fortune
As Christian walked into the noisy tavern, the sounds of laughter, clinking glasses, and music wrapped around him like a frayed but cozy blanket. It had been decades since he'd last set foot in such a place, back when he was still finding his way in the bohemian art scene and trying to decide which facet of it he'd choose to mine for inspiration.
Now, he was successful enough not to have to fish for story ideas within the confines of a building or a small circle of acquaintances.
Still, being a painter and a wanderer at heart, he found himself drawn to the scenery and characters found in these little time capsules. He parked himself on a barstool, notebook and graphite pencil in hand, and started sketching the scene before him: the jovial tavern patrons, the warm glow of firelight against rough-hewn wood walls, and one patently magnetic bartender.
He ordered a mead and set about transferring the scene from real life to his pages as faithfully as possible.
As he sketched, the bartender wiped down the bar. "You're mighty quiet over here, young man," she said with a knowing smile. "What's got your attention so thoroughly?"
Christian paused, his pencil hovering over a page. "You must be able to tell," he said, giving her a sheepish grin. He tucked a loose strand of hair behind his ear and turned the sketchbook for her to see.
The bartender's gray eyes widened, and Christian saw admiration sparkle within them as they scanned his artwork.
"You've got some real talent there, kid." She paused then, wiping her hands on her apron. "I'm Rebecca, by the way. What brings you around these parts?"
Christian shrugged, his confidence bolstered by the bartender's praise. "I wanted a bit of inspiration, I suppose. I couldn't resist the pull of this place long enough to get in a proper day of painting."
Rebecca leaned closer to him, and her grin turned conspiratorial. "Do you mind if I look through some of your work? My cousin is a famous painter you know and I’m quite an art admirer myself too”. Rebecca continued as she flipped through the pages of my sketchbook, taking a closer look at each one.
I took the opportunity to analyze her appearance; she was in her late 40's with shiny gray hair pulled back in a messy ponytail. Her smile displayed a hint of an overbite and eyes that twinkled with an assertive confidence, which made me comfortable around her instantly. Her barista attire was a bit revealing, giving me a view of her ample cleavage and firm ass.
She finally stopped flipping through the pages and looked up at me.
"I see you've been sketching Michiel," she said, nodding towards the drawing of the man I had been unable to take my eyes off all evening.
"He's a regular here," she continued. "And quite the character. You've captured him well, but I have to tease you. I bet if Michiel saw this sketch, he would complain that you didn't make his muscles big enough!"
She winked at me, and I couldn't help but laugh at her playful comment.
"Well, I guess I'll have to get him to pose for me then," I said, smiling back at Rebecca.
She nodded approvingly. "That sounds like a good idea. And if you're lucky, he might even let you sketch him without his shirt on."
I blushed at the thought, feeling a sudden warmth spread through my chest and lower.
I cleared my throat, trying to shake off the mental image of a half-naked Michiel, muscles glistening in the sun. I flipped my sketchbook closed and turned back to Rebecca, trying to keep a casual tone to my voice.
"He seems like an interesting character," I said. "I'll have to introduce myself next time he comes around."
Rebecca leaned in closer, her voice dropping to a whisper. "He's not just interesting, he's a force to be reckoned with.
But I should warn you, he's not exactly the settling-down type. He's a bit of a ladies' man, if you catch my drift." Rebecca winked at me, her grin knowing.
I couldn't help but laugh at her bluntness, feeling a rush of excitement run through me at the thought of getting to know someone like Michiel. But at the same time her words shattered my fantasy. “Ladies man”. Michiel was straight. It was too good to be true anyway. I had constructed an entire fantasy around a stranger based on a few drawings and glances. I shook off my disappointment and returned to my sketchbook, but the magic was gone.
"Here's a tip for your troubles, love." Rebecca placed a shot glass full of golden liquid in front of me. "It's on the house, but don't tell anyone. I could get in trouble for that."
I smiled at her, genuinely grateful for the kind gesture. I knocked back the shot, feeling the sting of the whiskey in my throat and the warmth spreading through my chest.
I could tell that this was good stuff, aged to perfection, like the vintage wines from a winery I once explored.
I found it hard to focus on my sketches after that.. I lost my muse. Rebecca's words echoed in my head, drowning out the chatter and music of the tavern. The atmosphere around me turned stale as the excitement I felt earlier seemed to evaporate into thin air. My eyelids felt heavy, my fingers growing tired and uninspired. I looked down at my sketchbook, the drawing of Michiel staring back at me, half-finished and abandoned. I let out a sigh, and Rebecca noticed my downcast expression.
"Hey you seem troubled. This doesn’t have anything to do with Michiel now does it?" she soothed, patting my hand.
"If that's what's got your spirits down, I know just the person to help."
She gestured for me to follow, and I trailed after her through the tavern to the back corner where a single candle flickered on a small wooden table. Sitting in the shadows was a woman dressed in colorful silks, beaded jewelry, and a mysterious grin.
"This is Samira," Rebecca said, gesturing to the woman. "She's been working as a fortune teller here at the tavern for years.
Most folks know her as 'the witch,' but she's a kind soul who knows a thing or two about love." Rebecca gave my hand a reassuring squeeze before walking away, leaving me alone with the fortune teller.
I hesitated for a moment, unsure of what to say. But the woman beckoned me over, her eyes twinkling with curiosity. Her dark hair cascaded over her shoulders, and she wore a low-cut dress that left little to the imagination. Despite her matronly appearance, she exuded an air of sensuality that made my pulse quicken.
Samira patted the chair next to her, a playful smile on her lips. I sat down, my nerves on high alert as I wondered what would happen next.
"So," she began, her voice low and sultry against the noisy chatter of the tavern. "What brings you to me, Christian? Looking for some love advice?"
My cheeks burned at her bluntness, but I pushed forward. "I can't seem to get this guy out of my head," I confessed, gesturing vaguely towards the bar where Michiel had been sitting earlier.
"No matter how hard I try, he's all I can think about."
Samira chuckled, a sound that sent shivers down my spine. "Ah, young love can be so complicated, can't it? But let me assure you, Christian, the universe works in mysterious ways. Sometimes, what we want most in life is right in front of us, but we just can't see it yet."
Her words hung heavy in the air, filling me with a sense of hope and longing. She leaned in closer, her eyes narrowed in concentration as she studied my face.
“Give me your hand, tell me what you want to know”.
She extended her hand, her fingers long and slender. I hesitated, my heart beating faster at the thought of touching her. I placed my hand in hers, feeling the heat from her skin radiate up my arm and send tingles down my spine.
Samira closed her eyes, her lips moving in a silent incantation before she opened them again, her gaze piercing me with an intensity that made me feel as if she could see straight into my soul.
“Now what question do you have for me?”.
My heart raced, a flush creeping up my cheeks as I whispered, "I want to know if Michiel and I are meant to be together."
Samira threw her head back and laughed, the sound echoing through the tavern. "Oh, Christian, you and your romantic ideals. Very well, let me read the universe's message for you."
Her grip on my hand tightened as she traced her thumb over the lines of my palm.
"I see a connection between you and this man, but it is not what you expect. Your heart is open, but his is guarded."
Samira's eyes fluttered open, and she pinned me with a knowing gaze. "You must be careful, Christian. Your desires may lead you down a dangerous path. But if you are willing to take the risk, I can help you."
I nodded eagerly, my heart racing with anticipation. Samira smiled wickedly, her eyes shining with a mischievous glint.
"But be warned, Christian, there are always consequences to tampering with fate."
Ignoring her words of caution, I pressed on, unable to quell my curiosity. "What do you mean by 'tampering with fate'?"
She paused for a moment, her grip on my hand tightening. "The universe has a way of balancing things out. If I were to help you sway Michiel's heart, there would be a price to pay.
It wouldn't come without effort, and it would require you to step outside of your comfort zone." Her words lingered in the air like a dare, and I felt my heart hammering with excitement at the prospect.
"What kind of price are we talking about here?" I asked, barely able to keep the tremor out of my voice.
“You won’t know the price until after your wish. The universe balances it out. Could be something big, something small. Sorry love, it’s all very vague. The universe works in mysterious ways or whatever they say”. I was both intrigued and highly skeptical of what this fortune teller had to say. Surely it was all just selling nonsense stories for money right? Just say things people want to hear?
“Look” Samira continued. “Before we take these drastic matters, messing with the dark magic and all that jazz. First you have to atleast try to seduce him naturally. So I’ll stick to a simple look into the future for now. This won’t have any major consequences, lucky for you.”
Her hand gripped mine even tighter. It was starting to hurt. My muscles tensed as I tried to pull away but couldn’t. I let out a squeal of pain. “Shush! I’m reading here! I see… You, and I see him.. You check your watch.. It’s exactly 13:22 hours. That’s when he’ll tell you..” Samira her eyes now closed, focusing and concentrating. “He’ll tell you.. He’s going to hint to you whether there’s a future for you or not.” Samira's grip on my hand loosened, and she let out a satisfied sigh. “With that, I've told you all I can for now.”
My thoughts raced as I processed Samira's words. I couldn't help but feel a mix of excitement and fear. The idea of seducing Michiel naturally was both thrilling and terrifying, especially considering the potential consequences. And yet, my curiosity was piqued, and I couldn't resist the temptation to find out if there was a future between us.
I glanced at my watch, the hands ticking away the time until our fated encounter. It was around 11:30PM. Only 14 more hours and then I’ll know. I thanked Samira profusely and got up ready to get back to sketching with this newfound inspiration. Hopelessly daydreaming I heard a voice behind me. Samira cleared her throat “leaving so soon are we? That will be $50 my love”. Samira’s tone was smooth and seductive. “But for you, I’ll wave the fee. After all, it's not every day that one of my clients willingly accepts the consequences that come with such a drastic wish.”
I blushed at her words, feeling a surge of gratitude towards her for allowing me to proceed without paying. “Thank you,” I stammered, digging into my pocket and pulling out a handful of loose change.
Samira waved me off. “Keep your money,” she said.
“You’ll need it for more important things. Like a nice dinner with your new lover.” Samira’s suggestive tone sent shivers down my spine.
I hesitated for a moment, wondering if I was making the right decision. But the desire to know, to experience whatever might happen between Michiel and me, was too strong to resist. I nodded, dropping the change back into my pocket.
“Thank you,” I repeated, my voice barely louder than a whisper.
Samira smiled, her eyes shining with mischief. “Good luck, Christian,” she said.