Post by Minajerie on Jan 16, 2010 1:22:12 GMT -5
~ 1 ~
“Argh!! I hate her!!!” Shouted a rather attractive young woman as she walked down the street. She seemed to attract stares, but not because of her beauty, but because of her temper. The thrashing and loud outbursts made it obvious that she was upset, and not dealing with it very well. “I wish I could just... Ugh!!!” The woman made a strangling motion in the air, which, of course, made the other pedestrians move farther away.
With her wide berth of personal space the wind just happened to choose that moment to blow a rather desolate looking flier right into the face of the angry woman.
“Why is this stupid piece of paper in my face?!! Why?!” The woman shrieked as she tore the flier away from her face and was about to throw it away when the content caught her attention.
Jealous? Competition got you down? Why not set a curse on the people you wish out of the way?
Come to Mirror Mirror, the one stop magic shop for all your hidden needs.
Lost? Follow the arrows, they will show you the way.
Come to Mirror Mirror, the one stop magic shop for all your hidden needs.
Lost? Follow the arrows, they will show you the way.
The woman's eyes narrowed as she considered the fliers words. A curse sounded appealing, but was there such a thing as magic? Well, if there was, what better way for that little hussy to get what she deserves? After all, it was because of her that she was having a fight with Vince. That alone was enough to bring her wrath, but that little... Kit grated her nerves already with being far prettier than she was. Kit had long faun brown hair, and beautifully intense green eyes. She knew as soon as she saw her that that wench was going to be trouble. Now Vince, HER boyfriend, was rethinking his relationship in the light of someone nicer and farer. She couldn't have that. So then, there was only one option.
With her mind made up she looked up from the paper and noticed bright colored arrows on poles and on the sidewalk; where she was sure there hadn't been any before. “Magic?” She muttered.
The woman took a final look at the flier before flinging it from her person in favor of following the arrows. They took her through side streets, past popular hang-outs and busy locations into what appeared to be the run down part of town. Everywhere she looked there were pawn shops and used antique stores; markets catering to those from abroad, and stores whose language she couldn't even throw a guess at. The old atmosphere was exactly where you would think a strange store of rare intrigues would pop up.
So of course, in a particularly dirty area a creaky wooden sign hung out into the street. One you normally wouldn't have even bothered with a second glance. Upon closer inspection however, she noticed that the sign was decorated with faded letters elaborately depicting the name of the store: Mirror Mirror. When the woman examined the store she felt it both met, and didn't meet, her standards. She would think a magic store might be a little bit more flashy, but if inconspicuous was the owners intent, they achieved it.
She walked up to the dusty glass door and let herself in. The jingling of bells surprised her, it was such a normal sound. When magic, or curses for that matter were thought of... you'd think a sinister creak would be more appropriate.
The woman paused just inside the door, allowing her eyes to adjust to the light in the store. When she could see clearly she noticed a few dusty shelves covered with old antique-ish knick-knacks, a relatively dark hallway, and a person sitting in a recliner near a dusty desk with an even dustier ancient cash register on it. Upon further attention the woman noticed that the person in the recliner was not dozing as she had first thought, but intently reading a book she had flat on her lap. A cat sat lazily on the armrest, purring as the person absently stroked it's dark tortoise-shell fur.
Well...
Admin's Note:[/hr] Where was the owner? A greeting of some kind was in order here! Is that person in the chair the owner? If so she should be doing something other than having her nose stuck in a book! It's just not professional! “Hmph!”
“Welcome,” said the person in the recliner. “I apologize, I was so deep in the story I didn't hear you come in. What is it you are looking for?”
The woman glared at the person and said rather haughtily, “I doubt you could help me.”
“Well, I am the stores owner, and I do know just about everything that resides in this shop. I'm sure I can help you,” the person looked up at her then, and the woman couldn't help but shiver as the person said, “Angela.”
“H-How do you know my name?” Angela said with her back to the door, her sudden movement made the bells jingle again. A welcome sound but at the same time, startling.
The owner then placed a bookmark into her book, closed it, and lightly set it down on the armrest opposite of the purring cat. The owner was a woman, and she was dressed in a simple tie-dye t-shirt and black threadbare overalls. She didn't quite fit the whole 'magic shop' vibe. In fact, she didn't seem magical at all.
Angela watched her with a look of disbelief. “Okay, I have a problem with this girl...”
“Your boyfriend likes her doesn't he? Understandable, seeing as how her personality is probably better. But I am not here to judge, just show you my wares.” The owner smiled and gestured toward the dark hallway. When Angela didn't step forward the owner continued without her, leaving Angela to catch up.
The store must have been bigger than it first seemed from the outside, for the hallway appeared to stretch forever. There were doors situated on either side of the hall, coming and going as if at random. Finally the owner stopped in front of one of the doors. Upon it was a plaque that the dim light made hard to read.
“It says, 'Cursed Items'. Not one of my more favorite rooms, but definitely one of the more interesting.” As she said this the owner slowly opened the door. The room was dark until the owner stepped inside and flipped a switch, turning the lights on.
As far as rooms go, this one was pretty small. There were two long tables occupying the wall opposite the door, the room just big enough to allow two people to walk comfortably around them. Upon the tables sat a variety of different and unique items of which Angela was drawn toward the more beautiful and pricier selection.
Before Angela could set her fingers on any piece of fine golden jewelry, the owner caught her arm.
“Don't be foolish, these items are cursed. If you touch more than the one you want to give to the girl, you may, and probably will be forced to take their curse upon yourself. Think. If you need help in choosing I can give you the backgrounds of most of these items, and possibly even the specifics of their curse.” After saying what she needed too, the owner let Angela's arm go. “Choose wisely.”
Angela stared at the owner for a moment before turning her attention back to the items on the table. They were not all jewelry. There was a pair of fine satin gloves with some kind of fur on the ends, as well as a short spear, a ball made out of some kind of rainbow crystal, and even a rabbit's foot. “I thought rabbit's feet were supposed to be lucky.”
The owner looked over Angela's shoulder and quirked an eyebrow. “Not that one. I believe you are familiar with the story 'The Tortoise and the Hare'
Admin's Note:[/hr]” Angela nodded. “Well, what most people do not know is that the hare was shunned after it's humiliation. All the other rabbits wanted nothing to do with him. So out of despair he wasted away until he jumped into a hunter's trap, wanting nothing but to die. By then he was no good for food, but his fur was still soft, and his feet were thought lucky. I believe the feet bring great bad luck, and a sad, depressing death.”
Angela thought about what the owner said. A depressing death was one of the many things Kit deserved, but she had no idea when the foot would bring it about. Until then she would just get bad luck, while nice, would also bring her sympathy- most likely from her boyfriend. No, it was not the right item for her.
In her thoughts she had subconsciously continued to look over the tables items. She snapped back to herself after her eyes focused on a rather beautiful ring. Upon further inspection she could guess that it was to big for her fingers, but she would bet her life it was just perfect for that tramp's fingers. “That ring, there. The silver one with the blue-purple stone. What is it's story? What does it do?”
The owner looked at the ring in question and a look of surprise passed over her face. “That particular item's history is a bit hazy. I believe the curse that is upon it involves the wearer to marry someone. Someone... Unpleasant.” The owner paused, looking as if she was going to say more, but then took a quick breath. “Funny, I can't seem to remember anything more than the curse only works on the one who puts it on.”
Angela smiled a slow, sly smile. “It's perfect, I'll take it.” Angela pulled her wallet out of her purse. “How much?”
The owner looked at her for a moment, then said, “I don't take money, not for these items; tis bad luck to do so. I won't just give it to you for free either. What I want is an item in exchange for this one. What will you offer me for this cursed item? What thing of yours do you value that you are willing to part with in order to get your rival out of the way?”
Angela went still in thought. She had to trade? Trade what? She had little with her that was worth anything. Angela shrugged and muttered to the store owner, “You can have anything I have with me.”
It was the owners turn to wear a sly smile as she pointed to Angela's neck. “I want your necklace.”
“Necklace? What neck- Oh, you mean this old thing? It's practically threadbare.” It was just an onyx pendant carved into a unique and beautiful design that hung on an old fraying maroon ribbon. She never could quite figure out what the design was of, but she thought it pretty. It was a gift from her mother- she couldn't remember what for. “You can have it, but I don't think it's worth nearly as much as that ring.” Angela reached behind her neck and unfastened the ribbon, then held out the necklace to the owner. As the woman closed her hand around the pendant she said something.
“That is because you are thinking of material value. No, this item has a different kind of value, it is just enough to do for your cursed item.” The owner gave Angela a purple velvet box which held the ring inside it. “Remember, you must get her to put it on. Just touching this item isn't enough to trigger the curse.”
Angela smiled again as she wrapped her fingers around the box. She managed a “Thank you,” before she ran out of the room, down the considerably shorter hallway and out of the store.
~*~*~
The store owner looked after her for a moment before turning her attention to the pendant in her hand.
“Oh, I wouldn't be thanking me. Misfortune follows that ring closely and affects all involved. Especially the one who sets it in motion.”
The owner's cat came up to her then and purred words at her. “It's to bad she traded her good luck charm for it.”
The owner smiled. “It was her only thing of value besides her soul, and you know I don't accept those. Too messy. Besides, a little misfortune may do that girl some good.”
