Page 13 of Bargain with Fate
Valerie was already intent on rearranging the bones, seemingly oblivious to us. Finally, she glanced up at me, grinning. “Well, well. You have a man in your life.”
“Do I?”
“That’s what the bones tell me.”
“Did the bones also tell you his name?”
“If you haven’t met him already, you will soon.” She chuckled to herself. “Buckle up. It’s going to be quite a ride for you, Maya.”
“No offense, but I find that hard to believe.”
“Believe it. This man will crack you like a walnut in the best possible way.” Valerie released a discontented sigh. “I’m jealous. I haven’t been cracked open in decades.”
“You’d break a hip, sister. Nobody wants that.”
“Then I’d get to spend more time with Dr. Adam. I’d have no complaints about that. He reminds me of my Hubert.” Valerie fanned herself.
Vanessa burst into a violent cackle. “Hubert looked nothing like Dr. Adam. He resembled a squashed raisin at the bottom of the box.”
“Same disposition,” Valerie said, scowling. “You should consider riding Dr. Adam, Maya. I bet he’s wilder than he seems.”
“I doubt that,” Vanessa countered. “He probably checks your blood pressure to make sure you’re not overexerting yourself during the act.”
I laughed at the image, despite myself. “You don’t see anything about oni or harbingers of doom?”
“I see darkness falling,” Valerie said, staring at the bones. “A shadow, but it seems localized. Nothing that would impact a large population.”
“Not even the island?”
“No, too small.”
“Okay, thanks.”
“It’s a good thing, isn’t it?” Vanessa asked. “Better a small patch of darkness than a whole blanket.”
“That’s a good way of looking at it,” I agreed. Unfortunately, I didn’t have the luxury of looking on the bright side, especially when lives were potentially at stake.
Valerie’s body stiffened. “Wait. I see more.” She moved a wishbone to the end of the line. “Strange.”
“Is it your reflection?” Vanessa asked.
Valerie gave her a sidelong glance. “You realize that’s an insult to both of us.” She turned back to the bones. “I see a plant that turns to ash and dust.”
“Maya isn’t here for a science lesson, sister.”
“I see a statue that crumbles,” Valerie continued.
“Nor an art lesson.”
“Maybe it’s history,” I said.
Valerie hushed us. “This isn’t a trivia game. Shut up and listen.” She refocused on the bones. “The number seven is prevalent. Seven items. Seven mounds of dust.”
“That’s lucky, isn’t it?” I asked. “The number seven?”
“It’s mystical, not necessarily lucky.”
“I could do with a bit of luck,” I told them.
