Ask then Answer

Leaves crunched under her feet as she passed tents and makeshift cabins set among the trees. Visitors wandered the grounds of the forbidden sideshow. She pushed her way through the crowd, her shoulders brushed those she passed. The scents of burning sage fell over her, she was close. She plucked at the hair band around her wrist as she weaved around mingling bodies; her heart pounded and she remembered what Madame Vadoma promised she could provide.

Beads slid across her face as she entered the makeshift hut. Sounds from outside disappeared. The only thing left was the thunderous pounding of her heart.

She approached the small table centered in the makeshift hut; a large bookshelf stood tall behind it. Her fingers slid over the velvet cloth; gold embroidery running throughout. She was mesmerized by the books. The incandescent chandelier cast shadows along the shelves, highlighting titles. They appeared to be antique and some weren't in her native tongue.

One specifically plucked her attention, it didn’t match anything else. It was small, black and bound by an elastic. Unlike the others, it looked new. The small black book rested against a volume coated in dust but remained untouched by its dirty surroundings.

A voice rang out in the silence, from nowhere and everywhere all at once.

“Place payment in the dish.”

The sound of her heart beat was again audible throughout the room. Even though she knew the voice, she wasn't any less intimidated.

Centered on the table was a white porcelain dish; she couldn't remember how it got there. She did as instructed and dropped a bill in the dish.

Madame Vadoma entered from behind a curtain that clashed with the fabric of the table.

“Sit.”

She sat.

“You’re late.” Madame Vadoma was beautiful; her hourglass figure filled out the floor length, pleated, plum coloured dress. It was topped with a leather vest. Her raven hair was in a long braid, draped over her shoulder. Her chin tipped upwards, accentuating the abundance of necklaces she wore.

“Late?”

“Yes child. Hesitation makes us late”

She met Madame Vadoma’s obsidian eyes. There was no denying what Madame Vadoma said, all she could do was nod.

“Let us begin.”

On the table sat a full set of Tarot cards. She couldn't remember when they got there.

“Shuffle the deck, think of what you want most.”

She did as instructed.

As Madame Vadoma laid the top three cards along the table, her eyes began to drift. The small black book called to her again. Its uniqueness intrigued her.

“They’re all cursed.”

“Excuse me?”

“When a fool claims to control the books; they are the ones who become controlled.” Madame Vadoma said in an ominous voice, her obsidian eyes peered from under unblinking lashes. The overhead light began to swing as if a breeze had passed through, yet she hadn’t felt anything. She looked at the small black book again. A loud crack from outside brought her focus back to the table. Madame Vadoma flipped over the first card.

“The Wheel of Fortune...reversed. Forces that promise the changing of seasons bring you luck. Be wary, not all promises are made in good faith.” She flipped the next card with a snap.

“The World. Through determination the truth will be revealed. Prepare questions, for the answers are closer than you think.” She flipped the final card.

“The Ace of wands; reversed again.” Her eyes dropped from Madame Vadoma's and locked on the card placed between them. Time slowed. “Your future holds no positivity; beware of the binding rhythm.”

“Binding rhythm? What does that mean?”

“Go straight home child. Don't meddle in what is not in your direct path. For, I am sorry for inviting you here.”

With that,she disappeared behind the curtain.

Luck, truth and a binding rhythm. She glanced back over at the small black book; it was framed in her direct path.

She walked out of the tent, the small black book tucked in her bag. Her breath plumed into the night’s air. The last rays had dipped behind the trees, extinguishing all signs of day. The crowds had dispersed, ending the last night of the forbidden sideshow.

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Ask then Answer

Three words were embedded into the leather cover of the small black notebook. The desk was small, stark white; a round mirror hung on the wall facing her. Books lined the side of the desk and piles formed on the floor next to it. A traditional lamp illuminated the desk and surrounding area. The ivory coloured pages of the small book offered no messages; it was blank.

She closed the notebook and re-read the words on the cover.

Ask then Answer

Cobalt eyes and rosy cheeks looked back at her through the mirror.

She did as instructed.

Pleasure flooded her as the pen slid across the fresh page;

"What do I want?"

It was a rhetorical question. She went to cross it out, when words materialized underneath.

"Power."

Her breath became rapid, she couldn’t look away. She adjusted her grip on the pen with her knuckles turning white. Pen to paper, she did as instructed;

"How do I get Power?"

All that was left was the ringing in her ears. She gripped herself as her legs began to shake. The desk side lamp flickered, causing shadows to dance across the walls. But nothing came.

Her sense of time was gone. She wasn't sure how long she had been watching the page, waiting.

The blinds behind her thrashed as a breeze passed through the room. Her attention was brought back to the book as the words materialized again.

"Acquire the Materials."

Cobalt eyes and rosy cheeks were still looking back at her. She watched as the face in the mirror began to smile. Her arm thrashed, extinguishing the lamp. Legs carried her to bed, allowing her to be enveloped in familiar scents and textures.

“It’s not real. It’s not real” Her voice was shaky and lacked the conviction to convince herself. The adrenaline rushing through her began to dissipate, exhausting her. The pounding of her heart became a comforting beat that calmed her.

Out of her peripherals, she could see that the mirror still held the reflection of the girl sitting at the desk.

Fear had adrenaline pumping, but exhaustion had already taken hold, and it wasn't long until sleep consumed her.

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The sun rose.

The day passed, uneventful at best. She tried to make sense of the events of the night before. The answers in the book, the smile of her own face. Excitement and fear motivated her, she needed to know more.

The mirror reflected herself. Eyes reflected the same cobalt colour but the bags under them were new. Her cheeks had abandoned their rosy tone.

This time she kept the desk clear except for her lamp and of course, the small black book. The three words looking up at her.

Ask then Answer

She did as instructed.

The book did as expected. It answered.

She could ask anything; and the book would always answer. She finally felt powerful.

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The sun rose.

Days had passed. A blurry, faint recollection of memories. She controlled the book. With it, she knew she could control her future. It was time to push the book's power and extend her own.

The mirror reflected herself. Eyes reflected a quilt blue, her skin was tight, but she smiled anyways. With a deep breath her slumped shoulders rose and fell. She knew what she wanted to ask the book.

Ask then Answer

She did as instructed.

“How do I get $20,000?”

Money was power. Those with power, had money. This is what she truly needed; to sit atop the hierarchy, looking down at those below her. It was her time to rise, and with a few simple questions, she could have it all.

Once the small black book answered her, she knew it was only the start.

“Play the lottery numbers ….”

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The sun rose.

Weeks had passed. At least she thought, she wasn’t quite sure. Her phone lit up on the floor, 104 missed calls. She didn’t have time for them. Answering her family would be a slippery slope, and in order to maintain her power, she needed to remain focused.

Her first win was $20,000 in cash. It was stored in takeout containers under the bed. The day it took to claim her winnings was already more of a distraction then she could afford. Prizes and winning tickets now scattered her apartment. A new Bentley sat in the driveway. She would show off her newfound wealth, earning the respect she deserved. She would have the power to get anything she dreamed of.

The mirror reflected herself. Eyes reflected back with a slate grey tone, the liver spotted hollows of her checks were prominent. Pale bony arms reached for a new pen as the ink began to fade. Her body quivered as she took a deep breath.

Ask then Answer

She couldn’t do as instructed.

There was no room in the small black book for another question. Her heart and stomach felt as though they were being pulled down, her palms were moist. Pages flipped back and forth as she looked for anywhere, somewhere, to ask another question. Tears trailed down her face as she looked at herself in the mirror.

The eyes looking back were no longer hers; they were pitch black as the Earl of Hell’s waistcoat. The rosy glow she had lost had returned, plump cheeks lined with a venomous, razor sharp smile stretching from ear to ear. The chair crashed behind her as she rose, she screamed. No sound would ever be heard. A ringing in her ears began to grow. It became overbearing. She pushed against her temples with her hands, as if trying to push the ringing away. The room started to lose its colour. Spots of blackness clouded her vision. Until all was black, she couldn’t see, and no one could hear her scream.

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The stark white desk was familiar; no longer was a mirror facing her. The small black notebook sat in the centre of the desk, a pen placed carefully next to it. An overhead light shone down, illuminating herself and the desk. Beyond the light was darkness, like the abyss of a void; pure emptiness.

She dropped her hands, the ringing had subsided. Carefully inspecting the ring of light, she lined her toes up with the edge. Soft muffled sounds echoed back to her. She slowly reached her arm past the border of light.

She screamed in pain as she jerked her arm back. Fresh, jagged claw slashes trailed the length of her arm. Only fragments of her sleeve remained. She pressed her eyes shut as she cried out for help. A flood of tears gushed down her hollow cheeks. She blinked through the tears, inspecting her arm.

Slashes no longer lined her arm. Her shirt was untouched. She sat, trailing her hand up and down the length of her arm as she looked at the small black notebook.

Ask then Answer

Curiosity slid through her body as she slowly opened the book. the familiar ivory pages were blank once again. She picked up the pen as words slowly began to materialize.

"What do I want?"

“What do you mean?” Her soft voice echoed throughout the void.

Her stomach turned as she recalled her very first question in the book. Knuckles white, her hand trembled lightly as she answered;

"Power."

The very act of staring began to hurt her eyes. She pleaded with herself;

“Turn around, don’t ask another question. Stop here.”

Her body trembled as she fought to catch her breath.

"How do I get Power?"

She slammed the book as she screamed. The light flickered, causing shadows to dance across the desk. A breeze coated her skin as it wrapped around her.

She had asked the question, now it was her turn to answer.