I soon met some of the ‘unusual’ people that Helen was talking about.
At the fortune teller caravan, I picked up a brochure for a little consignment shop called Weister’s Elixersand Sundries.
It was supposed to be a good location to get uncommon ingredients for potions and tonics. Since I was interested in learning the alchemy side of witchcraft, I decided to check it out.
When I got there, the shop was totally empty of people, but it did seem to have items that I’ve never seen in any other “supposed” alchemy shop.
If Moonlight Falls was full of the type of people who would frequently visit a shop like this, I knew that I would in fact be right at home here, just as Helen suggested.
My eyes were immediately drawn to a cozy rocking chair in front of a fireplace. It was so inviting.
Since there was no one at the cash register, I couldn’t decide whether to look around, wait for someone to show up, or leave.
A top of the line alchemy station was set up in the shop, which was just what I needed, so I decided to wait until a cashier showed up.
After a few minutes, when there was still no one at the cash register…
I decided that if I was going to wait around, I might as well get comfortable. I headed for the chair.
I instantly knew that I must have the chair as well. I could imagine it going right in front of my fireplace.
I was sitting there in the chair content and comfortable…
When I suddenly had a vision. I saw a man with very pale, cold clammy skin. His skin was thin and so transparent that I could see his veins. Just the thought of him gave me chills and made me feel sick to my stomach.
Little did I know, he was very close-by.
Usually my visions show me a more distant future, but I saw from my peripheral vision, that this man was right outside the shop. I silently prayed that he would not decide to come in.
As if he read my mind, he turned, walked up the stairs and entered the shop. I swear the temperature went down a few degrees.
I was afraid…very afraid, so I made sure to keep my eye on him. Here I was, alone with some stranger who terrified me with his mere presence.
Suddenly another man approached the shop.
I don’t know why, but I decided to swallow my fear and introduce myself. If I was going to settle down here in this town, I would have to get used to strange people.
The second guy seemed a lot more approachable so I offered him my hand first, “Hi, I’m Josephina.”
I noticed that this man was very warm…hot in fact. It felt like he had a fever. “Nice to meet you. My name is Argus. Are you new to Moonlight Falls?” He asked.
“I am.”
“What brings you here of all places?”
I thought his question was a bit strange, so I just answered the best I could, “Well…it’s sort of complicated.” I did not want to tell this stranger that I was here to save a strange man that I had never met, based on a vision.
“Well, just make sure to stay in the house during the full moon,” he warned.
Again, his statement was strange. “Stay in the house?” I asked to make sure I heard right. “Why?”
“There are a lot of things that go on here…and, well…I’d just stay in the house if I were you.”
Speaking to Argus did not make me very comfortable, so I just left it at that. “Ok, thanks,” I said.
After my conversation with Argus, I could not imagine my conversation with the other guy being anymore uncomfortable. Still, I found it very hard to approach him.
I did my best to compose myself and turned toward him. Being this close, I could barely look at him. The hair on the back of my neck stood up and I felt like running away. Why was this guy creeping me out so much?
I held out my hand. “Hi, I’m Josephina,” I said. Just as I envisioned, his skin was cold, clammy and felt unreal, like a doll’s skin.
“I am Dante Morganthe,” he said in a voice that sounded old world.
“Nice to meet you,” I barely whispered. But, it was not nice to meet him…not nice at all. My legs shook and again I felt ill. I needed to get away from this man as quickly as possible.
Suddenly I had another vision of Dante. His mouth opened and blood poured out, down his chin and all over his clothes. I did not care if Dante perceived it as being rude. I turned as quickly as I could and walked away.
As I headed toward the door, he turned and walked a parallel path to my own. I thought he would cross over and approach the door as well. My heart was pounding.
As I was leaving the shop, I noticed that he was only heading toward the rocking chair.
Vision after vision shocked my system. I saw Dante among piles of bodies…drinking blood. Yes, Helen was right. This town was indeed creepy and I felt that I had made a mistake by moving here.
