Kelly plopped herself into the velvet chair and extended her hand, palm up. “Palm first for us, then we’d love to do a card reading.”

“Of course, my dear,” she whispered in the small space. Taking hold of Kelly’s hand with her own, weathered with age, and grazing her fingers across Kelly’s palm. “Oh yes. This line here? This is your lifeline...” she paused dramatically, eyes flicking up to Kelly’s. “How old are you dear?”

“Twenty...”

“Well, this line here has a shadow crossing it.” Her eyes flicked to each of us, crafting an aura of intrigue. It was a great party trick. “You’ve an important decision ahead that will determine the course of the rest of your life. I see great darkness in one of the paths. The other will be brighter despite it being fueled by great loss.”

The way she spoke sent a chill down my spine and Kelly shifted uncomfortably in her seat. Clearly, she wasn’t expecting that type of reading. “What about my love life?” She tried to put up a smile.

Madame Dina readjusted Kelly’s hand in hers and traced a delicate line with a pointed crystal. “This line here shows you’re bound to experience times of extreme loss and heartbreak. This chain pattern can mean many things—feeling trapped or desperate...” her gaze shifted from Kelly to me, her eyes dark. “Unless you choose the right path forward.”

This was Kelly’s idea, not mine. I pursed my lips and glanced around the room, focusing on the flickering candles and intricate tapestries instead of Madame Dina’s ominous words.

With a sudden bang, Madame Dina slapped her hands on the table, making both Kelly and me jump. “You, girl! Sit in this chair. Palms first.”

“I, uh, okay.” I scrambled to exchange spots with Kelly, both of us looking like nervous wrecks.

She grabbed my hand with a bit of force and dragged my hand under the light. “Both of you have many challenges you must face. Your lifeline shows many paths forward, but they are all clouded in darkness. You are twenty as well?”

I swallowed the lump in my throat, trying not to let my facial expressions give away my anxiety. “Yes, Madame.”

“Good. Good. And this love line...” she traced it with her crystal, sending shivers down my spine. “...is very strange. It starts here,” she pointed to the beginning of the line,” and breaks into parts here.”

“W-what does that mean?”

“Truly, I don’t know. You have many difficult choices ahead.”

She released my hand and clapped twice. “Now! Tarot cards. Both of you sit.”

What I assumed was hocus pocus, she laid out cards on the table with practiced precision, telling us of our strong bond of friendship in the past. That could have been easily guessed by looking at the two of us. We operated like sisters.