Miss Celeste

Celeste was the center of attention wherever she went. It wasn’t because she was attractive, even though she was. It wasn’t because she was smart and witty; she was all that and more. No, it was because she accurately predicted the future for her clients. Celeste was a fortune teller extraordinaire. People came to her from around the world hoping to find out what the future had in store for them. She plied her craft with a flair for the dramatic, coupled with a high level of discretion her clients appreciated, but she remained an enigma.

A special group of women knew exactly who Celeste was. They had taken her in as an infant when her mother met with an unfortunate accident. Although they lived in different parts of the world, the women took turns raising her. Living in different areas of the globe became as normal for her as breathing. Once she reached the age of three, her education began. The women taught her the usual subjects—math, languages, writing and reading were all part of her daily routine. It was her evening activities that departed from normal.

Her surrogate mothers all belonged to a powerful coven of witches. They held dominion over water, wind, air, and earth. Their spells dated back to the dark ages and their powers were almost absolute. Almost, because they had no control over time. Celeste’s mother was the coven member who possessed that gift. With her passing, control of arguably the most important element of all had disappeared.

Celeste led a sequestered life learning and eventually mastering the dark arts. By the time she was seven, the young girl could ride the wind, not with a broomstick, but by simply lifting her arms and levitating off the ground. It’s how she traveled from stepmother to stepmother. She was casting intricate and unbreakable spells by the time she was thirteen. Finally, at fifteen, Celeste’s natural ability to see into the future revealed itself.

Using her newly discovered skill was both fascinating and terrifying. By merely looking into people’s eyes, she could see their future lives unfold in front of her. It was the most powerful tool in her magical toolbox. Celeste started using her new skill cautiously, taking the advice of the other coven members on what she should and should not disclose to her clients. They told her that the one thing she must never share with anyone was when and how they were going to die. It was the one piece of information that the Dark Lord wanted to remain a secret.

Temptation is a powerful impulse. Tell anyone that something is forbidden and they immediately want to try it regardless of the circumstances. That impulse has existed in humans since Eve and the apple. Celeste was certainly not exempt from temptation. The older she got, the more convinced she was that her powers were invincible. Knowing what the future had in store meant she could cast spells to protect her clients from future calamities or let them fail if they garnered her disfavor. Strangely, the only person’s future Celeste couldn’t see was her own.

It happened during a Halloween costume party she was attending. A devilishly handsome man dressed as a demon caught her eye. He noticed her staring, so he walked over and introduced himself.

“Good evening! My name is Damon.”

“Damon the demon.” Quipped Celeste.

“That’s me! And your name tag tells me you are Celeste, the celestial fortune teller. Care to tell me about my future?”

There was something about the man that intrigued her. “What would you like to know, Sir?”

“How about when and how I will die?”

“A strange request coming from someone so young. I shouldn’t do this, but I feel you should know.”

Celeste stared deep into the man’s soul and became engulfed in its blackness. She struggled to free herself from the darkness that encased her but found that she was completely at his mercy. Slowly, her self-awareness returned. She was no longer at the party but trapped in a wood and glass box. Her reflection in the glass told her she was still wearing her gypsy fortune teller costume. The stranger’s voice spoke to her in her mind.

“No one breaks my rules without being punished. Welcome to your new home!”