A Tale of the Unnatural: April 2014

Tuesday, April 29, 2014

Chapter Four Part Three

Oscar’s curiosity teased him with the idea of taking up the free reading Dante had offered. “Could the Tarot deck actually call me out?” Oscar speculated. “The palm reading, with the physical contact, though...?” He knows psychics are for real. He also knows he can’t take that kind of risk. It would endanger him and possibly the other Keepers. Kalina’s arrival at the fair surprised him.

For Oscar, Kalina’s wardrobe was kind of quirky and not very gypsy. But it’s Kalina’s indiscrete smile that keeps his eyes on her. He wondered where she’d been; to do what? “Whatever is was she did, she sure is glad she did it.” Oscar smiled to himself. He got back to his car and turned to leave the fairgrounds.

“It’s just too normal, all too normal. They have to eat sometime... something?” thought the suspicious cop.

(To Be Continued.)

Thursday, April 24, 2014

Chapter Four Part Two

There he was, leaning against a tree with his hands in his jacket’s pockets. “He is so handsome! Almost beautiful!” thought Kalina. Tyrol had the same thoughts about her, “Beautiful; beautiful; beautiful!” A smile opened on his face that almost exposed his fangs. “She can’t know I’m a vampire. That’ll scare her away!” he thought. He closed his mouth into a thin smile and walked to meet her.

Kalina had her own secret to keep. She turned the timid handshake into a kiss on each cheek. Tyrol was a bit colder than she imagined. Kalina couldn’t understand how someone who lived on fresh warm blood could be cold. But, so be it.

A lady walking her dog was the only company they had. Even if she had paid them any attention she would have only seen a couple of kids walking, talking and sometimes sitting.

It was the dog who wouldn’t let her get anywhere near those teens.

(To Be Continued.)

Saturday, April 19, 2014

Chapter Four Part One

Most towns have a special place where young couples go looking for some kind of privacy. A lover’s lane usually has a view and is about a twenty minute drive outside of town. But Tyrol didn’t have a car. “What am I going to do with a girl?” he thought to himself as he dressed for the date. “I’m a fucking vampire! How stupid can you get?” Tyrol is as insecure as any teenager on a first date. He buttoned the long sleeves and put on a neutral color jacket with a broad collar Tyrol could pull up and cover his face a little. Not that he had that many choices. “I should have just said...” repeated in his mind all of the things he should have said but didn’t.

Harieen, Kalina’s cousin, took charge of the stall. Kalina spent most of the morning searching for clothes that did not look gypsy-like. It’s hard to find modern chick clothing in a gypsy camp. So, Kalina ended up with a very un-gypsy-like mismatch of cloths. “What am I worried about? I’m not a gypsy, I’m a zombie!” Once she left the fairgrounds she quickened her pace.

“I can’t get lost! It’s a small park; he said I can’t miss it” says Kalina anxiously.

(To Be Continued.)

Tuesday, April 15, 2014

Chapter Three Part Fourteen

They always ordered the largest size triple shot latte they could buy. They hardly ever drank it all; they just liked how the large warm cup felt in the hand. Cops, whatever size or shape, are the same. They’re suspicious. Oscar joined the meeting a few minutes late. They had already gone over what they called The Week in Review. Fortunately nothing very important had happened.

“Did you find the TV set?” asked Reginald. They all laughed together.

Oscar was a natural born storyteller so the others sat back sipping their coffee and waited. “By the way, the gypsy encampment is nowhere close to the fair.” he started off. He described the wagons, the sheets, even the color of the flames from the bonfire. He may not have found the TV set but he did find everyone asleep. Everyone. “It was all so picture perfect it was unreal, unnatural.” Oscar said. “Since the other day,” looking at Reginald, “I’ve been thinking. How come there’s no food at the Fair?” The Keepers looked at each other.

“I saw no food at the camp either.” he added suspiciously.

End of Chapter Three

(To Be Continued.)

Friday, April 11, 2014

Chapter Three Part Thirteen

A sign that reads ‘The First Three Questions Are Free’ was what brought Tyrol within sight of Kalina. “No wonder Agros belittles the gypsies...” He hadn’t finished the thought when he caught a glimpse of Kalina. The rest was a matter of wandering uncaringly up to the booth where she worked. Kalina could have thought that she reeled him in with her mind.

After a faltering conversation about love potions and good luck amulets, Tyrol cut to the chase. “At what time do you get out of here? Work, I mean.” “Well, um, it’s like, you know, a family thing and...” Kalina fumbled. “Don’t tell me you work all day, all night, seven days?” Tyrol kept at it. “No, no, no... I mean...” Tyrol interrupted, “How about tonight?” “Oh, no... No! Tonight is impossible!” finding herself in a corner Kalina hit back, “Tomorrow, maybe?” “Sure!” he answered instantly.

Dante found the boy talking to Kalina vaguely familiar.

(To Be Continued.)

Wednesday, April 9, 2014

Chapter Three Part Twelve

“Are you hiding from someone?” she teased, smiling at the boy in the hoodie. Tyrol pulled back the hood and cautiously smiled. “That woman owns me!” he thought. She was the most perfectly beautiful female he had ever seen. The eyes, the smile, everything was perfect. Tyrol was as embarrassed and shy as a vampire could be. He sort of hovered a little.

“Self control...” Kalina thought. If she still had one, her heart would have skipped a beat. “It’s the boy, the vampire, from that thing in the forest!” Her mind raced through all of the things she had thought of saying to him. “Great!” was all that came out of her mouth. They looked into each other’s eyes and a silent space where nothing else existed grew around them.

“A love potion, maybe?” Kalina almost giggled.

(To Be Continued.)

Tuesday, April 1, 2014

Chapter Three Part Eleven

Kalina didn’t lie when she swore the amulets where magical. She had always felt that magic was not about the incantations or the rituals; magic is in the mind. “The praying to the four corners of the earth is ok, like drawing the eight point star on the ground, I’m fine with that.” she thought. Its part of a show designed to impress the onlookers but the power is not there. “A focused mind can do anything!” that was something Kalina knew.

Word had spread and more folk stopped by. Every day the visitors from town became younger. The Tarot reading was a success and a second stall had to be set up. Palm readers and crystal balls had their niche. Curiosity, as usual, is the great motivator. Kalina was ready for all comers. She looked around sizing up the arriving groups. A fluorescent yellow hoodie snatched her attention. The hood covered most of the fellow’s face but there was something in the way he moved, something special.

“Now why would that feel familiar?” Kalina mused.

(To Be Continued.)