Free Echoes of the Past by Susanne Matthews Page B

the poster on the door, Audra, a denizen of the

spirit world, was empowered to help those in this dimension. For twenty-five

dollars, she could contact the spirits and help you with whatever ailed you.

You could lose weight, quit smoking, end chronic pain, and overcome fears.
    Yeah, like this one’s

for real.
    Tasha opened the shop door, and Michelle reluctantly

followed her inside. The store smelled of incense and age. Some of the books

moldering on the shelves must be a hundred years old. There was some kind of

punk music playing in the background—not a musical style she enjoyed. She

looked around her. There were crystals of every shape, size, and color, some on

chains, others in dishes. Cones and sticks of incense, burners, and candles in

every scent known to man littered the counters. She noted the numerous

apothecary jars filled with powders of various colors all neatly labelled.
    If I look hard enough

will I find eye of newt and mandrake root? Michelle relaxed. I don’t think I have anything to worry about

here. There’s no way this woman will figure out my secret.
    The young Goth girl standing by the cash register didn’t

even look up when the bell attached to the door announced their arrival. The

open magazine on the counter engrossed her. Dressed entirely in black, a spiked

dog collar around her neck, she had short, black hair with tips dyed to match

the blood-red lipstick she wore. She was quite pretty if you could overlook the

ghoulish makeup and way too many piercings.
    “Can I help you?” She didn’t take the time to look at them

and sounded as bored as she probably was. The place didn’t look as if it had

had customers in days.
    “Yes, you can.” Tasha spoke before Michelle could turn tail

and run.
    “My friend is here to see Audra. Is she accepting clients

tonight?”
    The girl’s head jerked up, like a bobble -headed

doll pressed too hard. Surprise and excitement glowed in her startling,

black-lined, green eyes. She smiled, showing off teeth so white they must

recently have been bleached. She looked from Michelle to Tasha and back to

Michelle again.
    “This is like, so cool. Audra said you were coming. She

always knows.” She pointed a black-fingernail-tipped finger at Michelle.

“You’re Michelle, right?”
    Tasha gasped. “How did you know her name? That’s freaky!”
    A frisson coursed down Michelle’s spine. What was going on

here? There was no way this woman could know her name. While Michelle believed

in ghosts, witches and warlocks were the stuff of fairy tales. Tasha!
    “You called ahead and made an appointment? You’re pretty

sure of yourself,” she accused.
    “As God is my witness, I didn’t call. How could I? I didn’t

even know you were going to go through with it. I waited all afternoon for you

to call and tell me you were going on that case and leaving right away. That’s

why I’d arranged to meet Simon at The Copper Kettle too. He’d have been there

if it hadn’t been for that accident, or are you going to accuse me of arranging

that four car pile-up?”
    Tasha tried to look indignant, but the combination of awe

and fear on her face spoiled the look, and convinced Michelle she was telling

the truth.
    The girl behind the counter giggled self-consciously and

closed her magazine. She’d been following their conversation closely. While she

might have been told to expect them, she seemed slightly spooked too.

Michelle’s level of discomfort rose.
    “This is so awesome! Audra said you’d be skeptical. Your

friend’s right. She didn’t call or anything, but Audra knew you were coming.

She even told me you’d be the dark-haired one, and I should treat you with

respect. Are you a witch too? I’ve never been told to be especially nice to

anyone before.”
    Tasha laughed. “Let me think, I’ve heard her called

something like that, but I’m sure it started with a ‘B’.”
    The girl giggled again, the innocent sound at