The Album: Book One Read Online Free Page A

shiny feather, but everything else about her is quite unremarkable and sweet.
    “Have a seat, girls. I take all major credit cards and cash. No refunds if you don’t like the outcome and I can’t promise that I will gather enough energy to give a detailed reading. In that case, I will take 50% off and give you a coupon for another visit.”
    “What kind of reading?” Nat interrupts.
    “We can start by holding hands. I mostly rely on my psychic energy to fulfill requests about the future. If you want medicinal help or a tarot reading, well, that’s entirely different. But you,” she points to me, “you live in the present – why are you here?” Holy shit, she can see right through me.
    “Oh, well, it’s my birthday and I uh – I want to know what to expect. I guess I want a purpose?” I speak honestly, but not entirely truthfully.
    “Ah, I see. You want to make sure your actions don’t affect your outcome?” Madame Clarice raises a questioning eyebrow while securing a scarf around her head. I sit down across from her while Natalie rummages through a table of trinkets. “Please don’t touch, dear,” she barks.
    “Madame Clarice, I’m not sure I’m a believer, but like you, well on a more amateur level, I tend to rely on my energy to guide my decisions.” I shift in my wicker chair as Nat sits quietly next to me. “But, well – I would like for you to tell me that my erratic behavior doesn’t lead me to a ditch to die!” I laugh nervously.
    “Very well. Give me your hands and try to clear your thoughts.” Madame Clarice closes her eyes and sighs heavily. I try to think about nothing but that’s impossible, so instead, I think about the chords of a Dolly Parton song.
    “Do you have a love potion?” Natalie asks.
    “Please, be as quiet as possible,” whispers Madame Clarice. Natalie rolls her eyes and bites her lip.
    After several minutes of silence and hand holding, Madame Clarice finally speaks. “You will have everything you want because of your impetuous nature. You will sing with pride. You will grow a tree.” I scrunch my nose at that last declaration and Natalie snickers in disbelief. “Would you like me to finish?”
    “Oh yes, please,” I say.
    “Love will strike on a summer’s night after you’ve gained the wisdom from the twenty-fifth year. He will be tall and handsome but with very few words.” Madame Clarice opens her eyes and locks them on mine. “I see no death in ditches.” She releases my hands and smiles slightly.
    “Thank you,” I say.
    “My turn! Will I shag Brad Pitt?” Natalie asks sarcastically.
    “For this to work, you need to clear your thoughts and remain silent. I do not answer specific questions because I can only see what your soul offers.” Madame Clarice places her hands on the table and Natalie willingly gives it a go.
    “Okay, I’m ready – but only the good stuff.”
    “You, my love, will speak to the stars. You will find your home among the people. Your true love will be charming and handsome—”
    “Woo-hoo, Prince Charming!” Natalie interrupts.
    “Dear, please don’t break the concentration. You will also grow a tree.” Madame Clarice opens her eyes quickly to peek at Natalie and gives me a little smirk. “Oh, I’m sorry to tell you this, but you will have a huge ass and whiskers on your chin.”
    “What? You can actually see that?” Natalie falls dramatically over the table, and even though I know the psychic is joking, it’s a mean joke to play after the night we’ve had. “Is there some . . .” sniff, sniff, “magic potion to stop it from happening?”
    Madame Clarice stands elegantly from the table and walks to her wall of herbs and bottles. She takes a tiny purple bottle and wraps it neatly in a scarf. Natalie looks up, tears watering her eyes, hoping for a mystical cure.
    “Girls, the gift of psychic ability is not to be taken lightly, but it’s merely a reading of the present energy – the future can always be