Mystica Auguria

Thalia believed her eyes played tricks on her. The more distance they covered, the less cars and people were seen on the streets. She wanted to ask Dace whether they were actually going the right way but every time she wanted to bring it up she could see how versed he was in the map. What was grandpa thinking, nobody used traditional maps anymore and most of the times, locations could be pinned that eased navigation. But they knew why they were doing this, for grandpa.

"Here!" Dace stuck his finger to the right, eyes glued to the map as his cousin came to a stop.

Gazing, they noticed the battered and nearly destroyed store. Crevices marred from the top and slid toward the bottom. The paint work almost gave up trying to appease the building. People passed by like it was normal for an abandoned strayed store to stand along the sidewalk. There had to be something about it if it caught Grandpa's eye.

"So how long are we staying here?" Thalia asked. "I have a nail appointment in the afternoon."

Dace gazed her, face tightened. "I thought I told you to cancel anything that would coincide with today."

"Oh well Sorry," she rolled her eyes dragging the "apology". "But I hardly think we're going to stay here the entire day. Let's just go and get this over with."

Dace wanted to add more but he knew it wouldn't yield anything. She knew they were supposed to be here and yet she just went on with her own plans. No matter how much Grandpa loved her, he always felt like she wasn't worthy. Out of everyone, Grandpa Bryce trusted them both. Most of the other family members thought after losing his wife, the toll got to him. While others just believed it was something related to his childhood and it decided to resurface. He wouldn't listen to anyone, much less decide to talk with them. Only two people were in his mind, Dace and Thalia. And before his death, he gave them a key and a map with a weird message concerning a painting. Dace would have expected her to have and use her ears if they were going to do this.

"Earth to Dace," Thalia flicked her fingers across his face, he came around. "Come on, let's get a move on."

He brushed it away, wasn't worth it. They got out and ascended the steps. The top displayed the letters " DIANA'S ANTIQUES". They didn’t know anyone with that name. The windows were dusted, too dusted that it proved impractical to look inside. Nobody seemed bothered to know whether they would enter or not. Considering how it looked like, eyebrows were to be raised and questions fly.

Thalia felt a breeze pass by yet there was no adjacent wind. She swore, the cars and the people were decreasing as they neared the door. And why did it feel they were taking a millennia just to get there. And Dace, couldn't he take it down a notch, could he not feel something was amiss.

"Dace, I don't..."

The key entered the slot and clicked. Gulping, he gradually opened the door and expected a waft of dust to pass through. Instead his hairs stood. As though the room was a cooler. He clenched his fists and bit his lip. This was it. Whatever Grandpa told them to do was in there.

Well this was a good idea. She hurriedly followed him and amazed with what it had to offer. Lots of valuable but old items stood watching them. The first greeting came from a begotten sweet vanilla essence that filled the entire room.  Vases were to the right shelf, adorned with floral patterns of different colors. The top featured magazines, lots of them and she could guess they were from the 80's or whatever time he was born. The center showcased watches in a glass case, each so old and timeless. The standing glass case on the right showed utensils of the same age while to the direct front on the wall was a mirror and an antique stand clock, ticking next to it.

She paced towards the vases, taking shots at the watches. They ticked in unison with the clock and it seemed they did so merrily.  Holding one, sky blue with patterns of lilies playing across and around it. This was so vintage. Nobody owned this. And she was pretty sure no other antique store had the same kind. Not that she ever went to one, but she felt like it was way too authentic. She stared at the old chair at the corner, still creaking as though some wind blew over it, hinging sounds played through it as well.  Then she turned to the magazines, if only she were that tall. But at least Dace was here, or would he deny and continue acting like a big baby. The vase needed closer inspection and she was already tired. The chair would do.

Dace was by the shelf, the cups were small but pristine. Followed by glasses and other cutlery. Then he directed himself to the things beside it, the brooms looked ancient. It still awed him how good everything looked. He smiled, he knew grandpa wasn't some crazy old man when he was telling those stories. Maybe all these were a collection of his life. They never saw it but at least they got to hear.

"This is so cool," he commented touching the broom.

"Yeah," Thalia turned the vase. "It's so epic."

The chair felt loose, as though quivering. What was it now? Was it because it was just that old?

"You're... too heavy," she jerked her head.

Even though it was a whisper she heard him. Where did that come from, not like he ever lifted her or something. She squinted and focused on her cousin who was now looking at the mirror showing a distorted reflection. For someone his age, why was he making faces? Either way, why did he just say that.  

"You're too heavy," he said it again, louder this time. And finally turned.

"What did you say about me?" she asked, rage tipping. And yet he proclaimed himself a man.

Dace shook his head. "I didn't say anything. But I heard it."

"Oh yeah," her head slid to the side, "then who did?"

"I DID!"

She screamed and stood up. Her hands flew and the vase shattered. But she didn't care, at least not now. It was either she were mad or it was actually real. The chair spoke to her. She glanced at Dace and he was shocked as she was.

The chair remained still but they waited, slowly creeping backward. They heard a sigh and the chair, on its own shrugged as dust fell over to the floor. Apparently they could see the particles and the moment they reached the floor, it looked like they were absorbed.

"The gig is up everyone," it said.

Everything jeered, and it felt like they were in a market. The sweet essence stemmed to a higher degree. The forks stood up on their own and the magazines gossiped, their pages slightly turning every time they spoke. The vase on the ground floated and piece by piece reattached itself. It looked cleaner and brighter than before. It stood up and it felt like it was staring at the one with clumsy hands. Thalia looked at it, legs rooted.

"Well, thanks a lot for dropping me," it said. Hopping back to the shelf, it carried on with its peers.

Thalia walked back and Dace did so simultaneously. They stood side by side, the items enhanced their voices.

"I wouldn't stand in front of us with that large thing baby girl," a utensil commented. She yelped and immediately sat on the ground.

Dace clicked and put his hand on the glass. "Who said that?"

One fork hopped and seemed to slap the fork next to it. It spoke with a female voice. "You're disgusting." It turned to the boy. "I'm so sorry about that."

Thalia shook her head, hand over mouth and made eye contact with Dace.

Dace scanned the area. Was this what he was saying, they travel to some magical shop. The brooms swept beside them, though he was sure the floor was sparkling, they just did it anyways. The magazines at the top threw crumpled papers from time to time, enjoying what was... magazine catch? The watches in the glass formed faces. He was sure they weren’t like this the first time, but they ticked with joy and laughed. Thalia still looked lost and was trying her best to reconnect herself. Not every day you get a fork saying something about her. Reverting to the utensils once more. The female fork was still giving a lecture to the other as the rest watched. The cups got in on the drama , while the plates, stacked above one another continued dozing off. He thought he would feel cold but it was slightly warmer. This made him smile.

"SILENCE!"

Both turned to the direction of the antique clock, and everything obeyed.

"Took ya long enough," the mirror commented.

"Candle stand," the clock bellowed. "Bring these two chairs."

"Of course monsieur le temps," it replied then clapped its hands toward a set of stairs below it.

The ground shook and the sound echoed louder as it approached. Two wooden brown chairs with cushions barked. The candle stand pointed to the cousins and hurriedly they were swooped away and brought before the clock and the mirror.

"Hello young ones," it said. "You must be Bryce's grandchildren."

"So you know us?" Thalia asked, sounding a bit energetic.

"Yes I do," silence conquered. "We heard what happened. And we are really sorry."

Dace tightened his grip. It still hurt but right now, they needed answers.

"Who was he really?" He asked. " He used to tell us stories, others thought unbelievable but looking at everything now, it feels like he was someone very important."

"He was, his rank was so powerful that we worried the balance of things would shift once he was gone. But before I answer this, you must know he chose the both of you for the purpose of fulfilling this mission and you must be ready for with the state of things, it may never be the same for you again."

Thalia looked at him. Their eyes asked a lot of questions and they did look really unsure what laid before them. But she realized the determination in Dace's eyes, they both adored grandpa and whatever he put before them had to be significant. They were the right age and the perfect candidates.

Thalia faced the clock. "Tell us what we need to know."

"Very well," the clock muttered. "We are in the 'Everglade Hub'. Where all things are connected yet disconnected but interconnected and therefore exist in a plane of everything."

They gazed each other, the clock sighed. "This is the source of everything. Look outside."

They did, eyes flared. The outside was no longer as they arrived. The atmosphere shifted to a sky full of different shades of purple with red diamond shaped stars glazing in intensity. No road, no car, no street.

Thalia panicked as she stood. "What happened to my car?"

"You ought not to worry Lass, your vehicle is fine. It's just that now since you're here and have known the truth, you have entered the phase of everything. Now please sit, so that I may explain what you must do."

That wasn’t a reasonable explanation but looking at how collected Dace was, she felt stupid. She buried her frustration and returned to the chair.

The clock addressed the candle stand, something about a painting and it made Dace's ears flinch.

"You asked who Bryce was, yes? He was The Hub Architect. The one who draws the line to which the fate of all things take place and prevent dangers that would affect the worlds of the Everglade. But he was not the first one. The first was a woman by the name of Diana. She created the Everglade to ensure that all the worlds would remain in the expected threshold. And when she handed it to Bryce, she told him of a prophecy that would affect multitude of worlds. She wasn't sure what but she felt it. Bryce thought about it for ages and he got some sort of answer. He painted what looked like the possibility of the future. But he never understood what it truly meant. That was what he tired to figure out."

"Get the key and the map..." Thalia began.

"...Then investigate, find out and prevent the true meaning of the painting," Dace finished as they heard someone panting coming up the stairs.

The candle stand leaned the painting on the wall and sat next to it. It was funny that something so small was able to carry something as large. What was funnier was how much panting it did.

"Here... you go... monsieur Le Temps," the candle stand tried. Thalia couldn't hold it.

It looked at her with a dead glare and she focused to the front.

Dace stood up and scrutinized it. It was divided. On the right was a vast desert, the sun shone like it wanted to kill and dunes overlapped over others. The other half showed the sun as well but it looked dimmer. There were buildings below but the glasses were shattered and they seemed to barely hold on. On the disfigured road were Black hazed beings. Their eyes were a blazing orange, akin to the sun as well as their treacherous smiles. Others seemed to bare blades for arms. His fingers treaded but he stretched his hand. Then it stopped. Another hand above it.

"Um, what are you doing?" His cousin asked.

"Just touching the painting," he said. His voice sounded distant while his eyes locked onto it.

"Oh yeah, touch the painting in a store filled with magic. That will tremendously work."

"The lass is right," the clock added. "We still don't know what the meaning of the painting is and being in the Everglade, anything can happen."

"But this is what Grandpa left for us. If we have any chance of knowing what this is about, I need to take the risk." He looked at his cousin. "Plus, if something happens to me, you have Thalia here."

She looked shocked, then rage replaced it. "You think this is funny? I'm not letting you do this."

"Then I'm sorry."

He quickly extended the other arm and his head retracted behind as though he were possessed. Then his body reacted seeming like he had a seizure and gradually fell to the floor. Everything gasped and Thalia shook him. His eyes, they were shifting into various colors. No matter how scary it looked, she carried on shaking.

"Wake up!" She demanded. "Wake up you brute!"

She bowed her head close to his arm, and began sobbing. She wasn't one to lie. Grandpa and Dace were the people she felt mattered the most in her life. Sure, she had friends, parents, other cousins and even sisters but there was something about those two that couldn't replace them. And now with grandpa gone, would she allow her other special person to die before anything happened?

"You fool!" She cried. "Just wake up."

Dace sat up while coughing and touched his body like he was making sure it was his. His heart banged and his mind followed. What was that? What did he just see?

Thalia wanted to close in for a hug but she noticed him panting and sweating. She wiped her tears first then tapped his shoulder. He looked at her, whatever he saw, it now bothered her.

"Dace? What is it?"

He panted and scanned everything again. They were all waiting. He reverted to Thalia.

"Something dangerous is coming." He patted her shoulder. "And we don't have time."