The Bet
Vi pushed open the door to Shimmer & Shade , the brass handle cool against her palm. The familiar chime of the bell overhead rang softly as she stepped inside, marking the start of another day of work. The dim lighting cast long shadows across the shelves, making the cramped space feel even smaller. Shelves lined both sides of the shop, stacked with an assortment of objects—small glass bottles filled with oils, crystal balls that reflected the low light, and jars packed with herbs and powders. A table near the back held several neatly stacked tarot decks, their edges worn from frequent use. Above the shelves, hand-painted signs with faded gold lettering and sigils hung in uneven rows, their meanings lost on most who walked through the door.
Vi shrugged off her jacket and draped it over the counter before running a hand through her hair. She immediately began her opening duties of counting the till, opening curtains, and other mundane things. If someone told a younger version of her that she’d end up working at her sister’s mystic shop, she would have called bullshit. She was supposed to be doing something else—something with more action, more movement, something that didn’t involve sorting crystals or ringing up grimoires. But when Powder asked for help getting the shop up and running with those damn puppy eyes, Vi hadn’t been able to say no.
It was supposed to be temporary. Just a few weeks, maybe a couple of months—long enough to help Powder set up the shop, get the shelves stocked, and make sure no one tried to scam her out of anything. But somehow, weeks turned into months, months into years, and now she was coming up on six years behind this same counter, opening the same door every morning to the same scent of incense and old books.
It wasn’t that Vi disliked her job either. Being able to work with her sister had perks such as avoiding boring work days, eating lunch together, and sharing the occasional laugh when a customer asked for something truly out there—like a potion to make their ex fall back in love with them or a charm to win the lottery. It wasn’t the kind of work Vi ever imagined herself doing, but it wasn’t bad either. The shop had a steady rhythm, and there was something oddly satisfying about keeping things running. Even if she didn’t buy into all the mystic stuff the way Powder did, Vi had to admit, she respected her little sister’s hustle.
She hadn’t always, of course. The first time Powder—who went by Jinx at the shop because she insisted it made her sound more mysterious—told Vi she was going to be a palm reader, Vi had laughed so hard she nearly choked on her beer.
“Palm reading? Really?” she had wheezed, wiping a tear from her eye. “What’s next? Crystal balls? Talking to ghosts? Wearing a robe and calling yourself Madame Powder?”
Powder had given her an unimpressed look and gone right back to analyzing the lines on Vi’s hand. “You laugh now, but one day, people are gonna line up just to have me read their future.”
And she’d been right.
Somehow, Powder had turned her weird little talent into an actual business. Vi had never believed in all that mystical nonsense—crystals, tarot cards, auras, all of it. But even she had to admit that Powder had a knack for reading people. She could predict what someone was going to say before they even said it, could pick up on things most people wouldn’t even notice, and when it came to palm reading, well… she had yet to have a single dissatisfied customer.
Which, honestly, seemed like it wouldn’t be that hard to accomplish. Most people who came in for a palm reading wanted to believe in that kind of thing. They were eager to be told that they had strong lifelines or promising love futures or some other hopeful little lie. But Vi had once seen a fake palm reader years ago, in a dingy carnival tent. Some guy named "The Great Lorenzo" had confidently told a woman she’d have three children. She had smiled politely and informed him she was infertile. He had panicked, started sweating, and then pivoted so hard he claimed her three "spiritual children" were awaiting her in a past life. It was an absolute train wreck, and Vi had walked away from it thinking two things: one, Lorenzo needed to find another career, and two, maybe her sister wasn’t full of shit after all. Whether it was her freakish talent for feeling out people’s energy or her unnerving ability to predict things, she was good at what she did. Too good, in Vi’s opinion. It creeped her out sometimes. Still, business was business.
Vi’s job at the shop wasn’t nearly as glamorous. She handled the front, selling incense, tarot decks, overpriced crystals, and other mystical junk. More importantly, she doubled as security. Some people—mostly skeptical middle-aged men who hated being proven wrong—did not take kindly to Jinx correctly guessing their favorite childhood pet’s name. That’s where Vi came in. She had simple rules: no throwing things at her sister, no screaming about charlatans, and definitely no breaking the damn salt lamps. Those little shits were expensive and hard to clean up. Plus, she found satisfaction in making sure Jinx didn’t have to deal with the occasional sore loser who couldn’t handle a little cosmic truth.
Then there was Salem.
Powder had insisted on getting a shop cat. Vi had been opposed to the idea, but when Powder showed up one day with a tiny fluff ball in her arms, that was game over. Vi had never been a cat person—more of a dog lover, really—but she couldn’t deny that Salem was different. The little black kitten with the bright green eyes had a sweetness to her that was hard to resist.
The kitten years had been rough, though. She’d been a little wild, knocking over incense and shredding tarot cards like confetti. But now, Salem was laid-back, practically regal in her calm demeanor, and had become the shop’s unofficial mascot. She always greeted customers with a gentle nudge against their legs, which made Vi’s job of greeting them a little less intense. After all, most people were already enamored with the cat, cooing over her soft fur and giving her attention. Vi had grown to love the cat more than she cared to admit, and now, the sight of Salem walking over to her from wherever she had fallen asleep the previous night was a welcome one.
“Morning, princess,” Vi muttered, bending down to scratch behind the cat’s ears. Salem purred in approval before slinking off toward the door, where she stationed herself like a tiny, furry doorman, waiting to greet the first customer of the day.
It wasn’t long before said customer walked in. She was an older woman who smelled like way too much lavender and had that I’ve seen things look in her eye. She beelined straight for Jinx, who was busy restocking candles and dramatically sighed when she saw her incoming fate.
“Oh great, it’s another spiritual emergency, ” Jinx mumbled, flashing Vi a lazy salute before slinking over to the reading table.
Vi shook her head and went back to manning the register. The usual crowd filtered in—one guy hovering around the incense display like he was waiting for the sticks to whisper secrets to him, some teenager trying way too hard to act casual while eyeing the tarot decks, and the occasional skeptic who just wanted to prove the whole shop was a scam.
Eventually, a guy in his twenties who was staring way too hard at the crystal display caught Vi’s attention. “They’re not gonna start glowing if you keep squinting at them,” she said, arms crossed as she approached him.
The guy startled, rubbing the back of his neck. “Right. Uh, which one’s good for, like… energy?”
Vi shrugged. “All of them, but that orange one’s the most expensive, so it’s probably really powerful.”
He bought it.
As he wandered off, Jinx sauntered up to the counter, dramatically draping herself over it like she had just fought off an exorcism. “Okay, so apparently Bernice over there has been cursed by her neighbor’s bad vibes and needed me to cleanse her aura before her houseplants died.”
Vi smirked. “Did you fix her?”
Jinx shrugged. “Of course I did. Told her to light some sage, buy an amethyst, and stop letting Janice from next door get in her head.”
“Solid advice.”
“I know, right?” Jinx grinned, then perked up. “Speaking of good decisions—it’s lunch time.”
Vi raised a brow. “You just wanna stop working.”
Jinx placed a dramatic hand over her chest. “How dare you? I would never —”
“You’re already walking away.”
Jinx, halfway to the back room, called over her shoulder, “And yet, you’re following me!”
Damn it. She was right.
Vi grabbed their lunches from the back, and they settled at the counter, Salem hopping up beside them like she, too, had put in a hard day’s work and deserved a break. The two of them chatted between bites about all kinds of things as they enjoyed their meals.
“So then,” Jinx said, waving a dumpling in the air for emphasis, “he asked me if I could tell him where he was gonna find his ‘true love,’ and I told him, ‘Yeah, bro, at a coffee shop.’” She grinned. “And guess what happened the next day?”
Vi smirked. “Let me guess. He found some poor barista and declared her the love of his life?”
“Close. He ran into his ex, spilled his coffee all over himself, and somehow they got back together.” Jinx shrugged. “Not my fault the universe has a sense of humor.”
Vi snorted. “Yeah, well, if the universe has a sense of humor, it’s the kind that laughs when you trip in public.”
Jinx grinned. “Exactly! The universe is a little gremlin.”
Vi took a long sip of her lemonade. “You talk like the universe is some guy lurking in an alley, flipping a coin to decide if your day’s gonna suck.”
“Not a guy, but it has a soul,” Jinx shot back.
Vi pointedly ignored her, chucking their empty containers in the trash before stretching. “Alright, back to work.”
Jinx groaned like she was being dragged to her doom, letting her head thud onto the counter. “Ugh. Do we have to? My head hurts, my energy’s drained, and I think I need a recharge.”
Vi scoffed. “Recharge from what? Breathing?”
Jinx lifted her head just enough to glare. “Excuse you, but reading people’s energy is exhausting. It takes focus, intuition, an open mind—”
Vi smirked. “Oh, right. Sitting around, spouting vague nonsense, and acting mysterious. Real grueling labor.”
Jinx gasped, clutching her chest in mock offense. “Energy is—”
Vi held up a hand. “Yeah, yeah, save the spiritual TED Talk. I already work here.”
Jinx pouted, rolling her eyes. “Fine. If it’s so easy, you do the next reading.”
Vi narrowed her eyes. “What?”
“You heard me. Next customer who asks for a reading, you do it.”
Vi snorted. “Yeah, not happening.”
Jinx leaned in, grinning. “What’s wrong? Afraid you’ll be so bad at it that you scare them off?”
Vi rolled her eyes. “No, I just have better things to do.”
Jinx wiggled her eyebrows. “Then let’s make it a bet. If you do the next palm reading and they leave happy, I’ll cover lunch for the rest of the week.”
Vi raised an eyebrow. “And if I lose?”
“You wear that ridiculous fortune teller getup I found in the back. Full shift.”
Vi groaned. “I hate that thing.”
Jinx beamed. “I know.”
Vi groaned again for good measure before shaking her head. “Fine. But when I win, I’m getting the most expensive lunch every day .”
Jinx clapped her hands together. “ If … if you win, sister . ”
Vi grumbled under her breath as she grabbed a rag and started wiping down the counter. Jinx, still looking smug, lazily twirled a pen between her fingers before finally getting up to check inventory. Salem, who had been watching them with mild interest, stretched out and leapt down, sauntering toward the door like even she knew how this was about to go.
They settled back into work, the shop quiet except for the occasional clink of glass jars and the soft mystical music floating out of the speakers installed around the room.
Not even twenty minutes later, the bell above the door jingled, followed by Salem’s meows for attention. Vi looked up, her stomach immediately sinking as a woman walked in, her gaze locked on Salem as the cat practically threw herself at the newcomer’s legs. Vi froze, her mind immediately spiraling into two different thought processes.
No fucking way. Oh shit. Okay, Universe, I know I can be a total bitch and I’m sorry for assuming your gender in that conversation with Powder earlier! Just please do your thing and convince this woman that she doesn’t want a reading. Hell, I’ll even try to stop making fun of Powder’s job—okay, fine, I won’t actually stop, but I’ll try really, really hard. Just, please, don’t make me do a reading!
But wait. Actually... Vi’s second train of thought derailed her moment of panic. Okay, scratch that. She’s hot. Like, ridiculously hot. If I have to do a reading, I could make it work for her. Maybe if I played my cards right, I could somehow—accidentally—get this woman’s number.
Vi quickly tried to compose herself, her mind buzzing. The woman was tall with silky midnight blue hair and beautiful fair skin that Violet bet looked ethereal in the moonlight. I mean, a little palm reading isn’t so bad, right? I’m really good at spewing bullshit. Besides, how bad could it be? It’s not like I’m asking for anything huge. Just... a casual little number exchange, no big deal. Who knows? Maybe I can convince her that my “mysterious aura” is worth getting to know better.
Vi immediately regretted that last thought, cringing at how corny she sounded, but the damage was done. Alright, Universe, hear me out—just give me one shot at this and I promise I’ll never beg for anything ever again. I’ll even go easy on Powder for a week. Just... make this woman want a reading. And a little bit of me too, while you’re at it. No pressure.
The woman began to move toward the counter, her steps deliberate and graceful. Vi found herself frozen in place, her gaze following her every movement. Okay, cool. I’m just going to be here, pretending I’m not staring like a creep. Totally fine. Casual. Totally casual.
When the woman reached the counter, she placed a hand on it and leaned slightly forward, her eyes meeting Vi’s with a look that made the air feel like it was sucked from the room. “I heard Jinx is really good at readings,” she said, her voice soft, yet confident. “I’d love to get one.”
Vi blinked, her brain stalling for a second before it kicked back into gear. Okay, okay. This is it. She wants a reading. Holy shit.
Vi cleared her throat, attempting to sound professional, though her mind was still half on how unbelievably gorgeous the woman was. “I can certainly help with that,” she said, her voice steady, though she was secretly just trying to remember how to form words. “Uhhh… Jinx is sick though so I’m stepping in for her.”
The woman smiled, her eyes flickering to the nametag pinned to Vi’s shirt. “Hm,” she said, raising an eyebrow, “So, you’re telling me you can read palms too?”
Vi had two options here. She could tell the truth—that she had never read a single palm in her life and had no idea what the hell she was doing—or she could wing it.
"Yep," Vi lied, gesturing toward the table where Jinx usually did her readings. "Take a seat."
The woman hesitated for only a moment before stepping forward and settling into the chair across from Vi. She held out her hand, delicate and precise, like she was offering a contract instead of her palm. Vi took it, studying the lines like they might suddenly start speaking to her.
Alright, what did Jinx usually say? Something about life lines? Money lines? Vi barely listened when Jinx rambled about this stuff, so she was fully flying blind.
"Hmm," Vi hummed, furrowing her brow for dramatic effect. "Interesting. Very… telling."
The woman raised an eyebrow. "Is that so?"
"Oh, yeah. Wild stuff." Vi traced a random line, pretending she knew what it meant. "You’re, uh, very strong-willed. Headstrong, even. But deep down, you have a soft side. Not many people get to see it, though, because you keep your walls up."
The woman tilted her head slightly. "That’s… eerily accurate."
Vi had no idea what she had just said, but she ran with it. "Mmhmm. And this line here? It means you’re…stubborn.”
The woman sighed. “That’s just a wrinkle.”
Fuck. "A wrinkle of stubbornness . Very specific type. Only the truly determined get those."
The woman’s lips twitched, and Vi could swear she was fighting a smile. "I think I might be starting to believe you."
Vi leaned in, still holding her hand, and decided to try something a little different. “You know, I’m picking up on something else here too.” She traced the edge of the palm. “A few little curves… They’re subtle, but I can tell. You have a way of keeping people at arm’s length, but once you let them in, you’re loyal to a fault.”
The woman’s gaze shifted for just a moment, her expression hard to read. "You seem to know a lot about me already."
Vi grinned, looking up from her palm. “Just a knack for details. And, uh, I’m getting a sense of something else…” She gave her a playful look. “Your name. Let’s see... I’m thinking… ‘Gertrude.’”
The woman blinked, taken aback. “What?”
Vi shrugged. “It’s a gut feeling. Don’t question it.”
The woman raised an eyebrow. “You're way off.”
Vi held up her hands in mock surrender. “Alright, alright. No ‘Gertrude.’ How about… ‘Brenda’?”
The woman couldn’t help but laugh, the sound sharp and genuine. “Are you serious?”
Vi nodded solemnly, tracing another line. “Dead serious. It’s a strong name. I’m sensing it.”
The woman shook her head. “You’re not even close.”
Vi tapped her chin. “Hmm… ‘Eleanor.’ It’s got a certain ring to it.”
The woman stared at her, unamused. “Nope. Not even in the ballpark, but I’ll give you a hint: it starts with a ‘C’.”
Vi gave a sly grin. "Okay, okay. I got it now. Your name is definitely… ‘Caitlyn.’”
There was a long pause. The woman stared at her, and Vi’s smirk faltered for just a second. “Yes, it is.”
Vi blinked. Her mind was too busy processing the fact that she actually got it right. She had just flung a random guess into the wind, and somehow, it landed.
Well, look at that. I guess I’m a palm-reading prodigy now.
She had to keep herself from laughing. “Huh. Guess my gut feeling’s better than I thought.”
Caitlyn leaned back, crossing her arms with a skeptical look. “Okay, now I have to ask… are you really a palm reader and is Jinx even really sick?”
Vi paused, heat rushing to her cheeks. Busted.
She gave a slow, exaggerated sigh, her grin widening. “Alright, alright. You caught me. I’m not a palm reader. I’m Jinx’s sister, Vi. But when you walked in, I could see one very clear thing about your future.”
Caitlyn tilted her head as she studied Vi. “Oh? And what was that?”
Vi leaned in a little closer, her smile widening. “I see a hot mess in your future. And that hot mess... is me.” She paused for effect, her eyes glinting with playful confidence. “I mean, I’m both hot and a mess, so it only makes sense, right? I’m clearly meant to be in your life.”
Caitlyn giggled, clearly not having expected that answer. “You really think so?”
Violet nodded vigorously. “Oh, I know so, cupcake. So, how about it? Just give me a shot.”
Caitlyn looked at her for a moment, as if weighing the decision, before she finally slid her phone across the table. “Alright, hot mess. Let’s see what happens.”
Vi internally threw a fist in the air as she took the phone, thumb tapping in her number with one hand, then slid the phone back, satisfaction settling in her chest. She put on a solemn expression and folded her hands together, giving the woman in front of her a bow of gratitude. “You’ve made a wise decision, Caitlyn.”
Caitlyn shook her head. “You really are something else, Vi.”
Vi winked, standing from her seat. “Yeah, I get that a lot.”
Caitlyn took the cue and stood as well, beginning to pull out her wallet as they walked over to the register.
Jinx was perched behind the counter, absently petting Salem, who was curled up in her lap. The cat, however, had other plans. As soon as Caitlyn came closer, Salem unceremoniously hopped off Jinx’s lap and strutted over to her, weaving between her legs before sitting down expectantly, giving Caitlyn a look as if to say, I’m ready for my petting session now, thanks.
Jinx raised an eyebrow at the exchange but said nothing. She gave Vi a knowing look, silently asking how it went. Vi just waved it off, avoiding eye contact, and instead turned to Caitlyn, who was still fidgeting with her wallet.
“Listen, I’m not actually a professional palm reader, so the reading’s on the house,” Vi said, leaning casually against the counter. “But if you could answer one thing for me, that’d be great.”
Caitlyn paused, her fingers still on the edge of her wallet. “Oh yeah? What’s that?”
Vi shot a quick glance at Jinx, who pretended to be deep in thought as she wrote on a little notepad, but Vi knew better—Jinx’s eyes were practically burning holes in her anytime she glanced up.
“Was the reading, you know… worth your time? Were you happy with it?” Vi asked, chewing on her bottom lip. This was the moment of truth where she and her sister found out who won their bet.
Caitlyn looked at Vi for a moment, considering her words. Then, surprisingly, a smile tugged at her lips. “You know, I actually had a surprisingly good time. You were entertaining, even got a few things right. I’d say it was worth it.”
Vi’s grin stretched wider, and she shot a side glance at Jinx, who was trying her best not to scowl. Vi couldn’t help but feel a little victorious. “Glad to hear it. Guess I’ve got a future in this after all.”
Caitlyn chuckled, leaning down to pet Salem before straightening back up and fixing her hair. “Well, thank you. I appreciate your time. Goodbye, Vi.” Caitlyn waved at Salem who let out a half-hearted meow, rolling over in a way that said she could care less. Caitlyn gave an amused smile before heading toward the door.
As soon as the door clicked shut, Vi spun around to face Jinx, practically bouncing on her heels. "Did you hear that? She said she had a good time! I won, Jinx! I totally won !"
Jinx rolled her eyes, lounging in her chair. "Oh, yeah, because you were charming the woman like she was a goddamn snake."
Vi put her hands on her hips, smirking like she’d just solved the greatest mystery of all time. "You’re missing the point, Jinx. Her name is Caitlyn, and I wasn’t charming her."
Jinx raised an eyebrow. "Sure, you weren't."
Vi's grin stretched wider, hands dramatically waving in the air. "Okay, fine. I totally was. But here’s the kicker... I got her number !" She paused, then her expression shifted to one of sudden urgency. "And that reminds me—thank you, universe, for finally listening to me!"
Vi scrambled around the counter, grabbing incense, crystals, and candles in a frantic flurry, clearly worried that the universe might change its mind. "I need to give thanks before it decides to turn on me. You never know with the universe, right? You yourself said that its a gremlin." She tossed a glance at Jinx, her movements becoming even more dramatic. "I’m setting up a shrine right now. It’s gotta stick, Jinx. We can't mess with cosmic karma!"
Jinx couldn’t help but snicker at her sister’s frantic energy. "You really believe in all that now? After one good reading? That was all it took?"
Vi glanced over her shoulder, giving Jinx an incredulous look. "Of course I do! The universe finally threw me a bone, and I am not about to let it take it back."
Jinx snorted. "Right. Because the universe totally cares about your love life."
Vi pointed a candle at her. "First of all, rude. Second of all, if the universe didn’t care, then why did Caitlyn smile at me like that? Why did she laugh at my jokes? Why did she—" Vi gasped, clutching her chest. "Why did she say goodbye to Salem? That’s soulmate behavior, Jinx!"
Jinx gave her a deadpan look. "That’s basic human decency."
Vi turned back to her shrine-in-progress, arranging the crystals with absolute seriousness. "Call it what you want, but I’m not risking it. Now shut up and help me light these before the universe decides I’m not being thankful enough."
Jinx sighed dramatically but grabbed a lighter from the counter anyway. “Fine, but if you summon some kind of weird love spirit in here, I’m blaming you.”
Vi struck a match, eyes glinting with mischief. “Oh, please. If I had that kind of power, I would’ve used it ages ago.”
Jinx wiggled her fingers ominously. “Careful, Vi. You start believing in this stuff too much, and next thing you know, you’ll be out back charging your crystals under the moon and asking Salem for dating advice.”
Vi smirked. “Jinx, please. Salem already approves.” She turned back to her shrine and clasped her hands together as if in prayer. “Thank you, mighty forces of fate, for aligning the stars in my favor. May my charm continue to be unstoppable, and may Caitlyn text me back within the next twenty-four hours.”
Jinx groaned, flopping onto the counter. “You are so annoying when you win.”
Vi grinned, lighting one of the candles. “Get used to it, sis. My future’s looking real bright.”