Page 6 of The Second Sight
“Yes, ma’am.” Brooklyn raised an eyebrow at me. “Told you. Cursed objects.”
I rolled my eyes but moved away from the mirrors. As we explored further, I found myself drawn to a glass case containing what looked like jewelry. There were brooches, rings, amulets, all with strange symbols etched into their surfaces. One pendant in particular caught my eye. It was a circular gold piece with what looked like a tree engraved on one side. It reminded me of something, though I couldn’t place what.
The whole time we wandered, I could feel Moira’s gaze following us. Not in a suspicious way, watching for potential thieves. No, this was different. She seemed to be studying me specifically.
“Let’s go,” Brooklyn whispered eventually, leaning close to my ear. “This place is starting to creep me out. That woman hasn’t stopped staring at you since we walked in.”
I nodded, though part of me wasn’t ready to leave. There was something about this place, something familiar in a way I couldn’t explain. Like déjà vu, but stronger. As if I’d been here before or was always meant to be here.
We turned toward the exit, Brooklyn leading the way through the narrow path between shelves of knickknacks. I followed reluctantly, already planning to come back alone sometime in the future. There were too many things here I wanted to explore without being hurried along.
That’s when I saw them. Sitting on the third shelf near the door, illuminated by a stray beam of light from one of the high windows, a pair of gold-framed reading glasses. Simple yetelegant, with cat-eye lenses and thin arms that curved. They seemed to glow in the dim light, calling to me in a way I couldn’t ignore.
I stopped dead in my tracks. My eyes fixed on the glasses. Brooklyn continued a few steps before realizing I wasn’t behind her.
“Kasi?” she called, turning back.
But I barely heard her. All I could see were those glasses, sitting there as if they’d been waiting for me all along.
“Kasi?” Brooklyn called again, her voice edged with concern. “What are you looking at?” But I couldn’t tear my eyes away from those glasses. They weren’t particularly flashy or ornate compared to other items in the shop. Just simple, thin, gold-framed cat-eye reading glasses with little cutouts at the top corners. I didn’t need glasses. My vision was perfect. But something about them drew me closer until I stood directly in front of the shelf where they rested.
“It’s just some old glasses,” Brooklyn said, appearing at my side. She tugged at my arm. “Come on. This place is giving me the heebie-jeebies. Plus, Miss Ma’am hasn’t stopped watching you since we walked into this dungeon.”
I nodded absently but didn’t move. “You go ahead. I’ll be right there.”
Brooklyn sighed, the sound heavy with exasperation. “We’re supposed to be celebrating your birthday, not hanging out in the world’s dustiest antique shop.” When I still didn’t respond, she added, “Fine. Two minutes. Then we’re getting food. Now I’m hungry, and I need to use some hand sanitizer.”
I barely registered her stepping away, the click of her shoes on the wooden floor fading as she moved toward the door. All my attention was focused on the glasses. I reached out slowly, half-expecting them to disappear like a mirage when my fingers got close. But they were solid, real.
I lifted them carefully from their resting place. They were heavier than they looked. Maybe they were actual metal instead of gold-painted plastic.
I turned them over in my hands, studying the craftsmanship. The gold was old, not bright and yellow like new jewelry, but a deeper, richer shade that spoke of age and history.
“Those are special.” Moira’s voice startled me. She had moved silently from behind the counter and now stood a few feet away, her dark eyes fixed on the glasses in my hands. “Very old. Very rare.”
“What are they?” I asked.
A small smile curved on Moira’s full lips. “Reading glasses, of course.”
“I don’t need reading glasses.”
“No?” Her eyebrow arched. “Perhaps they’re not for reading books.”
The cryptic response should have annoyed me, but instead it only deepened my fascination. I looked back down at the glasses, turning them so the light caught the lenses again. “How much?”
“For you?” Moira’s gaze was penetrating, as if she could see through my skin to the bones beneath. “Twenty-one dollars seems appropriate. For your birthday.”
I stared at her, a chill spreading across my shoulders. I hadn’t told her it was my birthday. Had Brooklyn mentioned it while I was distracted? Did she overhear us talking? She seemed too far away to hear us.
“How did you?—”
“The price is firm,” she interrupted smoothly. “Unless you’d prefer not to purchase them?”
“No, I want them.” The words rushed out before I could think. I didn’t understand why I needed these glasses, but the thought of leaving without them made my chest tighten with something close to panic.
“Then follow me.” Moira turned and glided back to the counter, her black dress flowing around her.
I turned back to see Brooklyn shooting me a questioning look from near the door. “Seriously? You’re buying something?”
