Witch Zanthia's Little Shop Of Horrors

There was a staircase connecting from the warehouse in the bas.e.m.e.nt to the front of the store in the ground floor. An excited Zanthia ran up the stairs at full speed in her high heels black shoes. She arrived up there in an instant.

Or at least that had probably been the intention of the young woman at the beginning.

But what really happened in the end, well, it was something that left room for reasonable doubts. Someone could argue that she definetely tried her best to arrive at the top of the stairs.

However, for an impartial observer the absence of the witch on the ground floor was evident. Even the echo of the sequence of events that gave rise to Zanthia's non-presence could still be appreciated. From the ground floor it was heard something like this:

*CLIK-CLAK-CLICK-CLAK-CLIK!*

*CLIK-CLAK-CLICK-CLAK-CLIK!*

*SLUMP!*

*PLOP!*

*PAF!*

*OUCH!*

¡Poor Zanthia! It breaks my heart just to tell you this sad scene. Fortunately she had her faithful familiars to rely on.

Worried by the strange sound, Shadow left the customers, a woman of m.a.t.u.r.e age with a couple of small children, alone in the shop for a moment.

Crossing the counter with a determined air and a concerned expression the grey p.u.s.s.ycat went down the stairs to look for the owner of the store, which was to all intents and purposes, her mistress. Shadow found her at the foot of the stairs, paws up, no, legs up and not entirely conscious.

"Zanthia, are you okay?"

Shadow said those words that always sounded silly but that someone worried about a friend often used, without success, to comfort her in ridiculous and unexpected situations. The gray cat knew that the young girl was seriously wounded ... in her pride.

After all, if this kind of fall could kill her or hurt her badly, she would not deserve to be called a witch.

However, the fall had been especially long. It was a typical disadvantage of non-Euclidean architecture; with all those extra dimensions, any fall from a stair could be potentially fatal.

But fortunately Zanthia was tough. Not very intelligent, maybe, but tough indeed.

"Yeah, it is fine. Nothing happened here. Nothing to worry at all, " replied the witch, rubbing her entire body to ease the pain and especially her firm but bruised b.u.t.t, "Ouch ... it hurts everything!" she grumbled in a low voice but perfectly audible to the ears of the feline.

"But what happened to you?"

"I suddenly decided to check the quality of the materials of the staircase. So I carried out a surprise test about the resistance of the materials towards blunt damage. It went very well!" lied the young woman.

"Really? A surprise check to the stairs' materials?" asked the feline in a in a doubtful tone.

"Yeah, yeah! There is no doubt that we do not have to worry about the stair being broken if someone caught off guard accidentally falls. It is very hard, especially the 5th step from below. It does not break even if someone does a head dive," answered Zanthia with excessive detail and monotonous tone.

"Seriously? The fifth step from below? How did you find that out? " asked Shadow, having fun with the clear discomfort of the witch .

Zanthia closed her eyes briefly and saw again the system messages.

[SYSTEM: Warning! The unexpected fall from the top of the stair has caused physical damages to host. Note: physical damage was reduced due to Magical Attire providing bonus resistance to damages. Areas affected: Head and b.u.t.t. New Stated: BRUISED. ]

[SYSTEM: You have been granted the title "Head diving amateur" . Current Heights Record: 180 meters. Final Landing Point: fifth step from below! Congratulations!]

[SYSTEM: host's body is regenerating health at a normal rate. Important Reminder: fall from great heights may cause fatal damage to host's body. Friendly advice: Don't try head dives in stairs in the future.]

Zanthia opened her eyes again and sighed. Then she replied to the cat:

"Trust me. I know what I tell you. "

"Ok, Zanthia, if you say it, it's a holy word. In any case it is best to hurry up. There are some clients above. They're waiting for you. "

"Oh.. nice work! Tell the clients that I am already going to attend them. In a minute or two."

"They look like normal humans. I do not think they are gonna take it well if a p.u.s.s.ycat suddenly starts talking to them, no matter how beautiful and adorable the aforementioned p.u.s.s.ycat is, " said Shadow while rolling her eyes before insisting, "Hurry up!"

"Well, tell them meow or something like that. Distract them for a moment! I just need a few seconds alone to remember, I mean, to say aloud the magic word of change and then I am going up to the ground floor. "

"The magic word of change? Oh, right! I just realized that you are wearing those high-heeled shoes that your mother gave you for your birthday. Now that I remember it, are they not, in fact, the second form of the black leather magical boots that can also be transformed into flat sandals?"

"Aha."

"That good! Because it would be a pity for someone to fall from such heights just because she tried to run up with high heels! " Shadow teased the witch with a grin and a knowing look.

"Yeah, yeah..a real pity ... luckily that was not what happened ... totally not at all!" said Zanthia emphatically to the gray cat.

"Sure, sure. I was wondering about something? With all the extra dimensional space there must be.. Hmm..let's see, about 170-175 meters of staircase? Am I right?" said Shadow smugly.

"A little more than 180 meters. According to the planes of the building, of course, I would not know for sure."

"Yes, I believe you ... now that I remember, the magic word to activate the change was Pegasus. But I'm sure you already knew."

"Yeah, yeah! Of course, I already knew that. Thank you anyway for your kind intentions!"

"I see you up there," the cat said before climbing nimbly up the stairs. Zanthia looked at her imperturbably. The cat arrived safely at the end of the stairs and then smugly left the witch's sight. Of course, the cat did not wear high-heeled shoes.

"PEGASUS. Sandal mode."

A second later, the young lady was on the ground floor. With a touch of magic, she cleaned her clothes of dust, smoothed the wrinkles, fixed her hair and straightened her hat. Immediately she adopted a serious expression that, in her opinion, showed the appropriate professional attitude.

The witch examined herself with a hand mirror. She was impeccable again. Nobody could suspect the pain of her bruised b.u.t.t or detect the slightest trace of the bump on her head.

"PEGASUS. Shoes Mode"

*CLICK-CLACK! CLICK-CLACK! CLICK-CLACK!*

Moments later, the witch was heading the front of the store to meet the customers, walking with her high heel shoes like a diva on the catwalk of a parade. Really glamorous.

"Welcome to the Witch Zanhia´s little shop of horrors! I am Zanthia, the owner, at your service. Sorry for the delay, " she said, smiling behind the lead-gray countertop.

[SYSTEM: Client acquired. A human woman and her two children. Type of client: FORTUNATE. Sales Restrictions: none.]

"Hello dear! There is no problem. I have all the time in the world. " replied a lady with a nasal voice.

She was shorty and a little fat. Clearly she was in her fifties. She was dressed in an elegant cream-colored dress. And it was evident for anyone who could see her short hair with bangs to the side and impeccable blond highlights that she had just left the hairdressing salon.

As for the children, there were two small boys. They didn't pay much attention to the witch´s greetings because they were entertaining themselves by happily chewing something. Zanthia frowned.

"Ups ... I forgot about this too. I better get those candies out at once. I hope you have not eaten too many, "said the witch and removed the bowl with the poisoned candies from the counter.

Of course, the children did not agree to having their goodies removed and protested vigorously. The mother made them shut up.

"I hope it does not bother you, dear. While we waited, I told the children to serve a few candies so they were not bothering around. I was afraid they would break something if they started running through the corridors. But these kids ate a lot. You already know how children are. If necessary, you can charge it to me. I' ll pay!" explained the lady, a little embarrassed that her children continued nonchalantly getting stuck to the sweets.

The young witch and the gray cat watched, very amazed, the children eating so happily and then exchanged a knowing look of concern. Those kids. How many poisoned candies they ate? And how could they are still alive?

Undoubtedly, they must have a stomach of steel. However, a few moments later the children's faces turned ashen gray and were much quieter, but not quite. What a vigorous young boys indeed!

"No, no problem! If they are at the counter they are complimentary. But I'm worried about them suffering from indigestion if they eat so many sweets. Please, take this pendant and tell them to hold it against their neck for ten seconds. And to stop eating the candies. With that, it should be enough to avoid any problem!" Zanthia said, taking off a pendant of the choker and offering it to the lady.

"Thanks a lot dear. You are a darling!" the fat lady with the nasal voice, no, the client, did what the witch said her to do, looking very amused.

After holding the pendant for a few seconds, the pink color returned to the children's faces. The young witch and the gray cat exhaled collectively a sigh of relief.

"And now please tell me, madam, how can I help you?"

"Well…actually I am not sure, to go inside the shop was just an impulse for us. I mean, there are so many beautiful things here. But what really happened was, mostly, that the children chased the cat and then I chased my children, you know? And well, when the cat got into the store and Pablo and Pedro followed her I had to enter too. And this place is so big, and it has so many corridors that it took me a while to find my boys. By the way, my name is Silvia. "

It was amazing how this woman could talk almost without breathing! She had an uncanny ability to confuse her listeners acquired through years of gossiping.

"I understand what happened, Silvia. Anyway, pleased to meet you and the little ones. You are new to the neighborhood, right? "asked Zanthia in her friendliest tone of voice.

"Yes, how did you notice?" said Silvia looking very surprised.

That explained a lot. It is likely that the newcomers have not yet heard of the reputation of the black tent, so the p.u.s.s.ycat could easily attract them here. The witch and the gray cat exchanged another look of complicity and smiled.

"I am a witch!" replied the young woman mysteriously, "Witches know things!"

"Amazing! So, we are newcomers to the Capital. We moved because of our jobs. We are employees in the Abercrombie import company. You know, that giant enterprise that it brings merchandise from other countries and supplies the army of the Scarlet Empire. Yeah, that Abercrombie. I meet my husband there. " explined Silvia.

"Oh, that's good ..." the witch wanted to say something but the customer continued talking non-stop and did not gave Zanthia any chance to contribute her toughts.

"My husband Roberto was the best salesmen in our town. Then he got promoted and sent to the company's headquarters. All expenses included!" the client shamelessly boasted, talking faster and faster in that annoying nasal tone.

"Congratulations! I liked ... " Zanthia tried to interject a few words but it was a vain attempt. The woman spoke faster and faster and did not give any chance to be interrupted.

"It is one of the most important companies in the empire. And my husband now occupies an important management position. You know how those big companies are. We did not have to go to any inn or one of those seedy taverns. They gave us one of the houses that is right there outside the alley, turning to the left, that of the blue tiles. It is beautiful, with several rooms. Really it is most of a mansion than a house. My husband is doing all the moving in so he is busy with all thing related to that. So I left the house with the boys to walk a little and get used to the neiborhood. And that's how we got to the shop in first place. Funny story, right? "

Zanthia could no longer keep the smile. The woman's chatter threatened to stun her. She had this growing fear that if this woman kept talking to her she soon might be contemplating either to kill her or to suicide herself.

So she made a magical pass with discretion and the woman's voice disappeared. The client continued talking, without being aware, but at least the witch's ears were safe from potential internal bleeding. And of course, it was also safer for the customer too.

The woman had a quick tongue and was an inexhaustible source of information. Undoubtedly, the idea of her walking with the boys had been the husband's suggestion. The witch could not blame him.

Surprisingly, this woman had the potential to become a rational bore-type Nightmare. The life of that man must be really difficult. A few minutes later, when the woman needed to pause to take a break, Zanthia returned the voice with a discreet gesture.

"Madam, I think I have just what you need to distract yourself."

"Really? And how can that I do it?Any suggestions?"

"I have got exactly what you need!"

"What can that be? I am so curious!" began the woman but the witch promptly interrupted her.

"This way please!"

The witch led the woman and her children to one of the windows. In it there was a human-sized wax golem in stand-by mode, full-sized and dressed in a butler's suit.

"This is Niklaus, a Level 5 wax golem. He can perfectly listen to everything you say and accompany you in a conversation whenever you feel bored. He never tires of paying attention and always answers with courtesy. In addition, he is able to perform cleaning tasks, monitor children and defend the household home from any threat. He does not eat anything and does not need to sleep at all. It has a useful life of ten years. The best thing of all is that his balance price is cheap. Only 5000 gold coins or 5 magic crystals."

"Amazing! I did not know there was such a thing. " said Silvia, stunned.

"Oh yeah, it's the latest fad of fashion here in the Capital. A high quality product. All high class families have one. "

"Wow, the Capital itself is so different from provincial cities! To think that everyone important has one of those… how did you say it was called? " asked the client.

"Wax Golem, this one in particular, is called Niklaus. Try it a little and then tell me," said the witch introducing a certain parchment inside a cylinder in the c.h.e.s.t of the golem.

"WAX GOLEM ACTIVATED: demonstration mode."

"Hi, my name is Niklaus. It is a p.l.e.a.s.u.r.e to see ladies as distinguished as you are on this beautiful morning. And what a nice looking kids! " said the Golem in a rich tenor voice.

"Oohh! But what a gallant man! Hi, Niklaus, my name is Silvia and these are my sons Pedro and Pablo. We just moved to the Capital and ... " the client launched to talk with great enthusiasm.

Meanwhile, the witch enjoyed peace and tranquility several meters away. Obviously Niklaus was a good product to offer this lady. He could help Silvia with her solitude, clearly the husband was too much focused on his work and never had time to see her, and he could also play with Pedro and Pablo when they were bored.

The wax golem was of a low level but was more than enough for the needs of this family. And if her husband really worked at the Abercrombie´s import company in a high position then he must have earned enough to be able to afford this purchase.

Fifteen minutes later the deal was closed. The client paid a part as an advance and promised to pay the rest in installments, guaranteeing the treatment with the husband's salary.

[SYSTEM: Sale completed. Decrease in stock: -1 x Golem wax size human type. Level 1. Cash Increase: 5000 gold coins. Valuation of the sale: C-. Reputation of the store +1. Reputation of the owner +1.]

Zanthia sighed. Undoubtedly, she could have sold the product for a higher price but the store urgently needed customers and selling cheap was a quick way to become known. In addition, with the way of talking this woman had, there was no doubt that it would be a very effective advertising for the shop.

So she did not feel too discouraged by the assessment of the system. For the moment, the priority was to get more customers. Later she would worry about improving the quality of the deals.

"Children, did you returned the pendant to the owner Zanthia who so kindly lent it to you?"

"No," the children said in chorus. Pedro and Pablo stopped playing with the butler and came running to where Zanthia was to return it.

"Thank you children," said Zanthia, taking the pendant and hanging it on her choker.

"Owner Zanthia, why do you have so many of these brilliant things?"

"Ah, this pendants, are just normal accessories among witches."

"Ah ... and what is a witch?" asked the youngest of the children.

"A witch is a very busy person," replied Zanthia with a smile.

The gray cat rolled her eyes. Silvia and Pedro laughed.

"Ah ... and what do the witches do?" Pablo insisted with curiosity.

The mother smiled apologetically but in her eyes burned the flame of curiosity. Zanthia decided not to evade the question this time.

"Witches interpret symbols, omens and signs. We reveal the truths that are hidden deep in the hearts of the people and we work hard to make the wishes of our clients become a reality. We also investigate the true nature of things and dive into the currents of destinies to choose from all the possible options the choice that is the most convenient to reach the future we seek," explained the young witch and the pendants sparkled with different colors as she recited the words.

Indeed Zanthia looked very mysterious and powerful at that time. Her blue eyes seemed of unfathomable depth and her voice seemed to echo twice in the air. The raw magic flooded the store for a moment. Even Shadow made a thumbs-up gesture as she nodded repeatedly in an approvingly way.

"Oooh!" said Pablo.

"Wow!" said Pedro

"You had left me completely stunned. I never thought that the work of a witch was so important," acknowledged a stunned Silvia. "I'm completely bewildered here."

Zanthia smiled, pleased to see the effect her words had caused on the customers. So this was the dignity of a witch. After so many years of being under the shadow of her mother, this was the time to make her own way.

"But ... what does it mean?" Pablo asked again, with the typical innocence of the children.

" Kid, honestly tell me, you didn't understand even a word of what I just said! Right?" asked the young witch.

"No, I didn't,"confessed the boy.

Everyone but Zanthia blushed.

"But it sounded fabulous!" contributed his brother Pedro.

"The part about the current of destiny sounded really impressive." said cooperatibly the mother of the children.

The gray cat laughed soundly. A depressed Zanthia sighed . She thought what to say for a few moments and then tried to explain it in a way that could be easily understood.

"It mainly means that we witches serve two types of clients. The fortunate and the unfortunate. The fortunate ones are clients who enter here voluntarily and do not have serious problems. They can enter and look at anything they like in the showcases and aisles of the store. Then, if they have enough gold pieces or magic crystals, they can buy it."

" And the unfortunate ones?"

"The unfortunate have very big problems, you could even say that they are the only people with real problems. They are trapped in the currents of destiny and fate. Some are possessed by Nightmares and some are being chased by other kinds of horrors. Witches offer solutions to these problems. Unfortunate customers usually arrive at the shop forced by the circ.u.mstances and in special conditions," Zanthia said, pausing to sip a lemonade that had appeared, seemingly out of thin air, at some moment of her speech.

Interestingly, none of those present broke the silence, but rather respectfully waited for the young witch to continue her explanation. The children seemed attracted by his words and Silvia was probably trying to memorize what the witch said.

Well used, such gossip material could open the doors of neighborhood for her. After all, not every day a witch explained her daily work to the common folk.

"Unlike other customers, the unfortunate cannot buy anything they want from the store even if they are willing to pay for it. For them, the only products and services that are available are those that appear on this board here behind the counter. Only five options can appear at most and some of them seem totally ridiculous. However, the old laws of the Fate and the Destiny assure that among these options is definitely the one to be the unique solution to your problem. My job as a witch is to help them choose the right option."

"But there is nothing written on the board," said the boy.

Sure enough, the board was completely empty.

"Well, that means you are the clients that are fortunate, " the witch said while c.a.r.e.s.sing the child's head.

She discovered that it was sticky. How had the candy arrived up there? Children! At least the pendant had eliminated the poison. She made a quick spell on this boy just to be sure. Mother and children looked happy. They would never know how close had been to death.

"Yay, we're fortunate! Did you hear, mom?"

"Of course, you are the most fortunate children in the world!" the customer said in her nasal voice, "After all, you are my children."

The customers left the shop feeling very happy with their purchase. The brand new wax golem followed them. Zanthia spent the next few minutes letting all those gold coins slowly sliping between her fingers before falling inside the mechanical teller machine. She was enjoying the feeling of having closed the first sale in a long time.

Meanwhile, Shadow took the opportunity to drink take a good amount of Sacred Cow Milk and eat a Sacred Winged Tuna that she had managed to hide from Moon. After all, she had passed with flying colors the test of leading some customers to the store and thus claimed these refreshment as her hard earned reward.

Eventually, Zanthia stopped playing with the gold pieces and headed for the kitchen. She discovered the remains of Shadow's food, which had already returned to seek other customers. The old straw broom appeared again.

Soon there was no trace of leftovers or other dirt in the kitchen. Remembering that the children had seemed quite dirty, Zanthia continued her cleaning session throughout the store. When she made sure everything was satisfactorily cleaned and disinfected, she opened a window to the outside and pulled out a cigarette from an inside pocket in her dress.

Lighting it, she began to smoke, periodically exhaling some rings of smoke through her mouth with well practiced ability. It did not take a long time for Zanthia to start rambling as usual in her.

A man of medium height and very broad on his back, with strong abs and muscular arms, was drawn in his mind. He wore a sweatshirt and white pants held by a black belt like the ones used by martial artists. He exhaled the fierce air of people accustomed to danger. She imagined him entering the store, willing to buy every last item just to make her smile. Then, he would take her in his muscular arms and ... "

*DING DING DING!*

"Ahh! Clients again! So fast! Incredible! I wonder what kind of customers will be the ones who came into the store this time? "