The Ring_(0)

“No shit man, I’m telling you, go to the shop. For a price, the lady will give you something awesome,” Dave said. He was leaning back in his chair, steadying himself with one hand grasping the edge of the table. The other hand was holding a necklace out for inspection. Comments about its beauty had been resounding around the table for minutes now. The necklace had a thick gold chain, and its pendant was a big circular disk of gold that barely fit in the palm of his hand. A purple jewel sat in the center and took up much of the front surface’s space. With all its beauty, it was Dave’s boast on how it gave him unbridled good luck that caused upset in the group of friends.

“Bullshit,” Frank responded commenting on the good luck. He was a firm believer that magic wasn’t real, and his skepticism was well established over such things. Claims such as Dave’s were outlandish.

Everyone laughed. The group of five friends were at their favorite bar Molly’s. It was a place that allowed for great conversation and often great games of D&D and various card games when it wasn’t packed.

“I swear man. Little old lady, charged me her price and then gave me the necklace,” Dave responded. He put the chain back around his neck.

“And it works?” Samuel inquired. Short and stocky, Samuel could accurately claim he was the one in the group he had his shit together. Studying in college, he was well onto being a biologist.

“Yeah,” Dave responded.

“Prove it,” Frank challenged.

“I already have. How many times would I have typically fallen over tonight in this chair?”

Everyone knew the number would be a lot. At the least, Dave was predictable in that way. As the drinks flowed, he fell more and more. As the rest of the group dismissed the claims, Keith found himself intrigued. He loved the idea and the possibility.

“Where is the shop?” Keith asked, silencing the group. Dave’s smile was one of secrecy. No one else seemed to care, but Keith knew that even if Dave tried to keep the information, he would tell eventually. It always happened. The one time that Samuel had made out with a tranny, everyone knew the next day that was in the group and acquaintances.

“Ah, man, crazy thing, it’s set up in like a carriage over near the river.”

“Like a gypsy?” Frank asked.

“Don’t mess with gypsy’s man; they are nuts,” Samuel stated. No one countered the claim. Which was weird to Keith being that Georgia, the lone female in the group, often would have said something about the statement as being prejudicial. She thought they were all dumb and surmised that is why she had never slept with any of them. Not that any of them cared other than Keith.

“Just an old lady man,” Dave said.

“What did you pay?” Samuel asked.

Keith didn’t hear the response. Instead, his thoughts shifted to the appeal of such an idea. He could use the luck. Being drunk, he began to think about his woes. Close to being evicted from his apartment, no girlfriend and the prospect of no job in the morning, life had taken a turn for Keith lately, and he needed a change. As the conversation continued, Keith wallowed in self-pity until he couldn’t stand it anymore. Getting up, he said his goodbyes and left the bar. Outside, Keith pulled the collar up on his black jacket. Stepping away from the muffled music, he made his way to the river.

Trash covered the sidewalks and often spilled into the streets. Black bags were makeshift beds to the homeless population. More than once, Keith had to weave his way through the sleeping bodies and black bags. Most of the time it was inadvisable to travel at such a late hour because of the homeless. Too drunk to care, the thought of danger never crossed his mind.

His breath vapored into the air when he heard the river. At the end of the sidewalk was a perpendicular street. After that street was the river. There, on the banks of the river, he watched the street lights reflection dance on the rippling surface. Stupor wearing off, Keith felt foolish staring at the dark water. Sitting down, he began to pity himself even more. There was no carriage, not that he had looked.

“Catch a cold you stay down there like that,” a woman said from behind him.

“Might be better if I do,” he said.

Keith stood up and turned around to find himself staring at an old lady. Dressed in a bright skirt, she had polished round brass circles all over her. He imagined for a second that she rattled when she walked.

“Come now there young one. I’ve been expecting you for some time,” she said.

“You are?”

“You sought an old gypsy out tonight. Hurry up now; I want to go to bed.”

She turned around and walked away. Sighing and feeling still foolish, Keith obliged the command. When he reached the road again, he found an ornate carriage sitting in the middle of the road. The old woman was standing there, waiting for him to address her.

“Am I still drunk?”

“If you are, this will make a good story. Now come, we must discuss why you are here.”

Keith followed as the old gypsy got into the carriage. Creaks sounded with each step up the three stairs. Metal swayed a bit, and the carriage wobbled under the shifting weight. When he entered, he noticed that the space inside the carriage was much more than what it appeared to have from the outside. In fact, the interior itself did not look like a carriage. It appeared like a full shop and behind the counter in front of him, the gypsy waited.

“Now there Keith, what can I do for you?” she asked. Her fingers were twirling through her graying black hair.

“How do you know my name?”

“It’s in the bones dearie. Now please, tell me what you wish for,” she said leaning forward. Keith got the impression that he was looking at an evil witch.

“My friend said he got a necklace here that gave him luck.”

“Luck? Ah yes. Earlier today. You wish for luck?”

“Yes. Please.”

“No.”

“What? Why not?” he asked.

“Because I cannot give you what I no longer possess. Plus, You couldn’t pay the price for such a thing,” she said lifting her head and cackling. An uneasy feeling went through Keith.

“So what can I get?” he asked after she finished.

“That is the smartest thing you’ve said all night young man.”

She turned to move around and set three boxes on the counter. Opening each for inspection Keith saw that one contained a ring, the second a pair of shoes and the third was a muffin.

“The muffin is a poor choice, but that is my opinion. It will give you x-ray vision. The shoes, well they will give you confidence and is a much better investment.”

Maybe that is what Keith needed. Confidence would give him the ability to stick up for himself more. Not that he didn’t but often, he found his hands tied in sticking up for himself. Work was an example of this problem. His boss was a bitch, and she had it out for him, but he couldn’t say anything to her in fear of losing his job. Although he was pretty sure when he went to work in the morning, she would speak the words that ended employment.

“The ring is something more special, but the price is also more.”

He didn’t hear her. Still thinking on how extra confidence would help him, he couldn’t see clearly on how extra confidence wouldn’t come off as cocky. Suddenly the old gypsy slapped the counter making Keith jump.

“Pay attention boy. Insult me again and I’ll curse you.”

The look she gave him sent shivers of fear down his spine.

“I’m sorry.”

“Good. As I was saying, the ring cost more, but it is worth it. See, it isn’t luck you need boy, but the ability to get laid when you want.”

“Why would I want that?”

An item like that was every boy’s dream, but Keith was a man. Plus, he couldn’t see how such a thing would benefit him more than confidence.

“Young man, you apparently have forgotten the power of sex. Any woman, any time would want you and all you have to have, is this ring. Think of the possibilities. Enemies turned to allies, lots of sex with no strings attached, a ruler of women, and best of all, wanted.”

“And the ring can do that?”

“Yes, but I can’t tell you how until you buy it.”

“How much?”

“The muffins and shoes, not much. I just need the soul of a small animal for either one. The ring, its price is something far more.”

“Are you going to tell me?”

“What no? You wouldn’t be interested in such a thing.”

If it could get him laid, at least it was something positive. Better than the shoes he thought. Having an item of such power could impact his life for the better than having confidence. Possessing the quality already hadn’t done him much good.

“I want the ring.”

“Are you sure?”

“What’s the price?”

“Your soul,” she cackled. The laughing continued unnerving Keith. He backed away and prepared to leave when she snapped suddenly to a serious tone.

“I’m joking of course. The price isn’t that steep. Honestly, the price is something that activates the ring. It has to bond with you through a spell, which has already been prepared, just missing one ingredient.”

“Which is the price?”

“Yes.”

Keith was getting bored of the back and forth. The old gypsy knew he wanted the ring, why was she teasing with it?

“So if you want it, boy, we have to have sex.”

“What!?” Keith was appalled.