Snake Charmer's Curse

Absentmindedly stirring his freshly brewed coffee, Aspis was lost in a fictional world of carefully composed letters on the page before him. He was completely consumed by the vividly imagined scene in his mind’s eye until the quaint sound of a bell chimed, announcing the arrival of a new customer and ripping him back to reality. He paid no mind to it and started losing himself in the story once more; however, the unfamiliar scent of sweet perfume lightly grazed his nose, prompting him to look up. His keen eyes caught sight of a medium-sized figure, likely in her mid-twenties, rushing toward the cashier. She mostly kept her gaze down, gripping the straps of her handbag tightly, which hung over her left shoulder. She appeared to be consumed in thought, focused on her destination and oblivious to her surroundings. Ah, a new face; no wonder her fragrance smells so...foreign, he thought to himself almost distractedly, but then lazily returned to his guilty pleasure, resting in his hands. “Hello, can I please order the Berry Bliss smoothie? I need the energy and vitamins to help get me through this day,” giggled the woman somewhat anxiously. Such a delightful voice complements her face quite well, Aspis noted unintentionally as he carefully turned the page. “Sure, ma’am, if that’s all you’re havin’, please feel free to sit anywhere whilst you wait,” said the ever-so-friendly server. “Thanks so much,” replied the woman, then took a seat close by. She brought out a crumpled newspaper from her large handbag and started to look through the pages in utter silence. Now somewhat drawn to her presence, Aspis remained as still as a rock, his head bowed toward his book, while his eyes silently rolled upwards to gaze at the newcomer. She sat in the corner, deeply absorbed in the newspaper. Dressed in black leggings and a long, baggy turquoise off-the-shoulder top that hugged her upper thighs, she exuded a relaxed yet stylish vibe. On her feet were tall black-matted stilettos with pointed tips. Her silky, straightened brown hair cascaded down her back, with some strands falling over her shoulders. She wore red lipstick, eyeliner, and a touch of mascara, which beautifully contrasted with her fair skin and complemented her dark chocolatey eyes. Her body language appeared somewhat tense, although it was not something the common eye would notice. However, nothing could escape Aspis’s keen sense of observation. It seems our visitor might be a bit shy—perhaps she has social anxiety, he murmured to himself, still continuing to study the fair stranger. She’s probably here for just a few days; the school holidays are almost upon us if I’m not mistaken. Aspis let out a strained sigh as he considered his thoughts. Soon, my peaceful mornings will be disrupted by squabbling children and ill-mannered teenagers. He closed his eyes and massaged the frown forming on his brow as he continued to grumble to himself. He turned his gaze back to his book and took a much-needed sip of his coffee. Suddenly, the faint sound of violin strings drifted into his consciousness, prompting him to lift his head instinctively. To his surprise, he saw the woman walking towards him. Earlier, she had taken a long route around the tables to reach the cashier, but now she chose to walk through them, close to where Aspis was sitting. As she noticed Aspis’s gaze, she smiled at him, but quickly looked down just as suddenly, shying away. Clutching her bag and smoothie tightly before exiting the café. So sweet and timid at the same time, he thought, feeling somewhat enchanted. Then coughed uncomfortably, scolding himself internally for getting uncharacteristically distracted. Although an hour had passed, Aspis could still detect the lingering scent of her fragrance. However, as the perfume began to fade, he noticed a faint, alluring yet familiar floral aroma. He tried to identify the plant, but it eluded him, which slightly bothered him. With a sigh, he decided to brush it off, thinking the name would later come back to him, and returned to his book for the rest of the afternoon. The following week, around the same time, the bell rang again, and the same woman entered the café, accompanied by another who was a familiar customer. Aspis appeared to be engrossed in his new book, but his ears were tuned in, eager to learn more about the newcomer who had piqued his interest the last time she was there. The two women stood by the counter, happily chatting amongst themselves. “Oh Faith, you have, have, have got to try their wraps! They are to die for! That is what I order every time I come here!” her friend articulated animatedly. “Hmm, sounds tempting, which one though? There are so many to choose from!” asked Faith, as she skimmed the menu with uncertainty. “If I may, ladies, we have a new trial wrap for this month only, the Black Forest Wrap; it consists of black forest ham, sweet chili sauce, cream cheese, and avocado,” said the waitress enthusiastically. “Oh, that sounds divine! I will definitely order that! What do you think, Rebekah?” exclaimed Faith excitedly as she returned the menu to the countertop. “It does sound delicious, all my favourite ingredients in one bite, but I am a creature of habit and will order the usual, maybe next time!” “She did say for this month only, make sure to not miss out. There’s a saying, ‘Like the gentle morning dew, beautiful things do not always last, so enjoy those precious moments fast,’ giggled Faith. Aspis stiffened at those words; his heart raced as an old memory played in his mind, where a different woman in his arms had sang the exact same quote. “Oh my word, Faith, you are so dramatic! Is that how you slayed your interview last week? Fine, I will also order the new flavour,” laughed Rebekah. “Shall we eat here for lunch before returning to work?” “That sounds like a great idea!” exclaimed Faith. “Great, ladies, please take a seat; once your orders are ready, I will bring them to you.” The two women thanked the server and then went to sit outside while still chatting happily. Snapping out of his flashback, Aspis’s mind became flooded with emotions. What is this feeling in my chest; is it pain, anxiety, or adrenaline? After all these years, your memory has been reawakened... no, I need to return home! Determined, he slammed his book shut and stood up. Harmonious laughter chimed from outside; Aspis froze as he recognized it as Faith’s voice, but there was something else he heard amongst her delightful laughter that made his heart even more restless. I need to leave now before I lose it! He hurriedly placed a pile of banknotes on the saucer under the half-empty coffee cup, then rushed out of the café while firmly pressing his long-gloved fingers against his chest. His driver was already waiting outside, parked in his usual spot under the shade of a large nearby Blue Jacaranda tree. With his hat pulled down over his eyes, he was fast asleep. A loud slam suddenly jolted him awake, causing him to hit his head on the roof of the vehicle. “Apologies, Stuart, I did not mean to startle you, but I have something urgent back at the mansion that needs my attention. Please drive with haste!” Aspis desperately ordered, out of breath.