...hired to give readings on the Orient express!" (Come see the querents that stop by to get a glimpse of their fate)

"I come to the door of the private car that was assigned on my ticket and enter and my breathe hitches at the opulent setting that I am to do my readings in. Satin and velvet everywhere I look, silk tie backs hold richly embossed brocade drapes back around the rail-car windows. Crystals and cut glass encased on all counters and lamps. In the center is a oval alabaster table already set with a tea service ready to serve with buttery scones on a gorgeous china plate piping hot making my mouth water.

I take a stuttering breathe as I move further into the room and start setting the tarot bag in place as I settle the slightly too long silk skirt around me... I can feel the seams of the still too big cloths slide on my shoulders as I try to resettle them into place to hid the fact that even with all the retailoring they are still slightly to big for me. I take another deep breathe to calm my self prepared for my first visitors. I can do this, no one will know.. I tell myself.. no one.

The first two visitors are a aunt and her niece asking the normal everyday questions one would expect.. Will there be love? When will I find my soul mate? What is wrong with my Toodles the purebred dog that lays nestled in the older woman's arms as she feeds him pieces of rich pastry that are most likely what is causing him the stomach problems she is sure is killing him... I quietly sigh as I give the readings that satisfy them to a degree (how does one tell a rich woman who has never been criticized that she is what wrong with her babies tummy?) I do finally convince her a animal doctor could tell what she needed most for Toodles...

Then I see the one person I evidently was meant to read for... A big man, a rich man full of confidence and power but I can feel the importance this reading will be for him! he comes into the car and one can tell by his inquisitive eyes that this was not his idea and he doesn't truly believe but is allowing this to continue. I smile and quietly introduce myself "Hi, I am Annie Skyborne, I am quite pleased to read for you today" he has a half smile on his face as he doffs his hat slightly at me right before he takes it off and sets it beside him as he settles in...I prepare for him a scotch on the rocks as he preferred it over Jasmine tea I soon find out that he is here as his wife had sent him away (much to his pleasure) as she was delving thru the wares at another car full of the finest  fabrics and china that he was sure she was going to purchase....

He never does offer his name yet so I go ahead and proceed.. " Please good sir if you would shuffle and cut the cards and consider if your wanting information about the past? present or the future? Or do you prefer love? Business information something like that instead?" I quizzed him trying to find some answer to that silent needling I am getting that I need to answer for him. he gives a mild grunt "Happily married so lets go with future business for I AM a business man" I see a glint in his eyes is it humor? Or does he know my secret? hmmm I lay down the first 2 cards then a third:
"Wheel of Fortune, the World card and the Sun" I take a deep breathe "You have had business's ideas in the past that did not succeed but it seems that your now considering some changes to your present business that you have now that will wind up being extremely successful" I look up at his face and can tell that his gaze has sharpened so evidently some part of this reading has hit home to a point. Then I lay down "Knight of Diamonds, 6 of Swords travel by sea" I mutter as I have now lost myself into the cards missing his gaze on me "3 of wands difficulty in the voyage, Death... enough said" I draw my breath in sharply and I quickly raise my eyes to his. "Sir I start to stutter "It doesn't seem to be  something that will happen in the near future no, no, it will be further out but you must not..." I finish lamely and quickly drop my eyes. "Please I get this will be a experimental .." Oohhh I say frustrated" Mode of travel?  I really don't get a good feeling about it for you sir!" he has a half smile on his face "So let me get this straight.. I am considering a new change in my business that will be successful and everything will go great as long as somewhere down the road I don't travel by a new machine am I getting this correctly little lady?" I can hear the laughter in his voice, I frown (which makes him smile wider) before I can say more "let me fully introduce myself, I am Milton S Hershey I have had 2 business's that failed" he shrugged unconcerned "right now my newest business has been succeeding greatly and I am considering making some major changes to two areas but have been unsure whether the cost of the changes would make enough profit to make them worthwhile" My eyes go big as realization sinks in. " A big smile is on his face now "Now just who are you really little girl hmm?" he says to me. I spend the rest of our appointment explaining how my mistress who rescued me when my parents died of yellow fever had kept me around as her scullery maid and how I had learned the cards at her side but right before this trip she had had a stroke and was in the hospital so I went ahead and altered a few of her cloths and used her ticket in her place to try and make enough money for the rent and part of her hospital bill.. A big booming laugh breaks the silence as his chuckling face came into my view, his huge hand softly cuffed my shoulder and he then reached up and straightened my hat that I had done wrong evidently.. still chuckling he then hands me a check that I never caught him filling out.. he drained his drink and gets to his feet still slightly laughing "When your mistress is on her own feet contact me I will have something wonderful I think you should be a part of" Then doffing his hat once more  smiling at me he headed out the door. I sat there drained on the seat, still stunned and overwhelmed by this encounter....
Soon more would come in for me to read for.. but this encounter I would ever remember. Then I look at the check' and my mouth drops open in shock....

~~~~~     ~~~~~    ~~~~~~     ~~~~~
Now just a quick explanation. My daughter was on a plan for Lopez foods and got to talking to a man who wound up giving her his card. He was the Vice president of Hershey's! In 1900 they changed they way the made the bars (added more sugar and powdered milk for milk chocolate) and made them smaller? I think? but where they were cheaper and now not only the rich could afford to have one. They would have a bar of chocolate in each soldiers pack when WW1 came round... but he had bought a ticket for the TITANIC! He and his wife were in Nice France for medical treatments for her and he had to come home for a business reason and chose to go a couple of days earlier on the German ship "Amerika" April 6th (my BD) arriving April 7th instead of waiting and going on Titanic on April 12th which then sunk April 14th (I think?) It just got me wondering there were very few that did not chose to use their tickets and they were expensive! He had paid $300.00 for it. He went on to make a business and town where there is school for any of his employees or their families just a unbelievable corporation  he did create. (I hope it is understandable the way I wrote it out) Cant wait to see what you all think! Wink Wouldn't it be something if a tarot reader did warn one of the possible riders? it is something to think about! it would be just wow... oh by the way my daughter has been with Hershey's now for about 3 1/2 years and is a district sales manager in Charlotte NC and the check he wrote? up above was enough to both pay for all her mistress's hospital bills and also bought their home they were renting! Shocked, Laughing...
.

"I reach out for my lukewarm tea, sighing after my last session started to leave my car not noticing that the door had not clicked shut. after another sip grimacing at the tepid drink I have a shiver brush over my skin feeling eyes upon me. Snapping my head up and quickly glancing to the entrance I see a tall, dark undetermined aged male, very quiet and solemn looking. I startled slightly then stammered out "Hello?" A slight smirk graced one end of his lips and a unnerving glean appears in his eyes for a slight moment.

Very gracefully he sketches a slight bow doffing his stylish crimson fedora hat, spoke with a deep, slightly accented voice "greeting Mademoiselle, my name in Count Alucard, I was told that I would find your offerings quite.. interesting"

I paused for a moment appraising the suave, handsome gentleman before me in a charcoal colored suit of fine fabric with a crimson cravat. Still feeling unsettled by the gentleman I paused only for a moment before giving a quick curtsy in proper greeting before offering my hand "Hello my name is Annie Sky..." I stuttered to a stop un-prepared for the traditional response of him taking my hand and slightly brushing his lips over the back of my hands sending chills once more thru my body. His touch and lips were like ice~

"..Borne" I stammered out blushing hotly unused to the unusual style of greeting. I caught a glimpse out of the corner of my eye the delighted response he had to my reactions, seeing the amused smirk on his face.. was his teeth slightly longer than there were a moment ago? I could feel my cheeks warming once more  this time from irritation. Frustratingly, it made his arrogance increase seem even more. "I assume you would like a reading?" I ground out, in a huff, quite cross with this man before me that had me so off balance.

Holding his hands up sign of peace he nodded his head slightly "I was encouraged to sample your talent that your skills were...a unique experience especially for a skeptic I think the word is?" Calming down I pointed to the chaise for him to sit "Of course sir, before we begin may I get you a drink? Or..." he gracefully flowed into the seat and waved his hand indolently "Non your drinks can we say are not quiet for my constitution" once again I saw a flash of something in his eyes. Nodding slightly I sat down and turned to grab my regular RJ Swiss Tarot deck then stopped...

Foolishly, feeling brave I asked "I assume you were wanting a Tarot reading correct? Now is it about your love life? business, family or some other trivial matter?" I smile coquettishly quickly realizing that I might have bitten off something more dangerous that I could ever imagine from the sudden look in the Counts crimson eyes.. Suddenly nervous, I shrunk back frightened, like one would when suddenly coming across a bear or rattlesnake or any dangerous creature knowing instinctively that the energy sizzling across the table from me was more that a human could possibly survive if ever unleashed.

Surprisingly it lasted only for a instant before that feeling pulled back and the Count spoke "As you say I am a unusual man with unusual tastes and desires so yes, I concur that going with the unusual might entertain me" though his voice was calm and cool there was still a sharpness slight but felt. Nodding, trying by my actions and movements to express my apologetic attitude to start our session on more palpable settings.. "Well Sir, I don't feel the normal decks will give you a proper reading so with your permission I would like to use a new one that I was gifted with" he waved me off with one slim hand as if bored " Then lets see what the Gothic Vampyre cards might say to you" focusing on the cards in my hand reading them for shuffling I failed to notice the shock that Count Alucard seem to have felt or how he had stiffened.  Continuing on I started laying down the cards

"Your first card is 2 wands...It is a leap of faith within the minds eye. You have the strength to stand before the abyss and rise above it on wings of your NEWBORN power. (Count Alucard's eyes widen at this)

Your 2nd card is 8 of Cups--"When the night has ended and the sunrise takes away your freedom, disillusion fills your being. You return again and again to the sepulture of your dreams. Abandoning of your previous plans, suffering great disappointment, even after unending efforts"...(His brow's have drawn together and eyes have tightened, unnoticed my me as I have surrendered myself to the reading)

Your third card is Knight of Cups--"So long have you waited in the darkness in vigil and here do I stay diligent to my tasks waiting for eternity. Opportunities may soon arise, advancements and challenges"... I then raise my eyes to glance at him and I freeze....

Will our foolish intrepid card reader win or lose this querants temperament as she continues his reading? Will she survive it? Gather your hunting cases and your holy water and cross's for when we continue this perilous session.....