Tempting Fate

“Again the mortal finds himself in a situation where in which he tempts me,” Destiny appeared next to Tim, her plump teenage body looking strange wearing the red dress that he had chosen for the adventure, “It seems that there is no place for satisfaction in his being. A fool’s fate is better than he deserves.”

“I do not understand,” Luck whined from a nearby table, “he is but a shadow. I feel my power drawn to him, good fortune laying upon him, but he is yet beyond my reach. What have you done to him, sister?”

Tim breathed a sigh of relief. He never thought he’d be glad to hear the immortal’s voices, but the fact that he was hearing them told him that there was a chance for survival, that his future might not be as dire as it has seemed a moment earlier.

“All I’ve done, cow, is shift things around a bit. Even-Steven trades, same as usual,” Justice said, after emitting an undignified snort, “If you want to find his bad luck, it’s still around, you’ll just have to look a bit farther away.

“Now you, you little bitch,” Justice rounded on the younger-looking immortal, “you know the deal. This one is under my eye, and if you mess with him, I’m going to give him a chance so he doesn’t end up the burger in your Happy Meal.”

“His fate was not of my hand, though I would enjoy the feast,” Destiny said innocently, while licking her lips in an entirely uninnocent manner, “Must I accept the blame for every mortal that throws himself in front of a train?”

“You know damn well that he wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for you two tampons interfering in that poor woman’s life,” Justice spat, “He’s here trying to clean up your mess. If I had my way…”

“But you don’t,” Destiny’s voice was hard as she cut her sister off, “your power is great, but I have not made myself your subject. We had no agreement for the woman Martina Delgado. She is but a fleeting distraction, a delicious taste, but fleeting. You have no business with her.”

“If he’s got business,” Justice said, folding her ancient arms, “I’ve got business.”

“I don’t mean to be rude,” Tim’s girlish voice cut into the tension, “but I’d very much like to avoid getting shot today. Is there a trade that we can make to avoid this?”

“I’m sure we can work something out, my little bran muffin,” Justice said, “unless my sisters want to make an issue of it, that is.”

Sparks began to pop around the room as the three sisters stared each other down. It was Luck who broke the silence.

“This mortal no longer holds my interest,” her reedy voice said, “There is no sustenance in a shadow. Stay and bicker, if you want, but I feel the draw of a greater meal elsewhere.”

“Fine,” Destiny relented, “we shall depart. I will revel in your downfall one day, but today is not that day.”

“See ya later, alligators,” Justice wiggled her fingers to her sisters as the metallic smell filled the air and they vanished.

“Now,” she ran her bark-like fingers over Tim’s cheek, “you’ve landed in a pickle. Let’s see if we can’t find a way out of it for you.”

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Special thanks to an amazing anonymous reader for the grammar and clarity catches!