An hourglass, where the bottom is a clear crystal chamber and the top is a human skull. Sand passes through the jaw to the chamber below, where a live scorpion rearranges the sand into geometric patterns.

A stuffed cat, taxidermized in such a way that all its fur is standing on end. The tail has been amputated, and the eyes have been replaced with blood-red crystals.

A mummified hand, mounted onto a wooden placard. The skin is grey and mottled, the nails are yellow and broken. It looks like it is ready to reach out and grab you as you pass.

A glass jar filled with living, black beetles. They surround a piece of rotting flesh in the bottom of the jar, and you can hear them scuttling against the glass. You lean closer to get a better look, and suddenly the beetles are at the side of the jar, trying to get to you. You jump back, startled and not a little alarmed.

Finally, you reach the shop’s counter where a wizened old man with a hunched back waits.

“Can I help you?” he asks you.

“Um… yes. I mean, I hope so. Sir,” you gulp.

“Well, spit it out,” he replies.

“I’m looking for a talisman, a specific one. I was told you might be able to provide to me,” you say.

“A talisman, you say?” He nods slowly, considering. “I don’t carry many talismans these days, but I have a few.” And then, almost under his breath, “But the odds are slim any would be the one you’re looking for.”

“Still,” you reply, “I have to ask.”

“Then ask away,” the old man says.

“It’s a talisman for my mom,” you explain. “She has a blood disease. None of the doctors have been able to help her. Without some kind of special intervention, the disease will kill her soon. I was told there is a talisman that might be able to cure her.”

“Go on,” the old man says.

“It’s a talisman called Modred’s Deliverance. It looks like a bear–“

“A bear with a serpent wrapped around its neck,” the old man finishes. “Yes, I’m familiar with this talisman. And you’re in luck. I think I have one in the back. But I’m not sure it’s charged. You do know what means, yes?”

You nod hesitantly. “I think so, but maybe you should explain it to me.”

“To charge it, you’ll have to put the talisman through a very specific ritual. And it won’t be pleasant for you. No, no, not at all. But what’s a little discomfort to save your mother, hm?” He chuckles, then coughs, a wet, croupy sound.

You swallow, hard, an almost involuntary response to the old man’s statement. “I’m willing to do what it takes,” you say.

“Very well,” he says. “Let me just go get that for you. You can pay, I presume?”

In response, you put all the money in your pocket on the counter. You have no idea if it’s enough, but the old man merely bobs his head once, as if it’s satisfactory, then disappears into the back room. He returns just a moment later, holding something in one of his hands, wrapped in cloth that is so dirty you almost wish it’s not the item you came for. He places it on the counter in front of you and unwraps it, and sure enough, it’s Modred’s Deliverance. And it looks plain, so very plain, that you can’t believe it’s actually an enchanted object.

The old man pushes the object toward you with one hand while simultaneously wadding up your money with the other.

“You know the ritual to recharge this?” he asks.

You nod again. “I think so. It was described to me, yes. Tonight happens to be a full moon, so I won’t have to wait to perform the ritual.”

The old man chuckles again, then coughs. “Lucky for you.”

“Yeah, lucky,” you mutter.

“Bring it back to me when you’re finished with it,” the old man says. “You won’t want to keep it after you’ve used it, I assure you.”

“Very well,” you say. “Will I get my money back?”

“Oh, no,” he says, and laughs. “Consider this a rental fee.”

You grimace, as if that response was expected. Then you take the talisman, soiled wrap and all, into your hand and turn to leave the shop. Just as you’re almost to the door, you hear the old man call out one more time.

“Be careful!” followed by a wet, raspy laugh that sounds more ominous than anything else in your exchange so far. You shudder because careful is the last thing you intend to do with this talisman. You leave the shop, and the door bangs shut behind you.