But at that moment the door to the dining room swung open and a little girl entered the room. She was about eight years old, with long black hair, wearing a white blouse and a yellow skirt, white stockings and black shoes. Her calm gait and small but confident face immediately attracted the attention of everyone present.
Delia Asia Vieira couldn't help but notice that the Rottweiler was following the girl, wagging its tail majestically. This huge dog looked completely calm, but she knew everything about it, thanks to her conversation with Mark. The Rottweiler was dangerous for everyone except Delia York herself, and judging by its behavior, the dog was not mistaken in its assessments.
When the Rottweiler, noticing Delia Asia Vieira's gaze, first growled and then barked viciously at her, the woman froze. She felt her heart skip a beat. But the dog did not stop there: he turned around and barked loudly first at Noah, and then at Jo Thueson. Without saying a word, the two psychics stood up, not to leave the room, but only to approach the girl.
"Hello, little one," Noah said, smiling as he extended his hand toward Delia York. "How are you?"
The girl, standing on the threshold, looked at Noah and Jo Thueson with distrust. Her face remained motionless, but some strange shadow flitted across her eyes, as if she were trying hard to hide her dislike. Delia Asia Vieira noticed how the girl could not restrain a slight, almost imperceptible movement towards the Rottweiler. The dog immediately rose, snarling at the guests, and Delia York, as if out of habit, pressed him slightly to herself.
The girl said nothing, but her look was quite eloquent. Delia Asia Vieira, watching this scene, understood: Delia York was not particularly happy to see uninvited guests. Not only her, the legal governess in her parents' house, but also these two psychics.
Jo Thueson, apparently not noticing the tense atmosphere, reached out to Delia York and, fishing out some strange crystal from her bag, showed it to the girl.
"You can probably feel it, right?" she said, her voice strangely soft, as if she were trying to awaken some awareness in the girl. "It's a special crystal. It helps open chakras and enhance psychic abilities."
But as Jo Thueson approached, Delia York suddenly drew back, her face contorted into an expression of pure terror. The Rottweiler sitting next to her immediately growled and stood up, as if ready to defend his mistress. His growl grew louder and his eyes sparkled with animal instinct.
Delia Asia Vieira, watching this, felt some invisible tension in the air. Jo Thueson, not immediately understanding what was happening, lowered the crystal and took a step back.
"What... What's wrong with your daughter, Mrs. York?" she asked Karen in surprise, her voice shaking slightly.
Noah frowned and looked around the room. He too sensed that something was wrong, but he still tried to remain calm. The dog continued to bark, and his threatening growls grew louder. Karen York, who had been standing aside, came up to her daughter and, hugging her gently, said:
"It's okay, guys. Delia is just a little sensitive to other people's energy influences. She just needs a little time."
Karen looked at Jo and Noah, and something strange flashed in her eyes. She tried to hide it, but Delia Asia Vieira caught the moment.
"Don't come near me," the girl said quietly, without fear in her thin voice.
Her voice was firm and determined, and there was no fear or doubt in it.
Noah and Jo Thueson froze. They knew they couldn't bring out what they were looking for in this girl. Delia York was not someone to be taken lightly. She was more than just a girl - she was so much more.
Delia Asia Vieira stood aside, watching all this, and her inner uneasiness grew stronger. The understanding that the girl standing in front of them was not like everyone else finally became firmly established in her head. Meanwhile, the Rottweiler continued to bark viciously, as if confirming the thoughts of her owners.
Noah and Jo Thueson, despite the Rottweiler's wary growl, continued their conversation with Delia York as if nothing out of the ordinary had happened. The bearded man, who seemed increasingly confident in his right to be there, smiled and talked to the girl about what she could see in his crystal, as if they were old acquaintances.
"Look," Noah said, holding the crystal out to Delia York, "you can feel its power. It will open up new horizons for you, help you understand what is hidden from ordinary people."
The girl, not immediately, but eventually looked at the crystal, seemed interested. But Delia Asia Vieira noticed how her eyes still flashed with distrust. The Rottweiler, who was sitting next to her, did not take his eyes off the strangers, but there was no longer that fierce threat in his behavior. He was clearly waiting for further instructions from his mistress.
Noah continued, ignoring the girl's silence:
"Don't you want to go with us to the psychic fair? There you can learn even more about your abilities, see other miracles."
Delia York seemed to consider this, but then suppressed her inner resistance. The habit of new people, and perhaps curiosity, got the better of her. She looked at Noah with that enigmatic smile that had always been her calling card.
"Okay," she said, her voice a little hoarse, as if she wasn't entirely sure she was making the right choice.
Noah and Jo Thueson looked at each other, their eyes sparkling with joy. Jo immediately reached for her bag and pulled out a book that looked very solid and mystical. On the cover was written the phrase "The Book of Light", and there was something hypnotizing about its design, as if it was supposed to tell of a great truth.
"This book," Jo said, handing it to Delia York, "contains inexhaustible wisdom. You will be able to learn everything that interests you. It is the key to understanding your true power."
Delia York, without looking at the book, picked it up and, without even opening it, indignantly threw it aside.
"Stupid trash," the girl said, expressing complete contempt.
The book flew across the dining room as if by some will and, fortunately, landed in an open window, falling somewhere in the yard. There was silence for a few seconds. Noah and Jo Thueson froze, but quickly regained control of themselves. They exchanged glances as if nothing had happened, and without further ado, they approached the girl from either side.
"Well, let's go," Noah said with a smile, taking the girl by her left arm.
Delia York did not resist. She simply stood up silently and walked with them to the exit, although her face remained as impassive as ever. The Rottweiler, sensing that the girl was leaving, stood up and, clearly not wanting to leave her alone, followed them. Delia Asia Vieira silently exchanged glances with Karen York, and the latter, as if understanding her inner struggle, nodded. There was a certain request and at the same time trust in her gaze:
"Go after them, keep an eye on my daughter," the woman's eyes silently said.
Delia Asia Vieira didn't answer, but she knew she had no choice. She followed Noah, Jo Thueson and Delia York.
The group walked down the street until they came to a huge square where luxurious tents had been set up. The air was thick with the scent of smoke and herbs, the sounds of musical instruments could be heard, and people were happily wandering from one table to another. It was a real psychic fair: crowds with smiles on their faces, colors, candlelight and strange sounds in the air - all this created an atmosphere of magic and mystery.
Noah and Jo Thueson walked ahead, as if they owned the place, confident in themselves and in the fact that what was happening around them was their element. Delia York walked next to them, slightly behind the adults. Her eyes were closed to the outside world, she looked only at her feet, as if hiding something from everyone. The Rottweiler followed her, his tail twitching slightly as he looked back at Delia Asia Vieira. Obviously, the dog considered her a threat, but, apparently on orders from her owner, she did not show aggression.
Delia Asia Vieira followed them, trying to catch every gesture, every movement, everything that could explain what was happening. When they approached the first tents, her eyes almost immediately caught on the tables where various attributes for fortune telling and magic were laid out. On one of the tables were three crystal balls, each of them mesmerizing in its own way.
The first ball was red, bright and warm, in the shape of a heart. It lay in the center of the table, as if symbolizing love or passion. The second ball was green, with a clear arrow pointing upwards, as if encouraging growth, development, aspiration. The third ball was blue and triangular, its shape was mysterious, its surface was irresistibly alluring, as if hiding deep secrets within itself.
Delia Asia Vieira didn't know what these objects meant. She had never seen such paraphernalia. Her knowledge of magic and esotericism was limited, and this world seemed alien and dangerous to her. But Noah, as if sensing her hesitation, turned around and said with a smile:
"Everything you see here is not just objects. They are keys. Keys to truths that are hidden from most people. They can tell you a lot."
Delia Asia Vieira nodded silently, but her inner voice warned that this "magic" was too dangerous. She noticed that Jo Thueson had already started talking to one of the people standing near another table where amulets and strange jewelry were hanging.
The crowd around them was cheerful, people loudly discussed their latest "discoveries", told stories of how their lives had changed after meeting psychics, and the incredible power these objects possessed. But amidst all this noise and fun, Delia Asia Vieira felt uneasy. It was all too bright, too strange, and she couldn't shake the feeling that there was danger lurking behind this beautiful wrapper.
Noah walked up to her, noticing her confusion.
"You don't feel it?" he asked quietly, as if trying to penetrate her thoughts. "These forces are here, in this place, they are tangible. You should not be afraid of them.
Delia Asia Vieira was silent, her eyes darting over the figures moving among the tents, trying to figure out what was really going on. The Rottweiler growled again viciously when several people tried to get too close, but Delia York only calmed him down with a quiet word.
As the group reached another tent, they saw a man with bright eyes and an enigmatic smile emerge from it. He held a small glowing crystal in his hands, which he held out in a businesslike manner, addressing Delia York.
"This is for you," he said, "this crystal will help open the doors to your hidden abilities.
But the girl just turned away and, without saying a word, walked on, as if ignoring everything that was happening around her. Her gaze was cold, and there was not a drop of doubt in her movements.
Delia Asia Vieira stood in the bustle of the psychic fair, feeling her tension gradually ease. She wasn't sure she needed to think about what was happening, so she decided to relax a little. This whole mysterious place, with its magic and unusual people, had become a kind of escape from her usual reality. These uninvited guests - Noah and Jo Thueson - may have led her there for their own strange whims, but the place seemed to be filled with an atmosphere that could at least temporarily make her forget about her obligations.
Her attention wandered for a moment, and she felt a calming feeling spread through her body. But, in her distraction, she suddenly realized that she had lost sight of her charge, Delia York. She glanced back and saw the girl standing next to Jo Thueson, intently examining the colorful balls on the tables. She seemed uninterested in the whole thing, and was simply waiting for someone to draw her back into the game.
Noah had already picked up one of the crystal balls. He looked at it as something more than just a beautiful object. Delia York reached for it, too, but not to make a wish or read a fortune. Her intentions were much simpler, and perhaps much more destructive.
With a quick and deft movement, the girl grabbed the ball and, without thinking, threw it to the side. Not at the table, not into Noah's hands, but straight towards the square, where a fat clown stood, juggling fiery torches. This entire spectacular moment seemed absurd and frivolous, as if it were a performance for children. But everything changed in one second.
The ball, leaving her hand, seemed to gain incredible speed on its own, and crashed into the clown's back with a roar. He, not expecting such an attack, lost his balance and fell with a roar, dropping the torches. They flew to the sides like a threat, and in the blink of an eye the grass underfoot began to melt from the fire. The light fire quickly spread, the flames pierced the ground, and the people around began to rush about in panic.
But none of this mattered to Delia York. She continued to calmly stare at the flames as if nothing was happening, her face completely unperturbed. Around her, the crowd began to shout, screaming for fire help, but the girl seemed to pay no attention. Instead of helping, she simply turned to Jo Thueson, took her hand, and pulled her away, away from the bustling fairground and the seething indignation.
Jo Thueson, without even trying to interfere, followed calmly after the girl. She squeezed her hand as if she knew that Delia York was at this moment completely confident and in control of the situation. It seemed as if they were both protected by something that was above all this noise and anxiety.
Noah and Delia Asia Vieira, as if by telepathic agreement, followed them, not daring to leave them alone. After a few steps, they found themselves in the shadow of the distant tents, where the crowd had already begun to contain the fire and find out the cause of the fire.
"Where are they going?" Delia Asia Vieira asked, feeling her inner unease growing again.
Noah, not rushing to answer, only nodded silently and followed the girl and her companion. As Delia Asia Vieira followed him, Jo Thueson and Delia York, she could not help but notice how the atmosphere of the fair was drawing her more and more into a strange, unsettling atmosphere. While her steps were balanced, her thoughts wandered along different paths. Everything that happened here seemed... not random. And although Delia tried not to pay attention to what was happening, she could not shake the feeling that there was more than just strange coincidences behind her.
She decided to talk to Noah, wanting to find out something about his intentions, and not just why he was dragging her here. It seemed as if his interest in the girl was not connected with any ordinary psychic practices. She decided to stir him up, and, as it turned out, her guess was correct.
"Noah," she began, interest evident in her voice, "you're not just at the fair to talk to people, are you? What do you really want with this girl?"
Noah slowed his pace slightly, as if considering how to respond. There were a few seconds of silence, and his words came out quietly, but with a distinct tension.
"I wanted to take a Kirlian photograph of Delia," he admitted. "You know, to understand who she really is. I suspect she's not just a child. I think she's... the Antichrist."
Delia Asia Vieira paused for a moment, puzzled. Her heart skipped a beat. She clearly remembered Mark telling her almost the same thing last night.
"Delia York-the Antichrist," these words of Mark, which he had spoken to her last night, seemed to echo in her memory.
"But wait," said robotess, confused, trying to process what she had heard. "Are you serious? You were sure about this, weren't you?"
Noah didn't elaborate, as if he wasn't entirely sure of his guess. He simply shrugged and added with a hint of irony:
"I thought that if she really was the Antichrist, her aura would be too strong to go unnoticed. Kirlian photography would have shown everything. But the strange thing is," he paused, "she seemed to have predicted my intentions. Just when I thought about it, she... Burned down the entire fair."
Delia Asia Vieira thought about it. Of course, she remembered Delia York throwing a ball at the clown, causing a fire. It was a strange and unprecedented action for an eight-year-old girl. The fire was no accident, and it all became clear when she realized that Delia York knew much more about Noah's intentions than she seemed to.
"You're right," she said quietly. "If she weren't the Antichrist, would she have burned down the fair to hide her identity? But why did she do it here, in the middle of the crowd? It wasn't just like that. Why not burn something less crowded?"
Noah left her question unanswered, and her thoughts slid over the mystery, finding no answers. Perhaps something or someone had warned the girl. Perhaps she herself did not realize what she was doing, but Delia Asia Vieira still felt that there was something much darker and more complex behind this event than it seemed at first glance.
"Maybe she doesn't want anyone to know her secret," Noah added, quickening his pace. "But someone could have given her a hint... maybe not from her circle. Or maybe she just has an intuitive feeling that she can't trust those around her.
Delia Asia Vieira wasn't sure she was ready to accept his version. However, the thought stuck in her chest that the true explanation for this matter was still lurking somewhere in the shadows. Her steps became a little heavier, her thoughts became more chaotic. Her task, no matter how hard she tried to avoid it, was becoming more and more difficult. She had to figure out who this girl really was, and what kind of power was hiding in her small body.
Dreaming of solving this mystery, Delia Asia Vieira followed Noah, Jo and Delia York, unable to shake the feeling that the question of "why" would remain a mystery to her for the rest of her days.
As Delia Asia Vieira walked alongside Delia York, Noah, and Jo Thueson, her mind was consumed with questions that seemed to have no end. Everything that had happened at the psychic fair left her with many unanswered questions. Why had Delia York acted as if she had known all along that she was going to be exposed? Why had a fire become her answer?
But then they got to the house. Standing on the porch, Delia Asia Vieira felt a bad feeling. There was a foreboding smell, as if there was tension in the air. And then, when the door to the house opened, she was met by Karen York. But this was not the Karen she knew. The woman looked unnaturally pale, like a ghost, and her eyes were bloodshot. Her gaze was wild and irritated.
When Karen noticed Delia Asia Vieira, her face twisted in rage.
"Where have you been?" Karen screamed, her voice breaking into high notes. "Where have you been with my daughter?! You had no right to just take her away with these people! You should have told me! You have no right for strangers to be with my daughter! This is all unacceptable!"
Delia Asia Vieira froze. She had not expected such a furious, hysterical performance. Her heart sank, and she felt a strange, uncomfortable anxiety. She had the feeling that the situation was out of control, and she did not know how to react.
Noah, who had not yet entered the house after Jo Thueson and Delia York, frowned and turned away when he heard Karen's screams. He seemed offended by the whole situation.
"How dare you say that?!" he exclaimed, looking at Karen with obvious indignation. "We didn't mean anything bad! We were trying to help! Can't you see that there's something wrong with your daughter?"
Karen, hearing these words, only exploded more. She looked at Noah with such a furious expression as if he was an enemy invading her home.
"Oh, you came here too?" Karen turned to Noah, her face distorted with rage. "You didn't explain anything to me either, so you are also a suspicious character, like your friend! What, now I have to believe everyone who comes to my house with these monstrous stories?! How dare you?"
Delia Asia Vieira couldn't understand what was happening. She felt her hands begin to shake slightly, and her eyes involuntarily slid over to Karen. This woman, who had just been calm and caring, was now possessed. She was screaming, not allowing anyone or anything to interrupt her stream of accusations and anxiety.
Noah was clearly annoyed, but he didn't want to argue. He stepped forward and said in a measured tone:
"What?" he said and took a step forward, but his attempt to calmly explain the situation only resulted in more screaming. "Are you crazy, Karen?! Jo and I were just trying to figure this out, after all! You should think about what's going on with your daughter, instead of chasing us around like we're enemies!"
"You are the enemy! You are all the enemy!" Karen turned back to Delia Asia Vieira, not letting her say a word. "Where were you with my daughter? Why didn't you warn me? Why did you let her go with those people?! You don't know what's happening to her! Can't you see that she's not even human?!"
Delia Asia Vieira exhaled nervously, trying to contain herself, but she found it difficult to find the words. She felt everything around her heating up, how the tension between all the participants of this conversation was growing stronger.
"It's not my fault!" she finally screamed, unable to remain silent any longer. "I didn't know what was going on! It's not my fault that your daughter is acting like this! I... I was just doing my job! And you... you're not listening to me! You're not even trying to understand what's going on!"
"Not listening?" Karen screamed back, clenching her fists in rage. "Not listening?! At least you didn't try to sort this out before, did you?! You thought everything would be the same as always! But now you're playing with fire! You're playing with my daughter's life!"
Noah, seeing that Karen continued to insist on her point of view, could not stand it.
"Karen, stop! You don't understand! We're all trying to do something here, and you're screaming like crazy! Do you even hear what you're saying?!"
"You bastard!" Karen turned to him, her voice full of rage. "Are you going to lecture me now?! You don't want to understand what's happening to my daughter either, do you? You only do it for yourself, for your own business! And your friend too! You're all just thieves and liars! How much longer can this go on?!"
Delia Asia Vieira, standing to the side, felt her chest tighten with fear. She watched the scene, not knowing what to do. Noah and Karen exchanged cruel words, like two opponents ready to pounce on each other at any moment. It seemed that the conflict had gone too far. She felt her vision begin to darken from this furious tirade. Her head was splitting with hatred and panic that did not stop, rolling in waves. She could no longer contain herself.
"Calm down!" she screamed. "Calm down, Karen! You don't hear what you're saying! We're all trying to help you and your daughter! It's all your fault because you don't want to face the truth!"
But Karen didn't stop. Her eyes were glowing and her voice was getting louder.
"Me?! Is it my fault?" Karen screamed, her face turning red with rage. "I can't believe you're saying this! You don't even know what's going on with my daughter, and now you're accusing me of trying to protect her?! What are you even saying, who are you?"
Noah, standing to the side, exhaled, realizing that the situation was not going to improve. He raised his hand, as if trying to stop this flow of indignation.
"Stop, stop!" he said loudly, but his words were drowned out by the storm of emotions. "Karen, you're crazy. You can't just blame everyone. I was trying to help! We were all trying to help!"
Delia Asia Vieira felt her nerves begin to squeeze her from all sides. She knew she needed to calm down, but this misunderstanding, the shouting, the threats - all of this was literally suffocating her.
"I was just... I was just trying to do it right!" she cried again, her voice shaking. "I can't do this anymore! It's too complicated!"