Total pages in book: 75
Estimated words: 77576 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 388(@200wpm)___ 310(@250wpm)___ 259(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77576 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 388(@200wpm)___ 310(@250wpm)___ 259(@300wpm)
Again, I’m perplexed.
How these two cards work together and then in tandem with the third, which is the devil—a horned beast with bat wings. Two naked demons serve him.
The card is in reverse position.
While the devil normally indicates some kind of destructive pattern, the reversal of its position indicates freedom. Sounds good, but what does it mean for this reading as a whole?
“Ava?” Brendan says.
“Give me a moment.”
“You’re freaking me out a little here.”
“Some readings take longer than others,” I tell him. “There’s nothing to be concerned about. I just need to see the cards as a whole. Figure out what they mean.”
“Can you at least tell me what they are?”
“Of course. Your first card is the star, but it’s in reverse position, meaning it’s facing you and not me.”
“Okay.”
“The star is a good card. Usually it’s a good omen.”
“A good omen for what?”
“Well, that depends. Depends on your question, depends on the rest of the cards in your reading. But it’s in reverse position, so it means—”
“A bad omen?”
“No, not really. But it does have a darker feeling to me. The star is usually an inspiring card. It signifies hope, inspiration. Its reversal doesn’t necessarily mean the opposite. But it does mean that you’re possibly feeling adrift. Uninspired.”
“I suppose that’s true,” he says. “I have no idea what the message means, no idea where to start.”
“That can make sense.”
“What’s my second card?”
“The two of swords. All the sword cards have a very masculine energy, so I’m not surprised that I drew one for you.”
“So is that the meaning of this card then? I’m a guy?” He smiles.
“It’s a card of balance in some senses, but sometimes it can indicate feelings of nervousness and uncertainty. Possibly difficult choices ahead.”
He drums his fingers on the table. “O…kay. Still freaked.”
“Don’t be. We have to take the reading as a whole. But I admit your next card is a challenge.”
“And it is?”
“It’s the devil, also in reversed position. The star and the devil are considered opposite cards in the tarot. Normally the devil means—”
“Evil?”
I smile. “No, of course not. But it does mean you may be focusing on material things, or you’re trapped in some kind of mental bondage.”
“Great.”
“But it’s reversed, which can mean freedom from bondage, but that’s the easy answer. And with the tarot, you should never accept the easy answer.” I close my eyes, breathe in, breathe out.
My intuition has never failed me, and I won’t allow it to fail me now.
Adrift. Difficult choices. Freedom from bondage.
What does all of this have to do with the message that Brendan and I received? What does it mean for him specifically?
I open my eyes. “I feel like this mysterious message is going to lead to some perplexing choices for both of us.”
“I don’t understand.”
“Honestly? I don’t either. The tarot doesn’t always give us a straight answer. In fact, it rarely does.”
“What might these difficult choices be?”
“I don’t know, but I feel a real family element from both our readings.”
“So someone from both of our families is involved in this?”
“It could mean that. I’m not clairvoyant, Brendan. All I have is my intuition and the guidance of the cards. But that’s what I’m feeling. My family is involved. Your family is involved. Something is going to be revealed that’s going to lead to some difficult choices.”
“Okay.”
“It’s not something we can run away from,” I say. “I knew that as soon as I got that text. Even then, I felt it would have some kind of life-changing effect for me. I just don’t know what.”
“Life-changing effects don’t have to be bad,” Brendan says.
“Absolutely not, and I choose to think of this as a positive.”
“Then I will too.” He smiles.
I stare at the cards a little longer, hoping I’ll get some more insight.
The card that draws my gaze is the last card, the devil in reverse. The horned king sits on the throne, a reversed pentacle above his head. His right hand is raised. He’s bearded, definitely male. And he’s challenging me.
Or he’s challenging Brendan. Or perhaps challenging both of us. In the reverse position, he’s challenging our faith.
And then it comes to me.
Exactly what this card means—and I know it was meant for me as well as for Brendan.
The devil is challenging me to hold tight to who I am.
To not let anything question that.
Which means…
Something is coming that’s going to cause me to question it. Something is coming that’s going to cause Brendan to question something about himself as well.
And it’s coming quickly.
CHAPTER TWENTY
BRENDAN
My nerves are jumping under my skin.
Hell, I asked for this. I wanted this reading. Do I believe in this stuff? Not really, but I want Ava to know that I respect her feelings and beliefs.
But now that she’s read the cards for me?
Icicles are poking at the back of my neck.