The Magical Tarot Deck

by Marieke Lexmond

  ‘Where are we?’

  ‘I have no idea. My card doesn’t have a forest on it.’

  ‘I think mine is under water…’

  Slowly, they turn around, taking in the sun shining through the leaves. They’re standing in a clearing; somehow, it does look familiar. When they turned about 180 degrees, they freeze. They’re looking out of a painting and can see Tara coming into her room. They’re in Seamus’ painting.

  ‘Shit.’ Bridget pulls Maeve behind some bushes. ‘What now?!’

  They peek through the bush and see Tara in front of the painting with a sad face.

  ‘Where are you, Sweetheart? I need you.’

  Oh, dear, this is too weird. Spying on Gran, even if it’s accidental. They pull back, but it makes the bushes sway. Tara looks closer at the painting. They have to get out of there!

  ‘Look at me.’ commands Maeve, ‘let’s try to go back to Wes.’

  The girls clasp hands and close their eyes while they try to follow their witch sense toward Wes. Nothing happens. Tara’s nose is now almost touching the painting lifting up her glasses to see better, so close.

  Think of him, B! Magic is in the heart.’ sounds Maeve’s urgent voice in Bridget’s head. For a moment, she takes a deep breath and thinks about how he feels when they make love, unaware that through their connection she gives Maeve a taste of that. Pretty soon, they find themselves next to Wes in the room. Maeve is bright red and tries to avoid looking at them. Her discomfort coming off her in waves. Bridget had leaned into Wes. ‘You can’t believe where we—’ She stops and becomes aware of Maeve’s dismay and realizes her mistake. The awkwardness fills the room, and it pulls them back into the card. Soon they stand back in the room with Wes’ arms around them. Maeve wiggles free. ‘I…I…forgot I had muffins in the…the oven.’ She rushes for the door.

  ‘Maeve, wait!’

  But she’s gone.

  UTAH

  Lucy is down in her work room. Mara had put a table in the middle of her work circle, and a steaming pot of tea in front of her. You would almost think this is a sweet witchy grandmother. Until you notice all the black magic around her. Pots full of scary dead animal skeletons in various state of decomposition. Dried chicken feet are hanging from the ceiling next to some deadly dried Wolfsbane.

  Lucy leans back in her chair while she takes her time studying the cards. It’s easy to pick out Seamus and Tara’s children, some she recognizes from her encounter in Boston. It seemed she didn’t take all her children on that mission. Her sister has become quite cunning, no longer that happy go lucky girl, who was so easily swayed. Deep down, she enjoys this, it makes this whole exercise so much more fun and interesting. If it wasn’t for this irritating piece of fairy magic around her neck—it makes the fight unequal. So annoying! On an impulse, she gets up, walks to her altar, and lights some incense.

  ‘Mother, Maiden, Crone. Please hear me. I honor thee. Hear my plea. Balance the fight and free me of this plight.’ Twirling around the incense stick, she sinks to her knees and lets the spell take hold. You don’t need any special magic to plead to the Fates.

  SOMEWHERE BETWEEN SPACE AND TIME

  The Fates stare down on Lucy. They can’t hide their amusement.

  ‘I always liked her.’ crows the Crone. ‘She’s a feisty one.’

  ‘Boring! Let her sort out her own mess.’ says the Maiden, barely taking her eyes off her phone.

  ‘I’m giving the wheel an extra spin for her.’

  ‘Please think about it. Do we want to do that to the world?’ Mother, as always, trying to think things through.

  The Crone only laughs and spins the wheel. ‘She asked nicely. And those Madigans have given us enough trouble, they can handle it.’

  The vines, which are reaching out into the infinite space, are all vibrating.

  UTAH

  A smile crosses Lucy’s face when she feels the wheel turning. ‘Thank you.’ She whispers for the second time that day. Is she mellowing out? Nah, time to bend those Madigans to her will.

  She gathers the cards and shuffles them, fans them out upside down, and lets her left hand hover above them. Very carefully she states her question. ‘I want to know where the Dagger is.’

  First card she pulls is the Tower. Freya tumbles down from a tower that has been hit by lightning. The card stretches outward. A loud crack like thunder resonates through the room, and a bolt of lightning followed by Freya materializing and falling down on the floor. She hits her head and curses profoundly.

  The second card is the World. A young girl, she can’t be more than a couple of years old, twirling the world on her finger. The four elements are represented on the corners. Her card bulges and stretches, and the young girl, now about five, Lisa, materializes with a big world floating around her. Confused, she looks around, searching for something or someone familiar. When she sees Lucy, her face lights up and she runs toward Lucy.

  The third card is of a young man hanging upside down in a tree, the Hanged Man. Fin is dangling from one leg. When his card comes to life, he too falls to the floor as the tree hasn’t really taken form. He only groans when he hits the floor, and it takes him a minute to get his bearings.

  Lucy is thrilled. Seamus did a great job. She’s less thrilled with the kid running toward her. Lisa wraps her arms around Lucy. ‘Grandma! What happened? You look weird.’ As if Lisa is something dirty, Lucy peels her off her and pushes her backward.

  ‘Grandma?’ Lisa sounds hurt. Freya finally snapped out of her transition, rushes to Lisa and picks her up. ‘That’s not your grandma, honey, it’s your grandaunt.’

  ‘What is a grandaunt? And why does she look like grandma?’

  ‘She’s grandma’s sister, her twin sister. That’s why they look alike.’ Freya shoots Lucy a hostile look, who returns it with an insincere smile.

  Fin has been taking his time to look around the room. The dark vibes and flow of energy is something. So different from the homey, warm feel of the Madigan house. This house radiates power, cruelty, and ambition. It’s like day and night. When he studies his grandaunt, the difference is also visible in the women. Tara is slightly plump and always ready to hug you; this woman is thin and has hard lines etched in her face. Nothing in her instills the desire to give her a hug. He takes up his position next to Freya, who’s still trying to comfort Lisa; they have to show a united front.

  ‘What do you want?’ He demands. Lucy’s attention shifts to him. She squints her eyes and tilts her head like a bird. ‘Well, well, well, young man. You look familiar.’

  Fin keeps his mouth shut. Don’t give more information than necessary.

  ‘You must be a child of that witch who has been such a pain.’ Fin can’t hide his surprise.

  ‘Ha! I’m right.’ Lucy wanders over and gently lets her hand glide over Fin’s arm, his face, and the side of his body. He’s not moving, trying to hide his discomfort. It’s sensual and it’s creeping him out, big time.

  ‘This is so amazing. You feel completely real.’ She takes a quick whiff. ‘You smell real. And from my experience yesterday, I would say you really are the person he has drawn on the card, your consciousness in this body. I love it.’

  Then Lucy moves toward Lisa and Freya, ‘You are scary.’ says Lisa burying her face against Freya who takes a step away from Lucy.

  ‘Hahahaha, let’s say I’m not as soft as your granny.’ She thoroughly enjoys this, but it’s time to get down to business. To get back what is hers.

  ‘I want to know where the Dagger is.’ she states loud and clear.

  ‘We don’t know. We don’t have it.’ is Fin’s quick response.

  ‘I want to go home!’ wails Lisa.

  ‘I’m sorry, honey, but we can’t; we’re stuck here for a little bit.’ Freya tries to calm her down.

  It doesn’t help. Lisa starts to cry, wailing loudly and hiccupping.

  ‘Please. Someone, make her stop.’ Lucy twirls her finger, but the magic slides off her. Damn that colla
r, she can’t even shut this little brat up! Frustrated, she turns on them.

  ‘Tell me where it is!’

  Freya stays focused on Lisa, so Fin tries again. ‘We really don’t know. Honest.’ His answer rings true. That much of her magic is still working. Or it isn’t really magic as it turns out then. Or maybe it’s just that witches are bad liars.

  ‘Maybe the cards you have drawn can give us a clue.’ offers Fin. He doesn’t know what to do.

  ‘Her card was first.’ Lucy said pointing at Freya, ‘The Tower, then the World, and then you, the Hanged Man.’ But her gut is telling her this is all total nonsense. It’s about the people. Who cares about the card meanings!

  Lisa starts to really wail now, and it echoes through the room.

  ‘Stop her!’ yells Lucy. This only sets off more screams.

  ‘You calm her down. I’ll be back in a couple of minutes. Deal with it.’ Lucy marches out but doesn’t get far. When she gets to the hallway, she hits an invisible wall. ‘What the hell!’ She tries again to go forward but hits the wall again. ‘What’s going on?’ Carefully this time, she feels around, the wall is apparently in front of her.

  ‘MARA! CAL!’ She yells into the house.

  NEW ORLEANS

  In Under the Witches Hat, Selma is losing her mind. Normally, she has such a calm presence, but when Lisa started to dissolve, it totally freaked her out. Ron was showing Gwen the ropes behind the bar. She turns out to be a natural, a great addition to the team, no doubt. When he heard Selma scream, he and Gwen ran to the office and found poor Selma beside herself. Ron comforted her, while Gwen called Tara to let her know that Lisa’s card had been drawn. It turned out Freya and Fin are also gone. Not much they can do now but wait. Gwen tends to the bar, while Ron stays with Selma. They’re both staring at the spot where Lisa disappeared, willing her to be back soon.

  FAIRY

  Ceri had made a door into Fairy from the Madigan’s tomb, in order to step back into her Fairy home. The House of Finvarra, the fairy Alvina had called it. Does that mean she’s Ceridwen Finvarra now? Is she still a witch or a fairy? Can she be both? It’s all too confusing. The sting of Tara’s betrayal is still there. As her search for answers in the family chronicles hasn’t panned out, it is time to educate herself here. The key to magic is training and knowledge, and it must be the same for being a fairy. Where should she start?

  As if Alvina has heard her, she comes floating around the corner.

  ‘Mistress, you’re back! Welcome.’ A deep curtsey follows. Her dark green dress makes it hard to see where her clothes end and where her wings begin.

  ‘Please, Alvina, you don’t need to do that.’

  ‘Of course, I do. You’re the head of the House of Finvarra.’

  Ceri doesn’t know what to say to that, so she lets it go for now.

  ‘So glad you’re here. An important invitation is waiting for you—one that requires immediate attention.’ With a sweeping move, she urges Ceri to follow her. The color of the house changes to red; it seems to react to Ceri’s imminent feeling of dread. They move into a smaller room that contains a seating area and all sorts of things that are unfamiliar to Ceri. It’s hard to pin it down, as in fairy homes, everything is constantly on the move. She needs guidance, as she has absolutely no clue what is going on here. As Alvina is the only fairy she knows besides Mab, the choice of who to ask is not hard.

  ‘Alvina…’ It’s difficult for Ceri to actually ask for help. Funny when Bridget came to her for help, she couldn’t understand why it was so hard for her to ask for it. Now that she has to do it herself, she falters.

  ‘Yes, Mistress. Is something wrong?’

  ‘What I’m going to ask you needs to stay between these walls.’

  Alvina falls to her knees. ‘My loyalty is to the House of Finvarra.’

  ‘Right.’ This makes Ceri very uncomfortable, but she plows on. ‘I don’t know anything about Fairy.’ She blurts out.

  Gracefully, Alvina rises. ‘I know, Mistress. Master Felaern anticipated that and he appointed a guide to you. I was not to tell you until you asked. But before I introduce you, you first need to listen to your invitation, it’s from the Queen.’ Alvina points to a package on the table.

  Ceri walks over and lifts the feather-light object. It looks like a flower that still has its petals closed. It’s light and sunny and it somehow radiates happiness. The light becomes brighter in the room. ‘What now?’ wonders Ceri.

  ‘Just touch it, and it will open if the message is intended for you.’

  Curious, she touches the top of the flower. One by one, the petals open and a bright light glows from within. An orchestra of flutes and string instruments play a happy tune. Twinkle lights orbit around the message; it radiates joy. Fascinated Ceri bends forward to see what the flower will reveal. A tiny fairy, as big as the top of her finger blows a trumpet. All the other sounds stop, and the twinkle lights freeze in place. A booming voice comes from the tiny fairy. ‘Ceridwen Madigan from the House of Finvarra, Keeper of the Land. Queen Mab from the House of Oberon, Queen and ruler of Fairy, requests your presence at a banquet tonight to formally introduce you to Fairy as the new Keeper of the Land. What say you?’

  A million thoughts race through Ceri’s head. She’s not ready to face the court, far from it. Could she refuse? Probably not. A quick glance at Alvina confirms that only one reply is acceptable.

  ‘I will be delighted. Thank the Queen for her generous invitation.’

  Plop! The flower, the tiny fairy, and the lightshow are gone.

  A ragged breath escapes Ceri. ‘What now?’

  ‘Now I will introduce you to your guide, and then we will have to get you ready for tonight. You will have to look impressive.’

  ‘I can’t do this.’

  ‘I will be here. Master has us prepared for these things. Don’t worry.’

  That is easier said than done, she’s terrified.

  UTAH

  Mara comes rushing down the hallway and without any problems walks up to Lucy.

  ‘What’s wrong?’

  ‘I can’t move forward. There seems to be an invisible wall. But you…’

  To demonstrate, Lucy tries to go down the hallway and is stopped. Mara tries to feel it, her hand moves through air. ‘What the hell?’

  ‘Yes, exactly!’ Lucy can’t hide her mounting frustration.

  Mara moves back and forth without any problems.

  ‘Use your magic.’ Lucy’s anger is still palpable, even though her magic is blocked.

  ‘Right, of course!’ Mara blushes and feels like a stupid human. Slowly, she sends out her witch sense. A gentle and flexible wave of magic is floating like an orb throughout the house, it’s not stopped by walls or floors. When she follows its lines, she finds it’s connected to something in Lucy’s work room. There are witches there. Shocked, she loses grip on her probe.

  ‘There are witches in your room.’

  ‘Yes. Yes. I used the cards.’

  Only now does Mara register the crying noises coming from the room. Finally, Cal makes it down. Seamus in tow, still chattering. ‘What is going on?’ Cal tries to ignore him, and as the others don’t hear him, there is no answer.

  ‘Can I help?’ He offers instead.

  ‘Grandma used the cards and now she is trapped by an invisible wall. Did that happen to you?’

  ‘When I used them, they tried to leave but couldn’t, maybe it works that way for the one asking the question as well.’ Cal fingers Seamus’ card, he had contemplated leaving the card in his room in the hope of getting rid of Seamus that way. Now he’s happy he put it in his pocket. Apparently, there is no escaping the mad witch. For once he’s quiet, following the exchange with interest. He doesn’t seem to know how the cards work either. Weird for their creator.

  ‘Great.’ Sarcasm drips through Lucy’s reply. ‘Follow me. Maybe one of you can put a spell on that kid to shut her up.’ Lucy has no patience for crying children. Her grandchildren had quickly
learned to keep quiet around her. If only she had her powers back. When they walk back into the room, Freya is still trying to calm down Lisa. Fin is walking around taking everything in. He’s impressed by all the books and is fascinated by Lucy’s supplies, so many rare ingredients. This reminds him of his grandmother’s garden with all its rare herbs. This however is far more geared toward the dark arts. Not something he has ever come across before, so he can’t help but be excited about this. He always loves to learn; he’s Luna’s son after all.

  ‘Find anything?’

  Fin jumps when Lucy whispers in his ear.

  ‘Your room is…is different.’ Is the best he can come up with.

  ‘So glad you approve, but I’m more interested in the Dagger.’

  ‘I don’t know. I told you.’

  Another piercing cry comes from Lisa.

  ‘Shut up!’ shouts Lucy which only makes Lisa cry harder. It echoes nicely through Lucy’s work room. ‘This is driving me crazy!’ Pointedly, she looks at Mara, but she’s distracted by the new arrivals. She can’t ask her out loud to use magic. Then they would know she doesn’t have any. Another wail echoes through the room. Lucy can only grunt in frustration.

  FAIRY

  The chatter of little birds and the rustling of the trees bring a soothing presence to the house. Ceri follows Alvina, nervous butterflies in her stomach. Not only for the coming banquet with Mab which is terrifying her. She will first have to meet her new guide. What will he look like? Her imagination runs wild. Maybe an old tree-like figure, like the ones in the Lord of the Rings. Or a little fairy like Tinkerbell. But with Fairy, you just don’t know. Ever since she and Ron first set foot in Fairy, nothing has gone as she expected. Because she’s part of Fairy now, she had hoped things would be easier, but it only seems harder. Nothing makes sense, her powers are unpredictable. She wants to go home, back to normal. Is that even possible? Who is she kidding, she knows life will never be the same.