by C. C. Wood
The sound of the curtain being pulled back drew my attention. I looked over my shoulder and saw Savannah walking out of the niche with an older woman. The woman’s hand rested on Savannah’s forearm and Savannah’s palm curved over her fingers. Speaking softly to her, Savannah walked the woman out the door.
“You should have Savannah give you a reading,” Ava suggested. “She’s very good with the cards.”
I glanced at her. “She’s a witch?” That could explain her aura.
Ava shook her head. “Not exactly. She’s an empath, but with extra abilities.” She smiled. “I’ve never met another person like Savannah. She’s everything that’s gentle and good.”
I understood then what I saw in Savannah’s aura. She was a receptor for emotions. She appeared to experience every emotion at once because she received them all.
“Look, go sit down in the reading room and I’ll send her in when she comes back,” Ava directed.
Instead of refusing once again, my feet carried me toward the room. After I settled in one of the chairs, Ava pulled the curtains closed to separate me from the rest of the shop. As I waited, I wondered what I was doing. Divination of any kind wasn’t something I put stock in. Cards, numbers, palms, none of that could tell me what the future held. Destiny was a changeable entity, practically a living thing. To believe that it could be predicted struck me as ludicrous.
The longer I sat in the chair, the more uncomfortable I felt. Just as I was about to get to my feet and leave the room, the curtain swept back to reveal Savannah.
She froze for a moment when she saw me, her eyes wide. Recovering quickly, she stepped inside the niche and let the fabric fall behind her.
“Good afternoon,” she greeted me. “It’s nice to see you again, Rhys.”
While her expression appeared serene, that becoming flush I’d noticed yesterday returned to her cheeks and neck. I could also see the changes in her aura. She was embarrassed for some reason. She was also feeling attraction. I could only assume it was for me since I was the only other person in the room. I took satisfaction in that knowledge because it meant I wasn’t the only one who felt the pull between us.
Intrigued, I immediately decided to stay and see what else I could learn about Savannah Baker.
“Hi, Savannah,” I replied.
The pink in her cheeks darkened further. “What brings you to the shop today?”
“I came for coffee and Ava suggested I get a reading.”
Savannah sat on the chair across from me, perching as though she were a mere second from taking flight. “Do you often practice forms of divination?”
I cleared my throat. “No, I’ve never asked someone to tell my fortune before.”
She cocked her head, studying me. The flush faded from her face and her dark eyes sparkled. “Fortune telling?”
“Isn’t that what the cards are for? Telling me what the future holds?”
“Not exactly, Rhys,” she responded. “I do talk about the future with my clients, but there’s more to it than that.”
Her features had become more animated and bright. I wanted her to continue so I could keep that expression on her face. “Tell me more.” Savannah hesitated, as though she wasn’t sure of my sincerity. “I want to understand,” I insisted.
“What I do isn’t about telling the future or telling people what they should be doing. It’s about introspection and intention. Tarot isn’t some all-knowing set of cards. Each spread is meant to give you insight into your intention or question. The cards help you focus your energy and your thoughts in different directions or maybe help you find a different perspective.”
Her explanation was interesting and captured my attention because it wasn’t what I expected. “Will you show me?”
She smiled at me then, a wide, happy grin that lit up her face. “Of course. Let’s do a reading.” Savannah tilted her head and studied me. “I’ll keep it simple. Three cards.”
I watched as her nimble fingers shuffled the deck. She cut it several times then fanned the cards out in front of me. “Pick three cards. As you do so, think of your past, present, and future.”
I hesitated. “I thought that readers didn’t allow anyone to touch their cards? That is was bad luck or something.”
“There are some that do feel that way,” Savannah replied with a small smile. “I find that I prefer it, but I know others that don’t like the energy left behind from querents touching their deck.”
“Querents?”
Her smile widened. “The person seeking answers.”
I nodded and studied the cards in front of me. “Three together or separately?” I asked, unsure of what she wanted of me. My past stretched so far behind me that there were times I could barely remember.
“Your choice,” she stated with a small shrug. “Whichever cards grab your attention first, whether it’s three all together or apart.”
I looked at the line of cards in front of me, thought of my past, and touched the first card that caught my attention. I paused and lifted my eyes to Savannah. “What now?”
She reached forward and took the card, placing it face down in front of her. “Choose two more. Think of your present for the second and your future for the third.”
I selected two more cards by touching them and she laid them next to the first. When I was done, she gathered the rest of the cards, stacked them, and set them to the side.
“A three card spread can represent many things. The past, present, and future, as we’re doing right now. Or body, mind, and spirit. A particular situation, action you wish to take, and potential outcome. There are several other ways to apply a three card spread, but those are the three I use most commonly.”
She enthralled me as she spoke. It wasn’t just her words, but the way her aura pulsed with white light and color from her excitement and love of the subject. Her conviction and her enthusiasm were visible in the prism of light and color that shrouded her.
“Again, none of what we’re doing here is to tell you what to do, only to make you think about what you’ve done in the past, what you’re doing now, and give you something to think about when you deal with the future.”
I nodded and watched as she flipped over the first card, revealing a heart pierced by three swords.
“This card represents your past,” she began. “It’s the three of swords, upright.”
“But it’s upside down to me, right?”
The corner of her mouth lifted. “Yes, but I usually read the cards facing toward me since I’m acting as the interpreter. Some readers do things differently, but this is what feels right to me.”
I nodded, but my curiosity wasn’t assuaged. “So the cards have different meanings based on whether their upright or not?”
Savannah leaned forward slightly, another small smile playing on her lips. “Every reader does it differently. Some don’t consider their position, merely the overall meaning of the card. I prefer to think of them as upright or reversed because it does change the meaning somewhat. Now, the three of swords in this position usually represents some kind of loss or separation. A severing of ties or suffering. There’s a lot of emotional conflict associated with this particular card. Maybe disputes with your family or friends.” She glanced up at me and her face softened. “But all the pain is often followed by an opportunity for something new. A fresh start.”
“And if it were reversed?” I asked.
“Then that would suggest you weren’t learning or growing from the pain you endured. That you’re stuck because you’re hanging on to a grudge. It’s similar to the upright, but there are small differences. The reversed indicates that you’re approaching a situation with a closed mind rather than a willingness to learn.”
I thought about everything that had happened in the last centuries. About Gaius, my master and then maker. About my brother, Cornelius, and his black soul. Suffering. A single word would never be enough to explain everything I’d experienced at the hands of Gaius and Cornelius. Bu
t I wasn’t sure I would ever be able to let go of the past as Savannah suggested.
She seemed to be waiting for some sort of response from me, so I forced myself to nod my head. I wasn’t willing to bare my soul to someone with so much beauty within her own. She didn’t move to the next card right away, her eyes focused on me with an intensity that was nearly uncomfortable, as though she sensed the direction of my thoughts and didn’t approve.
Finally, she flipped over the next card. “Temperance, upright,” she stated. “This card in the spread represents your present. In the upright position, it means that you’re trying to find a balance, reconcile two opposing sides of yourself. You feel pulled in different directions, but you’ll be able to bring them together. It will be difficult, but if you persevere, you’ll achieve something greater. You’ll be stronger. The two halves of yourself will blend to make you better.”
Her words struck a chord within me, resonating in my heart. Since my maker had taken part of my humanity from me, I’d often wondered if I was more a monster or man. But I seriously doubted I would ever be able to bring together those two sides of myself. Even if I wanted to, which I wouldn’t. I didn’t want to be a monster, even if it was only half of me.
Savannah’s soft voice pierced my thoughts. “Are you okay, Rhys?”
I blinked and cleared my throat. “Yes, I’m fine. Please continue.”
“Are you sure?” she asked. “You’re welcome to discuss anything bothering you.”
I lifted my eyes to hers. “I’m sure.”
Her dark eyes were gentle as they moved over me and I could feel her compassionate heart reaching out to me. It took everything I had not to take what she offered so selflessly and without thought. But she didn’t even realize I could take that from her. If she did, I knew she wouldn’t be looking at me the way she was right now. There would be no softness in her gaze, no sweetness. Only fear and disgust.
“Let’s just do the last card,” I insisted, my voice rough.
She didn’t argue, but I knew she was fighting the urge.
“The third card represents your future,” she explained as she turned over the last card. “The Moon,” she murmured. “That’s strange. It’s upright also. I haven’t done a reading in a long time that had all three cards upright.” She fell silent, staring at the card with concern on her face.
“What does it mean?” I prompted her.
“The Moon has many meanings,” she began. “It can be a sign that things will be elusive, confusing, or in a state of flux in your life. The moon has a dark side, the side that remains unseen, which can symbolize that there are unknown forces or influences at work. But the moon also has phases and cycles, so it’s important to think carefully before you take action because the next phase could be coming and your behavior could be detrimental rather than helpful. Since this last card represents your future, I would suggest that you verify facts and take a lot of time to consider the possible consequences for your actions.” Her gaze rose to my face. “It’s a mysterious card, one with many meanings but also many possibilities.”
A chill of foreboding crept up my spine. Somehow the card felt like a threat or a warning. But a warning of what? I thought of the dreams I’d been having recently, only I wasn’t so sure they weren’t actually memories. If they were memories, they were Cornelius’ and not my own.
“Rhys.”
The sound of Savannah’s voice brought my attention back to her. “Yes?”
Our eyes met. “If you need to talk about anything, I’m here. Whatever you say will stay between us. I don’t want to overstep myself with you, but I’m concerned.”
She meant every word that she said and I found that comforting. But I wouldn’t do that. I’d learned long ago not to trust anyone with my problems. It was much safer for both of us.
“Thank you for the offer but I’m fine,” I reassured her.
The open expression on her face slowly shut down and I could practically see the defensive wall she put up between us. “Okay then. Do you have any more questions about the tarot or the three cards?”
I regretted my words as soon as I heard the cool tone of her voice and the compassion that she offered me was retracted. I found myself saying something without thinking much about it. Since my conversation with Ava a few minutes before, I’d been considering her suggestion of purchasing a car to help me blend in. Then I made a split second decision. I wanted to spend more time with Savannah. “No, but there is one thing you can help me with.”
Surprise radiated from her. “Of course.”
“Do you know where I could buy a car?”
Chapter Six
Savannah
As I stood in front of my closet in my underwear, I put my hands on my hips and swore beneath my breath.
“How in the heck did I get myself in this darn mess?”
Okay, so I couldn’t bring myself to swear, even though I wanted to. My grandmother hated curse words with a passion and always threw a fit whenever she heard me cuss. Now that she was gone, I found I still adhered to the habit she ingrained in me out of love for her and her memory.
Satchel mewed from the bed and I looked at her over my shoulder. The look she gave me conveyed her considerable boredom with this process. Rhys was meeting me in half an hour and I still had to put on make-up. When he’d asked me to help him with something a couple of days ago, my heart did a strange twist-leap in my chest. For some crazy reason, I’d automatically wondered if he was going to ask me out.
Silly me.
Instead, he’d asked me if I knew a good place to buy a car. To my surprise, he didn’t have a vehicle. I agreed to drive him around to a few dealerships on my next day off, which was today.
“What is Mommy supposed to wear to shop for a car with her stupid hot neighbor, Satchel?” I asked her.
Her only reply was to turn her back on me and start licking her paw.
“Thank you. You’ve been very helpful.”
With a sigh, I decided to ignore my cat and try to focus on my outfit. The weather was beautiful, warm and sunny. It was a gorgeous spring day, the kind of day that made me want to wear one of my maxi dresses with small straps and bright colors. But this also wasn’t a date and I didn’t want Rhys to think that I thought it was. Wow, that was a mouthful. Or a brain full since my entire conversation was in my head.
“God, now I’m confusing myself,” I mumbled. Annoyed with my own wishy-washy behavior, I reached into the closet and grabbed the first dress I saw. I would wear what I usually wore. Would he even notice what I was wearing unless it was aggressively sexy? The thought made me laugh. Nothing I owned could be classified as aggressively sexy. Or even sexy at all.
The purple dress in my hand had a halter neckline with slender straps. The dress had a high waist and fell in voluminous folds to my ankles. I loved it because the color flattered my pale skin and dark hair and it was one of the most comfortable outfits I owned.
I slipped into the dress and slid my feet into flat tan sandals. A quick look at the clock made me wince. I didn’t know Rhys very well, but he struck me as the kind of person who would show up five minutes early.
I hurried into my bathroom to finish getting ready. I pulled the sides of my hair back and pinned it in place with bobby pins. Then I put on a light layer of make-up. I brushed a little lavender shadow on my eyelids, applied mascara, and put a tinted balm on my lips. I had no sooner finished the final swipe before the doorbell rang.
“I knew he’d be early,” I muttered to Satchel.
My cat followed me down the hall to the front door and sat on her rump, staring intently at the front door.
Pointing a finger at her, I admonished, “Don’t even think about it. No clawing or biting my sexy neighbor. I want him to stick around for a few minutes.”
Her imperious look told me to mind my own business.
“I mean it, Satchel,” I said, pointing my finger at her.
She yawned.
“Dissed by my own ca
t,” I grumbled. Taking a deep breath, I steeled myself before opening the door. It might have been crazy, but I felt like I needed a moment to prepare before I looked at him. If I took the time to ready myself, maybe I’d be able to string three words together without embarrassing myself.
I opened the door and immediately realized that I was wrong. Any words I planned to use vanished from my mind. Rhys stood on the porch wearing jeans, a t-shirt that hugged his upper body, and a pair of dark sunglasses. His dark blond hair was messy, as though he’d been running his hands through it, and his goatee looked fuller as though it needed a trim.
My brain cells didn’t scream as they died, they swooned. The light spring breeze carried his scent into the house and my legs suddenly felt weak.
After we stood there staring at each other for a long moment, Satchel meowed. I jumped and gave myself a mental slap. “Hi, Rhys. Why don’t you come in for a minute while I get my bag?”
I stepped back from the door to let him in and gripped the knob tighter as he passed me, his arm brushing mine. I had to get over my body’s crazy reaction to his proximity. This was ridiculous and worse than any crush I’d had in middle school.
He stopped next to my cat, looking down at her. I couldn’t read his expression because of the sunglasses he wore, but I could feel the slight buzz of his emotions, mainly curiosity and amusement. It seemed that with each of our interactions, small hints of what he was feeling would seep through the barrier that surrounded him.
“Who is this?” he asked, his mouth curving up slightly.
Surprised by his smile, I forgot my awkwardness. “That’s my cat, Satchel.”
His smile widened, nearly blinding me with its beauty. “Satchel? Like a bag? How did she get that name?”
