Allegories of the Tarot

by Ribken, Annetta

  Something in her peripheral vision moved, a shadow sending chills to roll along her spine. She turned her head with reluctance, afraid of what she’d find.

  Nothing but empty space. I’m alone in the room. The realization surprised her.

  When she turned back, the mirror had iced over, its surface showing jagged cracks within the white. It caught Renae in a trance, the cold numbing all movement. Casting out all reason. Tightening the grip of fear.

  The moisture heated again to room temperature, melting in rivulets along the length of the mirror. It seemed to be crying fat tears, showing the tracks on Renae’s reflected cheeks. Cheeks no longer under her control.

  The face in the mirror is still mine but belongs to Fen now. I’m floating somewhere behind him, off to his left, insubstantial and helpless. A wraith, nothing more.

  The reflected image dissolved, re-emerged as Fen once more. Like the Phoenix, he had emerged from the ashes to start anew. The perfect ruler. Feared as the antichrist by some, adored by many more. Free to steal their will, their power, their lives.

  And I helped him do it.

  He smiles as if he can sense me drifting over his shoulder. Perhaps he can.

  The sound of a Cajun queen’s laughter fills my mind as fear of this new existence extinguishes all hope.

  Welcome to eternity.

  ***

  Laura Eno. Speculative Fiction wordsmith. Author of fifteen novels and novellas ranging from fantasy to romance to horror, she also has stories included in nineteen published anthologies.

  The secret to her stories? Spread lies, blend in truths, add a pinch of snark and a dash of tears. Escape into her world. She left the porch light on so you can find your way down the rabbit hole.

  Find her here: Amazon

  ###

  AFTERWORDS FROM THE EDITOR

  “Let me explain. No, there is too much. Let me sum up.” (To quote one of my favorite movies.)

  Putting together this anthology has been one of the most amazing experiences of my life. Right from the very beginning, this whole crazy idea clicked so hard I’d swear it registered 10.0 on the Richter scale.

  I had the idea for an anthology based on the Major Arcana of the Tarot for months. I wasn’t quite sure how to pull it off, but after much thinking and losing sleep, the idea just wouldn’t go away. I figured it this way—it was never going to happen if I didn’t make it happen.

  I know and work with some of the most amazing writers on the planet. I can never express my gratitude for the way this group pulled together and supported the concept. From donations to working the social media platforms to help with funding; from services to ideas and getting their stories in on time…it’s just been a dream come true.

  And the STORIES! The talent of these writers just blew my socks clean off. I can’t say I was surprised, because I know them and their work, but as one fiction freak to another, let me just say I am so proud of each and every writer in this anthology I can hardly contain myself.

  If you like what you read, please consider reviewing and spreading the word. Support your favorite authors by visiting their websites, and don’t be shy! We all love hearing from our readers, because YOU are the reason we do this.

  In other words, THIS FICTION IS FOR YOU. I hope you love it.

  ~Netta the Editah

  THANKS AND GRATITUDE

  Thanks to Mr. X for his donation of time and our beautiful website at allegoriesofthetarot.com

  Thank you to Eden Baylee for her unflagging efforts as the Twitter Queen and the force behind @AllegoriesTarot.

  Much appreciation to Badass Marketing for the push for launch and the blog tour.

  Thanks to Clive Aryn Arnold for the use of his lovely artwork and to Valerie Bellamy for her mad formatting skills and who took this book to a higher level. Not to mention her unflagging patience.

  Thank you, Kris Austen Radcliffe for taking my vision of the cover and making it real.

  Much love and thanks beyond measure to every author in the anthology who supported, shared, tweeted, Facebooked, Tumblred, and hosted many an interview or shout-out on their own blogs.

  Special thanks to Jennifer Wingard, who has eagle eyes and misses nothing.

  Words cannot express my love and gratitude to the writers involved for your belief and support, and all the shits and giggles. This book is truly a labor of love, and evidence of what a team of outstanding indie writers can do when they pull together. I AM SO PROUD OF YOU.

  For the supporters of the Indiegogo campaign to get this off the ground, thank you! You made this possible. Eternal thanks to:

  Laura Eno

  Steven Grant

  Kirstin Lund

  Kelly Kiernan Sampson

  Lisa Perez

  Melissa Jensen

  Lynn Siperelle

  Grant Kearney

  Valerie Bellamy

  Janet Sked

  M Aja Martinez

  Nita Fortune

  Eternal Elf Creations

  Bridget McKenna

  Lauren Stark

  Stuart Ashen

  Gil Cantrell

  Charmaine Murmer

  Kevin McKay

  Alexis Latshaw

  Tracey McDonald

  Pete Williams

  Renee Laprise

  Patti Larsen

  Denise Battista

  Sue Goldberg

  Michael Swift

  Hilary Melton Butcher

  Christine Ludwick

  Janet Hinkel

  Carol Romanella

  Kathy Walsh

  Loren Kleinman

  Justin Kalinay

  Julie Devin Dodd

  Helen Yee

  Donna McCoy

  Lon Prater

  Susan Haines

  Andrei Tretyakov

  Jennifer Wingard

  Hal Lewis

  Joy-Anne Whiteside

  Ashely Penno

  Kimberly Kinrade

  Lisa Perez

  Catherine Dickson

  Brett Laughlin

  We couldn’t have done it without you. Thank you for your support!