Esme nods and lifts up another card. “The High Priestess.” The card has a beautiful woman in a cloak on the front. “One of my favorites.” I don’t miss the knowing look Esme gives Remi, almost like they’re exchanging an inside joke between the two of them.
“This card is telling you that you need to listen to your inner voice. You’ve been ignoring the truth your inner self knows. You need to listen to it. It’s trying to tell you something. This may come over in the form of unexplained…vibes, if you will, or even dreams. Have you been dreaming lately, Pruitt?”
I’m perspiring now, and my heart is racing, but still, I keep it cool and shake my head. “No, I don’t dream. Haven't since the accident.”
Like before, Esme nods and moves on to the next card. I feel Remi give my hand a reassuring squeeze. Apparently, I’m not hiding how uncomfortable I am as well as I thought I was because when I look at Remi, she gives me a small smile.
The next card Esme flips over has a moon on it. On the left side of the card, a dog howls at the moon, and on the right, a wolf does the same. And this time, I can’t help but let the shock appear on my face. I swear if she says something about a wolf, I’m going to freak the fuck out.
“The Moon card. The dog represents our civilized nature while the wolf represents our animalistic one. This hints you may be fighting two sides of yourself now, or sometime soon.”
I exhale and relax. Had she said the wolf represents the wolf you’ve been dreaming of every night, I would have probably gotten up and left. But thankfully, I can’t think of a single thing in my life that would reflect this card.
“Next, we have the Four of Wands,” Esme describes, having moved on to the next card. Four wands are painted on a card with a bright yellow background. “You will learn soon, you have found your home—your community. That feeling of belonging you’ve been craving Pru is close. I promise.”
I feel hot tears stream down my face. Goddammit! I hate crying, and the fact I’m doing it over some stupid parlor trick is ridiculous, but she’s hitting way too close to home now. I’ve never belonged. I never fit in with any of the kids at school growing up. I’ve always felt unsettled and like I wasn’t in the right spot. But this sense of belonging has slowly started to creep in ever since I first got to Montana and even more after I met Remington Weylyn and her family. They welcomed me with open arms, and I have never felt more content than I do when I spend my days at their large lake house. Remington’s older twin brothers Ransom and Ranger have taken me under their wings like another sister, and it makes my heart swell. Not that I would ever admit that to them.
I quickly swipe the tears from my face and motion for Esme to keep going. The next card doesn’t need explaining, and I can’t help but read the card’s name aloud before Esme can. “The Lovers.”
“Oooh! Pruitt, do you have a secret lover you haven’t told me about?” Remi teases as she pulls the card closer to herself so she can see the artwork of Adam and Eve. “Are these all hand-painted? It looks like it. Hey, Pru, maybe that’s something you can do, paint tarot cards, and sell them online. I bet some people would pay top dollar for that shit. What do you think, Esme?” Remi rambles on as she examines the card, even going so far as to scratch at the paint with her fingernail.
Esme doesn’t answer. Remi and I both look across the table at the older woman who is staring straight at me. Her black eyes have glossed over, and I see they are darker and shinier than before.
“Holy shit. Is she okay?” I ask as I wave a hand in front of Esme’s face, but there is no response from the psychic. “Esme?”
Remi tilts her head to the side and looks at the still woman. “She’s fine. She’s just having a vision.” Remi shrugs like it’s not a big deal, and what she said was completely normal.
“A vision? Like…a vision? Like she’s seeing the future right now?”
“Yep!” Remi says, popping the P for emphasis. “Maybe it’ll be about you! Wouldn’t that be cool?”
“Umm, no.” I have enough weirdness going on in my life right now, and the last thing I need to worry about is a vision of my future that may or may not happen. I haven’t told Remi about my dreams or sleepwalking. I’ve only told Addison about the dreams, and even then, I left the sleepwalking out. Addison’s had a lot going on lately, and I don’t want to worry her.
All of a sudden, Esme exhales and shakes her head. Her eyes have cleared some, but her previous cheerful expression has been replaced by a look of sorrow. “Oh, child,” she starts, “The lovers card is a little different for you.”
Of course, it is.
“What? What is it?” I squeak, honestly terrified of her answer.
“He’s on his way, the one you’ve been looking for. As we speak, he is on his way to you. But another is coming, a darker soul. You must be careful of him, he brings destruction and trouble.” Esme reaches across the table and grabs my hand. Her own hands are ice cold to the touch. “I fear a painful decision is in your future, and it will be the hardest thing you will ever have to do. But you’ll know the right choice to make.”
The room is thick with tension, and I feel
