Twenty Seven-2

"It was not black magic," Zena says. "Besides, I warned the young man who bought it. I warned him to be careful what he wished for. We all have to eat my dear. Don't tell me you'd do your job for free." "You fucked with her future," Madeline accuses. "It's the least you can do." I don't care about the money. I'd pay double if it means I finally get some answers. Madeline opens her mouth to say something again but I cut her off. "What's the most accurate?" Zena's jangled wrist points to the chalkboard. "The tarot cards will provide you with the most accurate reading." I dig into the back pocket of my jeans and pull out the money. As I move to give it to her, my hands are shaking. Zena takes it and motions for me to follow her. Madeline's feet stay glued to the floor but I'm not sure I can hear whatever it is Zena will say alone so I mouth the words. 'Come with me, please.' Zena moves to light candles but I dismiss her. "Enough with the ambience crap," I say, surprising myself. "I need answers." Her eyes go wide. "I need light to read the cards," she says. Her voice is clipped and short. Bitch. I sit in the chair and wait. She hands me a deck of oversized cards. "Clear your mind. Ask your spirit guides for help and shuffle the cards." Madeline takes the seat next to me, watching with a critical eye. I'm sure she's seen this a hundred times before, especially if her Oma really was into this sort of thing. I shuffle the cards like she's directed and when I'm done, when I think enough of my energy has been deposited into them, I move to hand them back. "Split the deck," Zena says. "Into three." I follow her directions. Her hands move fast, almost too fast to focus on and she begins flipping cards over in fast succession. "Well," she says, "we all know this but you've found the one you're meant to be with already." "Who?" She ignores my question. "He's made you feel like you can do anything, be anybody you want to be. He loves you deeply, without reservations and with his whole heart." "What is his name?" In my heart, I know it's Jackson but I want to hear her say it. She ignores me again. "He's not always been the bright light you see now," she continues. "He comes from a dark place and he may go there again." It is him. Zena flips another set of cards. "How curious," she muses. "I see another man. A lifelong friendship perhaps?" Yeah, lady. The one you sold the cupcake to. "He's having a very hard time dealing with everything that has happened to you. He is very unsure about what he wants, who he wants and he's dealing with it the only way he knows how, by trying to hold on to you." "Thanks tips! You're not telling me anything I don't already know." "She wants her money back," Madeline pipes up. Zena hold her pointer finger up. "Hush." "You're confused by your own feelings," she says, "but this will pass. You will have a moment of absolute and undeniable clarity." "I need you to tell me who I am supposed to be with," I practically shout. My heart hammers against my ribs so hard, I'm sure it's about to burst. "I need you to tell me what happens in my future, please!" "I can't tell you who to be with. But remember. You wished for someone to see you. To love you and he came. He sees you. He loves you." My heart resumes beating a steady pace. Jackson. Jackson. Jackson. She flips another round of cards and her face falls. My spine stiffens. "What?" Zena looks shaken. Her face a pale shade of grey. "What?" I ask again. "What does it say?" She shakes her head as if she's not quite reading them correctly. "What does the card say?" Madeline's voice injects. "Tell her." Zena sucks in a long breath before exhaling. "He's hiding something. A secret which is not my place to tell you. The way in which he came is the way in which you leave." "That's super fucking cryptic," Madeline says. "What does that mean?" I try to wrap my head around her words. 'The way in which he came is the way in which you leave.' Not surprisingly, it doesn't make any sense. "What the hell is that supposed to mean?" "I cannot tell you," she says. "Crossing over into this territory is dark. I won't do it." She rises to her feet, and hands me back my $60. "You need to leave now." "Wait. What?" "Leave," she says more forcefully. "Now. Ask your heart for the answers." Madeline stands and points an accusing finger. "You're the worst bloody palm reader, tarot card freak in the history of ever." I'm too tired to argue. I'm emotionally spent. I pocket the money, resigned to a fate I still know nothing about and has apparently scared the shit out of the palm reader enough to refund my money. "Come on, Madeline," I say, "let's get out of here." "You're an awful human being," Madeline says to Zena. "Utterly despicable. I hope you're happy." Zena ignores her, her eyes darting to me. "The way in which he came is the way in which you leave. Ask your heart for the answers." "Got it, voodoo princess. Thanks for nothing." As we head through the door, she shouts those same words again. Madeline is borderline stomping all the way to the car. She's uttering curse words under her breath that are so vile, it's like she's the one who was just ripped off. I climb into the small front seat. "Can we still stop for coffee?" "Of course," she says. "You know what Jackson likes?" "Yeah," I say, "I do. I think I know almost everything about him. He's my whole heart." And just like that. It hits. It strikes both Madeline and I like a direct blow to the head. Ask your heart for the answers. Jackson Nathaniel Sunday is going to have a lot of explaining to do.