Oh fuck me, I thought scornfully, a bunch of nonsensical pictures? That's next?
Nobody seemed to read my mind and I kept my expression clear as she spread the deck face down infront of us. As her hands spread the card, the woman glanced at us from the corner of her eyes and seemed to straighten her back a bit.
"Let us do you again young man, a tarot reading is clearer than a palm reading." She said to Lucas.
"Ok s-"
"Excuse me, but what's the difference?" I said with a frown," Both are shams."
The place grew quiet, and the air became slightly more chill. The woman's eyes turned to me, their blue depths growing darker. Bye bye sobbing lady, I thought fleetingly.
"Oh, you don't believe in prophecy?" She asked me softly.
"Nope." I shook my head. I didn't believe any mystical stuff, it was just nonsense.
I lived my life with a very serious cynical view of magic in all its forms. Magical stories, magic shows and 'palm readers' were things I really hated. Sure I liked the idea of a prince saving a princess from an evil witch, but I would be skeptical of the witch in question. Mainly, I liked a touch of positive fantasy with a truckload of realism. And someone claiming to know what the future holds is like someone promising what they say is the truth, even though it's unknown.
That was the worst because -
"Well, let me do your readings free of charge then." She said with a smirk and my brain froze for a second.
"Deal." I said after a moment, Lucas looked at me with a raised brow," What? Can't refuse free stuff, even if it's fake."
"Hmmm, yes, a very charming girl you are." The woman said looking at me before turning her head to Lucas," Now, dear boy, pick five cards from the spread before you. Then lay them next to each other, and I will tell you of your future "
Lucas gave a small sigh and picked five cards, laying them face down on the table. A light breeze blew into the tent and lifted my hair a bit, I pulled it back and listened to the woman's words.
"The first card is you, representing your nature and personality" She said flipping the card to show what it was." You are the Page of Swords reversed."
An upside down bony black young boy in a violent grey and grim background, holding a big sword before a stone archway in a field. Lucas scrunched his brows a bit, probably because of it's meaning. A meaning I didn't know because this stuff wasn't my thing.
"You're a verile young man with deep intense emotions. The Page is always trying to prove himself but is always misunderstood." The woman raised the card," The path he walks is one of self discovery and can often lead to anger at those who will never understand you. Yet youth, a desire to find out who you are leads to a depth of character few can match. Very interesting young man, aren't you?"
Lucas smiled a bit, almost giggling but not quite there. I just listened patiently, silently agreeing that Lucas was a bit deep. As an Emo, his feelings were intense and he had depth. Well for normal people maybe, but as his best friend I could know what he means from even a sneeze!
"Now, the second card," The gypsy woman continued," This card shows the feelings you have in your heart "
"Huh, well I don't really long for anything but the answer to the meaning of mortality." Lucas replied and the woman gave a small chuckle.
He'd been on the mortality question for weeks now.
"A young child wondering such things? My my, the mystery of the youths of this age," The woman flipped the second card over and gave a small nod as she placed it down.
Three wooden wands pointed to a dark stormy sky with three old wrinkly hands holding them. I looked at Lucas to understand if this was good or bad, and he looked at me and shrugged.
"I don't remember the whole Arcana cards." He said softly.
"The three of wands," The gypsy woman continued as if he hadn't spoken," It represents looking ahead and longing. Your heart longs for more than it has already. You are not content with what lies before you, you seek someone who can change your horizons."
"Hey, he's pretty beloved by me." I said irritably," You sayin' I ain't enough?"
"I only read what fate puts before me." She replied simply," And we are talking of romance correct?"
"Yes." Lucas scrunched his brows at me and I gave a cheeky smile.
"So am I not enough for him?" I repeated acting stubborn.
"Friends are quite precious,"She answered," But love has many forms, and in the form of romance, he waits for something more."
"True." I said and folded my arms," Continue."
"Seriously?" Lucas asked me," You hinting?"
"Yeah, if she's a witch or prophetess or whatever, she should know you. Oh wait, I forgot, your nature is an deep and misunderstood person, an unknown, a -"
"He likes men, is that what you wished for me to say?" The woman said and we both looked at her with wide eyes.
"How did you know?" Lucas asked in a choked voice.
"A witch never tells. Now, shall we continue?" The woman looked at me," Or do you have more you wish to ask?"
"I... whatever. Continue, get on with it, let's see if you fall for a billionaire." I said with a small smile.
"Not in this town " Lucas mumbled under his breath.
"The third card is how love will find you," She reached for the third card and flipped it over," The Fool reversed."
"Ha! You're a fool!" I giggled loudly and he rolled his eyes.
An upside down red clothed jester stood juggling three red balls, with a white face and hollow black eyes. I couldn't believe Lucas search for love would lead to a fool.
"The Fool reversed means a choice lies before you, two paths. You are a deep person, and before you lies the doorway to love. But to enter it, it will be like trusting a fool, requiring a leap of faith. The Fool reversed symbolises fear of commitment and poor judgement. What you believe to be a bad choice might be the choice you have to make for love. Or you can turn around without entering."
"So, he's not a fool?" I asked and she shook her head.
"No, but he will make a wise and foolish decision." She replied as she released a deep breath. Gone was the weak woman from earlier, the gypsy woman seemed to be more calmer as she talked on about the cards.
"The fourth card will tell you of the nature of the relationship you will have." The woman tilted her head and flipped the card over.
A scaly creature with curved horns and sharp fangs stared at us, it's eyes black pits and its hands were claws. The beast had a whip like tail with a sinister grin on its hideous face. I felt like things had went back to creepy pretty quickly.
"The Devil card." She said slowly," Symbolises temptation, obsession and intense chemistry. Your relationship will be passionate and untempered."
She raised the card and looked at it with a frown," It also speaks of toxic attachment. You will be chained to this person, with a feeling that makes you unable to let go. This love you seek, is all consuming."
"That doesn't sound good." Lucas said dryly.
"At all. Like, toxic relationship? Seriously?" I said," I thought you said him entering the relationship would be a wise decision?"
"No. I said the choice before him is of two roads. Recklessness or hesitation, only one can lead him to the road he wants."
I really didn't like what I was hearing. Lucas would make a foolish decision and end up in a toxic relationship? Over my dead body, I thought, I'd beat the guy up with frying pan, as any good friend should.
Bam!
"Ow! Why did you punch me?" Lucas asked me whilst rubbing his shoulder.
"Don't you ever, ever get involved in a toxic relationship. Got me?" I said with a huff.
"I haven't even met the guy the cards are talking about, I don't even know what he'll be like, maybe I'll make the right choice." He replied with a pout.
"That brings us to the last card, the fifth card represents the person who you will love, showing their nature and personality." She reached over and flipped the last card.
A black armoured young man standing on a cliff, raising a giant wooden stick with a blade at the end, infront of him. His face is glaring, with a background of black soil and a grim atmosphere.
"The Knight of wands." The woman gave a small smile," Very nice, young man. The man you will love will be impulsive and passionate, very becoming to the nature of your relationship. He'll long for you, fight for you and love you beyond words. But, the Knight can be head strong and too fiery, leaving him careless and reckless, which will make him unsteady in your relationship."
"Oh, well that's ... something." Lucas gave a shrug and I looked at him.
"What?" He asked," This is just for fun, it's not like anything here will actually happen. I mean, do you know any guy like the one she described in this town?"
"Hmmm... True. Almost forgot this is nonsense." I said with a smile.