Evers gently took his hand in her left and and trailed her fingertips along the main lines on his hand as well as the scars. She kept her eyes trained on his hand and tilted her head, a small if hypnotized by what she saw bun only looking at seemingly natural markings. “You’ve been through many battles, obviously. Not all here but many. She reached over and pressed her fingertips to his pulse. She counted for a while “a fire within that compels you. You don’t see that much anymore. She noted with a smile. She pulled her right hand back and picked up the ring, placing it in his hand. She placed her hand on top. “Forgive me of this is a bit forward but are you married? Or in a relationship with anyone?”
Kayan nodded along to her “diagnosis,” but all of it seemed quite obvious to him.
He raised his eyebrows, slightly taken aback by her last question. He wondered if it was personal, or actually had relevance to the fortune telling.
“No, I’m not,” Kayan admitted. “I haven’t been for… for a while.”
He kept his eyes locked on his own hand, slightly nervous by the fact she could see his scars. It’s why he had on sleeves with gloves… greaves that went down and tucked to the top of his boots. He hated showing his scars.
She shut her eyes and waited for a while before taking her hand back and the ring with her. “Most people who choose the ring see value in it. Some sort of worth to it. Or some just thinks it pretty. She twirled the ring in her hand and glanced up at Kayan. “You long for it. You’re not one to stay alone too long. You chose the ring, not the chain. You want something complete and life long not something brittle and tarnishable like silver. Someone to compliment your strength like jade but also some to act as your strength when you cannot.” She set the ring down and ventured to the cards. “Choose five.”
(Ok this is awesome btw, well-played :)
Kayan eyed the ring as she drew it back, nodding along to her words. He continued to lie to himself.
He didn’t need anyone else. Right? He was fine right here, on his own. Or so he thought.
He glanced over the cards, his hand hovering over a few and flitting back and forth. His emerald eyes searched for any immediate conclusion.
“These,” he said confidently. He had no clue what he was doing but tried to look and speak as profound as he could. Which wasn’t very.
(aw thanks!XDXD)
A small smile quirked up on her lips as she drew out the five cards he had chosen and swiped the rest away. She set them down in an 'x' configuration, four cards in the corner and one in the center. She waved to them in a flourish "Would you like to choose the path or would you rather I?" she asked, her hand hovering over the cards
“You can,” Kayan said, his voice not showing how nervous he really was. He barely showed anything true on the outside— that was the way he liked it.
He put his hand down and folded them in his lap, waiting patiently for the woman to come to a conclusion.
He eyed her hands, unwavering. His suspicion had stemmed in to general curiosity. Although he thought he still would never believe it, he was intrigued.
She nodded and flipped over the card in the top left corner. The familiar Moon card appeared. She turned over the top right card. The high priestess. The middle card revealed death. The bottom left card revealed the stars and the last card was the lovers. Evers tilted her head curiously as she looked the cards over. She then flicked her amber gaze up towards Kayan. “You think this is bullshit, don’t you?” She sat back and crossed her arms over her chest. “Don’t worry, many do. What do you thing the cards mean?” She nodded towards them and watched him carefully
Kayan sat up, head tilting with the accusation. He put his hands up defensively, gloves now back on the both of them.
“I never said anything,” he claimed, shaking his head. His eyes wandered over to the cards, then glanced back at Evers.
“I…,” he said, his voice trailing. “Don’t know. You’re the magic one here.”
Though he did have his guessed. The Moon. Mystery, perhaps. The Priestess? Wealth, possibly. Death? Could be because he’s taken a life, or he’s not too careful with the possession of his own.
As for the stars and the lovers? He had little to no clue at all.
“No, you didn’t have to.”she laughed softly as he watched him. She knew most of her clients didn’t believe in what she did, mostly came for the novelty of fortune telling, very few took it seriously. She shook her head with a small smile “I don’t have magic. Very few in the mortal world do. This is as close to magic as we get.” She gestured to the first card. “You have an animalistic behavior. That if a wolf or a dog. That’s not to say you act as one. You’re loyal and immensely protective of what you care about.you walk the fine line between knowing what is real in the world as well as having a fanciful, less realistic side to life.”
Kayan smiled at her accuracy.
“Fascinating,” he crooned with his charming grin.
Though he wasn’t necessarily surprised. Anyone could have seen that just because he was… well, he was him. It was safe to assume he was fanciful.
“I think this is magic…” he said, his voice trailing off the word. “Just humans in general. Your way of life and interpretation is interesting, really.”
He cocked his head, still looking at the cards.
“Your ways impress me.”
“I’m not surprised. The simplicity of a human has always fascinated the Fae. Our daily tasks look like fun to those who don’t have to worry about working a day in their life just to have a mean in front of them and their family. She kept a smile on her features while her tone took on a sarcastic and bitter tone. She set aside the Moon and moved on to the High Priestess. “You seve yourself as well as those you are under with ferocious dedication. You strive to impress as well as be impress while doing so. You aren’t scared to show your flaws and are always ready to learn and grow. While to do listen to those guiding you, lack inner trust. You don’t know how or when to listen to yourself. Oh let others choose your path.” She’s glanced up at him and tilted her head. “Let me know if this is getting too real.”
Kayan narrowed his eyes, his nose wrinkling slightly as the twinkle in his irises subsided.
“Not that it’s getting too real,” he muttered. “Frankly, I don’t agree with the previous statement. I know when to listen to myself.” Or so he thought.
He liked to keep up the visad he knew everything— he liked to be perfect in the eyes of those around him. However, whatever Evers was showing him refused to agree with that claim.
His eyes danced across the cards, trying to keep from glancing up at the woman.
In reality, this was too true. Kayan was the type of person to respond to the person the majority wanted him to be. He was shaped by the views around him. Even if he would absolutely never admit it.
Ever chuckled softly. He rested her head on her hand and smirked “sure you don’t love” she was starting to like this little game, her telling him a version of himself and finding out that he didn’t like it. “Don’t like the truth much, do you?” She set the High Priestess aside and replaces it with Death. “Well this one is painfully obvious, or is it?” She mused, looking it over with a smile. “You cause it. You are the horseman death. Those who fear you know what you bring and know their time has comeback to an end. Many misunderstand this lovely friend. You bring death yes, but you also cleanse the world of what you believe it to be it’s evil. You are the bringer of allowed new life and a new beginning. Whether the new beginning Is for the world or yourself,, only you will know.”
A smile flicked at the edges of his mouth. At least he liked that part.
He thought his job was right. He tried to help people. Whether he did that to be praised like a hero or genuinely thought it was nice, he didn’t know. Kai just enjoyed being praised, and bringing people a sense of protection.
He tried to stay stoic as he nodded.
“Interesting,” he mumbled. He tried to reign back his stuck-up manor, but was too caught off guard by her practices to even remotely do so.
“W-Where did you learn this?” he asked, running a hand through his hair. His green eyes pierced into hers, and he made his best attempt at seeming dominant. “Not that I believe this, but… it is intriguing.”
“I was taught by my aunt. She used to do all thins kind of stuff, tarot reading and prescribing remedies to her patients and clients.” She frowned slightly before shaking her head and quickly replacing the frown with a grin. “All you need is intrigue to get hooked.” She set aside Death and pulled The Stars. Her brow furrowed. “It’s reversed,” she noticed. “You’ve been through something. A death of a loved one or something you regret. You find it hard to get passed but you’re coping. Possibly something internally troubling.” She flicked her gaze up to his, worried. “You’re broken inside.”
Kayan immediately pushed out of his chair, standing up and brushing off his coat. His wings unfurled and he looked extremely embarrassed— and even more uncomfortable than he had before, which was honestly impressive.
He stroked his hands across his coat, his gloves ruffling against the green fabric.
“Nonsense,” he mumbled to himself. “Unfortunately, I should be going. Thank you so much for your time, but I have to be on my way to the…. city. Sorry for the trouble this morning. I wish you the best.”
He took one last glance around, hoping she didn’t call after him as he began to slide out her doorway.
Evers sat back when Kayan stood and watched as he composed himself. She flinched slightly when he declared her statements nonsense but made no move after him. She glanced back after he had left and held her head in her hands “I’m sorry, may anything you’ve gone through or is still going through may past harmlessly. She gathered the five cards as well as the deck and set the lovers on top along with the ring in the chain. She stood from her desk and faced the room, having forgot the state it was in before Hebrew reading. She sighed softly and glanced up towards the ceiling. She sent a silent prayer to her aunt before continuing to clean again, we’ll into the afternoon.
Kayan had kept his position, sitting on the top of one of the elm trees watching travelers pass along the road. He didn’t cry. He didn’t get mad. But he remembered.
He could still see the peak of Evers’ house through the leaves of the trees. Sure, he hadn’t gone far. Part of him wanted to go back for more answers. But… that last one had been too real.
Kayan wished to deny it. Surely, that hadn’t effected him that much, right?
Still, as he sat on the branch, his heart did nothing but sink.
“I could have handled that better, hm?” he mumbled to a butterfly beside him. The bug just slowly lowered and raised its wings.
His fake smile was plastered back on his face, though this time it seemed more sorrowful.
“I’m still curious,” he continued. “There was one more card— she didn’t get to explain.”
He fiddled with his gloved hands, resting his head back on the trunk.
Once everything was to her liking, Evers gathered up the pile of broken baskets and the flower wreath outside. She hitched her skirt up so it wouldn’t drag on the floor and started to gather wood from the woodpile on Thebes side of the house. She could a few matches and set the on fire. Throwing the matches into the wood she watched the fire come to life. Evers gazed off into the fire with a soft smile “hello again my dear enemy. Care to do a job for me?” She grabbed the baskets and threw them into The flame. It happily ate up the wooden baskets, lurching slightly higher as if it wanted more. She gripped the broken crown in her hand before throwing that too into the fire. Once the flower crown was gone she came up close to the fire and tilted her head slightly “I’ll be yours soon enough.” She’s turned away and grabbed a bucket full of water. When she turned back, she thought that she could see a faint outline of a woman. She doused the flame in fire and watched as the silhouette disappear. “I’ll see you soon.”
Kayan cursed, finally jumping down from the tree and marching back. An unsuccessful day of asking travelers for information definitely didn’t lift his pessimistic spirits.
“I’m back,” Kayan’s voice drifted in to Evers’ house. He stood at the doorway, leaning on the frame. “I hate my curiosity.”
He resisted the urge to step in without an invitation. So he stayed put, his arms crossed and his eyes glowing through the dim light.
“Who were you talking to?” he asked, his voice somewhat upbeat for the given circumstance. He uncrossed his arms, shoving his hands in his pockets and giving a small smile.
Evers looked up from her desk, having went back inside after making sure the fire was put out. “You heard that?” She asked softly, standing and setting aside the flower crown she had continued to make. She pulled out the chair and offered him a seat. She shook her head dismissively “an old friend of mine came by to do a job for me.” She sat back down after waving him in and continued her work on crown. “We don’t have to continue the reading. I know last time got a little intense for you. I wouldn’t want to look into something that’s none of my business. Some of these things can get pretty deep sometimes.”
Kayan gritted his teeth, locking his jaw.
I’m just curious as to what you know, he thought.
He walked over, taking the seat and adjusting his back so his wings weren’t crushed. His emerald eyes flicked around, noticing that her place was generally clean now.
“My apologies for leaving so suddenly this morning,” he said, ceasing to make eye contact. “As you may have guessed, that’s a touchy subject. But, yet, you still hold on to my attention.”
He finally turned his head, gazing at the woman.
“You can continue,” he said, though his voice was rough. He gave a forced and pained smile. “I’m not one to fear the truth.”
Evers nodded “I can see that.” She stood and set aside the crown to get the tarot deck. She spread the cards on the table again with the Lovera being the focal point. She looked up at Kayan once more, slightly worried he’d leave again if he heard something he didn’t like.
“Remember, this isn’t meant to hurt you or restrict you in any way. You don’t have to choose this path. This is just an option.” She glanced down at the car, the candle by her desk giving off a warm glow as she started to speak.
“The lovers don’t always mean a romantic relationship with another. It can also mean a love and respect for your brethren’s and the land you live on. It can also mean self/love, despite what you’ve done and who you’ve hurt throughout your life, you’ve come to acknowledge that and move on, allowing yourself to love yourself as well advised those around you. You have a secure bond with someone, whether family, friend, or other. You feel as if every interaction you make could can make or break a bond.” She glanced up showed him the card. “This is your biggest obstical to get through as well as the one aspect of yourself that will help you get through the rest of the cards.” She leaned back and gazed up at him, waiting for him to lash out call the reading nonsense again
Kayan teetered back, tapping his foot periodically as she explained. His facial expression set unchanging, but he tilted his head slightly as she finished.
All he did was nod slowly, folding his hands in his lap and looking at just the cards.
His gaze suddenly flicked to her inquisitive glance and he responded with a small smile.
“Seems true,” he said. “At least, that part.”
His eyes glared slightly over the card that held the stars and he shook his head, dismissing it.
“Could you pull cards for yourself?” he asked. “Would it work that way? You probably already know yourself, in quite a profound way, but I’m curious.”
She nodded and flipped The Lover card over. She shuffled the deck expertly, spread them out of the deck artistically in an arch, turned them over and then gathered them all in one fluid motion.
“I’ve done it a few times, it never really works for ones self as well as it does for another person. It runs the risk of being too bias to oneself.” She explained, spreading the card out in a fan and pointed towards him “you try, I'll help you along the way.”
