The Magical Tarot Deck

by Marieke Lexmond

  ‘Go. Go. Don’t let me keep you. I should have called ahead.’

  ‘You’re always welcome, Honey.’ She gives him a gentle kiss on the cheek and disappears through the back door. Tears well up in his eyes. Life would have been so different if he had been allowed to stay here. In the back of his mind, he can hear Lucy’s sneer. ‘Man up. You’d have been a weakling.’ For better or worse, his grandma is forever the voice inside his head. She’s right though. Time to get back to the Magical Tarot Deck. It’s been humming in his pocket the whole way, and it’s hard to resist the temptation to use it. He will need his wits about him, so better to eat and take that shower. Sleep is probably a luxury though.

  BOSTON

  Luna is loading up Bridget’s car, she’d borrowed it while she was staying with Tom, Bridget’s police partner. Their instant connection has been growing ever since she unraveled a sleeping spell that Lucy had put on him. It has been a long time since a man has been interested in her this way. That’s why she had decided to stay in Boston a little longer. She finds his humor and strong moral compass very sexy. Unfortunately, their time together is cut short, yet another drama is unfolding at home.

  ‘It makes no sense!’ argues Tom for the tenth time. ‘Why don’t you fly?’

  ‘I can’t.’ Luna had decided to go home after her talk with Bridget. It was remarkable that she had called and asked her to come home. They have a very strained relationship. That, more than anything, persuaded her to start packing. Luna hadn’t told Tom the whole story yet, although Bridget had said she should. He seems to be part of the family already, and they probably will need his help anyway. Somehow, she’s still worried that if she goes full witch, he’s going to run for the hills. Tom grabs Luna and pulls her toward him. For a moment, they stand very close, and the electricity between them is undeniable. ‘Talk to me.’ He whispers.

  Who can resist a man like that?!

  ‘What is so important about this tarot deck that you have to race off?’

  She does owe him an explanation. ‘Sit down.’

  Tom raises an eyebrow. ‘Please, I’ll explain.’ He sits down indulging her, and she takes a seat opposite him.

  ‘Do you remember the time Bridget disappeared out of your car?’

  ‘What?! Of course, I…It was…’ Luna reaches across the table and grabs his hands, forcing him to look into her eyes. ‘She really disappeared. She didn’t know how to explain that to you as we’re not allowed to expose ourselves unless absolutely necessary.’

  The color drains from Tom’s face. Anger is bubbling up.

  ‘Hear me out. That Tarot Deck is magical; it pulls people from where they are, and they come to life for whoever draws the card. That’s what happened to Bridget. She really didn’t know or understand it when that happened to her.’ Luna moves on. ‘That’s the Tarot Deck that’s stolen. Someone could use it any minute. They need me to help find it.’

  Very slowly, this starts to sink in, and his anger dissipates a little. His cop mind starts turning. ‘Do you mean that if your card gets pulled, you will disappear?’

  ‘Yes, and as I don’t want that to happen when I fly…because Goddess knows what would happen, if I appear back.’

  ‘You can’t drive either!’ Tom jumps up.

  ‘It’s not ideal, but I don’t know how I would get there otherwise. It’s a risk…But the odds are in my favor.’

  ‘I’ll come with you and drive.’

  Luna is touched by his sweet gesture. But she also knows he wants to go back to work. ‘What about work?’

  ‘That can wait another week. Anyway, they don’t want me back yet.’

  Luna gets up and hugs him tight. What a good man. ‘Let’s pack. It’s 1500 miles to New Orleans, and it will take us two days to get there. Better get going.’

  MADRID, NEW MEXICO

  Cal feels a lot better. There’s nothing like a hot shower and some good food to get you going again. A second helping sits in front of him as he gently takes the cards from their pouch. Sun is flowing in through the glass panes of the sunroom, his mother’s tranquil space. It overlooks the desert garden and is decorated with an infinite number of crystals and new age decorations. A purple cloth hangs on the wall with a giant Buddha staring out at him. Several dreamcatchers and a chime hang from the ceiling. He takes a bite from his favorite breakfast while he spreads the cards face up.

  Wow, they look amazing! His fingers explore each card’s surface. They are unbelievably lifelike, as if the images are ready to jump off the cards. Did something move?! He bends down to take a look at the High Priestess card. Diane sits in a long flowing dress in front of a tree. Vines and leaves seem to merge with her. A bird sits on one of the branches; he could swear he saw it move just a second ago. Carefully, he touches the bird. The bird wiggles under his finger. Shocked, Cal pulls his hand back. Shit! This deck is alive!

  Cautious not to touch it, he takes a closer look at the images of the people on the cards. Tara’s picture stands out for him. For a second, he thinks that it’s Lucy, but quickly realizes it must be her twin. Now it all falls into place; there’s the bartender from the bar. Fin is hanging upside down from a tree by one leg with the other leg bent behind it, almost like a figure four. On the Moon card, he recognizes the woman from Boston. Luna is standing by water under the full moon. A lobster climbs up from the water toward her, and a dog is howling at the moon. Young and old, the whole family is represented on these cards. How cool is that?! His eyes are drawn to Maeve; how striking the women of this family are! Not all beautiful like this one, but they all have something shining through. Like his Grandma and Mara. Maybe not exactly, they look more compassionate and open. His mind starts to wander, to a topic he rarely dares to explore. His dearest wish would be to find love with a woman who sees him, the real him. Without thinking, he touches and strokes Maeve’s card. Temperance. It’s like she’s underwater and has a mermaid-like tail that swings around a well. Her hair floats through the water and gives her an even more angel-like appearance than usual.

  NEW ORLEANS

  Wes walks into the kitchen; he’s covered in paint and in need of a little pick-me-up to keep going. As always, Bridget’s sister Maeve is in the kitchen. It seems that she lives here. The only time she goes out must be for groceries. The welcoming smell of fresh rolls and the herbal scent of something bubbling on the stove make him drool. He must admit that her heavenly cooking is one of the main attractions for staying in this house. Something he doesn’t share with Bridget, as she seems very sensitive when it comes to her sister. Maybe even a touch insecure. Something he never thought she was capable of. He finds it actually very endearing, a little crack in that tough armor. Maeve steps from the pantry, and her face transforms into a smile when she sees Wes. ‘You want some lentil soup? I tried a new recipe.’ For a moment, she sways. Wes rushes over to support her. ‘Are you okay?’ He leads her to a chair.

  ‘I feel weird like someone is touching me from the inside.’

  Wes could swear she seems to start to look transparent. Then it hits him. It’s happening!

  He runs to the hallway and shouts ‘IT’S HAPPENING!’

  He doesn’t wait and runs back. Doors bang open, and from everywhere, the family hurries to the kitchen. Maeve is still there, back to normal, for now. Tara, Bridget, Gwen, Bert, Liam, and Emily are full of questions. The rest of the family has promised to stay in pairs but had refused to stay at the house again and let their normal lives be disrupted any further.

  MADRID, NEW MEXICO

  With his mind still full of the thoughts of love, Cal has decided to try the deck. He puts all the cards back together and shuffles the cards. How would he be able to find true love? This question is at the forefront of his mind while he draws the first card. The Moon, Luna’s card. The second card is the Devil. Dylan’s card. He stands inside a cave before a fire; the goat-like horns on his head look enormous. The third card is Strength. Bridget’s card. She stands tall in a hunting tunic next to an en
ormous lion.

  Cal puts the cards in front of him on the table and ponders what it means when the cards start to move, and the images on the cards bulge and stretch. In a panic, he jumps away from the table and backs up as far as possible.

  ON THE ROAD

  Luna is relaxing while Tom is driving on the freeway. The tunes of Emmylou Harris flow through the car, and there is a pleasant silence between the two of them. Luna starts to move around in her seat. When he glances over, he sees an all-too-familiar view. Luna seems to stretch and thin out and become transparent. Now that Tom knows what’s happening, he doesn’t hesitate and stops on the emergency lane. Luna turns toward him and, with a last ‘Tom?’, she disappears. Damn it! He gets his phone out and dials the Madigan’s home.

  NEW ORLEANS

  The moment of relief from finding Maeve still there is quickly replaced by dread when Bridget starts to thin and evaporate. Bridget feels the adrenalin kicking in when she realizes she’s the one being drawn again. Shit, what will she do with the Dagger? She sees the same fear on Tara’s face right before she’s gone. The others are not only horrified but also strangely fascinated. It’s such a magical marvel, it’s hard not to be intrigued by it. To have it described to them is very different from actually seeing it. Liam can’t help expressing it with some youthful enthusiasm. ‘Cool!’ His eyes shimmer. Emily looks both fascinated and guilty, while Bert seems to be finally hit with reality. Of course, his wife is missing, saying she’s in Fairy sounds all very theoretical. He was still more or less expecting to find her imprisoned in the basement, or something. To actually see magic makes it real, and he feels the full weight of marrying a witch bear down on him. Not what he envisioned when she told him all these years ago what she was. It all had sounded fun and harmless. What’s happening to his family now is far from that. Wes is shocked. He knows Bridget will be able to handle herself, but he has been painting with Seamus’ supplies. At times, he did think things were moving around, which he had signed up to working too many hours in a row. An unsettling feeling starts to grow in his stomach. The implications of it all.

  In Under the Witches Hat, Dylan is chatting with two customers at the bar while he fixes them an herbal elixir. Ron is sitting at the end of the bar, going over some receipts. When all of a sudden, Dylan wobbles, ‘I feel weird.’ He puts down the drink and rests both his hands on the counter in front of him. When Ron looks up, he sees a shimmer. Damn! Not in the bar! He rushes around, but before he reaches Dylan, he has disappeared, and the two customers stare at him in shocked silence. With a big smile and a wink, he turns to them, ‘Welcome to Under the Witches Hat, where you never know what will happen next.’ This seems to convince the two that it’s all part of an act, and they clap enthusiastically. ‘Wow, this is amazing!’ Ron smiles back, but the smile doesn’t reach his eyes. This is as they feared; the man is using the cards.

  MADRID, NEW MEXICO

  Cal is mesmerized while the images on the cards bulge and grow into life-size people. A million questions pop into his head. How is this possible? Are they real people? How does it work? Who made these cards? The roar of a lion pulls him rudely from his thoughts. Shit! Did that thing have to come to life as well?! Better stay focused. The woman from the Moon card needs a minute to adjust. Apparently, the process is a bit disorientating. When she spots Cal, she seems to recognize him. The woman from the Strength card, however, looks ready for battle straight away. One hand on the Dagger by her side and one hand on the lion’s head, she recognizes him as well. These were the women outside Lucy’s home when it blew up. They must be real people then if they know him…The man from the third card seems to have the hardest time. He comes through, and when he puts his hands to his head, he starts to freak out. ‘NOOOOO,’ Dylan pulls at his horns. Cal is hypnotized by the scene. The two women quickly glance at each other and, without a word, divide their attention. Lion Lady keeps her attention on him, while the Moon Lady moves over to calm the Devil.

  Bridget studies Cal. This is definitely the man who was with Lucy outside the Boston home, the one driving the car. A chill runs through her when it sinks in that the Deck is in Lucy’s family’s hands. She needs to hide the Dagger from his view somehow. For now, he seems unaware of it. His attention is on Luna and Dylan; this would be the time to hide the Dagger. He did see it though; maybe it’s better to be casual about it and pretend it is part of her card. Luna tries to pry Dylan’s fingers from his horns. ‘Calm down. They’re not real.’

  ‘They feel pretty damn real!’ He pulls his hands away from Luna and starts to touch his horns again.

  ‘Dylan, get a grip. We need you.’ appeals Luna to his sense of reason.

  But Dylan is too engrossed in his horror, and she can’t penetrate his frantic state. For a moment, she glances at Bridget, but her focus is still on the man across the room. Right, this is the only way to resolve it quickly. Luna takes a deep breath, focused, takes Dylan’s face between her hands, and says, ‘Calm down. Focus on the problem of the man calling us.’ Bridget, feeling the power of Luna’s voice, shoots her an angry look, before giving her full attention to the man again. Dylan calms down and joins them, and they all stare at each other. For several seconds, which feels like an eternity, there is a pregnant silence in the room. This gives Bridget a chance to scan the room quickly. Somehow, this doesn’t resonate with the man in front of them, or with Lucy for that matter; it’s cheerful, new age-y, and sunny. Finally, Luna decides to take charge. ‘Who are you?’

  Cal smiles. ‘Who are you?’

  ‘You know who we are. It was you by the tomb that day.’ counters Bridget.

  ‘The Madigans,’ offers Cal.

  ‘And you are related to Lucy.’ concludes Bridget. Cal dips his head in agreement. Bridget fiddles with the Dagger and stops herself. Better not to draw attention to it. She takes a step behind her lion to hide it from his view. Is it possible he doesn’t know about it? She wonders.

  ‘Now that we have the introductions over, can we come to why we’re here?’ asks Luna, her patience wearing thin.

  ‘I don’t know. What is this deck? I just laid a tarot spread.’ Cal motions to the cards.

  ‘Don’t tell him anything, Aunt Luna, Let’s just go.’ Both women look at him. Not a bad suggestion actually. As if in total agreement, they move through the door into the garden. Luna first, then Dylan, and Bridget walk backward to keep an eye on a curious Cal. They open the door and feel the warm desert air. Wondering in which desert state they actually are, Luna walks toward the end of the yard with purposeful strides when she hits a blank, an invisible wall, ‘Ouch!’ she cries out as she staggers backward. More careful, Dylan moves forward and feels in front of him. His hand reaches the edge, and he follows it all the way around. Up and down. They’re encased by an invisible wall. Bridget keeps an eye on Cal; he’s as surprised as they are.

  ‘We’re trapped.’ Dylan finally concludes. Luna and Bridget exchange another glance.

  ‘It makes sense—there is a limit to how far we can stray from the cards.’ Luna suggests.

  ‘There’s only one way to get back then, we have to find out what he asked and get it over with.’ Luna does admire her daughter’s calm and determination. Although they have vast differences, they seem to work well together in a crisis.

  All this time, Cal has patiently been waiting. This is the craziest and the most fun experience he had ever had with magic. His Gran will be so happy when he brings her this prize.

  ‘Tell us what you want?’ demands Bridget.

  ‘I’ve got what I want.’ replies Cal, with a big smile.

  The lion next to Bridget roars! It takes every ounce of self-control she has not to knock some sense into this idiot. Cal takes a couple of steps back. Luna puts a hand on Bridget’s arm, which she immediately shakes off and shoots her a hostile look. Luna jumps in before Bridget can say something they might regret; it’s important they keep their cool. ‘She means, what did you ask the cards?’

  For a moment, C
al thinks back to the moment he had shuffled the card. He blushes, this is embarrassing. Cal feels very exposed. What the heck, he doesn’t know them, what does he care? He clears his throat. ‘How do I find true love?’

  Bridget can’t hold her laugh. This is so hilarious, of all the things he could ask, he asks the most mundane question. Cal turns almost purple from shame. Luna nudges Bridget.

  ‘Right,’ Luna tries to focus back on the problem. ‘Let’s see. You have drawn the Moon, Strength, and the Devil. In which order?’

  Cal plays along. After all, he needs to know how it works. They also don’t seem to really understand what’s going on. So, no harm in sharing. He points at Luna, ‘You were first, then him, and last, Lion Lady.’

  ‘That’s easy. You should stop trying to trick somebody into a relationship. Be less controlling. Show your inner self and find your strength. Love will come.’ With a shmuck smile, Luna is ready to disappear back into the card. They wait several seconds, but nothing happens.

  Now, it’s Cal’s turn to laugh. ‘Really? You thought you would be let off this easy?’

  ‘It is what these cards mean,’ defends Luna.

  ‘Well, maybe you need to do something more substantial.’

  ‘Like what?’

  ‘Make me a love potion.’

  ‘No.’ replies Bridget.

  ‘Okay.’ replies Luna at the same time. As, true magic, all the supplies appear on the table next to the cards.

  ‘Wow.’ Dylan can’t hide his admiration. ‘This is something.’

  ‘Mom, No! Think of the poor woman he’s going to use it on.’

  ‘We have no choice. Don’t you want to go home?’ argues Luna.

  ‘I agree. Do it, Aunt Luna. I don’t want to be a freak. Get me home.’ Dylan sides with her.

  ‘It is not right. We can’t do this.’ Bridget is adamant. Luna and Bridget stare one another down. Cal follows the exchange with interest.

  Dylan becomes impatient. ‘If you don’t do it, I will.’ Before he can move to the table, Luna stops him. ‘I’ll do it.’