Allegories of the Tarot

by Ribken, Annetta

  “Grampy! Did you hear the fireworks?” Justice scrambled back to his grandfather, his fit forgotten. Without his frightened wails, the roar of the fire didn’t sound so bad.

  “Go,” Corman yelled as flames began to wink through the house’s roof. Wade drove away, never speeding or showing nervousness, even when a fire truck sped toward us, its lights flashing.

  The atmosphere at the meet-up point was one of victorious excitement. Sirens still wailed in the not so far distance. Nobody but me seemed to notice or care.

  The club invited Wade and I to join them at an RV park owned by friends in Blanco County for a party. Wade thanked them but said he needed to get me back home to my boyfriend.

  “That’s right,” Corman said. “You gonna tell Mr. Cop what you saw tonight?”

  “What for?” Fatigue had eaten through my fear. I no longer cared what this outlaw did or said to me. I just wanted sleep. “I’d be in just as deep of shit as you guys.”

  Everybody in earshot howled as though I’d told the funniest joke in the world. Corman never cracked a smile.

  “You just keep remembering that.” He leveled his cold eyes at me, and chill bumps raced over my skin. King clapped Corman on the back hard enough to set him off balance.

  “Get over yourself, boy. She’s a friend of the club now…our pet freak, just like Mojo Rider there.” King stepped forward and took my hand again. This time he kissed it, rolling his eyes up to mine and slipped me a pornographic wink. “You have a good ride home.” To Wade, he said, “Thanks for making this right.”

  Pet freak? What did that mean? I glanced at Wade and took note of the way he cast his gaze down. Laughing, Corman and King walked away from us. Wade visibly relaxed, moving his hand away from his hip pocket. “Let’s go home.”

  We locked eyes, and I knew I wouldn’t ask about the freak remark. There was a time and a place for everything. It would come up eventually. I took one last look at the toddler sitting on someone’s motorcycle. Dressed in a tiny leather jacket and cap, he laughed and clapped, completely comfortable in this environment.

  I wondered what would become of the little boy named Justice. He had no choice but to grow up one of the Six Gun Revolutionaries. They’d teach him their customs and rituals, how they evened scores. One day, he’d be a king of this world, of these people. I doubted he’d handle things much differently than his uncle and grandfather.

  “Do you think that kid got justice today?” I walked with Wade to his motorcycle. I put my hand on his shoulder and swung my leg over the bike.

  “I think justice is different things to different people,” Wade said. “Sometimes all you can say is you lived to meet another dawn.”

  This day taught me more about Wade than a million conversations could have. Despite the discomfort and danger of this lifestyle, I understood the draw.

  It was right there in front of me. The road stretching out before us promised endless possibility. It held invitations of adventure and romance, the perfume of oil, gasoline, and leather its own kind of aphrodisiac. Out here with the wind in my face and the thrum of power between my legs, justice was defined by the moment. Worries about incarceration and death mattered in another world. And that’s why I let the subject drop and closed my eyes and let the road roll underneath the tires.

  ***

  Catie Rhodes grew up in the piney woods of East Texas where there wasn’t much to do other than daydream and make up stories. From that dark and shadowy world come both her Peri Jean Mace Paranormal Mysteries and her horror short stories.

  Catie is that kid your mother warned you about. She lies. She cusses. She never washes her hands after petting the dog. And she still wears checkered Vans.

  She lives with her husband and little dog in the overcrowded and overly noisy Houston, Texas suburbs.

  Find out more about her at catierhodes.com.

  ***

  THE HANGED MAN

  Path of Sacrifice

  By Matthew Bryan

  Subdued light glinted off the short black horns rising from the forehead of the demon. He sat, almost lost in the tall-backed, overstuffed arm chair, waiting. Calm, even features gave no evidence of the turmoil roiling behind his green-slitted eyes. He barely twitched at the quiet knock on his chamber door.

  He glanced toward the unwanted intrusion then looked over the room. Everything was as it should be, no evidence of any forbidden contraband visible. Who could be at my door this late? He rose slowly, careful to not make a sound as he slipped into a crouch toward the locked and barred door. He listened for a moment, wishing he had put surveillance cameras in the hall when he had done the rest of his chambers. It was a minor regret on a long list and far from the greatest, so with a shrug he straightened up and opened the door.

  “Quick,” the figure said, slipping past Mkai.

  He quickly looked up and down the corridor before quietly closing the door, locking and barring it again out of habit. He turned to his late night visitor, allowing a tired smile to form on his lips.

  “What is it Fsol?” he said, “And why are you creeping around?”

  “You wouldn’t believe what I just found out. I came straight here, as quickly as I could.” Fsol said, dropping onto the couch. “You’ll understand why when I tell you what I learned.”

  “That sounds ominous. Have you been snooping around where you shouldn’t again?” Mkai said, resuming his seat. “You know it has become far more dangerous now with our new queen.”

  “Old habits and all that. I think you’ll agree that it was worth it,” Fsol said, leaning forward. “I found out why Kalia has ordered us to Earth. Why the urgency to corrupt and convert as many humans as we can.”

  He licked his lips, the forked tip appearing for a flash before disappearing behind jagged fangs. Sweat beaded on scaled skin as Fsol fidgeted in his seat before sliding to the edge to lean even closer to Mkai.

  “She is planning war. War with Heaven. She is determined to succeed where Samael failed.”

  Mkai’s heart thudded hard in his chest as he fell back in his chair.

  “War with Heaven? Is she insane?” he said, instinct keeping his voice low as he spoke words of treason. “Samael didn’t even war directly and look at the result. Even those, like us, who didn’t side directly with him were thrown from His Grace. What does she hope to accomplish?”

  “That is what sent me running here old friend.” Fsol said, excitement stealing over his face. “She has a plan, and I think it might work.”

  Samael had a plan as well.

  “What’s her plan? How does she expect to succeed where Samael failed so drastically?”

  “The souls. She will build an army of the Damned and with them, invade Heaven. She will tear down the Gates of Heaven and bring us unto His Light, with the souls of His favorites to lead the way.”

  Silence crept across the room as Mkai worked through the news. It was audacious, but Mkai felt in his bones this plan of Kalia’s would indeed succeed. At least in getting us into His presence, but what’s to stop Him from simply destroying us? It was a sobering thought. His favorites may very well lead us into Heaven, but could also lead us to oblivion.

  “I can see how it may work” he said, choosing his words carefully, “But I don’t think it will be as easy as that.”

  “There is more to her plan but I didn’t catch it,” Fsol said. “They moved out of range.”

  “They? Who was with her?” Mkai asked. “Where were they?”

  “Her throne room. I found an old abandoned passage and it led to a tiny room above her throne. That’s where I heard everything. And who else but Kalia’s shadow, Lilith.”

  “You know what they would have done to you if you were caught?” Mkai shook his head. “One day your habits will get you killed.”

  “But not today, brother.” Fsol grinned and sat back. “So, what do you think?”

  Mkai thought for a moment, mind whirling with possibilities. He looked at his friend, wondering how much to gambl
e.

  “I think you need to show me this passage. Our entire existence could be at risk and I, for one, am not willing to trust Kalia has our best interests at heart.” He knew he risked charges of treason with such a statement, even one made to his oldest friend.

  “Of course. Let’s go.” Fsol stood. “It’s a rather cleverly hidden passage and, if we’re careful, no one will ever catch us.”

  I hope not. This could be more important than Fsol knows. Mkai followed him through the door, flipping a switch to turn on his hidden cameras.

  ***

  An hour later found Mkai back in his favorite chair. Fsol had shown him the passage and the chamber at its end, the only light streaming from the throne room below. A quick glance had shown it was empty, not a surprise this late. They agreed to take turns watching to try to discover more of Kalia’s plans and had separated. Mkai returned to his room, mind churning over the risks Kalia was taking.

  Once settled in his chair, he couldn’t stop his mind from falling, spiraling down dark and painful memories. With a resigned sigh, he stood and made his way to the empty hearth. Mkai had never lit it, mainly because the temperature in Hell was already hot enough. But mostly because he was heartsick of fire. Outside his chambers, fires burned everywhere he turned. The smell of sulfur and the crackling roar of flames assaulted his senses. Silence reigned and he found his need for quiet growing stronger every day. It had been too long since he had been back to Earth.

  He reached out, pushing and twisting certain stones until, with a click, the mantle front dropped, swinging free on its hinge. He gazed at the few items hidden so carefully. Possession of them under Samael’s rule didn’t mean much. Perhaps a short time banished, not really a punishment to Mkai. But under Kalia’s harsh new laws, owning contraband meant severe punishment. Loss of a limb, torture and death were all possible. Regardless of the jeopardy, he knew he could never get rid of them.

  He picked up a child’s soot-covered doll, the beautifully carved face chipped, paint worn to a faint memory. His heart cramped in his chest and he had to clench his jaws to stop the sob of grief from escaping. Mkai fought a losing battle against the memories handling the doll always brought. Part of God’s punishment. Banishment from His Light wasn’t enough. Nor was He satisfied with the twisted and marred forms He forced upon those who dared question Him.

  No. His greatest punishment was the gift of perfect memory. Every moment of his existence was etched into Mkai’s mind, just waiting for him to turn his attention to it. Thus it was handling the doll brought the exact memory of burnt flesh to his nostrils, the cries of terror and pain assaulting his ears. He dropped to his knees, body wracked with silent grief.

  Three hundred years gone and her memory still tore at him. The tiny waif had captured his heart from the very moment he saw her in the park and, without realizing it, he had broken his first rule of dealing with humans. Distance. It was the only thing that kept him sane. With an existence spanning eons, the short life spans of the humans he watched flickered like candles in a night’s breeze. Distance was all that kept their loss from scarring too deeply.

  But not that day. There was no way to guard his heart against the innocence of the child’s questions. Four short days later, it all disappeared in a gout of fire and smoke as the girl and her entire family were killed, murdered in a ploy by Mkai’s bitter rival, Ortag.

  He arrived at the park to meet the child. When he couldn’t find her, Mkai set off to the rundown building her family shared with several others. It wasn’t long before he caught the stench of burning and made out the column of smoke slowly building in the distance. Heart plummeting, he ran the rest of the way. Bolting around the corner, the terrifying scene before him dropped him to his knees. Three houses were engulfed in flames, screams of terror and pain audible over the roar of the inferno. He knew it was his imagination, always trouble for him, but even now, centuries later, he swore he heard her clear voice calling out his name.

  Mkai stood there for hours while the fire burned, the humans scuttling around attempting to stop the fire from spreading. Almost the entire block was lost, but all he cared about was that one single house. It was obvious to one so accustomed to fire and its methods her house had been the center. Walking through the ruins later, it was also obvious it was no accident.

  The doll was all he was able to salvage from the ruin. In the midst of the burnt out wreckage, he had sworn vengeance on who he knew was responsible. Ortag. Rivals even before the fall, their hatred only grew stronger through the long years since. They rarely struck directly at one another, but that day Mkai let his anger loose. Ortag paid for his actions with the loss of an eye before Samael had decreed against death challenges.

  ***

  Mkai shook himself free of the memories and stood once more. He carefully placed the doll back in its spot, smoothing its dress before closing up the hidden drawer again. He laid his hand on the mantle and silently sent up a prayer to the child and her family before turning to his bedroom. His dreams that night were tormented by screams and fire and him running, always running, but never getting anywhere.

  ***

  Mkai woke hours later, eyes gritty and body sore from the restless sleep. He forced himself to dress, throwing lukewarm water on his face before slipping out of his rooms. He barely remembered to turn on his security as he left on his way to the hidden chamber. It was his turn and he was hoping to find out more about Kalia’s plans.

  He retraced his steps from the night before and slipped into the hidden passage without running into anyone. The quiet echo of his footsteps kept him company as he walked down the twists and turns until stepping into the small chamber, dimly lit from below. He made his way to the small crack in the base of the wall and carefully laid down, peeking into the room below.

  Mkai smiled grimly at his luck. Kalia stood at a small table, almost directly below him, the demon Lilith beside her. Their beauty struck him for a moment and he again marveled that such twisted evil could be hidden beneath such a facade. He shook the thoughts loose and focused on the two below.

  “Mistress, how can you be sure?” Lilith said, her velvet tones a caress to Mkai’s ears.

  “I have sources beyond you. Trust me when I say it’s true.” Kalia answered pouring water into a glass, frost crawling across its side. “He is on earth and he must be found. The only other piece of information I could learn was he is in Los Angeles.”

  “I accept it is as you say, but how can we be expected to find a single man when that is all we know? We do not know his age, his race, what he looks like, not even his name.”

  “It is a daunting task, I am aware,” Kalia said harshly. “But it will be done. He will be found.”

  Mkai saw Lilith stand up straighter, the jut of her full breasts drying his mouth. Lilith had that effect on every male, demon and human alike. He didn’t blame the humans for their obsession with her.

  “Yes, Mistress, word has been sent out to look for a male in his mid-twenties and he will be found, but it may take time.” Mkai saw her pause and lick her full lips before continuing. “But I do not understand why he is so important.”

  “Because of who he is, more than for his gifts. We must find him and you, with your own gifts, will convert him to our cause. Then he will lead our army unto his Father’s gate and Heaven will be ours.”

  Mkai’s heart almost stopped when he realized what he was hearing. God had sent His Son once more to earth and, somehow, Kalia knew. For a moment, he wondered where she got this information, but the intensity in her voice left no doubt it was true. He shivered at the thought. God’s Son leading her armies to heaven could indeed win her the war.

  Kalia and Lilith were still speaking but Mkai tuned them out, mind whirling. He stood, careful to not make a sound and slipped down the corridor heading back to his chambers. He had a lot to think about and decisions to make and not a lot of time.

  He hurried down the passage, barely taking a moment to ensure that there was no o
ne around before ducking out into the hall. Mkai made his way to his rooms, mind full of possibilities.

  Once locked securely inside, he dropped into his chair, heart heavy in his chest. He was faced with a choice, again. Millennia ago he had been forced to make the same decision. He had made the wrong one then, even if not consciously. Did he have the courage to do what was right this time? Hours later, his hopeless quest for an answer was interrupted by a quiet knock. He couldn’t summon even a small smile when the door swung open to reveal Fsol.

  “We need to talk.”

  Mkai thought about the coincidence of Fsol appearing now. But this time it was Mkai with news to share.

  “There was nothing going on in the throne room so I thought I’d come and see if you had heard anything.”

  “Sit my friend. I did indeed hear something. As large, if not larger, than the news you first brought me.” Mkai took a seat across from his friend. A jab in the back made him realize he had been so preoccupied that he hadn’t even put his weapons away. He shook himself mentally and leaned forward, beckoning Fsol closer.

  “I heard the rest of her plan. And I think she is indeed insane.”

  “Why? What did I miss?” Fsol said , seriousness stealing away the small grin ever present.

  “There is a search going on as we speak. A search for one man.” Mkai paused and took a deep breath before exhaling slowly. “They are searching for the Son of God who has been sent to offer salvation to mankind once more. They intend to have Lilith seduce and corrupt Him and in doing so, convert Him to their cause. And he will lead them into Heaven.”

  The rush of words seemed to have a physical impact on Fsol, pushing him back into the couch. His eyes went wide and unblinking from shock. Mkai let his friend absorb what he’d said for a moment before continuing, only then realizing that there was no choice for him. There never was.

  “He is in Los Angeles and they are hunting him. I intend to go there, this very night, and I will find As’hame of the As’rai protecting the city and I will tell him everything. And,” he paused, amazed at how calm he felt, “I will ask him to let me join him.”