Cursing Fate

by Brenda Drake

  He weaved through costumed partiers looking for Daisy. A couple was inside one of his coffins making out. Violet walked the party, making sure no one got too out of hand. Carys and Lauren led the tarot card drinking game. Dena played zombie DJ in the corner. Miri, dressed in an ancient Romanian skirt with a colorful shawl, read cards for people while Daisy assisted her. Wade squeezed his way toward them.

  “This party is better than Marsha’s,” he overhead a girl say to a group. “They even paid that tarot card reader from the boardwalk to do readings.”

  Good call, Daisy. He had worried about having the older woman at the party. But Daisy had insisted that if they said she was hired, everyone would think it was cool. And she was right.

  Daisy spotted him and hurried to meet him.

  He leaned over and whispered, “I’ve got them.”

  “What?” she yelled over the music.

  He pointed to the cards and then to the apartment.

  She nodded before following him in there.

  “How can anyone hear what Miri is saying in that noise?” he asked, closing the door.

  She shrugged and sat on the couch. It used to be the old woman’s who had lived here before she died. Tilly was her name. When she was alive, he had helped her a few times. She’d stop him as he headed to the Laynes’ back door to visit Iris or pick her up for something. It was either to change a lightbulb in the ceiling fixture or move something heavy so she could vacuum under or behind it. He liked the quirky woman and was sad when she had passed away.

  “You okay?” Daisy asked.

  “Yeah, just thinking,” he said.

  The door burst open, letting in the loud music and flashing blue lights. “It’s getting crazy out there,” Miri said. “Should we go over the plan again?”

  They had gone over the plan several times. And several times Miri had asked to clarify them. Was the woman’s mind slipping?

  “No. I got it down.” Daisy looked at Wade. “You?”

  “I’m good,” Wade said.

  “Okay. We need to make room.” Miri started to move the chair. Wade took three quick steps to her.

  “Let me do that for you.” Wade grabbed the chair and slid it out of the way.

  Miri sat on the couch next to Daisy.

  Wade took out the deck of tarot cards, opened the top, and inserted the Death card, then placed them on the coffee table.

  With a smile up at him, Miri removed the cards and placed them on the table in front of Daisy. “Are you ready?”

  Daisy eyed the cards. “Maybe we should wait for Aster to get here.”

  “Her plane was delayed because of the storm in Boston,” Wade said.

  Miri patted Daisy’s knee. “I’ll be right here with you. Once you do this, you’ll never have to touch the tarot cards again. The sooner we get that spirit out of your sister, the better. She can’t hold on much longer.”

  “Okay, you’re right. Let’s do this.”

  “You must practice. Warm up.” Miri brought her hand back to her lap. “Pick a card. Don’t think about the card, just let your body find the card for you.”

  Daisy sucked her bottom lip between her teeth and held her hand over the cards.

  Someone rapped on the door and the three froze. The startled looks on Daisy’s and Miri’s faces flew at Wade. Miri covered the tarot cards with her shawl while Wade opened the door.

  Dena peeked in her head. “Dude, how’s it going? We’ve been directing people to the house to use the bathroom. Lauren and Carys have started driving some wasted kids home already.”

  “We’re about ready,” Wade said. “Have you seen Iris?”

  “You won’t like this. She’s hanging around Josh.”

  Wade didn’t like that. He scolded himself for the jealousy raging in his chest. “Keep an eye on her. Don’t let her near here and keep her from going off alone with Josh.”

  “You got it.” She closed the door.

  Miri carefully lifted up her shawl. “All right, let’s give it another try.”

  Daisy’s hand hovered over the tarot cards until she touched one. She screamed as a charge zapped at her fingertips and a flash of light filled the room. The cards flew up before falling around Daisy and Miri.

  “What was that?” Daisy held her hand against her chest.

  Miri’s gaze went from the cards to Daisy. “I’m not sure. When Aster touched the cards, there wasn’t a shock like that. The cards must be broken.”

  “Broken?” Daisy blew on her hurt fingertips.

  Miri glanced at Wade. “Are you sure all the cards are here?”

  “Not sure,” Wade said. “I just took the box and the card Crina gave me.”

  Miri nodded, her eyes surveying the cards scattered around her and Daisy. “We need to make certain they all are accounted for. Help me pick them up.”

  Daisy hesitated before touching the cards.

  “You sit back, dear,” Miri said. “Wade and I can get them.”

  After the cards were gathered, Miri started stacking them in five piles.

  Wade opened and closed his hands into fists, pacing. He wanted to be with Iris and worried about Josh being at the party. The thing was, he was also concerned about leaving Daisy alone with Miri. The old woman didn’t look able to defend herself, let alone both of them.

  He wasn’t sure about this magic thing or that it was safe for Daisy. From what he’d heard, Aster could kill people with fate changing. He glanced at Miri. She paused stacking the cards and patted Daisy’s hand, whispering something to her. It seemed like the older woman was comforting Daisy.

  Miri’s eyes turned to Wade. “I won’t let anything happen to her.”

  Wade nodded and combed his fingers through his hair. “So what are the piles for?”

  The next card she placed on the pile slapped against the top one. “I’m separating them into five groups. This one is the Major Arcanas, then these”—she tapped the other four stacks— “the minor ones in suits—wands, pentacles, swords, and cups. We should have a total of seventy-eight cards.”

  The slapping of the cards was the only noise in the room, except for the blaring of music and voices outside thrumming against the walls. Daisy stared at her hands as if she was trying to will them to stop shaking.

  “One’s missing,” Miri said, counting the cards of one stack. “A Major Arcana. The Tower card.” She looked up at Wade. “Maybe one was dropped on your way here? Or left in Iris’s room?”

  He opened the door. “I’ll go search for it. Stay here. Keep the door locked and only open it for me.”

  “We will,” Miri said. “Daisy and I will be fine. We can finish moving the furniture out of the way for the exorcism.”

  Daisy’s head popped up. “Wait. What? An exorcism? I’m going to do one of those?”

  “For lack of a better word, yes,” Miri said. “But you needn’t worry. I will be with you the entire time.”

  “Hey,” Wade said. “Look at me, Dais.”

  She looked at him with scared eyes.

  “I’m with you. We got this,” Wade said. She smiled slightly and nodded at him.

  “Don’t forget to lock this.” He shut the door.

  Wade snaked his way around the partiers who all seemed to be getting more inebriated by the minute. Violet met him before he had made it halfway through the tent.

  She grabbed his arm and leaned into him. “What’s going on?”

  “We’re missing a tarot card,” he said. “Have you seen Iris around?”

  “In that corner.” She nodded in the direction. “With Josh. I don’t like this.”

  Iris was sitting close to Josh, using all her best flirt moves, but there was something different to them. Less cute. More seductive. He pushed down his jealousy. “Well, at least he’s keeping her busy,” he said. “Any signs of Iris coming back?”

  “No,” she said. “And she hasn’t been drinking any punch. I stopped offering her some because I think she’s getting suspicious.”

 
; Wade decided it was time to play the boyfriend card. “Stay around Dena. Don’t go off on your own.”

  He went inside to the kitchen and searched the refrigerator. On the bottom shelf, he found what he was looking for. A Dr Pepper. He grabbed the can and went back to the tent. He found Violet with Dena by the DJ stand, their heads close together as Violet whispered in Dena’s ear.

  “I need some of those drops,” Wade said, cracking open the can. He positioned his body to block Iris’s view as Violet emptied a dropperful of Miri’s concoction into the Dr Pepper. “Let’s hope this works,” he said.

  “Oh, we’re praying, all right,” Dena said. “That we don’t all get killed.”

  Wade ignored her and strode over to where Iris was practically sitting on Josh’s lap. “Hey,” he said. “Here you are. I’ve been looking all over for you.”

  “You haven’t been looking that hard,” Iris said, laughing. “I’ve been right here most of the night. Isn’t that right, Josh?”

  Wade wasn’t sure what the drops would do to him, but he had to make her think the Dr Pepper was safe to drink. He took a sip. Iris couldn’t resist the drink, and he was hoping the evil spirit in her would want it, too.

  “I should leave you two alone to talk,” Josh said, standing.

  “Yes, you should.” Wade glared, acting every bit the jealous boyfriend. Which he was. He hated seeing Josh so close to Iris. Even if it wasn’t really her, it was her body.

  “I’ll see you later,” Josh said and walked off.

  Wade sat beside Iris. “What are you doing? I thought we were together.” He had to keep up the show. He didn’t offer the drink. If he knew Iris, she’d ask him for it. But there was no telling what this spirit would do.

  “Did we ever say we were together?” She grabbed the can from him and took a long drink.

  Wade struggled to keep from smiling. Apparently, unlike Iris, the spirit was rude. “I guess we haven’t.” He pushed to his feet. “Feel free to do whatever you want.”

  She grabbed his hand, stopping him from walking off. “Are you mad at me?”

  Josh hovered nearby, waiting for his chance to get back with Iris.

  Wade pulled his hand away. “I’m going to get another soda.”

  “Don’t be too long,” she said.

  When he exited the tent and was out of view of Iris, he bounded up the porch steps, through the house, and up the stairs to Iris’s room. He searched the mattress for the Tower card. It wasn’t there. He looked under the bed and sorted through the clothes and magazines left on the comforter. Still nothing. And it wasn’t on or under the window seat cushion. Not on the dresser or nightstand. Nowhere. He heard steps approaching and quickly stretched out on the bed.

  Iris opened the door and glanced around the room as she entered. “What are you doing in here?”

  “I needed quiet.” He sat up. “Why did you leave your boyfriend?”

  She frowned at him and sat beside him on the bed. “Come on. You know I only have eyes for you.”

  “Obviously.”

  “Are you being sarcastic?”

  “Glad you noticed.” Wade wished the drops would work already. He wanted Iris back. The spirit’s personality was ugly. Iris was so much more than that.

  She pushed him back against the pillows and straddled him. “I can make it up to you.”

  “Not interested.” He lifted her off him and put her on the bed beside him.

  “If you’re not, I know someone who would be.” She swung her legs over the side of the bed.

  He grabbed her hand before she could leave. “You don’t want to get messed up with Josh.”

  She yanked her hand away. “On the contrary, I bet he would be fun to get messed up with.”

  On the contrary? The words she used reminded Wade that she wasn’t Iris.

  Before she reached the door, she rocked on her feet. She gasped and dropped to her knees, clenching her head.

  Wade was at her side in an instant. His pulse raced. Fear that something was wrong with her rocked his insides. He lifted her in his arms and carried her to the bed, gently placing her on the mattress. Her hand was cold when he held it. “Iris?”

  Her eyes opened. “Wade?”

  He wasn’t sure if it was Iris or the spirit. “Remember that day we met? During volleyball.”

  “Yes,” she said and sat up. “Of course I do. It’s me, Wade. Besides, she can search my memories. So your test won’t work. The ball was yellow.”

  He blinked at her.

  “That’s what you were going to ask me, right?”

  “Yes,” he said. “I’m that predictable, am I?”

  “You are.” She stood, her balance a little wobbly. “The Dr Pepper was a great idea. Violet’s been pushing that punch all night. But Crina wanted to stay alert and not get drunk, so she wouldn’t have any of it.”

  “Crina?”

  “That’s the spirit’s name.” Tears formed in her eyes. “She was the one who cursed Reese’s family. The crazy part is that she’s from my grandfather’s family line. Obviously she doesn’t care about family bonds. I don’t know how she’s planning it, but she wants you and Josh to get into a fight.”

  Wade towed her into his arms and held her as she cried.

  She clung to him. “I’m so scared.”

  “We’re going to stop her.”

  “How will we do that?”

  “I can’t tell you. If you know, she could find out.” He pulled away to look in her eyes. They glistened against the bedroom lights like sunrays on blue water. He hated to see her suffer. And she had been suffering. Struggling with the evil spirit inside her.

  “I know,” she whispered. “I’m just so tired. I want to sleep.”

  Wade took her back to the bed and helped her lay down. “Do you know where the Tower card is? We have the deck, but that one is missing.”

  “Crina gave it to Josh. She said he was going to fall from his tower.” She grabbed his arm. “You have to be careful. She wants to kill you.”

  He touched her cheek. “I know. I’ll be fine. Don’t worry. You rest here. We can’t have her coming out and discovering what we’re up to. You can see and hear us when she’s taken over, right?”

  “Yes. Why?”

  “And she can’t, am I right?”

  “Right. I think I can because I’m the host. She mentioned she goes to sleep or something. But she can tap into my memories like I can hers. I think she’s been too busy to look into them tonight, though.”

  Wade kissed her soft, pale lips and pulled her throw blanket over her. “You rest. I’ll be back as soon as I can.”

  Wade pounded down the stairs, slipping slightly on the final step. He righted himself and stormed out the back door into the tent. Carys stopped him just after he entered.

  “There’s something fishy going on with Lauren and Josh,” she said. “I’ve found them whispering to each other a few times, and when they spotted me, they immediately stopped talking and moved away from each other.”

  “That is fishy.” He glanced around the party. The flashing blue light annoyed the shit out of him. “Keep an eye on Lauren. Have you seen Josh?”

  “Yes. He’s over there.” She pointed to the other side of the room.

  The tent reeked of alcohol and sweaty bodies. Costume makeup dripped from drenched faces, their owners dancing. Masks had been discarded or pushed up on top of heads. As he passed the punch bowl, he noticed it was almost empty.

  Josh’s back was turned when he came up to him. “I need to talk to you,” Wade said.

  With a sharp laugh, Josh spun around, a stupid smile on his face. “She was my girlfriend first. If anyone should be mad, it’s me. Don’t get so upset. We were only flirting.”

  “We both know you’re afraid of me. You remember what I did to you last time. I won’t ruin that pretty face of yours, if…” Wade paused for effect. The last time they fought, Josh and a few of his friends had jumped him. Wade was the only one left standing.

/>   “If what?” There was fear in Josh’s eyes.

  Wade smiled. “Iris gave you a tarot card. I want it.”

  Confusion crossed his face. “Why would you want that?”

  “It’s an old family heirloom,” Wade lied.

  Josh reached into his pocket, pulled out the card, and handed it to him.

  Wade took it. “Good. Stay away from Iris.” He passed Carys as he rushed to the apartment door.

  Carys trailed him. “Lauren told me that Josh was asking questions about Iris and you. She thinks he’s up to something. He told her that Iris made a play for him and he was going to meet her upstairs.”

  “Shit.” Wade seethed and darted a look over his shoulder. Josh was where Wade had left him. He knocked hard on the door. “It’s Wade,” he called.

  Miri opened it for him. “I have the card,” he said, passing it to her. Carys followed him in.

  Daisy and Miri had moved the furniture against the wall while he was gone. The hatbox sat on the floor beside Daisy.

  “So how does this work?” he asked.

  “Let’s see if Daisy can claim the cards,” Miri said, struggling to sit down on the carpet opposite Daisy. “Are you ready, dear?”

  “I guess so,” said Daisy, sitting pretzel-style and wringing her hands.

  Miri shuffled the tarot cards and glimpsed up at Wade. “She has to change someone’s fate. Do you care to volunteer?”

  Wade didn’t like the idea. After hearing everything changing fates had done to the Layne family, he wasn’t too thrilled about having his changed. Wade gave Carys a sidelong glance.

  “Violet told me about the fate changing. I’ll do it,” Carys said, kneeling in front of Miri.

  Miri laid the cards out on the floor in what she called a Celtic cross. She flipped over each card, explaining their meanings and telling Carys how they pertained to her.

  When one of the cards fell with the image upside down from the rest, Miri stopped. “The Ace of Cups reversed,” she said. “It means you feel drained. As though recent events have sucked the life out of you.” With her eyes on Daisy, she nodded at the card. “Go ahead. Touch it.”

  Daisy placed her fingertips on the card. A spark zapped at her hand, and the card flew up into the air. Two spinning hologram images of the Ace card separated from the original. They spun in different directions before they stopped and each turned the opposite way they had been going before. The images slapped back together and the card dropped to the floor.