The tent was dimly lit, casting shadows in every corner, with the scent of incense wafting through the air, creating an atmosphere of mystery and intrigue. In the center, a table adorned with a crystal ball and a deck of cards awaited their attention. Seated behind the table was the tent's owner, a woman who looked to be in her thirties, with an air of wisdom beyond her years and a gothic yet welcoming presence.
"Welcome, ladies. I have been awaiting your arrival," the woman said, gesturing for them to take a seat.
Kat couldn't help but maintain a skeptical gaze, while Josie was as excited as ever. Since she wasn't the one getting the reading, Josie sat to the side, and Kat sat across from the card reader.
I take it you're not very interested in card reading?" the woman commented.
"You could put it that way," Kat replied, with a plain smile.
The woman smiled in response. "I see. Perhaps that could change."
Kat didn't say anything and just held the woman's gaze.
"I'm Tessa," the woman introduced herself with a slight bow.
"I'm Josephine, and this here is Kat," Josie said with a smile.
"So then, let's start, shall we?" Tessa shuffled the deck of cards before spreading them out on the table, each card face down.
"Pick three cards and place them face down," Tessa urged.
Kat's hand hovered over the cards. She picked one from the many and placed it face down on the table before selecting another. When it was time to pick the last card, Kat found it hard to decide.
"Relax your mind and hand, and let them lead you to your card," Tessa said. Kat took a deep breath before picking her last card and placing it face down with the others.
"The three cards you just chose represent the past, present, and future," Tessa explained, putting the rest of the cards aside. She unveiled the first card, which had the image of a full moon shining down on a serene landscape, with a wolf and a dog howling in the foreground. "Interesting. The Orb of Night," Tessa said, then flipped the next card. It depicted a tall tower engulfed in flames, struck by lightning, with two figures plummeting to the ground amidst a stormy, dark sky.
Finally, Tessa flipped over the last card. It depicted a naked man and woman embracing in a lush green garden, with an angelic figure glowing like the sun hovering above them.
"The first card, the Orb of Night, also known as the Moon card, represents your past," Tessa began, her voice soft and mesmerizing. "This card signifies a journey through the unknown, navigating unfamiliar territories and discovering new things." Josie's eyes widened in surprise, meeting Kat's gaze, but Kat still wasn't buying it.
"The second card, the Struck Tower, reflects your present," Tessa continued. "This card stands for sudden upheaval, transformation, and awakening. It might relate to a part of your life, a relationship, or even your inner self. But be cautious, it also symbolizes chaos and potential destruction, but I get a strong feeling it's an awakening."
Kat raised an eyebrow, "Transformation and awakening? I don't see any of that happening or around me now," she pointed out.
Tessa smiled slightly, unfazed. "The workings of fate can be mysterious and unpredictable. Perhaps it's something you've already encountered but haven't recognized yet," she suggested.
"Hmm," Kat hummed in response.
Tessa then turned her attention to the final card. "The Lovers," she announced. "This card represents your future. It signifies a reunion or a deep connection with someone or something dear that you have lost. It speaks of choices and the harmony that can come from making the right ones."
She gathered the cards and shuffled them with a practiced ease before laying them out in a fan shape in front of Kat. "Now, pick one more card," Tessa instructed.
Kat hesitated but eventually selected a card and handed it back to Tessa. As Tessa's eyes fell on the card, her expression subtly changed.
"What is this card for?" Kat asked, noticing the shift in Tessa's demeanor.
Tessa let out a soft sigh. "This is an additional card, often seen as an outcome or advice for your journey ahead," she explained, turning the card to face Kat. It revealing a grim reaper shrouded in darkness, enwrapped in a thick, swirling mist. It wore a tattered black hood, it's hood pulled back, revealing a skull with a sorrowful expression. It stood in boat filled with wilted roses,the boat floating steadily on a body of water, bones we're scattered around poking out of the water, while some of the rose petals had been blown into the river by the wind, the reapers bony fingers clutched a scythe, with the blade facing towards the sky. faint, ghostly images of departed souls could be seen, fading away into the mist. ''The death reaper. Also known as death card " Tessa said.
There are majorly four reaper cards in a deck, each appearance similar but with slight differences that tell them apart.
The grim Reaper Card; a reaper in a black cloak, his scythe held up, standing in a dark background, this card symbolizing transformation and change.
Then there's the second card Reaper of Fate; in the card the reaper is seen holding a hourglass, and in his right hand his scythe is held horizontal, with a clock tower background, representing fate and destiny.
The third card the Harvest Reaper Card; A reaper with sickle, standing in a golden wheat field, the sky blue and clear, flooded with white fluffy clouds, the card signify abundance and harvest.
And the last the Death's Reaper Card. Which is the card kat add picked,
Each card has unique symbols and backgrounds that distinguish its meaning, some good some bad and some both.
" Mmm, The Death's Reaper card for tales deaths, giving the bone's in the river a lot of deaths, and most of it would revolve around you, it also tells the end of a significant person in your life, which will profoundly impact your life. This loss will bring grief, sadness, and transformation, symbolized by the wilted rose at the reaper's feet, representing the end of something beautiful. The reapers hollow eye's reflects the emotional barrenness and isolation you may feel, while the reaper's dark hood suggests the mysterious and unexpected nature of this loss. However it also represents transformation and renewal, the end of something, but also the potential for new beginnings and growth." She finished saying
Kat blink for a couple time's and Josie did the same, seeing she had startled the girls Tessa tried to calm the atmosphere by saying" but as I said the last card is simply and advise or just a possible out come" she smiled.
Kat cleared her throat " that wouldn't matter as I don't believe in any of it anyway, but thank you" Kat said and Tessa nodded unoffended by Kat's word. "it was my pleasure" Josie payed Tessa and they both stood up to leave " oh wait" Josie and Kat turned to look at Tessa who brought out a box with a hole on the top placing it on the table. " Please you didn't get a chance to choose a gift" she said gesturing to the box " a gift?" Josie asked thought her expression stayed calm there was a trace of excitement in her voice that Tessa noticed and smiled.
"Yes a gift, in the box are card and each card holds a image to an item, you would receive whatever it is you choose in the card" Tessa explained and Josie excitedly steps forward to be the card
Josie eagerly reaches into the small, and pulled out a card. She examines it closely, her eyes lighting up with excitement as she sees the image of a miniature music box. "Wow, a music box!" she exclaims, clearly thrilled with her pick. The card shows a beautifully detailed music box, adorned with intricate carvings and a delicate ballerina that spins gracefully inside.
Tessa smiles at Josie's enthusiasm and moves to a counter behind her. She retrieves a larger box from underneath and opens it, revealing a variety of items inside. Carefully, she searches through the contents until she finds the actual miniature music box. She hands it to Josie, who takes it with a look of delight, " it looks delicate" Josie commented and Tessa nodded.
Next, it's Kat's turn. Though she might not have been interested in the card reading but at the moment she was exited to see what she would get.
She reached into the box, feeling the smooth cards beneath her fingers. She carefully pulled one out and examined it. The card showed a stunning crescent moon necklace, adorned with delicate, shimmering stones that sparkled like stars. The intricate design and elegant chain made it an exceptionally beautiful piece.
Josie, glancing over, couldn't help but admire it. "Oowww a moon necklace" Josie said her eyes twinkling. "That's a really nice pick," Tessa said warmly. "I always wondered who would choose that necklace." She then moved behind the counter and began searching through another box. After a moment, she found what she was looking for and returned, holding a small white box, she opened it to reviling the exquisite crescent moon necklace in her hands. The pendant gleamed under the light, even more enchanting in reality than in the picture.
Tessa moved forward to hand the necklace to Kat, both Kat and Josie were mesmerized by its beauty. The crescent moon pendant seemed to glow softly, drawing their eyes to its intricate details.
Kat took the box and she intended to hold the necklace but as her fingers brushed against the cool metal, she felt a sudden jolt in her fingers, inexplicable sensation. It wasn't exactly painful, more like a gentle jolt of energy, or a subtle shock that made her pull her hand back instinctively.
"What was that?" she muttered, more to herself than anyone else. The sensation was fleeting, but it left her feeling slightly unsettled. Josie, noticing her reaction, looked concerned.
"is something wrong?" Josie asked, her gaze shifting between Kat and the necklace.
Kat nodded slowly, still staring at the beautiful piece of jewelry. "Yeah, I'm fine. It just… felt strange for a second," she explained, not entirely sure how to describe the odd feeling.
She reached out a second time to hold the necklace she didn't feel any strange sensations this time. Which confirmed to her, that the feeling the first time was just in her head and nothing more.
"What do you think?" Josie asked. "Should I put it on for you?"
Kat shook her head, "That won't be necessary," she replied, gently putting the necklace in her pocket. "I'll just hold onto it for now."
Josie nodded, turning to Tessa they bowed slightly" thank you" Tessa smile doing the same " it was my pleasure, I hope to see you again"
Kat and Josie returned to activities of the fair, buying souvenirs and playing game, untill past noon when they decided to head back to the home, It was a calm ride back to the castle, though most of the time kat was baffled with her thought, of what may be going on back home, her time here wasn't bad but she wants return home, she wandered if they already knew she were missing and were worried already.
When they arrived back kat spent the rest of her day in her room, after dinner , she heading back to her room, when bed times arrived, this time she didn't have trouble sleeping, and fell into a calm slumber.
A few days had passed and Josie had left the castle, the castle was more quiet in those few day's as Josie wasn't around, and both the girls couldn't cause mischief as they normally did, only a few times when Kat got into trouble with Lucian, Lucian had also been quiet busy and Kat was glad she saw less of him in the past few days, she had been spending some of her time with Vivian and it was nice.
The time was already close to noon, and the sky it would take too long until the sky would begin to change colors. Kat took a walk in the garden, not having anything specific to do, as she had read most of the books she had. Then, she had an idea to visit the horses.
On her way to the stables, Kat was excited to see Argent again after a while. She had been having a fleeting feeling to check on him for a while now. When Kat got to the stables, she passed by many horses, stopping by the stable of Josie's horse. She took her time to pet the horse and fed it some of the apples she had brought from the dining room, specially for the horses.
On her way to Argent's stable, she passed by Night, the horse looking as gorgeous as ever. Kat stopped walking and reached out her hand to pet Night, but it was no use, as the horse moved away from her reach. She tsked, then thought of trying something else by offering the horse an apple. Kat could almost swear Night sneered at her.
She had to accept the fact that Night was exactly like its owner, Lucian. Kat continued on to Argent's stable, eager to spend time with the horse that didn't refuse her attention.
Making her way to argent, Kat stood in front of Argent's stable, calling out softly to him....