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Chapter 5: Part 4

"The Sun. Presently, you feel lost and in a state of depression." The psychic's words cut through Sera to her very core, and she has to hide her shaking hands under the table. "You're letting your thoughts and worries thwart you and it's holding you back."

"Temperance." The card depicts an Angel, wings outspread holding two cups. "Your biggest challenge is patience. You must relax, everything will unfold in due time. Worrying is not going to make your destiny happen any faster."

“The Hermit. You are looking for answers, making you somewhat of an introvert. You've been shying away from people and even friends. Originally, it was an attempt to discover yourself, but it hasn't helped has it?" The analysis causes Sera to swallow hard before shaking her head. "That's because self-discovery happens through experiences, not introspection."

Anna flips the next card and places it below the first two facing Sera. It's a moon with several wolves howling up at it. "The Moon. Oh, you are having visions!" She leans closer, suddenly intrigued. "Have you been developing weird dreams?"

This is hitting a little too close to home. "I mean, sometimes; doesn't everyone?" Sera attempts to turn the questions around; putting on her best poker face. Her facial expressions have to be giving her away.

"You, my dear, are not everyone." She breathes as a shadow crosses over the table. Sera blinks and the lighting returns to normal. Candles are flickering slightly. That had to be a trick of the light. Sera gets that sensation she has sometimes; the feeling as though someone is watching her. The impression her life is a secret television show and people are always observing. It makes her adjust herself in her seat, pulling her blazer closer.

"Well, Seraphina, trust your instincts. Those dreams may be more than they appear." Sera opens her mouth to ask Anna to expand, but she's already flipping over the next card above the cross of the first two cards.

"The Hanged Man."

"This indicates the best case scenario, and indicates you will be victorious in your search but not without letting something go. Like I said before, some sacrifices must happen." Without further thought, she flips over the next card placing it on the left this time, creating a cross pattern of cards in front of her. "Judgment," Anna reads, "I see a rebirth in your near future. This indicates the beginning of a new chapter in your life. There will be several new changes and adaptations to endure, but they will help in the quest for your inner calling."

Her words slice through Sera. Did she tell Anna the question? The tears build behind her eyes and Sera takes a deep breath to prevent them from falling. Poker face, remember. Anna pretends not to notice and continues to flip over another card, sliding it all the way to Sera's right. It sits millimeters from Sera's shaking hand. She reads it aloud as Sera reads it internally.

"Strength." A breath escapes Sera's lips. The card depicts an angel taming a lion. She finds herself wondering what someone would need that kind of strength for. "You're going to develop this innate sense of, not only strength, but courage as well. Within you, lies the patience and control to handle any situation thrown your way."

Anna draws another breath and flips over yet another card. She places the card above the last one, her hands begin to shake a little. "The Devil." The hairs on the back of Sera's neck stand at attention.

Anna clears her throat. "The Devil," she repeats again pausing slightly, "This card indicates external factors that will affect you, but it doesn't literally mean the Devil himself will be one of those factors." Her tone is reassuring, but Sera doesn't sense that it's genuine. "It implies some kind of bondage is holding you back. It could imply a materialism to Earthly things or an addiction that is keeping you from achieving your goal."

That doesn't sound right, is reading from a script? Out of this entire experience, Sera could tell this was the only information that felt... fake. Anna immediately flips over another card, quick to move on. Above The Devil, she places The Lovers.

"The Lovers. You hope for true love. I'm sure he will find you, drawn to you like the rest of us." She smiles, glancing at the empty space between them. Anna's demeanor changes, her smile slowly wanes. She leans over the table, her dark eyes locking with Sera's, looking for understanding. "This next card indicates the inevitable outcome of your question." Anna pauses, internally collecting herself before releasing another breath, she flips the last and final card. Sera vaguely hears a gasp and Anna's voice whispering, "Death."

Silence settles in the alcove. Dread fills Sera, and if she wasn't so focused on the grain in the table, she might have felt a disturbance in her spirit.

The woman finally snaps back. "This also isn't literal, only indicates the end of something. A new beginning or transformation, which I also feel beginning inside you."

"Anna, be honest with me. How often does 'Death' come up as the outcome to someone's reading?" Foreboding fills the emptiness in her stomach; everything about this reading puts something inside her on edge. It's like she is speaking about someone else, at another time, in another world. This can't be her, can it? These things are not her. There's no way she can have this huge destiny like Anna keeps saying. Then why does a piece of her, a piece buried deep, deep inside, tell her this all makes sense. The piece that tells her there's more to life, much more.

"Seraphina, I must be honest with you. I've certainly not had a reading so... clear before and never had anyone pull all Major Arcana cards either!" Her hands indicate the spread of cards in a cross pattern and a line on the right before me on the table.

"What does that mean?"

"Well, a reading with mostly Major Arcana cards reveals a path to spiritual self-awareness. It depicts the search for greater meaning and understanding of themselves and their world. They usually hold deep, meaningful life lessons."

"I don't know what to say..." It's Anna's turn to lean back, taking Sera in with her all knowing eyes. "Everything about you is astounding. The spirits and aura around you are strong and powerful. I want to express how inspired you make me and have reaffirmed why I decided to pursue my gift in the first place." She sighs, "It's not about the ten dollar palm reading or proving the skeptics wrong, it's about the spirit—the world untouched that speaks to me. Then with you around, I feel the gates open." Her face admires Sera with a simple smile. Sera doesn't believe in this, she has to remind herself. This is wrong. This can't be. I'm not going to die; this is all a sham. She starts glancing away through the curtain, because let's face it, that's what she does. When things get uncomfortable, Sera flees. The old saying, 'what would you do – fight or flight'? Well, Sera would run. As much as she wants to be this big, strong, and fearless person, she knows she's not. Maybe she was in another life.

"Do you mind if I do a quick palm reading?"

"Actually—"

"Please." Her eyes plead with Sera, speaking to the burning curiosity bubbling inside of her; answers dying to get out from years of oppression. Sera's unable to turn this woman down. Maybe, she has more powers than she thinks. She releases her right hand from where she had both clasped together and places it face up on the table in front of them. Anna spreads out her fingers so they lay flat before she leans back, inspecting it carefully.

"I see your lifeline," Anna's smooth voice finally speaks. Her finger points to a crease between Sera's thumb and index finger. "Strangely, if you look close, there are points where it pauses or stops."

Sera whips her hand back and stares in disbelief, willing the wrinkles in her hand to magically fix themselves.

"Seraphina, they are only breaks. The lifeline does not stop, so it indicates a rebirth of some kind." Anna's eyes comfort her before reaching for Sera's hand once again. Sera lies her hand face up on the table and Anna continues. "You will marry once and only once. I have an overwhelming feeling you will find way more fire and passion than you can ever dream of. You will have a single child, a boy, but he'll quickly become your one true purpose in this life."

Sera's hand twitches slightly as the sound of her heart's deepest desires echo inside. Anna pretends not to notice. "Hmm, you have the Ring of Solomon."

"You put others before yourself, are very protective, and selfless. Be careful, I sense that will lead to your undoing." Anna's eyes glaze over while she continues to stare at Sera's palm. Sera glances around, growing increasingly uncomfortable as the silence continues. The flames on the candle sconces flicker higher, causing weird shapes to dance around the enclosing walls. Sera's heart beats wildly. She can sense something not seen. She reflexively pulls her hand back causing Anna to blink, breaking her from the trance she was in. The candles return to normal.

"That's all I am able to get from your reading. Your friend should be finishing up, we should go." Anna rises from the table, leaving Sera to stare after her. Why is she suddenly so dismissive? The truth is, Sera doesn't mind. She wants to get out of here and shake this weird feeling in the pit of her stomach.

As Sera steps out from behind the curtain, Amanda is doing the same, hugging Daphne.

"Sera!".

"Did you get a reading?" Sera glances down in defeat. Clapping her hands excitedly.

"Oh, I'm so proud. I'm really getting you to loosen up, aren't I?"

"Thank you, Anna, I—"

Anna immediately pulls Sera into a hug, holding her. She whispers in her ear, "No, thank you, Seraphina. Stop worrying, you will fulfill your destiny. The path has already begun." Anna starts to pull away, but locks eyes with Sera once more. Holding her at arm's length she whispers, "Seraphina, if you love your best friend, you will keep her away from all of this."

Sera opens her mouth to ask what exactly Amanda needs protection from, when Anna pulls away. "Be strong." Sera nods

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