~ TAROT JOURNEY ~

Lis’s fingers found solace in her midnight curls, twisting them like electric wires. She had no idea what drew her to this tiny, dim tent. Perhaps the filigreed gold of the stained glass shards dangling from the eaves brought back memories of sultry summer nights on her tierra. Or the extravagant and charming inscription “Psychic Lena” written in an elegant baroque font, its opalescent sheen reflecting the light.

Perhaps it was the rumor that those bewitching cards could reveal your deepest longings.

Or—

It was those amber eyes that haunted her dreams—

The mysterious enchantress—

The one her soul already sheltered.

And maybe that was why her gaze was absorbing every detail once she crossed the threshold.

The tyrian canvas was stretched over polished cherry beams, lustrous under the saffron glow. A bamboo dragon wind chime stirred to the rhythm of the sea breeze. The creature looked so dainty that it sent a frantic prickle through Lis’s fingers. She wanted to caress the wyrm’s gaping maw.

After glancing over her shoulder, Lis tiptoed, reaching out to graze the serpent’s wooden tongue. Holding a breath, she slid her fingers through the needle-thin teeth down to the polished throat. Lingering on the rough-hewn wood, her hand studied the imperfections left by the chisel. A zephyr sparked the wind chime’s crystalline symphony, wrenching Lis from the trance. Her lungs drank the metallic tang of salt and spray. Intoxicated, she stuck out her tongue, tasting the air.

A lone sunbeam ignited a cascade of glitter dust, splintering into rainbows. The girl’s irises bloomed like a flower, long lashes unfurling with excitement. Giggling in euphoria, Lis spun in a pirouette, creating a whirlwind of frills around herself—burning candles of every hue and shape cluttered the space; piles of books, constellation atlases, and whimsical crystals were held by an intricate purple octopus carved from a single burl. A sea of paper dotted with wispy doodles and crooked handwriting lay scattered on silk cushions.

The tent swayed as she stopped spinning. Catching her breath in short bursts, Lis leaned against the base of a curated branch. Sweat droplets crept under her lush mane. With a crisp flick of the index finger, she nudged her glasses back up the bridge of her nose. Focus drifted over the rusted copper feathers.

It seems this person breathes mess, not oxygen, Lis mused to herself.

A smile warmed her features as she contemplated a sculpture of a raven made of all sorts of wrought mechanisms, including a spoon and a wrench. Its orbs glittered devilishly from the shaded corner, those small bulbs blinking frantically, simmering the shine in her lens.

That frequency.

She hummed in rhythm, tapping with one foot.

Was it fifty-five hertz?

Out of habit, Lis traced the wiring, looking for the PCB, needing to see the schematic. As she reached out to stroke the verdigris-dusted feathers on its crown, a wobbly bristle scratched her fingertip.

“Poor little fella.” A sigh passed Lis’s lips. She stared into the raven’s glinting pupils. Her nose caught the fragrance of exotic incense mixed with the refreshing scent of orange. She could brush off the whispers—desires lulled so deep only awakened by the bronze-eyed clairvoyant—but the stories never warned her about magic that could cause her molecules to boil.

Lis didn’t notice a figure lurking in the murk of the tent. The psychic—Lena in flesh and blood—was amused by her reactions. After a moment of silent delight, Lena rose from her chair. The movement sent a cascade of faint clattering through the golden coins embellishing her headdress.

Lis looked up.

A translucent lace robe, loose and embroidered with white flowers, draped over the figure. Her neck was adorned with iridescent opals; silver necklaces etched with runes and strange symbols. A shimmering, honey-colored veil covered the lower half of her face. Dark, smoky eye make-up. With every breath, there came a fretful rasp of scales. Rings glinted on every finger. Lis imagined the cool metal against her own skin.

Jeez… ¿Why did no one tell me she was so young??

Don’t stare. Don’t stare.

…

…OH. MY. GOODNESS. HER. BREASTS. ARE. HUGEEEE. SEND. HELPPPP

Lis’s eyes roamed the hourglass silhouette, ignoring the scarlet blush fogging her glasses. Lena’s ivory skin shone in the candlelight. She was a squishy marshmallow, like a soft pillow. The psychic’s gaze, haunted by the ghost of a smirk, caught her own. Lis couldn’t look away. Intense fluttering flooded her stomach.

“Hello, dear stranger.” Her velvet voice honeyed Lis’s ears. The woman curled the right hand in front of her heart in a gesture so graceful that it felt like it had been rehearsed countless times. The glitter almost blinded Lis. “Welcome to the humble domain of Psychic Lena.” A glimpse of a smile touched her words. “It will be my great pleasure to serve you.” She finished with a sumptuous bow.

Ooof... This should be illegal. Lena, you are arrested. ¿Where is the electric chair?

She led Lis to a battered mahogany table, its surface carved with griffins frozen in time, eternally stalking their prey... Lis wrenched her gaze from their features, hollowed by hunger.

I didn’t want to be eaten by them. I’d much rather be eaten by…

Her thoughts trailed off, distracted by the chiming coins swaying with every shift of the psychic’s hips. She moved like a river, winding through the mess with unhurried graciousness, leaving Lis feeling clumsy. Lena sank into a red plush armchair, beckoning her to sit closer on a similar massive chair. The faint essence of orange from Lena’s skin as she leaned in lingered upon Lis’s tongue.

‘Huh… I know this perfume.’ Her lids fluttered, letting the familiar aroma hold her. ‘...But… from where?’

A tide drowned her senses.

The gentle dance of petals.

The taste of salt touching her lips.

The embrace of home, holding her steady.

It all stopped as it began—

Her pulse roared like a ship’s siren when a silken sound silenced the noise.

“Ahh…” sighed Lena. “Someone is excited, are they not?” Her gaze traced Lis with a tenderness that made the girl’s knees weak—over the rapidly moving chest, the trembling of her mouth, and the desperate grip of her fingers on the skirt.

“Can I?” Lena’s eyes found Lis’s.

She dipped her chin, letting the psychic take her hand.

“You are safe with me, dear.” Her voice was a hypnotic lullaby. “My cards are just a mirror for your desires.” Caressing Lis’s palm with a thumb, Lena sent a tickling tide, taming her neurons. The psychic’s back arched as her shoulders relaxed. “And I…” A pause, light as a feather. “I am your humble servant.” Her grip softened.

If the girl could, she would stretch this moment of bliss into eternity. Instead, her blood traitorously rose up, blooming across her cheeks. Flustered, she lowered her sight.

“Shall we see what the cards have prepared for us?”

A captivating smile spread across Lena’s face. Lis mirrored it as she nodded, feeling the emptiness left by delicate fingers no longer holding her.

You just met her, Lis.

She chased away the lingering longing for warmth and protection.

You can’t melt for every pretty lady.

The psychic deftly shuffled a luxurious-looking tarot deck. The constellation-strewn backs became a blurred sun in the woman’s hands. She spread them like a fan on the table. Lis’s gaze trailed down onto Lena’s slim fingers.

Onto her short, indigo-lacquered nails.

A very pretty lady.

The girl shook her head as if she were shooing away an annoying fly.

Even if she is your type.

“Well, what will it be? Let your intuition guide you. Do not overthink.” Lena tilted her chin with anticipation towards the arcana. Lis inhaled and ran her fingers over the cards before choosing three. The psychic turned them over. One by one.

The colors buried her like an avalanche.

Upright. Witch, book.s,run es, mag.icwand, flowe.rs,abu.ndance… Reversed. Lovers, apple.tree, snow,red.clo ak,angel, choice,fin.gers almost.touch ing,long.ing... Revers.ed. Maiden, helpless.ness,g.o.i.n.g.w.i.t.h.t.h.e.f.l.o.w.trustimmobilityropes… tentacle... ¿¿tentacle??

A drop of icy sweat dripped from her curls. That purple coil shouldn’t have been there. A sensation as soft as the fall of a velour curtain brushed Lis’s skin. Electrical waves drowned her body.

I’m starting to hallucinate... I need holy water.

“Hmmmm... interesting...” Lena muttered to herself. Her eyes darted up at Lis. “Which one do you want to hear about first?”

Lis frowned, studying the images as she pushed her frames back.

The engraved runes bathed the votives’ shine. Renaissance brushstrokes sketched the delightful expression of a witch dreaming in the verdant depth of a lake. The painted petals covering the surface were glowing with serenity.

“Do you like them, Miss?” Lena interrupted Lis’s contemplation.

Lis stared, letting the words sink into her dazed consciousness.

Noticing the confusion, Lena added, “I painted my cards.” A hint of pride tinted the last syllables.

“They’re gorgeous.” The girl’s forefinger followed the curves of the gold leaf framing the witch’s face.

“Thank you.” Lena’s eyelids fluttered in a smiling blink.

“What about the dragon?”

“Oh, my dear Faust?” A small chuckle slipped through her lips. “I sculpted all creatures living under this eave.”

“That’s so impressive!”

“You are flattering me.” Lena leaned back, her movement rustling a light chiming of coins. “I just woke them up from their slumber.”

“And the raven too?” Lis pointed at the peculiar bird.

“Yes.” With a slow nod, she tilted her head to the side. “Medea is the best listener.”

“She’s lovely.” Lis’s eyes lingered on the verdigris-sprinkled crown.

“I am sure she appreciated your kindness.” Smoothing the folds of her veil, Lena let out a breathy whisper.

“How so?” The girl’s eyebrows vanished beneath her curls.

“I saw you stroke her feathers.” Her graceful fingers caressed the empty air.

“Oh…” Lis’s skin flushed. “Sorry. I should’ve asked for permission.”

“It is okay.” A disarming grin spilled across the psychic’s face. “She loves to be patted. Seems like she is very fond of you.”

“I am glad.” The tension left Lis’s features.

“Also—”

“Hm?” Lis searched for Lena’s gaze.

“I adore the tint of your cheeks when you are embarrassed. Such a gorgeous Venetian red.”

“I—”

A bright laugh sparked a fresh heatwave beneath Lis’s flesh.

“Sorry, sorry. It is so tempting to tease you. I forgot my manners.”

“No worries.”

“I feel like you wanted to ask me something. Am I right?”

“Well…” Lis’s pupils darted away.

“Yes?”“…”“I do not bite… very badly.” Her voice melted the space between them like taffy. “Do not be shy. Please, ask.”

“Can I… see the schematic for Medea?”

“The schematic? I am afraid I do not have one. My sincere apologies.”

“Oh.”

“I followed a YouTube tutorial a friend recommended to me. I think I still have it in my history. If you want, I—”

Lena buried her hands into her robe’s skirts, busily rustling through its folds.

“No, it’s fine.” Lis made a curt gesture. “I don’t want to waste your time.”

“On the contrary, Miss. The time spent with you is bliss itself.”

“You are too kind.”

“I am just telling the truth. Perhaps I should be the one paying you.”

Silence, broken only by the crackling of tapers, fell between them.

“Oh.” Lis’s mouth rounded into a small ‘O’. “You don’t have to pay me. I didn’t do anything.”

The stained-glass hearts fractured the light into a kaleidoscope of violet and yellow writhing all over the floor. Lena didn’t break the silence, nor did she cut it with a polished gesture. She sat there, letting a faint smile paint her face. By habit, Lis’s fingers twirled through her curls, filling the void.

“Perhaps choosing one will soothe your nerves, Miss?” With a smooth movement, Lena offered the deck. “The cards are enthusiastic about meeting you.” The psychic’s teeth glinted with expectation behind the veil.

After a moment of hesitation, a sudden magnetic pull made Lis choose…

Thank you so much for reading Chapter 1! If you enjoyed the preview and want Lena to draw a card for you, you can interact with her directly on Tumblr:

🔮https://www.tumblr.com/psychic-lena