Shit.
Trump fifteen—a card that most decks have labeled The Devil. But in my deck, the card has a different name altogether.
Cernunnos.
The imagery on the card is an exact replica of my vision. Suddenly, the room around me fades, and I’m back in the meadow of the beast. But instead of the gentle green ferns I saw last night, now I’m standing on scorched earth. All around me, a fire burns, consuming everything in sight. Through trees engulfed in flame, I spot a battle raging in the distance, soldiers firing magelight, bodies falling, rivers of blood washing over the land.
The fire continues to rage with all the sound and fury of a runaway train, and when I turn around in search of an escape, I see him.
Not the beast.
The man.
My lover.
His horned crown of leaves is engulfed in flames, his body burning.
“No!” I launch myself at him and knock him to the ground, swatting at the flames with my bare hands until I’m certain not a single ember remains. His eyes glow through the smoke, red-brown and full of fire, just like the burning trees…
When the smoke clears, I realize I’m no longer in the burning meadow. That I was never in that place.
It’s just Professor Nakata’s classroom.
And I’m on the floor, straddling Baz.
“Not that I’m complaining,” he says quietly, the maddening smirk stretching wide, “but maybe we should take this somewhere private?”
Suddenly I’m aware of the laughter, the phones snapping pics, the whispers.
Gritting my teeth, I say to Baz, “Are you that desperate for action that you have to spell unsuspecting girls into climbing on top of you?”
Baz is still grinning at me, clearly enjoying this. “To be fair,youknockedmedown.”
“To be fair, I thought you were on fire.”
“To be fair, you’re still sitting on top of me.” He shifts beneath me, letting me feel the hard press of his cock. And it’s… very hard. And very big.
“To be fair, I…” Oh, fuck. I’m still straddling him, and quickly losing brain cells as his arousal threatens to ignite my own.
I get to my feet as gracefully as I can, and Baz follows suit, but the damage is done. I wonder how long it will take for this to get back to Carly.
“Don’t panic,” Professor Nakata says, her eyes bright as she joins us in the center of the room. “The Tarot can be a very powerful tool, and clearly it had something important to show you, Stevie. Would you like to share your vision with the class?”
“Not… not right now,” I say, trying my best to save face. “I’d like a little time to process it first, if that’s okay.”
“Of course! You know, I think this experience will make an excellent first entry into your journal. Perhaps you and Baz can write something together?”
“Great idea,” Baz says, sliding an arm over my shoulders like we’re the best of pals.
“Excellent,” Professor Nakata says, then reminds us about our daily draws and journaling. I’m so flustered and tangled up about that damn fire vision and that damn Baz Redgrave mounting that I barely register what she’s saying. When the bell finally chimes, it’s all I can do to grab my new Tarot deck and my bag and get the hell out of there.
Out in the hall, the exit blazing a beautiful white light ahead, I’m just steps away from blissful freedom when I hear the call I’ve been dreading.
“Stevie, wait up!” Baz says.
Keep walking, keep walking…
I hear his footfalls as he jogs to catch up. “Come on, itwaskind of hilarious. Admit it.”
