Page 4 of Two For One

“I mean yes, but with the way these cards are speaking I wouldn’t advise it,” I said, feeling wrong about it.

“I’ve heard you say that these cards predict a certain possibility but that doesn’t mean that it’s going to happen,” Kaylee said, raising her brow.

“Yes, that is true, but I don’t have a good feeling about it,” I said, hoping she got the hint.

“How much for a love spell?” she asked, getting giddy.

“No, I’m not going to do it,” I said, picking up my cards.

“Five hundred bucks,” she said standing.

“Kaylee, no,” I said quickly.

“Seven hundred,” she said.

“Kaylee, we just talked about your money drama and you giving me that amount of money is crazy,” I said, folding my cloth, putting it in my bag along with my cards.

“These men are my dream,” she said softly. “We could be so good together if we were given a chance.”

“Kaylee,” I said, feeling a rush of something stop me.

My eyes looked down at the deck in my hand.

“Ok look, if I pull any cup cards I will do it, but any other card I won’t,” I said, pulling out my cards. “And if something bad happens or it doesn’t go how you planned, don’t blame me cause I told you so, deal?”

“Yes,” she said, shaking my hand.

“You shuffle and lay them out for me.” I gave her my deck, feeling better about this plan.

My deck never failed me. I laid my cloth down again as she shuffled, knocking on the deck before she laid them out.

If I should do this spell for Kaylee, give me a cup. Any other card it’s a no.

I closed my eyes, letting my hand hover over the cards feeling a pull to the left corner. I set my hand down on two cards and I chose the one on the right. I flipped the card. It was a two of cups.

The two of cups was the sign of a budding romance, partnership and deep connection.

Well, shit. This was a sign if I ever saw one.

Kaylee squealed and here I went to make a love spell for her.

The door squeaked as I walked into my apartment. The loud screeching made me wince hoping I wouldn’t wake up my neighbor. There were two of us who lived above the coffee shop and Mr. Crandall was a crabby old man who complained about my incense and the candles I used saying, “You will kill us all!” I honestly should hex him to teach him a lesson, but he’s old and my abuela always told me to leave him alone.

My apartment was lit with the one candle I had left on.

“Fuck. Dammit, Xiomara you gotta stop doing this. If the place burns down, you will never hear the end from Mr. Crandall, even in death.”

I quickly turned the lights on, dropping my things on the floor and taking my shoes off before I extinguished the candle, lighting another next to it on my altar and some incense to help me wind down.

Meow!

“Good evening, Merlin,” I said, leaning down to pet him. “How was your day?”

He meowed again, pushing his head against my hand.

“Are you starving?” I asked, making my way to the kitchen.

I put my kettle on first, grabbing the cat food to lay more out for Merlin and Maleficent. The latter was somewhere passed out or angry for whatever reason and did not come out to see me. I think she tolerated me at best most days.