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“Yes, thankyou.” I sounded quite stiff.
I needed to relax. But I’d not noticed last time how on-edge Apollo Brock had made me feel. Possibly because I’d been blinded by the large sum written on that cheque.
And then, glancing sideways into his slightly smug, appraising expression, something struck me. Apollo. The Sun card. The overbearing Sun, shining oppressively down on the vulnerable young boy... That’s what Forest had seen, I was almost certain.
It was a horrible revelation: Forest and Apollo Brock were enemies, and I’d been sent as a secret agent to gather intel on Forest, for whatever reason.
I knew it in my gut, an intuition almost as powerful as my grandmother’s proclaimed prophecies.
And, since something already didn’t sit right with me about today’s reading, and Forest’s rapid departure, I was now feeling deeply, deeply uneasy.
“I’m glad.” As we moved through the traffic, Apollo twisted his body around so he could give me his full attention. He moved fluidly, like a predator. “Now, all I need you to do is to share with me the... insights my dear brother gained from your reading. Of which I am sure there were many, you being very skilled.”
I nodded. “We did a three-card reading. I asked him to focus on a problem he was having at the moment. He didn’t share specifics, but he did share his feelings about the situation, if that’s what you want to know?”
Apollo nodded hungrily.
Oh god. Was I selling Forest down the river? I don’t know why I felt loyalty to Forest, who I knew nothing of and had only spent ten minutes together in a tent mulling over cards. Perhaps it was because I sensed something more genuine in him than his brother, who I now deeply suspected to be a villain.
But I was locked in now. I began. “The three cards would represent the past, present and future of his situation. The first card he drew was ‘The Tower’. He mentioned this would represent an upheaval in his past, where expectations had been thrust upon him, his whole life had been profoundly changed.”
“That checks out.” Apollo stroked his chin.
“Then I drew ‘The Hanged Man’ for the present day. This card was reversed, though, which flips some of the meanings, makes it more negative. The card would normally represent martyrdom, self-sacrifice... In this case, it would be more about struggling blindly in the wrong direction against a problem, or not looking in the right direction. I said it could mean that he was going too fast as a distraction. He said that his brothers would agree with that. And that he trusted them.”
Across from me, Apollo was looking slightly angry, a small furrow about his brow. “Very interesting, Ms Moon. And the last card, the future? That is the one that interests me most... as someone who cares about him.”
My heart was pounding. I didn’t want to tell him. It felt cruel to betray Forest’s reaction to the card he’d drawn, ‘The Sun’. But if I was going to make something up, it would have to be quick.
I thought of my grandmother’s prophecy. The wealthy man, the two pink lines... I had it.
“The last card he drew was the Ace of Cups. It generally symbolizes love, new relationships, even conception and birth. He suggested to me that he’s been...” I took a breath before spinning the lies as convincingly as I could. “...lonely. That he wants a partner and a family. He thinks that it might be the solution to his problems.”
I’d not seen a ring on his finger or read anything about a wife, husband or partner online, so I was hedging my bets that he was indeed single.
And why had I been looking at his ring finger? For no reason at all.
Apollo was still frowning, deep in thought. “Anything else?”
I shook my head. “I paraphrased, but that was the gist.”
He was a little disappointed, maybe. Then he lit up for a moment. “And, you and Forest, did you... get along?”
I shrugged. “He came over and laughed at the idea of my business. I had to persuade him to give it a go. Luckily, I’m a good salesperson.”
“Hmm. Okay. Well, thank you, Ria Moon, you have earned your price. Tell you what... let me know if he gets back in touch with you for any reason. More information, more money. However insignificant it seems.”
“Thank you, Mr Brock. I will do. I really appreciate the opportunity you gave me today.”
“Don’t you forget it. Well, look, we’re home. A lot quicker than two buses, I should think? I’ll be keeping an eye on your success, Ms Moon. Best of luck.”
Outside, the driver handed me my luggage, then got back into the car and drove off again, the setting sun glinting off the rear window. I watched until it was gone, and then entered my house through the front door with the key.
My grandmother and mother were waiting for me.
My mother was in her favorite armchair, her arms folded pleasantly over her waist. “Who was that, Ria?”
I was glad she was well enough to keep my Grandmother company today, though I was sure spending copious amounts of time with Grandmother was enough to drain anyone of energy.
