XXX
She knows what The Priestess means when she fishes it out of the tank. Dripping wet but surprisingly not making the colors run she fingers the edges of the card, wondering if its a sign. The High Priestess represented the removal of all emotional obstacles, the letting go of emotional attachments in order to focus on the task at hand. She's excited, really, she wants the chance to prove herself to this mysterious summoner.
But at the same time, she stares into the water and wonders if letting Danny go is the best thing for her. The card slips into her pocket and she leaves, trying to ignore the tugging sensation in her stomach and the hot, prickly feeling that sweeps into the corners of her eyes.
XXX
She sees him later that week, fishing a card out of his own pocket. The Lover. Oh, wonderful, something else to fuck with her emotions. She knows that one, too-new beginnings and, once in a while, a vie for attention from a partner. She goes home that night, a thousand and one thoughts swirling around in her head, whispering to herself that its definitely not a coincidence, he just doesn't realize.
He doesn't realize how much he cares and how much she cares cared but she can't anymore, she can't let anything get in the way of this, this, whatever it was. Purely platonic, nothing more. She'd been kidding herself back when she was his lowly assistant; she doesn't take orders anymore. She does what she wants, a high priestess in her own court.
But the cards were no coincidence, and whoever had sent them out knew that. He (or she) had quietly plucked on all of Henley's heartstrings; the competitiveness she thrived for, the eagerness of the chance to shine, the vulnerability of trying to make it on her own for once, the sorrow every time she looked at those brown eyes and remembered that not once had he even bothered to apologize.
She was a genie in a bottle. No emotion, only wishes to be granted.
And with that, Henley Reeves shrugged on her gloves and put on a happy face-the first thing every magician learned was how to lie to an audience.
This time, the audience included everyone and herself.