The moment she touched the card, she gasped in shock. The magician rose to her feet, eyes glowing an untamed fiery violet. The hairs on their skin rose as her hair floated above her, as if caught in a current underwater. A mark glowed on top of her right hand—the hand currently touching the card. It was a circle, with a square diamond inside, the two shapes alternating in pattern with a straight line placed vertically in its center, topped with arrow-like ends. It shone like a beacon, blinding everyone who dared look at it directly.

"Trapped." Her voice echoed in the small room—hauntingly beautiful. Her eyes remained unfocused on some unseen object but her gaze locked on Lucio. Asra walked over to her cautiously.

"You are both trapped in an endless cycle of luxury. You will never know the truth that haunts Vesuvia if you remain in your palace, oblivious to the suffering of the townsfolk. You are weighed down by your own suffering, your repressed feelings. They are the chains around your neck, dragging you deeper into the mud." Kate felt the card's anxiety press into her from all sides. Her breaths came in short, panicked gasps. What was happening? The cards had never acted this way before, especially The Devil. It had always radiated a strong, freeing energy that wanted to break out of its bonds and take flight. Now, it seemed... hostile. She couldn't lift her hand from the card and she was dimly aware of something cold slithering across her right arm.

Free! Faust's voice echoed in her mind. The snake herself had slithered from her spot next to the salamander and was now curling around Asra's and Kate's arms, linking them together, allowing the card's energy to be shared amongst two people. Faust radiated a calming energy that was meant to set their fidgety auras at ease. She squeezed harder, urging Kate to snap out of whatever state she was in.

"Enough." Asra's voice was cold and unyielding. He spoke to the deck directly, letting the remaining cards complete the deck through the sheer force of his glare. The moment The Devil joined the rest of The Arcana, Kate's eyes rolled to the back of her head and she sank into Asra's embrace. Her legs gave out from underneath her, leaving him no choice but to hook his left arm around the back of her knees and his right arm—which Faust was kind enough unwind herself from—to support her neck. Faust anxiously placed her head on Kate's forehead.

Cooooooold, she told Asra. He was halfway through the curtains when a figure blocked his path.

Julian.

"Allow me to bring her upstairs." All traces of drowsiness had left his voice, replaced with the tone a doctor used when faced with a patient. "Finish things up down here and catch up." He nodded to the Count and Countess. "I'll give her something to stabilize her," he said, noting her rapidly moving eyes and muttered protection spells.

It was only Asra's great trust in his best friend's skills that made him carefully place Kate in Julian's arms and turn around to face the Count and Countess without shaking in fear for her well-being. She'll be fine, he told himself. Nothing bad will happen to her.

"What the devil is going on here?" Lucio marched up to Asra and glowered down at him. "Is this all part of the show? To convince us of your fortune telling?"

"Lucio," Nadia warned, completely aware that what had happened was neither a common occurrence nor an act.

"My dearest Count," Asra said with sarcasm and loathing dripping from his voice. He had planned to send them their merry way peacefully but that wasn't happening with this pathetic goat in front of him. "We've allowed you to step into our home and have given you the reading both you and the Countess wanted to receive. We complied with your wishes so I hope you comply with mine: get out."

Lucio was completely appalled at this magician's audacity. He'd excused the outburst from the female magician because he thought she smelled like raspberries on a beautiful spring day. But this magician in front of him was testing his patience. "Now see here, you—"

"Husband!" Nadia interjected. "It's time to leave."

"But—"

Nadia leveled him with her piercing red gaze. "We got what we wanted. They listened to our problems and we listened to their advice. It's best we don't overstay our welcome."

She grabbed hold of Lucio's arm and steered him to the direction of the door. "I hope to see more of you in the future, Asra." The Countess nodded to the magician and he gave her a small smile.

"This isn't over," Lucio spat. "We're going to meet again and by then, you're going to suffer."

"Oh please." Nadia casually threw him out into the street and into the awaiting carriage. "Let me tell you how glad I am about having separate rooms." She winked at him in gratitude and followed her husband into the carriage. Asra didn't wait for them to start moving. He closed the doors, cleaned up the glass the Count had broken when he first entered, gave the back room a once over and ran up the stairs, anxious to see Kate.

Julian was seated on the couch, keeping a close eye on Kate's sleeping form on the bed. Faust was curled around his leg, telling him through her squeezes how happy she was that he'd stabilized Kate. "She's sleeping now," Julian told Asra as he cautiously approached his 'apprentice.' "I was able to get her to drink a calming draught that guarantees she'll be knocked out for a couple of hours but her dreams will be peaceful."

"Thank you," Asra whispered, gently tucking a stray piece of hair behind Kate's ear. She smiled in her sleep.

Julian waved a hand in dismissal. "It was nothing." He hesitated. "What... happened down there? I've been the recipient of more than one tarot card reading but that's never happened before."

Asra shrugged. "It was the Count. There's something not quite right about his aura. It was shifty at best. The cards reacted and despite Kate's power over them, The Devil fed off from something's residual energy."

"What does this mean, Asra?"

"It means, Ilya." Asra looked at him directly. "This isn't the last time we'll get to interact with the Count. Something big is coming and I can only hope we will all get through it unscathed."

Sometimes, Julian wished Asra would drop the mysterious air about him and just lay it to him straight. Now was not one of those times. He tried to lighten the mood. "She's going to need some warmth, you know. My draught isn't foolproof. You better give her some extra blankets, a fire, maybe a good cuddling..."

Asra simply smiled at him and softly whispered to Kate, "I can never let you go. I will follow you to the ends of the world and make sure no harm ever comes to you." He kissed her forehead and climbed onto the bed, throwing a few more blankets around them and wrapped his arms around her. "Get some sleep, Ilya. It's going to be a busy day." He kissed Kate on the forehead one more time, chuckling at the way she placed a hand on his chest and threw a leg over him, before laying down beside her and closing his eyes.

Faust retreated back under the stove beside the salamander, leaving Julian to his thoughts. He couldn't help but stare at Asra and Kate, who looked so cozy together, sleeping in each other's arms. He knew he could have what they had too, but his job would never allow it. He was always too busy rushing to those in need, prioritizing everyone else's well-being above his. Maybe someday he'd meet someone who'd make him feel selfish—to finally take the break his entire being just begged him to take; to finally put his need above all others'. Or maybe, he thought as his gaze fell on Kate smiling happily in Asra's arms, he'd already met her.