IMPORTANT NOTE: This story contains the second of only two tarot readings
that I have written in my life. The first was in a James Bond story called
Remember Ulysses. I will not write another Tarot read in my life for
Religions reasons.
Lyda Mae (RavenDove) Huff
Of Light & Shadow: A Tale Of The Dark Knight by Lyda Mae Huff
Chapter Three- Demon Rising
--------------------
Bruce Wayne sat reading his morning paper; though he had a hard time concentrating on the news at hand. The front page headline read: Mysterious White Figure Rescues Children From Death.
He found himself wondering where Kemnika had gone to last night. After leading the children from Delatory's warehouse she had simply disappeared. Just like she had disappeared from the Batcave after saving his life. What was it Jason Blood had said, "It's her way." He looked down to find his coffee had gone cold.
Tim entered the room, dressed for a Saturday, sliding to halt by the table. "So what's the plan for today."
Bruce folded the paper open to an advertisement; Fall Carnival in Gotham City Park Today. "They're holding a charity carnival and bazaar in the park today to raise money for Saint Agnes's church. The one that was damaged two weeks ago."
"Sounds like fun." Tim replied doluping jam on his toast.
--------------------
Detective Montoya walked up to an old tenement building. A man in his mid- thirties, with brown skin and dark hair, stood in costume grinding and old box organ. He held a leash in one hand; on the end was a Macaque monkey in a little red dress. "I see you found her, Tony."
"The strangest thing Detective." the organ grinder replied. "Sometime after you left last night she must have climbed in the window, but I swear they were all shut."
"I've heard of stranger things Tony." Montoya said as she entered the building.
--------------------
The elevator had been out of order for the last three weeks. So Montoya climbed the stairs to the third floor. The whole building was somewhat run down. Montoya followed the hall to apartment thirty-three. She knocked at the door; no answer. Montoya pulled the spare key from her purse. She hadn't wanted to accept the key at first, but it was the only way she could get Nena to stop keeping it in the potted plant next to her door.
She opened the door and called out, "Nena." There was no answer. She looked around; knowing Nena did not always answer to her name. She found the little Mystic in the bathtub, and Montoya could swear she was asleep with a far off look.
She knelt down and touched Nena's shoulder; Trying to give her gentle shake. "Nena."
Nena jumped causing bubbles to fly. She looked over to find what had disturbed her. "I didn't hear you come in Maria."
"I don't think you could hear me." Montoya admitted as she stood.
Nena grabbed for her sponge; looking a little sheepish. "I've been having visions of late that are quite dark, and very involving."
"Care to tell me about them?" Montoya asked.
"I don't think I can." Nena sighed.
Montoya did not question any further; knowing that Nena's visions were always more than they seemed. "Are you going to be ready for this carnival?"
"Deacon Davis has my tent, and table there already." Nena said, scrubbing her face. She rinsed, "Once I'm dressed we can take the rest of the stuff over."
--------------------
Bruce and Tim meandered through the tents and tables offering different games and wares. There was a Farris wheel at the other end of the park with a few other rides. Bruce had arranged for them once the word of the carnival had reached him. His official reasoning being the church's historical significance. Simple fact was; he liked to clean up his messes.
Bruce found himself drawn to a purple tent with the golden letters, FORTUNE TELLER, above the door. He found Detective Montoya standing over a table with a plate of scones. Behind the table sat a beautiful, platinum blond girl in a heavy, mid-evil dress that was purple, and gold like the tent. On the table sat various fortune telling implements; a crystal ball, a small burlap bag marked with a rune, and a deck of tarot cards.
Montoya looked up, "Mr. Wayne; allow me to introduce Nena Swensen. She moved to Gotham only two months ago."
"And yet I hear she was the one who started this whole Fall Carnival business." Bruce replied with his usual lilt. He took the Fortune Tellers delicate hand and found himself kissing it.
"You flatter me Mr. Wayne." Nena said with more authority than her little frame should have had.
"Please; call me Bruce."
"Only if you promise not to call me a charlatan." Nena got a look on her face that Montoya recognized. "I believe you are after a private reading."
"Something to do with that dream I interrupted?" Montoya asked.
"Maybe," Nena raised an eyebrow at the Detective, "maybe not."
Montoya was getting the picture. "I'll leave these hear for you then." She set the plate of scones on the corner of the table. "Just don't let yourself become the flavor of the month." Then she left.
Tim had watched the whole exchange from the door, and didn't like what Montoya had implied.
"This is my ward Timothy Drake." Bruce gestured for Tim to come into the tent.
Nena smiled at Tim, "Very strong for one so young. You may stay Tim." She gestured to a chair at the side of her table. "As for you Bruce; I charge ten dollars." she gestured to the seat directly across from her.
Bruce sat pulling his wallet out. "For the church." he placed a ten dollar bill on the table.
Nena took the cards into her hand, and began to shuffle. She spread them out on the table and set Bruce's right hand on them. "What question do you wish to ask?"
He looked into her ice blue eyes, "Where dose the path I'm on lead?"
She gathered up the cards, and began to shuffle again. When she finished she set the deck in front of Bruce, "Cut."
Bruce did as she said not taking his eyes off of hers.
She pulled the first card off the top of the deck, placing it face up on the table. "The World, ill-dignified. You have unfinished business." She pulled another card placing it to the out side and at an angle to the first. "The King of Swords, dignified. You are very driven by something that happened to you a long time ago." She pulled a third card placing it across from the first "Four of Swords, ill-dignified. It is time for renewed action." She place the fourth card so that in made three card angling in and toward her. "Eight of Cups, ill-dignified. A new friendship may help." The fifth card was across from the third; beginning the angle out and away. "The High Priestess, ill-dignified. There is a woman who has entered your life recently; you must be willing to trust her." She placed the sixth card to complete the angle. "Six of Penticals, ill-dignified. You are at a point of personal peril."
"Can you elaborate on that?" Bruce asked intently.
She pulled another card and place it on top of the sixth. "The Devil. Something wicked this way comes... A Demon you may have thought dead." The seventh, and finale card was placed making an open diamond. "The Ace of Wands, ill-dignified." She looked up from the cards. "In the end you will neither win, or loose. You have chosen a path in life; that will bring you no peace."
Bruce looked at her eyes once more, but the spell was broken. One thing was certain though; Nena was not a charlatan. Bruce stood, "Thank you Nena; that was an interesting experience."
She gathered up the Tarot. "What I have read was for your ears alone. It stays here in this
moment, and may change in the next."
Bruce nodded, and Tim followed the gesture in turn.
"Before you go; take this." she pulled a card from the air.
Bruce took the card looking at the embossed rune symbol on it. "What is it?"
"The Viking rune for thorn." she replied taking a bite of a scone. "Advice not to act without thinking."
He place the card in his pocket, and thanked her again. Then he and Tim left.
-------------------
"That was weird." Tim commented when they were what he judged as a safe distance from the tent.
Bruce pulled the card from his pocket, and looked at it again. It had changed. "Who have we recently met that looks like a child, but has the wisdom of more than one lifetime?"
Tim halted in mid-step. "You mean..."
Bruce held the card so Tim could read it.
THE DEMON RISES... WE MEET WHERE OUR PATHS CROSSED. MIDNIGHT; COME ALONE.
It was signed with only a little angel at the bottom.
Bruce returned the card to his pocket with the sneaking suspicion it would be gone the next time he reached for it.
He looked up to see Dick and Barbra in tow coming toward them. Dick had parcel under one arm. "I take it you found something interesting in the bazaar." Bruce commented.
"I found an old painting that you're bound to find interesting." Dick smiled. "It has a rather angelic subject."
Bruce raised an eyebrow, "Who was selling it?"
"The artists Granddaughter." Dick shrugged. "She said his paintings were just taking up space in her attic, and she had never been able to give them away; let alone sell one before."
Bruce began to walk toward food pavilion. "No doubt she had a interesting story to tell."
"Something about the girl in the painting having saved her grandfather's life actually."
END THIRD CHAPTER
Of Light & Shadow: A Tale Of The Dark Knight by Lyda Mae Huff
Chapter Three- Demon Rising
--------------------
Bruce Wayne sat reading his morning paper; though he had a hard time concentrating on the news at hand. The front page headline read: Mysterious White Figure Rescues Children From Death.
He found himself wondering where Kemnika had gone to last night. After leading the children from Delatory's warehouse she had simply disappeared. Just like she had disappeared from the Batcave after saving his life. What was it Jason Blood had said, "It's her way." He looked down to find his coffee had gone cold.
Tim entered the room, dressed for a Saturday, sliding to halt by the table. "So what's the plan for today."
Bruce folded the paper open to an advertisement; Fall Carnival in Gotham City Park Today. "They're holding a charity carnival and bazaar in the park today to raise money for Saint Agnes's church. The one that was damaged two weeks ago."
"Sounds like fun." Tim replied doluping jam on his toast.
--------------------
Detective Montoya walked up to an old tenement building. A man in his mid- thirties, with brown skin and dark hair, stood in costume grinding and old box organ. He held a leash in one hand; on the end was a Macaque monkey in a little red dress. "I see you found her, Tony."
"The strangest thing Detective." the organ grinder replied. "Sometime after you left last night she must have climbed in the window, but I swear they were all shut."
"I've heard of stranger things Tony." Montoya said as she entered the building.
--------------------
The elevator had been out of order for the last three weeks. So Montoya climbed the stairs to the third floor. The whole building was somewhat run down. Montoya followed the hall to apartment thirty-three. She knocked at the door; no answer. Montoya pulled the spare key from her purse. She hadn't wanted to accept the key at first, but it was the only way she could get Nena to stop keeping it in the potted plant next to her door.
She opened the door and called out, "Nena." There was no answer. She looked around; knowing Nena did not always answer to her name. She found the little Mystic in the bathtub, and Montoya could swear she was asleep with a far off look.
She knelt down and touched Nena's shoulder; Trying to give her gentle shake. "Nena."
Nena jumped causing bubbles to fly. She looked over to find what had disturbed her. "I didn't hear you come in Maria."
"I don't think you could hear me." Montoya admitted as she stood.
Nena grabbed for her sponge; looking a little sheepish. "I've been having visions of late that are quite dark, and very involving."
"Care to tell me about them?" Montoya asked.
"I don't think I can." Nena sighed.
Montoya did not question any further; knowing that Nena's visions were always more than they seemed. "Are you going to be ready for this carnival?"
"Deacon Davis has my tent, and table there already." Nena said, scrubbing her face. She rinsed, "Once I'm dressed we can take the rest of the stuff over."
--------------------
Bruce and Tim meandered through the tents and tables offering different games and wares. There was a Farris wheel at the other end of the park with a few other rides. Bruce had arranged for them once the word of the carnival had reached him. His official reasoning being the church's historical significance. Simple fact was; he liked to clean up his messes.
Bruce found himself drawn to a purple tent with the golden letters, FORTUNE TELLER, above the door. He found Detective Montoya standing over a table with a plate of scones. Behind the table sat a beautiful, platinum blond girl in a heavy, mid-evil dress that was purple, and gold like the tent. On the table sat various fortune telling implements; a crystal ball, a small burlap bag marked with a rune, and a deck of tarot cards.
Montoya looked up, "Mr. Wayne; allow me to introduce Nena Swensen. She moved to Gotham only two months ago."
"And yet I hear she was the one who started this whole Fall Carnival business." Bruce replied with his usual lilt. He took the Fortune Tellers delicate hand and found himself kissing it.
"You flatter me Mr. Wayne." Nena said with more authority than her little frame should have had.
"Please; call me Bruce."
"Only if you promise not to call me a charlatan." Nena got a look on her face that Montoya recognized. "I believe you are after a private reading."
"Something to do with that dream I interrupted?" Montoya asked.
"Maybe," Nena raised an eyebrow at the Detective, "maybe not."
Montoya was getting the picture. "I'll leave these hear for you then." She set the plate of scones on the corner of the table. "Just don't let yourself become the flavor of the month." Then she left.
Tim had watched the whole exchange from the door, and didn't like what Montoya had implied.
"This is my ward Timothy Drake." Bruce gestured for Tim to come into the tent.
Nena smiled at Tim, "Very strong for one so young. You may stay Tim." She gestured to a chair at the side of her table. "As for you Bruce; I charge ten dollars." she gestured to the seat directly across from her.
Bruce sat pulling his wallet out. "For the church." he placed a ten dollar bill on the table.
Nena took the cards into her hand, and began to shuffle. She spread them out on the table and set Bruce's right hand on them. "What question do you wish to ask?"
He looked into her ice blue eyes, "Where dose the path I'm on lead?"
She gathered up the cards, and began to shuffle again. When she finished she set the deck in front of Bruce, "Cut."
Bruce did as she said not taking his eyes off of hers.
She pulled the first card off the top of the deck, placing it face up on the table. "The World, ill-dignified. You have unfinished business." She pulled another card placing it to the out side and at an angle to the first. "The King of Swords, dignified. You are very driven by something that happened to you a long time ago." She pulled a third card placing it across from the first "Four of Swords, ill-dignified. It is time for renewed action." She place the fourth card so that in made three card angling in and toward her. "Eight of Cups, ill-dignified. A new friendship may help." The fifth card was across from the third; beginning the angle out and away. "The High Priestess, ill-dignified. There is a woman who has entered your life recently; you must be willing to trust her." She placed the sixth card to complete the angle. "Six of Penticals, ill-dignified. You are at a point of personal peril."
"Can you elaborate on that?" Bruce asked intently.
She pulled another card and place it on top of the sixth. "The Devil. Something wicked this way comes... A Demon you may have thought dead." The seventh, and finale card was placed making an open diamond. "The Ace of Wands, ill-dignified." She looked up from the cards. "In the end you will neither win, or loose. You have chosen a path in life; that will bring you no peace."
Bruce looked at her eyes once more, but the spell was broken. One thing was certain though; Nena was not a charlatan. Bruce stood, "Thank you Nena; that was an interesting experience."
She gathered up the Tarot. "What I have read was for your ears alone. It stays here in this
moment, and may change in the next."
Bruce nodded, and Tim followed the gesture in turn.
"Before you go; take this." she pulled a card from the air.
Bruce took the card looking at the embossed rune symbol on it. "What is it?"
"The Viking rune for thorn." she replied taking a bite of a scone. "Advice not to act without thinking."
He place the card in his pocket, and thanked her again. Then he and Tim left.
-------------------
"That was weird." Tim commented when they were what he judged as a safe distance from the tent.
Bruce pulled the card from his pocket, and looked at it again. It had changed. "Who have we recently met that looks like a child, but has the wisdom of more than one lifetime?"
Tim halted in mid-step. "You mean..."
Bruce held the card so Tim could read it.
THE DEMON RISES... WE MEET WHERE OUR PATHS CROSSED. MIDNIGHT; COME ALONE.
It was signed with only a little angel at the bottom.
Bruce returned the card to his pocket with the sneaking suspicion it would be gone the next time he reached for it.
He looked up to see Dick and Barbra in tow coming toward them. Dick had parcel under one arm. "I take it you found something interesting in the bazaar." Bruce commented.
"I found an old painting that you're bound to find interesting." Dick smiled. "It has a rather angelic subject."
Bruce raised an eyebrow, "Who was selling it?"
"The artists Granddaughter." Dick shrugged. "She said his paintings were just taking up space in her attic, and she had never been able to give them away; let alone sell one before."
Bruce began to walk toward food pavilion. "No doubt she had a interesting story to tell."
"Something about the girl in the painting having saved her grandfather's life actually."
END THIRD CHAPTER