Page 161 of Demise

“The Elder families,” I say.

“Exactly,” she nods, looking at Skyla. “You were able to be born because you are not of Parris descent. You are half Thompson, half Proctor.”

“So, witches can cast spells,” Asher says. “I mean, that’s what they did, right? Cast some kind of infertility spell on the Elder families and their bloodlines?”

“It’s more complicated than that,” Sariah says with a shake of her head. “This was hundreds of thousands of years ago. It’s very possible there could be a misinterpretation in our stories.”

“Or not,” Rachel adds on.

“Or not,” Sariah agrees with a nod of her head.

We all mull over this information for a few moments before Skyla turns to Astrid.

“Would you be able to do a tarot reading for me? If it’s not too much trouble.”

She smiles. “Sure. Let me go grab my cards,” she says as she stands up, slipping out the door.

We all begin cleaning up breakfast when Astrid comes back in, sitting across the table from Skyla.

“Okay, I will pull six cards for you. Three cards on the top row and three cards on the bottom row. The bottom row will clarify the top row,” Astrid says to Skyla as she lines up her cards on the table.

Wesley, Asher, and Vincent watch on curiously as Liam and I help clean up. I can’t help but pause in my work for a moment as I watch.

Astrid flips over the first card on the top row and the first on the bottom. Her face flinches slightly but she masks it quickly as she looks at Skyla.

“The 5 of wands and the 3 of swords. Violence is in the air. A deathly battle that leads to suffering and heartbreak.”

I look to Liam who gives me a look of concern before looking back to the table. Astrid flips the second top card and then the second bottom.

“The 9 of swords and the 7 of swords. You will be in a constant state of paranoia and anxiety. You will not know who to trust, and you will not know what to believe.”

Fear flashes in Skyla’s eyes, but she tries to smile and shrug her shoulders.

“Welcome to my life,” she laughs bitterly.

A few sympathetic chuckles sound from around the room, and I can see, based on the looks being exchanged, that this reading is not going well. Though I don’t know how much I buy all this…stuff, it’s concerning, nonetheless.

Astrid flips over the remaining cards, inhaling deeply before making eye contact with Sky.

“Last, you have the tower card. I see destruction and ruin in your future. Your foundation will crack and fall apart. Paired with the ten of swords, I see painful final endings in your future.”

“What do you mean by final endings?” Skyla whispers softly, her brows knitted together.

Astrid holds up the deck and flips it over to show the card at the back of the deck. The card is simple, one word and one image.

Death.

A heaviness settles in the room as Giselle’s breath uptakes and she grips Jonathan’s hand tightly. He wraps his arm around her with assurance, but nothing about his expression looks assured.

“So, I’m gonna die?” Skyla asks hollowly.

“No!” Giselle rushes. “Astrid’s readings, all readings…they are subjective. The future is always changing. This is just—”

“Her future as of now,” Vincent says bitterly.

No one responds as Astrid quietly begins gathering up her cards.

“I’m sorry,” she whispers.

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