Concealed, a Blood Courtesans Romance
Chapter One
Lexi
Death.
How appropriate.
The tarot card reader, Danae, laid out the five cards I’d selected from the deck, and the last one, a picture of what appeared to be a girl sleeping, seemed innocuous enough except for the skeleton at the top and the word ‘death’ at the bottom. I raised my gaze to Danae’s eyes. Small pools of brown, they appeared knowing, as if she could see the evil, cancerous tumor on my spine. Yep, death was a fitting card for me to draw tonight.
Danae glanced at the dark picture window that graced the old Victorian house. The porch light cast a subdued yellow glow over the lawn and onto the tall pines lining the edge of the property. She shifted in her seat, and the old wood creaked. With a smile, she reached across the table and wrapped her fingers around my shaking hand. “Lexi, don’t take the cards literally. There’s much under the surface.”
The rich sandalwood incense burning on the table eased into my lungs, but did little to calm my nerves. Damn you, Miranda, for bringing me to Brinnon.
“A few days away to hike and spend some time in nature will do you good.”
Yeah, right. Instead of spending our time in the beautiful forests that covered Washington’s Olympic Peninsula, we were here for a tarot card reading. My best friend had set me up. Miranda never did anything halfway, and her belief in the power of tarot cards followed suit. As if some magical mojo could cure me.
Seated next to me at the round table, I cast a dagger-eyed glance at her. She shrugged, and sadness fluttered across her expression. With dark hair, brown eyes, and olive skin, she was a bombshell beauty. My blonde hair, blue eyes, and pale skin were in sharp contrast, but I’d had enough guys ogle me. I was no slouch either. It would be nice though if one would take the time to get to know what was inside before hitting on me.
Not that it mattered anymore. My cancer would age me in ways I couldn’t even imagine, especially if I didn’t get the recommended radiation treatment. Months they’d said. My chances of survival, a long shot. Maybe I was a fool to have any hope I’d beat the tumor, but hope I did. “So what do the cards mean?”
The light from the elegant antique lamp cast a warm glow over the table, accentuating the cards’ gilded edges. Danae placed her finger along the first of the five spread out like a fan over the deep mahogany. The card displayed a picture of a blindfolded woman surrounded by eight swords, several blades embedded in the rocks. “You asked what your future held. This card represents your current situation or dilemma. What do you see in this card?”
“I’m blindfolded. Does that mean I can’t see? What about the swords? Why are they in the—” I cringed at the blood red robe that cloaked the woman and the three ominous swords piercing the snow. Just like needles.
A smile tugged at Danae’s mouth, and her dark eyes flashed with a bit of humor, but it faded. “The Eight of Swords is an air sign. The meaning varies, but most often it is a symbol of bondage, dissolution, or loss of hope. Perhaps you’re experiencing a time of difficulty, or trouble may lay ahead with illness or misfortune. Does any of this ring true for you?”
Dry and thick, my tongue was stuck to the roof of my mouth. Clearing my throat, I nodded. “I’m having health…problems and don’t know how to proceed.”
Danae placed her hand over mine once again. “That’s tough. Let’s see if we can find solutions and a path forward for you. Be careful, indecision could make matters worse, but this is the time for you to rally your strength to overcome the adversities you face.”
Miranda leaned forward. “How so?”
Danae raised an eyebrow. “Listen to the cards, there can be much truth and wisdom within them.”
Before Miranda could say anything more, I nudged her foot, our sign to ‘let it go.’ Best friends since sixth grade, we’d been through everything together. I didn’t know what I would’ve done without her, especially since my father passed away.
I’d just graduated from the University of Utah’s school of dance a few months ago when I’d received the devastating news of the car crash. My mother had died during my birth, so it had been just me and Dad. Had I known he was in debt up to his eyeballs, I never would’ve left Oregon and selected such a prestigious school. Returning home to Portland, the only job I could find was as a waitress at Hooties. Not long after, I discovered the first inkling of my illness, a worsening ache between my shoulders.
Danae tapped her fingernail against the table, drawing my attention to the next card, the one that looked like a couple staring through a church window, five coins lodged in the arch. She trailed her fingers over the golden coins. “The second card tells of your present wishes. For you, the Five of Coins illuminates your desires. Like the supplicants in this church, you may yearn for money or a fix for your dilemma, but beware, what you think you want may not be what you need.”
Danae’s brown eyes bore into me, as if she understood me far better than I knew myself. I couldn’t look away.
“On your journey, misguided goals, poor decisions, or lack of decisions could lead to destitution and misery. Ill health and misfortune may await you. Do you see the lush evergreen forest behind the red-clad woman? There may be help nearby despite your rocky path.”
I furrowed my brow and studied our tarot card reader.
Her gaze didn’t waver. “Did you have a question or are you ready to continue?”
I glanced at Miranda. She raised an eyebrow, letting me make the decision. My attention drew past the fourth card to the final one, the death card. A shiver started at the base of my spine, tripped up my back, and raced over my shoulders. All I could think about was my future, or lack thereof. I swallowed and nodded. “Please, go on.”
Danae traced her finger past winged angels swooping in circles and around a wooden wheel, stopping to rest at the woman cradling a small baby in her arms. A soft sigh escaped the tarot card reader’s lips. “Ah, the Wheel of Fortune. Everything goes in a circle. What you lose on the swing, you gain on the roundabout. You cannot have good without bad or light without darkness, but do not dwell on misfortune, look instead to future joys. Perhaps an interesting opportunity will arise for a fresh start or the beginning of a new path or venture.”
“A new path?” I choked on my words.
Danae tilted her head, a knowing gleam in her eye. “What is your dream?”
“To dance.” The words tumbled from my mouth. “My father loved ballet. He was my staunchest supporter, encouraging me every step of the way…” I couldn’t complete my sentence. His death was still too raw. Tears stung my eyes.
Danae tapped her finger against the next card. The tip of her red fingernail landed on the image of the mother and child. “Is dancing what’s most important to you?”
More than anything I wanted someone to love me for who I was on the inside. If kids came later, well, that was a bonus. A twinge tightened my chest. Even if I weren’t dying, I’d learned that men couldn’t be trusted. Outside of my father who loved me without question, I’d had a string of boyfriends that tainted my view of the male of our species. Each one seemed more eager to explore my body than learn about my dreams and desires.
I cleared my throat. “Yep, dancing is my number one priority.”
Danae blinked, but didn’t press me. Instead, she focused on the fourth card, a picture of a moon in a forest setting with a deer, a rabbit, and a greyhound. “This is the immediate future. The moon, which wanes on the card, will grow full again in due course. Embrace that which darkness can bring then daylight will return all the sooner.” She met my gaze. “Beware of hidden threats and enemies. If you have a secret, it may be exposed.”
My throat tightened. This didn’t sound good. “I don’t have any enemies.”
She studied my features. The dark circles under my eyes must be visible beneath my makeup. All of a sudden, my sweater seemed a bit too warm. I tugged up my sleeves, but couldn’t hold her gaze. “I guess you could call my sickness an enemy.”
“It’s one you’ll beat, Lexi.” Miranda flipped her jet-black ponytail over her shoulder, and the tip smacked against the back of the wooden chair. “The money will come up, I know it will. Then you can afford the insurance.”
Self-employed with debt, my dad missed a few payments, and the health insurance lapsed. No longer enrolled at the university, I couldn’t obtain coverage through them, and outside of the enrollment window, I couldn’t purchase individual coverage, not that I could afford it anyway. Medicaid, well that was underfunded, and I’d be dead before I got through all the paperwork. “I’ve already been down that road. Insurance won’t do me any good. What I need is a lot of money, quickly. Say,” I gave Danae a lopsided grin, “you don’t have a winning lottery ticket hidden under that last card for me, do you?”
Danae stifled a laugh that turned into a cough. The bout went on for several long seconds before she patted her chest and cleared her throat. “No, there’s no lottery ticket, but I might have something else for you, after the reading.”
My heart picked up speed to match my curiosity. Suddenly, I couldn’t wait to finish. My gaze tracked to the last card. The Death card. Oh, yes, that one. “Um, I’d love to hear what you have to say. Can we skip this card?”
“Come now, this is the most important one. The outcome of your quest. Don’t you want to hear the rest of the reading?”
Miranda nudged me with her toe. “C’mon, Lex, do it. What do you have to lose?”
I blinked. She was right. The doctor who diagnosed me, said my cancer was a fast one, but I might have a chance if I started treatment soon. I inhaled, breathing incense into my lungs, along with some courage. “Okay, let’s finish this.”
Danae nodded and pointed to the last remaining card. “Your outcome is found in the Death card. Remember, there are numerous kinds of endings and many re-births. Some small, and others life-altering. With so many of the Major Arcana cards—the Wheel of Fortune, the Moon, and now Death—that you pulled for this reading, I sense you face massive upheaval and dramatic change.”
My gut twisted, coiling around inside like a snake on steroids. “That sounds ominous.”
Danae’s features softened. “The end result can eclipse your expectations. Just remember, life is short, so seek real satisfaction and fulfillment while there is still time. Take control of your own destiny and live your life in a meaningful way. Be aware, fear of change is inevitable. Resistance is useless.”
“So in other words, do it now while I still can.” I tried to hold back the tear, but it slipped over my lash. Before the moisture could track down my cheek, I wiped it away. As I stared at the final card, the woman’s alabaster complexion appeared as if death had already kissed her, but the delicate, creamy lily in her hand seemed to point forward to an unknown destination. With my disease, I wouldn’t have much of a future. “If only I had money for treatments.”
Danae gripped my hand and squeezed my fingers, giving me her support. “Have you ever heard of the blood courtesans?”
Blood courtesans? My mind froze.
Miranda scooted her chair forward, the legs scraping against the wooden floor. “Oh! I think I’ve heard of them. They, uh, deal with vampires, right?”
Vampires had come out of the woodwork a few decades ago, but I hadn’t heard many details about them.
Danae nodded, and a lock of her thick, dark hair fell around her shoulders. “From what I understand, yes. I get all kinds of clients wandering through my business. Let me get you that little something I promised you earlier.” She rose from her seat and padded into the kitchen. Her movements were so fluid and sensual, she must be part cat.
Miranda tugged on my arm. “Do you remember Leslie from college? She joined the blood courtesans.”
“What do they do?” Curiosity pounded through my veins.
As Danae returned to the room, her soft footfalls pulled me from my thoughts. “I don’t know that much about them, but they service vampires.”
My heartbeat tripped, part fear, part excitement, which surprised me. “Service them how?”
“Blood, of course, and sex. It’s a package deal.” Her matter-of-fact tone echoed in the space between us.
Sex? My mouth went dry, tampering the thrill. Other than Allen, my college boyfriend, I didn’t have much experience on that front. Besides, I wasn’t sure I could afford the loss of blood, but ‘beggars can’t be choosers,’ as my dad used to say. Covering my inexperience, I focused on the latter. “How much blood do they take?”
A crinkle formed between Danae’s brows. “Depends on the vampire, I’d imagine, but I can’t believe any would take enough to kill you. Blood courtesans are a food source. I doubt they’d bite the hand that feeds them. Well, you know what I mean.”
Miranda touched my elbow. “You’ll be fine. Just stay away from people with colds. You wouldn’t want to catch a bug or get an infection.” She wrapped her arms around my shoulders and drew me in for a hug. “Lexi, this could work. I hear they pay a lot.”
“I’m not sure they’d take me, with my illness and all.”
“Leslie said she’s heard that vampires don’t get sick like we do.” Miranda gave me one of her encouraging smiles. “What could it hurt to at least look into it?”
When I was a kid, I used to wear those plastic Halloween fangs, pulling them out now and then throughout the year to pretend I was a vampire. A coil of anticipation and trepidation churned in my stomach, tightening into a ball. Was it possible? Could I become a blood courtesan?
“Here’s a contact number for you. I suggest you don’t wait too long.” Danae handed me a small business card. Embossed in silver across the gilded paper was the name ‘Madame Rouge.’
I pocketed the card and pushed against the chair’s armrests to rise.
“Wait.” Danae placed a hand on my shoulder, stopping me. Her eyes flashed an odd shade of yellow, almost like a cat’s. “There’s one more tarot card I’d like you to draw, if you have time.”
Miranda pulled out her phone and glanced at the screen. “The ferry to Seattle doesn’t leave for another hour and our shuttle to Portland is well after that.”
My curiosity piqued, I settled into my seat. “All right. What will this card do?”
A soft sigh eased from Danae as she sat. She gripped the deck in her palm, her finger on the top card. “This is a clarification card. It can offer more information and greater details. It may spark new questions or deeper understanding of the energies at work in your life. Now, think about what you wish to know.”
I closed my eyes. Dammit. The whole thing reeked of mystery, uncertainty, and misery. I inhaled, long and slow. An unusual peace settled over me, and I opened my eyes to Danae’s rich, liquid gaze. “What is my next step?”
She flipped over the card. It was a picture of a man on a throne, a crown around his head, a sphere in his palm. With dark hair, a strong jaw, and aquiline nose, he was handsome except for the grim line of his lips and the sadness in his eyes. I studied the words at the bottom—King of Swords.
“Ah, a very interesting card. He may be a specific person that will fulfill a special role in your journey.”
I leaned forward, eagerness tingling my fingers.
“The King of Swords represents wealth. He is a powerful man who may be very opinionated and an authority figure. Perceptive, strong willed, intelligent,” Danae stopped for a moment and glanced at me, “his negative qualities can lean toward tyranny and domination. He could be a cruel and cold man.”
Our gazes locked. We remained still for several long seconds. Her emotions were well hidden behind her stoic features. I couldn’t tell if she worried for
me or not.
I broke eye contact and studied the card. “Or it could all be some silly nonsense, right?” Hope made my voice waver, but I didn’t think I’d fooled her any more than I’d fooled myself. The card unnerved me.
She gathered up the cards and patted me on the arm. “Call Madame Rouge. I’m sure she can help.”
Danae meant well, but that unsettling feeling kept nagging at me.
Enjoyed the first chapter and want to read more? Get your copy now at all major retailers!
Death.
How appropriate.
The tarot card reader, Danae, laid out the five cards I’d selected from the deck, and the last one, a picture of what appeared to be a girl sleeping, seemed innocuous enough except for the skeleton at the top and the word ‘death’ at the bottom. I raised my gaze to Danae’s eyes. Small pools of brown, they appeared knowing, as if she could see the evil, cancerous tumor on my spine. Yep, death was a fitting card for me to draw tonight.
Danae glanced at the dark picture window that graced the old Victorian house. The porch light cast a subdued yellow glow over the lawn and onto the tall pines lining the edge of the property. She shifted in her seat, and the old wood creaked. With a smile, she reached across the table and wrapped her fingers around my shaking hand. “Lexi, don’t take the cards literally. There’s much under the surface.”
The rich sandalwood incense burning on the table eased into my lungs, but did little to calm my nerves. Damn you, Miranda, for bringing me to Brinnon.
“A few days away to hike and spend some time in nature will do you good.”
Yeah, right. Instead of spending our time in the beautiful forests that covered Washington’s Olympic Peninsula, we were here for a tarot card reading. My best friend had set me up. Miranda never did anything halfway, and her belief in the power of tarot cards followed suit. As if some magical mojo could cure me.
Seated next to me at the round table, I cast a dagger-eyed glance at her. She shrugged, and sadness fluttered across her expression. With dark hair, brown eyes, and olive skin, she was a bombshell beauty. My blonde hair, blue eyes, and pale skin were in sharp contrast, but I’d had enough guys ogle me. I was no slouch either. It would be nice though if one would take the time to get to know what was inside before hitting on me.
Not that it mattered anymore. My cancer would age me in ways I couldn’t even imagine, especially if I didn’t get the recommended radiation treatment. Months they’d said. My chances of survival, a long shot. Maybe I was a fool to have any hope I’d beat the tumor, but hope I did. “So what do the cards mean?”
The light from the elegant antique lamp cast a warm glow over the table, accentuating the cards’ gilded edges. Danae placed her finger along the first of the five spread out like a fan over the deep mahogany. The card displayed a picture of a blindfolded woman surrounded by eight swords, several blades embedded in the rocks. “You asked what your future held. This card represents your current situation or dilemma. What do you see in this card?”
“I’m blindfolded. Does that mean I can’t see? What about the swords? Why are they in the—” I cringed at the blood red robe that cloaked the woman and the three ominous swords piercing the snow. Just like needles.
A smile tugged at Danae’s mouth, and her dark eyes flashed with a bit of humor, but it faded. “The Eight of Swords is an air sign. The meaning varies, but most often it is a symbol of bondage, dissolution, or loss of hope. Perhaps you’re experiencing a time of difficulty, or trouble may lay ahead with illness or misfortune. Does any of this ring true for you?”
Dry and thick, my tongue was stuck to the roof of my mouth. Clearing my throat, I nodded. “I’m having health…problems and don’t know how to proceed.”
Danae placed her hand over mine once again. “That’s tough. Let’s see if we can find solutions and a path forward for you. Be careful, indecision could make matters worse, but this is the time for you to rally your strength to overcome the adversities you face.”
Miranda leaned forward. “How so?”
Danae raised an eyebrow. “Listen to the cards, there can be much truth and wisdom within them.”
Before Miranda could say anything more, I nudged her foot, our sign to ‘let it go.’ Best friends since sixth grade, we’d been through everything together. I didn’t know what I would’ve done without her, especially since my father passed away.
I’d just graduated from the University of Utah’s school of dance a few months ago when I’d received the devastating news of the car crash. My mother had died during my birth, so it had been just me and Dad. Had I known he was in debt up to his eyeballs, I never would’ve left Oregon and selected such a prestigious school. Returning home to Portland, the only job I could find was as a waitress at Hooties. Not long after, I discovered the first inkling of my illness, a worsening ache between my shoulders.
Danae tapped her fingernail against the table, drawing my attention to the next card, the one that looked like a couple staring through a church window, five coins lodged in the arch. She trailed her fingers over the golden coins. “The second card tells of your present wishes. For you, the Five of Coins illuminates your desires. Like the supplicants in this church, you may yearn for money or a fix for your dilemma, but beware, what you think you want may not be what you need.”
Danae’s brown eyes bore into me, as if she understood me far better than I knew myself. I couldn’t look away.
“On your journey, misguided goals, poor decisions, or lack of decisions could lead to destitution and misery. Ill health and misfortune may await you. Do you see the lush evergreen forest behind the red-clad woman? There may be help nearby despite your rocky path.”
I furrowed my brow and studied our tarot card reader.
Her gaze didn’t waver. “Did you have a question or are you ready to continue?”
I glanced at Miranda. She raised an eyebrow, letting me make the decision. My attention drew past the fourth card to the final one, the death card. A shiver started at the base of my spine, tripped up my back, and raced over my shoulders. All I could think about was my future, or lack thereof. I swallowed and nodded. “Please, go on.”
Danae traced her finger past winged angels swooping in circles and around a wooden wheel, stopping to rest at the woman cradling a small baby in her arms. A soft sigh escaped the tarot card reader’s lips. “Ah, the Wheel of Fortune. Everything goes in a circle. What you lose on the swing, you gain on the roundabout. You cannot have good without bad or light without darkness, but do not dwell on misfortune, look instead to future joys. Perhaps an interesting opportunity will arise for a fresh start or the beginning of a new path or venture.”
“A new path?” I choked on my words.
Danae tilted her head, a knowing gleam in her eye. “What is your dream?”
“To dance.” The words tumbled from my mouth. “My father loved ballet. He was my staunchest supporter, encouraging me every step of the way…” I couldn’t complete my sentence. His death was still too raw. Tears stung my eyes.
Danae tapped her finger against the next card. The tip of her red fingernail landed on the image of the mother and child. “Is dancing what’s most important to you?”
More than anything I wanted someone to love me for who I was on the inside. If kids came later, well, that was a bonus. A twinge tightened my chest. Even if I weren’t dying, I’d learned that men couldn’t be trusted. Outside of my father who loved me without question, I’d had a string of boyfriends that tainted my view of the male of our species. Each one seemed more eager to explore my body than learn about my dreams and desires.
I cleared my throat. “Yep, dancing is my number one priority.”
Danae blinked, but didn’t press me. Instead, she focused on the fourth card, a picture of a moon in a forest setting with a deer, a rabbit, and a greyhound. “This is the immediate future. The moon, which wanes on the card, will grow full again in due course. Embrace that which darkness can bring then daylight will return all the sooner.” She met my gaze. “Beware of hidden threats and enemies. If you have a secret, it may be exposed.”
My throat tightened. This didn’t sound good. “I don’t have any enemies.”
She studied my features. The dark circles under my eyes must be visible beneath my makeup. All of a sudden, my sweater seemed a bit too warm. I tugged up my sleeves, but couldn’t hold her gaze. “I guess you could call my sickness an enemy.”
“It’s one you’ll beat, Lexi.” Miranda flipped her jet-black ponytail over her shoulder, and the tip smacked against the back of the wooden chair. “The money will come up, I know it will. Then you can afford the insurance.”
Self-employed with debt, my dad missed a few payments, and the health insurance lapsed. No longer enrolled at the university, I couldn’t obtain coverage through them, and outside of the enrollment window, I couldn’t purchase individual coverage, not that I could afford it anyway. Medicaid, well that was underfunded, and I’d be dead before I got through all the paperwork. “I’ve already been down that road. Insurance won’t do me any good. What I need is a lot of money, quickly. Say,” I gave Danae a lopsided grin, “you don’t have a winning lottery ticket hidden under that last card for me, do you?”
Danae stifled a laugh that turned into a cough. The bout went on for several long seconds before she patted her chest and cleared her throat. “No, there’s no lottery ticket, but I might have something else for you, after the reading.”
My heart picked up speed to match my curiosity. Suddenly, I couldn’t wait to finish. My gaze tracked to the last card. The Death card. Oh, yes, that one. “Um, I’d love to hear what you have to say. Can we skip this card?”
“Come now, this is the most important one. The outcome of your quest. Don’t you want to hear the rest of the reading?”
Miranda nudged me with her toe. “C’mon, Lex, do it. What do you have to lose?”
I blinked. She was right. The doctor who diagnosed me, said my cancer was a fast one, but I might have a chance if I started treatment soon. I inhaled, breathing incense into my lungs, along with some courage. “Okay, let’s finish this.”
Danae nodded and pointed to the last remaining card. “Your outcome is found in the Death card. Remember, there are numerous kinds of endings and many re-births. Some small, and others life-altering. With so many of the Major Arcana cards—the Wheel of Fortune, the Moon, and now Death—that you pulled for this reading, I sense you face massive upheaval and dramatic change.”
My gut twisted, coiling around inside like a snake on steroids. “That sounds ominous.”
Danae’s features softened. “The end result can eclipse your expectations. Just remember, life is short, so seek real satisfaction and fulfillment while there is still time. Take control of your own destiny and live your life in a meaningful way. Be aware, fear of change is inevitable. Resistance is useless.”
“So in other words, do it now while I still can.” I tried to hold back the tear, but it slipped over my lash. Before the moisture could track down my cheek, I wiped it away. As I stared at the final card, the woman’s alabaster complexion appeared as if death had already kissed her, but the delicate, creamy lily in her hand seemed to point forward to an unknown destination. With my disease, I wouldn’t have much of a future. “If only I had money for treatments.”
Danae gripped my hand and squeezed my fingers, giving me her support. “Have you ever heard of the blood courtesans?”
Blood courtesans? My mind froze.
Miranda scooted her chair forward, the legs scraping against the wooden floor. “Oh! I think I’ve heard of them. They, uh, deal with vampires, right?”
Vampires had come out of the woodwork a few decades ago, but I hadn’t heard many details about them.
Danae nodded, and a lock of her thick, dark hair fell around her shoulders. “From what I understand, yes. I get all kinds of clients wandering through my business. Let me get you that little something I promised you earlier.” She rose from her seat and padded into the kitchen. Her movements were so fluid and sensual, she must be part cat.
Miranda tugged on my arm. “Do you remember Leslie from college? She joined the blood courtesans.”
“What do they do?” Curiosity pounded through my veins.
As Danae returned to the room, her soft footfalls pulled me from my thoughts. “I don’t know that much about them, but they service vampires.”
My heartbeat tripped, part fear, part excitement, which surprised me. “Service them how?”
“Blood, of course, and sex. It’s a package deal.” Her matter-of-fact tone echoed in the space between us.
Sex? My mouth went dry, tampering the thrill. Other than Allen, my college boyfriend, I didn’t have much experience on that front. Besides, I wasn’t sure I could afford the loss of blood, but ‘beggars can’t be choosers,’ as my dad used to say. Covering my inexperience, I focused on the latter. “How much blood do they take?”
A crinkle formed between Danae’s brows. “Depends on the vampire, I’d imagine, but I can’t believe any would take enough to kill you. Blood courtesans are a food source. I doubt they’d bite the hand that feeds them. Well, you know what I mean.”
Miranda touched my elbow. “You’ll be fine. Just stay away from people with colds. You wouldn’t want to catch a bug or get an infection.” She wrapped her arms around my shoulders and drew me in for a hug. “Lexi, this could work. I hear they pay a lot.”
“I’m not sure they’d take me, with my illness and all.”
“Leslie said she’s heard that vampires don’t get sick like we do.” Miranda gave me one of her encouraging smiles. “What could it hurt to at least look into it?”
When I was a kid, I used to wear those plastic Halloween fangs, pulling them out now and then throughout the year to pretend I was a vampire. A coil of anticipation and trepidation churned in my stomach, tightening into a ball. Was it possible? Could I become a blood courtesan?
“Here’s a contact number for you. I suggest you don’t wait too long.” Danae handed me a small business card. Embossed in silver across the gilded paper was the name ‘Madame Rouge.’
I pocketed the card and pushed against the chair’s armrests to rise.
“Wait.” Danae placed a hand on my shoulder, stopping me. Her eyes flashed an odd shade of yellow, almost like a cat’s. “There’s one more tarot card I’d like you to draw, if you have time.”
Miranda pulled out her phone and glanced at the screen. “The ferry to Seattle doesn’t leave for another hour and our shuttle to Portland is well after that.”
My curiosity piqued, I settled into my seat. “All right. What will this card do?”
A soft sigh eased from Danae as she sat. She gripped the deck in her palm, her finger on the top card. “This is a clarification card. It can offer more information and greater details. It may spark new questions or deeper understanding of the energies at work in your life. Now, think about what you wish to know.”
I closed my eyes. Dammit. The whole thing reeked of mystery, uncertainty, and misery. I inhaled, long and slow. An unusual peace settled over me, and I opened my eyes to Danae’s rich, liquid gaze. “What is my next step?”
She flipped over the card. It was a picture of a man on a throne, a crown around his head, a sphere in his palm. With dark hair, a strong jaw, and aquiline nose, he was handsome except for the grim line of his lips and the sadness in his eyes. I studied the words at the bottom—King of Swords.
“Ah, a very interesting card. He may be a specific person that will fulfill a special role in your journey.”
I leaned forward, eagerness tingling my fingers.
“The King of Swords represents wealth. He is a powerful man who may be very opinionated and an authority figure. Perceptive, strong willed, intelligent,” Danae stopped for a moment and glanced at me, “his negative qualities can lean toward tyranny and domination. He could be a cruel and cold man.”
Our gazes locked. We remained still for several long seconds. Her emotions were well hidden behind her stoic features. I couldn’t tell if she worried for
me or not.
I broke eye contact and studied the card. “Or it could all be some silly nonsense, right?” Hope made my voice waver, but I didn’t think I’d fooled her any more than I’d fooled myself. The card unnerved me.
She gathered up the cards and patted me on the arm. “Call Madame Rouge. I’m sure she can help.”
Danae meant well, but that unsettling feeling kept nagging at me.
Enjoyed the first chapter and want to read more? Get your copy now at all major retailers!