The Emperor (The Tarot Club 2)

For a moment, I had the irrational urge to shove Corinne behind me and quell the threat that the blade held, but instead, Corinne tugged our bound hands towards Marie, flexing her wrist in a way that separated our palms enough for Marie to dig the knife into the soft flesh of our hands.

Corinne didn’t flinch, in fact, she pumped her hand in a way that seemed to increase her blood flow once the incision had been made. I jolted at the sight of it, as her blood trailed down her elbow, redding the cream of her dress,

“Shhhh.” Even as she hushed me, it was somehow melodic. “Do the same.” Her instruction was firm, and I complied because I trusted her - because I would do almost anything she asked. And as the first drop of blood dripped down into the mixture of soil and petals beneath us, it seemed to mingle with Corinne's, causing the wind to whip across her brow, curling at the nape of my neck. A blessing.

We both turned to gaze upon the crowd, and I was not in the least bit surprised to find our Goddess standing behind the attendees, pressed against a tree in the distance. The smile that ghosted her lips was one of acceptance and joy, and I marvelled at the fact that we had somehow attained the blessing of a Goddess - of Isis herself.

Members of the crowd seemed to break apart, and it was Zoey who stepped forward first, regaling us all with a tale of Corinne - of how different and special she had always been, and how this union seemed more clandestine than perhaps anything else my wife could experience.

Because after this, she was my wife - in every sense of the word, and I would burn down the world if our foundation was even so much as threatened. My gaze landed on Eli, and I allowed that threat to rise to the surface, willed him to see the promise of violence that was headed his way. He shifted uncomfortably before glancing away. Fucker.

Ravi was the next to step forward, offering an old Russian poem - the same one that had been recited at my parents' wedding. He was also a fucker - but he was one of the good ones.

Charl stepped forward, offering what I could only assume was a prophecy of some sort.

“Corinne and Dimitri are the ebb and flow of any relationship, and as long as they remain united, nothing in this world, or the next could ever be imbalanced. They hold the beginnings of greatness and we can only hope that more pairings like theirs can be met.”

It was strange, but from what I had heard about Charl, it also wasn't entirely unexpected.

And so the day unfolded, with various members of our party stepping forward, offering words of encouragement - a poem - a song, all in lieu of us. And as the last person spoke, I was surprised to see Marie step forward once more.

“This couple deserves nothing more than a fresh slate as they head into married bliss.”

Our group of revellers hooted and agreed, Emily and Alan shifting slightly in confusion.

“And so I offer a toast.” Marie held up a crystal wine glass, filled to the brim with the dark red liquid of wine. And even as the crowd cheered, I felt Corinne hesitate, as if she wished to reach out and halt her friend before us. But it was too late. Before the thought had fully taken root, Marie was speaking once more.

“May Corinne enter her marriage unhindered and unburdened by the bargains of the past.”

I heard Corinne gasp, unsure of exactly why my wife was troubled, only that she was, and I wanted to erase that hurt - even if that meant killing fucking Marie. Marie took a deep sip of the wine in her glass before dribbling it on the ground before her. The Witches- including Charl - all took a step towards her, eyes blazing, and I couldn’t determine if they wanted to halt her, or help her.

I felt Corinne move beside me, and I made the decision to turn her towards my chest as I held her in place. Whatever this shit was, I didn’t want her stepping forward - didn’t want her risking herself.

“May she be released from her otherworldly commitments as she enters this new chapter of her life.”

The hairs of my arms stood to attention, and I understood that something dangerous was about to occur.

“No.” Corinne’s voice was a stangled whisper against my chest, and I could only watch as Marie drew a new blade and pressed it against her palm, allowing her blood to drip into the soil, mixing in with the wine and earth itself.

“And may I take upon that burden - as her sister, her debts have now become my debts.”

The Witches looked upon her in ferocity, but what Marie had just done could not be undone, and all I could do was hold Corinne as she shivered in my arms.

“What bargain did she just accept?” I whispered the words quietly as Brenna snapped forwards, ushering everyone into the town hall for the function that was set to follow the ceremony.

“Solomon.” Corinne’s voice was a soft whisper, as if she could not believe that Marie would take that burden from her. But I could - these women loved one another with a ferocity that rivalled the Bratva. Their loyalty rivalled that of the Bratva, and I pitied anyone who was idiotic enough to challenge us.

I watched our party of guests move towards the old building ahead of us, my gaze settling on Charl as he lingered behind, squatting down as he drew strange shapes and symbols in the soil. Corinne had spoken of the madness that Charl dabbled in - of the voids he sometimes fell into, residing in the abyss for days or weeks at a time. But when I gazed upon him, I did not see an ounce of madness within, all I saw was calculated clarity, and that was probably the most dangerous notion of all.