because you're mine

the cards will tell

Seulgi decides that if they're going to get their cards read, it's better to see Hyangsook in her element. She and Jaebum meet up at Barom and Hyangsook's new apartment on the other side of town. Hyangsook welcomes them with open arms, offers them tea and tells them to take a seat at her dining table. "Make sure you drink all the tea, by the way." Hyangsook instructs as she sets up three decks of cards. "Are you nervous?"

"Not really." Jaebum answers truthfully, and Seulgi nods in agreement.

"Good, there's nothing to be nervous about... who shall I read first? Mortal?" Hyangsook suggests, extending her hand to Jaebum. He hands over his empty cup and Hyangsook peeks inside it. "...Interesting..."

"What?"

"I see...nothing. This isn't Harry Potter, I don't actually use tea leaves, but it's funny." Hyangsook giggles, "The tea is just to relax you. Have you ever seen the Princess and the Frog, Jaebum?"

"No."

"Well... there's this scene where the Prince visits Dr. Facilier, a voodoo specialist, for a card reading. Dr. Facilier tells him that the cards will tell...the past, the present and the future as well. It's a cute rhyme, works well with the song, and it's true, it's how they operate. You see, Jaebum, the way I do my readings... is actually kind of similar. I delve into your past, into your present, and I predict the outcome of your future based off of that." Hyangsook shuffles the first deck of cards, "Here... is your past." She holds up a card. It's blank at first, before a photo morphs on the surface, and the picture details a baby falling from the skies. "This card represents your birth...do you have a good relationship with your parents?"

"Well... my mom, yeah. She divorced my dad when I was little, and I haven't spoken to him in a while. Why?"

"This card shows that you're a gift, only child I presume?"

Jaebum nods his head, "My parents struggled for years with getting pregnant."

"Well, looks like they got lucky with you." Hyangsook smiles, moving on to the next deck of cards. "Your present... is a witch, symbolizing your relationship with our lovely Seulgi. It might be hard to believe but you two were destined to meet and fall in love." That statement has Seulgi blushing and Jaebum hiding a smile by biting his lip. "Don't be embarrassed or shy! I found Barom through my cards, and look where that got us." Hyangsook takes a second to pause. "Do you believe in prophecies, Jaebum?"

"I'm not sure. Should I?"

"It's up to you, but I think you do."

"Does this have to do with my future?"

"Perhaps..."

"Tell me."

"It's kind of crazy. You're a believer of equality... you're fair, you want civility. You're a leader. You will lead..."

"Is that a good thing?"

"You will lead a revolution. A great evil is coming upon us, a prophecy is about to be fulfilled... you are a part of that prophecy."

"The same prophecy that has the dark lord's unofficial heir?? Am I supposed to be that heir?"

"I can't and will not answer that, but you'll find out in due time." Hyangsook begins, showing him final card. Again, it starts off blank before morphing to a photo of a beast without its head, but standing over a pile of skeletons. "I will just warn you to be careful and trust your own judgement. Witches, warlocks, demons... they all result to a lot of trickery. Don't be fooled." Hyangsook smiles. "Seulgi, your turn."

Hyangsook reshuffles her cards in preparation for Seulgi's reading. "Let's delve into your past." Hyangsook smiles, "I can have fun with this one... how about you pick." Seulgi does as she's told, picking the first card, watching it morph to a photo of the Academy. "You, along with the rest of this generation's Red Velvet coven, were top of your class in the school of night. You got your first taste of rebellion here. It started when you were sixteen, fresh into the academy and Joohyun failed potions because a teacher expressed interest in her and she rejected him, rightfully so. You and your friends then conspired, created a voodoo doll and tortured the man until he quit. It went against school rules, you all weren't supposed to practice such magic yet, and when your high priestess found out... she punished you, and only you."