Baby of the Band

Ten

Reminding the group surrounding her of what each card position meant, Siren grabbed the edge of the first card in the fingers of her right hand. The fingers of her left hand kept the second card laying atop it pressed down so it wouldn't be flipped over prematurely as she pulled the first out from underneath it.

        The group didn't know what the image–which appeared to be a man riding a Horse that was rearing up before charging ahead–on it meant, but they didn't ask for an explanation just yet. Everyone simply sat quietly as she flipped over the second card, which she again laid atop the first and studied just as carefully. On its front appeared to be a person with three Swords on either side, two more crossed over their lower half in the shape of an X. After that, it was Time for her to flip the third card, which seemed to bear a flying guitar pick over two twisted Snakes that appeared to be rising outta two Chalices.

        Next was the fourth card, which appeared to depict an Eagle or other Bird of prey that was hovering over a single Chalice. The fifth appeared to depict the Moon shining down on a Lake or Pond, which Reflected the Trees on its banks with the Pisces symbol in the Water. As soon as their eyes clapped on the sixth–which seemed to depict a demonic Entity with a pair of Ghosts next to its feet–they couldn't help a collective startled gasp.

        Up next was the seventh card, which appeared to depict a person standing on the parapet of a Castle with what looked like a Wand in hand, eight more beneath the person. The eighth card seemed to depict a Castle or some other Medieval dwelling with two Wands on either side of it. On the face of the ninth card, the image seemed to be of a cross made of a Sword–or maybe more like an old-World balancing scale. The tenth and final card seemed to depict a woman who was most likely preaching to an unseen congregation surrounded by two Snakes that bit each others' tails. On the outside of the never-Ending Circle they formed were four different symbols, one in each of the four corners, and Stars.

        "Well, this is certainly interesting," Siren finally said after studying each of the cards carefully.

        "Whaddaya mean?" the drummer asked curiously, making her look up at them.

        "Starting with the first, I'ma give the dumbed-down explanation of what each means, both upright and reversed," she told them. "I'll go into a more in-depth explanation in a few minutes."

        "Sounds good to us," Mishy agreed with a nod.

        "This first card's the Knight of Wands," the young Witch Began. "There's four suits in Tarot, just like a typical deck of playing cards. Instead of having Hearts, Spades, Diamonds, and Clubs, you've Pentacles, Wands, Swords, and Cups–and each suit's associated with one of the four Elements."

        "Care to explain that part real quick?" Rikki asked. "I think I get it, but I don't wanna make an ass of myself by assuming."

        "Associated with the Element of Fire, the Suit of Wands represents Passion, Inspiration, and Willpower," Siren explained. "The Wands imbue their users with Primal Energy, for it's through them that the Cycle of Creation can Begin. 'Cuz of their ability to bring Energy into any situation, they're also associated with action, Ambition, and making plans."

        "Sounds like a pretty good thing to me," the young ginger mused.

        "At their worst, they can refer to situations that're filled with recklessness and lack of Direction," she warned. "As ya follow the Journey within the Wands, you'll come across these themes again and again."

        "Yikes," they winced, even Rob whimpering softly at the Thought.

        "The Suit of Cups rules over all that's associated with Emotions, the Conscious, Creativity, and Intuition," the young Witch continued. "They frequently talk about relationships, whether Romantic or otherwise, and one's Imagination and Inner World–they're associated with the Element of Water, which becomes a frequent visual theme within this suit. At their worst, the Cups suit's fret with uncontrolled feelings, Fantasy, and a disconnect with one's inner voice."