Page 18 of Nix and Tell (The Arun Nixes #1)

18

Violet

I t’s impossible to hide the fact that Chlo and I are dating, especially now that the Spring Equinox plans are going ahead and we’re spending so much time together. Finn and Hazel don’t tease us much, but the rest of the village does, and I’ve noticed more and more nixes visiting the shop, to come stare at the mortal who got the goddess’ blessing and snared a nix.

I’ve taken photos of the display I’ve set up for Trisantona, and she seemed pretty pleased with it. She wasn’t overly happy about the fact that we’re doing a ritual on the Spring Equinox, muttering about how Eostre doesn’t need any more tributes, but we’ve found a middle ground. We’ll still do the ritual on the Equinox, but I’ll dedicate it to her and the River Arun. She’s happy with that.

Or as happy as I think she can be. She’s got a fortnight to change her mind and cause trouble.

It’s pretty surreal, having had a curtain pulled back, and seeing everything magic as more concretely real than ever before. My own spells and enchantments have infinitely more power, and I can see their results in real time—rather than before where their results were often implied, or not viewable to my mortal eyes.

But having the goddess’ blessing has done wonders for business. Spellbound is busy pretty much constantly, and tarot readings that I’d previously only done for friends, have become somewhat legendary.

The bell rings, and I raise my eyes as I see Kit walk through the door.

“Hey!”

“Hey.” She smiles, but it doesn’t quite reach her eyes, and I shuffle awkwardly on my stool. Kit’s usually perfectly cordial with me, but she avoids Chlo as much as possible and it makes me uncomfortable. “I… I heard you’re doing tarot readings.”

“That’s right.” I can’t work out what she’s thinking; I mean, I can’t usually read people—thanks autism—but I definitely can’t read her intentions.

“Can you do one for me?” She laughs at the surprise on my face. “I know I don’t go much in for—” She waves her hand to take in the very woo-woo esoteric wares that I sell. “—all of this, but you? You seem safe enough. And it’s been a while since anyone’s read my cards.”

It’s a big deal, or at least, that’s the impression I get, but I don’t want to make a fuss, so I just ask “You got a particular spread in mind?”

She shakes her head slowly. “Nah, I just need to know if I’m on the right track with something.”

“Okay.”

I pause before selecting The Tempest Tarot. Kit raises an eyebrow at the choice, but I shrug. There are many reasons why I might pick a particular deck to use for a reading, but in this case, it’s instinct. It’s a deck concerned with water, and Kit is a river nix—even if she’s estranged from the community—and it’s also concerned with growth and sadness and movement.

I shuffle the deck sharply and place it in front of her. “Split the deck.”

She does, and I don’t bother talking her through the process; she knows what I’m doing.

I shuffle again, and then spread the cards out in a single swift movement. “Pick three cards.”

Kit takes her time, selecting cards carefully, and she hands them to me with a wry smile. “I haven’t told you what it’s about. Do you need me to?”

I shake my head. “We’ll go on instinct; I don’t want you to influence my reading.”

She nods, somewhat approvingly, and waits for me to turn them over.

The spread I’m using is one that I developed myself; it’s usually for following your dreams readings, but it works with general “am I on the right path?” questions.

I turn the first card over. “‘Why are you pursuing this?’ and you’ve got the Knight of Wands.” The line drawing on this card depicts a person at the top of a lighthouse, looking out to sea with a telescope. “Wands are about action, and this implies that you’re not taking any—you’re just standing and watching the rest of the world pass you by. Usually knights are super impetuous, but in this deck, this card usually suggests that you need to be more impetuous.”

She doesn’t say anything; just looks thoughtful.

“Next up we have ‘What is in your way?’ and you’ve pulled the Six of Cups. It’s a card about childhood memories.” I gesture towards where the two children are depicted, play-sword fighting. The room suddenly feels very awkward indeed. “Something from your childhood is holding you back.”

Kit’s laugh is bitter, and I remember Chlo telling me that the woman was estranged from her family. I’m tempted to add a comment, but I don’t know Kit well enough, or have the history with the nixes that she has.”

“Finally we have ‘what will help you get there?’ and—” My voice breaks off and I stare silently at the card I’ve turned over. The High Priestess. A naked woman, submerged in water, moon above her, ball of magic in her hands. She bares a startling resemblance to Trisantona.

“Fuck,” says Kit. “I don’t think you need to translate that one for me.”

I grimace. “If it helps, she hasn’t influenced the cards; they’re spelled against manipulation.”

“So it’s just the universe that’s yelling at me then.”

“If it helps, the cards yell at me on the regular. I can’t count the number of times that I’ve pulled the Four of Swords.”

“The Four of Swords?”

“The burnout card.”

Kit chuckles, and some of the tension in her shoulders lessens. “The universe can get fucked. There’s a reason I abandoned my family.”

“Trisantona isn’t your family, and from what I can gather, she’s only been back five years.” She doesn’t respond straight away, and I jump to fill the silence. “Maybe it’s not something you need to worry about now.”

She pats my arm distractedly, and I know that she’s still thinking on it all. “Thanks Vi. How much do I owe you?”

I shake my head, but Kit insists on paying.

As she heads out the door, she pauses for a moment and looks back. “Be careful, Vi. Chlo’s one of the good ones, but nixes are insidious, and a few too many of them have been paying rather close attention to you lately.”

“I’m fine,” I start, but she’s gone, and I’m left with a sinking feeling in my stomach.