Prologue - Three Cards (Part 2)

- I'm not mad at you, Logan. – Megan reassured him, giving a quick smile that soon disappeared to give way to a confused and even a little worried expression – But that's quite a cult of logic, don't you think? It's surprising how skeptical you seem to be about anything supernatural. – She assessed him curiously – After everything I've learned about the Knights, this was the last type of behavior I would have expected.

- I didn't know that believing too much in science and logic was a bad thing. - Logan muttered, annoyed with the fact that that conversation had ended on that subject - But I think skeptic is a word that defines me well. I consider it a compliment, actually. - He forced a smile, even knowing that anyone could see his annoyance - I've had enough proof that the only strength that really makes a difference in this world is willpower. – with that statement, his yellow smile became convinced, almost satisfied, especially for knowing that that was the greatest truth that could exist.

- Oh yeah, smart guy? – Megan sneered, raising a small wooden box at his eye level, with some figures of moons and stars carved everywhere - So why don't you let me read your future? I still have some free time before my sister arrives so I can introduce her to you. Who knows, maybe you'll end up discovering exactly the opposite of what you just said?

- Frankly, Megan... - Now it was his turn to roll his eyes, more upset than ever - Didn't you hear anything I said?

- Well, Logan, if it's such a silly thing, what harm will it do if you try? Devon challenged, raising an eyebrow provocatively as he wrapped an arm around Megan's shoulders, clearly pleased to see his girlfriend bother his older brother.

- Hmmm... So, Ellie, you want to go to the park and ride your bike, don't you? – he diverted his attention to his niece, giving her a forced euphoric smile – Come on, I'll take you…

- No, Uncle Logan! – her niece exclaimed, angrily, stamping her small foot on the ground covered with grass – Let Aunt Megan read your future! – Eleanor screamed and bounced excitedly, wrapping both little hands around his anxiously – You'll see how much fun it is and you'll change your mind!

- Megan will draw the cards for Logan?! – He grunted when he heard his brother-in-law's euphoric voice approaching them and he didn't even need to look in his direction to know that Diana was certainly beside her – This one I can't lose!

- Will it be a prediction of the future or a show? – He growled, seeing that not only his sister was beside Paul, but also his parents, apparently as interested in the spectacle as their niece, as Daniel was wheeling his wheelchair quickly towards them, watching Logan with amusement and anticipation, as Gwyneth followed a little more leisurely, carrying with her a tray full of cookies: one of several desserts they would have for lunch that day, when the guest of honor, Megan's younger sister, finally arrived.

- With all your insufferable skepticism, it's definitely the best show ever. – Her sister Diana smirked, while Paul promptly pulled out a chair so she could sit down, cradling her huge 7-month pregnant belly between her hands, almost as if she were already cradling her unborn second child.

- Well, then, you can save your popcorn and tickets, because there is nothing to see here! – grunting, Logan was ready to turn his back on his exasperating family, but his father's wheelchair, strategically positioned between him and the table, prevented him – Oh, come on, dad... – with a defeated sigh, Logan tried to argue, but his parents cut him off, smiling just as playfully as Megan.

- I think Devon has a good point, son. – His father looked at him sideways, visibly amused by Logan's annoyance with the whole situation. There was no secret that Daniel disagreed with all of his general skepticism, but when it came to his disbelief and revulsion where this fateful matter was concerned, Logan knew it worried him deeply. Without a doubt, seeing him in the middle of that situation must have been a lot of fun for him - and, if Logan knew his own father well, Daniel must also be minimally hopeful that he would change his mind about how he viewed the legacy of the Knights and his own. .. Curse.

- If you really don't believe in Megan's tarot reading, then it won't hurt anyone to try it, right? – Daniel concluded, smiling with confidence and mockery – It won't change in your life, after all.

- What's the point in doing this, then, if I don't believe? – Snorting with irritation, Logan tried to get out of there again, but his family remained surrounding him, which made him growl – Frankly… It will just be a waste of my time and hers. Also, I make my own future. – he shrugged, enraged – I don't need anyone to tell me how he will be.

-But it's so nice, Uncle Logan... - Eleanor made an adorable pout, almost begging, as she continued to pull his hand-And so you can apologize to Aunt Megan for calling her a bigot. – the girl put her small index finger in the air, pointing at his face accusingly.

- Logan Tristan Knight, what did you call your sister-in-law? Gwyneth asked slowly, looking like she was about to give him the kind of lecture he hadn't heard since he was a kid.

- That was a misunderstanding, mom... - Logan sighed, already completely fed up with all that - And the conversation here is not about that...!

- Well, then from now on, I withdraw my pardon, unless you agree to let me draw the cards for you. – Megan interrupted him, with an evil smile, again lifting her wooden box, which apparently was where her precious tarot was kept.

"Megan…" Her growl, however, was quickly interrupted again.

- Come on, Logan, don't be so annoying! – Paul sat next to Diana, pulling Eleanor onto her lap – What harm will it make you try? – her brother-in-law opened a devilish smile - Or are you afraid of finally starting to believe that Megan really has magical powers?

- Oh, please, as if that were possible... - he grunted, exasperated - You're not going to leave me alone until I say yes, are you? – Containing himself not to curse in front of his niece, Logan growled, defeated – Okay, okay... But let it be quick! – He begged Megan, trying to control her anger.

- Come on, you grumpy bastard. – Megan laughed, going to sit at the end of the table and indicating that he should sit in the chair right next to her, arranging the two so that they were facing each other – I promise that no one will die if you waste five minutes of your time with my deck. – Her sister-in-law smiled, nimbly removing the long tarot cards from inside the wooden box and beginning to skillfully shuffle them.

- Five whole minutes? he grunted, but still dragged himself to the chair, slumping there with a sulky sigh.

- First of all, I would like you to understand that the tarot is not just for predicting the future. He's about self-knowledge. And it just helps you make decisions, rather than dictating them, as you seem to believe. – Megan observed him haughtily, explaining everything with the most solemn of voices – Oh, and I'm not a “guesser”, I'm a tarot reader. - she scolded him lightly - And a tarot reader does not addvinations: analyzes what the arcana mean. A proud smile spread across her face.

- Very interesting, Megan... - Logan snorted, already terribly bored - I already told you that I won't belittle any of this again. Can we just go for it? – He pleaded with her again, barely able to believe that he was actually about to waste time listening to someone talk about what a bunch of drawn cards meant.

- Just one more thing: you have to tell me what you want to know about, so I can play for you. - Megan informed him, still reverently shuffling the cards - So, what will it be?

- Oh, for God's sake, Megan, just pick any subject, okay? he whined in a low voice, exasperated.

- And then I suggest we ask about the great challenge you are facing at present. So we will also have some advice on how you can act in the future to overcome your problems. – Megan's expression was nothing more than sparkling at that possibility – What do you think?

- All right, whatever. Just get on with it. – Logan snorted, not being able to stop his mind from thinking that there wasn't a big challenge currently in his life. The company was booming and all the Knights were happy and healthy. Without a doubt, there was, for a long time, no problem that populated his mind...

Of course, there was always the fear that it would overwhelm him...

Damn it, why was he thinking about that?

It wasn't like Megan's precious little cards were even going to come close to nailing down what his real concerns were.

- Very well. – for a few long moments, Megan remained calmly with her eyes closed, apparently concentrating, before starting to shuffle and cut the cards a few more times, until she finally randomly selected three of them, still with her eyes closed. After placing them gently on the table, millimetrically next to each other, Megan finally opened her eyes and began to explain, placing one of her nails, painted with a dark purple nail polish, over the back of the first of the letters, whose drawings, outlined in gold against a black background, showed a moon in a star-filled sky – This first card represents the past, the origins of the issue or problem you are experiencing… – finally, after another moment passing the tip From her fingers on the letter, her sister-in-law finally turned it over, revealing the strange figure of a being with horns, bat wings and a distorted expression, accompanied by a naked man and woman, who also had horns and tails.

- The Devil... – Megan revealed, her eyes unfocused.

- The perfect card to represent Logan. – Diana laughed evilly – Want more proof that Megan is right and you are wrong? - Her sister teased him, which only made him roll his eyes again, increasingly irritated by it all.

- This card represents an addiction, an excess that is bad for you... - Megan pondered, so focused on her analysis that she seemed to be oblivious to everything around her - It symbolizes that there is something you are very determined to do, or to prevent , and it's hurting you, Logan. You must beware of your over-willingness to make something happen or prevent it from happening, or many difficulties will arise for you... Or perhaps they already have. She looked at him shrewdly, almost as if she could see right through him.

Sitting straighter in the chair, Logan straightened. Of course, there was no connection between the two things, but there was a part of him that couldn't help but be disturbed by Megan's mention of preventing something from happening. Avoiding the curse was the one thing he'd craved since he was a child. And, in fact, he had dedicated his entire adult life to thinking about what he would do to prevent it from reaching him, or else preserve his free will, in case he really was unlucky enough to be yet another victim of the Knight legacy... But then why was he even thinking about that? Megan's speech was nothing more than generic. Indeed, she could say the same of any excess, beyond fear and care. None of that had anything to do with him or his life.

"The Lovers..." He was barely aware that Megan had turned over the second card until he heard her announce it, her big brown eyes so wide he could almost feel her shock as if it were his own. own. In their hands was a black and gold drawing of a couple reaching out to each other without touching, with a cupid over them and what looked like a priest with his hands on the couple's shoulders, as if he were bringing them together – So ... - he looked up from the drawing to Megan's expression, now understanding and almost crestfallen - Is that what you're so afraid of? - Her conspiratorial tone and the way her eyes quickly met with Devon's gave him let me know that now she knew very well what they were talking about there. And that infuriated him more than he thought possible.