The devil

Chapter 18 Cain

Past…

“There’s a fortune teller over there,” Julia squeals as we enter the school gymnasium for the spring fling. “Can we?”

It’s all I can do not to roll my eyes. “Sure.”

She reaches for my hand. “We’re go

Considering it’s our third date in two weeks and the only thing that’s been in her mouth are those half chewed pens of hers…I doubt it.

Plastering a smile on my face, I take her hand and walk over.

My smile falls when the fortune teller takes off her masquerade mask.

“Hi, Mrs. Miller.”

She doesn’t miss a beat. “Hi, guys. Are you kids having fun?”

“We just got here,” Julia answers, gesturing to the masquerade mask they handed her at the door. “I was hoping you could give me a reading.”

“Sure. Both of you, or—”

“Just her,” I say tersely. “I don’t believe in this crap. There’s no way a simple card can predict the future.”

Julia frowns. “Yeah, you’re right. This is stupid—”

“My grandmother used to say tarot cards don’t predict your future, they simply hold up a mirror to your subconscious.”

Julia’s mouth drops open. “Your grandmother was a fortune teller too?”

I look up at the ceiling. “Mrs. Miller isn’t a fortune teller, Julia. She’s just a teacher chaperoning a dance.”

She also happens to give one hell of a blow job.

Mrs. Miller points to her cards. “Actually, these were my grandmother’s cards. She used to do this for a living.”

“What a noble profession.”

Mrs. Miller turns to Julia. “Don’t let this negative nelly talk you out of it, it can be very enlightening.”

Julia bites her lip, her stare ping-ponging between us. “I don’t know.”

“Do it.” I shrug. “I think it’s bullshit, but it’s obvious you want to. Therefore, you should.”

Her eyes gleam. “Okay. Do I have to do anything?”

Mrs. Miller hands her the deck of cards. “Shuffle these and concentrate on what you’d like the universe to tell you.”

Out of the corner of my eye, I spot my brother talking with his friends. Or rather, they’re all kissing his ass and congratulating him for the millionth time on getting a full ride to Harvard.

Jealousy snakes up my spine. I turned in my application two weeks before he did, and I still haven’t heard back.

I wasn’t worried until a few days ago when my friends on the debate team mentioned they all heard from their first and second choice schools.

Unlike them, I have no second choice. Harvard is it. It’s where my father and all his friends went.

I’ll never be able to live it down if my brother gets accepted, and I don’t.

“Oh my God, that was so awesome,” Julia screeches beside me, bringing me out of my thoughts. “I got the three of pentacles for my future and Mrs. Miller says that’s a sign of great things ahead.” She claps her hands. “She’s right because I got my acceptance letter from Dartmouth today. It was my first choice.”

My hands clench at my sides. The girl who ingests the ink from her pens several times a week got accepted to her first college of choice and I didn’t.

I glance at my brother again and our eyes lock. I think he’s about to call me over, but he nudges one of his friends who looks at me and winces.

Right before they start laughing their asses off. Assholes.

“I want a reading.”

If Julia the pen whisperer’s future is bright, then mine should be the motherfucking sun on steroids.

Mrs. Miller smiles. “Okay, sure.”

Just like with Julia, she hands me the cards and tells me to concentrate while I shuffle them.

I give them back to her when I’m finished, and she turns over three of them. “These cards represent your past, present, and future.” She gestures to the first card. “Your past is the king of swords. It represents a very forceful and opinionated man in your life. An authority figure who made you who you are today.” Her brows knit together. “You learned to be responsible at a very early age and you take the lessons he instilled seriously.”

Sounds about right. “Great. What’s my future?”

As usual, it’s my primary concern.

“Let me read your present first.”

When she turns over the second card, Julia yelps, latching onto my arm for dear life. “No. Cain can’t die.”

Several heads turn to look at us.

I don’t show it, but the ominous death card is a little u

“Relax. The death card doesn’t mean Cain’s going to die.” She looks at me. “But it does mean you’re going through a deep transformation and you’re currently at a crossroads. But the thing about death is, just like the inevitable kind, it’s impossible to fight. The only thing you can do is let go and allow the changes to happen.”

I raise a brow. “What changes?”

She points to the final card. “The future will give you more insight.”

“Doubtful,” I mutter. “Considering this reading hasn’t been all that insightful to begin with.”

“Oh,” Julia says when Mrs. Miller turns over the final card. “It’s…”

“The Devil,” Mrs. Miller finishes for her.

Julia bends down for a closer look and blushes. “Um…are they—”

“Naked and bound?” Mrs. Miller nods. “Yup. The Devil is all about bondage.” She clears her throat. “Metaphorically speaking of course.” Her expression turns serious and she looks at me. “It’s also a huge warning. When this card shows up in your future, it’s cautioning you that something will go horribly wrong if you continue down the current path you’re on.” She starts ticking things off with her fingers. “Obsession, control, addiction, manipulation, temptation to evil…you’re a slave to all of them.”

“Nice cards,” Damien interjects, walking out from behind the fortune teller booth. “Want to do me next?”

This time it’s Mrs. Miller who blushes.

“Speak of the devil,” I mutter, not surprised to see him at all.

“Hey, Julia. You’re looking lovely as usual.” He waggles his eyebrows. “Well, minus that ink spot on your dress.” He leans in. “It’s right—”

I smack the hand that’s headed for her chest away. “Leave her alone, asshole.”

Julia looks down at her shoes. “Can we go dance now, Cain?”

“Sure.” I start to turn, but something hits my shoulder.

“Don’t forget your mask,” Damien taunts. “It is a masquerade party, after all.”

Glaring at him, I bend down to pick up the mask. “Why are you here? I don’t recall ever seeing you attend one of these.”

Licking his lips, he puts on his own black mask. “What can I say? I’m all about new experiences.” He jerks his chin toward the dance floor. “You guys have fun.” Those creepy blue eyes land on me. “I’ll just stand here and watch.”

My ears get hot and I’m pretty sure they’re about as red as the ink stain on Julia’s dress.

I should have known Damien wasn’t done with me yet.

Grabbing Julia’s hand, I lead her out to the dance floor.

I feel Damien’s eyes on me the entire time.

“Hi, Cain.”

I inwardly groan at the sound of Katrina’s voice. I can’t even take a piss without her following me.

If I thought Damien was being a stalker, it has nothing on Katrina.

Monday, she called to say she was dropping off a box of my stuff.

Tuesday, she called to say she forgot to put a sweatshirt in the box and she’d meet me at my locker after school.

When I told her to keep it, she said she’d leave it on my porch instead.