Whispering Suits

After the first lesson, I was exhausted and felt like Cyrus and I hadn't made much actual progress towards making a plan. The second lesson went about the same. He was waiting outside again, and seemed really tense until we made it upstairs and into his apartment. Then he started off, cocky and confident, answering my questions on the court. I tactfully asked about the Faerie hierarchy, and he was able to clarify some of the things I’d read in Jonathan’s journal. But, then I mentioned Maya again and he went cold and ended the lesson there and then. He also waited right until the last possible moment to ask to see my deck, and I’m half convinced that if I didn’t remind him he wouldn’t ask to see the cards at all. I’ve also made the decision that, at least for now, I’ll avoid bringing up the Summer King or Maya. Cyrus has made it quite clear, they are sore subjects for him and for whatever reason he doesn’t want to talk about his situation. At my third lesson, Cyrus finally explained why my specific Tarot deck has caused such a stir. Apparently, most Faeries don’t know how to make every Tarot Card. And, even if they did know how to make them, it takes a significant amount of time, preparation, and magical energy to make a Tarot Card. Cyrus showed me some of his cards, and it was mostly the Wands suit with a couple of coins, chalices and dagger cards thrown in. He only had two major arcana cards, The Sun and The World. He had explained that most Faeries don’t have the power to ‘ink’ multiple cards, so they will only make ones they know they are going to use. The stronger the Faerie, the more cards they might choose to ink, but it does come at the cost of burning up their life force. I asked how he had as many cards as he did and he just grinned at me, he really can be quite infuriating. So far, the three cards he has asked to see from my deck have all been Minor Arcana. The first was the King of Wands, the second was the Queen of Chalices and the third card was The King of Chalices. With the knowledge Cyrus has given me, I can see the characters in the Tarot design more clearly. When I look at the Queen of Chalices card, I can tell now that it’s Maya sitting upon the throne in the image. I was also not surprised to see the King of Chalices depicted an empty throne with a large ornate chalice in place of where the King should be. Today will be lesson number four, and I’ve asked if he can finally show me how to activate the cards. He said he would, but suggested I make plans to stay overnight. I can’t say I was exactly thrilled over the prospect of having to spend the night in his apartment, with him there. But, seeing as the first time I had any real exposure to magic I passed out for two days, I suppose it makes sense I might be a little worn out after today's lesson. I’ve told Gran I’m spending the night with Nat…who I haven’t spoken to in weeks. I keep putting off going to the cafe now that I have this contract, though no doubt she’ll have heard about it by now. But, if I’m going to use her as cover I need to let her know. So, before heading to Cyrus’s I need to go to the cafe. I text Cyrus to let him know about the detour, he’s been very ‘big brother’ about knowing where I am especially when we have plans. If it wasn’t for the fact he’s a Faerie, and that I still don’t fully know what his plan here really is, I might find that trait attractive. I shake the thought off, I can’t allow myself to think of the frankly many ways Cyrus is attractive. Going down that road leads to heartbreak at best, at worst Maya might break my neck. I feel my phone vibrate in my pocket and it’s just Cyrus confirming he’ll be waiting for me. For a moment I feel guilty to keep him waiting, but I need to talk to Nat. Then, I remember that this whole mess is his fault. If he hadn’t made that first deal with me when Nat and I had gone to the bar, I probably would never have sought him out for help and this whole mess where every single Faerie court is out to get me wouldn’t have happened. Let him bloody freeze for all I care, I’ll take my time. The bus ride to the cafe is strangely calming, I could have gotten a car but I figured Nat would be pissed enough without me arriving with a Summer Court escort. As I walk along the prom, I can see The Pearl Cafe ahead and it looks beautiful as ever, the waves rolling across the bay behind it making it seem almost like the building rose out of the ocean. On the side of the building is the mural that Mum painted a few summers back. A beautiful white seal perched on the rocks, looking out over the Bay. I feel the tears pricking my eyes, every time I think I'm starting to feel okay I see something that reminds me of mum and it comes back like a freight train hitting me right in the chest. The pain is a good distraction from the anxiety I've been feeling about talking to Nat. The cafe looks quiet, which is both a blessing and a curse. Nat's face is like thunder the moment she levels her sight on me. I'm barely through the door before she's rushed round the till and across the cafe to meet me. “My office” she says, her tone cold. I can see the hurt in her eyes and I don't argue as she leads me towards the staircase at the back that leads to her apartment upstairs. She uses the front room as an office space, I've never asked what the Faeries she meets here come to her for but since beginning to learn about the courts I suspect she's helping those Faeries who want to leave their court, like she did. Nat sits down at her desk, and I suddenly feel like I'm at a meeting with a mob boss, not an old family friend. Nonetheless, I sit down across from her. I should have thought about what I wanted to say to her, but, then Nat finally speaks and summarises the situation perfectly. “Indigo, what the actual fuck have you done?”