Flash Fic February Day Sixteen (02/16/2022) Prompt: Mountain
Hecate held the tarot card up close, tilting it in the light so she could see it better. The card was old, and faded with age, but its image was still clear, even after years of wear. Printed on its surface was a tall, white tower, perched at the precipice of a mountain. Lightning had struck the tower, setting it ablaze, and sending pieces of the tower tumbling down the mountain.
She turned it in her hand thoughtfully. “Well that’s odd.”
Persephone’s eye twitched. “What is? If that thing says I’m dying, well, it’s too late. I’m already dead.” Her arms were crossed, her foot tapping impatiently against the wooden floor of Hecate’s apartment.
Hecate gave her friend a dreamy smile. “Oh, no, you’re not dying again. The tarot doesn’t predict death, merely your internal state of being, and its outcomes on the world around you-”
“So then what’s odd about a stupid tower on a mountain?” Hecate had to smile at Persephone’s impatience. This was the first time, in both their life and unlife, that Persephone had been truly invested in a tarot reading Hecate was performing for her.
“It’s merely that the Tower was in the outcome position, that’s all. It is a card that represents ambitions and goals built upon false premises.” Hecate handed out the card to Persephone so she could look at it. “See, they built the Tower at the top of the mountain, in a vain attempt to reach for the heavens. And they were struck down as a result of their arrogance and lack of foresight.”
Persephone’s face actually paled as she looked at the card, Hecate continuing her explanation. “If they had built the Tower with a more solid base, and hadn’t relied on exploiting others to make it, they would have succeeded their lofty goals. For some, it is a sign that their plans will end up in flames, that Karma will have her way. For others, it is a sign that their abuser will face the justice they deserve,”
Persephone gently placed the card back onto the table, her fingers tapping anxiously against its glass surface. “So… what does that mean for me?”
Hecate shrugged. “It could mean anything. Planning to screw anyone over?” Her eyes bore in Persephone, but she didn’t say anything more.
“No! You know I wouldn’t.” But she couldn’t meet Hecate’s gaze.
There was a beat of silence. “Well, I can give you the meaning of the card, and interpret it in the context of the spread, but only you can say what it means to you, Percy.”
Persephone bit her lip. “W-…what does it mean in context?”
Hecate stared at the Kindred in front of her for a few more moments before finally tearing her gaze away and looking at the tarot spread in front of her. The cards were arranged in a ‘U’ shape, with the opening at the top facing Persephone. Hecate replaced the Tower where it had been originally at the bottom right side. “Well, here, you have the Devil.” She tapped the card that had been placed directly above the Tower, the Devil. “In the changes position.”
“That one definitely means I’m dead, right?” Persephone forced out a laugh.
Hecate raised her eyes to Persephone, but did not respond. “The Devil is about losing yourself. Your soul.”
“R-right…”
“The other cards are irrelevant for now. It’s these two you should look at.” She tapped the Tower and the Devil respectively. “ I’m not going to get involved Persephone, but whatever you’re planning-”
“I’m not planning anything!” She interrupted, crossing her arms with a huff.
“-but whatever it is,” Hecate continued. “It will end badly… So, why are you here, Persephone? What did you hope to learn?” Hecate leaned back, eying Persephone. The stars were at her ear, watching intently with her. It seemed they, too, were interested in Persephone’s motives.
“I just…” Persephone sighed, rising from her seat so she could pace. “You know how it is… there’s a lot of pressure from the other Tremere. From Lysidias,” she spat the name of her Primogen as though it were poison.
“I thought you liked Lysidias?”
“Yeah, I did, ’til he became a massive prick. He’s not satisfied with my progress.” Persephone had paced her way to the window and was angrily staring out of it. Hecate merely watched from her seat.
“Then surely practicing your blood sorcery would be more beneficial than me reading your tarot?”
“You don’t get it, Lu,” she whined, flopping down onto Hecate’s couch. “I never understood why you weren’t made Tremere, this weird occult shit is right up your alley, not mine.”
Hecate felt a twinge of annoyance lance through her chest. “I’m quite happy being Malkavian, actually.”
But Persephone ignored her, and continued to rant about her woes of being under Lysidias’s command. “My blood just isn’t strong,” she sighed. “I thought maybe your tarot stuff would, I dunno, help me find something?”
“No Tremere blood is strong,” Hecate reminded her. “It’s part of your Clan. And no tarot reading would hold the answer you want.”
“Well yeah but…” as she continued to drone on, Hecate tuned her out and picked up the Tower once more. The bolt of lightning that struck the tower glistened in the light of her dining room, the mountain underneath the crumbling structure standing tall despite the storm raging above it.
Persephone had let on more than she’d intended; whatever she was planning, her weakness as a Tremere was center to it. The stars nodded their agreement, yes, this is the answer, they whispered. Be cautious. Do not trust her.
Hecate finally rose to her feet. “I’m sorry that the Tremere curse affects you so strongly, Persephone. But I really don’t have a solution for you other than suck it up and practice. We all had to do it, and it’s high time you did as well. It’s been five years, you should at least be able to perform basic blood sorcery by now.”
Persephone sighed, standing and getting ready to head out. “I guess you’re right. Oh well, I’ll figure something out.” She tossed her things into her back, still avoiding Hecate’s gaze.
Hecate got the feeling that Persephone would continue to seek the easy way out… but it wasn’t her business, nor her problem. Not anymore. She walked Persephone to her door. “Remember what the Tarot said, Percy,” she warned, though she knew it was pointless. “Be careful.”
“Yeah, yeah, I will. Thanks, Lu.” And without once meeting her eyes, Persephone left, closing the door sharply behind her, and leaving Hecate alone in her quiet apartment.
