Sariel’s eyes narrowed. “I was under the impression that death represented a drastic transformation and not a physical death.”
“That’s in tarot. Right now we’re in Marsha land.” Marsha tapped the card. “And this means that youcoulddie. Maybe. Very strong possibility.” She gestured to the row of cards. “To avoid this fate, you need to change your path as soon as you can. That will be the key to avoiding, well, you know.” She gagged and drew her finger across her throat.
Seymour grimaced.
Sariel leaned across the counter, a hint of his halo glimmering over his head. “Who are you? What are you?”
“Me?” Marsha batted her long lashes. “I’m Marsha F. Snart! Just a simple cashier at Anna Graham’s.” She grinned. “If you didn’t like my reading, maybe you should help your friend.”
Sariel glared for a long moment before stepping back and taking Seymour’s arm. “We are leaving now.”
“Fucking finally!” Seymour groaned in relief.
“Oh, just one last thing.” Marsha had a tiny burlap pouch in her hand, and she wiggled it.
“Eh?”
“Catch!” Marsha threw it to Seymour.
Seymour caught it reflexively and gave it a quick glance.
There was a tag tied around the top with the logo of the store and no other indication of what it was. With his luck, it was something that would explode.
He shoved it in his pocket. “Thanks. Bye bye now.”
“Have a nice day!” Marsha waved, still smiling from ear to ear.
Seymour let Sariel lead him outside, and he was grateful for the fresh air to soothe his aching head. It didn’t do much for his mood though, and he knew he sounded extra bitchy as he griped, “Well, that was fuckin’ fun. Not.”
Sariel embraced him suddenly, right there in the middle of the sidewalk. “Are you all right?”
Seymour tried to relax and hug Sariel back. “Yeah, just… hearin’ I’m gonna die wasn’t exactly my idea of fun. She was full of shit.” He swallowed hard. “Right?”
“I do not know,” Sariel whispered. “I do not think she was human, but she is not a being of the Celestial.”
“How do you figure?”
“Mr. Heiss has dominion over every Celestial being in the city. I am familiar with most of them, especially the more powerful ones, and she is not one of those.”
“And she’s, uh, powerful?”
“Yes.”
“Well, fuck her and her stupid readin’ right up the ass.” Seymour huffed. “I ain’t dyin’. I don’t care what Wolf King fucker or any of those cards say. I am in control of this shit coaster we’re ridin’, and we’re gonna be just fine and dandy.”
Sariel smiled. “Said like a true Aries.”
“Brave?”
“Stubborn.”
“That too.” Seymour gave Sariel one final squeeze before pulling away. He got back in the truck and quietly shut the door, trying to be extra sneaky when he saw Day was still curled up asleep.
Sariel, however, was not so sneaky and slammed his door shut as if there was a hurricane about to come through.
Day bolted up with a meow.
“Hey, lil’ girl.” Seymour cringed.
