A rush of anger hit her and she lowered her voice. “Really? You’re going to pull this now? Now?” Cabe was gone and she didn’t have it in her to deal with this. She stormed toward the doors.
Bren looked taken aback and followed her. “What? You’re just leaving?”
She whipped around. “I’m dealing with an emergency.”
“Something more important than your best friend dying?”
Semele stepped back as if he had struck her.
“Sem, I’m sorry—”
“Don’t.” She held up her hand to stop the apology. “I’m dealing with something you can’t understand. Go help Oliver. I’ll be back when I can.”
She was holding a note from the killer. He had the cards and the manuscript. Now he wanted her to call him.
“Sem, wait!” Bren called out.
Semele didn’t turn around. She got into Theo’s car with Theo one step behind her.
When the doors closed, she showed Theo the note. He agreed she should call the number from the hotel.
Semele stared at the handwriting the whole drive there. The writing told her what she already knew. This was the mastermind, the monster behind it all, and now he was coming after her.
King of Swords
When Semele and Theo got back to his suite, they each picked up a phone so Theo could listen to the call.
A man answered on the first ring. “Very good. You found the flowers.”
“Yes.” Semele could barely get the word out.
“Speak up, dear girl. It’s so lovely to finally hear your voice.” His breathing sounded labored and he spoke with a slight Slavic accent. “I’m so sorry about your friend. But you see, studies have shown precognition is triggered by tragedy more than anything else. Death being the utmost one, I’m afraid I had no choice. Is Theo there with you?”
Semele couldn’t speak. She was about to be sick.
Theo answered. “I’m here.”
“Ah. The little ones together at last. Nettie and Liliya protected you well, but all good things must come to an end.” He stopped to take several wheezing breaths, then continued on. “You’ve suffered a great loss, Semele. But monumental achievements require sacrifices and so far you’ve achieved nothing.”
Semele’s entire body was shaking. “What do you want?”
“I now hold several things that are quite dear to you. Two items you know about and one is a surprise. Your chances of retrieving any one of them depend on how well you do on the test.”
She was too petrified to speak. An image had already formed in her mind.
“Why do you think the tarot starts withThe Fool?” he asked. “Because we are all fools traveling on a road with no beginning and no end. Do you have the courage to be the fool, Semele?”
“Please. Just say what you want from me.”
“Every human has intuitive abilities. We see images in clouds, rocks, tea leaves… or cards. Symbols are the signposts, all around us if we are looking.Pareidoliais the ancient Greek word for this phenomenon, but you can see so much more. How good is your sight, dear girl, when there is something—or someone—depending on you?”
He hung up with a click.
Semele clutched the phone. Terror gripped her and she prayed she was wrong. In her heart she already knew what he had—who he had.
Theo didn’t understand. “What did he mean?”
She turned to him, her heart full of hopelessness. “My mother.”
