An excerpt from an unpublished book called “Black Marsh.”

”If you want cards then so be it,” said Derrick, “Tina, this is your moment I think.”

The witch, as the brothers thought of her since seeing the inked pentagram stood up. She held five envelopes, each bearing the name of those seated around the table. One for each except Derrick and herself.

It was Allan that found that curious. “Five arms, five envelopes. Bit of a coincidence that Derrick, what are you two then? The centre of this pentagram?”

“Synergy in numbers as the late professor used to say,” he replied.

“You knew my father?” asked Emma.

“Indeed, I did, before he ceased coming round for chats after that visit to Rome. If only he had told me what he brought back, much of what happened might have been avoided. Alas he never did and I had no reason to think anything was off until your ghost started walking.”

Tina walked round the table depositing envelopes. Allan looked at his first, the others left them in front of them. It had his full name in neat calligraphy and bore the hallmarks of a fountain pen. Inside he knew what was there before opening it. Coincidence, he thought rubbing his palms on his jeans. He suddenly felt hot, and his ribs began aching. The hand on his chest was itching too. Herein lies The Fool.

He inserted a finger under the seal and pulled out the lead player of the major arcana.

“You were expecting that yes?” Tina stood behind him and retrieved the empty envelope.

Allan nodded, watching the tattoo reach forwards and arrange the card to face him. She centred it directly in front of him, an action she would repeat to each of the five in turn. He noticed her skin was very pale, five silver bangles encircled her wrist, and her fingernails were manicured, coated in black nail varnish. Black marsh, The Black, Black Swan ran through his mind. He looked up at Emma and she gave him a thin smile. For the first time he saw exactly what Conrad did. A beautiful woman with a sad face in need of love. He felt even warmer.

“I have been called a fool twice before. One put me in hospital with this.” He tapped his chest.

“It was no insult, Allan.” Tina’s face dropped to his shoulder, and she was whispering into his ear. The Fool is the beginning and the end, the man perched on a cliff pending a leap of faith. It is no accident you are as you are now for your journey is to ensure theirs goes smoothly. The zero card called you a long time ago and I drew it when you saw the connection not long ago. The great divide outside time and space where parallel universes collide. Do you see the significance of your role here?”

“Clear as mud,” he said. She smiled in a way that Joseph thought was highly seductive before moving to Rowena.

Her hand was trembling as it opened the seal.

“The Empress,” Tina said, “the symbol of fertility and growth. The one who will fight to the death to protect her family, creator of life and death. In your case three is the card number. This is your strength,” her hands rested on the shoulders of both Rowena and Ade. “Two create three, you did not draw this reversed so the upper hand is yours.”

“Oh,” said Rowena thinking back to when Ade mentioned her as a mum. She could feel a warmth in the shoulder Tina was touching. An energy she knew was flowing from Ade. Is this for real though of just a load of rubbish?

The hand left her shoulder, but Tina remained with Adrian. “You are next,” she said.

Ade looked at Rowena, he thought there was an energy flow too. Could have been caught up in the atmosphere though. Tina, the quiet barmaid was commanding the floorshow and delivering an eerie atmosphere through the confidence in her voice. Aye, young ‘un, the witch knows what cards are there. No harm in playing along.

Right Gramps, he thought, no harm at all. Like Rowena, he was thinking about calling her mum in jest. Her eyes were giggling, at least that’s what he saw before noticing he was staring and a voice in his ear said, “She needs you to be strong Adrian.”

Ade came back to the present and noticed Tina’s head next to his shoulder, her face smouldering in the dim light that now sat over them. A warm soft light that created an atmosphere prop to her floorshow. He opened his envelope and tipped out the card.

“The Hermit and,” she waived her arm towards Allan, “The Fool.”

Ade frowned not understanding, “What do you mean by that?”

Tina stood between him and Allan, “No coincidence you two sit side by side at this table, The Hermit is also The Fool, older and wiser. He walks in solitude, thinks deeply and offers guidance. Slows things down and can see things clearly. You two must work together.”

That word coincidence again, thought Allan as Tina’s hand rolled across his back as she moved toward his brother.

Joseph was not sure what to make of this. Cards on the table had taken a literal turn when all he wanted was to know what the hell was going on. Tarot was not his bag, and yet there was something powerful charged in the air. It flowed with the witch. He turned his card out and Tina let out a sigh.

“The Hanged Man, the same card as your brother’s nemesis, except his fell reversed. Yours is strong, and if played well then can accomplish many things through sacrifice and enlightenment.”

Her hand lingered on his shoulder. Joseph could smell a soft perfume, it was intoxicating. “I was hoping for The Lovers,” she whispered into his ear before standing up.