The overwhelming aroma of incense made my head spin. The only light in the room came from candles scattered about in holders and from the flashing neon “Tarot, Tarot, TAROT” sign on the wall.
Madame Kazee was seated at a small round table, a colourful swirl of scarves, shawls, and gaudy jewelry. Her tarot deck sat before her on the black velvet tablecloth.
“Cross my paw with silver and all will be revealed to you,” she purred.
I drew up a chair and threw down a wad of the briefcase cash. “I need to know the whereabouts of the Karmic Crystal of Justice. Spill it, sister.”
The money disappeared as if by magic and Madame Kazee shuffled her tarot cards. Never breaking eye contact with me, she slowly and dramatically turned over the first card.
“The Moon,” she said. “Deception and illusion.”
“I need an address for the amulet’s location, not a buncha mumbo jumbo.”
No response. Madame Kazee turned over another card and held it up for me to see.
“The Ten of Swords." She paused for effect. "Utter defeat.”
The next card seemed to leap out of the deck as if possessed. It fell on the floor, face up. Madame Kazee blanched under her fur and whispered, “The Tower. An unexpected fateful blow from right out of the blue.”
The last thing I remember was the sound of breaking glass as some unknown assailant behind me smashed my liquor bottle over my head.
Lights out. Closing time for me.
[Story, art and photo of art © Debra She Who Seeks, 2023;
you can visit Kazee at Mystical Empowerment]
I get the sense that Madame Kazee can be trusted. This tale has me hooked.
ReplyDeleteAnd the suspense builds. I get the feeling Madame Kazee is not a female at all but a drag kitty! And I sure hope you were least hit over the head by a bottle of top shelf liquor see.
ReplyDeleteSo this is also a roman a clef?? The plot thickens!
ReplyDeleteShould have known, in a room with a dame wearing gaudy jewelry, to watch one's back.
ReplyDeleteUh oh - getting intense now.
ReplyDeleteCan't wait
ReplyDeleteKeep it coming.
ReplyDeleteLove,
Janie
I have only one suggestions, some Edmonton landmarks. That would bring me joy.
ReplyDeleteI read a murder mystery novel awhile ago, set in Edmonton, and especially loved all the Edmonton landmarks in the book. I think the book was called "Fall From Grace" by Wayne Arthurson.
Ohhh kitty's in danger.
ReplyDeleteAlso, you know how Tarot readers are not to be trusted.
XOXO
Madam Kazee looks like a true thrifter... er, I mean, grifter!
ReplyDeleteWow she seems to have supernatural power
ReplyDeleteLooking farwared to the next chapter
Oh, my stars!! The suspense!!! I'm loving this!
ReplyDeleteMy only issue is that you're forcing me to wait 24 hours for the next installment.
ReplyDeleteI am loving this.
Oooh! Excitement builds! HRH Spayed is in some trouble...
ReplyDeleteWhat will happen next?!?
This is so much fun! I really like your artwork, too!
ReplyDeleteWow. Instant validation of tarot reading.
ReplyDeleteGotta love that lol
So dark and mysterious. Yum!
ReplyDelete🔮🔮🔮🔮🔮🔮🔮
ReplyDeleteDear Debra, I just checked out chapters 1 to 3, great. I must have missed some of your witticism as I don't understand English cat street slang well enough, but I still had a great time. And your illustrations for the story are strong too.
ReplyDeleteALL THE BEST from Austria,
Traude
https://rostrose.blogspot.com/2023/02/costa-rica-5-kapitel-la-paz-waterfall.html
I need to read chapters 1 and 2 to get caught up and look forward to it. Thanks, Debra.
ReplyDeleteCool. Miss a few days and look what happens. This is going to be good. The cat's whiskers, so to speak.
ReplyDeleteOuch. Remind me never to get my Tarot read.
ReplyDeleteI am surprised Madame Kazee is not using one of those Cat Tarot decks you like so much. Maybe it is not bloody enough?
@ Old Lurker -- You've got it exactly right! Madame Kazee is hardcore, man, hardcore.
ReplyDelete"The overwhelming aroma of incense made my head spin."
ReplyDeleteMe too, HRH Spayed, me too.
I hope your heroine left home with sharpened claws!
ReplyDeleteOoooh! suspense...
ReplyDeleteIs there a veterinarian in the house?
ReplyDelete@ Kirk -- That made me laugh out loud!
ReplyDeleteIf this doesn't get picked up for TV I'll be surprised...
ReplyDeleteOh, how I love that image! And Madame Kazee approves. She's actually curled up and asleep on my lap as I catch up on her adventures. She is quite the tarot reader, isn't she?
ReplyDeletedid you do the art work?????
ReplyDelete@ yellowdoggranny -- Yes, I did all the artwork except for the GIF used in chapter 5 which I swiped from the internet.
ReplyDeleteWho can you trust in this story? Seem like no one! Love the artwork, Deb!
ReplyDeleteYikes! Cliffhanger.
ReplyDeletedun...dun...DUN... Hopefully Kazee isn't next!
ReplyDelete