3. Calix

Chapter three

Calix

M y eyes wander up the length of the stranger who, coincidentally, picked up the same stray tarot card I reached for. If I never experienced what it felt like to be frozen in a vampire’s compulsion, unable to move, that’s exactly what I would think is happening now. A familiar scent of cinnamon and cloves surrounds me, reminding me of memories once lost, and a childhood worth remembering. A scent that reminds me of home.

Since following Nico to Heart’s Hollow, this is the first time I’ve felt like I’ve done the right thing, that this is the place where I’m meant to be. After Helios’s death, I have been burdened by lingering feelings of guilt that won’t go away, no matter how many times Nico tells me that I saved the both of us.

Even though I trust Heart’s Hollow’s wards, I can’t shake the feeling that something bad is about to happen. But as I stare up into this tall dragon’s amethyst eyes, I feel…safe. He’s about a good half a foot taller than my five foot seven—maybe taller. Gorgeous purple and magenta scales adorn the left side of his face, and trail down his neck and collar bone, before disappearing into a black dress shirt. Since the shirt is rolled at the sleeves, I can see more jeweled scales on his well-defined arms.

Then there’s the transparent purple wings folded against the handsome stranger’s back. I’m completely captivated by his good looks, and that’s saying something since I literally spent the last half of my life surrounded by unnaturally good-looking vampires. I’ve heard of love at first sight, but is there such a thing as infatuation at first sight?

I swallow hard, taking in more of his appearance, including the purple claws that look dangerously sharp. Regardless of the potential danger, he’s breathtaking. Is it because he is the first dragon shifter I’ve met in real life? Or am I transfixed because his coloring reminds me so much of the dragon I’ve spent years dreaming of?

“Impossible,” he whispers, almost as if in awe.

“I’m so sorry,” I stammer. “Is this your tarot card?”

He glances down at the card and blinks. The card is beautiful, with a black background that’s dotted with silver stars and symbols. An angel is in the center of the card with his wings spread wide. His hands are positioned casually in front of him, loosely open, palms up. Below the angel are several open coffins with spirits rising out, arms outstretched.

Both the dragon shifter and I are still grasping the card, and I wonder if he also feels the need to hold on, just like I do.

“Ah, the judgment card,” The Owner says suddenly, causing both the dragon and I to jump. He hovers his hand just above the card and looks like he is reaching for it when he yanks his hand back, almost as if it’s hot to the touch and he doesn’t want to get burned.

The dragon’s curious eyes meet mine before we return our attention back to the mysterious man in the top hat.

“Interesting,” The Owner hums.

I arch a brow. “What’s interesting?” I glance back down at the card as if it holds all the answers to the universe.

“It appears that there’s no need for me to provide a tarot reading for either of you; the card has chosen.”

Okay, because that isn’t ominous or slightly creepy. “It chose me?” I ask in shock. And what the hell did that mean? How can a card just choose someone?

The Owner nods, and the dragon next to me relaxes. “And you as well, young dragon. The card has chosen both of you.”

“Zero,” he corrects. “My name is Zero. So what does the judgment card represent? Is it about letting go of certain prejudices? Because trust me, I’m hearing the message more often than not.” His tone is serious, which surprises me.

Earlier, I noticed Zero when he walked into the shop. He was charming with a lightness to him that I envied. Even when he bumped into me, he was chuckling. I used to be so lighthearted and jovial. I feel like I’m slowly becoming that person again now that I’m free, but I’m not quite there, and I hate it. I hate what the rogues took from me.

“Not exactly,” The Owner says. He waves a hand at a nearby table, indicating that we take a seat. “Did either of you walk into my store searching for something specific?”

I let go of the card and sit in front of the table.

Zero shakes his head and takes a seat next to me. “I’m not looking for anything.” He scoots in close, and I feel his thigh brush up against mine. Heat zaps through my body. Did he do that on purpose? I turn my head to offer him a small smile, but he’s already focused on The Owner.

“And what about you?” The Owner looks at us as he takes a seat across the table and pushes aside a crystal ball. He pulls out a pretty wooden box of tarot cards, shuffles the deck and flips a card before sliding it in front of us. I don’t need to look down to know it’s also the judgment card.

I bite my lip, a little nervous to admit anything out loud, but I do anyway. “No, nothing specific. I just felt like I needed to walk into the shop for some reason. Almost as if something was guiding me here.”

Zero’s head snaps up. His gaze is intense as he studies me for a moment. “That’s what it felt like for me too. Like a magical tug pulling me into the shop.”

I nod. A magical tug. That’s a good way of putting it.

The Owner gives us a knowing smile, his black eyes glittering. “Almost like a true calling you couldn’t ignore?”

Zero and I make eye contact again.

“This card isn’t exactly as it seems. Judgment is an exciting card to pull. It’s all about rebirth, an inner calling, or true calling, if you will. For many, it represents a new chapter in your life, or in some cases, reinventing your life.”

My heart pounds the more The Owner begins to explain things like the meaning of absolution and starting over. He explains that life ‘before’ might have had limitations, or restraints holding one back. This card is all about embracing that new life now that we are free. As he talks, I find myself completely absorbed in his explanation. The Owner must be talking about me.

It makes sense. The rogues have literally held me captive for years. Now that I’m free, I should be embracing my new life here in Heart’s Hollow. It’s about reinventing myself. The way The Owner emphasizes certain words and looks right at me, it’s as if he’s staring into my soul. This explanation is too specific to not be me. Right?

I glance back over at Zero, but like me, he’s leaning forward, listening to every word the mysterious man tells us. Maybe he’s entering a new chapter in his life too?

“That’s the light side to the card. An explanation if someone is to pull the card in the upright position. But like everything else, there’s always the reverse.”

My heart drops. “The reverse, as in the opposite?”

Zero unconsciously reaches over and grasps my hand. Is he trying to comfort me? I lace my fingers with his, basking in the warmth this dragon is providing me.

“If you were to pull the reverse, it can mean one of you has a lot of self-doubt. Your inner critic might be pushing you to ignore the call. But really, how can one fully ignore a soul’s true calling once awakened to it?”

My mind scrambles as I look down at the new card on the table. It’s sitting beside the original card that Zero and I found on the ground. Did I reach for it in the upright position, or was it upside down? I can’t remember. And if I got the card in the upright position, does that mean Zero pulled the reverse?

Zero stands abruptly, his chair toppling over with a loud crash. “I’m sorry. I need to go.” Without further explanation, he places the chair back in the upright position and storms out of the shop. As the shop’s front door swings shut, I look down at the table and realize he has taken the original tarot card with him.

The Owner smiles. “Don’t worry, Calix. He’ll come back around.” He hands me the other remaining judgment card, and I take it. It isn’t until I’m down the street do I realize I never gave The Owner my name.

***

I make my way down the cobblestone path that leads me to the big gazebo in the park. The first time I saw the white wood covered in vibrant green vines and dangling purple wisteria, I had to stop and just appreciate its beauty.

From here, I can see Autumn sparking purple magic into the plants while his little fox familiar plays in a pile of fallen leaves a few feet away.

A moment of deep sorrow hits me. I used to be a witch just like Autumn. I remember Autumn from when I was a child, both of us grew up in prominent witch families. Both of us important members to our coven. That day Dante turned me into a vampire was the day my coven’s magic died.

Autumn glances up and waves me over. Shaking off my emotions, I think back at what The Owner told me. This is me embracing my new life, a new chapter that I plan to fill with happiness. To my shock, Autumn hugs me when I reach his side.

“Thanks for meeting with me,” I say as I hug him back.

“No problem. My mate is happy to help. Rook is an expert a potion brewing.” He hands me a small vile with a swirling red liquid inside. “Are you sure you want to drink it? The point of being in a safe haven town is to be accepted, no matter what species you are.”

I nod. “I’m sure. I don’t want others to realize I’m a vampire, at least not until my new home is secured within the town’s borders.” I’m just grateful that the last potion I took is still hiding my vampire nature from everyone.

“No, you’re right. It’s smart,” Autumn agrees. “I promise, I’m working hard with the coven to expand the town’s limits along with the wards. I know you wanted a location at the edge of the forest so you can hunt animals for blood.”

“You don’t need to say the word ‘hunt.’ I prefer saying ‘feed from animals,’ since I don’t plan on hurting them.”

“Of course. I should have asked. I’m so sorry.”

I wave his apology away and squeeze his arm. “It’s okay, you didn’t know. Plus, I’m pretty sure it’s just a me thing.”

“Just in case you need it, I’m looking into how I can get regular blood bags donated. I know vampires can’t just survive on small animals.”

“Thank you, Autumn. It’s been a long time since I’ve felt welcome anywhere.”

The day Nico and I entered Heart’s Hollow, I was shocked to find out that the wards accepted me; a vampire who just killed. When we started the resident’s interview to see if we could be accepted into the town, I ended up confessing everything to Autumn. I don’t know if it was the truth serum at works, but I get the feeling I wanted to tell Autumn either way.

I didn’t want my history creeping up on me. If I needed to go into hiding, I wanted to know sooner rather than later. Once he heard my whole story, he reassured me that I was meant to be in this town.

Autumn and I start chatting about everything and nothing as he continues to nourish the plants with his magic. He talks to me about the town, his coven, and eventually, topics move over to his wolfy mate, Rook. It’s obvious the witch is in love, and rightfully so. If I’m being honest, I have to admit that I’m jealous. No one has ever treated me the way Autumn talks about his fated mate.

While Autumn recounts how he and Rook met, I twist the cap off the bottle of my potion and down it in one go. The liquid feels cool as it slides down my throat, but I’m shocked by its delicious apple taste. Autumn and I continue talking. We reminisce about a few memories of when we were little and our families met, before we walk me to the edge of the forest.

“Text or call if you need anything.”

I rush forward and hug Autumn, thankful to have met another friend. “Thank you for being so kind and helping me out. It means the world to me that not only did you accept me into your town, but that you are working with the coven to include my new place in the town’s limits.”

We say our goodbyes and I walk leisurely through the forest. I take my time, admiring the trees, the blue sky, and the sun above me. Unconsciously, I toy with the daylight ring on my finger as my thoughts stray to the sexy dragon I met earlier. What was it about him?

The whole time Autumn recounted stories of his mate, my mind kept conjuring up images of Zero, and how I wished he was there with me. Strange. I don’t think I’ve ever had a crush before.

Then, when Autumn told me that he and Rook have shared dreams; a sign that they are in fact fated mates, memories of an amethyst dragon came to mind. Sure, the dragon in my dreams was a fully shifted dragon, as big as a van, and not my mysterious stranger I met at The Magic Shop. But one can wish.

I’m lost in silly daydreams with a small smile on my face to distract me, that I don’t notice at first that my door to my new house is wide open.

The blood drains from my face, and I feel dizzy as I look at the open door. This place isn’t protected by Heart’s Hollow’s wards just yet, but I thought I would be safe, hidden in this forest. Adrenaline pumps through me as I spot the shattered glass of my window. It looks as if the person broke through my window and reached the lock just inside the door.

I cock my head and listen, using my vampire abilities to listen for another heartbeat. Nothing. I’m alone, with the exception of some birds chirping in the distance. I step into my house and feel the stupid tears flood my eyes as I take in the chaos. Things broken and ripped to shreds. Everything is haphazardly thrown around.

Nothing in this house actually meant anything to me, since it’s all new, but still. This was my place. My new home. The new chapter I was excited to start. As I glance around at all the broken things, it dawns on me. This was done with purpose. Either one of Helios’s friends, or one of his many lovers. Fuck, it might even be one of his enemies, assuming I’ll take care of my husband’s debt, or some bullshit.

Fear starts to creep in before I squash it away, pushing it aside to make room for fury. Screw that. I told myself that once I was free, I wouldn’t fear anyone else, and I want to hold true to that vow. Pulling out my phone, I text Autumn and pray that he meant it when he said I can ask for anything.