12. Will
Chapter twelve
Will
The Tower
T hat dick .
Why, when I got my hands on him...
Gaping into the very obviously empty bathroom, I dropped the clothes I’d been attempting to bring Arthur. But when I’d knocked, there hadn’t been an answer. And after several failed attempts to get Arthur to respond, I’d finally risked breaking in. I’d meant to simply unlock the door, but as luck would have it, I’d ended up blowing off the door handle.
That was how I’d found the room empty, the shower still running.
The window was slightly pushed open, and I hurried over to poke my head out. There was a two-story drop to the ground but no other way I could see to escape.
Though, with Arthur’s height and stature, it was possible he could have dangled from the window’s ledge and dropped without too much effort.
I glared out the window, wondering if he was really that stupid to run away at a time like this. I didn’t even know where to start looking for him. He’d been missing now for who knew how long, and he could have escaped in any direction!
And if he left and Morgana found him when I wasn’t there to protect him?
I shuddered at the thought.
Probably hearing my indelicate lock picking, my family came bursting into the room.
“What’s wrong?” my dad asked, seeing my face.
“He’s gone.”
“Gone?” Dorothy asked, poking her head into the bathroom as if making sure I’d checked.
Breathing out through my nose, I slammed the bathroom window shut. “I want every room checked.”
My family nodded before leaving to do just that. Dorothy and Nana searched the top floor while my dad and Otto checked the bottom.
Gerry volunteered to search the backyard, but the moment he was outside, he seemed to forget his purpose and started chasing after the butterflies hovering around the rose bushes.
I had a feeling he wasn’t going to be the most helpful familiar.
While I doubted Arthur was here, we still scoured the house for him. But it became clear within minutes that he’d truly left.
Standing out on the front porch, I scowled out at the road, wondering just how I was going to find him.
Closing my eyes, I let every part of me relax as I thought of Arthur. I felt for that connection to him, the bond seared into both our skins, as my mind calmed, all other thoughts ceasing. Calling a vision forward wasn’t easy for me. It never had been. Usually, my visions bombarded me when they felt like it, mostly when I was in a calm and relaxed state like sleep.
But hopefully...
With my next breath, a barrage of visions slammed into me.
An overwhelming amount of indistinguishable voices on a busy street, a heap of tie-dyed shirts sitting on a dressing room chair, the sun glinting off a red, neon sign reading: The Magic Shop, a game of chess where white-gloved hands shifted silver pieces across a golden chessboard, Arthur grinning down at me in dim lighting as sensual music played around us...
I blinked, and the next moment, I was back in the present. I stared out at the road that led to the High Street, feeling in my gut that we needed to go that way.
“Come on,” I said, gathering the others and dragging them out the door. “I think I know where he is.”
We hurried along the sidewalk, my family trudging alongside me. But once we reached the busier streets, that feeling stopped, leaving us to guess where Arthur could be.
“He owes me some new slippers,” Nana muttered, hobbling along beside me with her unicorn purse clutched tight.
“We have more than enough money to buy you some new slippers,” I pointed out, glancing through every store window we passed.
Thanks to our spells to help keep the water damage to a minimum, the flooding hadn’t reached this area. And I was glad to see that people were out in force despite yesterday’s storm.
Nana seemed to perk up at the reminder that I had money. “That’s right! How could I forget that my grandson’s rich now?” She hesitated outside an antique shop, eyes wide and gleaming as she stared at some porcelain dolls in the window. “Say, Willie dear? Will, my favorite grandson?”
“Right here!” Otto called from up ahead, not even bothering to slow.
I sighed and steered her away from the window. “Tell you all what? Whoever finds Arthur first can have a prize, okay?”
And damn, I didn’t know Nana could move that fast.
She shoved past the others, barreling down the sidewalk with purpose. Otto groaned and hurried after her, probably not wanting to leave an 80-year-old woman to wander a foreign city alone. My dad and Dorothy winked at each other before rushing down different streets.
“Wait, everyone remembered to bring their phones, right?” I called after their retreating forms, scanning the busy streets as locals mingled and tourists shopped. I didn’t want to risk anyone getting lost right now.
But no answer came because they were already gone.
They’d... They’d really all just gone and ditched me!
Well, except for Gerry. Though, he didn’t really count.
“Where to now, Lord Human?” he asked, the light glinting off his cat eyes in his human form.
“ Again , you can just call me Will. Really, I’d prefer it.”
“Of course, Lord Will.”
“Is the whole ‘Lord’ thing because you’re my familiar? Because I get that our magic bonded or whatever, but I really don’t want a servant.”
Gerry scoffed. “As if I’d let you boss me around. No, now that our magic has bonded, as you put it, I am in charge of providing guidance in your magical endeavors.”
I was so fucked then.
His gaze fell on the same antique shop Nana had looked at, and he bolted forward. Pressing his face against the window, he stared longingly at a display table within. “A snow globe! It will be perfect for my collection.” He squinted at the glass sphere where an orange fish bobbed in the blue-dyed water. “Kinda looks like Gerry Jr.”
Grabbing him by the back of his collar, I dragged him away from the shop. He flailed, whining as I started down the street.
“No! I want it!”
“You can look for snow globes later. First, we need to find Arthur.”
He stopped resisting. “Fine. I shall take you to him. But I’m going to hold you to your word about the snow globes!”
Nose twitching, Gerry stalked down the street, and I frowned at his back. “Wait, you can locate him?”
He didn’t stop walking, shoving through a group of people exiting a restaurant. I apologized profusely to them as they cursed us out and hurried after Gerry.
“Well, yes. I can smell him.”
I glared at the demon. “This was something you were able to do the whole time? And you didn’t think to tell me?”
Shrugging, he sniffed the air again. “Didn’t seem important.”
Biting my tongue, I followed after him as he turned down another street.
And that’s when I spotted our escaped king speaking with a clothing vendor.
“Arthur!” I called in both relief and anger, ditching Gerry to storm over to our escapee.
Then I realized what he was wearing. One of Nana’s floral robes stretched tight around his body, barely hitting him midthigh. And he was very clearly not wearing anything beneath. I mean, I could just make out the outline of his...
Holy. Shit.
I could see his dick. We all could see his dick.
It was a really nice dick. Fuck.
His head snapped up as he turned to face me. When he saw the thunderous expression on my face, he grimaced and ducked behind the heap of clothes in his arms.
“Arthur, I already saw you,” I said, stalking forward and shoving some of the clothes out of his arms. And... wow, that was a lot of tie-dye.
“Oh, hello, Will,” Arthur said with forced nonchalance. “I didn’t see you there.”
I scowled at him. “What the fuck do you think you’re doing?”
He glanced down at the clothes in his arms, then peeked back at me with the most ridiculous kicked puppy look. “Shopping.”
Snatching the remaining clothes from his arms, I tossed them onto a stand outside the shop, ignoring the woman watching us curiously from the store doorway.
“Come on,” I said, snatching his hand and trying to drag him away from the store. “We’ve been so fucking worried, dude. We had no idea where you’d gone.”
Arthur dragged his feet, yanking his hand from mine. “I didn’t mean to worry you, but I’m fine.”
“Arthur, you ran off in an unfamiliar city wearing nothing but my nana’s robe and slippers.”
“I just... I needed to get away for a bit. I needed air.”
“Okay, well could you get some air in the backyard?”
His lips pulled down into something resembling a pout. “I suppose.”
I sighed, realizing that the shop worker was definitely eavesdropping, so I leaned closer and said much quieter, “Look, Arthur, you really scared me. Scared all of us. You’re not our prisoner, but I can’t have you wandering off when Morgana and the other queens are actively searching for you. It’s just not safe.”
His head ducked low as he avoided my gaze. “You’re right. I’m sorry. I didn’t think.”
Softly, I lifted his chin until he met my eyes. “If you need air or space, can you just let me know next time? I know we can be a lot, but I need to know you’re safe. Going out alone isn’t safe right now.”
Swallowing hard, he nodded, his eyes remaining trained on mine. “Yes, I can do that.”
My shoulders relaxed with his words, and I smiled. “Thank you.”
But even as I moved to leave again, Arthur hesitated.
“What is it?”
Arthur’s fingers trailed over the stacks of clothes, his eyes wide with wonder. “These are beautiful.”
I eyed the tie-dye and psychedelic patterns, which gave me a ’70s vibe. “Uh, sure.”
Shaking his head, he pulled out a flowy, hippie-inspired dress from the clothes rack. He traced the neon patterns with his calloused fingertips, eyeing the dress reverently.
“Um, Arthur?”
He didn’t look away from the dress. “Yes, Will?”
“Do you want that?”
That snatched Arthur’s attention, and his gaze snapped up to meet mine. “I can have this?”
“I mean, I’d have to buy it first, but yeah.” I shrugged, checking the price tag. “I can buy it for you.”
Arthur looked as if I’d just offered him a treasure chest of gold, not an item that looked like you’d find it at a yard sale.
Besides, it definitely wasn’t the worst idea to put some more clothes on him. I caught several strangers lingering close by for a peek, and one girl who even snapped a picture.
That girl’s phone somehow ended up catching on fire, and she screamed before dropping it. Whoops. Don’t know how that happened.
After purchasing Arthur a few clothes from the shop, I waited just inside the store for him while he changed into one of his new outfits. Gerry walked around the room, sniffing some of the clothes with a wrinkled nose while I texted the others that I’d found Arthur and not to worry.
The others replied quickly, everyone except Otto stating they were going to head back to the Airbnb for a bit and would catch up later for dinner.
I was about to text them back and say I could grab takeout when Arthur exited the dressing room.
My fingers stilled over my screen as I stared at him, utterly and truly gobsmacked that someone could look so completely ridiculous but sexy at the same time.
His neon, tie-dyed shirt read Love, Peace, Music in groovy letters. Brightly colored flowers blossomed across the fabric. A pair of white shorts hugged his very firm, very muscular thighs, and he tugged uncomfortably at their hems, trying to pull them down more.
Thank God for five-inch inseams.
“Will, is this really okay?” Arthur asked, not noticing the way I struggled to hold my composure as he twisted around to stare at his ass in the mirror.
I... might have drooled a little. Sue me.
“You look great,” I assured him, admittedly a little breathlessly, when he finally looked at me for an answer.
There must have been something in my tone because Arthur stilled, glancing at me. I tried not to squirm under his intense gaze, but it was damn hard.
Sometimes when Arthur stared at me, it was like he was trying to look into my soul and seek out all my secrets. However, considering our current situation, I really didn’t need him finding out I had a thing for his thighs.
Red flashed across his eyes, and something almost feral filled his expression as he looked me up and down, making me wonder if he really could tell what I was thinking.
But in the next moment, it was gone, almost as if I’d imagined it. “Truly?”
I cleared my throat and subtly shifted my stance to hopefully hide the inappropriate semi I sported. “Yeah.”
Arthur grinned and turned to speak with the store employee who was pretending to busy herself with tidying folded stacks of clothes.
When I looked away, I found Gerry staring at me, a knowing smirk on his face. I glared at him before moving to the counter to pay for Arthur’s clothes.
Otto found us shortly after, and with some time to kill until dinner, we decided to check out the rest of the shops around the High Street while we could. We were still cautious, wary of Morgana or any of the other fairy queens finding us. But we couldn’t hide out in the Airbnb forever. We’d just need to be careful and pay attention for anything amiss.
Besides, we wouldn’t find the Treasures by hiding inside.
Gerry and Arthur still couldn’t seem to stand being too close to the other, so they flanked Otto and me as we strolled the town.
And that’s how we ended up on a shopping spree.
Arthur was positively delighted after discovering my credit card.
“You mean, I can buy whatever I want and all I do is swipe this?” he’d asked, staring down at the rectangular piece of plastic as if it was the most magical thing he’d seen as of yet. Though, he’d also given that look to cowboy-themed Crocs, so it seemed he was easily impressed.
I’d tried to explain that it wasn’t as simple as that, but Arthur very obviously didn’t understand. So here we were, watching him max out my credit card since my low credit line didn’t reflect the fact that I’d never have to worry about debt ever again.
But I could pay off whatever Arthur spent later, so I wasn’t too worried. Plus, I had another credit card Arthur didn’t know about.
And I definitely wasn’t planning to tell him. Ever.
Arthur’s excitement was contagious as he bounded from shop to shop, eager to see it all. Shop owners frowned when he pressed his face against their windows to peer inside, leaving behind smudges.
“He’s like a golden retriever,” Otto mused as Arthur burst into a soy candle shop named Flames of Avalon.
The shop worker jumped as the door slammed against the wall upon Arthur’s entrance, and two border collies sitting near the counter perked their heads up curiously. Once the worker got a good look at Arthur’s face, though, she didn’t seem nearly as worried. Instead, her concern shifted to interest, and she plastered a well-practiced smile on her face and pushed her glasses up her nose.
Not that I blamed her. With his strong, bearded jaw, freckles, and grassy-green irises, he really was pretty to look at.
I waited with Otto outside the shop, the both of us watching through the window as Arthur went around to each and every candle, taking long whiffs. The dogs, one black and white with mismatching ears, the other red with warm, brown eyes, followed Arthur around the store, and he absently scratched them between their ears as he sniffed candles. The worker approached him, gesturing to a sales sign and speaking to Arthur too softly for us to hear. Arthur beamed at her and pointed at an entire row of candles.
“He does know we can’t carry around a shop’s worth of candles, right?”
I knocked my elbow into his side, snorting. “Just let him enjoy this. We can worry about what to do with all the stuff later.”
Otto sighed, shaking his head as the worker waved Arthur over to the register. The two dogs circled around Arthur’s legs while he waited for her to ring up his candles, and he smiled as he squatted low so he could pet them.
God, he had a nice ass.
The woman said something, and Arthur stood, much to the dogs’ disappointment.
And as if feeling my stare, Arthur met my gaze over his shoulder, grinning as he waved my credit card in the air.
“Will!” he shouted, loud enough to be heard outside. “This kind woman said she’ll give me a good discount on these candles!”
My lips quirked in a grin. “I’m sure she did!”
Arthur’s excitement continued as we moved from shop to shop. And even though I knew we should have been a little more careful with how many things we bought for space reasons, I couldn’t seem to say no to him when he found something he liked.
Pretty soon, our arms were sore from all the bags we carried, and I begged Otto to fetch the car so we wouldn’t need to carry everything back to the Airbnb ourselves.
He groaned, but even he seemed reluctant to carry nearly 20 bags all the way back, and left.
Gerry stayed with me though, still enjoying this shopping trip just like Arthur. Though, unlike Arthur who used my card for his purchases, Gerry seemed to have sticky fingers.
It wasn’t until we stopped for ice cream that the two of them started getting along, bonding over their newfound love for cotton candy ice cream.
We’d just finished our ice cream, our hands full of shopping bags, and were heading back to explore some more shops while we waited for Otto to return when something weird happened.
My heartbeat started to pound in my ears, drowning out all other noise. Each breath came a little quicker until I felt like I might hyperventilate.
Arthur rounded in front of me, stopping me with a hand on my shoulder. He said something, his mouth downturned in concern.
But I couldn’t hear him because my heart was drumming so . Loud .
A magnetic pulse seemed to be nudging me forward, and it was damn hard to ignore.
“Can you feel that?” I asked, my words muffled and warbled as I stepped around Arthur.
His mouth formed the word “No” as he watched me take another step down the sidewalk.
And that’s when I saw it.
At first glance, it didn’t look like much, especially surrounded by so many other colorful shops. Limewashed bricks covered its narrow exterior, and a neon sign with the words The Magic Shop in red lettering hung above the door, just like in my vision.
And in a front window, displayed with some other random knickknacks, sat a golden Chessboard.
My breathing picked up even more, and I nearly sprinted toward the shop. Several strangers muttered at me as I weaved haphazardly around them, smacking a few with my bags, but I barely registered their words. Because I finally reached the shop, and I peered intently through the window to get a better look at the Chessboard.
Arthur and Gerry reached me, both confused and wary until they noticed what I’d spotted.
“Is that...” Arthur’s words drifted off as I practically shoved him and Gerry through the door.
A bell above the door chimed as we pushed inside, alerting the shop of our presence.
Inside, dimly lit sconces hung about the room, casting the shop in a cozy, yet mysterious, glow. Bookshelves upon bookshelves lined the walls. Walls so tall, some of the volumes would need ladders to reach them. In fact, as we stepped farther inside, I glimpsed several rolling ladders connected to some of the shelving units, reminding me of the library from Beauty and the Beast .
But I had one thing in mind as I shifted over to the display window. Dropping my bags on the ground, I bent forward to get a better look at one of the Treasures Thirteen, wondering if it was really this easy.
Arthur and Gerry set their bags beside mine and moved closer to look as well.
“Is this one of the Treasures?” Gerry asked, lowering himself and sniffing at the Chessboard. “It smells magical enough.”
I rolled my eyes. “What do you mean by ‘magical enough?’”
“You know,” he said, straightening and waving a flippant hand around the shop and nearly smacking Arthur in the face in the process. Irritated, Arthur’s gaze flickered with his beast before Gerry added, “This whole place reeks of magic.”
I supposed that did make sense. Because I could feel it, the magic residing here. I’d been to plenty of magic stores in my life, including many run by true witches and wizards. But this was the first time the magic inside a store had pressed against my senses, as if alive.
Just as I reached out to pick up the magical game board, a voice spoke up from behind us.
“Welcome in! Welcome in! Ah, I see my Chessboard caught your attention.”
I jumped, not having heard anyone approach.
Spinning around, we were greeted by a man dressed up as though prepared to pull a rabbit from the top hat on his head. An ebony tailcoat rested over his simple white button-up, and a black vest and bowtie completed the whole ensemble. He looked ridiculous to me, and that was before he posed, leaning with his white-gloved hands on a sleek cane.
“What brings you into my shop this fine afternoon?” the man said, apparently The Owner.
I glanced again at the Chessboard. “Just browsing.”
The man smiled kindly, though his eyes, so dark they appeared black, said he didn’t believe me. He padded over to us and nodded down at the Treasure. “Beautiful, isn’t it? One of the finest pieces I’ve ever collected.”
“Super cool,” I said, trying to sound casual, but my nerves were running rampant. I wasn’t quite sure why I felt so nervous speaking to this man. But there was something about him. Maybe it was his dark, knowing eyes that made him feel... old . “Can I ask where you got it?”
The Owner looked delighted by my question. “Of course! Why, I’ve had that Chessboard for ages now. It was gifted to me by a fellow passing through long, long ago.”
“Who was the fellow?” Arthur asked, exchanging a look with Gerry and me. The shop proprietor must have caught it because he grinned.
“Unfortunately, I never caught his name. Why do you ask?”
I cleared my throat, hoping the man couldn’t see my racing pulse. “Just curious.”
He nodded as though my answer made perfect sense. “Understandable, of course. But unfortunately, it’s not for sale.”
My heart deflated. “It’s not?”
“No, sorry. I’m afraid the man left very clear instructions for it.”
I needed the Chessboard, dammit. The quest relied on us obtaining it.
Nibbling on my bottom lip, I was about to resort to begging, or maybe even stealing, when my recent vision drifted through my thoughts. It hadn’t made any sense to me before, but maybe...
I glanced at the set with all of its matching pieces, then at the man’s gloved hands.
A wary thrill washed through me as I met the man’s eyes, trusting my gut. “What if I play you for it?”
The man’s brows lifted slightly, and interest swirled in those pitch-colored eyes. “Do you play?”
“Not really,” I admitted, and Gerry made a choking sound, which I ignored. “But I know the basics.” When he didn’t respond right away, I added, “And if I win, I’ll even pay you for the Chessboard.”
“Seems like an unfair advantage for me then,” he pointed out.
“Then you have no fear of losing,” I challenged.
The Owner hummed thoughtfully, studying me intently, and I could tell he was tempted by my proposal. I tried not to squirm under his keen gaze.
“I’ll make a deal with you,” he said, brushing his gloved fingers over the gold board. “If you win, you can have it for free.”
I eyed the man suspiciously. “Why would you do that?”
The man stared down at the Chessboard with a thoughtful expression before he glanced at me. “Maybe it’s because I’m truly not worried I’ll lose.”
I grinned. “Deal.”
The Owner grinned in return. “Very well. Let’s play.”
Retrieving the Treasure from the display window, the man weaved through the narrow aisles of bookshelves.
I had a moment’s hesitation about our bags, but decided I really didn’t want to carry them throughout the store. I’d just have to hope no one else came and took them.
Arthur and I hurried after the man, because damn , he was quick for someone so quiet, and it was easy to lose track of him in this place.
Gerry didn’t seem to have any issues keeping up, though he seemed distracted, his gaze periodically going unfocused. Every now and again, I was bombarded with random thoughts like, “ Ooh, dried bat wings. Yum! ” Or, “ I bet Gerry Jr. Jr. would love that rubber duck. Maybe I should buy it for his fish tank. ”
Damn, how big was this place? It hadn’t seemed so massive from the outside.
Finally, after what felt like ages, though was probably only a minute, we caught up to the man.
He was setting the Chessboard down on a small coffee table surrounded by several chairs. A few other seating arrangements were scattered nearby as well, and posted to the wall behind a long counter was a snack and drink menu. A little closed sign stood on the counter, though, much to my disappointment.
“Take a seat,” The Owner said, gesturing to the chair across from him. Gerry and Arthur sat on either side of us, both of them still. They both kept shooting me looks like they thought I was off my rocker. But I knew what I was doing.
Mostly.
“Would you like the silver or crystal pieces?” he asked.
“Crystal,” I said without missing a beat.
He turned the board so the crystal pieces were set before me and the silver ones before himself.
I didn’t take my eyes off him as I leaned back in the seat. “Silver first.”
The Owner eyed the board for several moments, before moving the pawn in front of his queen to d4. Just like I knew he would.
Because I’d Seen it.
Still not looking at the board, I shifted my king’s pawn forward to e5.
He tapped his chin, as if debating what to do, before moving another pawn to c4. “So where are you from?”
Again, without even glancing at the board, I moved my knight to c6. “Utah.”
“Ah, the place with all the Mormons.” The Owner made another move, one of his knights as well. “What brings you to Glastonbury?”
With each new question, we moved our pieces around the board. He didn’t even look concerned at how many pieces he’d lost. “Are you here for summer vacation?”
“Something like that.”
“Have any sightseeing planned?”
“Some, though I’m open to suggestions.”
He grinned. “I might have a few for you. Depends on what you’d like to see, of course.”
“Of course.” Then. “Check.”
The Owner blinked down to where my rooks and queen had his king trapped, with no paths of escape and no pieces he could sacrifice or attack with to save him. “Now, that is unexpected.”
He scrutinized the board, his lips forming inaudible words. But it didn’t take long for him to realize he’d lost.
I grinned. “Checkmate.”
He laughed good-naturedly, the sound soft. “Looks like I’ll be parting with this Treasure after all.”
His use of the word Treasure didn’t escape me. Neither did it for Gerry and Arthur, it seemed, because they sat up a little straighter.
“I was wondering,” I said, not even bothering to be subtle now. “Do you by chance have anything on the Thirteen Treasures of Britain?”
“Ah,” he said, a slight twinkle in his eyes. “I do believe I have something. It’s in my mythology section.”
After packing away the chess pieces into a cloth bag, including the board, the man handed them over to Arthur who... grunted. Fumbling to get a better hold of the bag, Arthur nearly dropped it as if it was almost too much for him to carry.
But that couldn’t be since I’d watched The Owner carry the Chessboard with ease.
An amused glint entered his gaze before he gestured for us to follow him. “Follow me. I’ll show you what I have.”
And then he was off, Gerry on his tail as they disappeared from view around a bookshelf.
A bead of sweat trickled down the corner of Arthur’s temple as he used two hands to haul the bag, and he gritted his teeth with exertion. Taking pity on the poor guy, I discreetly coerced my magic to my fingers and directed a current of power toward the sack, hoping to maybe levitate it a little.
But I should have known better. Really, I should have.
Because instead, the bag soared out of Arthur’s hands, slamming straight into a very provocative stone Adonis of a man.
Alarmed, Arthur and I rushed forward to catch the naked statue before it fell completely and smashed into a million pieces. But only when we had it righted did I realize... the dick was missing.
“Everything all right?” The Owner called, sounding a few aisles away now.
“Everything’s fine!” I lied through my teeth. Then to Arthur, I whispered, “Where’s his dick?”
Arthur blinked, releasing the statue. “I beg your pardon?”
I pointed down to where our new marble friend had suffered a sudden and unexpected peckerectomy. “His cock, willie, noodle doodle, I don’t know what you’d call it. Just help me find his penis!”
With each new word, Arthur’s face flamed brighter, his ears pinkening sweetly. “All right.”
And that’s when I spotted it, lying in a shallow bowl filled with various gemstones of all colors.
Arthur plucked it from the bowl with two fingers, looking scandalized. He handed it over to me, and I wondered just what to do with it. It wasn’t like I could reattach the damn thing. I wasn’t some statue surgeon.
“Gentlemen?” The Owner called.
So I did what any sane person would do in a moment of panic.
I stuffed it in my pocket.
Arthur stared at my bulging pocket, his eyes filled with alarmed amusement.
“Shut up,” I muttered to him, then remembered just who I was talking to and added, “Please.”
Then I hurried to grab the bag with the Chessboard.
Damn, it really was heavy.
Arthur held his hands up in surrender before he took the bag from me, though the corners of his lips twitched in amusement. “I didn’t say anything.”
I narrowed my eyes at him before twisting around and hurrying toward the sound of Gerry’s voice.
“Do you have any snow globes?” I heard Gerry ask as we approached, Arthur doing his best to look unbothered by the heavy bag while I tried to look inconspicuous with a rock dick packed in my pocket.
“I do. And several crystal balls if you’re interested?”
Gerry’s eyes practically glowed. “Yes, please.”
The Owner spotted us then and pointed to a brown, leather book on one of the shelves. “I’m afraid this is all I have on the Thirteen Treasures. Why don’t you check it out while I show... Gerry, was it? my snow globes for sale.”
While he wandered off with Gerry to show him what he had, Gerry recounted his top 10 favorite snow globes. That, as they moved farther and farther away, turned into him detailing his top 20 favorite snow globes.
The moment they were out of sight, Arthur dropped the bag with a thud . “Do you think he’ll be all right?” he asked breathlessly, though he didn’t sound as though he’d be put off if my answer was no.
“I’m sure he’ll be fine,” I said, turning my attention to the book. The Thirteen Treasures of Britain was scrawled across the leather cover, glinting in gold. “He’s conquered a bunch of planets or whatever. I’m sure he can handle himself.”
Carefully, I flipped open the cover.
Scripted inside was a handwritten note:
Whoever holds all Thirteen Treasures Is powerful beyond all measures
When I flipped over the next few pages, I found a drawing of a simple, two-wheeled chariot.
The Chariot of Morgan Mwynfawr Whosoever can ride within May travel as swift as the wind
More details had been scrawled out, describing how prior owners had used the Chariot in the past. Deciding to read more about it later, I moved on. On the next page, someone had drawn a curved cornucopia with liquid sloshing from its mouth.
The Horn of Bran Galed Any draught your heart can dream up Shall soon be found to fill this cup
I skimmed over the next few pages until I found the one I was looking for.
The Chessboard of Gwenddoleu ap Ceidio When set to play in times of crisis Predicts the victor whom arises
Arthur leaned in close to read over my shoulder, his long hair trickling down my arm. He frowned down at the writing, a deep furrow forming between his eyebrows. Frustration filled his gaze as he squinted down at the page.
“What’s wrong?”
He wouldn’t meet my eyes. “Nothing is wrong.”
Setting the book down on the bookshelf, I studied him again. “Are you sure?”
“I... I don’t want you to think less of me.”
“Try me.”
His lips pursed, and his green eyes found my blue ones. There must have been something he saw there, because he said in an almost defensive tone, “I can read texts in my native language, but yours? This?” He tapped the words on the page. “I can’t read this.”
“Hey, it’s okay,” I said, knocking my arm into his. “There are a lot of people who learn to speak a new language but can’t read it. Besides, if this is something you want to learn, you have plenty of time to do so.”
Relief glimmered in his eyes, and his shoulders relaxed. It made me sad that he thought I would have made fun of or thought less of him for not being able to read modern texts.
“You think so?” he asked, shifting some of his golden hair behind his pink ears.
He looked positively adorable.
It was... distracting.
But then a voice broke through our moment.
“Did you find everything you were looking for?” The Owner asked, seemingly popping up out of nowhere. He smiled at us, leaning lightly on his cane.
Snatching up the book, I snapped it shut. “I think so.”
“Lord Will!” Gerry said, bounding toward us. He clutched a rather large snow globe to his chest. He beamed when he came to a stop beside me. “Look at this! It will sit perfectly beside the one from planet Fograwt in the Kelfiln dimension.”
I cleared my throat. “Ha ha. You’re so funny, Gerry.” I elbowed him. “Always making jokes.”
Gerry frowned. “I assure you, I don’t joke about snow globes.”
But The Owner didn’t look concerned as he waved us toward the checkout counter. And sitting atop that counter was a stack of cards. While he rounded the counter and began to ring us up, Arthur leaned forward to inspect them.
“Are you interested in a Tarot card reading?” The Owner asked, noticing Arthur’s interest.
Arthur straightened. “I don’t know what that is.”
“Tarot cards are used for divination or self-discovery.”
I rolled my eyes. “It’s a bunch of bullshit.”
Arthur’s nose wrinkled. “Like the animal?”
Before I could explain, the mysterious man clarified further, “Many people from all around the world use Tarot cards for better insight into their pasts, presents, and futures. While there are those who don’t believe in the practice, there are plenty of others who find Tarot to be a valuable tool.” He waved a gloved hand toward Gerry. “In fact, I gave your companion, Gerry, a Tarot reading while you were browsing.”
“I drew the Devil card,” Gerry said proudly.
Of course he did.
Arthur glanced at me, and I noted the curiosity in his puppy dog eyes. Resigned, I set the book on the counter. “I guess a reading is fine.”
“Excellent. I don’t think you’ll be disappointed.”
I really doubted that.
“I’m not sure what to do,” I admitted, feeling a little out of my element. But I’d always considered Tarot readings to be similar to horoscopes in the way they were vague enough to be relatable to almost anyone. So I didn’t know how to get started.
The Owner picked up the colorful deck of cards from on top of the counter, and with a flourish, he shuffled the deck as he spoke. “It’s not complicated, I assure you. We’ll do a simple one-card reading today. All you’ll need to think of is a question or intention you’d like this reading to focus on. It can be as vague or as specific as you’d like. Then you’ll draw a random card from the deck and flip it over.”
Okay, I could do this. It sounded simple enough.
A question or intention... A question or intention...
How do I prepare for what comes next?
After shuffling the deck one more time, the man fanned out the deck face down before me.
I flicked my gaze over the cards in his hands, and sweat beaded on my brow as the decision grew daunting.
But my eyes kept being drawn back to one in particular, despite the fact it looked the exact same as the rest. Grabbing the card, I flipped it over in my hand.
And stiffened.
Depicted on the card was a man, kneeling on one leg. Clutched in his palms was a mighty sword, and a crown sat on his bowed head. He towered over a winding landscape, tall as the birds in the clouds. He was half-flesh, half-stone where his body touched the ground. And from the sky, lightning struck.
The thing about the card that struck me the most, though, was how eerily similar he looked to Arthur.
“The Tower,” The Owner said, distracting me from my wandering thoughts. “When upright, this card may mean a shocking revelation has recently come to light, sending your life, your beliefs, and your very way of existing into turmoil.
“For some, this could be a job loss or a breakup. Maybe health issues or monetary problems. But that’s not what I’m sensing for you. You’ve recently discovered something about yourself that has forced you to reevaluate who you are as a person and what you want out of your life.
“Your core foundations have been shaken, and change is inevitable. But this change, though trialing, doesn’t have to be a bad thing. In fact, you might find it quite liberating to shed prior expectations and limitations. Once you address your issues, you can start to rebuild.”
The card trembled as I held it out for him to take back.
Because he couldn’t have known just how accurate he was. He just couldn’t.
And yet, as he retrieved the card and inserted it back into the deck, I had the distinct feeling that this man knew far more than he let on.
The man dressed as a stage magician shuffled it over and over, even going as far as to cut it every now and again. Once satisfied, he displayed them facedown for Arthur.
Arthur didn’t hesitate like I had. He simply plucked a card and turned it over.
He stared.
I stared.
The Owner hummed. “My, this is unusual.” He tapped the Tower card that was upside down, unlike when I had flipped it over. “It’s not often that both customers draw the same card. Though, when reversed, the Tower card has a different meaning.”
“And this is reversed?” Arthur asked, unsure.
Nodding, he eyed Arthur thoughtfully. “Yes. When it’s reversed, it means you’re currently experiencing the aftermath of some disaster or crisis. And despite the trauma having passed, you’re likely still struggling with the cataclysm and the consequences it caused in your life.”
A chill ran up my spine at his words, and when I peeked at Arthur, I found him frozen at my side. A spark of red danced over his fingers gripping the Tower card, but The Owner carried on, none the wiser. “Your unresolved emotions will continue to eat away at you until you face them. Sooner or later, you’ll need to address your trauma, even though it feels daunting. You can’t avoid your problems forever, no matter how much you might wish to. But by learning from past mistakes and healing old wounds, you’ll discover what you need to provide yourself with a safe and stable future.”
Arthur practically threw the card back at the man.
I didn’t blame him. These readings had been all too close for comfort.
The Owner didn’t look bothered, though. He simply rang up the book, snow globe, and a devil-themed rubber duck, and I pulled out my exhausted credit card to pay for the items.
“Enjoy your evening, gentlemen,” he said once we were finished, tipping his top hat in farewell.
Before I could stop him, Gerry yanked his business card out of his pocket and placed it on the counter. My familiar winked at the man and offered, “Just in case you’re ever in the business for world domination.”
The Owner’s lips twitched with a smile.
Grabbing our other shopping bags, we set off to meet up with the others. But as we headed out, I moved to stuff the receipt in a bag and almost stopped in my tracks when I spotted an extra charge.
Marble Penis ￡19.99
How the hell had he known?
As we continued on our way, I couldn’t stop my thoughts from wandering back to the reading and how applicable it had been to our particular situation.
And if maybe, possibly, it wasn’t all bullshit after all.