23. Tarot Tales
"Well, Mr. Nadet wouldn't be pleased with you for behaving like this, you know", Bella tried to play him.
"Oh yeah? Like I care. That idiot is stupid enough to be kidnapped. How dare he call himself a God? We'll see what he can do!" Alexopoulos guffawed at this.
Mira and Bella stared at each other puzzled. The others probably forgot to mention that this man is clinically crazy. They moved back, closer to the counter. The man kept advancing toward them. In a quick movement, Bella reached out for a spindle on the counter and dashed towards the man. This happened within a split of a second so even the madman had no time to react. Bella thrusted the spindle into his stomach with all force. A small dot of blood started to spread across his off-white shirt's fabric. But it meant nothing to him. He reached out to grab Bella's hair bun and strangulated her using the other hand.
Mira screamed and ran to push him away. He pushed Mira and ran at Bella again — surely, vengeance has a colour of its own and it seldom chooses another. Mira used this opportunity to grab a metal chair from nearby. But it was too heavy to be lifted, so she dragged it to where they were and lifted enough to smash it on his knees. He growled with pain. Bella got up and ran to help Mira. Together they picked up the chair and threw it on his face. He covered himself with his hands but fell backward and onto the floor under the weight of the chair. Meanwhile, Mira and Bella opened the door and went outside. They, fortunately, had the key with them so they locked the door from outside.
"What's going on?" A voice rumbled like thunder behind them.
"It's that Council Head guy. He's inside, Sive", Mira panted.
Sive's demeanour became cloudy. Kris placed a hand on his shoulder to calm him down. Bella unlocked the door. The five of them including Pama walked inside.
Entering, they couldn't find the guy where he had fallen down; only the chair was there.
A scream ensued from upstairs. Gunny and Leibniz held the man by the scrape of his neck. Mira noticed Leibniz's sharp and long finger nails. She found it weird and strange, especially because she had never noticed it before. They dropped him to the floor in front of Sive and Kris. The two looked at each other and smirked.
"Mira, Bella, Pama, — ladies, kindly step out." Sive said.
Pama began to protest but she realised the reason and pulled the other two by the hand.
Inside, Sive retrieved his trident from heaven and was plunging it deep into Rhamnus's thigh. The man screamed in pain. He was resilient but weak. Kris kneeled down beside him.
"Why don't you stop this dirty game? I'll let you go if you agree to that one thing."
"I... I made a mistake. I chose the wrong enemy. Please...let me go. I'll never trouble you again."
"And I'm to believe that? They call you by your fond nickname 'nemesis' for a reason, don't they?"
"That's not true.. I will not harm you. I will give you my word."
"So it's your word against mine? Who will win?"
Rhamnus looked puzzled but just at that moment Ares and Skylus appeared out of thin air.
"Kris, Sive," Ares greeted them, "I'm sorry about this mess, guys. There's been an urgent assembly meeting today and they've requested an audience for the little missy.. Er.. Mister here. Do we have the permission to take them?"
"Absolutely," Kris replied.
"But", Sive interrupted, "we'd love it if you took responsibility for his accomplice as well."
"Taken care of already, sir", Ares grinned, "Helen is currently on her way to her 'personal hell.' Meanwhile, I hope we're good to go?"
"Ah", Sive gave a knowing smile. Surely, she'd be taken to her once-husband whom she disliked much now. "We have a pact," he continued, "as you very well know. We'll stick by our words. Please do take care of rogues such as this one. It's bad business, really."
"I agree. Apologies, yet again. Skylus?" Ares turned to his companion and gestured him to carry on with his job.
Skylus reached out to tie Rhamnus with an invisible rope and dragged him into thin air and disappeared. Ares waved and bowed before doing the same.
"Phew!" Gunny sighed.
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"Hey, did you see my divination room?" Pama asked as they waited outside on the white coffee tables and chairs.
"Your what?" Mira responded, shocked.
"The place where I'll read cards for you people. Dummies! Come on. I'll show you."
Pama walked to the left end of the entrance. There was a small black door. She opened it after punching in the security code. There was an embellished black grill door which was locked. She procured a key out of the purse and opened it. Inside, there were antiques of various kinds: brass mirrors, bronze utensils, crystal balls, golden chalices, and the likes. The interior was done in a royal red and velvet theme. Even the furniture was done in deep red velvet cloth with dark gold metallic legs and elaborately ornamented body. Pama went and took the seat behind the oval table on which a crystal ball sat fuming. She bent to pick something up — a pack of elegant looking cards.
"Tarot?!" Arabella exclaimed.
Pama laughed at her reaction.
"Come on, you both. Shall I spread the cards for you both?"
"Not me. Nuh-uh", said Bells.
"O.. Okay." Mira agreed hesitantly.
"Here we go."
Pama shuffled the cards with much poise and aplomb. She, then, arranged them in a semi circle for Mira to pick. She picked three.
"Well, well, well." Pama simpered.
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"Uncle Kris?" Gunny called.
Kris snorted at this. "Since when do you call me uncle?"
"I think it's better to start now. I...have a request. To both of you, actually. Uncle and dad?"
Sive, who was chatting with Leibniz after clearing the mess in the room, now turned to look at Gunny.
"I know.. I know that I'm not needed here right now and that I have other tasks elsewhere. But...can I stay for a while? I'll resume my job at heaven simultaneously. Please, pretty please, let me stay?"
Sive grimaced and looked at Kris who threw his hands in the air and exclaimed with a long 'whew' exasperatedly.
"How.. How about I help him with his job?" Leibniz asked.
"Now THAT...could work." Sive grinned.