Hecate's Experiment

Hope kept sorting through the tarot cards, even as they piled in the van. She seemed intent on learning something from them, although, what she'd learn, she wasn't really sure. She knew these cards held real magic. She could feel it. And it didn't go away when she got near it or make her feel sick.
These cards held magic that even Hope could use. And she was determined to use them. But she never seemed to get the cards say anything good though. Her tail flicked absent mindedly in annoyance.
Pollux looked at her. "What's the problem?" he asked, cocking his head like a puppy.
"Who said there's a problem," asked Hope, not looking up from the cards.
"Your tail," suggested Malcolm. "It act's the same way as a cat's, flicking in annoyance."
Hope laughed. "Alright, alright," she grinned. "I get it. I just can't get these stupid cards to say something good."
"What are they saying?" asked Pollux.
"Well, mostly, all I'm getting from them, is we're all going to die," she said with a grin. "But that's nothing new."
Pollux and Malcolm looked at each other. A silent exchange of "no you ask her" going on between them, until: "How is that nothing new?" asked Malcolm.
Hope grinned at them. "Tarot cards like to portray darkness rather than light, telling people they're going to die is their favorite thing."
"You talk about them like they can feel--like they're another being," noted Pollux.
"It's more than that," she said, shuffling the deck. "Here, I'll show you. Do you have a question you'd like answered."
Yes, if fact there was a question Pollux would love answered. He wanted badly to know what would happen on this quest. And how Hope would react to his feelings for her.
She held the cards out neatly in her hand. "Put your left hand on the desk, and mentally ask the question," she commanded.
Pollux reached out hesitantly and asked his question silently.
"Draw a card."
He did. The first card he pulled was label the fool. He started to show Hope, but she just shook her head. "I don't need to see, the cards will tell you," she told him.
And they did. An influx of images raced through his mind. Images of Hope, some of days he'd seen when she was confused about her homework. Some of her fighting unknown monsters and beast. One of a much older Hope, closer to his age, when she was fighting the dragon.
"The fool is innocent," whispered an ancient voice in his head. "Knowledge the fool much acquire or she will fall."
Pollux paled. Hope was clearly the fool. She was a genius yes, but she was innocent of a lot of things. The price of spending most of her life locked away in a mansion.
"Draw another," said Hope. "They want to tell you more."
The lovers. Another influx of images came with the cards. It was still of Hope, but again, she looked older. This older Hope looked at him differently. He saw himself in the images, as well. And Malcolm. They seemed to be fighting over something. Were they fighting over Hope? No, Malcolm only saw Hope as a little sister. He wouldn't. His blood curdled as an image of Malcolm and Hope kissing flashing through his eyes real quick, before the ancient voice spoke again.
"What you desire, may or may not come to be," said the voice. "But this future may come sooner than you think."
He didn't see how. That image of Hope looked several years into the future. Although, admittedly, the image of Pollux and Malcolm hadn't changed at all.
"Another," whispered Hope. Pollux looked at her. Her eyes were closed. She looked kinda pale. "There is more, Pollux, take another card."
Pollux shook his head. "I don't want to see more."
"But they want to talk you, they wish to tell you more."
"I refu--whoa!" That last bit was because Argus suddenly swerved the van. Hope's eye flew opened, as she was tossed towards the door, her head slamming into the window.
"How come I didn't," she started sniffing the air, her eye widened to the size of half-dollars. "GORGONS!"
She climbed into the front set and rolled down the window, and stuck her head out. Before quickly pulling it back in, as a crossbow dart embedded itself in the mirror. "Yep, gorgons," she confirmed. "Two of them."
"We are so screwed," mumbled Pollux.
"Pessimist," said Hope, climbing to the back of the van.
"What are you doing?" asked Malcolm.
Hope grinned. "Something stupid." She drew her dagger, reverting to her other form and kicked open the back doors. "Be right back!" she grinned, singsong, as the air current grabbed her wings and pulled her out.

Notes

New Chapter! Tell me what you think! I need feedback!

-Kim