Chapter Two
Three Years Later
It is the last performance of the season for Katrina Jameson. At the age of twenty-four, Katrina is gifted with youth, talent, beauty, and the taut muscles of a dancer’s body, as she dances the lead role of Nikiya in the ballet titled La Bayadere. After a year of being on the road and the almost daily performances, it is all finally coming to an end…tonight.
Although it’s sad and she will miss everyone associated with the show, as they have become like family, Katrina’s ready for a break. She wants nothing more than to curl up on her couch, closed off from the world around her, reading books, petting her golden retriever Max, and eating anything she wants. Hey, maybe she’ll even take a long vacation and just sit on a sandy beach somewhere, allowing the warm rays of the sun to beat down on her and tan her pale body. Besides, they still have a huge production party planned after the final curtain drops, so everyone can celebrate their success and say their good-byes.
As usual, Katrina’s family attends as many performances as they can. When the performance ends, her parents appear backstage and greet her with a bouquet of her favorite pale lavender roses, known as sterling silver roses, for their delicate color. “These are for you, sweetheart. Your performance tonight was just breathtaking. I’m so proud of you,” her mother beams.
“Thanks, Mom and Dad. The flowers are beautiful and it means so much to me that you could attend our last performance.”
“Hello Senator Jameson, what did you think of Katrina’s final performance? Wasn’t she stunning?” asks Brian Poppovich, the lead male dancer opposite Katrina. They’ve been dance partners off and on for the last five years.
“I think she did very well, as I expect nothing less from a daughter of mine. But let us not forget, there is always room for improvement. Perfection may never be truly attainable, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t strive for it…isn’t that right, Katrina?”
Looking down at her feet, Katrina whispers, “Yes, Daddy.” Brian and Katrina give each other a quick glance. The hurt and disappointment shines in her eyes, and Brian’s eyes are wide with shock and sympathy. Without anyone around them noticing, Brian mouths the words, “I’m sorry.”
“It’s been good seeing you both again,” Brian states. “You better hurry up, Katrina,” he continues. “Everyone is waiting for the Prima Ballerina to make her grand entrance at the party.”
“Okay, let them know I’m changing and I’ll be right there. Mom, Dad, I’ve got to go, but thanks again for coming and bringing me this beautiful bouquet.” With that, Katrina gives her mom a hug, turns, and takes off backstage.
The champagne flows and delicious pastries of every kind line table after table of the huge, 20,000 square foot banquet hall at the top of one of New York’s premier hotels. The hall is two levels and Katrina stands staring out the clear glass panes overlooking the city lights sparkling brightly below. The view is breathtaking.
Turning from the windows, Katrina looks around the room. She can see the cast and crew paired off in small groups, laughing and crying, saying their goodbyes as if they will never see each other again…which they so will. The company is a tight knit group and many of the dancers, choreographers, costumers, artists, lighting, and sound crew will work together on the next big production.
From the level below, Katrina hears her name being called in a country twang by one of the other dancers. “Katrina, get your butt down here, girl. I’m savin’ you a spot in line.” A tarot reader has been hired as entertainment; her table set up on the level below. Apparently, many members of the cast are waiting in line to have their fortunes told. “Come on now…don’t you want to know what sexy hunk of man flesh your future holds?” Melanie drawls. Right now, that is the last thing Katrina wants to know. She once thought she knew what her future held. She had it all planned out and it was bright and filled with promise and love. But then, fate stepped in and reared its ugly head, teaching her a hard lesson. She…knew…nothing! Nothing ever turns out how you think it will and fate…fate is just an evil joke, waiting to jump up and bitch slap you when you least expect it.
“Hurry it K, I’ll bet Madame Maddelena can tell you!” Katrina grins at the Southern charm of Melanie’s voice. She’s the only one who ever calls her that. As she slowly descends the stairs, she musters up the strength to feign excitement and calls down to her friend, “I’ll be right there!”
Madame Maddelena is a small woman, standing barely five feet. She looks to be in her mid-fifties, thin, with short dark hair and big brown eyes. She has olive skin, her lips drawn up in a thin smile, and she speaks with an Italian accent. She isn’t dressed as a gypsy fortune teller, as Katrina expected, with loud colors and makeup, material draped over the top of her head, bracelets jingling, and long necklaces filled with charms. Instead, she’s wearing a long, pretty flowing black dress, and one simple gold bracelet, embellished with colorful crystals. She wears a light dusting of flesh-colored shadow on her lids that accentuate her brown eyes. An almost invisible layer of peach caresses her cheeks and lightly kisses her lips. Katrina sits down in the comfortable chair opposite the card reader, who then looks up and smiles at her. Reaching across the table, the woman takes Katrina’s hand in both of hers. “I am Madame Maddelena.”
Katrina nods her head and says, “Katrina.”
“Have you ever had a reading before, Katrina?”
“No,” she answers in a whisper.
“Alright, would you like me to do the standard ten-card spread, which will give you a more detailed reading encompassing past, present, and future, including goals and destiny, inner emotions, future and immediate influences, and the culmination of all those factors? Or, would you rather have a quick reading, consisting of a simple three-card spread, representing past, present, and future only?”
The last thing I want is to relive the details of my past, and I really don’t want to analyze my present, I mean hey, I’m living it. As for my future, I already know what that holds — nothing but loneliness and loss. No way, no how…I really don’t want to do this so, I’ll just take the chicken’s way out... “I’ll take the three-card spread.”
“Very well. Do you have a specific question you’d like to ask the universe?” Madame Maddelena inquires.
“No. Not really.”
“Alright then, please take the cards and shuffle them. When you’re happy with how they’re mixed, place the deck facing down on the table.” Katrina does as instructed, placing the now-shuffled cards in a neat pile on the table in front of them. Madame Maddelena reaches over with her right hand and spreads the deck, fanning out the cards from left to right.
The petite Italian woman instructs her to “pull three cards, one at a time, from the spread on the table and place them face down in front of me.” Katrina nods her head in acknowledgment and uses her forefinger and middle finger to slide the first card out of the deck. Without picking it up, she slides the card in the position indicated in front of the diviner. She then repeats the process, moving further down the deck to a card that somehow feels right to her and pulls the second card, sliding it into the middle position. Finally, reaching over and choosing the third card, she slides it almost all the way out of the deck and realizes a fourth card is attached and slides out of the deck as well. She stops. Looking up at the woman seated across from her, she asks, “Oops, what do I do? An extra card came out. Shall I put one back?”
“No,” the diviner says. “When this happens, we take the extra card and place it at an angle to the right of the other cards you pulled.” As that was done, the woman explains to Katrina, “When an extra card comes out of the deck, it is said that the universe wants to have its meaning known.” Pointing to the extra card she says, “This card represents your destiny.” Kat’s eyes widen, she gulps and nods her acknowledgment.
Katrina’s heart begins to pound out of her chest. Great…I really don’t want to know that tidbit of information. Why me? I didn’t even want to do this stupid reading. I’m only doing it because my friend sucked me into it. I need to see a shrink! I’m overly concerned with keeping others happy…to my own detriment. I always try to do the right thing and be the good girl. I always have to be the best at everything or I might let someone down… the best dancer, the best daughter, the best friend, the best girlfriend...ugh! And worry…I always worry about the consequences of everything I do. I put myself last behind others feelings and needs and dear god, I have got to learn to say NO once in a while. Geez, I’m even making myself sick right now thinking about what a doormat I am!
“Are you ready to get started?”
With feigned excitement she answers, “Yup, ready when you are!”
“This card represents your past.” The diviner flips over the first card drawn from left to right.
“Death”…tears spring to Katrina’s eyes as the woman recites, “Your past card is death straight up. The death card represents an unexpected change, sometimes illness, but usually in the form of an emotional death like the ending of a relationship. Does this card make sense to you?”
“Yes,” is all Katrina can choke out. Looking down, she observes a colorful card of a skeleton on horseback, clad in armor and carrying a black flag, with dead ashen figures of men, women, and children around it. It was staring straight up at the diviner. Shock glues her to her seat, when all she wants to do is get up and run.
Turning over the second card, the woman says, “This card represents the present.”
“The Ten of Swords, straight up. The ten of swords in this position means you are currently stricken with grief, sadness, sorrow, pain, and mental anguish. You shed many tears and see no end to your agony.”
I can’t believe this. This stuff is supposed to be for fun. Hocus Pocus type stuff. It’s not supposed to reflect reality.
Staring at the card in front of her, she sees herself. The image shows a blonde woman, lying face down on the ground, with ten swords piercing her body and dark clouds overhead.
Madame Maddelena looks into Katrina’s sad eyes and asks, “Are you ready to go on and see what awaits you in the future?”
Nodding her head to the reader, Katrina watches as the next card is flipped over.
“The Knight of Swords. The knight of swords straight up is a young man of bravery and skill. He can be heroic in nature, but not always. He rushes into the unknown and knows no fear. He is courageous and a master in the art of warfare. He has a good heart, but he will not come to you that way. Sometimes the thick layers protecting the knight of swords cannot be broken through to get to his heart. This man will appear in your future, so watch for him.”
Katrina has no idea what to think about what she was just told. She sees the forceful figure on the card, dressed in armor, riding a white horse, and brandishing a sword straight up in the air. His lips are parted and his teeth showing like he is yelling in the middle of a charge.
She will not have a man in her future! Especially, one with problems. The knight of swords sounds like someone who wants to be a good man, but doesn’t know how. She shivers when the word evil skitters across her mind. She will run in the opposite direction when she sees this man coming.
Holding onto her seat with a white knuckled grip, Katrina waits for the last card to be turned over and read. She just wants this nightmare to be over so she can run home to the safety of her apartment, her dog, and a large glass of Bordeaux to calm her nerves.
“The fourth and final card represents your destiny.” As she flips the card over Madame Maddelena’s breath catches. Staring down at the card, she places her hand over Katrina’s in a show of comfort and strength.
“The Tower. There are two parts to the tower. The first occurs when the tower comes into your life and destroys everything. Strong and dominating occurrences will take place, breaking down old beliefs and severing past relationships. Deception, downfall, and misery may ensue. Loss of security will be present. A clean break from your past will occur. The second part of the tower represents rebuilding. After the destruction and clearing away of the old, the tower allows you to rebuild from the foundation up, ushering in the new. Making your life better and stronger than it was before IF you can overcome the difficulties ahead.”
Staring at the card, Katrina begins shaking. Against the blue and purple background stands a large, tan tower being struck by lightning bolts and fire. The top is exploding and the crown of the tower is tumbling down. Bodies are being tossed off the tower, and are shown in midair, spiraling down to the ground. Off in the distance, the moon is shining.
“Now, I will read the essence of the cards together. The cards show you have faced an unexpected end to a relationship, a kind of death. That death has left you paralyzed with grief, sorrow, and fear, which is where you find yourself stuck now. In the future, a man with a good heart and soul will storm into your life, bringing danger and a battle that must be fought. Before his goodness can appear, the walls of treachery must be broken down so that he can become the hero hiding inside. Your destiny lies in the destruction of the life you now know. The way you choose to face this change and destruction will determine whether your destiny will be one of ruin, or one rebuilt of strength and happiness.”