Asher glanced around the shop. It was dim and cozy, the air scented with burning incense. Candles flickered softly, their light dancing over silk-draped walls and a thick carpet that swallowed his footsteps.
He was just wondering if he should leave when a cheerful, raspy voice called out from behind the curtain ahead.
"Hehehe... What do we have here? Two wandering souls led by fate itself? Come in, dears, come in! The cards have been waiting for you."
Asher arched a brow. Classic con artist line. Check.
He pushed aside the curtain and stepped in. Inside sat an old woman cloaked in a deep, hooded robe, her face mostly hidden in the flickering candlelight. Before her lay a low table scattered with cards — Tarot, worn and mysterious.
Gently, Asher lowered Eve from his back despite her half-asleep protests. She wobbled, groaning as he tried to wake her.
"Why did you… ah… wake me up, Ash?" she mumbled, clutching her head. "Where even are we…?"
The dim, incense-scented room made her blink in confusion; it was eerie, unreal.
Asher chuckled softly and sat down on the carpet, pulling her down to sit between his legs. She leaned back against him instinctively, seeking balance… and comfort.
"We're here to read our fortune," he said, amusement tugging at his lips. "So sit still for once."
"Fortune?" she murmured, her bleary eyes drifting toward the table full of cards, curiosity flickering faintly through the haze of her drunkenness.
Asher cleared his throat. "Old woman… we'd like to have our fortune read… and know the state of our relationship in one week."
"Hohoho… of course, young man," the old woman said with a knowing smile beneath her hood, her fingers sliding over the worn deck as she shuffled the tarot cards.
Eve watched, eyes wide with curiosity. She didn't truly believe in such things, but a small part of her wanted to see what the cards might reveal.
The fortune teller drew three cards from the deck and placed them face down on the table.
"These three cards," she murmured in a voice both warm and playful, "represent your past, your present, and your future."
Her gnarled finger hovered over the first card.
"This," she said, "is the past: the life and choices that brought you to this moment."
Slowly, she revealed the card.
The Fool – upright.
"Ah… the Fool," she whispered, tracing the image with a fingertip. "A symbol of new beginnings and inexperience. It marks the start of your journey together, before the trials of today."
The old woman moved toward the second card.
"This is the present… the reason you've come to me," she said.
Slowly, she revealed it.
The Devil – upright.
"Hoo… The Devil itself," she murmured. "It speaks of betrayal, temptation, and manipulation… your path is tangled with difficulties."
Eve's breath caught. Betrayal? How could she have known? Was it just a wild guess?
The woman's gaze shifted to the last card — the future.
"Before I reveal this one," she said, her voice soft but commanding, "I'll need a drop of blood from each of you. It will give the clearest reading."
Eve's brows shot up. "Blood?!"
"Yes," the old woman replied, gesturing to a needle on the table. "Only a drop from each, for accuracy."
Eve hesitated, unsure how these readings actually worked and never having heard of blood being used… but her curiosity got the better of her.
Carefully, she pricked her finger and let a drop of blood fall onto the card. She handed the needle to Ash.
He smiled faintly, pricked his own finger, and let his blood mingle with hers. Then, almost instinctively, he brought her fingertip to his lips, gently stopping the bleeding.
"Ah… what are you doing, Ash?!" Eve's cheeks burned.
"Eating you," he murmured, voice low and playful.
Suddenly, both were drawn to the table. A warm, magical energy surged through the card. Their blood merged, and it glowed crimson, radiating a strange, unnatural light.
"Wha… what is this?!" Eve whispered, staring at the old woman.
The fortune teller smiled knowingly as she lifted the final card.
The Lovers.
Before anyone could react, the card ignited, bursting into crimson flames and combusting fully.
A strange connection surged between Ash and Eve — a pulse, a rhythm, as if they could feel each other's heartbeat, their very souls entwined.
Ash released Eve's finger, glancing at the old woman with a smirk.
"Yo… oldie, I never knew you had such tricks up your sleeve. For the record, I'm a bit of a Magician myself," he chuckled.
"Hoho… you do know how to amuse, young man. No wonder such a lovely lady fell for you," the woman teased.
Eve blinked, bewildered. "What… what just happened? Why did the card burst into flames?"
Ash shrugged casually, a smile tugging at his lips. "Sometimes you're the smartest girl I've ever seen, and sometimes… clueless as a rock. It must be some kind of chemical reaction with our blood and the card… honestly, I have no idea how it worked."
Eve opened her mouth to protest, to say she'd felt something more… but her phone rang, pulling her attention away.
She checked her phone, breath quickening. "It's my personal maid, Helda… what should I tell her?!" she asked, looking at Ash.
Ash frowned for a moment, then quickly decided. "Tell her you're staying at Maria's. Then call Maria and make sure she says you're with her if Helda asks."
Eve nodded and, in her rush, her hat slipped off and tumbled onto the carpet. She hurried out of the shop, ignoring it for now.
Ash paid the old woman for her services, then stepped outside, picking up the hat as he followed.
* * *
Ash and Eve weaved through the bustling streets, fingers entwined, hearts beating a little faster with each step.
"So… what do we do now?" Eve asked softly, her eyes searching his.
Ash tilted his head toward the moon hanging high above them, its pale light casting a glow over their path. "It's probably the last day we'll have together. Let's make it… unforgettable."
Eve's brows lifted, a mix of curiosity and apprehension. "Unforgettable… how?"
He stopped in front of a quiet hotel, neon reds and pinks spilling onto the empty street.
Eve froze, cheeks burning. "A love hotel? Seriously?" she whispered, turning to him, questioning, hesitant.
In three days, she was to be married. How could she… yet with Ash, every rule felt meaningless.
Ash's gaze softened, though his words held a firm weight. He lifted the brim of her hat, letting their eyes meet. "If you think this is cheating… remember that video. We're just returning the favor. No one will know, this place belongs to a friend of mine."
He drew her closer, their bodies brushing, and Eve felt a shiver of anticipation.
Without another word, he guided her inside. She didn't resist. Sinful or not, she didn't care anymore. Her family had betrayed her. Her fiancé had betrayed her. And in that moment, with Ash, nothing else mattered.