Each week, I send out a story via my email newsletter. Each story is around 1000 words, sometimes less, sometimes more. The stories are in a variety of genres: supernatural, thriller, sci-fi, horror, and sometimes romance, and all of my stories typically feature a gay protagonist.
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This is story number 31 of the series. Enjoy!
The Knight’s Awakening
Wyatt brushed his fingers over the worn edges of his favorite tarot deck, feeling the familiar texture of the cards beneath his skin. The smell of incense hung heavily in the air of his tiny apartment, mingling with the scent of old books and coffee. He’d been up all night, poring over obscure texts and trying to make sense of the strange energies he’d been feeling lately.
“Alright, universe,” he muttered, shuffling the deck with practiced ease. “What’ve you got for me today?”
He cut the deck and flipped over the top card. The Knight of Cups stared back at him, the figure’s serene face illuminated by the soft glow of candlelight. Wyatt frowned, feeling an odd tingle in his fingertips as he touched the card.
“Huh, that’s weird,” he said to himself, squinting at the image. Was it his imagination, or did the knight’s eyes just… blink?
Suddenly, the card began to vibrate in his hand. Wyatt yelped, dropping it onto the table. His jaw dropped as he watched the card expand, growing larger and larger until it was the size of a doorway. And then, impossibly, a foot stepped out of the card and onto his ratty carpet.
Wyatt scrambled backward, knocking over his chair and sending his coffee mug crashing to the floor. He watched in stunned silence as a man – no, not just a man, the Knight of Cups himself – emerged fully from the card.
The knight was tall and impossibly handsome, with flowing golden hair and piercing blue eyes. He wore gleaming armor that seemed to shimmer with an otherworldly light, and in his hand, he held an ornate chalice.
“Greetings, Seer,” the knight said, his voice rich and melodious. “I am Sir Galahad, Knight of the Chalice, and I come seeking your aid.”
Wyatt blinked rapidly, wondering if he’d finally cracked under the pressure of his studies. “I… uh… what?”
Galahad smiled patiently. “I understand your confusion. It is not every day that a figure from the arcana steps into your world. But I assure you, this is very real.”
Wyatt pinched himself, hard. “Ow! Okay, so… not dreaming. Um, Sir Galahad, was it? Why exactly do you need my help?”
The knight’s expression grew serious. “A great evil has awakened in the realm of the arcana. The Tower has fallen, and chaos reigns. We need a skilled interpreter of the cards to help us restore balance and prevent this darkness from spilling into your world.”
Wyatt ran a hand through his messy hair, his mind reeling. “But I’m just a small-time tarot reader. I mean, I do some gigs at parties and stuff, but I’m not… I’m not special.”
Galahad stepped forward, placing a hand on Wyatt’s shoulder. The touch sent a jolt of electricity through him. “On the contrary. You are more than you know, Wyatt. Your connection to the cards is stronger than any I have seen in centuries. Will you help us?”
Wyatt looked into the knight’s eyes, feeling a mix of terror and exhilaration. This was crazy, right? But also… kind of amazing? He took a deep breath. “I… okay. Yeah, I’ll help. What do I need to do?”
Galahad smiled, relief evident on his face. “You must journey with me into the realm of the arcana. There, we will seek out the other court cards and rally them to our cause.”
“Wait, wait,” Wyatt said, holding up his hands. “You want me to actually go into the cards? Is that even possible?”
The knight chuckled. “With magic, all things are possible. Now, gather what you need. Our quest begins immediately.”
Wyatt’s head spun as he grabbed his backpack, stuffing it with his tarot deck, some snacks, and a change of clothes. This was insane, but he couldn’t deny the thrill of excitement coursing through him.
“Okay,” he said, slinging the bag over his shoulder. “I’m ready. I think.”
Galahad nodded approvingly. “Then let us depart.” He held out his hand, and Wyatt took it, feeling a warmth spread through his body at the contact.
The knight led him to the enlarged tarot card, which now shimmered like a portal. “Take a deep breath,” Galahad advised. “The first step is always the most disorienting.”
Together, they stepped through the card. Wyatt felt a rush of vertigo as the world around him dissolved into a swirl of colors and symbols. When everything settled, he found himself standing in a lush, otherworldly landscape.
The sky above was a dizzying sequence of shifting hues, and the ground beneath his feet seemed to pulse with energy. In the distance, he could see towering structures that looked like they were made of living cards.
“Welcome to the realm of the arcana,” Galahad said, gesturing to the fantastical world around them.
Wyatt’s eyes were wide with wonder. “This is… incredible. I never imagined…”
Their moment of awe was interrupted by a thunderous roar. The ground shook, and Wyatt stumbled, grabbing onto Galahad for support.
“What was that?” he asked, his voice trembling.
Galahad’s expression darkened. “The chaos I spoke of. Come, we must hurry to the court of the Cups. They will be our first allies in this fight.”
As they made their way through the strange landscape, Wyatt’s mind raced with questions. “So, um, Sir Galahad… do you guys, like, just hang out in the cards all day when you’re not being read?”
The knight laughed, a warm sound that made Wyatt’s heart skip a beat. “Not quite. We have our own lives and duties here in the realm. The cards are merely windows through which we can connect with your world.”
They crested a hill, and Wyatt gasped at the sight before them. A massive castle made entirely of chalices rose from the ground, its spires reaching toward the ever-changing sky.
“The Court of Cups,” Galahad announced. “Here, we will find Queen Guinevere and King Arthur. They will be crucial to our cause.”
As they approached the castle, Wyatt noticed dark, writhing shadows creeping along the ground. “Uh, Galahad? What are those?”
The knight’s grip tightened on his sword. “Manifestations of the chaos. Stay close, Wyatt. Your power as a Seer will help protect you, but these are dangerous times.”
They entered the castle, and Wyatt marveled at the interior. Everything seemed to be made of water, flowing and shifting in impossible ways. They were led to a grand throne room, where a regal couple sat upon seats of living water.
“My Queen, my King,” Galahad said, bowing deeply. “I have brought the Seer from the mortal realm.”
Queen Guinevere stood, her gown rippling like a waterfall. “Welcome, Wyatt. We have long awaited your arrival.”
Wyatt shifted uncomfortably. “You have? But I didn’t even know this place existed until like, an hour ago.”
King Arthur chuckled. “Time moves differently here, young one. We have foreseen your coming for many ages.”
Before Wyatt could respond, the castle shook violently. Outside, they could hear the sounds of battle.
“The chaos grows stronger,” Guinevere said, her voice tight with worry. “Wyatt, you must use your power as a Seer to help us push it back.”
“But I don’t know how!” Wyatt protested. “I’m just a guy who reads cards at parties!”
Galahad placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. “Trust in yourself, Wyatt. The power is within you. You need only to unlock it.”
Feeling the weight of expectation on him, Wyatt closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He thought about all the times he’d felt a connection to the cards, all the moments when he’d known things he shouldn’t have known.
Suddenly, he felt a surge of energy coursing through him. His eyes snapped open, and he saw his hands glowing with a soft, golden light.
“Whoa,” he breathed.
“The Seer awakens,” Arthur said, smiling. “Now, Wyatt, focus your energy on the chaos outside. Visualize it retreating, returning to the void from whence it came.”
Wyatt concentrated, pushing his newfound power outward. He could feel the darkness resisting, pushing back against him. But then he felt Galahad’s hand in his, lending him strength.
With a final push, Wyatt sent a wave of golden light sweeping across the land. The shadows shrieked and dissipated, leaving behind a sense of peace and balance.
“You did it!” Galahad exclaimed, pulling Wyatt into a tight embrace.
Wyatt laughed, giddy with relief and the rush of power. “I can’t believe it. That was… amazing.”
Guinevere approached, her eyes twinkling. “You have taken your first step into a larger world, Wyatt. But our work is not yet done. The chaos will return, and we must be ready.”
“So what now?” Wyatt asked, suddenly aware that he was still in Galahad’s arms.
The knight smiled down at him. “Now, we continue our quest. There are other courts to rally, other battles to fight. Are you ready for the adventure of a lifetime?”
Wyatt looked around at this impossible world, at the knight who had quite literally stepped out of his dreams, and at the power he could feel thrumming through his veins. He grinned. “You know what? I think I am.”
As they prepared to set out on their next journey, Wyatt couldn’t help but laugh at the irony. He’d spent years reading other people’s fortunes, never imagining that his own destiny would be so extraordinary.
“Hey, Galahad,” he said as they left the castle. “Do you think we could stop by the Cups’ gift shop? I’ve got a feeling I’m gonna need a much bigger tarot deck from now on.”
The knight’s laughter echoed across the magical landscape as they set off toward their next adventure, hand in hand.
THE END