Page 19 of Chaos
The library had its own deck of cards, but I preferred my own. Mine were designed by a witch who had an ancestor that apprenticed with Botticelli and passed the knowledge down through their coven. It was gorgeous, and it just felt right in my hands. I pulled them out of the black velvet bag and handed them to him.
“Cut the deck. What is your question?”
I watched him shuffle the cards like an expert.
“I had a weird spread. I asked if my career path was going to change.”
I nodded and took the cards back from him. I centered myself and flipped the cards face up. This wasn’t right. This was so wrong. Gabriel and I were both frowning at the spread.
“That’s exactly what I drew,” he said.
The problem was, I’d drawn the same spread when I was trying to figure out what to do with Chaos. That justdid nothappen. Pretty much ever. Chaos was right. I needed to keep Gabriel close to me because something was happening.
“Where are you staying?” I asked.
“Around. Why?”
“Because I don’t know what it means, but I drew this exact same spread for myself. That big guy that said I should keep you close? He’s kind of important, and I believe him. I have apartments on the top floor. I can turn one room into a bedroom for you. I realize we hardly know each other, but something is happening, and I think we are supposed to stick together.”
It was a longshot, and I was probably coming off as super weird and awkward right now. I didn’t know if Gabriel was in danger or he was supposed to help protect the library or something else. I just knew I could feel it in my gut that he was supposed to stay here, and the library approved him for all areas. I could use as many eyes as possible on his.
Gabriel cocked his head to the side like he was listening to Orion. I really hoped that the snake had my back.
“I agree. I don’t know what’s coming, but this means something. I’ll stay, but I like my privacy. Who is the guy who sniffed me and wanted me to stay?”
I wanted to keep him a secret, but I could just feel it I could trust Gabriel.
“I accidentally raised the primordial god Chaos. That’s him.”
Gabriel just cocked an eyebrow at me.
“You’ll have to tell me that story over a beer.”
Chapter 18
Ripley
I
showed Gabriel to one of the rooms with less shit in it. I waved my hand and conjured a bed. I showed him where the kitchen and television were, but we both wanted to get back to work. Gabriel wanted to hit the books, and I wanted to grill Chaos and Felix about that spread and why Chaos thought I needed Gabriel close.
We parted ways, and I went back to my desk. This was a quiet time for the library. No major holidays or catastrophic moons were coming, and Mercury wasn’t in retrograde. I had helped most of the people here today the day before and already knew where to go.
Chaos had pulled a chair up to my desk and was laughing with Felix. That was new. I didn’t think he cared for my familiar. Felix now kept clothes stashed all over the library. He changed back into a man and was sitting at my desk. I wasn’t angry about it at all. I could use his help.
“I’m glad to see you two getting along,” I said, taking my seat.
Chaos smacked Felix on the back so hard, he nearly face planted on my desk.
“I like the cat. I’ve almost forgotten he assaulted my cookies. I’ve decided on a name!” he announced.
“Oh?”
“I want to be called Reyson. Reyson Discord. Felix says I need papers in this century, and they want to give me a number like I’m a slave. I’m happy to hear that it is now illegal. I never liked it.”
It sounded a little like a rock star or porn name, but it fit him. He seemed so proud of it, and I was happy for him. I’d have to get used to it because I’d become accustomed to calling him Chaos in my head.
“Reyson. I like it. It suits you. We should have a feast to celebrate you picking a name when I get off. Except we do have work to do. I need to figure out why that warlock and I keep drawing the same tarot deck for both of us. I’ve invited him to stay. He’s taken one room in my apartment.”
