The Queen of Clubs
The girl walked into the dark neon-and-black lit bar just as easily as she’d walk into her own home. She had short multi-colored hair, which was cut so her bangs would cover one eye and extend diagonally to her cheek. She had a tattoo of a club on her upper arm in purple ink and she sat down at the table and placed her guitar down next to her neatly.
“His set’s almost up,” the bartender said, “can I keep you occupied in the meantime, Case?”
“No,” she said. Her voice was a smoky blue color and her eyes matched when she looked at the patron next to her. He smiled through cigarette smoke.
“What are you smilin’ at?” she asked.
He shook his head and took a drag.
“That’s what I thought,” she said sourly. The last performer slunk off stage and so she grabbed her guitar from next to her seat and wandered to the makeshift backstage which was really a table behind a black curtain. He watched her go out of the corner of her eye and waited for her music to come on. He signaled the bartender.
“I think you’ve had enough to drink,” the bartender said.
He shook his head. “What’s her name?”
“Her?” the bartender indicated the girl. The man nodded and swung around in his chair to watch her step up to the board stage and tune her guitar lovingly. “Casey Defantome.”
“Hmm. Interesting name. How often does she play?”
“Every other day, except weekends. Why?”
He smiled.
“No I don’t think so,” the bartender laughed. “She’s got a thick skin no one yet has been able to get her to soften up. And besides, she’s got all the staff on her side; I wouldn’t even try it.”
The man tried to order another drink.
“I already said you’ve had too much. I’m cutting you off.” And he walked away.
The man let his cigarette burn to the end, the last bit of smoke disappearing into the haze of the bar. Casey was ready to sing and she caressed the notes out of her guitar completely forcing herself out of the room and into a realm where no one else could follow; they could only observe. Her style changed with her memories and she sang until she was hoarse. The bar emptied out naturally becoming extremely full and then petering out as those who came to hear her sing got drunk and went home.
There was no one left but herself and the stranger who had been cut off hours ago when she placed her guitar back in its case and started for the door. She had her hand on the door when she acknowledged she was being watched. She glared exasperatedly at the man.
“Look,” she said. “It’s been a rough night go home and leave me alone.”
“The hanged man is in power again.”
She paused and squinted at the stranger as if to see him in a more familiar light. “What? Are you delusional too?”
He shook his head and reached for another cigarette in his pocket. “The Queen of Clubs is usually on top of her game.”
Casey walked over to the stranger and sat down. “What the hell are you going on about?”
“You obviously know what I’m talking about or you would have left by now.”
“Fine,” she said. “How’d you know.”
“The Defantome household was murdered in a rampage of the knight of staves. It seemed to fit.”
“The Staves household is not the same as the Clubs.”
“No, but they’re your cousins. Just because they’re not the same, doesn’t mean they’re not similar. But I was looking for the queen and someone by the name of Sam suggested I come here.”
She bolted upright. “If you tortured him I swear—”
“I didn’t torture him, but he was in a sorry state when I found him.” The stranger inhaled his cigarette. “I find kindness and patience work better, believe me.”
She tilted her head sideways cynically. “What’s your name?”
“Me?” He laughed. “You don’t need to know that.”
“Fine. A title?”
“The Magician.”
“Oh, I see. Well, Mr. Magician, what do you want of me?”
“Like I said, the Hanged Man is in power again.”
“And what does this mean?”
He sighed. “Look, when you left the four kingdoms tried to take yours. The King disappeared without a trace and no one knows where he went. Sam also disappeared along with Jace. The next family down, the Staves, tried to take over the spot but only managed to secure anarchy. In the meantime, the Hearts were spreading themselves a little to thin trying to find the missing Club family.”
“What about Spades and Diamonds?”
“Equally interesting was the disappearance of the Spades—the queen was left trapped in her tower and the king was giving convoluted directions from his throne. He never left and his army just got larger and larger under his diminishing control. We didn’t really know what was happening, but we were more concerned when the Diamonds started doing the same thing. They’re a good family, but they their logic can get twisted if someone is feeding it to them.
“Finally, something broke and both the Spades and Diamonds went to war. No one is really sure over what. The Hearts leapt over into your territory and started ruling, which needless to say, caused problems with your subjects, especially the Staves. The cups tried taking over for the Hearts, but the Lovers got to them first and well, some skirmishes occurred. The Queen of Hearts skipped out of the kingdom to look for you, but it didn’t really matter—the kingdom was split. So finally, someone came in to try and patch it up.”
“The Hanged Man.”
“And the Fool. You’re job is to at least get some order in your kingdom before joining with the Hearts. When you’ve got a solid ground I have some freedom to stop the Spades and Diamonds.”
“Lovely,” she said. “And what if I don’t want to go? I would much rather have it here than there.”
He smiled through the smoke. “Strength and the Chariot have been meaning to see you. I’m sure they don’t take no for an answer.”
“You’re trying to threaten me with my two best friends?”
“No,” he said. “I’m not threatening you. But I don’t think they’d let you stay.”
She sighed. “I don’t want to end up in the mess. War is such a messy game…”
“I know,” he said. “You’ve got to get all the cards on your side or it’s not going to end well.”
“Fine, I’m coming with you.” She grabbed her guitar and waited for him to button up his coat. “Take me to Sam first.”
