The question quickly arranges itself before me: Do I somehow visibly leave the King of Pentacles behind for Rosa and her coven? It would be a consolation prize, giving them the chance to make back some of the money they gave Anwar. More important, stopping to gather the King would maybe slow them down and give us a better shot at making a clean getaway. Or do I continue running forward and keep the King of Pentacles with the rest of the deck, where it maybe really belongs?

Chase made exactly this kind of decision for me earlier with the Prince of Wands, and that has never sat right with me.

So now is my time to make up for that, Empress I remain.

I leave the King of Pentacles behind for Rosa and her coven to treasure.

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I keep the King of Pentacles. Completing more of the deck is a risk worth taking.

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As this decision locks into place, I know it’s the right thing to do. So, taking one last look down at the King of Pentacles, I say my goodbyes.

However, I find this moment doesn’t feel bittersweet at all, because I know now for sure these physical cards are not what really matters. What matters is the journey. The lessons. The truth. What matters is how I become the kind of person Grandma would be proud of.

Scanning my surroundings, I spot a stream nearby, slim but coursing. Instantly, I know how to make this work.

Banking left, I sprint toward the stream. Once I make it there, I stop and turn to find Rosa and Supriya running right at me in plain sight—though Supriya already trails way behind, seemingly running out of steam. Perfect.

I then toss the King of Pentacles into the stream without thinking twice, letting the current pull the card along.

“No!” Rosa shrieks, watching what I’ve done.

But I just keep running after Chase and Cleo, knowing in my gut that this Queen of Pentacles would never leave her King behind.

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As my decision locks into place, I know it’s the right thing to do. Anwar and Rosa never had any legitimate claim to this deck, and they never will. Besides, if Rosa and her coven really are devastated over the money they’ll lose, they’re welcome to track Anwar down to get it back. This feels quite a bit like the right karma to me.

So I don’t think twice.

I don’t look back.

I don’t look down.

I just keep running forward. As I do, I feel more than ever that I was the one chosen to protect these special, coveted, powerful cards. I might not know exactly why this responsibility has fallen to me, but it has.

This one thought carries me forward, moving faster than I ever thought I could. Fast enough to outrun every demon chasing me—including Rosa and her bewitching ways.

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