Shane looked around the dimly lit room nervously. The smell of stale incense assaulted him and made his eyes water. What the hell am I doing here? he wondered, taking a seat on the dilapidated couch in the front parlor. This is crazy. He stood up again to leave just as the beaded curtain leading to a back room moved, and the woman he had come to see stepped through.

“Good evening, heir,” she rasped in a heavily Bulgarian-accented voice, stepping toward him.

Shane reeled from the words. “How did you know—“

She put a hand with rings on every finger to his forehead, running her index finger along his hairline. “You have the mark of one with a tremendous weight on his shoulders. This is plain to see.” She stepped back and put one hand on her hip. “Besides, I’ve seen you and your pops on television. I know who you are.” The accent was gone, and she spoke with a voice that told Shane she was from Brooklyn.

He laughed. “Why the accent?”

The woman shrugged. “It makes the experience more real for some people. You’re someone who doesn’t need all that to believe the things that I will tell you.” She gave a bow, her hands pressed together as if in prayer. “So, I am Madam Serendipity. It is a pleasure to meet you.”

Shane nodded. “Likewise.”

She gestured to the back room from which she had emerged. “Shall we?”

He nodded again, proceeding to follow her. Madam Serendipity was a very beautiful woman, who looked as though she had gypsy lineage in her. Her skin was deeply tanned. Her dark eyes were accentuated with smoky eye makeup. The hair that hung down past her shoulders was dark, thick, and curly. When she walked, the long skirt she was wearing swished around her ankles. Shane noticed that she was barefoot and had on an anklet consisting of several small bells that jingled when she walked.

Madam Serendipity led him to a small room with lighting even poorer than the previous. In the center of the room was a table, covered in a cloth of heavy purple material, and two chairs. She pulled out the one closest to the door for him, then walked around the table and took her seat.

“All right, you’re here for some advice about a relationship,” she said.

Shane nodded, knowing that this woman was for real. He never questioned things that he didn’t understand, but something told him that this Madam Serendipity wasn’t a phone-in type psychic. He would have to get used to her knowing exactly what was on his mind.

“Does your father know that you and this man have a relationship?” she asked, pulling out a deck of tarot cards.

Shane’s cheeks flushed.

Madam Serendipity shook her head with a chuckle. “I take that as a no. Don’t worry, heir, your secret is safe with me.”

“I don’t want you to think that I—“

Madam Serendipity put up a hand. “I judge no one. What you do is your business and no one else’s. I have no intention of selling your secrets to the tabloids.” She raised an eyebrow. “Speaking of, I take it you have the fee.”

He nodded, reaching into his pocket. She shook her head. “I don’t accept payment until after the reading is finished. Satisfaction is guaranteed with Madam Serendipity.”

Shane smiled. “I want to thank you again for agreeing to come in so late to see me. I couldn’t find any other time, or, believe me, I would have.”

She shrugged, shaking her head. “It’s no problem. I want to thank you for agreeing to pay the extra charge. I missed the Yankees playing for this.”

“They won,” Shane said immediately.

“I know,” she replied flatly.

Shane had to smile. This woman really was something.

Madam Serendipity began shuffling the cards. “Okay, let’s see. I have to give you the Miranda rights of card readings.” She sat up straight and spoke in her best monotone. “As we look into what the cards have to say, you must remember a few things. First, you are not to touch the cards unless I instruct you to do so. If you do, it will result in an immediate termination of the reading, and you will be forced to pay for a new deck for your tainted hand will have ruined the spell placed over them. Second, the information revealed herein is by no means complete and final. Each person takes what the cards have to say in their own way. I, as your licensed card-reader, must release myself of any liability for anything that might result from what I tell you. Finally, please remember, this card reading is only for entertainment. The cards cannot foretell the future—it is only what you make of it.” She blinked her eyes and looked at him. “Do you understand these rights as I have read them to you?”

Shane nodded. Madam Serendipity laughed. “You look terrified.”

“I’ve never had anything like this done,” he explained. “A friend recommended you to me. He said that you do wonderful work.”

Madam Serendipity nodded with a smile. “Ah, yes. Christian always was the flatterer.” She cocked an eyebrow at him. “But, I guess you already know that.”

Shane blushed again.

“Okay, let’s get this done,” she said, waving her hands. “I want you to think of the question that is on your mind as I shuffle the cards. It cannot be a question that can be answered with a simple ‘yes’ or ‘no,’ but rather, a question with deeper meaning to you that I can try to help to answer. Do not put the question into your words in your mind. Think about the subject, and concentrate on it.”

Shane closed his eyes, thinking of Hunter—always thinking of Hunter. He had to know what to do about him. Too much had come between them—their jobs, their “co-workers,” Stephanie…above all, Stephanie. He had to know what Hunter was going to do.

“All right, now, cut the cards with your left hand, and place both piles on the table,” Madam Serendipity instructed.

Shane opened his eyes and did as he was told. The cards had navy blue backs with little silver stars on them, and they were oversized. Shane felt clumsy as he cut the deck and placed both piles side by side.

Madam Serendipity put the piles together to make them as one. With the cards in her hand, she looked at Shane. “Are you ready?”

“Yes, I’m ready,” Shane replied, taking a deep breath.

“Don’t say I didn’t warn you,” she intoned gravely as she began to deal out the cards.

**What the hell does she mean by that??** he wondered as he watched her place the cards in an intricate pattern on the table. She dealt out six at first, placing them in a shape resembling a cross. With each card she put down, she would make a sound; sometimes one of surprise, sometimes one of disappointment. Shane’s heart began to beat a little faster. She finally looked up at him.

“This first card represents you,” she said, pointing to the card in the center of the table. It was of a man on a cliff, holding a flower, and dressed in a colorful outfit. Below the picture were the words, “The Fool.” Shane almost laughed. “It is The Fool. You have been naïve in this relationship.” She closed her eyes. “He is blonde, no? And a hunter?”

Shane caught the inflection in her voice and nodded.

“You rushed into the relationship without putting much thought into it,” Madam Serendipity continued. “It is based on sex only, but lately, you have been having stronger feelings for this Blonde Hunter.”

Shane continued to nod, hardly believing the words she was speaking. He and Hunter **had** rushed into the relationship—they had rushed into a broom closet the first time, actually. Shane realized that he loved Hunter the week before Christian had mentioned Madam Serendipity.

She pointed to the second card, lying across the top of the first, with a long-nailed and delicate finger. “The second card is the nature of the influences or the obstacles that lie just ahead.” She peered at the card. “It is The Empress. You have a sister. She looks like you somewhat.”

“Yeah, but you probably have seen her on television, too,” Shane replied skeptically.

“I find your lack of faith disturbing,” Madam Serendipity hissed. “As a matter of fact, I have never seen this sister of yours, and I never lie.” The gleam in her dark eyes told Shane that he had made a mistake. “She is not your only sister. You have another, a bastard child. The product of the affairs of your father.”

Shane had a bitter taste in his mouth. No one but he and his father knew about the fifteen-year-old daughter that his father had with another woman—not even Stephanie, and most certainly not his mother. They had kept her a secret for many years, but somehow this woman knew. “All right, you’ve convinced me. What about my sister?”

Madam Serendipity looked back to the card with a tight smile on her face. “Did she try to take this man from you? Perhaps, he caught her fancy, and she pursued him?” She looked at the card again. “No, wait. I was wrong. **She** caught **his** fancy. Perhaps because she could further his career.”

“He married her, actually,” Shane replied. “He did it to get back at my father, but also because she put him as an immediate player in the current storyline.”

“Men are bitches, aren’t they?” she asked, a teasing smile on her face.

Shane laughed. “You’ve got that right.”

Madam Serendipity pointed the card at the top of the cross. “This card, The Chariot, represents the best thing that you can accomplish within the present set of circumstances.” She sighed. “I’m sorry, hon, but you’re going to lose him.”

“What!?!” Shane snapped, suddenly close to tears. “What do you mean I’m going to lose him?”

“Right now, you’re unable to face the reality of the situation. His career is more important to him than anything, including you,” she continued, ignoring his protest. “You have to deal with that before you can hope for anything more with him.”

Shane fought back his tears, knowing that what she was saying was true. He had married Stephanie because it was the last thing that Vince would expect him to do. He didn’t love her, or so he said, but she had elevated him to superstar status when his career had been lagging. Nothing mattered to Hunter except his career. He’d do anything to get ahead, even if it meant breaking someone’s heart.

“The fourth card is The Moon,” Madam Serendipity continued, pointing to the card on the right side of the shape. “It represents the events in the past upon which the present events are based. Your sister wanted to get back at you, heir. She hated you for something—perhaps you meddled in another relationship of hers, more so then what was shown on television. She wanted to hurt you for it, so she took The Hunter from you.”

Stephanie had never really gotten past the ordeal with Test. Even after they had beaten the shit out of each other, even after Shane promised not to interfere any more, she still hadn’t been able to let it go. It made sense now, why she had turned on their father and seemed to actually enjoy being married to Hunter. Did she know about their relationship? Shane was confident before that she only saw them as very close friends. However, Madam Serendipity’s words made him think otherwise.

“The fifth card,” she began again, pointing at the base of the cross, “represents the most recent sphere of influence of events that have passed or are passing right now. It is The High Priestess.” She peered at Shane with those dark eyes. “He asked you to do something for him, something you were reluctant to do.”

Shane nodded. “He asked me to get him a match at the next big show. Dad had him penciled out because he’s been getting a lot of exposure, and he thought that he needed a break. He didn’t want it, so he asked me to talk to Dad to get him put back into the main event.”

Madam Serendipity put her chin in her hand. “And you said no?”

“At first, I said no,” Shane corrected her. “I told him that it was bad business for me to do favors for anyone, including him. If one person gets something done for him, then other people will find out and want the same thing. I couldn’t do that.”

“He convinced you otherwise,” Madam Serendipity added.

Shane blushed. “Yes. He managed to convince me, the same way he always does.”

“He uses sex as a weapon with you,” Madam Serendipity finished for him. “He’s always had that power over you, hasn’t he? One touch of his hand, one word spoken in that special voice, and you’re on your knees, and I don’t mean that metaphorically.”

Shane nodded, loosening the collar on his shirt. “You know what you’re talking about, Madam Serendipity.”

“Please, call me Seren,” she said, pointing to the next card. “This last card in the first set represents the sphere of influence that is coming into being in the near future.” She looked at the card before continuing. “Your father is not pleased with The Blonde. Despite what may be said, he does not like the fact that his daughter is married to this man. He has made plans to stop his actions within the ring. Your father is able to use his intelligence and reason to dominate over emotion. His anger will not get the best of him.”

Shane nodded his head. It was true. Vince had mentioned putting a plan into action that would stop Hunter’s growing popularity and power within the company. His disapproval of Hunter and Stephanie’s marriage, however, was news to Shane. After the initial shock had worn off, Vince had welcomed Hunter into the family with semi-open arms.

Madam Serendipity stood and crossed to a table in the far corner of the room. “Can I offer you some tea?” she asked, lifting the teapot.

“No, thank you,” Shane replied, stretching like a cat. “Are we finished?”

Madam Serendipity poured herself a cup of tea, and then crossed back to the table. “There are still four more cards to deal. This is the customary break that I allow myself. Reading the cards takes a lot out of me.”

“I’m not in a rush, so if you need to rest, take as long as you like,” Shane replied, putting up his hands as she reached for the deck of cards.

“I’m fine,” she replied, preparing to deal out the rest of the cards. “Are you ready?”

“Well, we can’t stop now,” he replied, rubbing his eyes.

“I want to warn you,” she said, flipping the cards out, laying them in a straight line beside the cross formation. “These last four cards can reveal some very personal things. Sometimes it’s too much for people to deal with, but I can’t stop once we start. I hope you understand.”

Shane nodded. “I’m ready.”

Madam Serendipity shrugged. “The seventh card represents your attitude concerning the present circumstances. It’s The Hermit. You’re a very private person, heir. You’ve withdrawn inside your shell, hoping to keep yourself away from being hurt. That, however, has already happened. Your family is worried about you. They are wondering what is going on to make you so cold and distant.” She took a deep breath. “You also live in the past. Sometimes, you will sit alone in your empty house and just reflect on times gone by, wishing that things could be the way they were. Why do you do this to yourself?”

Shane bit his lip. “I used to be so happy with him. There were times that we’d just lay in bed, talking about anything and everything that came to mind, for hours on end. He would talk to me. When he would say my name, it sent shivers through me. Hunter is just so powerful.” Shane dropped his head. “Now, he barely says a word to me. He just comes in, fucks me, and then leaves. I can’t talk to him about it because it pisses him off, and he—well, he’s **rough.**”

Madam Serendipity smiled. “You’re too gentle a soul, heir, to be with a man like this of which we are speaking. He is ruthless, and he is full of anger.”

“Why?” Shane asked, leaning forward.

She shrugged. “It’s hard to say, really. If he were here with you, it would be easier for me to tell. Often, people like him have had many past lives full of hardship. It comes through every few times around the block.” She smiled at him, turning her head. “Not you, though. You’ve always been pampered, in all your lifetimes, and it’s come back to you in the form of your gentleness. You are a good man, heir.”

Shane smiled and watched as she moved her finger to the next card. “This is the eighth card, The Lovers.” She winked. “It represents your influence on other people and your position in life.” Madam Serendipity looked up, shaking her head.

“What?” Shane asked, putting up his hands.

“You’ve got your eye on someone else,” she answered, wagging a finger. “Don’t you know better? Trying to hurt him by sleeping with someone else is no way to show him how you feel about him.”

Shane’s head dropped, and he covered his face with his hands. “Damn, you’re good.”

Madam Serendipity grinned, sitting back in her chair. “Who is this man? I see an ‘X.’”

“In every sense of the letter,” Shane replied, squeezing the bridge of his nose. “He’s one of Hunter’s old flames. They had a pretty serious relationship. Before Hunter got to me, I was with the ‘X’—Sean is his name. After our relationship had ended, Hunter came after me. I couldn’t get away from him.”

“Indeed, you were his prey,” she added, shaking her head. “It always comes as a great shock to the hunter when he gets captured by the prey.” She blinked, and then looked to the next card. “The ninth card represents your inner emotions, exactly how you are feeling.”

Shane pointed at the card, careful not to touch it. “Why doesn’t that card look like the rest of them?”

Madam Serendipity picked the card up and showed it to him. “This card is part of the minor arcane. They have their own separate meanings, but sometimes I use both decks instead of just the major arcane.”

Shane peered at the card. It had a three at the top. The picture on the card made Shane nervous. It was a large red heart with three swords sticking into it. “What does that mean?”

Madam Serendipity sighed as she placed the card back down on the table. “Heir, you can’t shut everyone else out just because the same is being done to you by the one about which you care the most. Your family loves you, and you have many friends. You can’t alienate yourself because of this. You’ve been distracted in your job, and your life is in total disorder. You have to do something to get out of the rut you are in right now. He may be hurting you, but you have to take some control.”

Shane nodded. “I know, but it’s just so hard. You’re right about the distraction at work thing. I’ve been turning in reports that aren’t worth a shit. Dad’s pissed at me because of it. I hate shutting them out, but no one can understand just what I’m going through, especially not Stephanie. I can’t tell them.”

Madam Serendipity nodded. “You will in time.” She looked to the final card. “This is the last card in the reading. It represents the culmination of all the influences revealed by the other cards, provided, of course, that events and influences continue as indicated. Do you understand what that means?”

Shane looked at her hesitantly. “So, you’re saying that this what is going to happen if things keep going the way they are right now?”

She nodded again. “Yes. If you do nothing, this is what will happen. If you choose to take what you have learned here, however, and you get off your ass and do something about it, things will change.”

Shane smiled. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

“The last card in your reading is The Devil,” she continued, her voice changing. “If you don’t do something, heir, I see serious risk to your safety.”

Shane shook his head. “Hunter would never seriously hurt me. He gets angry sometimes, but he’d never harm me.”

“He might not hurt you, but you might hurt yourself,” she replied. “Even the strongest individual with the purest heart can sometimes be led astray by evil.” She grabbed his hand suddenly, squeezing it tightly. “He will continue to keep you subservient if you don’t take the initiative—tonight. Listen to me, heir. You must do something.”

He nodded, taking back his hand. “Thank you. This has been a very enlightening experience.”

She sat back as he reached for his wallet. “Would you like to have your palm read?”

Shane fished out the amount they had agreed on and shook his head. “No thanks. I’m a little low on cash.”

She scoffed and held out her hand. “Give me your damn palm. I like you, heir. No charge.”

Shane sighed and extended his hand. She didn’t even bother looking at it, merely stared him in the eyes. “You’re going to have a long life, with much wealth and fortune. You’ll die an old man with money all around you. You will have children.”

“Really?” he asked, surprised. He couldn’t see himself as a father.

She nodded. “No matter about your current predilection for the masculine taste of sex. That will fade eventually, and you will be the father of two lovely children, a boy and a girl.”

With that, she took the money from the table and stuffed it into her shirt. “Good day, heir. I hope things work out for you. Come back and see me so I can find out if I helped.”

Shane stood up, still holding out his palm. “How did you see all that without even looking at my hand?”

Madam Serendipity looked at him strangely for a moment, and then waved a dismissive hand. “Oh, that palm reading shit is a bunch of bull. I was just yanking your chain.”

He laughed. “So, I’m probably going to die young, penniless, and never have children.”

She shook her head. “No, what I told you was true, about the children at least.”

“How can you tell if that palm reading shit is a bunch of bull?” he asked, a half-smile on his face.

“I can see them in your eyes, both of them,” she replied flatly.

Shane closed his eyes, shaking his head. He turned to head for the door, but paused to wave goodbye to the strange woman who had told him more about himself then ever knew.

She was gone.

~~**~~

That night, when Shane came through the door, Hunter was waiting for him, sitting on the steps in the foyer, a cross look on his face.

“Where the fuck have you been?” he roared, standing up and coming down the stairs. “It’s after midnight!”

Shane rolled his eyes and threw his keys onto the table by the door. “I had business,” he replied, dryly, pushing past him and heading up the stairs.

“Don’t give me that shit!” Hunter screamed, following him up the steps. “You were with him, weren’t you? Don’t deny it!”

Shane pushed through his bedroom door, undoing the top button of his shirt. “I’m not denying anything, Hunter. You’re making things up in your head. Maybe someone has a guilty conscience.”

Hunter slammed the door as he entered the room, flipping his blonde hair. “Well, aren’t you little Mr. Tough Shit tonight. I guess fucking a pussy like Sean will do that to anybody.”

“I’m not fucking Sean any more,” Shane replied calmly, taking off his shirt. “It’s late, Hunter, and I’m tired. Please take your paranoid delusions and leave.”

Hunter ripped his shirt over his head and threw it to the floor. “I’m not leaving here until I get what I came for, bitch.”

Madam Serendipity’s words floated back to him--**He will continue to keep you subservient if you don’t take the initiative—tonight.** Shane lunged forward suddenly, grabbing Hunter by the neck and slamming him against the bedroom door. Hunter groaned and struggled against Shane’s hand, but he didn’t budge. Shane leaned in close to Hunter’s face.

“Bitch? I’m your bitch now?” he growled. “You think you can just waltz in here whenever you feel like rolling out of my sister’s bed, and I’ll lay down and take it from you? You’re sorely mistaken. I’ll show you who the bitch is, you motherfucker!”

Shane viciously whipped Hunter around, throwing him down onto the bed. Hunter rolled onto his back, looking up with a devilish grin. “That’s more like it,” he hissed, his eyes flashing. He undid the button on his jeans and pulled down the zipper. Shane grabbed them and yanked them down, throwing them across the room. He then removed his own pants and boxer shorts.

Hunter reached for him, putting his arms around his hips. Shane pulled away roughly and pushed Hunter back onto the bed. “Fuck you!” Hunter snapped.

Shane climbed onto the bed, smiling. “That’s exactly what I plan to do.”

Hunter looked at him strangely as Shane drew from strength he didn’t even know he had to grab Hunter by the hips and flip him over to his stomach. “Shane, what the fuck are you doing?”

“I’m taking the initiative,” Shane replied, positioning himself over Hunter. His hands reached down and felt the silky smooth skin of his lover’s back. Hunter gasped, his skin quivering. He raised his hips, probably to put up some defense against the enraged man getting ready to fuck him. It didn’t do any good, and only gave Shane the chance to grab him by the hips, spread his legs, and drive himself into Hunter roughly, no lubrication to aid him.

Hunter roared, clutching the bed sheets in his fists. Shane felt sorry for him for an instant. Hunter wasn’t used to being on this end of the deal, and he hadn’t properly prepared him for the ferocity of his attack. As Hunter adjusted and began to move against him, that sorry feeling disappeared. He had to show him that he wasn’t going to be walked on any longer.

“Oh, no you don’t,” Shane hissed evilly. He grabbed Hunter’s hips again and kept him from moving. “You’re going to get what you came for, bitch, and I’m going to give it to you.” He thrust roughly into his lover, his whole body shuddering at the unfamiliar sensation. Hunter groaned in spite of himself. Repeatedly, Shane thrust and withdrew at a steadily increasing tempo. With each thrust, Hunter would spit out a curse or groan, hating that he loved every minute of it.

“How does that feel, you bastard?” Shane screamed, grabbing Hunter by the hair.

“Not as good as your sister does,” Hunter snapped, gritting his teeth as Shane yanked his hair even harder.

Shane pushed harder into him, digging his fingernails into the soft flesh of Hunter’s back. He had to get control of himself. He couldn’t let his anger get in the way of the point he was trying to make.

Shane reached around and closed his hand around Hunter’s erect cock. Hunter gasped, arching his back even more. He began to moan as Shane thrust himself harder and harder, stroking his lover in the rhythm of their bodies. The faint sound of their sweat-coated skin slapping together drove Shane mad with lust. His anger and frustration were suddenly transforming into fiery desire. Hunter was feeling it too.

“Shane…” he moaned, throwing his head back.

That was all he needed. He shot his load just as Hunter came in his hand, his warm, sticky seed spilling over Shane’s fingers. He withdrew gently, flipping Hunter over onto his back. He moved to straddle him, running his fingers over Hunter’s lips. He looked up at Shane with a glaze of desire and fury over his eyes, and flicked his tongue to taste his own fluid.

Shane bent down and whispered in his ear, darting his tongue out briefly to lap at Hunter’s earlobe. “You won’t ever push me around again, Hunter. Do you understand me?”

Hunter nodded his head, speechless. Shane smiled, placing a soft kiss on his cheek. “You’ll stop fucking my sister. You’re mine now. You got that? I want you all to myself, and I don’t want you to touch her.”

Hunter nodded again as the phone beside the bed rang. Shane didn’t bother to answer it. He slipped beside Hunter, who was already drifting off to sleep as the answering machine picked up and Madam Serendipity’s voice floated through the room.

“Heir, I wanted to you know that The Devil, when the circumstances are reversed, means something totally different. It means release from bondage. The Hunter will recognize your needs, and he will begin to understand you. Oh, and he’s going to divorce your sister. Bye.”

Shane smiled to himself as he looked at Hunter, sleeping peacefully beside him. It really was true—everything changes when the hunter is captured by the prey.

~~**THE END**~~