This one is based on the King of Pentacles, reversed. (The Zombie Tarot uses hazards.) I felt like this reversal referred to being overthrown, and the King of Pentacles is often compared to Santa Claus. He rules prosperity, is a generous man, and a legendary party host. Pentacles, the suit of prosperity, is ruled by earth, which also rules winter, and death. It would be unwise to try to overthrow Santa Claus. (More on the court cards here, and the elements here.)
We never would have taken him for a witch. He seemed so steady, a reliable type, paying his bills on time, and mowing his lawn. He never had any kids, his wife died young. He was real generous with the neighbor kids, helping out some to get their kids nice stuff.
He seemed old enough to retire, and like he only worked to keep from getting bored. We figured with all that hard work and no family to support, he probably had a stash of money somewhere. A guy like that probably reads books on making his money grow. He came home early when we were looking for a safe.
He came home right after we found some kind of altar in the basement, and he kind of came home by popping right into place, in this little circle on the floor right behind us. Scared the fuck out of us, but Kim, she never was one to freeze in fear, and she just started moving and got her knife right in his eye socket before I knew what was going on.
He didn’t die right away, he started twitching and all the lights flickered. Fucking electricity or fire or some kind of light started pouring from his fingers and his eyes glowed with it. I couldn’t move. I don’t mean I froze in fear, I tried to run but my feet were stuck to the floor, and Kim’s too.
He spoke, and it wasn’t loud but everything around us kind of rang with his voice anyway, I did too, I felt like a guitar string plucked deep inside me. And he says, right before he dies, he says, “Die from regret.”
Then he died, and we could move. I thought it was some kind of freak electrical event, and I didn’t think too hard about what he said. But then it started to itch at me, but I figured it was power of suggestion or somethin’ and blew it off. Kim, I was worried about her though, she was so eaten up by it, and that ain’t the first man she’s done like that, but I never saw her so torn up. She ended up eating a bottle of pills.
I figured maybe it was a curse, but I was in the clear, ‘cause she did him, not me. But as soon as she went, the nightmares started. Every time I eat, I feel bad that man can’t taste anything anymore. Every time I get tired and cranky at work, ‘cause I can’t sleep, right? I get all tired and cranky and sore, but as soon as I think about how good it would be to go home and sit in my chair, I remember that dude was a hard worker, and he probably liked that feeling of relief too.
Today I got a headache, and I felt bad because that guy would never get a headache again, even though it was pain. All those rough moments just make the smooth moments sweeter, and he can’t have either. I don’t think I’ll last out much longer.
Tippitiwichet 