Mapping Villainy in Fated Romance: The Devil in the Tarot Deck

In Threads of Red, my two main characters, Ellie and Ezekiel are pulled together by the red thread of destiny; the core theme that roots the novel. However, before they can meet—and before Ellie's psychic friend, Kym, blurts out Ezekiel's name—Kym insists on a tarot reading. Although Ellie is aware of her attraction to him, she does not yet understand the depth of their bond. Ezekiel’s name finally bursts from Kym’s lips, yet, Kym has not made the connection that Ezekiel is a famous Hollywood actor. The scene in Kym’s reading room illustrates the powerful tie between the fated pair and foreshadows a new reality for Ellie. The beautiful Two of Cups (soul connection) and The Ace of Wands (sparking passion) turn over one after the other, prompting Kym to voice her take on what the cards mean.

“Wow, Two of Cups,” Kym said when she turned over the fourth card. “Another fated reference. Two energies coming together. It’s powerful and meant to be. Huh,” she said, continuing the reading with the fifth card, her voice taking on an enlivened tone. “Holy smokes, the Ace of Wands.”

“What does that mean?” Ellie asked, alarmed.

“It means tons of sex and passion. Hot, hot, hot.” Kym licked her finger, touched her behind, and made a sizzling noise.

Ellie blushed and twirled a strand of hair.

Ellie’s sharp words on the subject are filled with skepticism. She rejects the reading and its possibilities, but deep inside she feels a strong fated bond to this man she’s never met. A man whose soul she somehow knows.

Kym continues the reading revealing another card that reinforces the soul connection with Ezekiel and foreshadows a past life. At this point the truth becomes too real for Ellie to fathom. Let’s dive into the dialogue in this scene.

“Let’s move on to the Knight card.” Kym touched The Knight of Swords. “Whoever Ezekiel is, he’s younger than you and he’s not afraid to take risks. He’s achieved success. Once he sets his sights on a goal, there’s no stopping him.” Surprise crossed Kym’s face; she covered her mouth with both hands. “Oh, my God,” she said, releasing her hands and banging one on the table. “It’s the famous actor, Ezekiel. I forget his last name.”

A hot flush of blood burned across Ellie’s cheeks. She almost fell off the chair. Her heart jerked to a stop, and breaths came in quick spurts. “Larson, Ezekiel Larson, but this isn’t real.”

Kym’s face lit up. “Yes, Larson.” She comforted Ellie with a touch. “It’s true.”

Ellie squirmed. “This can’t happen. Not in this life,” she said, firm on that point. Ellie lost her mind, falling apart over a man she’d never know. She also fell in love. Crashed into love might ring truer. How was this possible? “This can’t be. I’ve got to get him out of my head.”

“You can’t; he’s supposed to be there,” Kym said pointblank. “Don’t fight it. You can’t change destiny. You’re supposed to meet again.”

Not every card drawn during the reading is positive. In Threads of Red, the concept of fated connection has a terrifying dark side, and this tarot reading maps that potential villainy. While it provides critical foreshadowing, neither Ellie nor Kym fully understand the evil that will soon surface. An unknown antagonist operates under a completely different card: The Devil. In tarot, The Devil Card represents toxic obsession, codependency, and feeling trapped. By weaving this specific card into the reading, I hint at the terrifying boundary where a beautiful cosmic destiny will eventually collide with a twisted obsession. Through Kym’s insight, readers get a bird's-eye view of the dark energy lurking around the corner.

Tarot cards are the way I chose to help readers feel the bond between the two main characters and establish their fated soul connection. The cards also map out my antagonist's psychological grip before they even step out of the shadows. Think about your villain's mindset? How will you track that for readers? Find the best way to introduce and reveal the psychology of your antagonist—one that perfectly fits your novel.