Heh, another one. Might was well strike while the mood is with me.

Heh, another one.  Might was well strike while the mood is with me.
-

The Hollow Heart

Jericho Jhones sat in a pool of his own envy and hate.  Across the fountain, Julia and the stranger sat on a park bench, holding hands and sharing their lunch.  "It's not right", he thought, "I saw her first.  I got dibs on her."  Of course, relationships don't work that way, especially ones where most of the conversations you have with the other person are in your own head.  Jericho had no one to blame but himself, but it didn't stop him from transferring that to the other man. (The Fool) 
 
Julia basked in the sunshine and the attention.  Brace Black was charming, sure.  He smelled good and he had a way of looking at people that ran deep.  There was just something that was intensely satisfying about being close to him.  Perhaps being a stage magician gave him that level of confidence that she craved.  She was, of course, completely oblivious to the presence of Jericho who was only sixty feet away on the other side of the dancing waters.  She may not have wanted to admit it, but she was head over heels for Mr. Black. (The Lovers) 
 
Brace smiled, he always worked best with an attentive audience.  He had originally picked Julia out of a crowd in order to do a little street magic.  It was easy to flirt with her in the spotlight and even get her phone number as part of a card trick.  This was their third date and he wondered if his heart was the one playing tricks on him.  (The Magician) 
 
When they started feeding each other little berries and giggling, Jericho realized that he had enough.  He bolted up from his seat, clenched his fists, and turned away.  Blindly, he walked out of the park and past heavy traffic.  He barely heard the shouts and horns.  Jericho didn't know where he was going but his black heart led the way.  When he looked up, he was standing in from of an old antique shop.  "Curious Wares" was printed on the window in gold leaf.  The door seemed to open on its own. (Fortune) 
 
Jericho felt out of place in the quiet shop.  The fancy goods didn't appeal to him.  The wood, brass, and ivory did not transfer their warmth.  The shop keeper was reading a book by the fireplace.  It was an unusual feature for store, but Jericho observed that it was very fitting for the owner.  The old man didn't seem threatening.  Sure, his white hair twirled up to form two horns on his head, but otherwise he was humbly dressed in a tweed vest and slacks.  He shoes looked very comfortable.  The shoe keeper closed his book and inhaled deeply.  "Ah, the stench of jealousy, the burning sulphur of hate, and just a bit of that cloying tang of lust.  I sense that you need help young man.  You have certainly come to the right place."  (The Devil) 
 
Jericho was a little disturbed that he had ended up here, but part of himself was not surprised at all.  That part was also thrilled with the idea of taking Julia from that smooth talking stranger.  "Let me guess", intruded the old man as he stood up.  "Your love has fallen for another and you want to earn her heart?"  "Earn?  I just want to take it.  What will it take?  A potion perhaps a ring?"  The old man's bushy eyebrows also touched as he furrowed his brow and thought.  "I have a spell for that.  Point and click technology, real easy to use." Jericho paused, that sounded too easy.  "So, do I have to sign the usual contract?"  A little fire flickered in old man's eyes and there was that trademark devilish grin, "No, we just shake on it.  Wireless transaction, it's all the rage."  He held out his wrinkled hand and Jericho took it.  A small reddish pentacle formed in the air around their grip and Jericho could feel the spell transfer to him.  The devil grinned, "Pleasure doing business with you." (The Star) 
 
Jericho barely heard the shouts and horns as he crossed the busy street and entered the park.  Black clouds of anger wafted his shoulders for those sensitive enough to see them.  He stormed across the grass as little arcs of electricity snapped and played.  He held out his empty hand like a gun and pointed it at Julia.  But, the stranger was faster.  Brace pulled a mirror out of his sleeve and intercepted the magical bolt.  There was a brilliant flash and the magic bounced straight back at Jericho.  (Justice) 
 
Jericho woke up in the downtown medical tower.  He could barely move and when he looked down he was wearing a hospital gown.  He opened his right hand and there was a tattoo of a heart in his palm.  It was black and empty.  He passed out again. (The Tower) 
 
Jericho heard the beeping of a heart monitor just has the anesthesiologist put the mask on.  He turned his head as the surgeon entered the room.  It was an old man with white hair that curled up to form two horns.  The surgeon smiled behind his mask as he looked Jericho in the eyes.  "I don't think he's going to make it..." (Death)