#tktd

Of course, it is worth noting that while Santana frequently claims that “everyone” she draws the Death card for dies, statistically speaking, by the end of the story, when Brittany finds Santana chained to the pillar in the big top, about 67% of the people for whom Santana has drawn the Death card are confirmed dead, meaning that the other 33% are either confirmed alive or have an unknown status. It is also worth noting that not everyone for whom Santana draws the Death card dies immediately (or even shortly) after their tarot reading. 

For instance, in TKTD’s prequel, ACMCD, Santana’s abuela, Alma, dies several months after Santana draws the Death card for her. 

While Santana attributes Alma’s death to the card, her father is quick to point out that Alma was in all likelihood sick long before Santana drew the card for her and that she therefore would have died within the next year or so whether or not Santana ever gave her a reading.   

It’s basically the same deal when it comes to the Death card.

Santana believes that her cards hold literal meanings, not just in terms of death, but in relation to things like wealth and business dealings and love. If she draws the Ten of Pentacles, for instance, she’s going to see it as having to do with money, whereas someone else might view it more metaphorically, in terms of having security within one’s family or a general feeling of well-being. To her, when she draws the Death card, it means, absolutely, that the person she’s reading for is going to die.

But, as you mention, not everyone schooled in tarot shares Santana’s literalism.

One very common, metaphorical interpretation for the Death card is that it signifies a new beginning—or, since we’re talking about a Glee fic here, a “new direction,” if you’ll pardon the pun—and that it doesn’t refer to one actually losing one’s life but instead to one embracing new opportunities, often in a positive way. 

While Santana is very doom and gloom about the whole thing, more modern fortunetellers would probably tell you that the Death card is one of the most hopeful cards you can draw, as it often signifies moving away from unhealthy attachments and leaving behind the people or institutions that bog you down.

(You can read more about this possibility for various interpretations of the same cards here, if you’re interested.)

Again, I purposefully left it open to the reader to decide whether they were on board with Santana’s interpretation of the Death card or not.

Anyway, long story long, my advice is to go with whatever interpretation of the story makes most sense to you, given the context clues. I wrote the story so that both readings would be possible, depending on your point of view.