Zodiac's Grimoire and Diary

[Zodiac]

Volume 9. Pg 138
8/11/2014 6:45 PM

Gadzooks! What sorcery is this?

A typical, quiet evening. Just how I like them. The things I need to take with me to the shop standing by the door waiting for me as I take a few moments to care for my flora children. Some beautiful blossoms had managed to appear this season, brightening my darkness so sweetly.

My mind was on a dozen different things as I watered my fern when something bit me. Not, not bit me like a dog or even a vamp would. This was harder, meaner, and down right painful made its way across my thigh and suddenly I was face down on the floor. The watering can went flying and had joined me. It was leaking water onto my carpet as I turned over and saw I was leaking blood.

My leg!

I saw where it lay and it was not attached to me any more. I watched in morbid curiosity as it broke down into ashes, leaving my shoe and nylon behind. I had never been injured like this before so was in a bit of shock. Not a single alarm had gone off. I had boxes in front of the door, so if anyone had enter they would have been moved, but all was as it had been.

My skirt was trashed as well. It was like a invisible buzzsaw had just decided to tear off my leg and then vanish. I sat looking at my stump now while emotions ran wild inside me. What had I done to deserve something like this? Who could have done such a thing? Was this some new shadow in action or something, and again- what did I do? Several came to mind at once. Perhaps someone who was most unhappy with me had hired a unknown type of assassin to do their dirty work, but that didn't fit. Why leave me alive when they obviously had such an advantage as they did.

The bleeding finally stopped and I focused my powers. I had never fixed something this complex before, but I held my un needed breath as the power flowed from me. Again, I watched as my leg reformed. Gently I wiggled my toes and was surprised to see them move. Not a seam or a hint of a scar to be found. Using the table for support I stood up slowly and tried it out. It felt right, but it was wrong all at once. My leg-my real leg- now laid on the carpet waiting for me to call out the Roomba and this was something else that looked, acted and felt like my own leg even down to the kitty tat near my ankle, but it wasn't mine.

What the **** just happened?

[Zodiac]

Volume 9. Pg 142
8/14/2014 9:32 PM

First Law of being Me.

They will find you!

The girl appeared harmless enough when she applied for work. Being a good natured sort of person, I took a chance on them.

Day one of work? She calls in 'deaded'. *facepalms*

Okay, again, to be fair. Better it over with now than have the issue dragged into one of my shops, yes? I thought so too. I let the week slide on account of I am a nice person.

That's when someone began playing mental games with me.

Nothing major. Just various images of what some women around here would think of as hot males in various suggestive situations. I sent back visions of my own preferences. Ah ha! Two can play this one! It is not necessarily the male reproductive organ I have issues with, but what it comes attached to normally is my problem. Sepsis seemed to be going ick a lot more than I was in the process.

Well, she got back (finally!) and actually managed to put in a few nights of work (won't lie, she does her job well) but then things got really strange. (even for me!)

I woke up this evening to see her perched on the headboard of my bed looking down at me. Okay, this is not such a odd thing to happen as the norm. I do take in strays on occasion, but never had one perving me as I was sleeping away. Okay, this ought to be interesting. She asks me about my new bra. WTF? She stalking me too? I answer her and then she pulls out this digital camera wanting to get pictures of me. Said it was for a calendar deal she had arranged or something.

Time to nip this in the bud-pronto!

She kept trying to get her pictures (and me in my stand by PJ bottoms and sweatshirt-right!) so eventually I look at her and say "Trust me, I get all dolled up and ready for action? Somebody best be ready to give me some action and the only one I see here besides me is you!"

Now THAT got her attention!

Was so damn hard not to laugh as she began to stammer and back up as I drew closer. Made grabby hands at her as I insisted she should not fight her new discovered feelings, but give in.

The building repair man wondered what I was chuckling about I bet as he sat in a new window to replace the one Sepsis went through to exit quickly.

They always find me.

Always!

[Zodiac]

Volume 9. Pg 146
8/16/2014 2:19 AM

OH, my stars and garters!
And people have the nerve to say I am a freak?

The experience that is Sepsis continued this evening. Personally I was surprised she came in after her sudden exit the other day, but here she was. Looking.... puffy?

I caught a couple quick cam shots, discreetly, and sent them to Jennifer over at Pandy's. When I touched her mind, it sounded like she was gonna die laughing. I had to leave the room several times myself. I am always a fan of freedom of expression and cotton balls can be expressive in their own way, I imagine. But this?

Goddess above, woman! PUT YOUR KNICKERS ON FIRST!

Thankfully, her job requires her to sit in a chair for the most part. Wasn't hard to figure out when she moved about the shop. A cotton ball here or there was proof where she passed by. A original idea, but done so hopelessly in the wrong way. I didn't know if I should laugh or cry. Several times she caught me looking at her wondering where her brains were at when she came up with this, and all I could do was smile, wave and go back to trying to do my own work as far as filling out the orders for new stock. (Holidays are coming-never too early to start anymore.)

When she finally finished her shift, we all broke out in hysterics after we was sure she was out of earshot. She just wore what she had so regally like it was a royal robe (actually it was more like a hospital robe. You know what I mean? The ones that cover nothing)

I just wonder what she will come up with next. Note to self: in a couple days remind Sepsis why she should be afraid of me. If she has THAT attached to her again, start picking cotton.

[Zodiac]

Volume 9. Pg 147
8/17/2014 12:02 AM



~*How to offer proper tribute to a goddess!*~

(Don't sit there looking so smug, toots!)

Start with the dry food,
(It's the kind you like, so stop it!)

add a dash of bacon,
(Yes, it's NOT bacon bits from a jar!)

Tuna? Totally!
(Dolphin and-hopefully-radiation safe.)

Some deviled ham? Why not?
(Oh live a little, silly girl!)

Chicken? Not today.
(Hey, figured you'd be bored with that by now)

Rat? Mmm, I don't think so.
(Go catch your own!)

A touch of cheese (and just a touch, she's getting fat!)
(I didn't say that. Quit glaring at me!)

A dash of vitamins.
(Yes, you need them!)

A saucer of crème,
(Real crème. Honest!)

And....
(I said I didn't say anything! *buffalo butt*)

Serve it up on her favorite floor mat.
In her favorite dish.
(Yes, I washed them both. Picky, picky!)

Pet gently and frequently,
(My hands ARE clean!)

with words of adoration,
(Yes, Thou art great, etc)

as she devours its all
(*oink*)

a feast fit for a goddess.

Happy Black Cat Appreciation Day, Ginny Sweethips.

You and Tempy. My best friends.
Always.



(Don't point that part of you at me! Stop it!)

[Zodiac]

August 29th

This was strange.

Her gloved fingers pushed a way a bit of muck and lifted the bit of gleam up where she could see it better. The scant light shined off the golden edges of the ring she had found. With a practiced grace, she wiped it clean and dropped it into her pouch where she kept such items she discovered when her business took her below the streets of the town above. It was her third discovery of such a nature this evening. Either a lot of married women had come to their doom within these rank subterranean halls or a lot of relationships were falling on the rocks.



One would think such things would be pawned if the reasons behind them had evaporated. Seemed the best course of action to a logical mind, she supposed, but there was nothing logical about matters of the heart. What made sense one moment was total insanity the next. That could be considered part of the charm of it all to some the mystic imagined.

She continued her walk while absently pondering the point.

Relationships. Sometimes the word itself sounded like some curse and considering how some turn out, she might be onto something. Recently those that sought her out for her council and to explore the cards for them seemed to be focused on that particular point (and it was no where near the day of St Valentine the troublemaker and bringer of self loathing and doubt). Will I find love? Will I forget old love? Will I find new love? Will I find new love and have enough time to ditch old love to snag the new love or how can I keep both old and new love happy and ignorant of each other? Part of it amused her to the core. For creatures (since so many of her night brothers and sisters insisted they were miles beyond the basic living human, she decided to call them such) who felt they were beyond petty human frailties, a large number of them sure obsessed about one of the greatest human frailties of all. Love.

There was nothing loving about love itself if one thought about it. Love could be downright brutal at times. It could be like candy. Sweet, yet rotting the intellectual teeth if one dove in too deeply. It was a marketing ploy companies had made billions off of. Use this, look like this, dress this way, gain this, loose that, this color, that color, underwear, no underwear, skinny jeans, fat jeans, short skirts, smell like this, no that, maybe this, be a saint, be a sinner, drink this, don't eat that, be virtuous, be a slut, you never too old, old enough to know better, be anorexic, have curves, shaving, waxing, all natural, and all the catchy jingles to go with the problems real or imagined and medications to turn you from zero to hero, just ask Bob and his happy wife with the Long Island Iced Tea in her hand as she smiles when he comes home with a grin on his face the Joker would envy. Websites galore to help you find it, keep it, and loose it when you get bored with it. Simple to exotic. Pierce it, tattoo it, tan it, glitter it, be soft, be rugged. Dress it up, dress it down, don't dress it at all, leather, lace, latex, organic, steampunk, cosplay, and goddess, don't forget the shoes! (or boots. elf style to thigh high and all points in between)

So get that credit card out and don't be shy. It can all be yours for three easy payments of.......*toot toot!* as the people in the studio audience make the letter with their arms as the commercial in progress takes a break for more commercials.


Ironically, the sheep (both living and otherwise) too often focused on the superficial or a limited perception. Oh yes, the pretty flowers got the attention, but if the nectar and pollen they held was for crap, the bees were wasting their time. Perhaps the story behind the three rings that jingled softly within her pouch now. Symbols of a warped perception to what love truly was all about.

What WAS love all about? Even she didn't have the proper answer for that one that would fit everyone's need to know and she doubted anyone ever would. It was a flawed concept of something greater and grander. Even the gods were clueless about it in its entirety and all science has managed to come up with was to feed into what the marketing people were making millions on. Pushing answers that were all fluff-no substance.

Perhaps none of them were meant to truly 'get it' 100 percent right. And with all this talk of 'eternal' floating around now considering what they had become, the problem was even more off balanced and confusing.

A few more trinkets and goodies were collected along the way. She arrived at the ladder that would take her back to the world above and checked herself quickly. Like a ghost, she scaled and exited back onto the streets smoothly. A quick step into the grass as she wiped her shoes off of any much that may have grabbed on. A visual check of her clothes and a quick spritz of perfume to hide any scents from below till she got home to bathe and change clothes and she was off again.

"How much can we make off Love today?" she wondered. She never saw her situation like that at all, but she did turn a profit from things regarding the subject herself. How many of the still living bought bottles of her love potions? Asked for spells they could do or pay her to do to help anchor, ensnare, bind, or drive away another heart? Let alone the readings and idle chit chats she engaged in nightly. Love and money seemed to go hand in hand except where it mattered most. When all the smoke, emotions, testosterone, sweat, tears, gunshots, bloodshed, broken hearts, eaten candy, shattered dreams, and all the rest finally cleared away, what was left?

"Something most of us would not have any other way," she decided with a smile. Her step became lighter as she made her way home. The monetary value of love currently was 750 dollars at the pawn shop thanks to her 3 discoveries, but the real value of it defied marketing and cost.

"Where are you, my love?" her mindspeak called out to Tempy as she skipped along.

[Zodiac]

Volume 9. Pg 161
9/24/2014 4:02 AM

In my time as a bounty hunter, I rarely was surprised. Once you are in that mindset, little shocks you or makes you question things. It was a job and you did it. Simple. Those you hunted either learned from the experience or you saw them again in due time. The subject of doing it by choice, where someone wants to be unburdened of their 'crimes' was not a surprise actually.

But when one of the sweetest souls you know asks you? Either I have been out of the game too long or just a sentimental idiot.

My Thistos. Abelle's childer. Calls me 'gramz'. I allow it. He knows we are not a family structure like the living would be. (Goddess forbid I would be a grandmother at soon to be 25 in human years) A shy soul. Hard worker. Tries to keep his nose clean and out of trouble. So when he came to me and said 'Gramz? Hey, ummm, I'm kinda in trouble' I felt my heart crack.

I did as he asked. After I told him what I could of what he would have to do to return and assured him I would be waiting for him when he returns to help as I can. Sweet little boy. I made it as short and sweet as I could. I focused on anything but his eyes. I know it hurts and the last thing I wanted was to see pain in those eyes. If we was a human family, he 'died' like my Nana said a Ferenczy would. In silence. Proud.

I watched him turn to ashes and tried to ignore the leakage from my eyes. A bit of his ashes was bottled and will sit in a special place on one of my alters where I pray for those I care for who have made this journey before. Damn Pratt and his minions for forcing things to be this way now. Before their meddling changed things, I know Thistos would have done everything he could to fix the problem he found himself in. Thanks those those fuckwits, what I did was the only option he had left to him.

'Gramz' will be here, dear one. Be safe and come home to me.

I have some curses and hexes to do now. After I pray for a dear sweet boy.

[Zodiac]

Volume 9. Pg 189
10/28/2014 12:07 AM

As always, a seer is the last to notice things.

Oh, I saw the beginnings of it all, I did. But I had faith that such things would not be allowed to progress so far and so deeply. No one of any measure of sanity would tolerate such things, would they? Once some lines are crossed, they cannot be uncrossed. The damage has been done and nothing can undo such damage until the entire matter runs its course and even then, it all depends on which side wins.

Part of it was also vanity, I suppose, but I had already seen that being part of the night brought out more of the negative rather than the positive in mortals when they joined us in the darkness. For being part of a 'superior' breed one would think superior ideals and notions would follow, but again I hoped in vain.

Now what, you may ask, is this all about? I am getting to it.

One of my employees was sent to the realm earlier this eve for simply having a different viewpoint of a situation. Now As far as I know there were no threats or anything physical to encourage this action. Someone just didn't agree with the mindset and dared to speak out about it all. Just like that-poof! For a group of defenders of the Masq, their actions were totally anti-masq in my view. Part of being pro masq involves keeping the low profile and not doing such nonsense to attract attention to themselves, now I am sure they will argue (something as of late they seem to excel at) that having the different view of the matter was the exact same thing and thus they did what they had to do.

What the **** has happened to these people? These are not the people I worked with before at all. Being the 'police' of our kind is one thing, as long as they observe certain standards, but when the 'law' acts with impunity in such a manner-have they themselves simply quit being part of the answer but yet another part of the problem?

I saw the potentials of this beginning to form ages ago, and now it is to the point that entire groups of people (factions or bloodlines) should be avoided at all costs. Why? Because they are basically insane now. Delusions of superiority or invincibility perhaps. There is nothing unified enough to challenge it all and those that claim to are a bad joke.

Disagree with one of them and the entire line is ready to rip you to shreds. I do not like curtailing my business, but there are some I have to have on a 'no service' list simply because the possible drama that could erupt from them is simply not worth the time, effort and expense to deal with in the long term of things. Fiscally I am dragging a razor across my own throat in one way, but it is better than the alternatives.

When I started this entry, I did a quick check of my dream journal and found something I had witnessed a couple years back. I had dreamed I was in a city of eternal darkness. This place had seen time and history and the night feeders there were nothing like us at all. There were epics and cycles among them. Legends born and destroyed. Powers rising up only to be torn asunder by others in due time. A never ending wheel of chaos and insanity in the night. This could not happen here, I told myself. Not here.

And for being what some call a 'fortune teller', well-I have been wrong before.

When the standards shift to who has the biggest club and can smash someone's skull in the deepest, the entire status quo is up for grabs, especially if the reasons why run from real to imagined to the ever popular 'because I can'.

The answer is simple really, Be small, be silent, and stay out of the affairs of those who would be 'gods'.

But you, old friend, know far too well that I have never been able to manage such a trick for very long....

[Zodiac]

Volume 9. Pg 198
11/7/2014 10:07 PM

One of the most chaotic All Hallows' I have yet to endure is finally over. Did not help that it fell on a Friday. On the plus side, it could have been a hellava 3 day party! Add to that the auction, Sepsis' Freak Show, several other parties and the meeting of the Sisters on top of all of that. I'll be in my blanket fort with my crayons. Hold my calls. K?

I'm tired...

Now the bats and pumpkins give way to elves and snowmen and little fat guys dressed in red. I am leaving one wall in each of my shops decked out in Halloween. If Christmas can encroach on All Hallows, then All Hallows can crimp Christmas' style. Fair is fair and all that. Besides, according to some, it's always Halloween at my place.

And I like it that way, so nyahha!

But despite all of that, some good is showing its face now. Is so good to have Tempy around again. I know I tend to rant on this subject, but I can't help it. Seems to me she has finally found her balance again, and we are still a we. We been talking. Things we have needed to sort out and the like. To me, its almost like we picked up from where we left off now. Maybe it was me, but I still can't describe how empty I felt when she vanished like that. It hurt-badly, and I did some stupid **** to try and fix it. Some of it helped, for a time, but nothing stopped it cold except when I found myself in her arms again.

Okay, too tired for sappy stuffs as well now.

Some new apprentices signing on now. Free slave labor is always a plus. Speaking of 'slaves' I am going to tape in a photo at the end of this entry. My friend Mordie took the concept to a new level with Madison, who he won at the auction. Look at the picture well. This is why I do NOT offer myself, but my services as a seer in the auctions. I lost a couple 'dress up' bets in the past, but not like this. OH NO! Not on public display anyways.

Well, so much for my exhausted ramblings now. It's nighttime. I should be up and out doing all that uber cool vampire stuff, but instead I have the fire going in the fireplace and I am flopped out in my jammies in front of it under a blanket. The night calls, but I am not answering. My love will be home soon and just curling up by the fire beside her sounds like the best way to spend any night.

I am feeling whole again at last. Thank you, Goddess, for bringing us back as we should be.

Blessed be.

*taped in the space below is a downloaded picture of a blonde woman assembling a weapon while dressed in a revealing maid's outfit*

[Zodiac]

Volume 9. Pg 225
11/19/2014 11:47 PM

The room was quiet. Which was not a surprise in itself. The girl preferred the calm when she was working her craft, but the stillness surrounding her now was one of sadness. The gypsy did not like to admit defeat as a norm, but for over a month she had attacked the problem from every way she could think of and still, no solution could be found.

She sat on the floor with her back to the alter while going over the spell for the hundredth time. It should have worked.

'We may have to face facts here, Angela,' a voice touched her mind softly. Within the sound of the words was a note of pity.

"No. I did something wrong is all," the girl growled in reply.

'No you have not,' the voice persisted sadly. 'I helped you learn how to do this properly and I saw no errors.'

"So now what? Do I have to learn how to come to you and try from there?"

'NO' the voice suddenly holding a hint of panic now, only to relax again. 'You do not want to come where I am, Angela. I know you. Your sense of self would warp here, and I would worry what would return from here in your place.'

"So.....leave you there? No!" the girl shook her head as she got up and prepared to try again.

'Do not waste your time, child. For some reason the realm seems reluctant to let me free. This is something new to me. I do not understand it, but I have endured this place before. It will not be so hard.'

"Liar!"

'Maybe so,' the voice admitted. 'But I shall endure with fresh visions and take comfort in the fact I had one last student among our kind. You have learned what I taught you well, and what remains you are growing into perfectly now. There is little more that I could teach you, small one.' the voice paused for a moment. 'You know what you have to do now,'

"No!"

'Yes, but in this I can give you one final gift as it were. I told you a name once, did I not? One who I knew and trusted when I walked the world as you do now. There are new lessons to learn, Angela, and she can continue where I have ended for you.'

"It won't be you," her voice sobbed a bit.

'And what did I tell you about sentimentality? A bit of me will be with you. Trust me. Now, do you remember the name?'

"Yes," the girl admitted and whispered it.

'That's right. Call her forth when you have finished. I should warn you now, she is different than I am. More....direct in her ways. But, she will be able to help you with what comes next. Tell her I told you of her, and she will help you.'

"But..."

'Just do it, Angela. Please.'

The girl nodded sadly as she took her place and focused her mind. It was basically a smile spell one had to repeat several times in order to finally take hold. There was no flash of light or rumbling of distant thunder. Just a small yank within her as a connection was severed in her spirit. She stood there for a time, trying to 'speak' to her again, but only the silence of the room greeted her ears and thoughts.

After a few moments of reflection, she began again. She felt the energies pouring out of her as she dimly perceived the veil opening to allow a single escape as her thoughts called out the name Dahlia had told her. There was no sound but to an eye able to see such things the vortex swirled as the summoned spirit wove itself out of the realm and into this world to float in front of her while the gateway snapped shut. The only sound was Ginny as she let out a yowl of warning and hissed at the appearance of the new wraith.

"Who are you to summon me?" the female wraith demanded while looking at the mystic as if some bug was standing in front of her path. The girl puffed up and began to speak.

"Who am I? I am Mistress Zodiac of the mystic path and your master! Dahliamaethan didn't mention you'd be a full blown *****."

"Dahlia? Ahhhhhhh!" the wraith flowed around the girl as if looking her over. "So you were the one who freed her. Would take a strong mind to bring such as her to heel. And where is she now?"

"Trapped. In there." she admitted.

"Oh," the wraith turned and looked at the point in space it had emerged from as if it could see, then floated back. "A pity. I assume she taught you? And expects me to pick up where she left off?"

"No, where she finished."

"Really now?" an eyebrow arched in surprise. "That remains to be seen. You do not look like much."

"And all you are is something a half step above a ghost."

Claws lashed out and passed harmlessly through the girl as the wraith snarled in anger.

"Here we go again" Zodiac thought.

[Zodiac]

Volume 9. Pg 239
12/13/2014 1:07 AM

12,13,14

12,13,14

The last conjunction of dates till 2101 rolls around , then back to 1,1,1.

I really need to take a serious dive into Numerology, since these unique combinations of numbers keep flooding into my existence.

Finally got the trees up in the shops. A nice center bit for the customers to enjoy and help set the moods. We had to pull one of the lounging couches out of the Teahouse to make room for it, but it will be back I keep reminding those who missed it at once. Besides, it's the holidays. Aren't you all supposed to 'shop till you drop' right now? I know some prefer to wind down there after a busy round but what was I gonna do? Put it up on the improv stage? Then they be complaining how it's messing with improv nights. Jennifer and I are already working on a total makeover for the place next year to use the space better and add more things.

Ah, people. Gotta love em (besides, mass murder still isn't legal yet)

Laid out plans for next year thanks to our new 'temporary tax' we all know will never go away but just keep growing. I honestly wonder if politicians go to a class that psyches them into thinking people will actually buy their bull ****. When has a political type EVER said 'We don't need more money now. Here, take some back'? Despite my origins in this world, I have tried to run a clean and upright business. I have, but now I am going to be forced to be as dishonest as the one who is claiming things are just temporary and in the end I will be a thief and he will just be doing his job. Go figure.

My karma is so fucked.

Outside of the issue with Habren's surprise winter trip to the realm, everything is quiet now city wise. Shoppers shopping, the world wrapped in pretty lights and paper. Is a 'magical' time most say and in truth it is for children and the few still young at heart. Back to trees, Tempy and I finally managed to get one sat up at Ivy. The old place is coming back to life now and a effort of us both to breathe a dose of holiday spirit into it was just what it needed. It no longer feels like a tomb, but a home again. While she was gone it was a way station at best. Being there alone just felt wrong to me. Oh, I have had childers and friends visit. Stay overnight (or day?) when we was hashing out some blues as I dispensed advice over a hot cuppa something, but despite it all- it wasn't the same.

But now? So much better. Things are starting to run like a clock again. 1,2,3,4...

12,13,14. 12,13,14, where did I put that book on Numerology? Damn it!