Unjustified Homicide.

[Zodiac]

(elsewhere)

She floated above her pentacle in meditation, but the normal calm and clarity refused to fill her as it normally did when she indulged her spirit. The mystic could not focus past the news she had discovered in a roundabout fashion.

The Landdonan was expired.

'Death' meant nothing to them now, of course, so to use the term in such a manner was an error as she saw things. However, she had spoken to many who had endured times within the realm. She could not imagine a exile into it for a period of time, let alone the length of time Habren had spent in there before the return when Cobb caused the rift between this world and there and allowed them to re-emerge into the world of today. It was a wonder she was not insane, or perhaps she was and since the girl had never met her before the experience she had no solid base to judge sanity from in her case.

It did not matter. The pair of them had an odd relationship regardless. 'Sisters in spirit' from two different points in time. They both were witches and the gap did not matter. Habren never treated her as an upstart or inferior due to her age and she, oddly enough, never treated the woman like some ancient wellspring of knowledge that she had to grovel in front of. Quite the opposite. They learned from each other since both had a unique perspective due to their points of origin in time. Granted, they did not always agree on things, but in the end there was still that intangible link people of their craft shared.

When she had heard the news and compared things to reality, she frowned deeply. 'Jack' had called her for help with a few things, and this was not a uncommon thing. The two had done business before. It was a private thing. As Zodiac saw thing it was no ones business who she dealt with when it came to such matters, but when she spoke to others it became very clear why the Saucey One had left several messages for her and others she knew that night seeking assistance. Odds were, if he had reached her, she probably would have helped, but she had business elsewhere and was not answering her calls. She had no reason to think he would use her aid in such a manner and the end result would be Habren. The situation with 'Jack' was a business one. Neither asking the other what was what for and for who.

Oh, but she was learning. Oh yes.

Such things would have to change now.

"What are we going to do with you, Jack?" she thought to herself. For an individual so many seemed to have problems with, 'Jack' was one of the few who never caused her problems and had always managed to deliver on his promises when she required his help. So he had a grudge with Habren's mate, Mircea. That was typical with anyone with fangs. The list of people she herself had issues with was longer than she would like it to be and she could understand someone trying to settle such scores. The how's and whys were not necessarily her concerns, but in such situations she frowned on the idea of collateral damage. "Well, I can't hurt you so I will take it out on your sleeping spouse instead" went against her nerves and spirit. It was a child-like petty vengeance which did nothing but add to the overall problem rather than solve anything. All he had done was make things a hundred times worse. She had been planning to visit Habren soon and see if she would be willing to assist her, or allow her to assist the Landdonan, in any rites and rituals for the approaching Yule. So much for that idea now.

Finally she gave up and stood up as she focused her feet to touch the ground again. Part of her was too wound up now to reach her higher state of being. All she could do is wait and offer help if needed when Habren returned. She drifted downstairs and focused again so the edge of her skirt hid the fact her feet no longer settled on the floor like others did and entered her shop. A few smiles to the customers as she went to the counter and checked the messages waiting for her. As an after thought, she checked the pile of previous messages and pulled the ones from 'Jack' out and stapled them to a blank bit of paper and wrote upon it, then handed them off to her assistant manager, Jennifer, before 'walking' out to see how she may help the people browsing her establishment.

If he calls again, I am unavailable till further notice.
~Z~

She was honestly not sure how she would react if she spoke to him now. In the end, all she knew her friend, sister, mentor/student was gone for now.

She did not take such things so lightly or easily. This was something he would have to solve on his own.