Zodiac's Grimoire and Diary

[Zodiac]

Volume 8. Pg 214
11/12/2013 3:57 AM

11,12,13

11.12.13.

Somehow that should mean something beyond a freak alignment of numbers in sequence, I think. 11,12,13. Gahhh!

The madness continues now. The entire situation is spiraling now. Suspected targets being called now as a 'war' is supposedly going on. It was inevitable I guess. Added three more to my personal body count. There was a time that meant something to me. The mouse showing the city she too can bite hard if necessary so be careful if you mess with her. A survival thing, I guess. So few have ever made such a thing personal to me (tho recently a couple of those have fallen by my hand) I can't say much on the current group that is being focused on. By their own words, they have conspired against the Masq many times and possibly have contributed to the situation at hand now.

But what is next?

A war machine (or a gang of thugs) is an interesting concept. Once rolling, it works systematically. Tearing apart its target and gaining speed the more it progresses. But where is the off switch on it? The downside is, I would compare it to American Football. One team owns the other. Ripping their defense apart like paper and scoring at will. Their own defense like a mountain range. They don't want to stop. They are in their glory here and have no desire to let whatever blessings they have going evaporate. And when the game finally (or is it mercifully?) ends, the team looks to next week's potential victim.

Who is next and for what reasons will be given?

Echoes now. Memories of another life I guess. A voice asking why and the reply 'because we CAN!'.

We are in a gray zone now, and a dangerous one in my view. No juggernaut wants to stop once it gets rolling along, and I doubt this one will be any different. We are starting to slip outside of defending the Masq now if we are not careful. The masses will only tolerate so much. Even sheep will stand against a wolf if provoked enough. The wolves will laugh, of course if what they consider sheep in the city rise up.

But even mere mortals are capable of miracles if properly motivated.

Who is next? What is next? Its a progression now.

Hey, progression!

11.12.13

Now I am REALLY concerned.

[Zodiac]

Volume 8. Pg 236
11/20/2013 5:57 AM

Has the universe always this stupid and I have just been to wrapped up in other things to notice?

Our efforts have come to naught. The system appears to be on some sort of fail safe automatic now that continues to be disrupted by the others. Not a single hint if the Crow Thing is even still out there now. I am sure it is, but that connection it had to us has been basically severed now. I am concerned on several levels on this fact.

What if the Crow Thing was doing what the wraiths now beg you to do? Absorbing the energy of those we sent to the SR. How many have gone in the last 2 plus years? A lot. which means a lot of energy may have been pumped into Crow Thing. So is it dead? Hardly. Just sitting back and watching the show and waiting to activate Phase 2 of whatever is going on in its head.

At least the wraiths have stopped whining now. One of them has managed to return to a semblance of life now (I am surprised the others aren't screaming in protest) and is somewhere in town. I wonder if her acolytes gather around her like some cult hoping for advanced wisdom from her lips. Or perhaps she hangs at the High Noon riding the mechanical bull. Who knows and right now who the **** cares.

I do take pot shots at Esko-face when I find him. Is funny. He's like that nasty lime green Jello no one ever wants at a dinner party. When I shoot him, he does this jiggle thing.

Guess I am either too easily amused or grasping straws when it comes to laughter now.

Too much is changing too fast now. For me anyway. Every instinct I had learned since I was a child is screaming 'GTFO!'. Cash in everything, pack the mini bus, and pick a direction. We are (supposedly) immortals. Some of us insist they are gods and try to play that they are gods, when in fact they reveal how much they are still children. I would admit-over a Sane conversation that either side could be right on this subject, but again neither side's 'mascots' want to share much. Blind obedience is expected on either side of the issue. We are not gods, but we are supposed to be intelligent enough to be a bit beyond something going 'do as I say' and that's the end of the input.

Change is coming now, and I feel it will be a change neither side is gonna be very happy with. And, of course, somehow it is going to be all OUR FAULT (the ones who are Pro Masq) when the Anti Masq ones discover they did not whistle up the Utopia they ASSUMED would arrive when they did this thing. Accused again. I should be used to this by now. Always accused.

Mama de mila, uita-te in jos la toate de acest ghid şi acum ne

Just need to hold on till the Holiday sales blitz is finished. Then it's time for a road trip.

Let the so-called 'gods' figure this mess out.

This is not my problem anymore.

[Zodiac]

Volume 8. Pg 217
11/9/2013 4:23 AM

Those thrice damned temporal shifts tend to manifest themselves at the worst possible times. I was there, then I wasn't, then I was back again, gone again, etc.

But, we persevered and endured. Mission accomplished and all that good stuff.

Of course now, not even a blip. Just as quickly as they started, they stopped.

This evening I had a rare pleasure (despite fading in and out of reality. Maybe that was why it was happening. I was so excited?) I married my childer.........

(4:31 AM)

Off, off, OFF! Married her off! Jeeze!

(4:42 AM)

Spoke too soon.

My Abelle. One of two I turned in an act of anger and outrage. When I first met her, she was a self centered animal without a second thought to her actions. I crossed her path when walking home one evening to find the scene of an accident. A mini van that had been rammed and crashed. The driver dead, a woman dying, and a baby still alive strapped safely in a car seat in the back. A attempted robbery gone horribly wrong, but at the time I did not know this. I had a scent that did not match the three and a child left to freeze to death in the darkness. I was enraged. So many of our kind seem to think they were never human to begin with, so if I had found the child slain my reactions might have been less intense. At least the killer had shown some mercy for the innocent. But this?

Once the child was safe, I arranged for the baby to be watched and.........

(4:53 AM)

....tracked the villain down. She was a child-nothing more. Her attitude was like a scalding firebrand on my senses. I could have killed her, but instead I cursed her. She refused to listen to me once she had returned so I left her to her own devices. Figured I would see how her attitude would help her among beasts far worse that I was. In time, she returned to me, willing to listen finally.

She surprised me. She finally grew into her own and showed she had ambition.

Her 'husband'? My security guard and half-son. Chaindog was a story all his own. Granted, Gretta (Dulce) is the one who turned him, but I was the one she called when she needed help deciding what to do with and extra tall 300 plus....

(5:09AM)

.... pound monster who was in the process of turning. It was a comedic effort to move him to a safe place to finish the turning sleep. He too awoke with some attitude. Understandable in his case . Former military and all of that stuff. Between Dulce and myself, we 'raised' him, for lack of better terms. Both of them became persons of distinction in due time. Among the pride of Tytonadae. As I told Abelle, 'I only suggested you. YOU did all the work to prove yourself deserving of a chance.' The same can be said of Chain.

So when I was asked to perform the Eternal Binding on them, I could not refuse. Sounds like bad gypsy humor. My son and daughter got married-to each other, but that's okay cause their mother did the service. (or is it redneck? basically the same in ways I guess)

All I can say is.........

(5:19 AM)

oh hell with this. I'ma sleep now. Will try this again tomorrow. My love and blessings to them both.

[Zodiac]

Volume 8. Pg 239
12/7/2013 4:00 AM

Well, the holiday madness is running full tilt now. Actually am glad of it. Something to focus on. Everything else is kinda like a constipated turtle. Just sitting still and nothing happening.

The question had been finally asked of me the other day. How much butter was seriously left on my noodles. A fair question to be honest. Like the Kinks sang about. Paranoia-Big Destroyer and all that. I can't say things have just happened. I honestly cannot find one particular point that I could say it started here. Has been a process. Now, what started the process I am full of guesses but without a impartial sounding board to bounce things off of, I am flying blind there.

My clients? I love them. Living or otherwise. Have all the time in the world for them. Maybe I just loose myself in their problems in the process. But beyond that, it gets weird. Crowds of my own 'kind' are making me nervous now. The feelings that everyone is not what they appear to be screams at me now. From downright suspicion to full blown mistrust. I can't help it. I know its not everyone's fault (but the famous words 'Just because I am paranoid does NOT mean they aren't out to get me' still rings true) but what happened to trigger this all? WHAT?

Is why I spend my free time now in seclusion as much as I can. Oh, I still go out for drives, hunting and such, but get more than two others around me and I get that feeling going. This isn't me at all. I used to be a trusting sort, but now?

On the other hand, as was also suggested to me, I am finally wising up a bit. Have taken too many at face value as of late, only not to like what I find inside as I get to know them. Suddenly I am getting red flags on everything. And the ones I really want around me are too busy. They have lives of their own to run, I know. I accept this. But still....

'The world sucks beef jerkeys.' That's what Randy always said when things went crazy. Mary had 'cosmic clusterfuck' as her expression for the same, and let's not forget Nanna's 'the ways of the goddess...' rhetoric. I lay with the 'Ginnys' most nights as I try to make sense out of it all. My poor fur babies. How many times have they heard me try to scream as of late?

[Zodiac]

December 16th 11:55 PM

Zodiac sat on the floor of her place looking up at the end results of her efforts. It had taken her a few nights-moments snatched between other projects, to finish but now she relaxed in the soft violet glow.



Some asked her if being a witch conflicted with such a showing of another holiday. She could have told them all about trees being stolen from more pagan beliefs and used in such a fashion as well as Yule and soon to come Winter Solstice and other things, but she simply smiled and continued whatever she was doing. She could get into the subject to the point the asker would regret even asking if she wished to. Who was to say any of the historical prophets were wrong? It was mankind as a whole who had twisted such words of truth and understanding to justify their behaviors over the years, not them. Christ, Mohammed, Buddha and all the rest had the same basic core message so who is to say they did not hear from a higher source and thus, were right?

What was the harm in just going with the flow and enjoying things? She took zero offence in such greetings of this season that involved things outside of her own beliefs at all. In fact, she was happy people cared enough to even vocalize such wishes anymore. Too many worried about offending others with words meant to simply wish them a special time of year and nothing more, and too many others were willing to start fights over such greetings in turn. She would answer in kind and mean exactly what she would say in reply. Why did everyone have to get so pissy over a simple good will wish, no matter what faith it came wrapped in?

"This is why the prophets all left, cause they didn't want to hear first hand how stupid we all are," she nodded to her cat.

The festive colors and lights made her smile and was pleasing to the eye. One of the indulgences she was guilty of since her life had come to the point she could enjoy such things as this. A place she could call her own equaled decorating it any way she desired. All her life this time of year was held in reverence and celebration so just because she was no longer exactly alive she saw no sense in stopping now.

She got up from her spot near the fire and went to her closet. She ignored the more modern electric guitar and pulled the battered case that held her acoustic in safety out from among the junk lurking inside. Music was as much a part of this time of the year to her as was the flashing lights and sparkling decorations. 'Hello, old friend' she opened the case and pulled the six string out and began to tune it. Ginny approached and took a spot inside the case and laid down-watching. The 'other' Ginny was already entranced with the tinsel that hung from the lower branches and was yanking it free.

Rich, full chords began to sound now as she strummed for a final check. She didn't have a clue what she wanted to play, but that never stopped her before. It would come to her eventually. This time of year was also meant to be a reflection of things. Her fingers continued to strum softly as she took in the sight of the tree. The guitar was indeed an old friend. How many miles when she left home had that instrument rode on her shoulder. One of the few physical links she had to her own past. Despite its condition after so many bumps, bangs and hard landings in their travels, it still rang out in perfection as she played.

..... (13 Years Ago)

'Papa?' She gasped in silence as she saw her grandfather sitting on a stump. He had his violin out and was playing softly as if celebrating the dawn. Some others had gathered and were smiling at the magic the man could make with the instrument. Angela knew he could play. He often did when they danced for the locals or in celebration. When she had broken her leg when she was 8, he began to teach her to help pass the time till she healed, and despite the fact she loved to dance, she had continued learning both the violin and guitar from him. "Learn to appreciate all sides of the music, Angel," he had told her when he first began to teach her chords.

He played along and smiled when he saw her there. "Merry Christmas, Angel," he laughed as he picked up the pace. He nodded his encouragement as she felt the music calling to her feet. She looked at Mary and laughed as she grabbed her hands and began to dance........

" So,
so you think you can tell
Heaven from Hell,
blue skies from pain.
Can you tell a green field
from a cold steel rail?
A smile from a veil?
Do you think you can tell?"

Mentally she sang as the tune began to play under her hands. Another memory came to her. A long lost friend she used to keep company with who was amazed at what she could play. Acoustic Floyd, she had laughed as Zodiac played 'Shine On You Crazy Diamond' but soon was singing along.

... "GET YOUR STINKING HANDS OFF OF ME YOU MOTHER FU... AAAGGGHHHHHH"

Came a scream from close by, Allison had just been caught breaking into the offices near the alley where the small group had gathered. Grabbed from all sides and ejected from the building by the guards. So much for talking her way out of things.

Stumbling as she is thrown out the door, tripping over the steps to tumble down them to the sidewalk. Standing up almost instantly she turns back to the retreating guards.

"OH BIG MEN, TAKES FIVE OF YOU TO THROW OUT ONE WOMAN! COME BACK HERE I'LL RAM THAT PEN SO FAR UP YOUR *** YOU WILL SPIT INK LIKE A SQUID" YOU ....YOU.... SQUID....BOY.... THING!"

Cursing herself for getting caught like that. Grabbing the fallen Santa hat from the ground, one thing she did manage to grab from a guard as she was tossed from the premises, she jammed it on her head, giving the building the finger before leaving. "Got your Santa hat Mr. I-need-four-buddies-to-throw-out-one-woman.".....

Smiling now as the memories played out.

" And did they get you to trade
your heroes for ghosts?
Hot ashes for trees?
Hot air for a cool breeze?
Cold comfort for change?
And did you exchange
a walk on part in the war
for a lead role in a cage?"

...... There before her was the one smiling being she adored; her soulmate Zodiac out in the open with a cart of goodies, blinking lights and holiday decor. Temperance snuck up lightly to her side and squished the women tight.

"Good evening, lovely. What are we selling today?" Leaning forward she placed a light kiss to the gypsy's cheek and smiled releasing her.

She jumped a bit at the sudden 'squish attack' and laughed in silence. Zodiac turned to face her friend and returned the gestures with a smile.

'Well,' she signed, before pulling out a cup and opening a second compartment in the side of the cart where she kept her special blends. 'Just snatching a few extra dollars for the holidays, spreading the word the shop exists, the usual,' She measured some into a cup and poured the water and sat the cup capped in front of Tempy. 'Orange Bliss. I think you might like it.'...

Her grandfather was dead, Allison had....changed for lack of better words, and Tempy was still working on a few things after her trip of self-discovery. There were others to be sure. Memories from this time of year before and after the turning. The music reflected her mood now. Those she wanted to be with were missing for one reason or another now.

"How I wish,
how I wish you were here.
We're just two lost souls swimming in a fish bowl,
year after year,
Running over the same old ground.
What have you found?
The same old fears.
Wish you were here."

"This is supposed to be a joyous time," she whispered to Ginny. The tune continued softly and patient as the kitten under the tree continued to de-tinsel the lower branches.

Snippets used with permission. Lyrics by Pink Floyd. Used without permission,

[Zodiac]

Volume 8. Pg 247
12/18/2013 5:40 AM

Here we go, here we go, here we go.........

Old song from the 80's. 'I always feel like, somebody's watching me' was kinda funny, till you realize it's actually happening. I found it most curious that people knew what I was doing at times when I didn't say a single word in their direction. Interesting, no? I was never aware I merited such close observations. Maybe thats why the cops call me when they want to talk to me. I must be dangerous or something. Hello? Mz Zodiac? Could you please come down to the station and be arrested? No? Okies, some other time then? Good. Have a nice night.

Anyways, in typical me fashion, we just hit the gypsy road yet again. I don't know why I even try anymore. Sooner or later the urge to move along bites me in the ***. I can't help it. It was how I was raised for goddess sakes! The problem is, as always, the parts you care about get caught up in the ones you could give 2 shits less about. From my end, I was talking, but no one was listening. I hate when that happens, but people is people. As always, I hope my views are simple paranoia (I seem to have a lot of that going on nowdays) I need a new project. Something to focus on directly and channel my energy into besides business. Even that is loosing its shine now. I am not the only game in town now. I never gloated on that fact at all, but people have choices. I always tried to keep that aspect of my existence out of normal affairs, but some could not wrap their heads around that I guess. Not my problem, not my problem, NOT MY PROBLEM!

***

Anyways, some would say I am limiting myself, but I disagree. New roads open when you leave old ones behind, The trick is to find the ones worth taking the steps on. Even some of the ones I am on now are questionable at best, and in time they may be abandoned as well. So be it. My grandfather told me life was too short to waste time in something that wasn't going anywhere, and even though I am not technically alive now, there is too much to see and do to sit on the side of the road wondering what you gonna roll over when you decide to move. Only a small handful of key points remain constant now in my time and it is high time to get to work on one of them. Time to drag Mr. Sledggy out of the closet and go banging on some coffins and wake up some of my errant children. Some have been quiet WAY too long now.

Come back to me, my pretties. Come back,

It's hammer time.

[Zodiac]

Volume 8. Pg 253
12/25/2013 1:40 AM



IT'S SO FLUFFY, I'M GONNA DIE!

(yeah, snagged me those discs too. Gru is awesome!)

A magick cow! I LOVE IT! Matches my magick cow pj's (sorta)



No note or anything on the box. Just found it outside of my door with my name on it. Whoever sent it knows my sad and strange tastes and ideas about what is cool and fun. Was wrapped in plastic and all I could get scent wise was human. (the ones who made and packaged it?) even the box just smelled of the postal worker who brought it. Nothing my nose could recognize at all.

Mystery! I LOVE IT! The Mystery of the Magick Cow Christmas! I should write a book, I swear. Jennifer and I found it when we got here waiting.

Is finally time to relax. We kept our doors open till Midnight and when it was apparent no one else needed us, I told all to just lock it up. Cards and bonuses passed out to all along with some gifts as they headed out. I am sure most of them have some kind of family, faction or special one to be with this night of all nights. (Least I hope they do. I really try not to pry too deeply in my worker's personal lives as much as possible.)

So for the first time since Halloween, all is quiet and sedate. The rush is over (save for any returns on the 26th, of course) and I do not believe in quotas at all, but the preliminary tallies shows my little empire did pretty good for it's first Holiday Season. Jennifer is crashed in the living room beside the fire. Poor girl. I keep forgetting she does not have the stamina most of my kind do. I need to make a note in my head to tell her to ease back sometimes. She rode home with me, came in to use the bathroom, sat down for a glass of wine and poof! Out like a light. Just tossed a blanket on her and now Ginny Jr is curled up with her by the tree,



Will be a dead (hahaha!) day tomorrow. Which suits me fine. Sit in pj's and work the numbers, scope out a few bargains, then late tomorrow go in and make sure the after Christmas sales are in set up and ready so when the others come in its all ready for Showtime. Now perhaps I can dig into some things I been wanting to do personally for myself. Tomorrow is Boxing Day, so they tell me. First time I heard that expression I thought it meant everyone who wanted to punch some family member who pissed them off on the 25th now had a chance to have it out. No boxing here, thank goodness. When the sun comes up, I will wake Jenn up, make her tea and stuff her with goodies and send her home (if she wants to go. I imagine she has others in her life as well) then spend the day still working (though the dress code will be mondo relaxed for once. Magick Cow pj's strike again!)

Beneath the tree of light and life,
a blessing at this season of Yule!
To all that sit at my hearth,
today we are brothers, we are family,
and I drink to your health!
Today is a day to offer hospitality
to all that cross my threshold
in the name of the season.
Blessed Be.

And, of course, be waiting to see who knocks on my door. Occasionally I do get company on Christmas. When I was a child, no visitor or wanderer was turned away from our camp if they came on these 2 days. (unless they tried to steal or hurt one of us then we'd all beat the crap out of them and give them the bumb's rush out) Nanna said it was a sign of respect not only in this world but in the next as well. So I will see who comes a calling as the day goes on. Plenty of yummies and tea in the kitchenette for company along with a few bottles of wine (for mortals and not so mortals)

Okay, time to admit I am kinda drained myself now. (Ginny keeps prowling around on the bed and nudging my arm as if saying 'Sleep! Now!') Curl up with my best friend and this mass of FLUFFY AWESOME I have now. My love and thoughts and blessings to all I care for on this night.

Still luvs you more, Tempy.

[Zodiac]

Volume 8. Pg 256
12/27/2013 5:29 AM

Back to the grind as we strive to get past the last of this season. Little in the way of returns on the 26th (WOOT!) so that is a major plus. New Years and still not a party to go to or anything. How am I to be ready and organized if I don't have a clue?

Doesn't matter really. If I am home all snug, warm and relaxed that will work for me. My last attempt at going to a public gathering ended abruptly as the heebie jeebies grabbed onto my nerves big time. Nothing against the Met , Chrissy or her staff or the other guests, but I just could not relax. Is it me? I think so, but why?

In my after Christmas bargain hunting, I discovered a object of art that screamed BUY ME!!! even if it was full price. This new one hangs over my fireplace now.



There was no title given on the listing, so my imagination runs wild on it. 'A Gathering of Darkness' or 'Cat's Sabbath' comes to mind. Sometimes I wonder when Ginny decides to vanish for a while if she isn't going to such a scene as this. I know I am not the only one with a cat here among the 'less than living'. Maybe they discuss us with each other? Or perhaps they discuss Ginny's master plan of world domination and how things are going. Agents (kittens) now within key places learning the secrets of obstacles to the plan and deciding how best to deal with them. Oh man, maybe I should tell Vel that's what the kittens are doing. *cracks up* They are furry spies for the revolution!

Speaking of, the 'mastermind' herself is sprawled out in front of the fire without a care in the world, along with her little twin, In that context alone, they are harmless, but when I look at them and then the picture my mind begins to whirl a bit.

"It is said that in Ulthar, which lies beyond the river Skai, no man may kill a cat; and this I can verily believe as I gaze upon her who sitteth purring before the fire. For the cat is cryptic, and close to strange things which men cannot see. She is the soul of antique Aegyptus, and bearer of tales from forgotten cities in Meroë and Ophir. She is the kin of the jungle’s lords, and heir to the secrets of hoary and sinister Africa. The Sphinx is her cousin, and she speaks her language; but she is more ancient than the Sphinx, and remembers that which she hath forgotten...."

"The Cats of Ulthar"
by H. P. Lovecraft

On the rare occasion when I open my eyes from slumber and find her inches from my face watching me, images like that run free. What shadowy paths do you wander when no one is looking? What back alleys in the places between the places do you stride like a goddess out of time-where lesser beings bow and grovel before you as you pass by? What courts of what forgotten gods do you sit in as welcome guest and (perhaps) equal and discuss the natures of how the universe truly works and do you and your hosts hurt yourself when someone brings up the idea that man (or even vampire) is the master of this world by laughing at such a delusion? Ia Ia?

Or do you simply terrorize rats that flee from your presence? To them as well you are a goddess of sorts. Life and death both hang in the balance of your jaws and paws. Are you legend to them? Do you stand in a pool of light that shines down through the sewer gratings above as the rodents bow and scrape and plead for your mercies? Offering tokens of devotions and respect?

Or are you just a big, fat, black cat?

There is no such thing as 'just a cat'. Sleep on little goddess (and goddess in training) as I enjoy my new painting.

[Zodiac]

Volume 9. Pg 1
1/1/2014 11:25 AM

It was a cloudy day with a hint of snow in the air. The crowd paid little notice to the girl who wandered the exhibits dressed head to toe in various shades of purple. A hooded cloak trimmed in white fur hiding her face, white furred mittens and a parasol gave the woman an eccentric look, but not hint of being dangerous. Outside of a visitor on occasion making a comment how much the small woman must love the color, no one took notice of her at all.

Zodiac, on the other hand, was paying not a bit of attention to those around except to smile and excuse herself as she made her way along. Her attentions was too focused on the bright splashes of color that swam along behind the glass of the various environments recreated to house their 'guests'. The Aquarium was a long overdue treat for her. She had never had the chance when she was alive to visit one properly. Zoos were another matter entirely, but they never had much in the way of aquatic life to enjoy. A new year had begun, the shops were closed, so the mystic planned to make this small excursion outside the confines of Harper Rock to treat herself to something special.

Childlike wonder danced on her face as she watched. All of her places had fish tanks in them and sometimes she'd relax just watching them swim about, but this was so much different. Mentally, she reached out and nudged their tiny brains like a feather, seeing how they would react. Some did nothing at all. The bundle of nerves that passed for a brain hardly able to understand what had just happened in some, while others suddenly turned and swam in another direction.

Her purse was stuffed with pamphlets and the odd souvenirs she had bought and grabbed. Useless things she doubted many of her friends would even appreciate back home, but would keep her amused regardless. T-shirts and stuffed toys always made her smile. The information pack on sponsorship sat burning a hole on the edge of her mind. Being a sponsor of something like this might be a good business move. Anything to attract more to her own efforts was always to be given serious considerations. Some fish stickers in the window saying they supported the aquarium would bring a few more in she imagined.

The parasol popped open as she stepped out in the cold light peeking through the clouds as she scampered to the next building, blocking the light from hitting the bits of skin not hidden under her clothes. She probably could have secured a hiding place in the city and simply came here after the place had closed for the evening and wandered freely about, but half the fun of this was the reactions of others to what all was seeing. The children especially. She followed a group of people now as the floor took a downward slope to allow the visitors to see what was going on underwater in the massive tanks that was home to the underwater types of mammals.

She grinned as large as the small ones around her as she watched the seals playing about and dolphins cruising by the windows. More silly stuffed toys bought as well. At this rate she would have to find a secluded corner and teleport back to the room she had arranged for herself to rest in before making the trip back to Harper Rock to empty her bag.

"Momma! Whales!" a small voice shouted in delight.

Zodiac turned from the salesperson and watched the white whale swim past the observation glass. Belugas they were called. Her jaw dropped as her eyes grew big as saucers. She imagined it would be the same for anyone at first close up sight. Movies and TV do nothing to prepare one for the actual scale of something like this only inches from where they stand. She waited till spot opened and moved to stand next to the thick glass and watch them moving along silently in the water on the other side. Dolphins were farther down into the exhibit, but this was more interesting to her.

"Hello," her mind whispered aloud, and she nearly cried out when one of the Belugas stopped swimming and turned to face her. Instinctively she reached out and touched the mind on the other side as the whale pressed against the barrier and began to make sounds of its own. The only analogy she could come to was putting a Blu Ray disc into a standard DVD player. It turned, the machine tried to understand what was there, but was never made to read such information processed like that. There was certainly stuff going on inside the small white whale's mind, but it was like reading a language she had never seen before. The pair continued to stare at each other, with the whale only leaving for a fresh breath of air, only to return to where the mystic stood watching.

"Look, Momma! That whale likes the lady," another young voice giggled. Zodiac glanced behind her and saw she and the Beluga was drawing quite the crowd now. She took a step back from the glass.

"Bye bye" she waved playfully before moving along for the exit. She needed to get out of here now before anyone got too inquisitive about her. Come back later after a change of attire perhaps. The sound of voices followed her for a few steps.

"You ever see anything like that?"

"No!"

"What got into him or her?"

"Hey, its just tired of following the crowd!"

The girl turned and found her 'friend' was following along from view port to view port watching her, which would not be odd except the rest of the Belugas were going right to left in the tank, but this one was following a left to right path.

"That's it, whale! Screw the system!" another laughed.

She slipped out the exit and made her way quickly to the restrooms.


***

1/1/2014 9:23 PM

A shadow moved in the confines of the closed aquarium now. The doors were no barrier to her and her talents at all and the handy information package she had been given concerning sponsorship showed a more detailed map than the one the tourists were given. She found the security hub and snapped off several key systems and then made her way to where the upper levels above the enclosures could be entered. A couple of cam scramblers in key places would make security think some kind of interference was playing havoc with the system. As long as she remembered to take them back before leaving, the event would simply be a mystery.

Zodiac opened the door that took her to the edge of the Beluga tank and she looked down into the now dark waters. She crouched in the shadows she had formed around her and send out her thoughts to the water before her.

"Hello again,"

A few moments later, several whales rose up and surfaced before her. All of them making those noises she had heard in TV specials on the subject of such creatures. She quickly spotted the one she had touched earlier in the day among them.

"Did you tell your friends about me or something?" she was laughing inside now. Timidly, she reached a hand out to the animal's head. Fingertips lightly caressed the smooth skin of the animal, who held its place and made clicking noises. The dark eyes of the creature now seeming so full of intelligence now. The others began to click and call as well as her hands found each one of them-stroking and petting their brows. The girl sat there for a couple of hours enjoying the non verbal discussion she was having with such unique, charming hosts.

***

1/2/2014 4:23 PM

"Well, Happy New Years, boss." Jennifer smiled as Zodiac entered the shop.

"Yes, thank you, and Happy Boxing Day as well," she replied. "Did you enjoy yourself yesterday?"

"Well, I won't lie. Was nice to have a do-nothing day for a change. How did your little trip go?" she followed the mystic into the back room where Zodiac sat down the bags she was carrying.

"It didn't suck." she admitted as she pulled a large stuffed toy from one of the bags and handed it to Jennifer. It was a fuzzy white Beluga whale with a tiny t-shirt on that proclaimed how much fun it had living at the aquarium.

"Oh, he is cute! So you go to a major city and the best thing you could find to do was go to a aquarium?"

"I did other things. But I have never been to a aquarium before so I took advantage of one being there. Was most enlightening."

"How so? Sorry. Personally I think they are sad places myself. Fish just swimming in circles for the rest of their lives."

"Well, I can agree with that much, but I also got a clue we ain't the only thing that thinks on this planet. I had a whale encounter."

"Okay, stop right there. You are telling me that you- Miss I don't undress except behind locked doors herself, stripped down, got into a swim suit and was swimming with the whales with how many people watching you in the process? How the hell much did that cost you?"

"Not exactly." the gypsy smiled the smile Jennifer had come to associate with her being cryptic on a subject. She knew it would be pointless to try and get an answer until Zodiac was ready to give one, so did not even try to press for details.

[Zodiac]

Volume 9. Pg 9
1/4/2014 3:29 AM

I have a friend we all call Mordie. Interesting sort of fellow. Can be quite charming at times, when he isn't into his delusions. He seems to be one of those who got wrapped up in the whole 'Vampires are the superior life form/I was never human to begin with' types. Normally those kind make me very nervous as a rule, but Mordie doesn't seem so wrapped in that ideal 24/7 like others are.

My friend Mordie.

Tonight I have to wonder if he is totally wrong.

My beautiful idiot. The inspiring fool. The sweet painted lady with **** for brains managed to finally **** with the wrong vampire. I wonder how she felt when she realized it was happening. Did she think she was a super hero or something? Granted the paladins always seemed able to bounce back from injuries that would cripple a normal human for life and keep on going (Lets face it-they just like us. cockroaches!) But even one of their lot can be taken down to true death if one tries hard enough. That was proven with the big bad paladin master/leader/whatever he was and his chief goons. But nooooooo. Little Miss Thing thought she was Superman.

My gut reaction is to blame myself, but I simply can't do that for some reason. I tried. Many times. To warn her and wave her off this fool's crusade of hers. Did she listen? Just like everyone else ever has. Meaning not! When she wasn't hell bent on what she was, she could be the most fun and enjoyable company one could hope for. Many times we chatted at work. Some worried if I was crossing lines on the subject of her and a few others, but we managed to keep things to 'soup questions'.

What are 'soup questions'? There was a film called 'Finding Forrester' that starred Sean Connery (*sighs dreamy eyed*) and Rob Brown. Connery played a hermit-like author who eventually began to tutor Brown-an aspiring young writer. The characters established limits as to what could be asked of each other. Brown asked several questions in the first scene of them together which Connery ignored until it was asked about the soup Connery was making. During the film as it continued, if one asked something of the other a bit too personal, the reply 'That isn't exactly a soup question' was given as an answer.

I never asked her the details of the coming Paladin Empire (or whatever they wanted to call the damn thing) and she was smart enough not to press me for details on my kind. Soup questions galore between us. But despite all the soup, other things leaked in regardless. I am not an idiot-despite public opinion. The absences. Time missing. Medical bills submitted on the insurance. Video footage from my own damn security system! She was dancing on an edge and no words of mine could ever make her stop. Hell, its hard to warn someone who acted like they would puke if they were in the same room with you for too long. Girl had more balls than most men I know claim to have-I will give her that much. No retreat, no surrender and all that noise. She honestly thought she could win it.

The Joker or Lex Luthor didn't always loose. Super heroes fall sometimes.

So now my beautiful idiot is now part of the club. What a waste. What a ******* waste.

Now, you may ask, how does poor Mordie tie into all of this? He doesn't give a rat's *** about any human at all. Food in motion they are-nothing more.

Maybe he is right after all. Why should I beat my brains out over someone- something- that is too stupid to take the best advice you could give them? Why? Outside of my Jennifer- why should I even care?