Path of the Vampire forum

Emeritus had gotten a rather early start to his night. He had set the appointment with Zodiac for the reading and wanted to make sure he looked his best, not so much for her as it was a nightly habit. When Velveteen had suggested he see the mystic for a reading, something they both hoped would help ease his mind, he was slightly reluctant but eager at the same time.

His life still hadn't gotten back in order, not completely any way, since he had returned from a trip to his native Switzerland to find only chaos upon his arrival. There was no fault on anyone but himself for the state of things and the allurist was taking everything very personally. Lighting a cigarette as he stepped out of Veil Towers he passed his car, feeling in the mood for a walk, maybe it would clear his head a little before the reading.

It wasn't long before he stood at the doors of the Eye of Zodiac, crushing his recent cigarette underfoot he opened the door and walked in. Only slightly nervous he stood motionless, awaiting someone to tell him where he needed to be.

She was surprised, to say the least.

Zodiac had texted Velveteen to see if this was some kind of a joke, but the woman assured her this was for real and that she would cover the expenses of it. Just send her the bill. Most others would have paid cash up front, but she agreed to send the bill once the deal was done. Despite the public opinion of the lead Tytonidae, Velveteen had never cheated the mystic and her word was good enough. She also reminded the woman she was overdue for a session of her own.

She packed her bag with a few things she might need. Normally Pandora's was the place most chose to have their cards done, but this Emeritus had chosen the The Eye for his session. Never a problem, she was used to traveling back and forth between the two locations as the need arose. "Are you ready?" she looked at the large black cat that sat on her reading table watching her pack. Ginny stood up and stretched herself while meowing softly. She picked up her bag and purse and left the reading parlor, confident the animal was less that two steps behind her.

"We heading out now." her thoughts found the redheaded girl working behind the counter. The girl turned and nodded.

"Gonna use the 'Boom Tube' to get there?" Jennifer laughed. 'Boom Tube' was an expression from 'Teen Titans' comics that was a name for a mode of transportation between distances the master villain Darkseid used for his troops.

"Boom Tube, Fadeportal. Same difference. Is why I put one in. Saves on gas too." she laughed as well. "Leave me a sign where the shop was so when I come back I know I am in the right place."

"Nope." Jennifer replied. "Boss is at shop number two, so it's party time here."

"And I wasn't invited? How rude."

*****

She arrived early and had time to go over things with her people before setting herself up. Unlike Pandora's, the reading area was in the open here in The Eye. She was quite proud of this arrangement. Rather than the sleek modern shop look Pandora's had, The Eye was done as if it were outdoors. An open air market with the lighting set to give the illusion tree limbs stretched out overhead and sent slight shadows onto the displays below.

"Mistress?"

She looked up at one of her sales people and nodded. She was human, so not included on the idea the mute mystic was telepathic. She drew a question mark in the air in reply.

"Your appointment has arrived," she pointed to the well groomed man standing awkwardly just inside the doors. All of her people could tell this and also knew this was his first time in such a situation. Body language said volumes if one knew how to read it. She nodded to the girl and approached him. Pausing just outside most people's idea of a comfort zone when it came to physical space, she smiled and looked up at the man, places her hands together as if in prayer and bowed her head. When she arose, she made a gesture from her forehead to his and began to 'speak' softly to his thoughts.

"Greetings, and blessings of the night to you and yours. I am Mistress Zodiac and I will be your guide in this journey of self discovery. Please, follow me to the back." she gestured to the table waiting in the back of the store. "So tell me, Mr Emeritus, why have you come and what are you hoping to learn this night?"

When Zodiac greeted him he paused for a moment, her presence combined with the ethereal settings of her shop seemed to calm him slightly. Shaken from his reverie by the sound of her voice in his head, something he was never going to get used to, he returned the bow with what he could muster for a smile.

Her question was a loaded one; though he had expected and prepared for it it still seemed to catch him off guard. “I’m lost” his voice almost blank, all the anger and confusion fallen to the side “and I need something, anything really that can make all of this make sense.” He had hoped in coming to her he would be able to find a way to push away the feeling of emptiness. The thoughts of feeling almost betrayed weighed heavily on him, yes, he had left everyone rather unexpectedly but nothing warned him of the chaos he would find on his return. No one had bothered hiding their anger and disappointment in him, and that was his biggest scar, knowing he had let a few that counted on him down.

She looked at him calmly when he finally managed to speak. It was, perhaps, the most honest answer to her question she had ever heard. Gently, she took one of his hands into hers and squeezed it softly as her smile continued.

"I think," she began as she started to lead him back to her parlor where she did her readings away from prying eyes. "That if a lot more of our kind could be that honest with themselves, let alone another, then things would be much better than they are. All of us were lost once, and some still are. Be it in denial, delusion, or whatever. We are not vermin, but we are far short of being gods. We all have felt out of synch once we have been turned, so do not think it is so unusual." Zodiac could sense familiar thoughts inside her guest's mind. Many of them not so different from her own once upon a time. "Once we accept that much, it makes finding one's way in the darkness that much easier. The walls are down, and thus a soul is ready to learn and grow, so think of it this way-you are already farther along than most on this new path in the night you are walking."

She observed him closely now. His body language matching his thoughts. She would never accuse a guest of lying, but she made a habit to feel out others to be sure how much of the truth she may, or may not, be dealing with. She inspected his aura for a moment as they stepped into what some called the 'Purple Parlor'. "Please give me one moment. Have a seat, and relax. Nothing here will harm you."

As her guest debated the room, she stepped into the break area for her employees. "Jennifer? Is this coffee fresh?" she called out.

"Just put it on less than 15 minutes ago." was the answer.

"Excellent." The man was an allurist, so would have a broader pallet to play with and something in his aura suggested coffee. She poured him a cup, assembled a saucer with creme and sugar and a spoon, then returned to the room and sat the mug and plate in front of Emeritus.

"Relax and enjoy," she patted him on the shoulder before stepping to the opposite side of the table and taking a seat in her 'throne'. "So, your sire has pointed you to me in hopes I can help you. Velveteen flatters me. I doubt she would send you to just anyone who claims to see beyond the norm. Can I give you absolute answers? No, I cannot, but I can give you hints and suggestions as we go through the pattern the cards will give us. And as we gain hints and clues it will lead to questions you may not have considered. Bits of evidence brought together suggesting things new. I will be your guide through this process. What I see and learn of you here will be kept in total confidence like a doctor does for their patients." she relaxed in her chair now. She never pushed or urged her visitors into action. When they felt comfortable enough, then the process could begin. For now she was content to let the man grow use to the odd surroundings, enjoy his drink, and consider her words.

He felt almost humbled by her words, such kindness usually carried a hidden agenda but her nothing in her face or words set his alarms off. Following her silently the Allurist simply soaked it all in, there was no denying the fortune teller had impeccable taste but now did not seem the time to point this out.

Taking the seat offered to him, he got as comfortable as possible, crossing his legs he awaited her return. The scent of coffee tickled his nostrils, though the caffeine no longer affected him, he was still addicted. He took the plate with a smile "thank you" he slowly blended the milk and sugar and sipped the hot liquid "you are most kind. Not everyone receives a disgraced owl so graciously." the words felt more as jab against himself than anything else.

He drained the last bits of coffee rather slowly, "my sire did speak fondly of you when this meeting was proposed. As a mortal I ate up every bit of arcane and occult knowledge I could get my hands on, though I must confess I never dabbled with divination myself." Straightening his tie once more he inclined his head "I am ready when you are." the tinge of nervousness seemed foreign to him but all of his focus was on the woman now seated opposite him.

A disgraced owl?

Some could say the same of her in ways, depending on their personal view of the gypsy mystic. Disgrace was like most other things, you moved on or mired yourself in it-simple. Curiosity tempted to her to ask the man to explain himself, but he was not here for such conversations.

She studied him again for a few moments before standing up. She held up a finger for patience as she opened a small cabinet and began to search through a stack of table covers while mentally calling out to her assistant to bring refreshments for them both.

She finally settled on a dark grey cloth. A knock at the door and Jennifer walked in with a tray. The table was cleared and the cover laid over it. While the girl set a fresh cup down for the man and a small thermos-type mug near Zodiac's side of the table, the gypsy lit a few inscents before taking her seat again. Jennifer excused herself and went back out into the store, but not before hanging a sign that said Do Not Disturb- Session in Progress on the door and closing it behind her. However, a large black cat slipped into the room and promptly jumped up into the girl's lap and made itself at home.

"My other 'assistant', Ginny," she smiled as she opened a drawer on her side of the table and pulled out a silk-wrapped bundle and sat it on the table in front of her. "For most visitors, I use a traditional Rider-Waite deck because its the most familiar to people and make use of the Celtic Cross spread. Again, it is something most have seen before-even if in passing, so it helps them to relax and be more open to what I am doing." she explained before picking up the bundle and planting a kiss upon it. She opened it, then holding the wrapping, not the deck, Zodiac sat it within reach of her guest.

"One card will be you, and ten more will teach us about you and offer guidance to your goals. Think of them as road signs or guideposts instead of what the images literally display. I will translate these for you as we go along."

She opened another drawer and pulled out a note pad and pens and sat them next to the thermal mug. "Now, I will need you to take the deck and focus on your question while shuffling it. Nothing else. Clear your mind of everything and focus just on your question. When you feel you have finished, place them back on the silk, and then I will cut the deck and you will shuffle again. We will do this three times and then I shall begin." She sat back in her throne and pet the cat softly as both watched the man.