The door opened with a bit of protest. Blocked by the pile of mail sitting on the inside as Zodiac let herself into her small shop. She moved inside and shut and locked the door behind her while making sure the blackout curtails were in place before trying the lights.
At least the power was still on, but for how much longer. It was not like she was keeping a regular business schedule anymore, Only a handful of her (now) human clients were adapting to her quirks of 'nights only' and her new kind was not too eager to patronize a self confessed fortune teller for this anyways. Oh, the offers came for her new skill sets to be sure but that wasn't helping her original dreams much. Leaving the shop closed for days at a time with no schedule anyone could adapt to wasn't helping either.
She gathered up the mail and sat down at her consultation table and began to sort the mail. Advertisements and invitations to psychic events she never could attend again along with the normal crap mail hit the trash without a second thought. Bills were another matter. The important ones were laid to the side while the crap ones joined the trash. Her distributors were wondering if she had gone out of business since she had not ordered any new stock and several calls from others she did business with echoed their concerns. How had things gotten out of hand so quickly?
'It all started when a vampire named Scorpia entered my shop,' she thought in silence. Ever since that night her life had taken a unique turn and tumble. In ways she was far better than she had been. She had friends now and found herself part of things she never dared considered before. She adored them all.
After she finished with the mail, she checked the phone messages. Less potential customers and more inquiries where the money was. She jotted down the names and numbers quickly and erased the rest.
But she had begun to notice she was no longer 'focused' as she used to be. Before Angela would have never allowed her finances and situation to spiral this badly out of control even for a day, let alone a couple of weeks. She had found herself riding the giddy high of her transformation and not paying attention to life. But did life really apply to her anymore?
She looked around the store. Her store. It was hers. She had built it up out of nothing and it was one of the few businesses in the slum end of town that could boast it was a limited success. Her customers were willing to drive from the fancy 'rich *****' end of town for her services as an advisor. (Sometimes, they even paid to have her come to them and in typical fashion she skimped on the cab fare and rode the transits and walked to save a few of those dollars.) The shelves sat silently filled with books, candles, powders and other items particular to her craft. Merchandise she had paid for. A solid list of contacts and distributors she had built up. Now it was all falling apart around her and at times she was happy as hell to be ignoring the entire situation.
She was going to have to pack up and leave, that much was obvious, but what was she going to do with all of this? She supposed she could store some of it away and keep the more rare and valuable items at places she stayed at away from here, but the thought of loosing this all bothered her. Her 'gypsy blood' was up as her grandfather would say. Pride in what she had managed to do. Now she considered being what most said was the normal response for people like her? "More gypsy trash. Better that one had stayed in the back of a van." She imagined the words she felt her customers and dealers would think if she just suddenly vanished and she fought back the urge to cry.
~more to come~
Home is where the hate is
-
Zodiac
- Registered User
- Posts: 1987
- Joined: 02 Aug 2011, 22:23
- CrowNet Handle: Raggedy Ann
- Location: The Pandora Project
- Contact:
Home is where the hate is
Some day I'm gonna be happy. I don't know when just now
I still have clouds to dance upon, and the moon expects me for tea
The Pandora Project.
I still have clouds to dance upon, and the moon expects me for tea
The Pandora Project.
-
Zodiac
- Registered User
- Posts: 1987
- Joined: 02 Aug 2011, 22:23
- CrowNet Handle: Raggedy Ann
- Location: The Pandora Project
- Contact:
Re: Home is where the hate is
She shut down the lights and went upstairs to her sleeping room. Everything was where she had left it except for one item. The large black and grey cat stretched and arched its back as she entered and stared at the girl. Zodiac took a seat on her bed and began to pet the feline. 'How did you get in here?' she thought as Ginny began to nuzzle her hand and move about demanding attention. Last time she was here the cat was outside and she had locked all the ways in. 'I'm beginning to think you are one big fat shadow yourself'
'Mrow,' Ginny jumped off the bed and stood in the window as if looking down at the street below. Angela followed and saw some people down below slowly walking along the street. Pausing briefly and looking at the few cars parked in the area. 'Casing them,' her mind thought. She had done it herself back in the days. The ones below were good. Their movements so quick and fluid that one had to know what they were looking for to be sure of what they were doing. Something was very familiar about their style. She could not shake the feeling as they paused next to a late model car. Someone had been careless and the car was quickly opened and the bags in the back seat removed. The figures moved on rapidly. 'No way!' her mind cried out. Not in surprise at the actions below, but at what she saw when they passed under the streetlamp.
She knew them.
Angela grabbed her purse and ran down the stairs and exited via the back door. Swiftly she began to run to where the wanderers had slipped out of sight and paused when she saw them again closer now. They were starting to case the cars along here as well. 'No way!' her mind babbled as panic rose up inside of her like a living thing. They were gypsies. HER gypsies! What the hell was the caravan doing this far North so late in the year? And here in Harper Rock? The first time she had ever seen this town was when her and the cat walked across the city limits after leaving the camps.
They were not looking for her-that much was certain. Her name was in the local phone book and the trio had just walked past her shop with the signs clearly in place to proclaim 'Zodiac' did business here for all to see. No, the tribe had worn out its welcome in certain towns and was now spreading their patterns of travel outwards now to catch others unaware of their activities was her best guess. How many new towns and cities had she seen in her time she could not even say, but Angela knew some places they saw once and never again and others were not visited for months in-between. The sad part of such a lifestyle (as she had come to conclude) for every thief in the clan, there was an honest soul who simply tried to make their way as best they could. Separated from society proper for reasons of their own, they sold their talents to people and did their best to be honest. Others, like the ones Angela began to silently track along the streets, favored the more dishonest way of doing things and were the reasons why tribes like hers could never stay in one spot for very long. She learned a lot from both sides of that coin in her childhood and some of those skills served her well in her current situation.
She continued to follow them. She was no shadow, but had learned enough when alive how to follow someone without being seen easily. Others like her now would be able to spot her, but her former 'family' members were clueless. She continued her stalking until she saw the three meet with others next to a van parked in the mouth of an alley. She knew that vehicle as well as the group piled in. It was Sarah's-one of the older women of the tribe. Angela watched the vehicle pull out and begin to roll down the street. She laughed in silence as the machine hit a pot hole and began to wobble. They had never replaced the shocks on 'Sarah's Rocking Ride'. Briefly she remembered as a child how her and the other children would ride in the back on long trips-all laughing as the lack of shocks send them bouncing about. Zodiac kept up with the old van till she had an idea in what direction it was leaving the town, and then set an easier pace to follow. It was doubtful they would be leaving this time of night.
'Mrow' She jumped as Ginny made her presence known by rubbing against her ankle.
"How the hell do you keep doing that?" she wondered. She paused and petted the cat for a few moments. "Well?" she cocked her head at the feline. "C'mon!" she thought as if the cat could read her mind.
Ginny began to follow.
~more to come~
'Mrow,' Ginny jumped off the bed and stood in the window as if looking down at the street below. Angela followed and saw some people down below slowly walking along the street. Pausing briefly and looking at the few cars parked in the area. 'Casing them,' her mind thought. She had done it herself back in the days. The ones below were good. Their movements so quick and fluid that one had to know what they were looking for to be sure of what they were doing. Something was very familiar about their style. She could not shake the feeling as they paused next to a late model car. Someone had been careless and the car was quickly opened and the bags in the back seat removed. The figures moved on rapidly. 'No way!' her mind cried out. Not in surprise at the actions below, but at what she saw when they passed under the streetlamp.
She knew them.
Angela grabbed her purse and ran down the stairs and exited via the back door. Swiftly she began to run to where the wanderers had slipped out of sight and paused when she saw them again closer now. They were starting to case the cars along here as well. 'No way!' her mind babbled as panic rose up inside of her like a living thing. They were gypsies. HER gypsies! What the hell was the caravan doing this far North so late in the year? And here in Harper Rock? The first time she had ever seen this town was when her and the cat walked across the city limits after leaving the camps.
They were not looking for her-that much was certain. Her name was in the local phone book and the trio had just walked past her shop with the signs clearly in place to proclaim 'Zodiac' did business here for all to see. No, the tribe had worn out its welcome in certain towns and was now spreading their patterns of travel outwards now to catch others unaware of their activities was her best guess. How many new towns and cities had she seen in her time she could not even say, but Angela knew some places they saw once and never again and others were not visited for months in-between. The sad part of such a lifestyle (as she had come to conclude) for every thief in the clan, there was an honest soul who simply tried to make their way as best they could. Separated from society proper for reasons of their own, they sold their talents to people and did their best to be honest. Others, like the ones Angela began to silently track along the streets, favored the more dishonest way of doing things and were the reasons why tribes like hers could never stay in one spot for very long. She learned a lot from both sides of that coin in her childhood and some of those skills served her well in her current situation.
She continued to follow them. She was no shadow, but had learned enough when alive how to follow someone without being seen easily. Others like her now would be able to spot her, but her former 'family' members were clueless. She continued her stalking until she saw the three meet with others next to a van parked in the mouth of an alley. She knew that vehicle as well as the group piled in. It was Sarah's-one of the older women of the tribe. Angela watched the vehicle pull out and begin to roll down the street. She laughed in silence as the machine hit a pot hole and began to wobble. They had never replaced the shocks on 'Sarah's Rocking Ride'. Briefly she remembered as a child how her and the other children would ride in the back on long trips-all laughing as the lack of shocks send them bouncing about. Zodiac kept up with the old van till she had an idea in what direction it was leaving the town, and then set an easier pace to follow. It was doubtful they would be leaving this time of night.
'Mrow' She jumped as Ginny made her presence known by rubbing against her ankle.
"How the hell do you keep doing that?" she wondered. She paused and petted the cat for a few moments. "Well?" she cocked her head at the feline. "C'mon!" she thought as if the cat could read her mind.
Ginny began to follow.
~more to come~
Some day I'm gonna be happy. I don't know when just now
I still have clouds to dance upon, and the moon expects me for tea
The Pandora Project.
I still have clouds to dance upon, and the moon expects me for tea
The Pandora Project.
-
Zodiac
- Registered User
- Posts: 1987
- Joined: 02 Aug 2011, 22:23
- CrowNet Handle: Raggedy Ann
- Location: The Pandora Project
- Contact:
Re: Home is where the hate is
In every town she had visited when traveling with her extended family, Angela had learned there were certain truths about their situations.
One, they were never welcome for long anywhere (unless they had dirt on the right people or could grease the proper palm and that was done only if they were onto something really worth the time to set down roots for a few) and survival was keyed to knowing how long and where to stay and how fast and when to run.
Two, despite the fact the locals hated the fact they were in the area; they were always a percentage of that outraged crowd who would do business with them. Be it they thought they could cheat the gypsies or get something for far less than normal. This rule worked well with the 'entertainers' among them. Every town had whores, but gypsy whores moved on. No embarrassing moment of running into your paid for night of fun playmate in the company of say ones husband/wife or girl/boy friend or whatever.
And Three, no matter what the world thought of them, they were not stupid. In fact, one had to be damn smart, cunning, sly, and opportunistic and downright ruthless at times to survive their life. Morals were optional and values were debatable. The image of wandering the world as a free spirit was romantic, but in actual application it was hard, dangerous, and filled with harsh choices.
She had entered the wilderness of deep forest and crept silently through the surrounding brush while watching for the 'entrance' to the camp. There was usually a spot where the 'greeters' kept watch for those who would seek them out and aim them in the proper direction while sizing them up for potentials. She began to see parked cars and knew she was on the right trail. She paused and began to remove all of her jewelry and place it inside her purse. Her personal pride was to jingle along the streets in town-unashamed of her origins-but stealth required silence. She could move without disturbing a single piece when she wanted to (some of her meals-if they remembered-could attest to that) but with no clue how much she might have to twist and contort in the landscape ahead, she chose caution over pride.
She found the greeters and slipped past them without a sound. Memories flared to life as other children and she in the past had slipped in and out of camp despite what their parents told them to see and enjoy the latest place their traveling had taken them to. Eventually the sounds of laughter and revelry began to be heard as she approached the camp. She changed directions, lest she walk right into the middle of the group and aimed to the side where the vehicles were usually parked.
She slipped behind the small row of RV's and trailers and began look for signs of life. All were dark, so she knew the 'party' was going on. Everyone would be out in force to help relive the visitors of their cash in various ways. A soft growl caught her ear and she turned to see Sirius-a large German Shepard sat next to one of the trailers-eyeing her. He was up and ready to challenge this scent he obviously did not like at all approaching in the darkness. Zodiac froze, unsure how to continue. To silence the dog was not an option she wanted to consider. Sirius was just doing his job as a canine early alert that something was wrong, and despite his apparent age the dog was still good at its job.
Ginny slipped around Angela and approached the dog. Sirius cocked his head at the appearance of the cat. Ginny calmly approached and sat down just inches from the dog and stared at the animal 4 times her size. Sirius began to whine a bit and lay down as if terrified of the cat. 'What the hell?' Zodiac wondered before slowly approaching the dog. She reached down and petted the brute gently. Sirius looked up and cringed a bit. 'You can smell what I have become, can't you, boy?' she thought. She used to play with this dog all the time as did the rest of the children in camp. She gave up trying to calm the dog and moved on.
~more to come~
One, they were never welcome for long anywhere (unless they had dirt on the right people or could grease the proper palm and that was done only if they were onto something really worth the time to set down roots for a few) and survival was keyed to knowing how long and where to stay and how fast and when to run.
Two, despite the fact the locals hated the fact they were in the area; they were always a percentage of that outraged crowd who would do business with them. Be it they thought they could cheat the gypsies or get something for far less than normal. This rule worked well with the 'entertainers' among them. Every town had whores, but gypsy whores moved on. No embarrassing moment of running into your paid for night of fun playmate in the company of say ones husband/wife or girl/boy friend or whatever.
And Three, no matter what the world thought of them, they were not stupid. In fact, one had to be damn smart, cunning, sly, and opportunistic and downright ruthless at times to survive their life. Morals were optional and values were debatable. The image of wandering the world as a free spirit was romantic, but in actual application it was hard, dangerous, and filled with harsh choices.
She had entered the wilderness of deep forest and crept silently through the surrounding brush while watching for the 'entrance' to the camp. There was usually a spot where the 'greeters' kept watch for those who would seek them out and aim them in the proper direction while sizing them up for potentials. She began to see parked cars and knew she was on the right trail. She paused and began to remove all of her jewelry and place it inside her purse. Her personal pride was to jingle along the streets in town-unashamed of her origins-but stealth required silence. She could move without disturbing a single piece when she wanted to (some of her meals-if they remembered-could attest to that) but with no clue how much she might have to twist and contort in the landscape ahead, she chose caution over pride.
She found the greeters and slipped past them without a sound. Memories flared to life as other children and she in the past had slipped in and out of camp despite what their parents told them to see and enjoy the latest place their traveling had taken them to. Eventually the sounds of laughter and revelry began to be heard as she approached the camp. She changed directions, lest she walk right into the middle of the group and aimed to the side where the vehicles were usually parked.
She slipped behind the small row of RV's and trailers and began look for signs of life. All were dark, so she knew the 'party' was going on. Everyone would be out in force to help relive the visitors of their cash in various ways. A soft growl caught her ear and she turned to see Sirius-a large German Shepard sat next to one of the trailers-eyeing her. He was up and ready to challenge this scent he obviously did not like at all approaching in the darkness. Zodiac froze, unsure how to continue. To silence the dog was not an option she wanted to consider. Sirius was just doing his job as a canine early alert that something was wrong, and despite his apparent age the dog was still good at its job.
Ginny slipped around Angela and approached the dog. Sirius cocked his head at the appearance of the cat. Ginny calmly approached and sat down just inches from the dog and stared at the animal 4 times her size. Sirius began to whine a bit and lay down as if terrified of the cat. 'What the hell?' Zodiac wondered before slowly approaching the dog. She reached down and petted the brute gently. Sirius looked up and cringed a bit. 'You can smell what I have become, can't you, boy?' she thought. She used to play with this dog all the time as did the rest of the children in camp. She gave up trying to calm the dog and moved on.
~more to come~
Some day I'm gonna be happy. I don't know when just now
I still have clouds to dance upon, and the moon expects me for tea
The Pandora Project.
I still have clouds to dance upon, and the moon expects me for tea
The Pandora Project.
-
Zodiac
- Registered User
- Posts: 1987
- Joined: 02 Aug 2011, 22:23
- CrowNet Handle: Raggedy Ann
- Location: The Pandora Project
- Contact:
Re: Home is where the hate is
She recognized each and every trailer and vehicle she passed. The separate units meant nothing as far as individuality and privacy went. The entire arrangement was just one large extended home all of them used to a degree. Only one of the units truly interested her this night and she found it near the end of the row. It had been painted and redone, but there was no mistaking it. She slipped under the unit and made her way along to a spot in the underbelly where a trap door had been set into place ages ago. Gently she lifted it up and peered inside to see if anyone was home. Darkness greeted her and encouraged, she forced the trap open more so she could climb inside. Zodiac sat there where her legs hanging down into the hole and looked around what was once her grandmother's trailer. Every bit of familiar furniture flared in her memory as her eyes searched the gloom. New things and colors ignored as she tried to remember how it exactly was the morning she left. Where the coffee table sat now is where she laid out her Nanna in state. Her hair combed, dressed in her finest clothes of the old ways and wrapped in the best sheet she could find. She was ready to be buried, but the girl did not have the strength to move her to a proper grave. Now it would have been no problem, she thought in irony. She could have carried the woman to her grave with ease.
Not she had a clue where they had buried her, if at all. That thought gnawed at her spirit worse than anything.
A sound came from the bedroom, causing the young vampiress to turn her attentions. A voice, two voices could be heard. One male that muttered obscenities while the second, female, sighing and encouraging the man to greater efforts. A soft rocking could be felt as the couple within began to become more frantic. Zodiac froze as she recognized her mother's voice. Her mother, the 'entertainer' as she called her line of work. It was logical her mother should have 'stepped up' and claimed her grandmother's home once she had passed, but Zodiac could not believe she would defile the memory of her own mother by doing her 'business' here of all places.
Her lips peeled back in a silent snarl as she considered it. She sat there for several moments before silently dropping back down the escape hole and easing the trap door shut. Zodiac crawled out from under the trailer and looked at the unit with disgust. She had told her sire something of her past, and could imagine Scorpia would have told her 'Screw the Masq and kill the *****!' if she had known it all, but doing that would bring too many problems not only to those in the town but among those she still cared for here. She began to back away silently when a hand grabbed her shoulder. She turned quickly, her knife already appearing out of the folds of her skirts as her short life in Harper Rock had conditioned her to do.
"Angela?" a hushed voice asked. "Is that you?"
She looked up at the shadow that now held her. She glanced at the hand that held her and a silent gasp of surprise escaped her lips. The pentacle ring that sat firmly on the ring finger she recognized at once. It had been a gift to him from her Nanna after the 'incident' and apparently he had kept his vow to never take it off.
"Angela Francezci, is IS you." The voice smiled. He leaned closer and she could see his face now. Zodiac smiled despite the awkwardness of her situation. Her and this one had grown up together among these trappings. She waved her fingers in greeting just before a louder burst of lust inspired sound escaped the trailer behind them.
"C'mon," the hand let go of her shoulder and gently took her arm. "Let us go where we can talk."
~more to come~
Not she had a clue where they had buried her, if at all. That thought gnawed at her spirit worse than anything.
A sound came from the bedroom, causing the young vampiress to turn her attentions. A voice, two voices could be heard. One male that muttered obscenities while the second, female, sighing and encouraging the man to greater efforts. A soft rocking could be felt as the couple within began to become more frantic. Zodiac froze as she recognized her mother's voice. Her mother, the 'entertainer' as she called her line of work. It was logical her mother should have 'stepped up' and claimed her grandmother's home once she had passed, but Zodiac could not believe she would defile the memory of her own mother by doing her 'business' here of all places.
Her lips peeled back in a silent snarl as she considered it. She sat there for several moments before silently dropping back down the escape hole and easing the trap door shut. Zodiac crawled out from under the trailer and looked at the unit with disgust. She had told her sire something of her past, and could imagine Scorpia would have told her 'Screw the Masq and kill the *****!' if she had known it all, but doing that would bring too many problems not only to those in the town but among those she still cared for here. She began to back away silently when a hand grabbed her shoulder. She turned quickly, her knife already appearing out of the folds of her skirts as her short life in Harper Rock had conditioned her to do.
"Angela?" a hushed voice asked. "Is that you?"
She looked up at the shadow that now held her. She glanced at the hand that held her and a silent gasp of surprise escaped her lips. The pentacle ring that sat firmly on the ring finger she recognized at once. It had been a gift to him from her Nanna after the 'incident' and apparently he had kept his vow to never take it off.
"Angela Francezci, is IS you." The voice smiled. He leaned closer and she could see his face now. Zodiac smiled despite the awkwardness of her situation. Her and this one had grown up together among these trappings. She waved her fingers in greeting just before a louder burst of lust inspired sound escaped the trailer behind them.
"C'mon," the hand let go of her shoulder and gently took her arm. "Let us go where we can talk."
~more to come~
Some day I'm gonna be happy. I don't know when just now
I still have clouds to dance upon, and the moon expects me for tea
The Pandora Project.
I still have clouds to dance upon, and the moon expects me for tea
The Pandora Project.
-
Zodiac
- Registered User
- Posts: 1987
- Joined: 02 Aug 2011, 22:23
- CrowNet Handle: Raggedy Ann
- Location: The Pandora Project
- Contact:
Re: Home is where the hate is
She followed without pause or question as the young man led her among the maze of vehicles till he reached a newer looking RV. He unlocked it and ushered her inside before following and locking the door behind them both. She stood patiently as he moved about in the dim light pushing curtains over the windows to block the views. When she heard him flicking a lighter, she moved to one of the candles she saw sitting on the counter and focused. Her fingertip glowed as she touched the wick, causing it to light. Zodiac walked around lighting random candles while controlling the Burning Touch carefully. Behind her the voice laughed in surprise.
"Nanna always swore you had the gifts, and she was right,"
She could now see the man in proper light. He had not changed much in her years gone. The mop of sandy brown hair had grown out and was now neat and styled. Skinny arms were now toned and showed the results of hard work and now he looked down a bit at her as opposed to her childhood view of looking down at him slightly. He was a man now and not the skinny boy the skinny girl used to play with and find themselves in trouble together.
But the light revealed other things as well. The scar above his left eye that arched down toward his ear and the one on his cheek that marred his pleasant face. Her eyes were drawn to his left arm that appeared normal until you focused and saw part of his forearm seemed twisted, off center from the other. The result of bones not set properly after being broken. The same could be said of the pinky and ring finger of his left hand. The boy had been beaten badly and the memory of it was part of her own nightmares she still fought with.
"You grew up, Randy," She smiled as her fingers formed the letters.
"So did you, Angela," he answered with his own fingers. Zodiac smiled even brighter as he did this. "Come, sit," Randy encouraged her as he turned into the counter behind him and began to pour water into a kettle. "You liked the orange best if I remember right. What did we call it? Tea and fingers?" his voice asked while igniting the small propane cooking arrangement and setting the kettle to boil. 'Tea and fingers' were the 'classes' Nanna had done with Angela when the two of them learned sign language. Randy and some of the other children insisted on learning as well and they all sat in her grandmother's trailer learning how to form words while enjoying cups of tea in the process. She was 6, 7 years old then, just a year older than Randy Addams. Him and his family were not Romany but had come to be accepted by the tribe as fellow travelers and equals over time and like her, he had been born into this lifestyle of traveling and roaming the country at will.
She nodded her agreement and took a seat in the cramped booth that served as his kitchen table and chairs. Zodiac wondered if she could manage at least a sip or two as to not offend him. She had already learned the hard way that food and her new state of life did not work well together. Not long after her turning she had wandered into the mall and the smell of pizza in one of the strip shops encouraged her. She was working on her second slice of deep dish with everything when her stomach vocalized its protest loudly and the first slice exited her onto the table she sat at. She had never felt so sick in her life. A lot of apologizing from the shop owners over what must have been something spoiled in their food despite her assurances it was fine. She left with new knowledge and free tickets for more pizza courtesy of the owner in her purse. The whistling of the kettle broke her memory and she watched Randy pour two mugs and bring them to the table.
"So what brings you back to us?" he asked. "And how did you know we were here?"
"I saw some of you in town and followed them back," she replied. "I recognized Sarah's van."
"I do not want to recall how many times we ended up pushing that thing when it broke down," Randy laughed. "So what brought you to Harpers Rock?"
"My feet," she grinned. "Actually," she glanced around then looked at him. "Syzgany swear? Not a word to anyone?" Randy held out his hand with the ring Nanna had gave him and answered.
"I swear on those we love best, not a word from my lips."
"I live there now." She answered.
"What? You settled down?" he was shocked. Like her, this was the only lifestyle Randy knew. "I mean it makes sense, but,"
"I know," she smiled. "But it is hard to have a caravan of two considering it is me and a cat."
"A big fat one? Black and grey?" Randy asked. "I saw one like that here a couple nights ago just walking around like it owned the place. Sirius wouldn't even bark at it, and he goes crazy over butterflies, let alone cats."
"That sounds like her." She leaned over and took a long smell from the steaming cup. It was the same kind her Nanna made for them and part of her yearned to drink. Knowing it would taste so good for a moment before coming back up on the table and possibly Randy as well. Her friend, Temperance Avila, could eat and drink when she wanted to, so why couldn't she? 'Allurists suck!' she thought, and then took it back. Tempy was awesome and not the typical type of allurist she had come to know in the town. She was not one of the 'Hoochie Patrol' as she come to consider most allurists.
"I'm sorry," The cup suddenly was pulled away by Randy, causing her to gape in surprise. He took them both back to the small sink and set them in. "That was unkind of me. How many times did we smell these smells in Nanna's place? I saw the look on your face and knew it was churning up memories. I am so sorry. I have soda or some wine if you would like."
"I'm fine." She signed. "So," she continued as Randy sat back down. "Tell me, what happened after I left?"
~more to come~
"Nanna always swore you had the gifts, and she was right,"
She could now see the man in proper light. He had not changed much in her years gone. The mop of sandy brown hair had grown out and was now neat and styled. Skinny arms were now toned and showed the results of hard work and now he looked down a bit at her as opposed to her childhood view of looking down at him slightly. He was a man now and not the skinny boy the skinny girl used to play with and find themselves in trouble together.
But the light revealed other things as well. The scar above his left eye that arched down toward his ear and the one on his cheek that marred his pleasant face. Her eyes were drawn to his left arm that appeared normal until you focused and saw part of his forearm seemed twisted, off center from the other. The result of bones not set properly after being broken. The same could be said of the pinky and ring finger of his left hand. The boy had been beaten badly and the memory of it was part of her own nightmares she still fought with.
"You grew up, Randy," She smiled as her fingers formed the letters.
"So did you, Angela," he answered with his own fingers. Zodiac smiled even brighter as he did this. "Come, sit," Randy encouraged her as he turned into the counter behind him and began to pour water into a kettle. "You liked the orange best if I remember right. What did we call it? Tea and fingers?" his voice asked while igniting the small propane cooking arrangement and setting the kettle to boil. 'Tea and fingers' were the 'classes' Nanna had done with Angela when the two of them learned sign language. Randy and some of the other children insisted on learning as well and they all sat in her grandmother's trailer learning how to form words while enjoying cups of tea in the process. She was 6, 7 years old then, just a year older than Randy Addams. Him and his family were not Romany but had come to be accepted by the tribe as fellow travelers and equals over time and like her, he had been born into this lifestyle of traveling and roaming the country at will.
She nodded her agreement and took a seat in the cramped booth that served as his kitchen table and chairs. Zodiac wondered if she could manage at least a sip or two as to not offend him. She had already learned the hard way that food and her new state of life did not work well together. Not long after her turning she had wandered into the mall and the smell of pizza in one of the strip shops encouraged her. She was working on her second slice of deep dish with everything when her stomach vocalized its protest loudly and the first slice exited her onto the table she sat at. She had never felt so sick in her life. A lot of apologizing from the shop owners over what must have been something spoiled in their food despite her assurances it was fine. She left with new knowledge and free tickets for more pizza courtesy of the owner in her purse. The whistling of the kettle broke her memory and she watched Randy pour two mugs and bring them to the table.
"So what brings you back to us?" he asked. "And how did you know we were here?"
"I saw some of you in town and followed them back," she replied. "I recognized Sarah's van."
"I do not want to recall how many times we ended up pushing that thing when it broke down," Randy laughed. "So what brought you to Harpers Rock?"
"My feet," she grinned. "Actually," she glanced around then looked at him. "Syzgany swear? Not a word to anyone?" Randy held out his hand with the ring Nanna had gave him and answered.
"I swear on those we love best, not a word from my lips."
"I live there now." She answered.
"What? You settled down?" he was shocked. Like her, this was the only lifestyle Randy knew. "I mean it makes sense, but,"
"I know," she smiled. "But it is hard to have a caravan of two considering it is me and a cat."
"A big fat one? Black and grey?" Randy asked. "I saw one like that here a couple nights ago just walking around like it owned the place. Sirius wouldn't even bark at it, and he goes crazy over butterflies, let alone cats."
"That sounds like her." She leaned over and took a long smell from the steaming cup. It was the same kind her Nanna made for them and part of her yearned to drink. Knowing it would taste so good for a moment before coming back up on the table and possibly Randy as well. Her friend, Temperance Avila, could eat and drink when she wanted to, so why couldn't she? 'Allurists suck!' she thought, and then took it back. Tempy was awesome and not the typical type of allurist she had come to know in the town. She was not one of the 'Hoochie Patrol' as she come to consider most allurists.
"I'm sorry," The cup suddenly was pulled away by Randy, causing her to gape in surprise. He took them both back to the small sink and set them in. "That was unkind of me. How many times did we smell these smells in Nanna's place? I saw the look on your face and knew it was churning up memories. I am so sorry. I have soda or some wine if you would like."
"I'm fine." She signed. "So," she continued as Randy sat back down. "Tell me, what happened after I left?"
~more to come~
Some day I'm gonna be happy. I don't know when just now
I still have clouds to dance upon, and the moon expects me for tea
The Pandora Project.
I still have clouds to dance upon, and the moon expects me for tea
The Pandora Project.
-
Zodiac
- Registered User
- Posts: 1987
- Joined: 02 Aug 2011, 22:23
- CrowNet Handle: Raggedy Ann
- Location: The Pandora Project
- Contact:
Re: Home is where the hate is
"Your mother went berserk," Randy began. "Nanna was dead and you was gone. That hit us all hard. We all loved that woman. Everyone's Nanna she was."
"What happened to her body?"
"We buried her of course. What did you expect? We'd toss her in a dumpster or something? Okay, that has happened before, but not with Nanna. When you left us we were near Georgia. Lots of nice sunny space there. We took her near one of the groves she loved to steal fruit from and buried her. I cannot say if her body was ever found and moved past that, but that is all I know on that." He watched Angela's face become visibly relived at that bit of news.
"Your mother, however, was not so eased. She actually tried to suggest perhaps Nanna met her end by your hand. Anyone with a heart who saw how you left her knew that was a lie. Laid out like a gypsy queen in state she was. Next came the stripping down of the trailer. Manda claimed it as was her right, but when she began to check through things she realized you took things away with you and was livid. Claimed you stole things you had no right to and whatever else she could rant about."
Manda-short for Amanda. Amanda Francezci. Her real mother. Even now when Randy mentioned her name, it caused a gut reaction from Zodiac. She began to sign in anger.
"I stole nothing! I took what Nanna said I should take and not a thing more. So much I had to leave because I had no way to carry all I wanted. So much I did not have the time to search out and prepare because I knew what would happen once the others discovered Nanna dead."
"I know and I belive you, Angela." He assured her. "I grew up around this, you know. Your mother was never…reasonable with you."
"Is that what you call it? Not reasonable? Ever since I can remember she was not what other mothers was to their children and was so disapointed to have a daughter like me. And then after…" she paused.
"Once again, I know," Randy sighed. "I was there as well."
"Yes you were,"
(five years earlier)
The girl was slammed hard to the ground as the sound of her clothes being torn filled her ears. One moment she was returning with dinner for Nanna and suddenly she was grabbed and pulled behind one of the trailers. The three men were locals who had come to the camp and had complained about everything. Loud, rude, demanding. Angela assumed they figgured everything was free when they came to her set up with Nanna when they wanted their fortunes told.
"Did you see this coming in your crystal ball, sweetie?" one laughed. Soundlessly her mouth opened and tried to scream.
"She wasn't faking!" the second laughed. "She's a mute!"
"Oh well, just how a girl should be," the trio laughed. Angela struggled but the three of them held her without effort and pulled her back deeper among the shadows surrounding parked vehicles. What began was not pretty and kept getting worse. Their laughter at her predicament was broken only by the sound of running feet.
The two by four swing in the air and cracked one of the men square on the shoulder.
"What the hell?" the man who had been hit turned to see Randy at 15 years of age standing ready to hit him again.
"Let her go!"
"Well, what do we have here?" another laughed. "A poor trash Prince Charming coming for Silent Cinderella here. Tell me boy, is she that good to risk your life over her?"
"Let her GO!" Randy swung again, but the two men were on to him now. The third kept a tight hold of Angela as they began to stalk her would be defender. It was hardly a fight. One man feigned a attack and Randy reacted, allowing the second to grab him, but not until he managed to hit them several more times. She watched the men extract their petty revenge on his attempt to save her. She heard the bones in his arm break when they decided to show him what it felt like to be beaten with a 2X4. A few moments later, they turned their attentions back on her as Randy sobbed in more pain than he had ever known in his life…
- - -
"To this day, I question my stupidity," Randy sat rolling a cigarette filled with more than tobacco. "I should have ran to my father's first and grabbed his gun. I should have, but all I could think about was trying to stop them." He lit it and took a deep pull from it and offered to Angela. She accepted it. Zodiac had tried this already in her new life. This used to be part of her 'self medicating' regime when memories got too intense, but when she tried it recently with a friend it did nothing but annoy her waiting for a change of mental conditions. She took a drag as well and handed it back, trying to appear human for him.
"What a pair we are," he looked at her. She wish he would quit looking at her like that. His eyes so full of pain and regret at a failure he could not have helped. "The white knight riding to save the damsel in distress. But it didn't end like it did in the storybooks." He inhaled deeply.
"The knight was beaten and the damsel was defiled, and now here we are." She signed. The pair sat in silence for a time passing the joint back and forth.
~more to come~
"What happened to her body?"
"We buried her of course. What did you expect? We'd toss her in a dumpster or something? Okay, that has happened before, but not with Nanna. When you left us we were near Georgia. Lots of nice sunny space there. We took her near one of the groves she loved to steal fruit from and buried her. I cannot say if her body was ever found and moved past that, but that is all I know on that." He watched Angela's face become visibly relived at that bit of news.
"Your mother, however, was not so eased. She actually tried to suggest perhaps Nanna met her end by your hand. Anyone with a heart who saw how you left her knew that was a lie. Laid out like a gypsy queen in state she was. Next came the stripping down of the trailer. Manda claimed it as was her right, but when she began to check through things she realized you took things away with you and was livid. Claimed you stole things you had no right to and whatever else she could rant about."
Manda-short for Amanda. Amanda Francezci. Her real mother. Even now when Randy mentioned her name, it caused a gut reaction from Zodiac. She began to sign in anger.
"I stole nothing! I took what Nanna said I should take and not a thing more. So much I had to leave because I had no way to carry all I wanted. So much I did not have the time to search out and prepare because I knew what would happen once the others discovered Nanna dead."
"I know and I belive you, Angela." He assured her. "I grew up around this, you know. Your mother was never…reasonable with you."
"Is that what you call it? Not reasonable? Ever since I can remember she was not what other mothers was to their children and was so disapointed to have a daughter like me. And then after…" she paused.
"Once again, I know," Randy sighed. "I was there as well."
"Yes you were,"
(five years earlier)
The girl was slammed hard to the ground as the sound of her clothes being torn filled her ears. One moment she was returning with dinner for Nanna and suddenly she was grabbed and pulled behind one of the trailers. The three men were locals who had come to the camp and had complained about everything. Loud, rude, demanding. Angela assumed they figgured everything was free when they came to her set up with Nanna when they wanted their fortunes told.
"Did you see this coming in your crystal ball, sweetie?" one laughed. Soundlessly her mouth opened and tried to scream.
"She wasn't faking!" the second laughed. "She's a mute!"
"Oh well, just how a girl should be," the trio laughed. Angela struggled but the three of them held her without effort and pulled her back deeper among the shadows surrounding parked vehicles. What began was not pretty and kept getting worse. Their laughter at her predicament was broken only by the sound of running feet.
The two by four swing in the air and cracked one of the men square on the shoulder.
"What the hell?" the man who had been hit turned to see Randy at 15 years of age standing ready to hit him again.
"Let her go!"
"Well, what do we have here?" another laughed. "A poor trash Prince Charming coming for Silent Cinderella here. Tell me boy, is she that good to risk your life over her?"
"Let her GO!" Randy swung again, but the two men were on to him now. The third kept a tight hold of Angela as they began to stalk her would be defender. It was hardly a fight. One man feigned a attack and Randy reacted, allowing the second to grab him, but not until he managed to hit them several more times. She watched the men extract their petty revenge on his attempt to save her. She heard the bones in his arm break when they decided to show him what it felt like to be beaten with a 2X4. A few moments later, they turned their attentions back on her as Randy sobbed in more pain than he had ever known in his life…
- - -
"To this day, I question my stupidity," Randy sat rolling a cigarette filled with more than tobacco. "I should have ran to my father's first and grabbed his gun. I should have, but all I could think about was trying to stop them." He lit it and took a deep pull from it and offered to Angela. She accepted it. Zodiac had tried this already in her new life. This used to be part of her 'self medicating' regime when memories got too intense, but when she tried it recently with a friend it did nothing but annoy her waiting for a change of mental conditions. She took a drag as well and handed it back, trying to appear human for him.
"What a pair we are," he looked at her. She wish he would quit looking at her like that. His eyes so full of pain and regret at a failure he could not have helped. "The white knight riding to save the damsel in distress. But it didn't end like it did in the storybooks." He inhaled deeply.
"The knight was beaten and the damsel was defiled, and now here we are." She signed. The pair sat in silence for a time passing the joint back and forth.
~more to come~
Some day I'm gonna be happy. I don't know when just now
I still have clouds to dance upon, and the moon expects me for tea
The Pandora Project.
I still have clouds to dance upon, and the moon expects me for tea
The Pandora Project.
-
Zodiac
- Registered User
- Posts: 1987
- Joined: 02 Aug 2011, 22:23
- CrowNet Handle: Raggedy Ann
- Location: The Pandora Project
- Contact:
Re: Home is where the hate is
"So what do you do to survive in that town?" he finally spoke up once the joint was gone. Zodiac extended her hand to show there was nothing there, and did a turn of her wirst. A card suddenly appearing between her fingers. "Something Nanna taught you?" he laughed as he took the card. She grinned and showed him how she kept several in the palm of her fingerless glove she wore and how her thumb could push one into play with ease.
"I still use all those little cheap magic tricks Nanna used. Glitter puffs, smoke bombs, confetti. Everything to distract and dazzle the eyes. Helps give an air about me and makes grabbing a wallet easier. And it does impress even some of those I hang with now."
"The Eye of Zodiac," he read aloud. "Nanna gave you that name when she made you part of her act." Randy read on. "So you own your own business? A real business with real clients and all of that? Not just marks to be fleeced?"
She nodded in pride. No one had ever marveled over her acheivement before now.
"You actually live there," he thumbed the card before slipping it into his pocket. "What's it like being in the same place day after day? Don't you get bored?"
"It's hard to explain," she began slowly. Randy grew silent as she began to tell of her journey after leaving the camps and how she eventually found her way to Harper Rock. She left out the vampire stuff, but still told him of some of the more interesting sorts she had met there -using different names for them and changing the nature of the stories to a point. He just sat there 'listening' to her describing some of the antics of her new family and friends.
"You say these 'brothers' of yours enjoy poking each other with knives?" Randy was laughing now.
'No, actually they enjoy stabbing each other with very large knives very hard and deep for fun,' she thought but nodded her head yes.
"And you adopted a street urchin as well to mentor?"
Now she smiled bigger at the thought of her childer, Sable, despite the fact part of her was almost in tears. She had never willfully lied to Randy about anything. They had swore at a young age to be honest always with each other but how could she tell him what really was lurking within the deceptive calm of the town several miles from here. "The poor girl wandered into my shop one night and we talked. Now we help each other along."
Music could be heard coming from the main part of the encampment and Zodiac stood up and pushed aside the window blind to see. A small crowd had gathered round the bonfire as the young girls began to demonstrate a folk dance handed down from their original ancestors that made the journey from Europe many years ago. A deep intake of breath filled her as she yearned to go out and join them. Randy stood beside her and watched as well. "You always looked so free when you danced, Angela." He spoke.
"It is freedom," she replied. She remembered the revelations Sable discovered when she gave herself over to the dance one night and smiled. Also the time she managed to talk Tempy to try it. Angela ended up hogging the show that night in the Metronome with her own dancing, but her best friend began to understand the idea as well. The dancing made the pain go away. She made a mental note while watching the scene to start playing again. Perhaps one of the pawn shops would have a nice acoustic gutair they were willing to deal on hiding somewhere. A violin was beyond reason. No one in Harper Rock she knew of seemed to be the type to have had one before.
A knock on the trailer door caused them both to jump. Randy pointed and Angela slipped under the fold out table and hid in the darkness there as he answered the door. An excited voice outside caused Randy to step out and shut the door. She waited and tried to listen in, but the voices were hushed and muffled. A few moments later, Randy entered the trailer and went to the cupboard and began to search about. Her eyes got wide as a Glock appeared as he checked it and shoved it into the pocket of his jacket.
"Get up," he told her. "I have to get you back to town now. It is not safe here tonight."
~more to come~
"I still use all those little cheap magic tricks Nanna used. Glitter puffs, smoke bombs, confetti. Everything to distract and dazzle the eyes. Helps give an air about me and makes grabbing a wallet easier. And it does impress even some of those I hang with now."
"The Eye of Zodiac," he read aloud. "Nanna gave you that name when she made you part of her act." Randy read on. "So you own your own business? A real business with real clients and all of that? Not just marks to be fleeced?"
She nodded in pride. No one had ever marveled over her acheivement before now.
"You actually live there," he thumbed the card before slipping it into his pocket. "What's it like being in the same place day after day? Don't you get bored?"
"It's hard to explain," she began slowly. Randy grew silent as she began to tell of her journey after leaving the camps and how she eventually found her way to Harper Rock. She left out the vampire stuff, but still told him of some of the more interesting sorts she had met there -using different names for them and changing the nature of the stories to a point. He just sat there 'listening' to her describing some of the antics of her new family and friends.
"You say these 'brothers' of yours enjoy poking each other with knives?" Randy was laughing now.
'No, actually they enjoy stabbing each other with very large knives very hard and deep for fun,' she thought but nodded her head yes.
"And you adopted a street urchin as well to mentor?"
Now she smiled bigger at the thought of her childer, Sable, despite the fact part of her was almost in tears. She had never willfully lied to Randy about anything. They had swore at a young age to be honest always with each other but how could she tell him what really was lurking within the deceptive calm of the town several miles from here. "The poor girl wandered into my shop one night and we talked. Now we help each other along."
Music could be heard coming from the main part of the encampment and Zodiac stood up and pushed aside the window blind to see. A small crowd had gathered round the bonfire as the young girls began to demonstrate a folk dance handed down from their original ancestors that made the journey from Europe many years ago. A deep intake of breath filled her as she yearned to go out and join them. Randy stood beside her and watched as well. "You always looked so free when you danced, Angela." He spoke.
"It is freedom," she replied. She remembered the revelations Sable discovered when she gave herself over to the dance one night and smiled. Also the time she managed to talk Tempy to try it. Angela ended up hogging the show that night in the Metronome with her own dancing, but her best friend began to understand the idea as well. The dancing made the pain go away. She made a mental note while watching the scene to start playing again. Perhaps one of the pawn shops would have a nice acoustic gutair they were willing to deal on hiding somewhere. A violin was beyond reason. No one in Harper Rock she knew of seemed to be the type to have had one before.
A knock on the trailer door caused them both to jump. Randy pointed and Angela slipped under the fold out table and hid in the darkness there as he answered the door. An excited voice outside caused Randy to step out and shut the door. She waited and tried to listen in, but the voices were hushed and muffled. A few moments later, Randy entered the trailer and went to the cupboard and began to search about. Her eyes got wide as a Glock appeared as he checked it and shoved it into the pocket of his jacket.
"Get up," he told her. "I have to get you back to town now. It is not safe here tonight."
~more to come~
Some day I'm gonna be happy. I don't know when just now
I still have clouds to dance upon, and the moon expects me for tea
The Pandora Project.
I still have clouds to dance upon, and the moon expects me for tea
The Pandora Project.
-
Zodiac
- Registered User
- Posts: 1987
- Joined: 02 Aug 2011, 22:23
- CrowNet Handle: Raggedy Ann
- Location: The Pandora Project
- Contact:
Re: Home is where the hate is
She drew a question mark in the air. What was going on?
"There is a problem," he began to explain. "The camp is breaking down and leaving tonight."
Angela blinked in surprise. The camp never moved at night unless it was a matter of life or death. She pulled herself out of her small hiding spot and looked at him for more information.
"You saw the fork in the paths that led you here?" he asked. "Go there and watch for a brown Chevy truck. I will pick you up there and I will explain the rest as we are going. I need to grab a few things first so give me like 10 minutes to get there."
She began to protest, but he was already dousing the lights. "No arguments, please Angela. Just go!"
She nodded, confused and a bit concerned as they exited the trailer. Outside she could here excited voices in the camp. Something was happening now. Randy encouraged her to get going, but Angela grabbed him for a second and kissed him on the lips. "You be careful too!" she signed.
"I will, now get going."
She offered no more debate, but slipped into the woods and made her way to the trail. As she glided along in the darkness, she saw the locals being ushered out of the camp. Now she was truly confused. The ones from the camp were sporting guns now. What could have gotten them all in a twist like this?
She kept making her way along as she puzzled the mystery until she saw the road. She turned twoards town and kept going till she reached the fork and waited hidden by the trees. The visitors were leaving as well as a few vehicles she recognized. A late dash to pick up things they would require along the way. Several times she had ridden along for the fun of it or to be the extra set of hands needed.
Almost a half hour later, she saw the truck Randy described exiting from the forest and slowing down. She left her cover and ran to the road as Randy saw her, stopped and opened the door for her. Zodiac jumped in and grabbed for the door as Randy got the truck moving again,but before she could close it a blurr of black and grey fur suddenly jumped in with them. Both were startled by the sudden appearance of Ginny who took a spot between the young mystic's feet and made herself comfortable. "It's okay, she's mine." Zodiac signed once she had the door closed.
"That cat gets around," Randy laughed as he drove.
'You have no idea,' she thought. She noticed Randy was speeding along the path now and tugged his arm in warning. When he ignored her, she punched his shoulder hard.
"Hey," he gasped. "You been working out? That hurt!" Angela reached out and petted the spot in reflex. She kept forgetting her new condition of existance had improved several things about her, including her strenght. She pulled his arm again gently, and when he refused to slow down she scooted over and pressed her foot on top of the brake and brought the truck to a wobbling, screeching halt. "What?" he shouted.
"What is going on?" she made her letters harshly to show him she was demanding an answer.
"Let me get us to the truck stop and I swear I will explain."
"You'd better," she signed and then shook her fist at him.
***
She sat on the hood of the truck watching Randy filling the extra large gas cans that had been tied into the back. Emergency fuel was usually taken on in intervals when they were planning to make a long haul with no stops. 'They are going on the run.' she concluded. Some bad deal had gone sour or someone had caught up with them was normally the reasons why they bugged out like this in the past. "I'm listening," she signed to him.
"You ready for something straight out of one of Nanna's stories?" he asked while stopping to cap a full can and begin filling another. Angela nodded. "Some of the tribe and the visitors were attacked."
"Attacked by who?"
"If the elders are to be belived, it is not a who but a what."
"Okay, you're confusing me."
"Remember Nanna telling us of Europe? Of where your ancestors came from and what they were supposedly part of?" he continued. "Syzgany. Romany. How supposedly you originally were supplicants known as Ferenk who served Bathory's lover and what she was supposed to be? The Ferenczy that the name come from for your tribe. The Nosferatu themselves?"
Zodiac suddenly felt very uncomfortable. It made sense to her in a heartbeat. The predators in the camp had found themselves prey of another type of predator this night. The logic of gypsy whores also applied to wanderers as the others like her had spotted an opprotunity and were enjoying meals that would not be around to speculate. "Vampires?" she motioned.
He nodded. "Several of the marks and us were found disoriented around camp with the hint of wounds upon them. A bit light headed from loss of blood. The guards also saw hints of others who seemed to move at will from shadow to shadow without a trace. Too many telling the same story to be considered one who had drank or smoked to much to be ignored. The elders discussed it and made the decision for us to leave tonight."
"You are running from bad movie monsters?" she tried to jest. He looked at her with cold eyes.
"Considering you are the granddaughter of Nanna Francezci, I am surprised you can say that. She taught you too much Angela for you to be so dismissive about this. She knew things just as her grandmother did and so on as did the others. As for me, I do not know, but I have enough respect left in me for their wisdom not to argue. Something wrong is happening here tonight, Angela, and we are leaving. Should we all sit there in the dark laughing at their words and discover the movie monsters are real?"
She could not argue. If she was still one of them she would be doing the same thing. She watched as he finished filling the last of the cans and waited as he went pay the clerk the overage due. Others would be hitting the 24/7 type stories for other needed suppiles right now while the bulk of them were breaking things down and making ready for the trip. He returned quickly with a pack of cigarettes in hand and motioned for her to get in the truck. "Now," he began as he started the old Chevy up again. "How do I find your shop?"
Angela made the words saying a ride home was not necessary, but he would have none of it. "You think I would let you walk home with all of this going on?" he put the truck in gear and began to drive twoards Harper Rock. She saw him look at her with eyes she had known all her life. The same eyes that smiled at her when they were children when she praised him or when they managed to accomplsih something together without getting into trouble for it. Eyes her Nanna had teased her about one day she would be looking into them at their binding ceromony. Into them as their children was born as they continued to work and live as they always have. Free spirits traveling the country together.
Eyes that was breaking her heart as she nodded her acceptance of the ride. "Still my protector," she signed.
"Maybe this time I can get it right," he sighed as he guided the truck through the darkness.
~more to come~
"There is a problem," he began to explain. "The camp is breaking down and leaving tonight."
Angela blinked in surprise. The camp never moved at night unless it was a matter of life or death. She pulled herself out of her small hiding spot and looked at him for more information.
"You saw the fork in the paths that led you here?" he asked. "Go there and watch for a brown Chevy truck. I will pick you up there and I will explain the rest as we are going. I need to grab a few things first so give me like 10 minutes to get there."
She began to protest, but he was already dousing the lights. "No arguments, please Angela. Just go!"
She nodded, confused and a bit concerned as they exited the trailer. Outside she could here excited voices in the camp. Something was happening now. Randy encouraged her to get going, but Angela grabbed him for a second and kissed him on the lips. "You be careful too!" she signed.
"I will, now get going."
She offered no more debate, but slipped into the woods and made her way to the trail. As she glided along in the darkness, she saw the locals being ushered out of the camp. Now she was truly confused. The ones from the camp were sporting guns now. What could have gotten them all in a twist like this?
She kept making her way along as she puzzled the mystery until she saw the road. She turned twoards town and kept going till she reached the fork and waited hidden by the trees. The visitors were leaving as well as a few vehicles she recognized. A late dash to pick up things they would require along the way. Several times she had ridden along for the fun of it or to be the extra set of hands needed.
Almost a half hour later, she saw the truck Randy described exiting from the forest and slowing down. She left her cover and ran to the road as Randy saw her, stopped and opened the door for her. Zodiac jumped in and grabbed for the door as Randy got the truck moving again,but before she could close it a blurr of black and grey fur suddenly jumped in with them. Both were startled by the sudden appearance of Ginny who took a spot between the young mystic's feet and made herself comfortable. "It's okay, she's mine." Zodiac signed once she had the door closed.
"That cat gets around," Randy laughed as he drove.
'You have no idea,' she thought. She noticed Randy was speeding along the path now and tugged his arm in warning. When he ignored her, she punched his shoulder hard.
"Hey," he gasped. "You been working out? That hurt!" Angela reached out and petted the spot in reflex. She kept forgetting her new condition of existance had improved several things about her, including her strenght. She pulled his arm again gently, and when he refused to slow down she scooted over and pressed her foot on top of the brake and brought the truck to a wobbling, screeching halt. "What?" he shouted.
"What is going on?" she made her letters harshly to show him she was demanding an answer.
"Let me get us to the truck stop and I swear I will explain."
"You'd better," she signed and then shook her fist at him.
***
She sat on the hood of the truck watching Randy filling the extra large gas cans that had been tied into the back. Emergency fuel was usually taken on in intervals when they were planning to make a long haul with no stops. 'They are going on the run.' she concluded. Some bad deal had gone sour or someone had caught up with them was normally the reasons why they bugged out like this in the past. "I'm listening," she signed to him.
"You ready for something straight out of one of Nanna's stories?" he asked while stopping to cap a full can and begin filling another. Angela nodded. "Some of the tribe and the visitors were attacked."
"Attacked by who?"
"If the elders are to be belived, it is not a who but a what."
"Okay, you're confusing me."
"Remember Nanna telling us of Europe? Of where your ancestors came from and what they were supposedly part of?" he continued. "Syzgany. Romany. How supposedly you originally were supplicants known as Ferenk who served Bathory's lover and what she was supposed to be? The Ferenczy that the name come from for your tribe. The Nosferatu themselves?"
Zodiac suddenly felt very uncomfortable. It made sense to her in a heartbeat. The predators in the camp had found themselves prey of another type of predator this night. The logic of gypsy whores also applied to wanderers as the others like her had spotted an opprotunity and were enjoying meals that would not be around to speculate. "Vampires?" she motioned.
He nodded. "Several of the marks and us were found disoriented around camp with the hint of wounds upon them. A bit light headed from loss of blood. The guards also saw hints of others who seemed to move at will from shadow to shadow without a trace. Too many telling the same story to be considered one who had drank or smoked to much to be ignored. The elders discussed it and made the decision for us to leave tonight."
"You are running from bad movie monsters?" she tried to jest. He looked at her with cold eyes.
"Considering you are the granddaughter of Nanna Francezci, I am surprised you can say that. She taught you too much Angela for you to be so dismissive about this. She knew things just as her grandmother did and so on as did the others. As for me, I do not know, but I have enough respect left in me for their wisdom not to argue. Something wrong is happening here tonight, Angela, and we are leaving. Should we all sit there in the dark laughing at their words and discover the movie monsters are real?"
She could not argue. If she was still one of them she would be doing the same thing. She watched as he finished filling the last of the cans and waited as he went pay the clerk the overage due. Others would be hitting the 24/7 type stories for other needed suppiles right now while the bulk of them were breaking things down and making ready for the trip. He returned quickly with a pack of cigarettes in hand and motioned for her to get in the truck. "Now," he began as he started the old Chevy up again. "How do I find your shop?"
Angela made the words saying a ride home was not necessary, but he would have none of it. "You think I would let you walk home with all of this going on?" he put the truck in gear and began to drive twoards Harper Rock. She saw him look at her with eyes she had known all her life. The same eyes that smiled at her when they were children when she praised him or when they managed to accomplsih something together without getting into trouble for it. Eyes her Nanna had teased her about one day she would be looking into them at their binding ceromony. Into them as their children was born as they continued to work and live as they always have. Free spirits traveling the country together.
Eyes that was breaking her heart as she nodded her acceptance of the ride. "Still my protector," she signed.
"Maybe this time I can get it right," he sighed as he guided the truck through the darkness.
~more to come~
Some day I'm gonna be happy. I don't know when just now
I still have clouds to dance upon, and the moon expects me for tea
The Pandora Project.
I still have clouds to dance upon, and the moon expects me for tea
The Pandora Project.
-
Zodiac
- Registered User
- Posts: 1987
- Joined: 02 Aug 2011, 22:23
- CrowNet Handle: Raggedy Ann
- Location: The Pandora Project
- Contact:
Re: Home is where the hate is
He nudged the truck into the alley behind her shop and killed the engine. He kept the headlights on for a few moments and looked over the area before being satisfied they were alone. Zodiac got out and unlocked the back security door as he began to pull a pair of large bags one would store a tent inside of out of the back along with several small ones. "What is this?" she asked. "You planning on moving in or something?"
"If I was planning that, I would have drove my own RV here," he winked. She shook her head to clear her thoughts just then. What she was trying not to think about was insane. "Will the truck be safe out here?" Zodiac pointed to the roof where Ginny had taken it upon herself to sit-resembling a small spynx watching down the alley to the street.
"I think so," she encouraged him to come in. A flip of the light switch brought her shop to life.
"Wow! You own this?"
"Rent it actually, but I have tried to negotiate the purchase of it," she admitted. "The landlord is too in love with my monthly checks to want to let it go."
"This is nice," he began to look around after laying the bags on the floor.
"What is all this?" she asked.
"Some things I hoped one day to return to you." He stood there smiling. "When Manda began to gut the trailer, I started grabbing things I knew were dear to you and hid them away. After awhile I thought it was stupid, but it appears I wasn't wrong after all."
Zodiac dropped to her knees and pulled open the zipper on one of the larger bags and gasped as one of her grandmother's peasent skirts came into view. "They are field packed," he added. "So you might not get everything back into the bag."
"Randy," she mouthed as she began to explore the contents a bit deeper. Books, what nots, clothing, and pictures! She pulled the bundle of pictures out and smiled as she began to thumb through them. The majority of them from instant cameras that used to be popular. Take the picture and it would spit it out of a slot and you could watch it develop. Photos of them all as children. Nanna and her grandfather when he was still alive. Her friends and places she barely remembered. She shook her head as tears began to well up in her eyes.
"I also managed to collect the pieces of the chess set your grandfather carved, but not the board I'm afraid. Also his violin. Had to work the price of it off from the one who snatched it before I could." Randy began to explain but suddenly looked concerned.
"What is wrong?" she signed. Her childhood friend reached out and brushed his fingers against her cheek. A strange gesture, she thought, till she saw his fingertips come back damp with black and red streaks. Vampire tears.
"Angela? What's wrong with you?"
She sat there frozen for a moment. "An eye contition," she lied and could tell by Randy's face he knew she was lying. She turned away from him and ran for the small bathroom and locked the door behind her. Zodiac could hear him knocking on the door as she wiped her eyes and ran water into the sink and began to wash up. Now what?
"Angela?" he kept pounding. "Did one of those things attack you?" She sighed and leaned her head against the now useless mirror. What could she do? The thought of turning him disturbed her. She had only done that once and, despite the fact Sable had come out so beautifully, she was an accident. Her own misjudgements led to her rebirth and she had promised herself never again. Her next child would have a choice. Could she just steal him away from his life like that?
The only other option she had tore through what shreads of humanity she had left like a razor. She felt the tears forming again.
~more to come~
"If I was planning that, I would have drove my own RV here," he winked. She shook her head to clear her thoughts just then. What she was trying not to think about was insane. "Will the truck be safe out here?" Zodiac pointed to the roof where Ginny had taken it upon herself to sit-resembling a small spynx watching down the alley to the street.
"I think so," she encouraged him to come in. A flip of the light switch brought her shop to life.
"Wow! You own this?"
"Rent it actually, but I have tried to negotiate the purchase of it," she admitted. "The landlord is too in love with my monthly checks to want to let it go."
"This is nice," he began to look around after laying the bags on the floor.
"What is all this?" she asked.
"Some things I hoped one day to return to you." He stood there smiling. "When Manda began to gut the trailer, I started grabbing things I knew were dear to you and hid them away. After awhile I thought it was stupid, but it appears I wasn't wrong after all."
Zodiac dropped to her knees and pulled open the zipper on one of the larger bags and gasped as one of her grandmother's peasent skirts came into view. "They are field packed," he added. "So you might not get everything back into the bag."
"Randy," she mouthed as she began to explore the contents a bit deeper. Books, what nots, clothing, and pictures! She pulled the bundle of pictures out and smiled as she began to thumb through them. The majority of them from instant cameras that used to be popular. Take the picture and it would spit it out of a slot and you could watch it develop. Photos of them all as children. Nanna and her grandfather when he was still alive. Her friends and places she barely remembered. She shook her head as tears began to well up in her eyes.
"I also managed to collect the pieces of the chess set your grandfather carved, but not the board I'm afraid. Also his violin. Had to work the price of it off from the one who snatched it before I could." Randy began to explain but suddenly looked concerned.
"What is wrong?" she signed. Her childhood friend reached out and brushed his fingers against her cheek. A strange gesture, she thought, till she saw his fingertips come back damp with black and red streaks. Vampire tears.
"Angela? What's wrong with you?"
She sat there frozen for a moment. "An eye contition," she lied and could tell by Randy's face he knew she was lying. She turned away from him and ran for the small bathroom and locked the door behind her. Zodiac could hear him knocking on the door as she wiped her eyes and ran water into the sink and began to wash up. Now what?
"Angela?" he kept pounding. "Did one of those things attack you?" She sighed and leaned her head against the now useless mirror. What could she do? The thought of turning him disturbed her. She had only done that once and, despite the fact Sable had come out so beautifully, she was an accident. Her own misjudgements led to her rebirth and she had promised herself never again. Her next child would have a choice. Could she just steal him away from his life like that?
The only other option she had tore through what shreads of humanity she had left like a razor. She felt the tears forming again.
~more to come~
Some day I'm gonna be happy. I don't know when just now
I still have clouds to dance upon, and the moon expects me for tea
The Pandora Project.
I still have clouds to dance upon, and the moon expects me for tea
The Pandora Project.
-
Zodiac
- Registered User
- Posts: 1987
- Joined: 02 Aug 2011, 22:23
- CrowNet Handle: Raggedy Ann
- Location: The Pandora Project
- Contact:
Re: Home is where the hate is
"Angela?!?" Randy pounded the door harder, fearing the worst. He was prepairing to use greater force when the door opened and he saw her looking at him.
"Sit down, please," she signed calmly.
"But…"
"Sit down," she repated before walking to her table she used for card readings and taking a seat. Randy sat across from her and stared at her. "Well what are you looking for?" her fingers moved slowly. "Bat wings? A long forked tail? Pointed ears?" She saw his confusion, but continued to sign. "Yes, one of them got me a few months ago, but it is nothing like the legends say."
"Nanna told us," he insisted, but Zodiac placed her hand on his for silence.
"Nanna told us many things, and I have her books on the subjects. What I have become is similar, but not quite like the things we heard about in the old tales."
"You claim you are a vampire?"
"No, Randy, I am a vampire."
"Prove it."
She held her temper. This was Randy, not some village idiot. He was always this way since she could remember. She looked at him and opened her mouth, willing her fangs to appear. He studied them for a few moments and shrugged.
"A nice gag," he replied, "More dimestore magic tricks." but his resolve dissolved as her eyes flashed in feral fire. She pointed a finger at him and a second later, a vibration knocked him off of his chair and sent him to the floor. "What?" he gasped as he stood up, only to be knocked down again as the floor shook.
"What dimestore did I get that from?" she signed calmly. "Most simply call it the Quake. There is a far larger and complicated name for the spell I would guess. I have other 'tricks' I could show you, Randy, but I doubt you would survive them." She got up and stepped to where her childhood friend still sat on the floor in shock. "Let me help you," she grabbed the front of his jacket and lifted him up and off the floor with one hand.
"Oh my god!" he looked paniced now.
"Still not convinced something has changed?" she signed once she sat him gently down on the floor. "Don't look at me like that. If you don't know by now I would never hurt you, there is no point to speaking any further."
"What happened to you? I admit something has changed, but vampire?"
"We have a lot to discuss,"
***
And so they did. She still left out details despite her trust for him. Names, places, facts, but the core of her tale was true. Randy sat sipping tea as she demonstrated for him how she did not throw up in disgust when she drank blood. Zodiac had Randy confirm the contents of the blood pack was indeed what the label claimed it was and joined him in a drink. Her eyes kept glancing at the clock on the wall as they spoke. She knew he did not have much time before the others would begin to worry, and there was so much he needed to know.
"But some things are still true," he began to speak. "You cannot survive the sun. You can be banished from life, yet return again. Forced to survive on the blood of others."
"I did not expect paradise when I figgured out what happened to me," she answered. "But I have done the best I could and tried to stay me in the process. You said people were attacked, but did you find anyone dead? No, that is the nature of the Masqurade in action. We do not kill and slaughter and change others on a whim, but just take what we need and continue in the illusion of life. This world within a world mirrors yours, Randy. For every decent sort of vampire I have met I could point out a total dick or ***** to match. I was lucky to find myself surrounded by caring, if not totally wild at times, sorts. Others cannot make that claim here."
"So what has changed for you then?" Randy finished his tea.
"Everything. Nothing. I am still Angela Francezci at heart, tho many on these streets know me simply as Zodiac. I am still a prisoner of my past, yet I move foreward into a world I could never imagined. The night is very much like the day. A wonderous place filled with adventure and pleasures and dangers and evil if one is not careful."
He shook his head, still trying to make sense of it all. Angela patted his hand gently. "Some here have been like this for hundreds of years and I doubt even they understand it all, so do not expect me to have all the answers either."
"But, you…" he hesitated agan.
"Yes, I am dead," she finished for him.
"Nanna would be turning in her grave," Randy sighed.
"Maybe. Maybe not. All I know is I am not the same Angela I used to be, and in some ways that is a good thing." She saw him glancing at the clock as well. "You need to go now," she signed.
"Yeah, I know."
~more to come~
"Sit down, please," she signed calmly.
"But…"
"Sit down," she repated before walking to her table she used for card readings and taking a seat. Randy sat across from her and stared at her. "Well what are you looking for?" her fingers moved slowly. "Bat wings? A long forked tail? Pointed ears?" She saw his confusion, but continued to sign. "Yes, one of them got me a few months ago, but it is nothing like the legends say."
"Nanna told us," he insisted, but Zodiac placed her hand on his for silence.
"Nanna told us many things, and I have her books on the subjects. What I have become is similar, but not quite like the things we heard about in the old tales."
"You claim you are a vampire?"
"No, Randy, I am a vampire."
"Prove it."
She held her temper. This was Randy, not some village idiot. He was always this way since she could remember. She looked at him and opened her mouth, willing her fangs to appear. He studied them for a few moments and shrugged.
"A nice gag," he replied, "More dimestore magic tricks." but his resolve dissolved as her eyes flashed in feral fire. She pointed a finger at him and a second later, a vibration knocked him off of his chair and sent him to the floor. "What?" he gasped as he stood up, only to be knocked down again as the floor shook.
"What dimestore did I get that from?" she signed calmly. "Most simply call it the Quake. There is a far larger and complicated name for the spell I would guess. I have other 'tricks' I could show you, Randy, but I doubt you would survive them." She got up and stepped to where her childhood friend still sat on the floor in shock. "Let me help you," she grabbed the front of his jacket and lifted him up and off the floor with one hand.
"Oh my god!" he looked paniced now.
"Still not convinced something has changed?" she signed once she sat him gently down on the floor. "Don't look at me like that. If you don't know by now I would never hurt you, there is no point to speaking any further."
"What happened to you? I admit something has changed, but vampire?"
"We have a lot to discuss,"
***
And so they did. She still left out details despite her trust for him. Names, places, facts, but the core of her tale was true. Randy sat sipping tea as she demonstrated for him how she did not throw up in disgust when she drank blood. Zodiac had Randy confirm the contents of the blood pack was indeed what the label claimed it was and joined him in a drink. Her eyes kept glancing at the clock on the wall as they spoke. She knew he did not have much time before the others would begin to worry, and there was so much he needed to know.
"But some things are still true," he began to speak. "You cannot survive the sun. You can be banished from life, yet return again. Forced to survive on the blood of others."
"I did not expect paradise when I figgured out what happened to me," she answered. "But I have done the best I could and tried to stay me in the process. You said people were attacked, but did you find anyone dead? No, that is the nature of the Masqurade in action. We do not kill and slaughter and change others on a whim, but just take what we need and continue in the illusion of life. This world within a world mirrors yours, Randy. For every decent sort of vampire I have met I could point out a total dick or ***** to match. I was lucky to find myself surrounded by caring, if not totally wild at times, sorts. Others cannot make that claim here."
"So what has changed for you then?" Randy finished his tea.
"Everything. Nothing. I am still Angela Francezci at heart, tho many on these streets know me simply as Zodiac. I am still a prisoner of my past, yet I move foreward into a world I could never imagined. The night is very much like the day. A wonderous place filled with adventure and pleasures and dangers and evil if one is not careful."
He shook his head, still trying to make sense of it all. Angela patted his hand gently. "Some here have been like this for hundreds of years and I doubt even they understand it all, so do not expect me to have all the answers either."
"But, you…" he hesitated agan.
"Yes, I am dead," she finished for him.
"Nanna would be turning in her grave," Randy sighed.
"Maybe. Maybe not. All I know is I am not the same Angela I used to be, and in some ways that is a good thing." She saw him glancing at the clock as well. "You need to go now," she signed.
"Yeah, I know."
~more to come~
Some day I'm gonna be happy. I don't know when just now
I still have clouds to dance upon, and the moon expects me for tea
The Pandora Project.
I still have clouds to dance upon, and the moon expects me for tea
The Pandora Project.