The Other Side of Midnight [Alexandrea]

[Habren Ashe]

The elder witch sat back in the armchair with a smile playing upon her lips. Across from her sat a human woman who had just been given a rather excellent and interesting bit of information. Habren’s readings were almost always uncannily accurate - she didn’t get the clearest messages and visions those nights, not like she used to, but most of the time she was not spot-on, she generally could hazard a close enough idea of what her gods were trying to tell her. It was a well-practiced skill, almost like to a muscle that needed exercising, but one she had allowed to atrophy during their many years away. With regular use, it would soon enough be back to her extremely harsh and high standards. And in any case, the success rate she had carefully built since she and Mircea had returned to Harper Rock was only adding to the hype and mystery of both her shops. It was an incredible feeling to know, on any given night, there were people scrambling to locate her and figure out the hours she might keep in the hopes of securing one of very few readings or spells she would offer.

That night in the new place she was pleased her current visitor had gotten a positive look into her future. One that was not only clear, but also allowed her to see a decent idea of the outcomes of different decisions the woman might make, so that she might better decide in the first place. That was certainly the theme of the night, it would seem - choice. Habren had one or two yet to make, too - take a few more people, or close up and head home. Her little spiders had done an excellent job of spreading the word that night and there were more than a few still milling about in the shop area itself, even though the tea was growing cold, the blood congealing, and the end of the eve was drawing near.

But she supposed, as she sent the content woman on her way, she could remain a little longer. Mircea would understand, as he ever did, and she would join him in a hunt soon enough.

[Alexandrea]

Alex wasn't a bad driver per se, she was just very easily distracted. Very.

Even as she paid off yet one more angry homeowner for the destruction of yet another unfortunate mailbox, Alexandrea's mind was elsewhere. A lot had been going on lately. Plus Odin was back. Just thinking about the handsome killer had her dazed for a moment, one fang slightly showing with the wicked grin that her face couldn't wipe off of its self.

To be completely fair, she was always super busy this time of year... but this fall the season's hectic pace had arrived far earlier than usual. It was as if everything and everyone were rushing forward to the end of the year somehow. Not that Alex minded. She loved Autumn. If the blonde had her own way, Halloween decorations would stay up all year. And she knew she wasn't the only one in the city who felt that way. One day... one day the rest of the world would see the beauty of...

Alex shook her head as if to clear it and then realized she was already back behind the wheel of her car again and was going the wrong way down a one-way street. With a melodramatic sigh, Alex did a sudden u-turn in front of a semi and then found herself parked somehow. It might have been a sign from Nox but even if the Goddess had nothing to do with it, Alex knew she had better take a break and get her head clear so she could focus on her driving properly before she killed someone who didn't deserve it. The Allurist started to walk, taking her time to look around her at a pace a little slower than her usual full steam ahead mode. She stopped at a sign for a shop she hadn't heard of before; "Moon Dark Magic"

There was never a bad time to shop, as dear old Morgan used to say, and the season of gift-giving was already here. In fact, from now until Yule, it seemed as if almost everyone that Alexandrea knew had a birthday. And it was her own fellow Scorpios that were that most difficult to shop for, with Zodiac and Kira at the top of the list. And this 'Moon Dark Magic' seemed like it was just their cup of tea. Alex's too. Besides, the smells from inside were already wonderful even outside the store. Without thinking about it any further, Mz Quartmaine made her way inside, making sure to close the door gently behind her.

[Zodiac]

Competition.

It was the fact that drove Capitalism like a freight train out of control. The mystic approved of it. It kept you sharp, adapting, upgrading, to keep the customers coming to your door. Her own grandmother warned her to never get stale or complacent with any act, con, or service rendered. Keep it fresh, vibrant, and caring.

Since she first began in a roach infested building in this town, Zodiac had tried her best to offer her clients (the ones she wished to deal with honestly at least) the best she could offer. It had started slow, but over time and new locations she felt she had evolved and kept herself cutting edge. She had a loyal client base among the living and the not so living when it came to supplies, potions, spells, and the cards. So when she heard rumor of someone dealing in the same as her, she didn’t think twice about it. She wished whoever it was well and went about her business.

That is, until cancelations began to happen.

***

”What happened? Zombie problems?”

The girl adjusted her glasses as she looked up to see her employer and best friend standing with the appointment sheet in her hands. “I am not sure on all of them,” Jennifer began to explain, “but one of them said they changed their mind and was going to try the new place in town.”

”What?” Zo looked over the list again. These were not new clients, but ones she had been working with for a time. ”The new place? What new place?”

“Is called Moon Dark Magic. No clue who is running it.”

”They poaching me? Tell me they are not poaching me.” There were plenty of people in the town so there was no need to steal clients from others. She called it poaching.

“You don’t know that,” Jennifer replied.

”I know I don’t, but what if they are.” the volume and timber of Zo’s mindspeak was growing louder. ”I see I have to make a trip.”

“Oh no,” Jennifer thought. Once Zo got a bee in her bonnet like this, it was near impossible to calm her down. “Okay, tomorrow night I will go with you and…”

”What do you mean tomorrow? I am changing clothes and going right now! Got to nip this in the bud with no mercy.” The mystic snarled and took off for her office to change. Jennifer just held her head in both hands. She was tempted to call the place and warn them of the little cyclone getting ready to land, but if Zo found out she had done that…

“So much for a calm night.”

****

”Well, at least it’s not dull in this part of town.”

Zodiac stood and studied the evidence of the rapid u-turn/burnout on the street. Someone was in a hurry to get somewhere. The tracks ended with a car parked almost right near the reason she was there to begin with. ”Are they that good that people freak out like this?” she wondered as she crossed the street to where the car sat. A few steps tool her to the source of her potential irritations. The outside appeared normal, and it certainly had the right aroma to it. What was she missing? What was so amazing about this place?

Rather than barge in the front door, she stepped around the corner and placed her hands on the side of the shop. She let her senses explore as they reached inward. Gathering hints of the auras contained within. Mortal and otherwise were found, but still nothing of major surprise. Finally, a clue. An older aura pulsed within. She focused hard against that one clue for an answer.

Her hands jerked away from the brick and mortar as if they were on fire and began to curse a blue streak in her mind in Romany. She knew that aura, and the last time she had been face to face with it, it had not been the best of situations for her. It was hard not to recognize the aura of a Grigori.

Correction– The Grigori.

Now what to do?

[Habren Ashe]

The witch was just getting settled with her next client - an older man, searching for a long-lost loved one this time - when the distinct, telltale presence of another, another like her to be exact - made itself known. It was a curious thing for a vampire to appear during her office hours; these things tended to be more appreciated by mortals, to be sure, and Habren had only read for a small handful of immortals since she opened her very first shop. It hadn’t been a gift she’d been especially pleased to share with those of her kind, either. In all their long history, Habren and Mircea were more than a little wary of the drinkers of blood who were not known as allies or friends to them, and it was little wonder. Grigori spoke truths, loudly and without hesitation, come what may. Most, she generally found, were disinclined to have truth so blatantly placed before their faces, and they had little trouble expressing their displeasure. Should that sentiment carry over to her nightly dealings, she was certain it wouldn’t be very good for business, if history was anything to go by.

Still, she cleared her throat and gave the man a reassuring smile before lifting the small, wickedly sharp blade that would relieve him of a few drops of his blood, and a few drops of her own. He was as hesitant as the rest of them, but once Habren could determine that his quest was a noble one and not intended for nefarious purposes, she would need to delve deep, and fast. Her guard could only be let down for so long, but she was determined to assist those who came to her in need, regardless of what might be waiting for her.

Once the deed was done and their blood mixed within the potion she downed without so much as a grimace, she let her vision blur, her mind slip from the housing of her skull and brain, and flicker away to see what could be seen within the ethers. A few moments digging around his brain later, she was satisfied his intentions were pure, and allowed the powerful herbs to take her where they would. It was going to be a race, not a marathon, the better to keep herself and him safe. Even if she could detect no malice in the unknown presence, that it was soon joined by a second, though further out, had her on edge.

The witch’s hand clasped his as she braced herself for what was sure to be a bumpy ride...

[Alexandrea]

The always welcoming fragrance of tea muddled slightly with some unfamiliar incense and the unmistakable tang of freshly drawn blood surrounded Alexandrea soon after she entered the shop and the lids of her eyes slightly lowered as she paused to take it all in and enjoy the moment.

The atmosphere was one that put the Allurist immediately at ease. And after a split second, Alex's eyes popped back fully open as she considered the thought that came to her... that the environment around her had been constructed that way deliberately. A tactic she had employed herself in a few of her own businesses. What once had come naturally became almost calculated when running a business in Harper Rock.

The blonde wandered around slowly, taking her time to look over all the shop's wares in hopes of something unique that she might gift to some of her favourite people as she discreetly checked out the woman who had to be the proprietress of the establishment. And a sister Vampire. And.... ?

Alex tried discreetly glancing from various other directions and viewpoints to see the full face of the dark-haired beauty but every time she seemed to turn away at the exact right moment to elude Alex's gaze. It was maddening. Alexandrea was sure that she knew who the woman was but having never met the Elder in person herself before, the blonde just couldn't be completely sure.

Curious, her wanderings took her ever closer to where the other woman sat with her client. Alex wondered at what was in the cup the other Vampire drank from as she watched out of the corner of one of her eyes, all the while keeping up the pretence of actually shopping while really just being her usual nosy self.