Never upset a gypsy

[Zodiac]

She had spent the better part of the day preparing for this. Safe from the sun within these walls, she had poured over her grimores till she found the curse she was searching for. Curses were something never to be taken lightly, her Nanna had taught her. One was playing serious games with their own karma at best when dropping into this sort of thing. She was not thinking of those inane 'curses' the necromancers rattled off like memorized TV ads. No, this was deeper, more personal and styled to the particular target.

Her hoarding habits paid off. She had everything she needed to do this. Carefully she prepared her altar that sat in her secret place and waited till the proper time. Candles were lit and the incense boiled with a dark, pungent aroma as it filled the air. A nod from her to her wraith, Dahlia, sent the specter off to be at the proper place when needed. She stripped to her bare skin and entered her circle and sealed it behind her and began to dance counter clockwise within as she invoked the favors of her goddess.

'Lilith-Goddess-Mother of the Night Children, your daughter calls unto you…'

Her movements perfect and planned as she moved to the beat of music only she could hear. She twirled and spun as she called out to the darkening skies above to beg favors of the night. Since she had been turned, not all her spells worked as they once had, but with effort she found success when it was needed most.

'Defiler-despoiler-usurper-coward. A child of yours mocks your eternal gifts…'

Her blade flashed and cut her own flesh, causing her blood to drip at key points in the patter she formed with her dancing. Letting her very essence cry out with her mental voice to the beyond as she began to cast her curse. Several items had been laid out on her altar block. Such small and trivial things plucked out from interactions with others, but in the proper hands could be more dangerous than any weapon she could carry.

A small brazier sat burning, belching out dark smoke toward the night.

'Let their resolve wither, their strength falter, as you move you attention to them…' she thought as the bits of hair and clothing she had taken from her victim fell into the burning embers.

'Let their words turn to ashes, let their warnings and messages falter when needed the most…' she crooned on as notes written in her target's hand joined the burning. ' Bring forth the darkness to blind and confuse them. Send forth yourself to set your hands against them.'

***

Dahlia waited at the place she had been told to go to. She had been surprised when her young mistress told her what she had planned to do and more so that the child knew this particular curse. Despite her warnings, the mistress was determined, and it was not for the wraith to question further. Her head turned and her eyes widened as she saw her vampiress was not quite the novice she thought she may be. The night hag reared itself and flashed its hooves-eager to begin its work. Dahlia drifted to the ghost horse and sat upon its back. Both spirits, none save a few curious wraiths such as she was noticed rider and beast as they raced around the borders of the town as if hell itself was in pursuit.

***

Her dancing grew frantic now as she felt the elements begin to merge together. She could feel what Dahlia was doing and continued her invocations. The energy around her growing wilder, more insistent like a thing alive as a physical rush swam through her of an almost sexual nature. She ignored it all and stayed focus on her goals. Her hand scooped up a common knife she had labored over-blessing it in the name of her victim and passed it through the smoke that continued to billow upwards.

'Let their weapons falter, their aim be unpure, their armor shatter and break with the touch of your finger…' her hand snapped downwards, bringing the symbolic blade against the side of the brazier and causing it to shatter into fragments to lay among the ashes glowing hot and hungry.

***

Three times the phantom horse circled the town widdershins with the wraith clinging to its mane for dear life. Dahlia laughed as memories of her own past life were recalled. When the night hag's hooves touch the spot it had originally appeared, the wraith wrapped her hands around its neck and pulled across the ghostly skin. Her nails were like razors as the beast's 'blood' erupted and began to stream behind it on the ground as they continued to race around the borders.

***

'Let your body and blood seal this place. No harbor or refuge for the one who flees your hands this night! Let your essence seek out their fortresses and safe havens and soak into the very foundations to cause them to crack and yield up the one we seek. No friend or family or one who owes favor will be able to shield them from what is to come!'

Several dollars she had taken from her victim's pocket joined the contents of the brazier. 'No bribe or payment shall give them refuge or aid in this night. Their money and powers worthless as you stride to claim them as your own. Lowborn or royalty-neither shall help them in convincing others to protect them from your anger. Their charms and sweet words shall be as ashes to the ears they beg of.'

***

Once three more laps had been run, Dahlia found herself free floating in the air again. The night hag's work was finished and it faded back into the abyss from which it had been summoned. She watched the curious ethereal smoke begin to rise from the 'blood' of the horse and drift across the town. In places it dove down to buildings and other points within the city limits and settled like a patent hound waiting for prey to appear. She saw now she needed to step up her lessons to her mistress.

***

'Strengthen the hands of your faithful! Guide them as they do your justice!' mentally she was screaming as she danced. ' Dark Mother of the depths, grant your child's request. This one who has fallen, help me make them your guest!'

Suddenly, Zodiac froze in mid step and stood waiting. Her senses reaching out to see if she had been heard or not. Eventually, a soft rumble was felt under her feet and she leaned back against her altar and relaxed. Her body slick with blood and sweat as she ached in so many ways now from her devotions.

'Thank you, thank you, dear Mother,' her thoughts reached out as she closed her eyes and rested.

"Angela?" she heard Dahlia's voice call out as the wraith entered her secret place. "It is done,"

"I know," she whispered to the wraith's mind softly. "Did you enjoy the ride?"

"Yes I did," Dahlia laughed. "The last time I was part of something like this, I stood where you are now. Was an interesting change of perspectives to be sure."

"I am glad," Zodiac began to slowly break the circle she had formed and stepped out of it. She grabbed her robe from the floor and covered herself with it. "I will bathe now and rest till the proper hour. See I am not disturbed except for the very few you know I will always welcome."

"So be it," the wraith nodded.