I turned to look Circe in the eyes. “Is this true? Is this why my parents travel the planet? Are they looking for a way to restore their magick? Have you heard they are vampires? Tell me!” I pleaded.
Circe flipped the butt of her cigarette over the edge of the roof and shifted her position. ‘Your parents lived on the Estate, at least that is where you were lodged. Possibly they travel as they have a hard time being in the house. I have heard nothing of them being vampires, at least not blood drinking vampires. They may be energy vampires, preying on the powerful and ritually syphoning off their magic.’ Shrugging her shoulders Circe continued, ‘I don’t know why they travel or what they are seeking. I swear I don’t.’
“Circe’s revelations turned my world upside down. My parents sent me to Ireland, a particularly Catholic country, and enrolled me in a Catholic school. Did this indicate they were comfortable with Catholicism? Another twist entered my mind, possibly, they were using the Catholic church as a smoke screen.
“After two semesters in the midst of the Papal loving nuns at Saint Mary’s, I hated my parents. My blood ran cold when I thought of them. Were they comfortable with the loss of the Valraven magick, or were they seeking to restore it? Regardless of what they were doing, I vowed to reclaim and restore the Valraven magick in my blood.” Regina blinked her eyes, shook her head, and roused herself from her stoned monologue. Realizing she had been talking, revealing who knows what, her eyes flew to Lilly who smiled with compassion and understanding.
“I’m sorry to bore you with tales of the distant pass. Let’s get back to work,” Regina said, not sure how much of her past she had revealed.
Lilly took Regina’s hand and squeezed it gently, “You can count on me if you need any help.”
Regina slipped her hand from Lilly’s, stood, pocketed her pipe and, again, suggested they return to work.
~
By late afternoon the store room was full and a shelf in the shop was ready for the antique books and grimoires Claude was sure to bring home.
It was after five when Lilly and Regina washed their hands and headed out for a drink and supper. Sipping beer and eating a shrimp po boy, Lilly noticed soft colors filtering into her vision. The auric fields of the customers in the bar appeared. Her breath caught in her throat for a moment as she gauged the moods of those around her. Most were harmless, some were disturbed or sad, others were drunk.
Glancing at Regina, Lilly’s auric vision faded. Regina appeared to be motionless. Her long red fingernails reflected the glow of the flickering neon light on the wall. Lilly caught no trace of swirling colors or floating symbols.
She’s shielded! Lilly realized. ‘What is Regina hiding from? What or who is frightening her?’ She wondered. Curious, and ready to try her skills at reading energy, Lilly decided to explore Regina’s shield. A line from one of her magick books popped into her head, “Stay with a situation, a vision or a feeling until you gather insight or understanding.”
She looked at the beautiful young woman with dark witchy eyes and bright red lips. Closing her eyes, she opened to her feelings. She sat back in her chair as Regina’s need, frustration and thwarted desire, showed themselves to Lilly’s inner eye.
Regina suddenly shifted in her seat when she noticed how quiet Lilly had become, “What is it, Lil? Are you feeling okay? You are so quiet.”
Lilly managed a smile. “I’m fine. I think you wore me out today.”
Regina picked up her purse, “That reminds me, let me pay you for your work.” Digging through her wallet, Regina pulled out three twenty dollar bills and handed them to Lilly. “Thanks so much. I would never have been able to do it without you.”
Lilly took the money gratefully. Putting her napkin aside, Lilly decided to tease out Regina’s hidden emotions. “How about you, how are you feeling? Tired from all the work or excited to see the vision you have for your business manifesting?”
Regina thought for a moment, “Both. When Claude and I consulted the oracles, they pointed to the South. The only place in the South we both agreed on was New Orleans. I contacted my bankers in California and my parents. It was only a matter of weeks before Claude and I secured the building and decided on a name for the business.”
“What reaction did you get from your parents when you told the you were opening an occult magick shop in New Orleans? Were they supportive?”
Regina smirked and waved her hand in front of her face, banishing the idea of their support, “My family has no idea exactly what kind of business I have and they don’t care. The knowledge and practice of deep magick was lost to my family generations ago.” A wave of sadness rolled off Regina, catching Lilly by surprise. The story of her boarding school days was entertaining, recognizing the pain and loneliness she still suffered filled Lilly’s heart with compassion.
“I’m sure you and Claude will make a great success of the business. You are both lovely people. I’m happy to have you for my friends.” The corners of Regina’s mouth twitched into a brief smile. Lilly pushed her chair away from the table, walked over and gave her new friend a hug. Regina sat stiffly, raised her arm and patted Lilly briefly on the back.
Chapter 35
Poppy Seed Tea
The Inanna crystal hung in the window, catching the sunshine. Shades of violet dominated the fractured light, glowing from deep purple to softest lavender. Lilly watched the play of the violet tinted rainbows on the walls as she played her flute. An insistent buzzing interrupted her musical trance. Putting her flute down on the bed, she ran to the speaker button by the front door. “Who is it?”
“It’s Regina, can I come up?”
Hitting the buzzer to unlock the gate, Lilly opened the front door and stepped out onto the gallery to greet Regina. “Come on up, I’ll make a pot of coffee?”
As she came up the stairs, Lilly noticed how haggard Regina looked. Her usually perfect make up was missing replaced by dark circles under her eyes. She put her arm around Regina’s shoulders and lead her gently into her apartment.
“Coffee sounds great, I need it. I didn’t sleep at all last night. I realized as I lay in bed, listening to the old building creak, I have never spent a night alone. I grew up in a large house with a nannie, a maid and a cook. There was a security gate at the front entrance to the house. Our Dobermans were released onto the grounds at night. I have always travelled with someone. Since I’ve been in New Orleans, Claude has been in the apartment. I realized I am a complete coward. I have never slept in a house alone and it is freaky.”
Lilly nodded in sympathy as Regina continued, “Would you be a doll and stay with me while Claude is gone? It won’t be every night. I’m thinking of getting a dog.”
“Of course! I’ll be delighted to come stay with you,” Lilly said.
Regina finished her coffee and stood with a look of relief on her face. “I better get back to the shop and open the doors for business. Come over anytime you’re ready. I’ll cook something special for us tonight.” The two young women hugged and Regina walked towards the front door.
She stopped abruptly and stood in front of the sofa staring at the painting Lucky had gifted Lilly. The morning sun pouring through the transom window brought life to the painting. Leaning closer to the painting, Regina exclaimed,” this is lovely!”
Lilly beamed and leaned over to straighten a corner of the painting. “My friend Lucky painted it.”
“Cool,” Regina said pensively. “Who is Lucky?”
“He is a guy who lives here at Panthea’s. He works on ships, travels, paints and plays music.”
“It appears he is an excellent painter. I’d like to meet him sometime,” Regina said. She turned back towards the door, looked at her watch, she hurried out the door with a wave.
The door closed and Lilly immediately took the crystal from the bedroom window and placed it around her neck. A shock went through her as the crystal fell over her heart. The raven from her dreams flashed quickly before her eye
s. It was only a moment and she shook her head, took a deep breath, picked up her flute and played, setting her mind on practice and working as a musician again. ‘I must discipline myself to practice if I’m going to make a living as a professional musician.’
~
It was late afternoon when dark roiling clouds began to obscure the winter sun. Lilly pulled her jacket close and her knit cap over her ears. Dampness seeped into her bones as she walked down Decatur Street to spend the night with Regina.
Candle flames flickered as Lilly closed the door to Raven Moon. Wax dripped from long tapers in black candelabras. Trails of incense floated in thick clouds above the displays. Regina slumped in an intricately carved antique chair she called her throne. With shallow breath and glazed eyes, she stared unblinking at the crystal skull nearby. Lilly pried Regina’s fingers from the silver goblet she grasped in her hand. Taking the placid hand in hers she patted softly and called, “Regina, Regina, Regina.” Long minutes passed before Regina blinked and squeezed Lilly’s hand. She slowly straightened on her throne and spoke slowly, “Lilly, you’ve come to keep me company.”
“Yes, yes I have. Can you make it upstairs?” Regina stood, swaying slightly as Lilly helped her through the shop and up to the apartment. She settled her on the couch and ran downstairs to put out the candle flames and make sure the front door was locked.
Regina remained motionless on the couch, her eyes closed and her breath shallow. Lilly made grilled cheese sandwiches and tomato soup in the kitchen. Returning to Regina’s prone form, she rubbed her hands and called her name until she stirred. “Wake up Regina, it is time to eat.”
Sitting side by side the young witches ate slowly in the darkening apartment. Placing her barely touched plate on the floor, Regina stood and shuffled off to her bedroom. Lilly took a pillow and blanket from Claude’s room and settled on the couch. She turned on the television and watched the news, a comedy and an episode of The Six Million Dollar Man before drifting off to sleep.
The smell of pancakes, bacon and coffee drew Lilly from her restless sleep. Regina served breakfast on the coffin table in the living room. She was wide awake and feeling chatty while Lilly rubbed a kink in her neck and sipped the hot coffee.
“I’m so sorry about last night. I made a special brew for myself to help me relax. I’m afraid it was more potent than I expected. I’m lucky you came into the store and not some stranger. Anyone could have emptied the cash box. I was so out of it!”
~
Lilly nodded as she enjoyed the hot blueberry pancakes. Not sure what to say, she let Regina continue to chat on about her plans for Raven Moon. After breakfast Lilly said goodbye and walked to the river’s edge leaving Regina to open the shop.
She took in a deep breath of the morning air, and recognized the aroma of Roland’s French Quarter Par-fume. Smiling to herself, she touched the crystal around her neck and called out to Roland in her mind, I wish you were here, I miss you. The crystal warmed a bit as she sent her longing out through space and time.
Thick pieces of colorful river glass worn smooth by the water decorated the sandy shore along the river’s edge. Lilly collected a few pieces, watched the slowly moving river for a few minutes, buttoned her jacket and left the windy shore line. Fatigue pulled at her as she climbed the spiral stairs to her apartment. Kicking her shoes off, she flopped onto her bed, closed her eyes and fell asleep.
Swirls of darkness surrounded her. With her arms extended in front of her, she groped through the swirling murk. Something bumped against her shoulder and she screamed silently. Her first instinct was to run. She tried to move her legs, but found they were numb and unresponsive. She couldn’t run, yet her dream body lifted and floated through a dark and foreign landscape. Bare tree branches scraped her body, huge black birds swooped out of the darkness, their beaks tinged with blood.
A light glimmered in the distance. Her body propelled itself forward. As she grew closer to the light, it flickered orange against the stark tree branches. She grabbed a branch and clung to it as she looked down at a small fire in the center of the clearing. Her body jolted as screams filled the air and a blaze of light flashed through the night. Sparks flew as the fire grew into a bonfire. The smell of burning flesh filled her nostrils. Lilly leaned over the branch and vomited.
A continuous buzzing dragged her back to her room and she awoke to the sound of the gate buzzer. Rushing to the intercom by the door she pushed the button, “Telephone company, we’re here to install your phone.”
Lilly laughed as she released the lock on the gate and stepped out of her front door into the sunny afternoon. She had forgotten about the telephone. A surge of happiness washed through her as she realized Roland could call her, if she could get her phone number to him.
It was sunset when Lilly walked over to Raven Moon to check on Regina. She nearly fell over when she walked into the shop and was greeted by the biggest dog she had ever seen.
Stepping back, she looked around for Regina. “Hey, come on in, he won’t hurt you.” Regina shouted from the storage room.
Lilly shut the door and approached the dog slowly, “What kind of dog is it?
“Silly Lilly, he’s a Great Dane.”
“He’s big. How old is he?”
“He is three years old, his name is Dodger and he has a mate,” Regina said as a second huge dog walked up to her and stood by her side. “This is Priscilla, called Prissy for short. Prissy and Dodger came as a package.”
Lilly was speechless. The dogs were intimidatingly huge. “Where on earth did you get them? Were they at the dog pound?”
“No. I ran into the woman who owns the little junk shop on the corner. She was walking these two beautiful babies. Actually, it was more like they were walking her. I fell in love with them and she offered them to me for free. It seems her boyfriend split, went back to his wife in Minnesota. He left his two dogs. She can’t afford to feed them and doesn’t want to take care of them. I was glad to take them.
“Wow, what a...a...a...great deal!” Lilly stuttered.
Regina frowned at her, “What is with you, have you never been around a dog?”
“Sure I have, just never one, uh two this big.”
“Don’t worry, Lil, you’ll get used to them. I grew up with Dobermans. I love big dogs. I feel safe with these babies in the shop and sleeping on either side of my bed.”
Lilly nodded and agreed they would be great protection.
Once Raven Moon was locked up for the night, Lilly and Regina, Dodger and Prissy went up to the apartment. The two dogs filled the living room, waging tales knocked over lamps and thrashed against Lilly’s thighs. Regina got the two dogs settled on blankets in the corner of the room and went into the kitchen to open a bottle of wine.
“How was your day, Lil?”
“Good, I now have a telephone in my apartment.”
“Let me get a pen and write your number in my address book,” Regina said as she disappeared into the bedroom and came back with a pen and a leather bound address book. She sat down, then immediately jumped up and slipped into the kitchen. She returned with two wine glasses brimming with red wine.
Regina opened her address book, “Ok, I’m ready, give me your new phone number.”
Lilly had to think for a few minutes before she replied,”Twinbrook 7-2219.” She took a sip of wine and leaned back on the sofa. “Call me often, I am having trouble being alone.”
Regina frowned, “Are you bored? We can spend as much time as you like together.”
Lilly gave a weak smile, “As long as I’m staying busy I’m okay. As soon as I have time to myself, I feel the loss of Roland like a knife in my heart. I can’t believe he left. The only thing keeping me going is knowing he is trying to get back. I am grateful I met you and Claude. Spending time with you is wonderful and I can’t wait for you to meet Roland.”
They emptied their wine glasses and Regina headed to the kitchen for refills. Returning to the
red velvet couch, she suggested a toast, “To the return of Roland,” she said. Lilly smiled as she lifted her glass and drank the sweet red wine.
Within minutes Lilly’s vision blurred and her chin fell forward onto her chest. She tried to sit upright but her head was spinning. She looked at her glass, how much did I drink? Wine was swirling in the bottom of the glass as it slipped from her hand onto the floor.
Regina finished her glass of wine before dragging Lilly’s legs onto the sofa. She ran into her bedroom and returned with a pillow and a blanket. “Poor dear,” she said softly in Lilly’s ear, “you’ve had too much. Yes, you’ve had too much.”
~
Moonlight was pouring through the living room windows when Lilly woke. She looked around the room and made out the shadowed figure in the wing backed chair across from her. One side of Regina’s face was silvered with moonlight, the other was hidden in shadow.
“How long have I been here?”
“You’ve been here since sunset. You passed out and I let you sleep on the couch. I thought you drank too much wine. You were vomiting. I don’t know, maybe you are coming down with something.”
“I didn’t drink too much wine,” Lilly said weakly, “I can’t remember ever being so sick so suddenly.”
Regina made a soothing sound as she stood and headed for the kitchen. She returned with crackers and a cup of herbal tea. “Try to nibble on these Lilly, and sip the tea slowly.”
Lilly ate one half of a cracker and drank half of the tea before falling back on her pillow and passing out again.
Gray water lapped the lake shore. Huge black birds darted overhead, their piercing eyes glowing yellow in the twilight sky. Wet sand squished between the toes of her bare feet as she walked along the shoreline. She wrapped her arms around her trembling body as a dank cold sank into her bones. The search for shelter drove her onward.
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