Page 12 of Vampire's Vixen

“Hey, how’s your day been?”

“Actually, it started out kind of rough, but I met a new friend this afternoon and that turned the day around,” I said, hanging up my jacket and dropping my purse on the bench below the coat hooks. “I seem to be meeting all the Fae in town,” I added.

“Fae? What do you mean?”

“Well, last month I met Bealissa, and now I met another one of the Fae who’s chosen a life in town, rather than out in the wild. Her name is Ginger Lily, and she’s…interesting.”

Astra took off her glasses—she’d just been prescribed glasses for reading—and leaned back. “I don’t think I’ve heard of her.”

I told her about the meeting, and about Ginger Lily. “She’s really nice, actually, and just being around her makes me feel good. I don’t want to take advantage of that—I’m no psychic leech—but we did hit it off and she was the one who suggested we go out for lunch. We decided we might be able to send clients to each other.”

“Well, good. Just be cautious, Maisy. The Fae can be tricky. I’m not saying she is, but just keep your head about you.”

“I’m going to meditate for a few minutes. I want to be in a good space when Nightshade gets to my shop, and I need to ask Aphrodite something. It’s been a long day and I’ve still got the meeting with Nightshade, and then my exorcism class to go.” I gave her a quick kiss and headed to my office, where I’d set up a small altar to Aphrodite.

As I settled myself on the settee in front of the altar, I held up my athame and cast a simple circle. For meditation, and other simple acts, I cast the circle in silence, then made an acknowledgment to the elements, in the four directions.

As the magic settled around me, I sat back and took three deep breaths, slowly lowering myself into trance. When I had slid into the first level—where I was still conscious, but definitely in trance—I focused on opening the path to her.

“Lady Aphrodite, Lady of my Heart. I need advice. You know what I’m about to say—I feel like I don’t make the difference I want to. I don’t understand why I had so many clients in Seattle, but here I’ve only had one. I’m drawing people with heart-wrenching situations into my life for readings. Please, help me understand.”

A moment later, a faint mist swirled off of the statue I’d bought to represent Aphrodite. Bronze, it was an image of a curvaceous woman, draped in Grecian robes, with long hair and with a pair of doves at her feet. The mist swirled up and around me, and it felt full of warmth and beauty and compassion.

All matters of the heart are mine, and all matters of the heart are, therefore, yours. Sorrow goes hand in hand with love, as does joy. To find joy, people need to face their sorrows and learn from them. You can’t ignore sorrow. You must heal it for joy to grow. Even among your matches, there will be sorrows and difficulties to surmount. You’re not here to make the most matches, you’re here to help people navigate both the joys and sorrows that make up their lives. Making matches are merely one part of that. Do you understand?

I let out a slow breath.

You’re not here to make the most matches, you’re here to help people navigate both the joys and sorrows that make up their lives. Making matches are merely one part of that.

In that moment, I began to see that a long road stretched in front of me, and that I wasn’t in a race, but a journey.

“I think I see,” I said. “When I give the readings, I’m helping others find their peace, if not a little joy? Are you saying that I’m here to help bring peace, to bring love and joy to people’s hearts? To help them make long-term changes, not quick jury-rigged solutions?”

Sorrow and joy, love and loneliness…they’re all interconnected. As far as matching people up, some couples are simply meant to be. Others are to be for a limited time. It’s not for you to decide who makes the longest connection.

As her words settled in my mind, I felt even more unsure. At my old job, I had to make a quota, and I did that, spectacularly successful. So successfully that it led to me being out of a job. But I was no longer part of the business, and the future suddenly seemed so open that it made me nervous.

The readings did help those in need. My empathy allowed me to give others emotional support, and so far, I had helped others find safety, find peace of mind and heart and resolve issues before they had to face losses that were inevitable. I was helping people…and even though it was hard on me, it added some joy and peace to the world.

“Lady, how do I cope with the difference between what I thought I’d be doing and what I am? How do I cope with the sorrow? How do I let it go?”

You will learn how to adapt, and you’ll see your way through this confusing time. And you will learn how to listen without taking on the emotions. It will take practice, but you have mentors who can help you. You only have to ask. Now be at peace, be patient, and attend to your life.

And with that, Aphrodite withdrew, leaving me calm and collected.

I freshened my makeup, kissed Miss P. on the head, and headed out the door after letting my aunt know I was leaving.

As I arrived at my shop, it was four-ten, and I opened the door. Instead of being mired down like I had been in the morning, now I felt cautiously optimistic. Just connecting with Aphrodite’s energy lifted my spirits, and meeting Ginger Lily had also helped.

There were five messages waiting for me from clients who wanted readings. I took down all the numbers and was about to start making calls, but a glance at the clock showed me that Nightshade should be here any minute. I tidied up my desk and set the list of clients to call to the side.

Promptly at four-thirty, the door opened and Nightshade walked through. Although she was older she looked timeless, with a graceful beauty. Her silver hair swirled into a chignon, with tiny curls wisping down on each side of her face. She had pale green eyes that sometimes looked gold, and she had an elegant sense to her, dressing like an old-time movie star, in palazzo pants and long embroidered dressing jackets. She reminded me of a Greta Garbo or Bette Davis type, and the picture would have been complete with one of those old-time long-handled cigarette holders, but thankfully she didn’t smoke.

“Maisy, so good to see you,” she said, looking around. “So, this is your shop? Very nice.” She paused, then added, “It’s missing something,” she said. “But you’ll find out what soon enough. I’d tell you but I don’t sense anything detailed.”

Everybody seemed to have an opinion about my shop. I offered her a chair by my desk. “You wanted to talk to me?”

“Yes, about your quest. The Crow Man came to me and told me what happened. You passed with flying colors, so we’ll be initiating you into the Dark Moon Society come Saturday night.” Nightshade leaned forward. “Few ever meet the Crow Man during their quests. That you did means you’re going to be an important part of the Dark Moon Society.”

---