#Hoodoo chimes

[conjuremanj]

Hoodoo Wind Chimes For Protection.

Example Photo

This is something you'll see in the more lower, swampy areas of the deep south like Louisiana, Mississippi, Georgia, but not so much the main cities.

The Bone Wind Chimes: These can be made from any type of bones you find or attracted to, you can find your own bones or buy your bones. Bones are a good juju (see post on jujus). These wind chimes are made to help keep Haints away or from entering your home.

Then say a protection prayer apon it.

[themagikmirror]

👂🏽✨Listen for an Aura Cleanse

& Repost for a Timeline Cleanse 🧼😇

[notapradagurl7]

Take All Of Me.

Pairing: VAMPIRE!Unique x BLACK FEM!WITCH! READER.

Word Count: 4,629k

♡(Requested @naj-ay444 )♡

Summary: You were a young witch working with your aunt at an antique store in a small town where nothing strange happen, until your mom works late, you felt a presence. After arriving home safe and sound at night, you were all alone and he arrived unexpectedly.

Taglist: @keyera-jackson @satoruya @xblackreader @beenathembo @henneseyhoe @justhornyyme @sageispunk @roeroe-world @planetblaque @harmshake

A/N: I wish there were more fics about black vampires and dark-skinned women as the protagonist, however I will decide to write it myself, forget to like, comment and reblog. (comment if you want to be added to the taglist, 18+ only)

Warnings: praise, bondage, dirty talk, orgasm control, rough sex, mention of witchcraft, slight degradation, overstimulation, mention of blood, mention of d*ath, safe word, spanking, blood drinking, pet names, choking/breathplay, biting, nipple play, sadism/masochism, temperature play.

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The scent of rosemary and peppermint incense wafted through the air with the chime of a small brass bell ringing through the antique store, indicating that someone was coming into the store. You lifted your head to see your mother step into the store. You stood behind the desk in front of the cash register with your eyes roaming around the store, the brown shelves rested at the corner of the spacious room, the shelves were filled with small ancient vases and sage green coffee mugs. The four walls were painted in a light green hue.

It was a slow day in here when it was fewer people coming in, to be honest, you preferred it that way since your aunt owned the place, it meant you went home early and slept in all week or weekend long. Hell, you still got paid either way.

Your aunt Nicole was the owner of the antique store where you have been employed since your teenage years, and now you have reached adulthood.

You lived in a small town filled with a few black witches, you were a descendant of hoodoo culture that stemmed from your grandmother.

“Hey Mama, how are you?” you asked her, giving a warm smile as you carefully arranged a stack of books on the coffee table.

She greeted you with a warm smile and her eyes roamed the store and shifted back on you, “I’m good my sweet child, I see you've been hard at work again," she sang, her voice filled with pride.

"Yes, mom. Aunt Nicole needed some extra help today, so I offered to stay until I leave." you mused, yawning and strenched your limbs.

Nicole, your aunt and mentor, was a powerful witch herself. She had taught you everything you knew about magic and the mystical arts. The antique store was a place of business, but where they could share their knowledge and artifacts with those who sought them.

On the other hand, you've been feeling a presence specifically during the night, regardless of whoever or whatever it may be. Consequently, you had to approach your mom and inquire if she had any knowledge regarding the situation.

Your black locs were styled up in a bun, with two locs cascading gracefully over your shoulder. Your complexion was a rich, deeply melanin-enriched dark brown tone. You sported a black tee shirt paired with khaki dust-colored mini pants, plain white sneakers, and matching socks adorned your feet.

You moved around the desk, took your coat off the coat rack, and smoothly put it on your back, readying yourself to depart and lock up the store.

“Mom, I've been feeling a presence lately and I'm not sure who is it but it's calling out to me..” You admitted, your eyes fixed on her.

For one week, you feel a constant presence throughout the day, but the night arrives unexpectedly, like a clandestine intruder, an alluring and overpowering aura beckoned you.

Your mother responded to your confession by softly humming, causing her powers to awaken. She placed her hand gently on your forehead and closed her eyes, emitting a vibrant deep purple light from her palm. This light sent soothing vibrations throughout your body. After opening her eyes, she took a deep breath.

Your mom faced you with concern, she removed her hand away from your forehead. She knew exactly who you were talking about. You had to be warned.

"There is a presence trailing behind you Y/N, and I am well aware of his identity. He is none other than Unique, a powerful ruler of the vampire realm," she cautioned, her chin delicately cradled by her thumb and index finger.

"Mom, what do you mean he's coming for my blood?" you asked, your voice trembling slightly. "Why would he be interested in me?"

You've been told about Unique and the tales surrounding him, and although you've crossed paths multiple times, you've exchanged a few words. This moment was finally your opportunity to overcome him.

After she explained everything to you, you couldn't help but be a little worried. The words hung heavy in the air as your mother spoke. A vampire king? Unique?

The name sent shivers down your spine, both from fear and curiosity. You had heard stories of vampires, but you never thought you would encounter one, let alone have one come specifically for you.

You've read books, and seen movies but do they really exist? What was the rivalry between witches and vampires?

“My dear, you possess a power unlike any other. Your blood holds the key to unlocking immense magical abilities. It is said that a vampire who drinks the blood of a powerful witch can gain even greater strength and control over their own powers."

"So, Unique wants to...drink my blood?" you took a step back, still trying to process everything.

"Yes, but it's not just about bloodlust, for centuries, witches and vampires have been sworn enemies..” your mother explained, crossing her arms.

"There was a connection between vampires and witches, until it became a bond that goes beyond mere sustenance. If you allow him to drink from you willingly, it can be a mutually beneficial exchange. He will gain power and you will gain power as well."

The idea both intrigued and frightened you. You couldn't be with a vampire, but gaining power, was both alluring and dangerous. But you couldn't deny the flutter of excitement that coursed through your veins.

"What should I do, Mom?" you asked, your voice barely a whisper.

"Protect yourself with your powers Y/N..” she reminded you, Your mother's expression softened, and she placed a hand on your cheek.

You nodded, taking in her words. This was a decision that would alter the course of your life forever. But deep down, you knew that you had to be ready, and the pull was becoming harder to resist. With a heavy heart, you bid your mother goodbye and closed the antique store for the night.

You knew that whatever choice you made, your mom would always be there for you.

"I'll protect myself, Mom," you said finally. "But for now, I need to focus on closing up the store."

However, the following night, your mother is working late and won't return home until the next day. Meanwhile, you are left on your own in the cozy house that you share with her. At this moment, you find yourself sitting on the edge of the bed in your personal bedroom.

You were wearing a simple gray tee shirt along with matching shorts, your locs pulled up in a bun while your eyes were glued to the television. However, you eventually sensed something, a recognizable presence.

A tingling sensation danced along your skin, making the hairs on the back of your neck stand on end. Your senses heightened, and you knew that something, or someone, extraordinary was about to enter your life.

"Shit! He's here.." you muttered under your breath, your voice trembling a bit.

Despite your efforts to conceal your fear, you relied on your abilities to protect yourself, hoping they would be sufficient to stand against Joey.

The lights and television started to flicker in an unpredictable manner in your bedroom. Your heart pounded fiercely, beads of sweat trickled down from your forehead. Why were you still trembling?

The crimson-red cumulus clouds floated elegantly through the small opening in the ceiling and settled in the corner of your room. As you observed, your attention focused on the crimson clouds slowly separating and revealing Unique standing in between them.

He approached you confidently, his eyes retaining their crimson-red glow as red clouds billowed around him and dispersed into nothingness with a snap of his fingers. A mischievous smile spread across his attractive face, revealing his gleaming white fangs.

"Don't worry, I'm not gon’ hurt you. I just want to talk to you Y/N…” He mused, his tongue ran across his lips.

He stared intensely into your soul with his menacing gaze, piercing through you with those demonic eyes. As his black boots echoed with heavy stomps on your brown hardwood floors, a blend of longing and unease flooded over you.

You felt a chilling sensation down your back as his gaze focused on you, and you were not meant to experience such emotions towards him. He was your adversary, and you were expected to harbor animosity towards him.

You swiftly rose from your bed, watching him as your brown irises transformed into a pale shade of pink while you gesticulated, generating a protective pink barrier surrounding you. “Stay back!” you commanded, your fists clenched tightly.

The sage-green curtains allowed the bright moonlight to filter into the room, casting a gentle glow on his richly pigmented complexion. His dark skin looked stunning, radiating a captivating beauty.

He was incredibly good-looking. How could someone with such a dangerous aura be so irresistibly attractive? Your mom did always said the cute ones can get you into fucked up.

You weren't fully aware that your blood was both rare and exquisite, and he desired much more than just a taste. He yearned for every aspect of your being.

Unique’s lips curled into a mischievous grin, a soft chuckle escaping his throat. His eyes ablaze with a hungry crimson glow settled on you. The tantalizing scent of your blood filled his senses, causing a subtle twitch in his manhood. With a flicker, his eyes returned to their ordinary deep brown hue.

"Quite impressive, Y/N," he purred, his voice velvety smooth.

"But your weak force field won't last for long against me." His voice, now an octave higher, dripped with confidence.

With a snap of his fingers, the force field surrounding you shimmered and vanished. Instinctively, you lifted your hand towards him, and a radiant burst of sunlight erupted from your palm. His hand gracefully swept over yours, stealing the sunlight as he clenched his fist tightly around it.

The once vibrant light diminished, crumbling to darkness within his grasp. Your eyes widened, a mixture of shock and disbelief coursing through your veins.

Wait? Wasn't the sunlight supposed to kill them? Why wasn't it working on him?

“Sunlight doesn't kill us, garlic doesn't do shit and we don't change into bats, sliver doesn't kill us either Y/N. Every move you have for me, I can stop it before you can even try..” he spat with venom, his step slow and deliberate toward you.

With your hands shining purple, you raised them high over your head and swiftly pushed a massive wave of purple energy in his direction.

Unique effortlessly deflected the wave of purple energy with a flick of his wrist, causing it to dissipate into thin air. His eyes locked onto yours, amusement and hunger within them.

"Is that all you've got, little witch?" he taunted, taking another step closer to you.

"You'll need to do better than that if you want to stand a chance against me."

Fear coursed through your veins, but you refused to let it consume you. You had been trained by your mother and aunt to harness your powers and protect yourself. You took a deep breath, channeling your inner strength.

Closing your eyes, you focused on the energy within you, feeling it surge through your veins like a raging river. You called upon the elements, summoning the power of fire, water, earth, and air to surround you.

The elements swirled around you, The intense heat of flames licked at the air, while water droplets floated gracefully in mid-air. Rocks and leaves danced around you, pushing every single element at him, As he moved his hand swiftly, the rocks grazed against your face, hitting your arm and at the same time, the rocks vanished alongside the water and flames. You winced in agony.

A smirk tugged at the corners of your lips as you opened your eyes, meeting his gaze. "I may be a little witch, but I'm not to be underestimated," you declared, your voice steady.

Unique's eyes widened in surprise, clearly impressed by your display of power. He circled around the forcefield, studying it with curiosity and admiration.

The elements vanished right before your very eyes, no longer in your clutch.

"Well, well, well," he chuckled, his voice laced with both intrigue and desire.

"You've piqued my interest, Y/N. It seems you're not as defenseless as I thought."

You held your ground, refusing to let his words intimidate you. "I won't let you kill me," you stated firmly.

"I don't want to kill you. I want you to be mine." he whispered, his voice filled with a dangerous edge.

“I know what you’re after, my blood. You want to suck me dry and leave me here to die as I turn to dust right Unique?” you asked, you took a look at your bruised palms.

By now, you were aware of his intentions - he simply craved to suck you dry until you couldn't breathe any longer. Until you were eroding away from existence, You were the vulnerable target, and he was the relentless hunter. You weren't stupid, you knew how this played out.

You plopped on the light green loveseat resting against the wall with your face resting in your hands, You felt blood trickle down your right cheek with the intense heat coursing through your arm, you hissed in pain and touched the bruise on your forearm.

Obviously, he was able to control himself completely

from the divine scent of your blood. He wouldn't bite you or taste you without your permission. Unique wasn't that cruel to mere mortals who roamed this planet.

Were you that powerless? Has all the training and dedication gone to waste in the battle? have you failed your ancestors from the heavens who looked down on you in utter disappointment? Perhaps they were discussing how your powers could've been more adequate. Would they lament at your abilities if they were here on earth?

Perhaps getting the new powers and strength from Unique could have been the solution, as he skillfully countered all of your best moves. So, what prevented you from taking advantage? It was your own pride.

The questions flowed into the depths of your mind, until you looked up at him as you absentmindedly patted the vacant spot beside you on the loveseat, inviting him over to sit with you. He strode across the room and plopped on the seat next to you, his brown eyes studying your saddened face.

“I'm not that cruel Y/N, I'm that way only for those who deserve it. I'm sure your ancestors are very proud of you.” He reassured, gently nudging your shoulder with his elbow.

“How can you be sure? You've blocked all my moves..”

“Come on girl, don't beat yourself up. I was very impressed by your power…”

“Do you truly want a relationship with me?” your eyes locked with his, making sure that there was sincerity in them.

“Of course I do but the choice is yours..” he replied, You pondered deeply on the choice, You took a deep breath, considering his words.

The decision weighed heavily on your shoulders, but deep down, you knew that you were drawn to him for a reason. Perhaps it was fate, or perhaps it was something more.

"Alright, I’ll be yours then. Together, we will possess unimaginable power and we will always have each other," you whispered, resting your head on his strong shoulder.

"May I touch you?" he asked, his voice filled with anticipation.

"Yes, you may," you replied, your heart racing with excitement.

"Your every desire is my command, princess," he said, his voice deepened. Gently, he lifted your chin, his eyes locked with yours.

As he held your chin between his thumb and index finger, he noticed a scratch on your face. "You have a mark on your pretty face, my love," he remarked.

Your cheeks flushed at his tender touch. "Can you heal it for me?" you inquired, your brown eyes fixed on his deep brown ones.

"Of course, beautiful. Just relax for me," he reassured you soothingly.

He leaned in and placed a gentle kiss on the spot where the scratch marred your skin. His tongue delicately gliding across the wound, and a warm, tingling sensation spread throughout your body. A shiver ran down your spine, and a soft moan escaped your lips as he healed you. The yellow sparkles scattered on your rich ebony complexion, and Unique's plump lips savored the taste of your blood. He let out a low groan, intoxicated by the flavor filling his mouth.

A shiver ran down your spine as his touch sent waves of pleasure through your body. You couldn't deny the magnetic pull between the two of you, he gently pecked the bruise on your forearm as the dark purple wound faded away.

“Are you sure about this Y/N..”

“I’m sure, I trust you.”

His lips trailed down your neck, leaving a trail of warm kisses on your deep ebony skin. The combination of his touch and the taste of your blood sent a rush of desire coursing through your veins.

You let out a gasp of pleasure as his sharp fangs grazed against your skin, teasingly close to piercing your flesh. Fueling your masochism with his bite, plunging his fangs into your neck as the intensity of the moment was overwhelming, and yet, you found yourself craving more.

As he drank from you, you could feel your own power merging with his. The connection between you two grew stronger with each passing moment, until it felt as if you were one entity, bound together by an unbreakable bond. Your teeth sharpened quickly with your palm resting on the nape of his neck.

“I want you to tie me up and fuck me…”

Unique delicately released his hold on you, planting two quick kisses on the twin bite marks adorning your neck. He flashed a mischievous grin your way, his eyes sparkling with playful intent.

"Tell me, my sweet, how shall I bind you?" he inquired, his lips curling into a sly smile.

You nibbled on your bottom lip, feeling the heat rise to your cheeks. "I've always been curious about Shibari," you confessed, your voice barely above a whisper.

"But I don't want to be hanging from the ceiling. Instead, I want to be seated on your lap..." You trailed off, a nervous giggle escaping your lips as you bit down on them.

"As you wish, sweetheart. Let's explore this together," he purred, his eyes locking with yours.

Unique skillfully snapped his fingers, causing thin black ropes to appear in his hands while a mischievous smirk adorned his face. In response, both of you swiftly hurled off your clothes, flinging them carelessly onto the floor.

“Let me know if I'm hurtin' you or if it's too rough, I'll stop okay?” he reassured, He gently held your hand while planting a gentle kiss on your palm before kissing your lips.

“Okay..” you spoke softly, nodding your head at him.

“Do you have a safe word?”

“Orange…”

He delicately raised you and placed you on his lap, then flowed to attach the black ropes around your wrists and breasts, binding your hands behind your back. Meanwhile, he tenderly planted two kisses on your lips, all while his hands firmly grasped your hips and lifted you, ensuring you were facing him.

He hoisted you upwards to ensure that you faced him forward. Gradually, he lowered you onto his thick manhood, Unique hissed sharply and his eyes fluttered open, a low ‘fuck’ left his lips as he watched your face contort with pleasure.

“Fuck..Kadeem..” you moaned softly, the words escaping you, You move your hips gently against him, as his hands hold your hips and gradually guide you down to feel every inch. “You’re such a good girl Y/N..” he groaned in your ear, his praise gave you an intense thrill, he utterly filled you up. You started to vigorously bounce on him, feeling alternating waves of pleasure and pain coursing through your body. The ropes around you grew tighter as you let out increasingly inhumane moans.

He gently placed his hand on your hip while his other hand gently moved in circles over your breast, with his index finger and thumb giving a firm pull to your nipple. Meanwhile, his thumb continued to trace circles around your nipple. When he unleashed his powers, the temperature plummeted to its lowest point, coursing through his fingertips and causing your nipple to freeze from his icy caress.

“Ssss…fuck!” you hissed with pleasure, riding him faster and harder. They both desired each other intensely, but there was a newfound exhilaration in the control and satisfaction you felt. His hand delivered a firm smack on your ass while he watched your juices gush all over on his dick. He grunted deeply from your wet walls hugging tightly around his length as he pushed himself harder, Unique carried you to the bed and laid you on your back, sliding himself back into you.

His hand latched around your neck with the ropes around your frame tightening again, eliciting a soft gasp from you. Your moans echoed through the room. “Look at you wettin’ up my dick like a needy lil’ slut.” he whispers, his hips pushed roughly upwards, referring to your wetness flowing smoothly between your thighs while your juices flowed down to his balls. “Y-you’re so big..” you moaned softly, Once more, his grip tightened around your throat as his hand vigorously struck your ass, leaving fresh marks from his nails on your thick thighs and curvaceous hips.

With each rough thrust, the bed groaned in response, echoing the passion that filled the room. "I...I'm cumming." you managed to gasp between breaths, your voice shaking. He pushed his hips harder, driving you closer to the edge, and released his grip on your throat. His lips wrapped around your nipple, suckling your breasts selfishly yet filled with deep, unspoken love.

"Don't you fuckin’ cum until I say so," Unique groaned, his voice rumbling with dominance. His thumb circled your throbbing clit, boosting the pleasure that consumed you. The overwhelming stimulation pushed you to the brink, and you cried out with choked out sobs. The ropes that bound you added a thrilling sense of restraint to Unique's rough yet tender strokes.

"I won't, baby! Fuck!" you managed to slur, your words muffled by the overwhelming ecstasy that enveloped you. You were lost in a sea of pleasure. Drool escaped your lips as he planted his plump lips against yours, showering you with kisses until they were swollen. He hovered over you, his deep ebony skin slick of sweat glistening in the soft glow of the ceiling lights.

"Can you please untie me Nique?" you pleaded, your voice raspy with desire. A wave of pleasure washed over you, causing your body to tremble beneath him. With your new vampire powers, you were able to hold on to your climax. He couldn't get enough of you, he adorned every curve and roll along your body, he kissed every single one lovingly, you couldn't think straight but you wanted to touch him so badly, “Of course I can, beautiful..” he cooed, pecking your lips.

He began to untie the ropes, his touch sending shivers down your spine. each knot was undone and tossed the ropes across the bedroom floor, the tension in your body released, and left a few rope lines around your body.

“Come here…” you whispered, you reached out and pulled Unique towards you, your hands roaming over his muscular chest and down his back. He slid his dick between your wet, swollen folds, you shivered from your lover filling up again, the both of you groaned blissfully, he inhaled sharply, His skin was warm beneath your fingertips as he resumed his rough strokes, earning more of your unholy moans and you reveled in the sensation of his body against yours.

He gripped your arms tightly with his nails digging into the marks left by the thin rope, causing you immense pain, “ouu..shit! Shit!” you hissed with moans of pleasure, You winced in agony, stimulating his sadistic side which prompted a cunning grin and a moan. He planted kisses on your jawline, glancing at your fucked out face as he took pleasure in watching you.

“Your pretty pussy is callin’ out to me..” he grunted deeply, his thick wad of cum splattered into you, combining with your warm essence, creating a pool around his dick on the bed sheets. The sound of their bodies colliding filled the room with each rough thrust.

Unique grunted and moaned deeply with intensity as the seamless motion of your slick walls hugging around his dick tightly, his tip kissing your cervix with bridled passion. your hands gripped his back tightly, resulting in crescent-shaped marks from your nails on his skin, while you screamed out in immense pleasure that echoed towards the heavens.

You almost went crazy as you whined softly and broke down in bliss beneath him, feeling knots tighten up in the depths of your gut. “I-i gotta cum! Please!” you begged with a sob, He comforted you by kissing your tears, but his thrusts became jagged. Your lips formed a pout and your eyebrows furrowed slightly, while he wiped your tears with his thumb and kissed your cheek twice. At the same time, his index finger gently rubbed your sensitive nub in circles again.

“You can cum baby girl..i'm right behind you..” he whispered, his voice filled with affection. The words sent a surge of pleasure through your body, and you let go, your juices splattered around his dick completely. Unique followed suit by pouring his thick warm cum into you, "Fuck..." he groaned lowly. he pushed every drop of his seed into you to make sure there wasn't a trickle out of your pussy, your bodies shook together with the heat rising between you.

The waves of pleasure gradually subsided, leaving you both breathless and spent. Unique collapsed beside you, his chest rising and falling rapidly. You turned to him, Tears rolled down your cheeks from pleasure and raw emotion as his thumb wiped your tears away. "You okay?" he asked softly, His face softened in concern.

“y-yeah, you wore me out baby..” you panted, nodding at him. snuggling closer to him with your head resting on his chest.

You were aware that your newfound existence as a vampire and witch was quite unusual, yet Unique was there by your side throughout the entire journey. You peacefully drifted into slumber, your eyelids gradually descended. He lovingly planted a tender kiss on your forehead, joining you in a tranquil sleep.

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[daggerzine]

The Big Takeover (zine, issue #95,  152 pages)

Well, what do you know, Jack's done another issue! Like clockwork, Jack Rabid’s long-running B.T. mag is back like it always is (every June and December). He never misses one (and neither do I).

In this issue, there’re interviews with cover stars Nada Surf as well as chats with Hoodoo Gurus, Idaho (I need to see their new documentary as well), Steve Wynn, John Cale, part 2 of the Meat Puppets interview, and several others.

In addition, there are editorials like Jeff Kelson's tribute to Martin Phillipps (toughest loss this year, RIP) and S.W. Lauden's piece on Redd Kross. There are also short takes (including ones on Chime School, the Lemon Twigs, Close Lobsters Mo Dotti, and plenty more) and pages of reviews by Jack and his staff of all the current stuff that you need to hear (Jack does his top 40 every issue).

Hey you (yeah YOU), subscribe now!

www.bigtakeover.com

[90363462]

Haints Of Hoodoo: The Black Ghosts Of The Gullah Geechee

In the south, particularly on the coastal shores of Georgia and South Carolina, there are houses painted with an odd shade of blue. But the color is just as much for protection as it is for décor.

Source: The Washington Post / Getty

One eerie evening in St. Louis a young Black woman was driving home after a long double shift. While on the interstate the woman looked out of her peripheral to see a very tall man in a top hat dressed in a black 1800s style suit. His face had no visible features except a long beard that stretched down past his chest. The young woman turned her head to look at the shadowy man directly, but he was gone. She would spend the rest of her drive home shaken by the man’s ghostly presence. After a few minutes of convincing herself that her mind was playing tricks on her, the woman finally pulled into her neighborhood. Relieved that she had lost her ghostly stalker, the woman took one last peek down her street, and there he was.

MORE: The Antebellum Tale Of Black Slave Girl Molly And The Haunting Of Sorrel-Weed House

The mysterious man was back, but this time he wasn’t there to just observe. Terrified, the woman quickly pulled into her driveway, sprinting up the stairs to her front door. When she entered her home a sudden urge to vomit swept over her body. When she turned to close the door behind her there he was, standing at the bottom of the stairs staring into the woman’s soul. Scared out of her mind, the woman let out a frightened yelp before slamming the door and checking the locks. After her ghostly encounter, the woman engaged in every superstition known to man. She switched the porch light off and on seven times, sprinkled salt at her doorway, hung a blue stained glass wind chime from her porch, and prayed herself to sleep. But her haunting experience wasn’t over.

The man would later return in her dreams, pulling her into the darkness of his cloak, wrapping her up until she was awakened from her slumber after feeling suffocated. The next morning when the woman turned on the news she learned there was a fatal accident on the same highway where she first saw the shadowy man.  

She was being haunted by a haint; a shape-shifting, witch-like evil spirit capable of stealing your energy, suffocating, or even drowning you.

Sadly, Black history has all the ingredients for fascinating ghost stories. Pain, trauma, mysteries, restless souls, and black folklore.

What are haints?

In the south, particularly on the coastal shores of Georgia and South Carolina, there are houses painted with an odd shade of blue. But the color is just as much for protection as it is for décor. 

Haint blue is a collection of pale shades of blue-green that are traditionally used to paint porch ceilings in the southern United States to protect homes from ghosts and evil spirits. The folklore can be traced back to Hoodoo spiritual practices and the Gullah Geechee people. 

The Gullah Geechee are the descendants of West and Central Africans who were enslaved and bought to the lower Atlantic states of North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, and Georgia to work on the coastal rice, Sea Island cotton, and indigo plantations.

Their expertise in farming and agriculture made them invaluable to slave masters in the south. Their expertise also came in other forms. The Gullah Geechee have strong spiritual beliefs and developed the necessary skills to ward off evil spirits called haints or boo hags. 

Also known as rootwork, conjuring, or Lowcountry voodoo, the spiritual practice of warding off evil spirits was the main way the Gullah people protected themselves and their families from these menacing ghosts. One of the most popular hoodoo practices is to carry a mojo or a small bag of herbs wrapped by a traditional root worker. Boo hags were spirits known for stealing a person’s skin, then wearing it to blend in among the living during the day. After it depletes the human of all its energy, the boo hag will shed its stolen skin and go hunting for another victim. At night the boo hag would get rid of its stolen skin after it depletes the human of all their energy.

Roger Pinckney, the author of “Got My Mojo Workin, A Voodoo Memoir,” tells History.comof a few important tactics used to ward off boo hags.

“Hags are only active at night. They have an obsessive-compulsive disorder that compels them to count. A strainer on a doorknob or a broom cross the doorway, rice or sesame seed (benne seed) thrown on the floor. The hag will stop and count, over and over ’till day-clean run em.’ Salt on the floor helps as it dehydrates the shed skin and makes it impossible for the boo hag to put it back on.”

The plat-eye is another form of a haint, only way more dangerous than a boo hag. Plat-eye haints are shape-shifting spirits that can take on any form to entice you into their clutches. Not only are they dangerous, but very hard to get rid of. 

“Nothing much you can do about the plat-eye,” said Pinckney. “If you have committed some gross spiritual offense, all you can do is try to make it right. Some (people) carry whiskey. If a plat-eye gets after you, pour a little on the ground and run like hell. The plat-eye will likely stop to lick it up.”

The color ‘haint blue’

But According to Pinckney the most powerful defense of haints, boo hags, and plat-eyes is the color blue; haint blue from the indigo plant to be exact. 

The Gullah Geechee were master farmers and their knowledge of cultivating indigo plants was far superior when compared to white plantation owners. The Geechee people were enslaved and forced to work the indigo fields which by the mid-18th century became one of America’s most valuable exports. The Geechee people were able to create a new color by mixing the dregs, or leftover remnants, in a pit with lime, milk, and other pigments until they formed a shade of robin’s egg blue paint that would become known as ‘haint blue.’

The Geechee believed that the color mimicked blue water and blue sky which tricked the spirits. Haints can not cross water or travel the skies, therefore painting a porch, window, or door ‘haint blue’ meant spirits couldn’t make their way into your home.

As Black Americans spread throughout the country after slavery, so did some of their traditions. Haint Blue has become so popular a color, it is now mixed by Sherwin-Williams, one of the most known paint companies in the world.

The next time you are in an old southern home and you see the color haint blue painted anywhere on the exterior, there is a good chance that spirits are lurking about. But have no fear because the blue is there to protect you.

SEE ALSO:

The Haunting Of Lake Lanier And The Black City Buried Underneath

The Ghost Of Willie Earle And The Haunting Of Pickens County Museum

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[breelandwalker]

this is a hyper-specific question, but i thought i'd go ahead and ask anyway:

i picked up a book on planetary spells and rituals, and several of the spells/rituals passively mention that a certain ingredient or ritual is an "old hoodoo method" (something along those lines). i obviously don't want to practice anything that is within hoodoo/voodoo or any other closed practice -- is there maybe a book or website i can cross-reference to see if a specific ingredient/ritual/spell is a part of a closed practice? some of the spells in this book are really intriguing, but i really don't want to try any of them until i can confirm whether or not they're part of a closed practice. thanks in advance!

Oof, that's a tough one, and good on you for doing your due diligence.

Unfortunately, no such database exists, although it would be very helpful. The trouble is that such things are sometimes misidentified or poorly interpreted in witchcraft literature, and the discussion surrounding what is and is not closed and what is and is not cultural appropriation is constantly shifting.

Adding to the confusion is this apparent trend of the phrase "old hoodoo / rootwork method" being used as window dressing in books and articles the same way witchcraft authors used to use "old Native American ritual" or "g***y magick." It's not directly equivalent, of course, but the energy is similar enough that it immediately makes me suspicious when I see it outside of an actual conversation about hoodoo.

Ingredients may be common across many practices and there is a LOT of syncretism and blending and similar uses for similar materials between various folk magic traditions. So if you want to be sure, ask someone who actually practices hoodoo. They'll be able to tell you much faster than any book or website.

(And really, while it is our responsibility to educate ourselves before coming to a community or a practitioner with questions that could just as easily be answered with Google, it's usually a good idea to ask firsthand sources when the question is something more complicated, like this one.)

I highly recommend looking up Lady Speech Sankofa on YouTube for more information on hoodoo, among MANY other things. She's an excellent source of information and very straightforward. I also welcome any practitioners who find this post to chime in with your own recs and information, since this is a practice I'm not really qualified to speak on.

[foragewitch]

These Courage & Confidence DIY dressed spell candle kits are available again! - Comes with a orange chime / ritual candle, orange candle holder, crystals, and a a vial with herbs. - Crystals included: pyrite, rose quartz, tiger's eye, and prasiolite - Herbs in the vial: rosemary, lavender, sunflower petals - You would just need oil to dress it. Essential oil works best! ✨🕯 ✨🕯 #spellcandle #witchesofinstagram #spellcandles #witchcraft #spellwork #hoodoo #spellcasting #witch #spellcaster #hoodoospells #spellcandlesofinstagram #witchesofig #witchywoman #candlemagick #witchcraftspells #conjure #crystalwitch #candlemagic #wicca #witchessupportingwitches #rootworker #juju #conjuring #hoodoowoman #moongoodess #blackmagicwoman #blackmagic #hoodoos #spellworker #rootworkers https://www.instagram.com/p/Chx5hotv33y/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[fangshunter]

"They're talented, but we don't use their help much these days..." Anastasia looked at them once and faced forwards again. "You'll know why soon enough."

They stopped in front of a door, and she signaled someone to open it; they were pushed inside without much care then, the door closing behind.

Don't you disrespect us little one!

Don't you derogate or deride!

You're in our world now

Not your world

And we've got friends on the other side!

The kids swore they heard something, a murmur, maybe; yet they couldn't make out any of the words.

"That's an echo, guys," one of the boys inside the room said, a wild smile placed on his face while the other only watched them. "Just a little something we have here in Whitechapel"

A little parlor trick, dontcha worry!

Ethan Morgan and Benny Weir. They fit Anastasia's descriptions almost perfectly.

"We're here… for your help."

"We know."

"Sit down at our table,

Put your minds at ease"

Has the table and chairs always been there?

If you relax it will enable us to do anything we please

"I can read your future," the boy who watched them finally said, a dark, shining sphere of some sort in his hands making his eyes look like they were glowing- or maybe they were just like that.

"I can change it 'round some, too

I'll look deep into your heart and soul"

"You've got a soul, right?" Joked the boy with a striped shirt.

Make your wildest dreams come true!

"I got voodoo, I got hoodoo

I got things I ain't even tried!

And we've got friends on the other side"

The shorter one sat across them, the gleam in his eyes unnerving them more by the second.

"The visions, the visions, the visions will tell

The past, the present, and the future as well!" He let the artifact go then. "The visions, the visions, just take my hands firmly."

Take a little trip into your future with me!

Hesitantly, they did as told. It wasn't like anything they've ever felt before.

He looked at the one of them on his left, eyes almost white.

"Now you, young man, are from across the sea

You come from two old magic families..."

"I am magic myself on my grandma's side," Benny chimed in, watching his hands intensely as he manifested fire with them.

He turned to the one on his right and continued, "And your lifestyle's high

But your funds are low

Your parents want you to learn how to make true gold!"

"Mom and dad cut you off, huh?"

"Now you gotta 'grow up', but that's not the life you want

You just wanna be free

Hop from place to place

But freedom takes power!"

It's the power, it's the power, it's the power you both need

"And when I looked into your future

It's the power that I see!"

Finally Ethan's eyes glanced at the one in the middle.

"On you little girl, I don't wanna waste much time

You been pushed around all the time

You been pushed around by your

Mother and your sister and your brother

Now that you've got friends

You'd be pushed around by them"

But in your future, the you I see

Is exactly the girl you always wanted to be!

She heard the whisper clearly this time, like it came from just next to her.

"Shake my hand

Come on guys

Won't you shake the poor loser's hand?"

Before anyone else could, the third one shook his hand.

"Yes," both boys said, grins growing.

The sphere Ethan had left between seemed to flare up then with pure energy, making the three of the flinch away from it. Except he still didn't let go of the girl's hand, he took it and put it right on top of it.

Are you ready?

(Are you ready?)

Are you ready?

The poor girl couldn't move anymore, feeling like the energy of that thing -the Lucifractor- was trying to consume her.

She felt powerful.

Transformation central!

(Transformation central!)

Reformation central!

(Reformation central!)

Transmogrification central!

She felt invincible.

Can you feel it?

You're changin', You're changin', You're changin', all right!

Hope you're satisfied

But if you ain't

Don't blame us!

You can blame our friends on the other side!

She felt like her veins burned and her soul bled.

As her friends tried to drag her away, she could still faintly hear one last whisper.

You got what you wanted

But you lost what you had.

[jdashlamar]

New Years Protection - A How To Guide

Every year I protect myself from negative people, bad intentions, flaky energy and all manner of bad spirits and you should too.

What is New Years?

New Year is the time or day at which a new calendar year begins. Many cultures celebrate the event in some manner, and the 1st day of January is often marked as a national holiday holy day. 

New Years is holy because it’s number is 1. The numerology number 1 is self-determined and self-sufficient. It goes about its own business, pursues its own goals, and has no need for companionship.

Often, we create New Years resolutions and goals that reflect the energy of the number 1. However, near March of that same year, we have likely quit or goals or had something happen to throw us back into old behavior, circles, thoughts and energies. What happened to our vigor and will power?

Many of us have bad luck, bad juju, roots and other negative things on us that keep us from our goals in life. We often have terrible relationships, situationships and sinking ships that we choose to stay in for far too long. Each year, I do spells to keep haters, spells, hexes and much more away and now I wil share a few “secrets” with you.

Spiritual Baths

Cleanliness is next to Godliness. 

Most empaths come home with residual feelings and energy each day. When they ask me for tips, I always suggest a spiritual bath. I use Bobby Hemmitt’s bath and it’s my go-to method but it’s not for every one. 

What you’ll need

Huge tub of water, 3 caps ammonia, 3 caps of bleach, 3 caps of apple cider vinegar, 3 caps of lemon juice and half a cup of sea salt, 1 white candle.

What you’ll do

Light the white chime candle. Get in that tub and imagine your aura extending out into a white light all around you. Stay in for a minimum of 15mins and then before you leave the tub, dunk your head below the water. After that, shower off and take some of the left over wax and ball it up in some cloth and wear it on your body. 

This bath helps with prosperity, protection, and removal of anything negative. 

Great video on it below:

Baths have always been sacred. In hoodoo and may other spiritual systems, baths can be used as a very extremely powerful tool to help you manifest on your journey in the New Year.

The Witches Bottle

If you ain’t got haters, you ain’t poppin’! Every time you get somewhere in life, BOOM, a hater. Some of those haters are witches and they don’t mind playing target practice with your life. Personally, I lay a few tricks of my own when I create a witches bottle each New Year.

What is a Witches Bottle?

Witch bottles began as countermagical devices used as protection against other witchcraft and evocation. They are described in historical sources in England and the United States. The first mention of a witch bottle appears in the 17th century England.

This is old-school magic that works! You make a bottle for you, your spouse or kids to keep them safe from magical harm. The idea is that a evil spirit or energy will seek you out but mistake the witches bottle for you becoming trapped or destroyed in the process.

What you’ll need

A glass bottle and closure, toe/fingernail clippings, hair, urine, seamen/menstrul fluid for extra points, a black candle, red twine (optional), nails, rose thorns, any protective herbs or salts.

What you’ll do

You’ll fill the witches bottle with bodily fluids, salts, hair, bones and then seal it closed. On top of the bottle, you’ll burn a black candle. Let the candle wax drip down the sides. As the candle burns, imagine all evil being trapped into what looks like a projection of you but it’s really the bottle. When the candle is done, take the bottle and place it in a quiet place or bury it in your front yard. If you stay in an apartment, bury it at your mother’s house or a place you frequent.

Witches bottles are a huge deal and they even get major press when people find them: https://www.washingtonpost.com/history/2020/01/24/witch-bottle-discovered-virginia/

A New Years Reading with Tarot

The last thing I do for the New Year is read my energy with the Tarot cards. Tarot allows us to see current energy and make choices that can influence future events. 

What you’ll need

A decent tarot deck, my suggestion would be https://amzn.to/2KMGDMc for a solid deck that shows Black ppl instead of the traditional tarot characters.

Purchase yours at https://amzn.to/2KMGDMc

What you’ll do

A simple 4 card spread. Shuffle the cards and think about the next year. Think of all you want to do and achieve while letting your mind wander away from the thoughts of the cards. As you shuffle, ask your ancestors that work for your success to help you “know, what is unknown”. You should get the word “STOP” in your head or cards will leap out of the shuffle when it is time to draw your cards. 

Using the spread layout, pull the first card (your past), then the second card (your future), next the third card (your now) and the last card (your outcome). Use google to find out the meanings or the accompanying book that comes with your tarot card deck.

I hope you take the time to make this a very good year for you and your loved ones and book a session with me if you’d like to have a Root Doctor pull your cards.

J-Lamar

[conjuremanj]

Using Bells In Your Practice.

In this post I wanted to give you an option for using bells. But it's not apart of Hoodoo but can be used in your spiritual practice.

Experienced spiritual workers and magic practitioners often keep musical instruments on their altars. These could be anything from drums to singing bowls, rattles, these specific instrument that you can find all over, in all sorts of religions and magical paths: Bells like rattles are used to cleanse, protect, drive away the bad, and more. Now there are all types of religions uses them. There used with other instruments like a rattles. In Vodou we use them both.

(see my post on rattles)

This bell is from UrbanGurviMamaShop on etsy

Cleansing A Space Before Ritual Work:

Bright, clear tones help remove negative or stagnant energies from an area. Before you perform a spell or ritual, ring a bell while declaring your space cleared. If you wish, you can incorporate sound cleansing into a broader cleansing practice I use a rattle it traditional, but you can add smoke cleansing with incense, or burning a cleansing candle.

The clear, healing tone of a bell can have a few different effects. The bell's vibrations can help banish unwanted spirits and/or negative energies, with prayer (don't forget that) it can call in positively, desired energetic influences, and/or simply clear stagnant energy in any space throughout one’s home. Sound affects energy on a physical level—because sound is energy—and so the bell is both a physical and a symbolic tool in any practice.

How To Use To Cleanse: Ring it at least four times in each room, preferably with the doors and windows open and while burning cleansing incense. If you are not able to burn things where you live, then a bell can be a great solution for energy cleansing without smoke or fire.

Driving Away Evil: Evil spirits are said to hate -- or at least be annoyed by -- the sound of a bell just like they hate the sound of a rattle. This may go back as far as to the belief that spirits. (the malevolent ones) hate iron.

(This is actually true) When bells were made of iron, ringing them would drive evil out of an area. In other traditions, any kind of loud sound was believed to chase away dark forces. Simply ringing a bell loudly is enough to drive some bad spirits away, but don't get it wrong as I mentioned in a previous post this won't rid you if demonic or bad spirits or high level dark energies by it self prayer is important.

You can also use other tools like blessed candles dressed in holy oil, a room spray, or floor wash (see post on that) alongside with a bell or a preferred instrument. Give your floors a good wash from the back of your home to the front with the floor wash, you can use a spray in each room of your home, you can add a blessed can light. As you do these things pray, say a prayer while ringing your bell while declaring that all bad spirits and or energies must leave. You can also call a ordained person to do the prayer then you can go back with a bell and incense to rid the remanding energies.

Attracting Good Energies: Sounds of an instrument like a bells have a reputation for attracting helpful, benevolent spirits and energies. You can hang also hang them up like wind chimes, add colorful beads to to represent a particular spirit. There are so many ways to incorporate a bell into your practice.

Invoking Spirits: Bells often used in spiritual work. They can be helpful for all kinds of spirits, including calling them. Like your spirit guides, your ansestors, saints, deities etc can be called with a bell to aid you in your work. In these situations, a bell serve three purposes: Their sound tells spirits when it is time to arrive and depart, marks the beginning and end of specific phases of a ritual, and ensures that you are getting helpful spirits, not bad ones.

In the case of ritual work a bell is used durning repeating a chant or a prayer or to request and call upon a spirit, followed by a few rings of a bell. Even if you are not following a specific, format, you can simply use your bell when it makes sense to you. You don't need a large bell for this -- a small one will do just fine.

Protection: Since: bells are so good at driving off evil, they can also keep it away if you use them preventatively. You can also use a bell while calling on angelic protection. For instance you can choose a Saint Michael for protection take you bell, and ring it while reciting a prayer to Saint Michael for protection.

Opening And Closing Of A Ritual: Rituals are usually structured in very specific ways. The atmosphere of the ritual is designed to be a kind of container for spiritual energy. The vibrations opens the way, It puts you in another state of consciousness for your spiritual work. Ringing bells is a good way to mark the beginning of a ritual, as well as send energy on its way at the end. You can do this with any kind of bell. All you need to do is set aside a few seconds during your rituals to ring it and say a prayer call on your guides for protection. Then start your ritual whether it's calling a saint, deity or ansestors. So if you do not have a bell in your home, it is a great spiritual tool to investing in.

[fanficimagery]

Finding a Mate

#396 "You can't just hug me and think everything's okay."

Summary: When Hope moves to Forks with her aunts Freya and Keelin, and gets enrolled in public school, the last thing she expected was to find a coven of vegetarian vampires and a mate. Then again she was a Mikaelson and was used to dealing with crazy.

Author's Note: Only Jasper and Alice are mates. Emmett, Rosalie, and Edward are all unattached, but Rose and Edward have their own thing going on with one another.

With Keelin back in the States for good and Hope mentioning she wasn't content at the boarding school anymore, Freya decided it was time for a change. Hope had wanted to be far away from anything that reminded her of her parents or uncle Elijah, and Freya had randomly chosen Forks, Washington. The town was small, but had all the necessities for every day living, and her niece and wife had readily agreed after Keelin found out the local hospital was hiring.

Keelin wasn't promised a spot after submitting her résumé via email when she had called to inquire about the job, but the girls moved there anyway. Freya had found them the perfect two story, three bedroom house with enough attic space for her witchy supplies, and they packed up what they wanted from the abattoir before closing the Mikaelson home down until either Rebekah or Kol went back.

Now in Forks, Hope happily settles in and quickly finds the smallest bakery she's ever seen that also sells coffee and tea. She finds they make an excellent cup of peppermint tea and vows to herself that this will be her new to-go spot before school.

Keelin gets called in for an interview at the hospital, and Freya and Hope tag along in hopes of getting a feel for the locals while they wait at the hospital. It's there, nearly forty minutes later, that Freya realizes they're not the only supernatural beings in town. Keelin walks out of an office with a sheepish smile, she then quickly beckoning Freya and Hope to her. They enter the office and Keelin nervously introduces them to her new boss Doctor Carlisle Cullen- Doctor Cullen with the golden eyes and pale flawless skin that doesn't hold an ounce of body heat.

Introductions are quickly made, Freya immediately pegs Doctor Cullen as a vampire during their handshake, and Hope watches on in amusement as the adults go back and forth. He's surprised when Freya outs herself as a witch and Keelin a werewolf not even a minute afterwards, and Hope merely shrugs when his golden eyes land on her.

As they speak, it's obvious Doctor Cullen is wary of other supernatural beings. Freya and Keelin pick up on it and they promise that they aren't there to cause trouble; they really just want a fresh start after they'd lost several members of their family. They are used to keeping the supernatural a secret so Doctor Cullen has nothing to worry about, and after that it seems like the vampire can breathe a little easier. It's also during this meeting that Hope finds out Doctor Cullen has children attending the same school she's going to be attending, and to not be too offended if they don't automatically seek her out because they're used to being on their own. Hope laughs it off, telling him it's okay since she's usually a loner herself.

And since the three newcomers know about him and his family, Doctor Cullen asks if it's okay for him to tell his family about them. Freya, Keelin, and Hope agree that it's only fair.

After having collected her schedule and a map of the school over the weekend from the Principal and his secretary themselves, and having been taken on a tour to locate her classes, Hope feels comfortable enough showing up Monday morning. So with her peppermint tea in hand and backpack strapped to her back, Hope exits Keelin's vehicle with a smile.

"Bye! I love you. Make good choices!" The dark skinned, dark haired werewolf muses.

Hope quickly slams the door, but Keelin rolls down the passenger window. Laughing and disregarding every stare, Hope shakes her head in amusement. "Thanks for that."

"You're welcome. You going to need a ride after school? I won't be out until five."

"Yes. Hopefully there'll be something to keep me occupied until then."

Keelin coos. "Aw. Look at you all grown up." Hope rolls her eyes and sips her tea to hide her smile. "Enjoy your last year, kid. Public school is a lot different than that boarding school of yours, so-"

"You forget we did nearly a month of public school for that.. exchange program Alaric put us through. I'll be fine, Keelin. Don't worry."

"Mhmm. Well if anything changes, text me or Freya. We'll come get you."

"Sure."

The window rolls back up as Keelin pulls away and Hope watches her drive off. She finally takes notice of the stares a moment later and plasters on a smile that she knows probably looks like a grimace. But not caring what anyone has to say, she turns on her heel and marches off towards the front office to retrieve the slip Ms. Cope told her she'd need every teacher of hers to sign before turning it in at the end of the day.

Kids come up to her left and right, and she tries her hardest to come off as friendly. But being who and what she is, it's easy for her to suss out just who is being real with her and who isn't.

Angela Weber is an immediate favorite of hers- the girl being mellow and just the right amount of curious about where she moved from and why. She likes Tyler Crowley and Mike Newton just fine, even though their flirtatious behavior is rather grating, but they're real personalities are on display for her to see upfront. Eric Yorkie is annoying, but tolerable, and Jessica Stanley could be a decent girl if she didn't try to compliment someone and then degrade them all in one breath. But Lauren Mallory? Lauren is a hard no. Hope does not like the mean spirited teen and the teen in question is why she doesn't sit with the apparent group of friends when at lunch when Tyler loudly beckons her to join them.

Instead Hope finds an empty table and sits, she hesitantly pushing around the food on her tray. If there was one thing she missed from the Salvatore Boarding School, it was their personal cook. Public school lunch food was, in one word, disgusting.

Several tables down, the Cullen and Hale teenagers push around the human food on their trays and make it seem as if they're eating. Alice has happily tucked herself under her mate Jasper's arm while Edward and Rosalie sit a little too close to one another, murmuring and just enjoying the close proximity. Emmett, the only unattached of the bunch, sits backwards in his chair while covertly watching the room.

"New girl, ten o'clock," he says. Edward and Rosalie chance a look her way since they're all ready facing that direction, but Jasper and Alice have to rely on everyone else's input. "Think she's special like those aunts of hers?"

Rosalie's golden eyes dart towards Hope and then away. With a shrug, she says, "She's cute. Figured she'd be sitting with the popular kids by now."

Jasper shakes his head, his blonde curls slightly tossing. "I've been watchin' her when I can. She's all smiles 'n giggles, but when whoever she's talkin' to walks away, her expression falls."

"Maybe she's tired of being hit on," Emmett muses, lips quirking at the corners. "Crowley and Newton have all ready laid claim, but they don't appear to be getting anywhere."

"Edward?" Alice suddenly chimes in. "What's wrong?" She was the only one to notice his creased brow and frown as he stared at Hope Mikaelson.

"I can't hear her."

And that- that causes his siblings to tense and really take notice of the new girl.

"What did Carlisle say her aunts were again?" Rosalie asks, frowning.

"A witch and a werewolf," Edward answers. "But he never got an answer on what Hope was."

"Well there's no time like the present." Emmett moves to stand and Rosalie's hand snaps out, wrapping around his wrist.

"Don't," she hisses.

"Chill, Rosie. Carlisle said it was okay to talk to her. In fact, he and Esme encouraged it."

"You don't show interest often," Jasper muses. "What's so different now, brother?"

Emmett's grin falters. "Call it boredom."

"Or call it what it really is," Edward says, slowly smiling and laying an arm on the back of Rosalie's chair to help soothe her. "You think she's pretty."

"Ohh. He thinks she's more than a little pretty," Jasper smirks. "I can feel just how pretty he thinks Hope Mikaelson is."

Alice giggles and the rest try their best to smother their smiles. Emmett glowers, but a smile of his own slowly breaks out. He chuckles. "Here goes nothing." The entire cafeteria seems to go quiet as they watch the largest Cullen leave his family and head for the new girl. She doesn't look up, so Emmett pulls out a chair directly across from the girl and turns it around before plopping himself down. "Hope Mikaelson," he muses.

She glances up then, her eyes narrowing before a small huff of laughter escapes her. "You're one of Doctor Cullen's kids."

"Emmett," he smirks. "The others were too intimidated to approach you." Hope follows his pointed gesture before smiling and waving at the other vegetarian vampires.

"I hardly doubt that. I'm not even that scary."

"Says the new girl who we've no idea what she's capable of."

Hope's gaze darts back to Emmett, her shoulders losing some of their tension as she grins at him. "A girl's got to have some secrets."

"Yeah." His gaze scrutinizes her and Hope challenges his stare, popping a carrot stick into her mouth while not breaking eye contact. "Speaking of secrets, did your aunt do some magic hoodoo stuff to your head? Edward can't read your thoughts." That causes her to blink and Emmett suddenly whoops. The cafeteria falls silent and Hope groans, trying to sink into her chair as every astonished gaze falls on her table. "I win."

"Jesus. Okay. You win. Lower your voice," she grumbles. Emmett hunches in his seat and Hope suddenly starts twisting a ring on her right index finger. "So Edward.. reads minds?" She glances at Emmett's family's table and sees the bronze-haired individual nod. "Just surface or.."

"He can only read what's on the surface. My siblings and I just usually mentally sing a song or mentally scream if we wanna keep him out."

"Oh." She twists her ring some more. Sighing softly, she says, "The last thing I want is you or your family uncomfortable with me and my family's presence." She slips off the ring, nods at Edward, and then faces Emmett to ask, "What do you want to know?"

"Why did you move?"

Hope slightly tenses and fidgets in her seat. "New Orleans holds a lot of.. terrible memories." Her mom's death flashes in her mind and she gulps, knowing Edward saw it. "Both my parents and uncle Elijah sacrificed themselves there. And Mystic Falls, where I attended Boarding School, is where I was constantly fighting for my life against a monster every other week. I grew tired of it."

"Do you come in peace?" Emmett's lips twitch and Hope rolls her eyes.

Chuckling, she says, "Yes. I honestly just want to finish my first and last year of public high school. And make some friends. I had trouble with making friends growing up because of who my family is."

"And just who is your family?" Emmett wonders.

"The Mikaelson's. I'll.. I have a book on my family's legacy. I'll let you borrow it as soon as I find it, but I'm warning you right now. Their past is.. bloody."

"You just keep getting more interesting the longer we talk."

"Says the vampire."

Emmett smiles, but before he can get out his last question Hope is slipping her ring back on to shield her mind once more. The bell rings, startling Hope and signalling the end to the lunch period. As Hope stands to collect her tray, he asks, "What are you?"

That gives Hope pause and she blinks in surprise at Emmett. She slowly grins. "One of a kind. Literally."

"Don't tell me you're a unicorn." He laughs, but then quickly sobers when he sees Hope's expression of distaste.

"God no. Unicorns are pretty, but they're devious." She shivers and her expression suddenly appears far away. "Gross mind controlling slugs. Never again."

"..what!"

Hope refocuses on Emmett, she sheepishly laughing. "Yeaahhhh. See you around." And then she quickly takes her leave.

The rest of Emmett's family joins him as Hope disappears. "She was telling the truth," Edward says. "Every answer she gave was accompanied by a visual representation. She witnessed her mother's death."

"So a ring kept you out of her mind?" Rosalie then muses after the awkward tension of mentioning Hope's mother's death vanishes. "I might have to ask her for one of those."

Edward grins, but Emmett is still gobsmacked by what Hope last said. "Unicorns are real? You think she was telling the truth about that?"

Alice giggles and Jasper grabs his mate's hand to escort her to her next class. "Probably. She slipped that ring of hers back on and blinded Edward again."

"Damn."

"Don't worry." Alice smiles knowingly. "I get glimpses here and there of her. Hope will be sticking around."

"Oh?" Edward, Alice, Jasper, and Rosalie all grin. Emmett's eyes then narrow. "What do you know?"

"The same thing you do if you'd just open your eyes a little wider, brother." And with Jasper's parting words, the rest of their family follow him and Alice out.

A moment passes and then Emmett sighs. "What does that even mean?"

The next few days sees Hope avoiding questions her nosy peers have for her after Emmett Cullen so brazenly approached her at lunch, especially since he continues to do so days after. The only human Hope had found a moment of solace with was Angela, but even then the Cullen and Hale clan could see that Hope was still keeping her distance.

Her second week of school, however, finds Hope watching her aunts staring out the front window of their home in amusement one morning.

"What are you guys looking at?"

Keelin glances over her shoulder, grinning. "You didn't tell us you befriended Doctor Cullen's children."

Hope shrugs. "Well yeah. They're intrigued by the girl their mind reading brother can't read."

"Mhmm. So intrigued that they sent one of their own to give you a ride to school?" Freya wonders.

"..what?" Hope scurries to the window to see what her aunts are staring at and finds Emmett standing near the hood of a large jeep that's parked outside their home. "I'm gonna give him a brain aneurysm," she grumbles. "What is he playing at?" As Hope stomps off towards the front door, her aunts are quick to follow.

"He's cute," Keelin teases. "What's his name?"

Her hand freezes just before she can grab the door handle. "Freya? Please tell me you have a privacy spell up around the house and the vampire outside didn't just hear your wife call him cute?" Their silence is very telling and Hope chuckles through a groan. Finally opening the door, a beaming Emmett is standing there with a to-go cup of something steaming.

"Peppermint tea. Your apparent favorite." Keelin and Freya don't bother hiding their coos. "And a brain aneurysm? Really? That's kind of harsh, Hope. I've been nothing but nice."

Hope gives him a deadpan stare before taking the tea, she then making quick introductions. "Freya and Keelin, meet Emmett. Emmett, my aunt Freya and her wife Keelin."

"Hey." Emmett beams, a dimple in his right cheek forming. "Do either of you care to fill me in on what Hope is? She's not playing fair."

"She hasn't told you?" Freya asks.

"No. And Edward can't read her mind as long as her ring stays on."

Hope glances at her aunts. "What? It's not my fault they're terrible at guessing."

"But I bet you're not playing fair either." Keelin nudges her niece. Then looking at Emmett, she tells him, "You've probably all ready guessed what Hope is, but you're looking at her as if she's only one species. She's not."

"Wait, what?"

Hope sighs and then grumbles. "I'm a tribrid." Emmett gapes at her. "I told you I was one of a kind. Now come on, lets get to school so you can tell the others."

And after that fateful day, it becomes a regular occurrence that Emmett picks up and drops off Hope before and after school. Freya and Keelin can't help but adore the large vampire, and even Hope eventually gives in to his bashful smiles and playful behavior. Everyone at school is surprised to see the largest of the Cullen/Hale siblings behave so carefree, and even Emmett's family seem a bit surprised at his behavior, but in a good way.

Hope then becomes so used to Emmett's towering presence that when it comes time to give him her family's legacy book so he can know her history, she makes herself sick with anxiety. Her aunts do their best to soothe her worry, but she doesn't quite calm down until Emmett suddenly appears at her bedroom window one night.

Slowly opening the window after he gently knocks on the glass pane, Hope steps back on sits on the edge of her bed. Emmett enters her room, sitting on the sill.

"That was.. wow. Your family are the Firsts."

Hope nods, avoiding his gaze and twiddling her thumbs in her lap. "Only Rebekah, Kol, and Freya remain."

"That was a lot to take in. Jasper's re-reading it." Hope flinches and Emmett moves to stand before her, he then crouching and settling his hands on her knees. "Hey. Hey," he says again, reaching up to make her look at him. "Your family's past is crazy, but it's their past. Their past does not define you. We all still think very highly of you and are still looking forward to the day you grace us with what your tribrid qualities are."

Hope huffs a laugh. "I'm a witch, werewolf, and vampire," she finally tells him after a week of the Cullen and his siblings trying to guess the right combination.

"No shit? I can't believe we never guessed it."

"Well after I mentioned the unicorn your imaginations took over and started throwing out every other mythical creature that you think is real too."

"They're not?"

Hope grins at his pout and flicks his ear. "Maybe. Maybe not. One can't be too sure unless you've seen it with your own two eyes."

"At least tell me dragons are real?" She then laughs at his hopeful expression, shoving his shoulder and then huffing when he doesn't even budge. Stupid Cold One strength. "There's the smile I was hoping for."

Since Emmett's started talking to her, he's thrown in a few flirty remarks here and there. Hope's grown to expect it from him, but what she hasn't grown used to yet is the way her heart skips a beat and the way she warms all over when he genuinely smiles at her. And given his senses, she knows that he knows exactly what his proximity and words do to her.

"So what are you doing here?" She finally asks. "Did you come all the way here just to soothe my worries?"

"Yes and no." Emmett finally backs off and takes a seat next to her on the bed. "Esme's been anxious to finally meet you. We talk about you a lot and Carlisle talks a lot about how good your aunt Keelin is at her job. She's a bit miffed she's the only one who hasn't met you or your aunts."

"Oh. Well we, um, can go right now if that's okay with you?"

"Yes."

Emmett immediately stands and sits halfway in, halfway out of her window, and Hope slides off her bed to make her way towards the bedroom door. Calling out, she yells, "I'm going out with Emmett!"

"WHAT?!"

Emmett snorts and Hope's eyes widen when she realizes what she's just said. "Heading out! I'm heading out with Emmett!"

They can hear Keelin cackling from somewhere downstairs.

"Okay!" Freya then calls back up. "Don't stay out too late."

Blushing, Hope then makes her way towards a smirking Emmett.

"No shoes?"

She shakes her head. "No. I'm assuming you ran here and we're running back, so I'll just have you drop me off halfway and I can shift."

"Awesome. Climb on my back and hold on."

Since Hope's window was situated over the side walkway overhang, Emmett crouches near the ledge and waits for Hope to join him. She climbs onto his back with a small laugh a moment later, and after a brief warning Emmett jumps. His hands grip around the backs of her thighs and her arms are wrapped around his neck. She grunts when he lands, but then she's laughing as he runs.

The world is blurring by her, but not as fast as she expected since her senses can keep up with vampire speed, and she relishes the feel of the air whooshing passed her. But all too soon, he's stopping and letting her down gently.

"All right, Mikaelson, lets see what you got."

"Yeah, yeah." Hope shifts nervously before lowering herself to the ground on her hands and knees. "Have a blanket ready for me when we get there. Clothes tend to disappear through the transformation and I'd hate to scar anyone with my nudity."

He waggles his eyebrows. "You're going to be naked?"

"Don't make it weird." Emmett's laugh booms and he startles several woodland creatures. He's still laughing when Hope says, "And whatever happens next, just let it take it's course. I've been through the transformation before. I know how much pain I can endure."

His laughter immediately ceases. "What?"

Instead of answering, the first of many bones in Hope's body cracks to rearrange itself for her new form. And if Emmett had any color in his features, the color would have drained at Hope's grunts and cries of pain, her bones snapping and bending at unnatural angles.

At one point he calls her name and he takes a step back when Hope throws her head back, her eyes blazing yellow. She cries out and her back arches with a snap, and Emmett watches in awe as an abnormally large gray wolf takes the place where Hope just was.

The wolf blinks and shakes her fur out as Emmett slowly crouches. "Hope?" He gulps. The wolf nods, her tail swaying from side to side. Slowly but surely, Emmett then smirks. "Hell yes. Race to you my house?"

The wolf barks and takes off after Emmett, she letting him stay ahead of her since she didn't actually know where the Cullen's lived.

Edward and Rosalie were the only two who hadn't seen Hope's wolf form since they were out the night she showed up to their house, but with Edward's mind reading abilities he was able to see everything from his family's point of view. Rosalie didn't care to see a werewolf, instead she was rather more intrigued by the magic side of Hope and Freya's lives.

As the weeks then slowly progress, it becomes the norm for Hope to spend time at the Cullen household. Keelin's been picking up a lot of hours at the hospital, and Freya's busy getting paperwork together and what not for the opening of her very own shop that she plans to sell home remedies at.

So, of course, Hope's at the Cullen house when things go to hell.

Emmett, Jasper, and Edward are wrestling- Emmett and Jasper wearing leather cuff bracelets to protect their minds from Edward's mental probing- while Rosalie and Alice toss out some friendly taunts. It was finally a fair fight and the brothers were ecstatic to test them out.

Hope's standing with Esme since Carlisle's currently at the hospital, and the two keep their distance as the boys get rowdier and rowdier. Suddenly Alice goes still, Edward's mind is no longer on the fight, and he stares in horror at Hope. The others quickly catch on, but before Alice can come out of her vision.. whatever it was comes to fruition.

"Hope!" Edward manages to shout before Esme is thrown from the girl's side by some unseen force.

Hope gasps just as Jasper catches their mother and before she can utter a single word, a stick or stake or something is forcefully embedding itself in her throat. She immediately gurgles on blood and falls on her butt, her eyes flooding with tears from the pain as she attempts to pull the wooden stake out. There's an almighty roar that sends a shiver up and down her spine, and through her tears she sees an enraged Emmett pounding against an invisible barrier of sorts. In fact, the entire Cullen family is pounding against an invisible barrier, Emmett's black eyes focused on her.

Hope whimpers and shakily raises one bloodied hand, she trying to concentrate and release the vampires. Before she can focus enough energy to fuel her spell, she's slammed on her back and arms magically pinned to the ground, two more stakes embedding themselves in her wrists. She cries out, struggling, but it's no use.

A woman is suddenly looming over Hope, which only prompts the young tribrid to struggle some more. The woman tuts, waggling a finger at her. "Don't, child. You'll only bleed out faster."

"W-Why?"

"What was that?" The woman crouches and pulls the stake out of Hope's throat, Hope then screaming out in pain. There's another roar and the woman crouching over Hope grins. "Well he's pissed. You really have the big one wrapped around your finger, don't you?"

Hope chances a look in Emmett's direction, her heart beating faster at the sight of other individuals surrounding the family. Their hands are held out at the sides and flames erupt around the Cullen's. "No."

The woman next to Hope shrugs, still glancing over her shoulder. "They're abominations. It's a shame really. The tiny one is kind of cute."

Alice hisses, as does Rosalie, but the family has stopped pounding and instead moved closer to one another and way from the flames. Hope sniffles. "Why are you doing this?"

"Because they made you happy." The woman then glances back down at Hope, her gaze hardening. "And no Mikaelson deserves the chance at happiness. Not after what your father did."

"My father is dead!" Hope grits out. "He had changed. It wasn't his fault you witches kept coming after his family. He only did what he had to do to protect us."

"Yes, well now we intend to end it once and for all. You're a threat to our way of life."

"Screw your way of life."

"Hope!" She glances towards the Cullen's once more, catching Alice's gaze. "You can do it. Concentrate."

Hope doesn't know what she's supposed to concentrate on, and all she knows is that she's hurt and royally pissed off. Her eyes slip shut and she focuses on breathing.

How dare these witches come after her and the Cullen's when they've done nothing wrong. How dare they call the vampires abominations when witches themselves were an anomaly and not what nature intended either. How dare they think that she, Hope Mikaelson, could be taken down so easily.

Eyes snapping open, Hope momentarily relishes in the gasp that leaves the witch's mouth. She knows her eyes are blazing yellow and she meets the gaze of the shocked witch. "Patere." The witch hovering over her is forcefully thrown away, and with a grunt Hope pulls on her wrists and dislodges the stakes from the ground. She quickly pulls them out, letting the wounds heal as she climbs to her feet.

Hope carefully makes her way towards the Cullen's where the witches are still chanting, she stopping and holding her own hands aloft at her side. Breathing deeply, she concentrates on every witch trying to harm her friends, and then jerks her wrist. There are audible snaps before the witches collapse.

"Adiuuatur." The flames dissolve, and then with a wave her hand the barrier vanishes. Emmett is immediately at her side against Edward and Jasper's warning, but he's gentle with her as he checks her neck and wrists. "It's fine. They healed as soon as the stakes were removed."

The rest of his family gather around and it's Jasper who voices what's on everyone's mind. "Your blood doesn't- it's not tempting us."

"Well I should hope not," Hope muses and then grunts when Emmett suddenly engulfs her in his arms. "I'm a hybrid. Vampire or werewolf blood should not be appetizing to you."

"Huh. Well that's good to know."

"Are you okay, sweetie?" Esme suddenly muses. "What they did was unbelievably violent."

Hope winces, she patting Emmett's sides so he'd let up. He does, but she ends up being tucked under his arm and against his side. She sighs. "I'm good, Esme. Doing magic under duress is just tiresome." The motherly vampire nods along in sympathy. "And I'm sorry about the mess. I don't usually.. kill, but they threatened you and your family. I couldn't let it slide. Where there's one wave, there's bound to be another."

The Cullen's glance around at the dead witches, some glaring that they'd gotten the drop on them and others shrugging as if it were no big deal.

"I'm sorry to have put you on their radar, but I need to speak with Freya. Just for being associated with us, our enemies have now become your enemies." Hope's shoulders droop and she hastily wipes the tears from her eyes. "I should just- I should go. I never should have gotten so comfortable here."

Emmett growls and holds tight as Hope tries to leave. Edward and Jasper both glance at him, realization dawning in their expressions several moments later as Hope frowns up at Emmett who can't quite meet her gaze.

"She's your mate. Isn't she?" Jasper says.

Hope gives Jasper a double take, her eyes narrowing as Edward slowly smirks. She then looks up at Emmett who appears momentarily panicked, his expression then smoothing out into something far too pleased at the knowledge. "Excuse me?"

"How did I not realize this sooner?" Emmett then gently cradles Hope's face in his hands, he staring down at her in awe. Her mouth opens to reply, but then Emmett's hugging her again and her face is pressed into his chest.

Turning so it's her cheek pressed against his solid frame instead of her face and nose, Hope sighs and rolls her eyes. "You can't just hug me and think everything's okay." The rest of his family adopt wary expressions and Hope huffs a laugh as she wraps her arms loosely around his waist. "We're so going to have to talk about this. Later though. I really need to talk to Freya and you guys have bodies to bury.. or burn. Whatever is good with you."

Rosalie breaks the awkward atmosphere by groaning, she then stomping over to the first body. "You owe me, Mikaelson. I wanna be the first to test out the sunlight ring if Freya ever figures out how to make it work for our kind."

"Deal." The squeezing Emmett, she asks, "Can you run me back home?"

"As if you even had to ask."

Emmett's quick to scoop Hope up in his arms, he then vanishing from sight within the blink of an eye.

"How did we not pick up on that sooner?" Jasper suddenly muses. "They've been practically joined at the hip since her first day here."

"I don't care." Alice beams, giggling as she skips over to pick up a dead witch. "I'm just happy to finally have another sister!"

Rosalie huffs. "At least we like this one. That one human who keeps staring at Edward is getting on my last nerve."

"You're just jealous because it's Edward she's set her sights on and the two of you have that weird thing going on," Jasper muses. "Just get married all ready."

Rosalie glares at her twin, she then grumbling as she picks up another body. Edward sighs, punching his brother in the arm. "Thanks for that. She's going to take her anger out on me now."

Jasper waggles his eyebrows. "You're welcome."

     - X - X - X -

Emmett drops off Hope in her back yard, she then running up to the door and throwing it open. Freya startles, but taking in her bloodied niece and the simmering anger practically wafting off of Emmett puts her on alert. Not even their joined hands is enough to distract her. "What happened?"

"Witches."

"Dead witches," Emmett then grumbles.

Hope slowly exhales. Then looking up at Emmett, she squeezes his hand. "Hey. Go hunt," she tells him. "Take some time to calm down while I fill in Freya."

"But-"

"No buts." He frowns, but gives her a terse nod. Bending down he quickly presses a chaste kiss to her forehead and then disappears. Hope grins.

"That's new."

"Tell me about it. Apparently Cold Ones have mates and I'm his. We only just figured it out." Freya's oddly quiet, but when Hope glances at her aunt she sees that her aunt is fighting off a smile. "Don't. Me and him are going to talk about it later. Right now we have a bigger problem."

Slowly Freya collects herself, she then putting away the herbs she's been sorting on the table. "Right. Tell me everything."

     - X - X - X -

Keelin had been given the rest of the day off after Carlisle had been filled in on what was going on, and Hope filled her aunts in on everything. They were a little worried about witches still targeting them after a year of peace, but they promised Hope not to worry about it and that they'd contact Rebekah, Marcel, Kol, and Davina to look into what was going on now.

Hope was still feeling a little wary, but Freya sent her up to shower the blood off and change. She did and then when she went back downstairs she figured she'd find her aunts still discussing the problem at hand. Instead they're discussing Hope.. and her apparent future with Emmett.

"So," Keelin grins from her seat at the table, stirring her hot chocolate, "Emmett, huh? Nice."

"Nope. No. We're not talking about this," she nervously laughs. Hope pulls open the fridge and pulls out a container of apple juice. Pouring herself a glass, she waves off both her aunt's knowing gazes. "Emmett will be stopping by in a bit. We're gonna talk and only talk. I might go on a run afterward so don't freak if my room is empty."

"Sure. Keep the door open!" Freya calls after her.

Choking on her juice, Hope glares over her shoulder at her giggling aunts.

Upstairs in her room, Hope shuts the door and then shoots off a quick text to Emmett. As she waits for him, she finds a stick of sage and lights it, blowing out the flame and smiling as the plumes of smoke waft upward. Sipping her juice she then sets it down in a bowl and turns around, a yelp escaping her mouth at the sight of Emmett casually leaning against the headboard of her bed.

"Dammit, Emmett. I'm gonna spell our yard to alert us when you're lurking if you don't start making noises." She glances down at the floor and then her shirt, making sure she didn't spill her drink. "Oh good. No spillage."

"So what's the verdict? Do I get to defend my mate's honor? And what's with the smoke?"

"No fighting. Yet," she says, making her way towards the bed and gingerly sitting next to him. "And the burning sage is for a privacy spell. Freya and Keelin are a little too invested in our new relationship status, and I have to ruin their fun somehow."

"Killjoy." Hope chuckles and settles against her own headboard, she sipping her juice one last time before setting the glass aside. Settling in, she faces Emmett and he grins. "So it's like this, huh? No weirdness? No crying? No denial?"

"Do you want me to reject you, Em?" She muses. "Playing hard to get seems exhausting. I rather just-" Her words are cut off as Emmett leans in, his lips capturing hers. She laughs against his mouth, trying to properly return his kiss, but not being able to do so as her laughter gets the best of her.

"Seriously?" Emmett pouts.

"I'm sorry." Hope giggles some more, biting the bottom corner of her lip. "You just.. surprised me with your enthusiasm."

If Emmett could blush, there was no doubt he'd be doing so now. "My bad. I've just been wanting to do that for a while."

"Yeah?" Hope's eyes sparkle as she smiles. "Well in that case.." She leans in, stopping just shy of pressing her lips to his. "Then you can wait just a little while longer." Emmett groans. "I need to run and burn off some energy. Run with me?"

"As if you even had to ask."

[hoodooconjure]

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🤑🕯💵💰🧲🕯🤑 Money draw, Prosperity, Wealthy Way, Crown of Success, Better Business, Steady Work, and Fast Luck is what we were working tonight for community candle ritual. Lakshmi was present to bless us with Prosperity and Abundance. She was offered green tea with cinnamon and nutmeg and a rope incense. All of our names were written on the money vigil, dressed with oils, pyrite grit, real gold flakes, some herbs and coffee for speedy results, in a circle of money sheds, and some other money drawing luck herbs and curious. The buddha candle with support chimes were dressed with oils and green glitter, with my hand made green lucky rice, pyrite grit, real gold flakes, abre camino herb, coffee, money shreds, and a few other special tricks. #witchesofinstagram #moneyspell #candlemagic #witch #darkwitch #brujeria #bruja #witchcraft #hoodoo #conjure #voodoo #conjureoils #rootwork #rootworker #rootworkersofinstagram #brujasofinstagram #hoodoospells #magick #prosperity #occult #spellwork #spellcasting #neworleansvoodoo #witchdoctor #priestess #crystals #moneyspells (at Conjure and the Root) https://www.instagram.com/p/B8adVfDnjdj/?igshid=1373kk8ypeca2

[houseofbutta]

Birthday Bitch

It was turning out to be a fairly nice day even though the weather that week had been somewhat unpredictable. The house was uncharacteristically quiet. Days like this weren’t uncommon now that Boogie was often out on the road, leaving the chaos in the house at a minimum.

Ju walked into the kitchen with half-closed eyes, making a beeline for the coffee pot as Deenie sipped from her cup, working on the crossword in the newspaper.

“Good morning to you too, sunshine!” she spoke, without looking up from her task.

“It’s too bright in here.” Ju croaked in her, I-just- woke-up-and-can-barely-find-the-strength-to- speak voice.

“That’s because you’re hungover, sweetie. Again.” Deenie rolled her eyes.

Ju simply didn’t have the energy to go off. She was tired and the days of their heated, short-tempered youth were mellowing out as they all became more civil in adulthood.

“Good.” Deenie smirked, looking up for once from the paper. “Keep that same energy when Boogie gets back.”

Ju scoffed with a chuckle.

“You tell her that too!” “Mornin’ ya’ll” Dejah bounded in, sing-song, all bright-eyed and bushy-tailed.

“The energy needs to come down about 12 million notches, babe” Ju held her head.

Dejah laughed as she opened the fridge looking for the orange juice.

“So Boogie is coming back today, I heard.” Dejah said, sounding skeptical, “It’s been months since she’s even slept here. Last time she came home, she didn’t even realize her Jean Paul Gaultier perfume was missing, since she was only here for a day.”

“You better stop takin’ that girl’s stuff, Dejah!” Deenie warned.

“Boogie don’t miss little shit like that. I only took it because I know she’d say yes if I asked her for it!” Dejah shrugged, before popping some bread into the toaster. “Besides, she’s changed. She seems like, nicer now in a way? I dunno.”

“Fuck outta here, she’s the same Bougie Bitch she always was,” Ju interjected, waving her hand dismissively, “She knows it too. Just because she wrote that weak ass self-help book, she thinks she’s an expert now in, whatever hoodoo, booboo garbage juice meta trend is sweeping the masses. Witchcraft is not a fucking trend, bro. She shouldn’t be playing with that shit.”

“True, Remember that fucking demon situation we had on Halloween, years ago?” Deenie reminisced, “All the windows busted out, it was like a movie!”

“Exactly!” Ju sipped her coffee, slowly finding her energy, “There have been many incidents in this house of paranormal activity, and I swear they all was surrounding her.” “Come on ya’ll know that’s not fair.” Dejah chimed in, turning to face them with her arms folded. “If you had some freaky secret power that could communicate with ghosts or whatever, what  the hell would you do with it?”

“I dunno. Help somebody I guess.” Deenie replied. “Who says I don’t?”

“Nobody, but I’m just saying if it’s a part of you, you probably can’t just turn it off.” Dejah shrugged, pointing a finger at her head and making a mocking “Duh” face at the girls, who scoffed in response.

“Whatever, she’s so full of shit. Even if that bullshit she wrote in that book is real, her personality is still the same, I don’t care what you say, Dejah, people don’t change.”

“Have you read the book, Ju?”

“I started it, but it was trash, so now it’s a coaster on my nightstand.”

Deenie laughed.

“Ya’ll bein’ real shady right now.” “Hold on now, we’re not haters- I’m just saying she comes off high and mighty. That’s all.” “Power will do that to you, maybe.” Dejah said, catching her toast on her plate the moment it popped out, before walking back up to her room while sipping her OJ.

“Or an inflated ego,” Ju sucked her teeth, irritated as her eyes followed Dejah leaving the kitchen,“She gets that shit from Boogie.”

_____________________________________________________________

By the time she’d arrived, it was nearly 4PM. Boogie came nearly crashing through the door, balancing worn Louis Vuitton luggage on her arms, as her little white bichon came running up barking and jumping all over her.

“Down Momo! Ahh! Mama missed you too!” she cooed at the small dog, before announcing, “I’M HOOOOOMMEEE!”

With closed eyes Boogie threw her arms open wide, waiting for a rush of hugs that did not come.

“Hey Booger,” Rai smiled down from the upstairs banister. “What are you doing?”

“Rai! I was...nothing.” Boogie put her arms down looking somewhat embarrassed. “Where is everyone?”

Rai shrugged.

“Around, I guess.”

Boogie pouted. It wasn’t a big deal for her to come home from a long book tour, but it wasn’t unlike them to miss her birthday.

“It’s my birthday today,” she announced dejectedly.

“Happy birthday!” Rai said smiling, and making her way down the steps, when Dejah suddenly burst out of her room, running down the stairs and hugged Boogie.

“Awh!” Boogie laughed, hugging her back. “Thank you both!”

“I have an announcement to make and I wanted to treat everyone to a girl’s day. I have big news!”

“Ooh! OK! I’ll go tell everyone!” Dejah jumped up and down excitedly before running back up the stairs.

“How are things, Rai?” Boogie asked, just as her phone chimed urgently, demanding her attention.

“Quiet, you know. It’s not boring, but since you’re not around as much, Ju goes through these combative moods all by herself and she doesn’t know what to do with that frustration.”

“Psychology suits you, miss.” Boogie smiled, with a fist bump to her little sister.

“Thank you! I’m almost a doctor- when this semester is over, I’m gonna be legit.” Rai beamed, then, slowly, her smile faded, “She misses you. You know that, right?”

“I don’t know anything she doesn’t tell me,” Boogie shrugged.

“Hello, hello!” Desty and Jayti, followed Dejah, Deenie and Xai down the stairs as welcome home hugs made their rounds and they all caught up for a moment before beginning to wonder what the hold-up was with Ju.

Finally Ju emerged from her room, leather-clad black jacket and shoes, dressed to kill.

“You’re finally back.” she chuckled, as she took her time walking down the stairs. “Next time you go, take that little annoying yappy mutt with you.”

Boogie rolled her eyes before hugging her best frienemy with cheek to cheek kisses.

“I missed you too, Miss Salty- Ooh!” Boogie pulled back suddenly, her eyes watering a bit. “You smell like a distillery, Ju, damn! It’s not even after 5!”

“Mind your business.” Ju flicked her wrist dismissively before tossing two pieces of chewing gum in her mouth. “So what are we doing?” “Right! Sooooo! I rented a party buusss!!!” Boogie exclaimed, leading them all outside with open arms. “Tadaaa!” “Wow, just like the old days.” Deenie scoffed, remembering nights past that got so wild, they all wished they could forget.

“No! Not like that, we’re responsible adults now!!” Boogie said as she led them to the vehicle.

The bus driver opened the door to them, and they all entered to see an interior of woodgrain and leather seats. A small mini fridge with wine and champagne and a small assortment of snacks, cheeses, and chocolate.

“Heeyyy! We fancy now!” Rai voiced her approval, before taking a seat next to the snack bar.

“Eee! I’m glad you approve!” Boogie clapped her hands with glee before telling the driver to proceed to the first stop for luxury mani-pedis and massages at the day spa.

As they all settled into the back seats to get comfortable, Rai filled and passed out champagne glasses, proposing a toast.

“To the Buttacreme sisterhood! May we always have  each others’ backs!”

“Cheers!” ____________________________________________________________

“This place is legit!” Boogie  called back to the girls as they waited at the crosswalk,  to cross the street. “Wow, you ladies sure look nice, today.” and older white, gray-haired gentleman commented, looking over their collective outfits.

“Thank you, Mister!” Jayti bubbled, particularly happy with her colorful spring dress of choice.

“Do you mind taking our picture?” Boogie  asked, handing the man her phone, as the light changed. “Sure! Ooh! You all should line up over the lines of the crosswalk, like the Beatles!” he said excitedly,  walking backwards to line up the perfect shot as they crossed the street. “Who are the Beatles?” Dejah whispered, to Jayti, who shrugged, before serving face to the camera.

As they all entered The Pampered Palm: Nail Bar, they were met with the acrid scent of Acetone and Enamel- the combination of a sweet chemical smell that excites the high maintenance part of the human female brain; and there were exclaims of “Yaasss!” and “Okurrr!” that rose from the 8-woman group as the cushy pink upholstery and silver damask wallpaper welcomed them into the lap of luxury.

As half the crew sat to get manis, the others got pedis, and a kind uniformed woman served champagne and mimosas which Ju knocked back in a matter of seconds.

Boogie looked worried. “I’m concerned.” she whispered suddenly to Rai, sitting next to her, sipping slowly from her champagne flute. “She’s fine.” Rai said, before shooting Boogie a sympathetic look, “You know how she is… she’s coping.” Boogie, stole a peek at her friend once again, now on the phone, withdrawn from the present moment and enthralled with pondering what color to paint her fingernails next.

“Have a happy birthday!” Rai insisted, raising her glass,

Boogie sighed, shaking off her dark feelings, before smiling and clinking glasses with Rai.

_______________________________________________________

After a couple of hours of pampering, they all made their way to the new Pomerado Luxe  Beauty store. As per usual, Boogie went overboard, buying the latest this and that from the  Gisza collection.

“Ladies, get whatever you want!” Boogie laughed, placing her hands on her hips as they all winced, when her store receipt printing from the cash register began to resemble a trail of toilet paper.

They were all much more economical in their choices, even though she was paying.

Xai landed on a metallic pink lipstick, Ju found a red to add to her collection, Desty landed on a spring eyeshadow palette, and everyone only chose one thing, except the baby of the Buttacreme bunch who wanted six. “Dejah!”  Deenie picked the excess glosses and highlighter from her basket. “NO!”

“Boogie said we could have whatever we want!” She frowned.

“Yeah! But out of courtesy, you shouldn’t be greedy!” Deenie reprimanded with a wag of her finger.

“But-” “No buts, put it back and pick ONE!” Dejah began to protest when Jayti gently squeezed her arm and shook her head.

Leaving the store, everyone was smiling and happy with their purchases, except Dejah who fell behind, pouting a bit and feeling irritated by Deenie.

“She gets on my nerves sometimes, Jay,” she confided in Jayti, “Like, you’re not my mom!”

Jayti pulled Dejah aside a moment, holding her shoulders.

“You’re right. She’s not, and she does have that way about her. But D, she has been there for you- for all of us. It’s just makeup. Don’t let it make you too mad, k?” Jayti comforted her.

Dejah rolled her eyes with folded arms, before drawing a deep breath and nodding, agreeing to let go of her animosity toward the woman.

“Good,” Jayti smiled mischievously, “becaaaaaauuuse-”

Jayti suddenly opened her bag to reveal it full of stolen shit.

“Byyytch!!!!” Dejah burst out laughing so loud, the others turned around, wondering what was so funny.

Jayti hastily zipped up her purse while Dejah made some weird ass excuse about a meme she saw on the internet before rushing the procession onward to their next destination.

________________________________________________________

La Luz Hotel was situated in the middle of downtown. It was rumored that famous people stayed there all the time, and as they walked into the lobby, they were promptly greeted by the staff.

“Miss Patel! You’re just in time for your surprise party!” The girls snickered and Ju scoffed at the woman looking annoyed.

“Well you just ruined the surprise part!” she hissed.

“I apologize,” the woman looked sincerely confused, “Since she planned it for herself, nearly 6 months in advance, I assumed she already knew about it.”

Her words seemed sarcastic, which further irritated Ju, but the look on the woman’s face was choked up as if she were about to cry. So Ju, backed off, uncomfortably.

“Sorry-Lead the way,” she said, exchanging a  nervous glance with Desty and Xai.

The Suite was on the 34th floor, with high ceilings and party snacks and favors that meticulously decorated the luxury suite.

“Ahh! This is so cool!” Desty  giggled, barely able to contain her excitement.

“So glad you like it!” Boogie laughed, passing out whistles and party poppers to the girls as Xai pulled out her phone to take a pic, “Now Everybody say ‘SURPRISE!’” They played trivia games, danced and talked about the past 10 years of ups and downs they’d all shared- from the happiest moments, to the saddest breakups. They all laughed and cried and caught up from the beginning to the present, resolving past fights and issues that were buried among them all. At that moment, Boogie, busted out the champagne and began pouring glasses for everyone before stating,

“I have an announcement to make,” she said, clearing her voice. “These past 10 years have been such an experience! I’m grateful to each and every one of you for helping me grow into the person I am today! I used to be selfish, spoiled and heartless, but living with you guys helped me evolve into a better person,”

Her voice cracked with emotion and her eyes got hot with tears.

“Thank you so much for being my friends! I’ll always love all of you, so with that, I’d like to announce that I’m  going to be-”

“Married!” Ju shouted, slurring her words, “I fucking knew it!”

“No- I’m actually going to be-” “A lesbian!” She cut her off again.

“Ju, relax,” Deenie, squeezed her arm, prompting Ju to snatch away, stumbling toward Boogie. “Sorry, I’m trying to pretend to be psychic like you do.”

The girls winced at the dig, suddenly backing away, giving the two space, as had happened so many times in the past when a fight was about to break out.

“Ju, what is your problem? You’ve been acting like this all day.”

“You always thought you were better than me- NO! ALL OF US! Just because you had money, and you would flaunt it in our face and pit us against each other and you’re JUST WICKED! Forgive me if I’m not buying the ACT, Boogie! You are the same selfish bitch you always were, with a shiny new coat of paint and a nose job!” “Ooh! Somebody stop her!” Rai interjected as Jayti’s arm shot out to stop her from jumping in. “I didn’t get a nose job!” Boogie lied as her finger self-consciously touched the tip of her nose.

“See? So self-absorbed. That’s the only thing you took from EVERYTHING I just said!? Fuck you, Boogie!”

It was as if in slow motion. The raspberries floating in the bubbly champagne flute hit her in the face first then the drink splashed over her immaculate beat, melting her mascara and eyeliner instantly.

“No. The. FUCK. YOU DID NOT!” Boogie shrieked.

“I think I just did.” Ju said flinging the last remaining drops that were in the glass, at her, to make sure she made her point.

A Table skid across the floor, flipping over. Purple and blonde weave was flying, the thud of them collapsing to the floor sent all the girls into a frenzy trying to break up the fight before the cops were called. The freshly manicured raptor claws were out, and even though there were 5 of them, trying to pull the two apart, they were so heatedly engaged, it was nearly impossible. Finally Boogie  pinned Ju flat on her back, holding down her wrists, which was pure luck combined with the fact that Ju’s drunkenness had made her lose her balance.

“You ARE A FUCKING LIAR!” Ju shrieked, bucking and thrashing under Boogie’s modest weight, when suddenly, Boogie kissed her.

The gang gasped, Rai’s hands flew to the sides of her eyes, shielding her peripherals as her jaw dropped, Jayti looked like she might faint, Dejah’s face contorted with shock and disgust, while Deenie’s hands flew to cover her young eyes instinctively trying to protect her. Desty and Xai however, exchanged a wide-eyed look that  simply prompted them to take another sip of their drinks.

After about 30 seconds of them full on making out on the floor, they finally stopped and looked up at the collectively confused faces of their housemates.

Boogie slowly stood up, lending a hand to Ju, who wobbled to a stand as well…

“So… I guess you’re all wondering, what that was about.” Boogie started.

The awkward, tense silence hung thick in the air, as they were all rendered completely speechless.

“We maybe...hooked up...a few times…” she trailed off.

“WHAT?!?!?” Dejah shouted from behind Deenie’s knitted hands over her face.

“There was this time… with that Australian guy...Tristen… we might have had a threesome.” Ju added in, guiltily.

“WHAT?!?” Dejah exclaimed once again.

“Anyway… after that, things changed a bit between us… We just hooked up, but it didn’t mean anything!” Boogie dismissed.

“Clearly it meant something to ME!!” Ju glared at her, shaking, with tears watering her eyes, when she finally threw her hands up and stormed out of the hotel room, slamming the door behind her.

Boogie reluctantly went after her, and found her standing outside on the hallway balcony of the hotel, smoking a cigarette.

“You smoke now, too?” Boogie jested.

“What do you care?” Ju  dismissed her, flicking ashes to the ground.

“Ju, I’m sorry, if what we did, confused you. I’m not a lesbian. Sure, we tried some shit, but it wasn’t like I made a full commitment to gayness! It wasn’t THAT GAY.”

“I don’t even know what that means!” Ju sneered. “It wasn’t just a ‘few times’ like you’re convincing yourself. I mean, I wasn’t counting, but the fact that I LOST count, means that you’re trying to minimize it to something meaningless.”

“But, you’re not a lesbian either!” “That’s not the fucking point!” Ju rebutted, “You can’t just treat me like one of your little fucktoy boyfriends; use me and leave.”

“Wow, okay, I didn’t use you anymore than you used me!”

“REaALLy?!” Ju snapped, “ because as I recall, I never, not once, came to your room in the dead of night like a stray cat scratching at YOUR door.”

Boogie groaned with exasperation.

“Ju! I wasn’t trying to use you! I just thought we were having fun!”

“It was. Until you broke my heart.”

“I didn’t know!”

“Correction: You didn’t care.” Ju said, grinding the cigarette butt into ash and flicking it over the balcony. “As soon as you started traveling all the time, it was like you couldn’t WAIT to leave and have an excuse not to talk to me. You wouldn’t even answer my calls or texts, and most of the time it only about regular shit, like ‘Bring home some toilet paper.’”

“Ju, I’m sorry!”

“You ghosted me like some fuckboy. You KNOW how my relationships with men have gone… and now you’ve ruined women for me too...”

“Ju, I swear to God, if I had known how you felt-”

“Stop playing coy. You knew how I felt when I left you those dusty, sappy ass voicemails when you were gone. You knew how I felt when I made you come 4 times in one night.You just didn’t want to commit, and I get it. But you can’t just buy back my fucking friendship and, for once, throwing money at the problem ain’t gonna make it disappear, Boogie.”

“Ju…” Boogie reached out touching her shoulder, teary-eyed, when Ju shrugged her off “ I really am sorry…”

“You’re right about one thing: I’m not a lesbian- hell I never even considered myself bi, but what I am willing to admit, is I am damaged. In spite of that, I trusted you, because we were friends, and you made me feel accepted, only to turn around an reject me on the basis that you’re ‘not a lesbian’. I’d never been with a woman before you; how about you, Boogie?

Boogie’s eyes were glued to her champagne stained shoes with guilt.

“Fuck you.” Ju said, with her back facing Boogie as she pulled out another cigarette. “I never want to see you again.”

Boogie, slowly nodded before hesitantly turning around to pull the door open to see cast shadows on the floor scrambling from around the hallway corner, that let her know everyone heard everything.

As she walked back into the suite, everyone was behaving so over the top in trying to act normal, Boogie couldn’t help but call it out.

“I feel so dirty.” she admitted. “Look, guys, I’m leaving… for good. I didn’t want things to end like this,”

“Aww! Boogie” They exclaimed and began coming in to hug her goodbye when she held up a hand, stopping them and backing away toward the door.

“I really don’t deserve it,” she said, teary eyed, “I just wanted one last good memory, for old-time’s-sake, but I’m sorry, ya’ll; I can’t do this… “

“Boogie, wait!” Dejah called out as Boogie opened the door to leave.

“I’ll send for my things. Goodbye.”

As the door shut behind her, the room fell silent with a heaviness that left them all feeling disconnected and hollow. The candy nipples and crumbled BDSM gingerbread men littering the floor along with smashed cupcakes and spilled champagne, prompted them all to begin cleaning up the mess, while humming “happy birthday” in such a somber tone it sounded like a negro spiritual.

___________________________________________________________________

The weeks that followed stretched into a month, and as the weather started to become warmer, the Buttacreme house welcomed a new college sophomore who moved into Boogie’s old room and mostly kept to herself.

The awkwardness surrounding the birthday party, had created a moody tension around Ju, that, at the slightest mention or reference to Boogie seemed to set her off into a funk that would last for days.

Other than that, some normalcy was returning with the intro of the new girl, Kayla, since she was unaware of the drama and simply offered up baked goods to anyone and everyone who was interested.

“She’s cool.” Rai said to Jayti, taking a sip of lemonade as they sat out on lawn chairs in the backyard, soaking up the springtime sun.

“Yeah, she’s so innocent though.” Jayti laughed, “Remember when we were that age?”

“God, I don’t think I was ever so baby-faced in my youth.”

Jayti sighed and opened up her magazine to read up on the latest gossip.

“Oh my god!” Jayti’s jaw dropped.

“What?” Rai looked up suddenly, from her phone.

“House meeting…” Jayti said, flipping the magazine and showing Rai the article.

__________________________________________________________________

It was dark by the time Ju came out of her room. As she bound down the stairs, headed to the kitchen, she saw the entire house, save for Kayla, seated in the living room, surrounding the coffee table, whispering quietly amongst themselves. It looked suspicious to say the least.

“What’s up?” She asked, taking a detour into the living room to see a single magazine in the center of the coffee table.

They all remained silent, not certain how to break the news.

Dejah grabbed the magazine, and flipped to the page, handing it to Ju.

Upon seeing Boogie’s photo, Ju scoffed, pushing the quarterly, back at Dejah, with rejection, when Dejah, pushed it again, for Ju to take a closer look.

“...The 34 year old best-selling author was reported missing on April 6th 2020 soon after she arrived in Japan, when she unexpectedly didn’t show up for a book signing, and subsequent attempts to contact or locate her yielded no results. The police began an ongoing investigation that led them to the local den of Yakuza who are known to use spiritual mediums situationally.

Ichigo Soichirou, the lead detective on Blaire Patel’s case, reported that it “isn’t uncommon for the Yakuza to outsource to a foreigner as they are harder to track.”

April 12th, only 6 days after the initial report, Miss Patel’s body was found in a Freight container at a commercial loading site in Tokyo Harbor. The case is ongoing, suspects are being interrogated and arrests have been made, but the tragedy of Patel’s sudden and violent end has undoubtedly shaken her family and fanbase to the core. Prayers and condolences to the family and close friends of ‘The Ratchet Medium’ author. She will be missed.”

Ju’s breath shuddered, prompting Deenie to stand up and hug her, when she pulled away, hyperventilating for breath.

“She’s….gone.” Ju sobbed.

Desty ran to hug her oldest friend, stroking her hair and whispering comforting words to her, when Ju pulled away, turning her back to them and slowly, ascending the stairs as they called after her, worried.

Once she got to the landing at the top, Desty’s voice called out emotionally.

“JU! We all loved her! Stop pushing us away! We need to heal together!”

Ju’s hand gripped the wooden stair banister, digging her nails into the varnished finish, when she slowly turned her head looking down at the lot of them, standing and looking up at her, with deep concern ingrained into their facial expressions.

“These are the last tears I cry for Boogie.” Ju announced. “Good Riddance.”

With a final wipe of her tears, her footsteps receded and her bedroom door slammed shut; leaving them all  frozen in a moment of time wondering what would happen now?

[meladotjournal]

Esther - Like A Stone

Esther Abigale Lebel, despite everything, is still human. It’s her time. For now, at least. And all hunters go the same way- bloody. But what exactly happens when someone like her dies?

ESTHER has left the chat. 

Feauring: Aeszura and Dionysus. As always, I have no idea what I’m doing. If I write your character wrong, or if you have any comments at all, please tell me! I encourage it! I need to be more productive, and if you need me to rewrite absolutely anything/everything, I am more than willing to have something to do!

Takes place during Supernatural Season 12, Episode 21, set at the end of Esther’s story. Near 1800 words. 

/////

May 11, 2017

I walk out of the cabin, not bothering to clean up the mess inside. The fire I had started inside was already spreading. Sure, the bodies would smell, but at least I could be sure that I wouldn’t have to worry about any more undead spirits in this town anytime soon.

It was an easy hunt involving a couple of serial killers and a surprisingly helpful ghost. I was surprised that no local hunters (whose names I rarely bothered to remember) had picked up on it before I did. Jobs were becoming unsettlingly easy to find. I’m not one to back off of a case- I’ve been known to force other hunters off of jobs, but it felt wrong, and the recent British invasion was nothing if not suspicious. It made me almost glad that I hadn’t made many friends in the hunting community. 

And not that I was lonely or anything, but damn! I haven’t even heard from Aes. And I think we all know how much she likes to talk my ear off about things I hardly understand. But at least she sticks around, you know? I was worried about her, but don’t tell her I said so.

I start towards my car before I hear rustling in the trees. Or was it the fire? My paranoid ass wasn’t looking to wait to find out. That’s when I notice my tires were slashed. Shit. Shit! Here I am, moping like an idiot just to find out that someone’s tailing me. Just my luck. Shit!

I’d go back into the cabin, but that thing is on the verge of collapse at this point. I make a break for it, running into the thickest-looking stretch of forest, aiming in the direction of the shitty little town where I booked a shitty little motel suite.

I find a clearing nearby. Bad for cover, but a hell of a lot easier to run through. Just as I’m plotting my zig-zag formation, I see a big black SUV. Definitely bulletproof. Ominous. There’s sigils etched all over the thing. Shit. Those British fucks were onto me. I’ve been avoiding these cars for months.

I’ve spent too much time examining this thing. Lucky for me, this dumbass left the passenger door unlocked. Sloppy for one of the Men of Letters, though. What was he, drunk? Even the footsteps were sloppy. Small, around my size.

I hop in and crawl into the backseat, locking all the doors manually. I spot my reflection in the window. Jesus, I look terrified. My hands are shaking, and I find myself fiddling with my necklace. Stupid! Be productive! I use my stupid shaky hands to call the first person on my contacts list.

/////

We were getting ready for the next hunt, just like always. This was a big one, I can’t quite remember what, but it was something to do with demons and some weird hoodoo drug trade. And as much as I hate needing help, Aes and Dio were helping. In their own ways.

If I hadn’t met them while I was soulless, I doubt I’d have had the balls to stand my ground. In all honesty, they’re terrifying. I feel like at any moment, they could just eat me alive, or tell me that whatever bond we’d built was a part of some elaborate prank. But even I‘ll admit that I’m not exactly “best fwend” material. So I guess it works.

None of us sleep much. We were fooling around, getting drunk off the minibar while we watched the sunrise from the comfort of our surprisingly classy hotel room, thanks to Dio’s snappy finger magic.

“I think I finally figured it out,” Aeszura cackled. “I know exactly how I’d kill you.”

I rolled my eyes while Dio played along. “I really fucking doubt you could, little miss musical.ly star.”

“Yes, I could. I’d film it. No- I’d livestream it. And people would give me so much fucking money just to watch your smug ass die. I know the websites. Hell,” she laughed, “Facebook Live would work just fine. My followers would love it. Idiots.”

“You don’t even know what I am. I’ve been alive for thousands of years. I could be anything.”

“Time works different in hell. Like Australia. You can’t imagine how long I’ve been kicking ass. But I know exactly what you are. Dionysus.”

“I honestly doubt it. Dumbass.”

“You’re a little bitch, that’s what you are.”

I downed another one of the funky little cinnamon drinks. Not Fireball, but something fancier to match the room, and the Greek cotton I was spilling it on. Higher thread counts were pretty good at absorbing alcohol. Nice. I tried drawing patterns with my finger on the sheets before it could evaporate.

/////

I ran my nails along the face of my phone, fidgeting with the cracks in the screen. “Aes. Please, fucking pick up. I’m going crazy here. Crazier than usual. I’m talking to myself. I swear to-”

“Hey, bitch! What’s up?”

“Oh thank fucking god- Aes, I-”

“HAHA! Just kidding. This is my voicemail. Ha. Sorry. Follow me @stankthottie on musical.ly and-”

“SHIT.” I pound my head on the window, immediately regretting it. I can’t believe I fall for that stupid fucking voicemail every fucking time.

There’s no way I’m gonna be able to hotwire this car or anything. And even if I could, the Men of Letters would know that I stole it and track me down before I could even look at an asphalt road. I don’t know what I was thinking, getting into this car in the first place.

“-anyways, leave me a message after the scream or whatever. Except if you’re an angel or some shit. Eat a dick.”

“Aes, I’m such a dumbass. I’m in one of their cars. They slashed my tires and I- I can’t-” I squeezed my eyes shut, taking a deep breath.

“It doesn’t look good. I’m alone. Haven’t been able to figure out where all the hunters have been going and you know my knife hasn’t been working the same since Asteraoth… you know…” Shit, I’m crying. “-and I’m just so fucking scared, okay? I don’t know where you’ve been and why you’ve been avoiding me or whatever but now would be a really really great time to pop in and do that whole dramatic-as-all-hell smokey thing and save my sorry ass-”

I could’ve sworn I saw something in the trees. Someone? Blonde.

It’s started to rain. Great. Awesome. Fantastic. I try to shuffle my body lower into the seats and closer to the floor of the car. I can see the sky through the windows. The sun’s setting. It’ll be dark soon. I was hoping on getting some biscuits and gravy or something from the diner for dinner before heading out of town. My hiding spot smells like leather. And blood.

/////

“Fine. Fine! Then how- how’d you kill Esther, huh?”

“I don’t even know if that bitch can physically die. Can you die?” Aeszura threw an empty beer can in my direction, laughing, barely missing my head.

“Hrruhgh?” I grumbled.

“CAN. YOU. DIE.”

“Of course she can. Everyone does…” He paused, slouching. Before he thought we noticed his change in tone, he winked. “‘Cept me, of course.”

“I dunno. I’ll go to hell probably. Jus’ like everyone else.”

“Yeah right, with all those angels up your ass? You’ve got half of heaven on your stupid speed dial. It’s disgusting.”

“You’re sounding pretty self-righteous for a demon. What’s got your panties in a twist, huh, pink eyes?”

“They’re RED, fuckhead. Shut up. I hate you.” She coughed. “Ess, I don’t even know if you could go to hell. Trust me- I practically run the joint. Your soul isn’t, like, ‘soul-y’ enough. I don’t know what that angel did to you but-”

“He saved my-”

“Shut UP. Call it whatever the hell you want, but I know souls, okay? It’s kind of my fucking job. But even I’m not exactly sure what would happen if your m-eatsuit-” she paused to gag, “-exploded or something. It’s not a soul anymore. I’m not sure if it- if you - could even go anywhere.”

“Can’t become a ghost, can you? Your soul is already Tethered. I bet like, eight goats that you’d get trapped inside the knife or some shit like that” Dio giggles, snapping his fingers.

“Too bad your pretty little angel can’t tell you anything.” Aeszura joked, but she was getting genuinely angry. “That’s what you get for trusting some stupid fucking feathery-”

“I don’t want to talk about this anymore, guys. We have a case, remember? Why should I care, anyway? It’s not like I can do anything about it. It’s just eternity. I don’t have to worry about that when I’m busy here. Working cases. And I don’t plan on dying anytime soon.”

Dio chimed in, singing. “That’s what they all say…”

/////

I’m still on the phone. I don’t want to turn it off. I want an audience. It’s stupid and childish, but even hiding from whoever’s out there, I don’t wanna be alone.

I can hear the rain attacking the roof of the car. The leaves on the trees are shaking just as badly as I am. Stupid. I’m probably overreacting, right? It’s nothing. This is nothing. I’ve been through worse. I’ve come out of worse. Who says I’m gonna die? I don’t know the Men of Letters’ M.O. but the thought just leaves a rank taste in my mouth and a lump in my throat. There’s something outside, I can feel it.

That’s when my knife, the Tether, starts humming. I take it out from the inside of my jacket, squeezing it tight. It’s glowing for the first time in months. The thing is practically singing, the vibrations making the worst noise imaginable, like a cross between a bell and a scream. The windows start to shake and the car alarm goes off.There’s a chirp and all the doors unlock. The rear door, the one by my feet, opens.

I sit up a little (might as well) and lock eyes with a blonde woman. Short hair. Big green eyes, but they’re glazed over. She looks tired, but she’s smiling. She’s holding some complicated device, as all these British fucks do- but she doesn’t look like one of them. She’s a hunter. They must’ve recruited her. Bitch. She fiddles on something on the device and the Tether stops screaming.

She pulls out a small gun and aims it right at my chest. I flip her the bird.

[rory-aradia]

United States Metaphysical Shop Masterlist

Here is a list I have created of the above-mentioned stores using multiple sources including Aminos, personal experience and research, word of mouth, forums, and Facebook groups. To submit a store to this list please PM me or send an email to goodwicce@gmail.com!

Please include:

Name:

Address:

Phone Number:

Website:

Other: (any other miscellaneous information you think people should know about the store)

Note: I will make a separate post for Etsy stores/online shops without a physical retail location. Once posted, I will edit this post so you can find that by clicking a link here. 

My personal favorites are starred as such.*

Arizona

Name: Dry River Witches collective

Address: 414 EAST 7TH STREET, TUCSON, AZ, 85705,

Phone Number: 520-861-7020

Website: N/A

Other: Specializes in hoodoo, voodoo, tarot and feminism focus

  Name: Fantasia Crystals

Address: 5108 N 7th St, Phoenix, AZ 85014

Phone Number: (602) 265-4065

Website: https://www.fantasiacrystals.com

Other: Lots of classes and networking opportunities

 Name: Jan Ross New Age Books & Gifts

Address: 4239 W Thunderbird Rd #2, Phoenix, AZ 85053

Phone Number: (602) 841-4933

Website: http://www.janrossnewagebooksandgifts.com

Other: Lots of divination readings

 Name: Crystal Magic

Address: 2978 AZ-89A Sedona, AZ

Phone Number: N/A

Website: https://www.crystalmagic.com

Other: Huge store with an amazing selection of crystals, incense, and other tools. An entirely separate section of hundreds of books and tarot and oracle decks.

 Name: Tree of Life Metaphysical

Address: 1515 N Gilbert Rd #D112, Gilbert, AZ 85234

Phone Number: (480) 284-4705

Website: https://treeoflifemetaphysical.com/

Arkansas

Name: Atomic Squid

Address: 1410 E Main St, Russellville, Arkansas, 72801

Phone Number: (479) 968-3337

Other: Gems, Candles, Wands, Accessories, Altar Accessories, Books, Incenses and Sage, and plants.

California

Name: Everitt’s Minerals

Address: 54300 N Circle Dr., Idyllwild, CA 92549

Phone Number: (951) 659-7075

Website: https://everittsminerals.com

Other: N/A

 Name: Enchantations

Address: 2160 Winchester Blvd, Campbell, CA 95008

Phone Number: 408.508.5900

Website: http://www.enchantations.com/

Other: An actual witchcraft shop (not just metaphysical) and actually owned by witches.

 Name: House of Intuition

Address: Echo Park Location is located at 2237 W. Sunset Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90026. For additional locations please see their website.

Phone Number: 213-413-8300

Website: https://houseofintuitionla.com

Other: The store provides healing services, readings even through a phone call, classes and workshops. They also have a monthly moon box subscription and Zodiac birthday boxes.

 Name: The dragon and the rose

Address: N Grand Ave k, Santa Ana, CA 92705

Phone Number: (714) 569-0100 2424

Website: https://www.thedragonandtherose.com/  

Other: Stones & Crystals, Herbs, Essential Oils, divination tools, candles, incense, altar statuary, books, CLASSES, etc. they are well-stocked and have just about anything. They’re really kind and their customer service is very nice and helpful!

 Name: Alexandria II

Address: 170 S. Lake Ave. #100 Pasadena, CA 91101

Phone Number: https://www.alexandria2.com

Other: Has a large selection of books possibly best in LA for that, crystals, psychic readings, and metaphysical supplies, etc.

Connecticut

Name: Mondazzi Book and Bead

Address: 570 Hayden Station Road, Windsor, CT 06095

Phone Number: (860) 285-0538

Website: www.Mondazzi.com

Other: Thousands of crystals, jewelry, altar tools, candles, herbs, salt lamps, books, tarot, decor, furniture, and beads. They also have a salt room and host classes on Wicca, yoga, and jewelry making.

Delaware

Name: Finding Avalon*

Address: 102 S Main St, Camden Wyoming, DE 19934

Phone Number: 302-697-9729

Website: https://www.findingavalon.org

Other: Has a palm and tarot reader every weekend, a bi-weekly meditation group, and offers personalized appointments for Reiki, Wellness consulting, and assistance with your fitness goals (The Healing Garden at Finding Avalon). Sells everything a witch/Wiccan would need from books to crystals to jewelry to affordable ($20 range) classes on Wicca, Shamanism, Female Empowerment, Paganism, Runes, the Occult, and more. Has a great atmosphere and sells delicious hot and cold organic teas and coffee so you can sip while you shop. Oh, and an adorable black shop cat named Fiona!

 Name: Buddhas and Beads

Address: 2134, 232 Rehoboth Ave, Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971

Phone Number: 302-227-6004

Website: https://buddhas-and-beads.business.site/

Other: N/A

 Name: Inspirit Studios*

Address: 190 Dogwood Drive, Magnolia, DE 19962

Phone Number: 302-222-4804

Website: https://www.inspiritstudios.com/

Other: Offers Intuitive healing through a variety of holistic modalities for the support of physical wellbeing and spiritual growth. Owned by Anita Brown, an Intuitive healer, Reiki Master/Teacher, Meditation Instructor and seeker whose goal is to offer natural, holistic  therapies such as Reiki, Aromatherapy, herbals, sound and crystal work, and meditation as a way to encourage healing and to support you on your spiritual journey. They also offer classes and workshops in the areas of Reiki, Shamanism, meditation and chakra work.

 Name: Mandie’s Magical Marketplace

Address: 818 Kings Hwy, Lewes, DE 19958

Phone Number: 302-858-3859

Website: https://mandiesmagicalreadings.com/ and mandiesmagicalmarketplace.org

Other: A shop run by a medium and psychic who offers classes of that nature and sells a wide array of magical items. Holds monthly Full Moon Gatherings on Lewes Beach.

 Name: Crystal Underground

Address: 149 Rehoboth Ave, Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971

Phone Number: 302-727-8228

Website: https://www.crystalunderground.com/

Other: A 30+-year-old crystal shop with a knowledgeable owner.

Florida

Name: My Cauldron

Address: 210 S Spring Garden Ave, DeLand, FL 32720

Phone Number: 1-386-624-7000

Website: No website.

Other: Crystals, Tarot, Incense, Deity Figures, Wands, Books, Jewelry

 Name: The Purple Lotus

Address: 106 St. George St., St. Augustine, Florida AND 35 San Marco St., Augustine, Florida

Phone Number: 904-295-8876

Website: thepurplelotusshop.com

Other: 2 locations one (on St. George St) is much smaller than the other both have the the same assortment of things, but the larger location does have a broader selection of items. Starting July 2018 there will also be classes and workshops at the larger (San Marco) location.

 Name: Spiritual Uplifts

Address: 2186 Park Avenue Suite 102, Orange Park, Florida 32073

Phone Number: N/A

Website: www.spiritualuplifts.com

Other: This shop specializes in crystals, Tarot cards, psychic readings, energy healings, weekly classes on witchcraft and other occult knowledge.

 Name: Spellbound Gemz-Jewelz & Beyond

Address: 120 FL-13, Saint John’s, Florida 32259

Phone Number: N/A

Website: On Facebook only.

Other: Specializes in crystals, tapestries, oils, Tarot readings.

 Name: Midnight Sun

Address: 1055 Park Street, Jacksonville, Florida 32204

Website: midnightsunimports.net

Other: Specializes in incense, singing bowls, books, jewelry, clothing, home decor, unique crystals, custom items

 Name: Earth Gifts

Address: 1951 Stimson Street, Jacksonville, Florida 32210

Phone Number: N/A

Website: earthgifts.com

Other: Specializes in herbs, statues, necklaces, pendulums, books, art, crystals

 Name: Gypsy Apothecary Herb & Metaphysical Shoppe

Address: 3540 S Orange Ave, Orlando, FL 32806.

Phone Number: (407) 745-5805.

Website: http://www.gypsyherbshop.com

Other: N/A

 Name: Avalon

Address: 1211 Hillcrest St, Orlando, FL 32803

Phone Number: (407) 895-7439

Website: http://www.avalonbeyond.com

Other: N/A

 Name: Spiral Circle

Address: 750 N Thornton Ave, Orlando, FL 32803

Phone Number: (407) 894-9854

Website: spiralcircle.com

Other: N/A

 Name: The Caudron’s Corner

Address: 1721 9th Street West, Bradenton, FL, 34205

Phone Number: (941)-800-9393

Website: https://www.thecauldronscorner.com/

Other: They have an awesome herb collection and also give classes in Wicca.

 Name: Five Sisters

Address: 8805 SW 132nd St, Miami, FL 33176

Phone Number: (786) 250-4170

Website: http://www.fivesisters.com

Other: Metaphysical store with weekly classes and events

 Name: Creative Energy

Address: 780 W New Haven Ave, Melbourne, FL 32901

Phone Number: +13219526789

Website: https://m.facebook.com/creativenergymelbourne/

Other: They have everything except herbs. You can find crystals, Oracle and Tarot cards, wands, fairies, books, cauldrons, Sage, etc. they have the surge invited by section so if you looking for something from week our presidents and there's a whole shelf dedicated to it. If you're looking for fairies there's an entire shelf dedicated to fairies, and so and so...

 Name: The Triskele Cove Jacksonville

Address: 10300 Southside Blvd #1090B, Jacksonville, FL 32256

Phone Number: N/A

Website: https://m.facebook.com/TheTriskeleCoveJax/

Other: Metaphysical supply store located in the Avenues Mall

 Name: Crystal Garden

Address: 2610 N Federal Hwy, Boynton Beach, FL  33435

Phone Number: +1 (561) 369-2836

Website: Thecrystalgarden.com

Other: Jewelry, essential oils, crystals and gemstones, chimes, books, decks and spoken audio, aromatic mists

 Name: Expedito Enlightenment Center

Address: 4047 Okeechobee Blvd, Habitat Plaza #129, West Palm Beach, FL 33409

Phone Number: 561-682-0955

Website: botanicasanexpedito.com

Other: Vast selection of candles, spiritual oils, herbs, spiritual baths, spiritual sprays, bath salts, religious articles, spiritual books, statues, and crystals from around the world.

 Name: Mama Jo's Sunshine Herbals

Address: 1300 Pine Tree Dr # 3, Indian Harbour Beach, FL 32937

Phone Number: N/A

Website: N/A

Other: N/A

Georgia

Name: WhiteOak Art Designs

Address: 11661 Commerce Rd, Athens, GA 30607

Phone Number: (706) 362-2517

Website: http://whiteoak-art-designs-more.business.site

Other: You can get a tarot reading here, and they specialize in herbs and altar tools.

 Name: Simple Strands

Address: 115 Merchants Square, Cumming, GA 30040

Phone Number: (770) 781-2283

Website: http://www.simplestrands.com

Other: N/A

 Name: The Open Mind Center

Address: 1575 Old Alabama Road, #213, Roswell, GA, 30076

Phone Number: N/A

Website: www.theopenmindcenter.com

Other: Yoga Studio, Metaphysical/Reiki Shop, Sells crystals/stones, tarot, candles/incense, natural salts, and essential oils. Offers psychic readings, yoga, reiki, classes and workshops, coaching, massages, and wellness services.

 Name: Sun, Moon & Stars

Address: 120 Clarksville Plaza, Unit A, Clarksville, GA 30523

Phone Number: (706)754-5417

Website: www.sunmoonandstars.net

Other: They sell crystals/stones, candles and holders, incense and burners, essential oils, bulk herbs, natural health/beauty products, tarot and Oracle cards (new and used), books (new and used), jewelry, statuary, decor, many other metaphysical/spiritual supplies, and local artisans' consignment items. They offer Tarot, Rune, Tea Leaf, and Oracle readings, workshops and classes, custom herb and oil blending, and clergy services.

 Name: The Triskele Cove Savannah

Address: 7804 Abercorn Extension, Savannah, Georgia 31406

Phone Number: N/A

Website: https://m.facebook.com/TheTriskeleCoveSavannah/

Other: Metaphysical supply store kiosk located in Oglethorpe Mall.

 Name: Cosmic Corner

Address: 905 Abercorn Street, Savannah, GA 31401

Phone Number: N/A

Website: https://www.cosmiccornersavannah.com/

Other: Metaphysical supply store.

 Name: Brighter Day

Address: 1102 Bull Street, Savannah, Ga 31401

Phone Number: N/A

Website: http://www.brighterdayfoods.com/

Other: Health food store that sells witchy things such as essential oils, smudge sticks and an array of herbs (literally the only place I've seen in person that sells dragons blood resin).

 Name: Phoenix & Dragon Bookstore

Address: 5531 Roswell Rd NE, Sandy Springs, GA 30342

Phone Number: 404-255-5207

Website: N/A

Other: Tarot readings, massages, candles, books, statues, sprays, jewelry, crystals, and best of all - shop cats!

 Name: Forever And A Day LLC,

Address: 7830 GA-92, Woodstock, GA 30189

Phone Number: 770-516-6969

Website: N/A

Other: Statues, crystals, tarot readings, psychic fairs, salt cave.

Illinois

Name: Enlightened Balance Chakra Spa 

Address: 30 N. Williams St. F Crystal Lake, IL 60014

Phone Number: N/A

Website: N/A

Other: N/A

 Name: Pandoras Box

Address: 1100 Derby St. Pekin, IL 61554

Phone Number: N/A

Website: N/A

Other: N/A

 Name: Evolve

Address: 54 N. Williams St. Crystal Lake, IL 60014

Phone Number: N/A

Website: N/A

Other: N/A

 Name: Alchemy Arts Occult Supply 

Address: 1203 W. Bryn Mawr Ave, Chicago, IL 60660 

Phone Number: (773) 769-4970

Website: N/A

Other: N/A

 Name: Sincerely the Craft

Address: 22 E. Main St. Belleville IL 62220

Phone Number: N/A

Website: N/A

Other: Metaphysical. Occult. Esoteric. Spiritual. Crystals. Tarot Reading. Herbs. Incense.  Candles.

Indiana

Name: All My Relations

Address: 7218 Rockville Rd, Indianapolis, IN 46214.

Phone Number: (317) 227-3925.

Website: http://allmyrelationsindy.com/

Other: They specialize in crystals and have a HUGE selection as well as having jewelry, candles, books, and other items typical in metaphysical shops. They also, do readings of different kinds, offer a variety of classes and small groups, and have pitch-in celebrations for the solstices and equinoxes.

 Name: Elderberry Tree House Shoppe

Address: 7714 Lima Rd, Fort Wayne, IN 46818

Phone Number: (260)489-6707.

Website: N/A

Other: Amazing customer service and a knowledgeable owner.

 Name: The Pride

Address: 6823 Indianapolis Blvd, Hammond, Indiana

Phone Number: 219.844.2244

Website: N/A

Other: N/A

 Name: Castle-Brooks Spiritual Supply

Address: 713 Main St., Lafayette, IN 47901

Phone Number: (765) 420-8082

Website: N/A

Other: The store feels very peaceful. Great selection of crystals, statues, components, some books. Very knowledgeable and helpful staff who will order any book you want.

 Name: Von’s Book Shop

Address: 315 State St., West Lafayette, IN 47906

Phone Number: (765) 743-1915

Website: N/A

Other: Not nominally a metaphysical store, but has tons of crystals, jewelry, statues, and books in that genre.

 Name: Amused Clothing

Address: 316 1/2 W State St., West Lafayette, IN 47906

Phone Number: N/A

Website: N/A

Other: Not nominally a metaphysical store but has a huge selection of individual incense types. Cool vibe.

Iowa

Name: Om

Address: 105 S. Linn St Iowa City IA 52240

Phone: (319) 358-1282

Website: http://infiniteomgifts.com

Other: N/A

Kansas

Name: The Energy Within KC

Address: 7807 W 151st Street, Overland Park, Kansas

Phone Number: (913) 296-8412

Website: N/A

Other: N/A

 Name: Into the Mystic

Address: 5727 Johnson Dr, Mission, KS 66202

Phone Number: +1 913-766-9906

Website: N/A

Other: N/A

Louisiana

Name: The Peace of Mind Center

Address: 3722 Youree Dr., Shreveport, LA 71105

Phone Number: 318-219-8344

Website: https://thepeaceofmindcenter.com/

Other: N/A

 Name: Coyote Moon Crystals & Gifts

Address: 1938 Perkins Rd, Baton Rouge, LA 70808

Phone Number: N/A

Website: http://coyotemoonbr.com/

Other: They’re very affordable for someone on a budget and the store is kept smelling amazing.

 Name: Earth Odyssey

Address: 306 Charles St., New Orleans, LA

Phone Number: 504.581.1348

Website: http://www.earthodysseynola.com

Other: Specializes in crystals and jewelry, but does offer psychic readings.

Maine

Name: Enchanted Herbs and Teas

Address: 48 Maine St, Waterville, Maine 04901

Phone Number: 207-860-0318

Website: https://enchantedherbsmaine.com

Other: Offers Tarot and Oracle readings, Tea Leaf readings, Reiki, hypnosis, psychic healing, sells loose leaf personally blended teas, herbs, stones, and candles, as well as other assorted goodies.

 Name: Dragon Star Creations

Address: 45 Cottage St, Sanford, ME 04073

Phone Number: N/A

Website: https://dragonstarcreationsonline.com/

Other: Regular shop items as well as some clothing and decoration items. They also occasionally host events where people can come together and cast spells, get tarot readings, and even get massages. The shop owner is very friendly

Maryland

Name: India Emporium

Address:  107 S Baltimore Ave, Ocean City, Maryland 21842\

Phone Number: 

Website: https://www.facebook.com/OCIndiaEmporium/

Other: Not a metaphysical shop per se, but definitely in the same realm. Affordable incense, beautiful jewelry, essential oils and perfumes made by the owner. Lovely atmosphere.   Name: The Smile Herb Shop

Address: 4908 Berwyn Rd, College Park, MD 20740

Phone Number: (301) 474-8791

Website: https://www.smileherb.com

Other: Comfy shop offering an array of herbal supplements, teas & holistic items plus garden plants

Name: Earthly Elements

Address:  33 N Market St, Frederick, MD 21701

Phone Number: (301) 631-5511

Website: http://www.earthlyrocks.com

Other: Earthly Elements strives to be an old style Rock Shop carrying a large variety of mineral specimens, crystals, gemstones, fossils, metaphysical stones, as well as unique gifts.

Name: The Turning Wheel

Address: 7942 Belair Rd, Baltimore, MD 21236

Phone Number: (410) 882-8060

Website: https://www.facebook.com/The-Turning-Wheel-Bookstore-101532546680197/

Other: Everything Metaphysical Bookstore for the Witch in you. Everything from crystals to Norse items.

Name:  Crystals, Candles, & Cauldrons

Address: 927 W 36th St, Baltimore, MD 21211

Phone Number: (410) 467-4111

Website: https://www.wiccancrystal.com

Other: Unique shop with a curated collection of mystical wares, such as incense, tarot cards & wind chimes.

Name: Black Cat Curiosities Art and Antiques

Address: 24 Harrison St., Easton, Maryland

Phone Number: (410) 924-4436

Website: https://www.facebook.com/theblackcateaston/

Other: N/A

Name: The Crystal Fox

Address: 311 Main Street, Laurel, Maryland 20707

Phone Number: 301-317-1980

Website: N/A

Other: N/A

Massachusetts

Name: Atlantic Spice Co.

Address: 2 Shore Rd, North Truro MA 02652

Phone Number: (800) 316-7965 and (508) 487-6100

Website: www.atlanticspice.com

Other: N/A

 Name: Mystik Moon

Address: 244 Commercial St, Provincetown MA

Phone Number: 508-487-6006

Website: https://mystikmoon.com

Other: N/A

 Name: Shop Therapy

Address: 288 Commercial St, Provincetown MA

Phone Number: 508-487-9387

Website: https://www.shoptherapy.com

Other: N/A

 Name: Buddha Beads

Address: 2390 US-6, Eastham, MA

Phone Number: 774-207-0105

Website: ttps://www.facebook.com/pg/BuddhabobsCapecod/

Other: N/A

 Name: Earth House

Address: 121 Rt 6A, Orleans MA 02653

Phone Number: 508-240-0257

Website: https://www.earthhouse.com

Other: N/A

 Name: Instant Karma

Address: 547 Main St, Hyannis, MA 02601

Phone Number: 508-827-4212

Website: www.instantkarmahyannis.com/home.html

Other: N/A

 Name: Seven Stars

Address: 731 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA 02139

Phone Number: (617) 547-1317

Website: No website.

Other: Its half bookstore half crystal shop. They have books on every religion or philosophy you could think of, they sell crystals and tarot and a bunch of miscellaneous magic tools behind the cashier. The staff is super lovely and its a calm atmosphere.

 Name: New Moon Gifts

Address: 5 Cheshire Rd, Pittsfield, MA, 01201. (Allendale Shopping Center)

Phone Number: N/A

Website: https://m.facebook.com/newmoongiftshop/

Other: It has crystals, smudges, incense, cauldrons, mortars, herbs, candles, Wiccan charms, spells, BOS's (as per my request), essential oils, and totems, to name a few things. Most of the stuff there is above 5 dollars, but the incense is 25 cents per stick.

Michigan

Name: Coyote Wisdom

Address: 2442 N. Grand River Ave., Lansing, MI 48906

Phone Number: 517-323-1707

Website: www.coyotewisdomstore.com

Other: They have a loyalty card for a discount and first timers get to draw from a grab bag of goodies like crystals.

 Name: Glow Fish Studios

Address: 2840 Biddle Ave Wyandotte, MI  48192 United States

Phone Number: (734) 552-6323

Website: glowfishstudios.com

Other: Specializes in crystals and tarot.

 Name: Kokopelli’s Korner

Address: 111 east grand river, Howell, Michigan

Phone Number: N/A

Website: http://www.kokopelliskorner.com/

Other: Offers crystals, jewelry, tarot cards, incense, tea, herbs, etc. Owner is amazing.

 Name: Boston Tea Room

Address, Ferndale 224 west nine miles rode Ferndale MI

Phone Number: 248-548-1415

Website: N/A

Other: Offers a wide variety of crystals tarot and palm reading, salts, and candles and herbs and incenses, figures and free tea

Minnesota

Name: Enchanted Boutique

Address: 4074 White Bear Ave N, White Bear Lake, MN 55110

Phone Number: (651) 600-3769

Website: enchantedboutiquemn.com

Other: N/A

 Name: Eye of Horus Metaphysical

Address: 910 W Lake St, Minneapolis, MN 55408

Phone Number: (612) 872-1292

Website: eyeofhorus.biz

Other: N/A

 Name: Magus Books & Herbs

Address:1848 Central Ave NE, Minneapolis, MN 55418

Phone Number: (612) 379-7669

Website: magusbooks.com

Other: They recently moved places so if you are looking for a place on google maps and can't find it, that is why. There are tarot, home things, incense, other cards, books, jewelry, witchy tools, statues, essential oils, herbs, crystals and talismans of different cultures.

 Name: The Wellness Circle

Address: 7094 Lake Dr, Lino Lakes, MN 55014

Phone Number: (612) 871-5622

Website: thewellnesscircle.vpweb.com

Other: This one specifically is less of a witchy-centered store and more about health and healing in general. They have a chiropractic person, they offer yoga, acupuncture, massages, natural healing, intuitive readings, hypnosis, and aromatherapy.

 Name: The Chakra House

Address: 1620 7th St W, St Paul, MN 55102

Phone Number: (651) 493-2586

Website: thechakrahousemn.com

Other: This house/shop submitter would rate more than 5/5 stars. You can get a bunch of services there and it is just starting to grow. It offers tarot readings, AMAZING aura readings, crystals, rock lamps, oils, candles, and books. I personally got my aura read there for around 45$ and it is worth the money. The the reader is absolutely an angel. You get a picture of your aura around your head, and then around your body, in addition, it talks about your chakras and what you could work on to improve them individually. It is wonderful.

 Name: Divine Time

Address: 14555 S Robert Trail, Rosemount, MN 55068

Phone Number: (612) 961-7879

Website: N/A

Other: N/A

Missouri

Name: Aquarius

Address: 3936 Broadway Blvd, Kansas City, MO 64111

Phone Number: +1 816-931-6303

Website: http://www.aquariusbooks.com

Other: N/A

Nebraska

Name: Euphoria

Address: 4139 O Street, Lincoln, NE. 68510

Phone Number: 402-488-8853

Website: N/A

Other: N/A

Nevada

Name: Crystal Alley Emporium

Address: 2841 N. Green Valley Parkway, Las Vegas, NV 89178

Phone Number: 702-434-7626

Website: http://www.crystalalleyemporium.com

Other: N/A

New Hampshire

Name: New Day Metaphysical

Address. 9 Madbury Rd, Suite 103, Durham, NH 03824

Phone Number: (781) 724-8447

Website: https://newdaymetaphysical.gosite.com

Other: This store has a nice variety of altar supplies and various herbs/oils/etc and provide tarot readings.

 Name: Scallops Mineral and Shells (Market St. Location)

Address: 93 Market St., Portsmouth, NH 03801

Phone Number: (603) 828-2044

Website: https://www.scallopsmineralandshell.com

Other: A wide selection of crystals, gems, fossils, and basically any fancy rock you can think of in lots of different cuts and shapes. They also carry jewelry and some other items such as books and tarot decks.

New Jersey

Name: Goddess in Eden

Address: 282 Bloomfield Ave, Verona, NJ 07044

Phone Number: 973-919-3600

Website: N/A

Other: It’s a regular metaphysical shop that also offers classes and has a psychic.

 Name: The Gem Mine

Address: 65 Westwood Ave, Westwood, NJ 07675

Phone Number: 201-722-8676

Website: N/A

Other: Crystal shop, but the staff is also knowledgeable of their metaphysical properties.

 Name: Rocky’s Crystals and Minerals

Address: 559 Bloomfield Ave, Montclair, NJ

Phone Number: N/A

Website: https://www.rockyscrystalsonline.com

Other: Large selection of high-quality crystals and jewelry for decent prices, and a wide selection of reiki candles, as well as some dried herbs and other useful items. They provide tons of information on every product in their store.

New Mexico

Name: Abitha's Metaphysical Shop

Address: 2231 Wyoming Blvd NE, Albuquerque, NM 87112

Phone Number: (505) 262-0401

Website: https://www.abithas.us

A a family-owned and operated shop that specializes in purpose oils, incense, and ritual herbs. Other: With over 1,200 blends of oils, and 30 years of magickal herbalist experience to create custom spell kits, fixed candles, and ritual herbs to help the seeker along their path.  They also carry a variety of crystals and stones, wands and foci, runes and pendulums, altar cloths and athames, tarot and oracle decks.

(Upstate) New York

Name: Bramble

Address: 118 W Green St., Ithaca, NY 14850

​Phone Number: (607) 379-0113

Website: http://www.brambleithaca.com/

Other: Community Herbalism store with dried herbs, tinctures, balms, sage, and community classes.

 Name: Crossroads Gifts & Wellness

Address: 131 & 133 Jay St, Schenectady, NY 12305

Phone Number: +1 518-357-8366

Website: http://www.crossroadsgallery.com

Other: N/A

 Name: The Magic Moon

Address: 15 Phila St, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866

Phone Number: +1 518-583-2488

Website: N/A

Other: N/A

 Name: Mythic Treasures

Address: 274 Goodman St N # B127, Rochester, NY 14607

Phone Number: N/A

Website: https://www.mythictreasures.com/

Other: N/A

 Name: Epiphanies

Address: 215 East Ridge Road, Rochester, NY 14621

Phone Number: N/A

Website: http://epiphanies.business.site/

Other: N/A

 Name: Mystic Moon

Address: 115 Park Ave, Rochester, NY 14607

Phone Number: N/A

Website: http://www.mysticmoononpark.com/

Other: N/A

 Name: Spirit & Crystal Connections

Address: 714 University Ave, Rochester, NY 14607

Phone Number: N/A

Website: http://spirit-crystal-connections.business.site/

Other: N/A

 Name: Psychic Thyme

Address: 1460 Lyell Ave, Rochester, NY 14606

Phone Number: N/A

Website: N/A

Other: N/A

 Name: High winds Herbs

Address: Campbell Hill Rd, Middleburgh, NY

Phone Number: (518)827-4030

Website: highwindsherbs.com

Other: Specializes in herbs; smoking, medicinal, magickal, tea, resin, ethnobotanicals

 Name: It’s Called Herbal Magick, Inc.

Address: 402 West Ave., Lockport, NY  14094

Phone Number: +1 (716) 439-5144

Website: N/A

Other: N/A

New York City

Manhattan

 Name: Flower Power Herbs and Roots, Inc.

Address: 406 East 9th St., New York, N.Y. 10009

Phone Number: 212-982-6664

Website: N/A

Other: N/A

 Name: Rock Star Crystals*

Address: 146 W 126th St, New York NY 10001

Phone Number: 212-675-3065

Website: http://rockstarcrystalsmanhattan.com/

Other: Gemstones, Jewelry, Fossils, Meteorites, Shells and Metaphysical Tools. The person who runs the store is extremely knowledgeable and happily assists with any needs you might have. Came here even before converting to Paganism and fell in love. A tiny but beautiful shop I came upon by happenstance.

 Name: Enchantments

Address: 424 E 9th St., New York, NY

Phone Number: (212)-228-4394

Website: enchantmentsinnyc.com

Other: Offers a small selection of books, tarot/oracle decks, incense, herbs, custom candles, and more.

 Name: Namaste Bookshop

Address: 2 W 14th St., New York, NY

Phone Number: (212)-645-0141

Website: NamasteBookshop.com

Other: Specializes in crystals and books. A wide array of tarot/oracle cards. Candles, jewelry, incense and more. In-store readings.

 Name: Stick, Stone, & Bone*

Address: 113 Christopher St, New York, NY 10014

Phone Number: 212-807-7024

Website: www.stickstonebone.com

Other: N/A

 Brooklyn

 Name: Catland Books*

Address: 987 Flushing Avenue, Brooklyn, NY

Phone Number: 718-418-9393

Website: catlandbooks.com

Other: Offers great books and wares for all experience levels.

 Name: Ruby’s House of Crystals

Address: 119 Columbia Street, Brooklyn, NY 11231

Phone Number: N/A

Website: rubyshouseofcrystals.com

Other: N/A

 Queens

 N/A

 Bronx

 N/A

 Staten Island

 Name: East Meets West*

Address: 2655 Richmond Ave, Staten Island, NY 10314 (Staten Island Mall)

Phone Number: 718-494-3064

Website: https://www.eastmeetswestusa.com/

Other: Nice little metaphysical shop in the mall.

 Name: Magic Moon Sisters*

Address: 4116 Hylan Blvd, Staten Island, NY 10308

Phone Number: 718-948-3006

Website: magicmoonsisters.com

Other: A metaphysical shop run by two women – one with Native American Lineage and one with a Celtic background - that offers magickal and spiritual wares, classes, and spiritual healing of all kinds.

 Name: Mystikal Wonders

Address: 451 Jewett Ave, Staten Island, NY 10302

Phone Number: 718-816-1234

Website: N/A

Other: N/A

North Carolina

Name: Dancing Moon Books & Gifts

Address: 1840 Wake Forest Rd, Raleigh, NC 27608

Phone Number: (919) 833-8081

Website: dancingmoonraleigh.com

Other: Has plenty of crystals, incense, candles, and books. They host readers and have classes in the house as well.

 Name: The Holy Rose

Address: 311 Blake St, Raleigh, NC 27601

Phone Number: (919) 803-5787

Website: theholyrose.com

Other: Must be 18+ to enter the shop. They card at the door. They have lots of crystals, candles, incense, and books.

 Name: Mystic Elements

Address: 4403 Park Avenue, Wilmington, NC

Phone Number: (910) 799 1001

Website: mysticelements.com

Other: This is a great, locally-owned shop that carries crystals, sage, tarot cards, and more! It has statues for many different religions/cultures and has a wide variety of incense.

 Name: Crystal Visions

Address: 5426 Asheville Hwy., Hendersonville, NC 28791

Phone Number: (828) 687-1193

Website: http://crystalvisionsbooks.com/

Other: Crystal Visions is a Sanctuary for the Spiritual Seeker, providing resources for transformation and growth including books, music. crystals, jewelry and more.  Serving the Greater Asheville, NC community since 1989.

 Name: Raven and Crone

Address: 555 Merrimon Ave. Asheville, NC, 28804

Phone Number: (828) 424-7868

Website: www.ashevilleravenandcrone.com

Other: N/A

Ohio

Name: Book of Shadows

Address: 1100 Clarendon Rd., Canton, Ohio 44710

Phone Number: 330-451-6083

Website: N/A

Other: N/A

 Name: The Dragon’s Mantle

Address: 962 Kenmore Blvd., Akron, Ohio 44314

Phone Number: 330-687-5654

Website: https://dagonsmantle.webs.com/

Other: Host all kinds of classes and host parties and ritual for every sabbat. Great prices and very smart people.

 Name: Once In A Blue Moon

Address: 4348 Monroe St Toledo, OH  43606 United States.

Phone Number: 1 (419) 810-1478.

Website: https://m.facebook.com/pages/category/Shopping---Retail/Once-In-A-Blue-Moon-246088728797706/

Other: N/A

 Name: Whatever Works Wellness Center

Address: 7433 Montgomery Road, Cincinnati, OH 45236

Phone Number: 513.791.9428

Website: http://www.whateverworkswellness.com

Other: They have a very organized selection of crystals and also offer sheets that list the meanings and are very reasonably priced. They also have books, teas, and some herbs and oils.

Oklahoma

Name: Spiritual Rose

Address: 2929 S Harvard Ave, Tulsa, OK 74114

Phone Number: (918)779-4131

Other: A small store owned by a friendly couple. You can ask them any question and they are super nice and very helpful! They offer classes in Wicca and do small get-togethers on Tuesdays.

Oregon

Name: The Crystal Mirror

Address: 189 Liberty Street Northeast B5, Salem, OR 97301

Phone Number: +1 971-240-0862

Website: https://sites.google.com/site/thecrystalmirroronline/

Other: N/A

 Name: By Candlelight & Conjure

Address: 410 Pine St NE, Salem, OR 97301

Phone Number: +1 971-388-9373

Website: https://m.facebook.com/pg/candlelightandconjure/about/

Other: N/A

Pennsylvania

Name: Shooting For The Moon

Address: 6247 Rte 209 Stroudsburg PA 18360

Phone Number: 570 992 0943

Website: www.shootingforthemoon.com

Other: They have 6-week classes including herbology, tarot, and planetary magick. There are also full moon ceremonies and Sabbats

 Name: Garland of Letters

Address: 527 South St, Philadelphia, PA 19147

Phone Number: (215) 923-5946

Website: N/A

Other: New Age/pagan bookstore with crystals, incense, candles, tarot decks, yoga classes, and more.

 Name: juju

Address: 6739 Reynolds St, Pittsburgh, PA 15206

Phone Number: +1 814-460-1538

Website: N/A

Other: N/A

 Name: Sparkledragon’s Magical Emporium

Address: 2120 Broadway Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania  15216

Phone Number: N/A

Website: N/A

Other: Specialized in crystals, books, and curiosities.

 Name: Journey's of Life

Address: 810 Bellefonte Street, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania  15232

Phone Number: N/A

Website: N/A

Other: N/A

 Name: Crystal Wand

Address: 529 Baltimore Street, Gettysburg PA 17325

Phone Number: 717-420-5637

Website: www.crystalwandinpa.com

Other: N/A

Name: Heaven & Nature Store

Address: 3972 Jonestown Road, Harrisburg PA 17109

Phone Number: 717-545-0204

Website: heavenandnaturestore.com

Other: N/A

South Carolina

Name: Serenity at Sunset

Address: 321 E Main St., Pickens, SC  29671

Phone Number: (864) 878-9973

Website: http://www.serenityatsunset.com/

Other: Books, oracle cards, art, jewelry, orgon, malas, crystals, candles, natural care products, bags, tapestries & more! We still carry feather smudge wands, sacred herbs, and smokeless sprays - custom order options available. A beautiful serene meditation center available for your peaceful practice. A library & tea room for you to relax, read and ruminate!

 Name: Earth's Elements

Address: 220 E. Main St., Walhalla, South Carolina 29691

Phone Number: (864) 916-4001

Website: http://earthselements.co/

Other: They offer handcrafted bath and body products like soaps, salves, and lip balms, shampoo and conditioners and lotions, herbs, healing stones, gemstone jewelry, natural teas and Essential Oils.

 Name: Nyla Beans

Address: 1523 N Pleasantburg[EG1]  Dr., Greenville, SC  29609

Phone Number: (864) 292-5529

Website: https://www.facebook.com/Nyla-Beans-185261374846000/

Other: Eclectic shop, featuring handcrafted gifts and jewelry, fair trade items, and bohemian, casual, and festival clothing. We also carry crystals, incense, and metaphysical items.

Tennessee

Name: Spiritual Awakenings/We 3 Witches

Address: 3694 West Market Street Johnson City, TN 37604

Phone Number: N/A

Website: https://www.facebook.com/SpiritualAwakeningsJC

Other: Handfasting rituals to offering tea leaf readings, oracle readings, tarot readings, Etc. They host various events that can be found through their site. They sell crystals, full moon water, incense, candles, spells of various kinds already prepared for you with instructions on how to do them, journals to create; grimoires, dream journals, and book of shadows.

 Name: Valhalla’s Gate

Address: 209 Dover Rd., Clarksville Tennessee 37042

Phone Number: N/A

Website: Valhallasgatetn.com

Other: N/A

 Name: Cosmic Connections

Address: 1701 Portland Avenue, Nashville Tennessee 37212

Phone Number: N/A

Website: yourcosmicconnections.com

Other: N/A

 Name: Yellow Sky Emporium

Address: 1313 Rocky Hill Road, Knoxville, TN 37919

Phone Number: (865)560-8894

Website: https://www.yellowskyemporium.com/

Other: N/A

Texas

Name: The Magick Cauldron

Address: 2424 Montrose Blvd., Houston, Texas 77006

Phone Number: 713.523.0069

Website: N/A

Other: N/A

 Name: Hearth Wisdom Store

Address: 3901 W. Arkansas Lane Suite 118, Arlington, Texas 76016

Phone Number: 682-323-5085

Website: www.hearthwisdomstore.com

Other: Very welcoming and knowledgeable staff. They sell a variety of books, bags, jars, spells, crystals/stones, furniture, clothing, accessories, and have an amazing herb, incense, and candle selection. They also have tarot decks and multiple other divination methods. HWS also hold events and classes on certain days, as well as rituals for all.

Vermont

Name: Moonshadows Gifts For The Spirit

Address: 72 N Main St., Saint Albans, VT  05478

Phone Number: +1 (802) 524-6758

Website: N/A

Other: This store sells everything for the Witch/Wiccan/Pagan! They have tons of crystals, crystal balls, books, incense, herbs, cauldrons, chalices, motor and pestles, pendulums, tarot cards, personal learning sessions, and so much more!

Washington

Name: Lotus of the Moon

1386 Jadwin Ave., Richland, Washington

Phone Number: (509) 940-7460

Website: N/A

Other: Spiritual store. Also offer services, educational opportunities, and yoga

 Name: Zenith Supplies

Address: 6300 Roosevelt Way NE, Seattle, WA 98115

Phone Number: (800) 735-7217 or (206) 525-7997

Website: https://zenithsupplies.com/

Other: If you want it they most likely have it, from tarot to crystals to essential oils and much more.

 Name: Life Keys Energy

Address: 1700 SE Mile Hill Dr #240, Port Orchard, WA

Phone Number:

Website: http://lifekeysenergy.com

 Other: It's a witch owned yoga and reiki studio that also sells an ever growing amount of holistic items like bath salts/bath tea, Palo Santos, bracelets, and mandalas.

 Name: Wonders Of The World

Address: 621 W Mallon Ave, Spokane WA. 99201

Phone Number: (509) 328 - 6890 and (509) 325 - 2867

Website: wondersoftheworldinc.com

Other: They have a large selection of crystals, medium-sized figurines of greek deities, medium-sized figurines of dragons, and much more!

 Name: Crescent Moon Gifts

Address: 2502 6th Ave., Tacoma, WA  98406

Phone Number: +1 (253) 572-8339

Website: crescentmoongifts.com

Other: Tarot, crystals, herbs, pendulums, candles, statuettes, ritual tools ... the the list goes on and on.

Wisconsin

Name: House of Magick

Address: 4726 S Packard Ave., Cudahy WI 53110-1430

Phone Number: (414) 294-3444

Website: N/A

Other: N/A

Virginia

Name: Aquarian Book Shop

Address: 3519 Ellwood Avenue, Richmond, VA 23221-2722

Phone Number: (804) 353-5575

Website: N/A

Other: The store includes crystals, candles, clothing, books, statues, and more. Also hosts classes, tarot readings, and has an apothecary and healing center.

 Name: Crystal Cottage

Address: 4320 Electric Road, Roanoke, Virginia 24018.

Phone Number: 5407766861

Website: crystalcottage.com

Other: They mostly specialize in crystals but also carry some overtly Wiccan items, incense, candles, etc.

 Name: Mountain Mystic Trading Co.

Address: 215 South St., Front Royal, Virginia

Phone Number: N/A

Website: https://www.mountainmystic.com

Other: N/A

 Name: 13 Magickal Moons

Address: 440 Mill St., Occoquan, VA 22125

Phone Number: (703) 495-5135

Website: www.13magickalmoons.com

Other: This is a cute shop, with lots of crystals, herbs, jewelry, and homemade candles—plus, two shop cats. The owner does tarot readings. (Somewhat hectic as the owner’s small kids are often around, but still a good shop.)

 Name: Sacred Circle Books

Address: 919 King St., Alexandria, VA 22314

Phone Number: (703) 299-9309

Website: N/A

Other: Great selection of books, also has crystals, herbs, tarot cards, statues, and jewelry. A huge amount of community events and offers reiki, psychic/tarot readings, and classes/workshops. Has a binder with a list of everyone who does mystical stuff for the whole area.

[cloudycrystalkpop]

Starfall

pairing characters: Zitao + the coven of VIXX

summary: clan of delphi au | Tao finds himself in the midst of the mysterious coven of vixx

warnings: a touch of hoodoo

words: 1.6k

~

The small bells over the door chimed in greeting as he stepped into the apothecary. The tall man behind the desk glanced up. His pointed features and scowling eyes gave Tao a feeling he wasn’t very welcome.

“Excuse me,” he stepped up to the counter, offering the man a smile. “I was told there was a fortune teller here.”

The man didn’t speak for a moment, not bothering to look up at Tao until he had finished crushing the leaves in his hands.

“He’s busy at the moment.” The scowling man’s voice was much higher in pitch then Tao had expected.

“Ah, that’s alright, i don’t mind waiting.” Tao turned at sat himself in a chair in the corner of the room.

Looking around, he observed the atmosphere of the place. The walls were a deep navy blue, with accents of a metallic gold in the trim. The ceiling sparkled like a dancing night sky. Behind the deck were many walls lined with shelves, each home to a different plant. Midnight flowers and dark ferns hidden from the bright golden light of the window.

Tao’s eyes fell to the hallway as he heard footsteps.

“Taekwoon~ have you seen that little rabbit i found earlier? Oh god if Hyuk finds that thing there is no telling what he might-“ the man stopped his sentence as he entered the front room, spotting Tao instantly. “oh hello! I didn’t see you there.” The man’s voice was higher in pitch and he spoke with a friendly smile.

The scowling witch, Taekwoon, passed a glance at the new man, nodding to Tao and where he sat in the corner. The new man seemed to understand.

“you are here for a fortune telling?” The brighter man turned to Tao as he stood.

“yes, if you please.” Tao nodded politely. The man blinked at him, studying him closely, before a small grin traced his lips and be breathed the faintest chuckle.

“alright, he’s back in the garden. If you would please follow me.” He held back the many strings of beads that acted as a door. Tao stepped through and found himself entering the world M had called home for so long.

~

The two tall men watched this stranger from the shadows. His heels clicked and the fur he wore ruffled in the slight wind. This stranger certainly looked expensive. His hair was perfect, not a strand out of place, and his eyes nicely rimmed in black to match his perfect nails.

“that hast to be him.” The younger spoke.

“what are you thinking Hyuk?” The elder asked. Hyuk grinned a devilish smile.

“if he really wants to be Mori’s mentor, let’s see if he can handle a little spook shall we?” Hyuk’s eyes sparkled at the idea of mischief.

~

Tao followed the man out and into the garden. The area was bright, countless plants grew there, all thriving and full of life. The flowers seemed to stretch just a bit more as the man before him walked passed. He didn’t have to be an Oracle to tell, this man had fae blood.

“Hakyeon, there is a man here to see you.” He called out into the darker part of the garden. A moment later, the Seer amerged.

“thank you Jaehwan.” He nodded to the fae as he turned to leave, offering Tao another smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes.

“come along Zitao, have a seat.” Tao shouldn’t have been surprised at hearing his full name, but it still caught him off guard. He followed the mans instructions and sat at the small table.

The table was a dark black marble, with glowing golden specks in the perfect formations for constellations.

Hakyeon sat across from him, resting his elbows on the table and resting his chin on his folded hands.

“she’s still running i imagine.” The elder spoke calmly. Tao swallowed. He wasn’t really intimidated by other seers anymore. But this man before him, the whole vibe of this place was just so... different.

“i, need some help.” He hated those words. So many years he’d spent independent, and one child has brought him to a loss.

Hakyeon smiled at his words.

“it isn’t everyday i find a Delphi at my doorstep asking for advice on mentorship.” The elder man chuckled.

“she found you, found your coven, she chose you and trusts you.” Tao squared his shoulders, gathering his confidence. “i need to earn the same trust, but she won’t let me.”

“indeed, Mori trusts myself and my coven mates greatly.” Hakyeon nodded, closing his eyes. “but you are mistaken if you believe i was her favorite.”

Tao paused.

“Mori needs someone, to be her friend. She needs someone like her. If it had been only me she felt close with, she would have moved on a long time ago.” Hakyeon smiled as he watched the younger man before him put all this together.

“she is... rather fond of that alchemist.” Tao mumbled quietly. He quickly raised his head to look the other man in the eyes “you know what that boy is, right?”

“i know he doesn’t fully know himself.” Hakyeon laid back in his chair. “they are still children, still learning and discovering who they are.”

Tao took another breath. While he knew all of these things, he didn’t seem to be remembering them while actually trying to convince her.

“you shouldn’t take her rejection so harshly. How many times have you actually spoken to her?” Hakyeon raised his brows at the man before him.

Tao fell silent at this question. The sound of laughter came from outside the hedge. Hakyeon breathed a sigh as Tao jumped.

“you’re too much of a coward to even try and talk to her!” the cause of the snickers poked his head around the hedge.

“Hyuk, i thought you were chasing that little white rabbit?” Hakyeon scolded the youngest for his eavesdropping.

“Jaehwan screamed at me, so i let him go.” The man shrugged. “i guess i’ll start walking through the woods again, i really do need a pelt.”

Tao scanned the young man before him. Youngest of the coven, darker in arua then the members he’s already met. He had a smile behind his eyes that sung of trouble. The dirt and blood under his nails combined with the stitching on his jacket, sung quiet hymns of a hoodoo witch doctor.

A woven bracelet he wore reminded him greatly of another he had seen. An anklet worn by Mori with the same colors and patterns, the only slight variation was the beetle charm on his as opposed to the key on hers. It had been quite a while since Tao had seen beetles in magic.

This man’s craft was sand and desert based, while Mori’s was from the deep marsh.

Tao was distracted from his thoughts by a fluttering feeling on his cheek. he brushed away the moth, causing it to float down to the table. the three men watched at the moth slowly died, it’s wings falling off and turning to ash.

“how... odd.” Tao swallowed hard, staring at the insect. he felt his heart pound in his ears, that moth should’ve been fine, nothing happened to it. was it because it touched him? was it happening again?

another snicker came from the younger man.

“now Hyuk, was that really necessary?” the scolding voice of Hakyeon pulled Tao back to the present. Hyuk reached down, placing his hand over the pile of ash. a shiver ran down Tao’s spine as the air around the witch became heavy. when he lifted his hand, the small moth was resurrected, fluttering back into the air.

“come on now, it’s just a bit of harmless fun.” Hyuk chimed. Tao looked up at the young man, watching him closely. suddenly Mori’s friendship with this man added another layer of depth. the mischief in his eyes ran all too familiar to Tao.

“resurrection is quite a specialized gift.” Tao spoke, leaning back in his chair. “you may want to be careful, there is always the possibility, of mistakes being made.”

Hyuk’s sparkling eyes narrowed at the oricle.

Tao stood from his seat, offering Hakyeon a polite smile. “thank you for the reading sir. i have much to think about.” Hakyeon watched him closely, nodding at his words. “now gentlemen, i will be on my way.”

“Hyuk, how about you show our guest out, hm?” Hakyeon nodded to the younger man. Tao clenched his teeth, as the witch began leading him back through the guardan.

~

Hyuk didn’t say a word as he lead Tao to the gate, but just before the oricle could step through, he grabbed his fur coat, yanking him back for a moment.

“excuse me! this is very expensive-” Tao was cut off by the dark tone in the hoodoo witch’s voice.

“no matter what you and your cult believe about covens, Morganna is our little sister. we are her home and family. and if i find you have done something to harm her, something to disrespect her, i promise you, you and your cult of oracles will have nightmares of the horrors we have in store for you. in this life and the rest to come.” he stared the man down, his eyes bubbling with warning.

Tao was silent, simply watching the man.

“you have my word, she will never be held against her will.” Tao’s voice was steady as he shoved the other witch off him. Hyuk snarled, but backed away.

Tao watched at the witch doctor wandered back into the shadows, disappearing back to the coven ground. there was a lingering feeling of weight on his chest. he had a sinking feeling, a part of him knew, that moth was more than just a test. it was a warning.