The Writer and the Witch
Chapter 14
Summary: Bella, along with Alice and Rosalie, have moved from their home town of Salem, MA to Houston Texas, have bought a new home, and are starting new businesses - both for money and for fun. Edward Cullen, the Writer, was raised in the house the trio of sisters have purchased. Wonder what mischief they can manage to get themselves into?
Disclaimer: Stephenie Meyer started it all for us. What the characters do here, is all mine.
A very Special and Happy Mother's Day to all! May your children and husband behave themselves today!
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Chapter 14
Setting up Shop
Previously:
When they were dressed properly, each of the sisters found her chair and foot stool; settled themselves and began preparing for their mental magical meditation. Tonight the only jewelry the sisters wore were large sapphire pendants that hung between their breasts. They were not jewels of power, but only there to remind the sisters of the vibration they would be working with.
Two hours later, the sisters were finished and knew their new enterprise would be a great success, aseverything they did together was. Everything was put away and then each sister left for their own rooms to sleep as deeply as they could. In the morning when they woke up, they would write in their dream books anything they could remember. Most of the time the dreams were very prophetic.
It was a good night.
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At seven o'clock sharp, Edward knocked on the door of his childhood home and waited for one of the sisters to open the door and admit him. While he stood there waiting, Emmett and Jasper both pulled up and parked in front of the house. By the time they'd gotten out of their respective vehicles and made it to the porch, Rosalie had opened the door and invited them into the house.
Alice was rushing down the stairs and almost literally flew into Jasper's waiting arms and kissed him passionately. Jasper's eyes got very wide, then became dark and he returned the kiss.
Rosalie cleared her throat, getting Edward and Emmett's attention, but not Alice nor Jasper's. Rosalie turned on her heels, leading the way into the kitchen, where Bella was waiting with cups of hot coffee for them all.
While Edward was doctoring his cup of the beautifully fragrant eye opening elixir, he was looking expectantly at Bella with raised eyebrows.
She laughed. "Edward, what?"
"So what's the plan of attack?" he responded.
"Oh," Bella chuckled. "All the boxes are in the garage. We've pulled our cars around the side of the house, so you can just back your truck and trailer up to the garage door - but not until after we finish our coffee," Holding up her cup she told him, "This is my first."
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A little over an hour later, the small trailer was packed, as well as the beds of the other two pickup trucks and they were on their way over to the store. It took most of the morning to unload and unpack the boxes, then break the boxes down for the return trip to the house.
It was the first time the boys had been to the store front and Edward was impressed not only by the way the store's name was present on the windows of the shop, but by the fact that there was also a small sign hanging perpendicular to the outside wall of the store. It gave it an old fashioned look that caught the eye. Undoubtedly, they would gain a good deal of foot traffic because of the placement of the outside signage.
"La Belle Swan's A la Naturale," what a beautiful name. The Beautiful Swan's at Natural," Jasper commented. He turned his attention to the printing on the windows of the shop front. All hand made products for the care and feeding of your body from all natural home grown herbs and spices. There was also a small printed sign in the lowest part of the window proclaiming that all their products were FDA approved, that their business was a member of the Chamber of Commerce and that the Board of Health awarded the business with a triple "A" rating.
In smaller letters on the sign below the shop's title was, Tarot Card readings available by appointment only.
"Who reads the Tarot Cards?" Jasper asked.
Rosalie raised her hand smiling. "I'll give you a demonstration after we get everything unpacked and shelved if you'd like."
"Yeah, that would be interesting. Never had one done before. Always figured it was a bunch of hooey."
~o0o~
Rosalie lead Jasper with Alice close behind into the back of the store where a small round table and two chairs were set up. On the table was a small lidded box. Rose indicated that Jasper should sit, and she took the seat across from him.
"Alice, this is for Jasper, not you," Rose stated flatly.
"I know," Alice whispered to Rose as she moved to stand behind Jasper placing her hand on his shoulders. She spoke to Jasper "Do you want me to not be here?"
Turning his head Jasper spoke to Alice, "I want you to, but I don't think Rosalie wants it, so why don't you go back out to the front of the store?"
Alice hesitated just a bit too long before Jasper said again, "I'll be alright, please go back out there," indicating with a tilt of his head towards the front of the store.
Nodding, Alice left reluctantly.
"Now, shall we begin?" Rosalie asked.
"Sure thing, let's go." Jasper replied.
Once Jasper was settled, Rosalie opened the lidded box that was on the table between them. As she did, the room was filled with the fragrance of sandalwood. From the now opened box, Rosalie took a black cloth that looked to be silk that appeared to be wrapped around something.
She closed the box and moved it off a little to the side. She then laid the silk wrapped package just in front of her and unwrapped what it was holding. Within was a deck of what appeared to be cards, but larger than regular playing cards. Rose picked up the deck and offered it to Jasper saying, "Place the entire deck in the palms of your hands, left over right. While holding them, please think of a question you'd like answered."
Doing as he was instructed, Jasper took the deck into his hands. He closed his eyes frowning just a little. Moments later he opened them and handed the cards back to Rose. "Ok. Now what?" He asked.
"Now shuffle them several times thinking of your question, then hand them back to me," Rosalie answered.
Jasper wanting to make sure there could be no way the cards could be stacked for him, gave the deck a very good shuffle, then handed them back to Rosalie.
"Very good Jasper. I'm pleased that you wanted to make sure the deck wasn't stacked," Rosalie said smiling. "Now, hand them back to me. Don't stop thinking of your question."
Jasper grinned and handed the deck back to Rose and watched intently as she took the top four cards from the deck and laid them face down on the black silk cloth. She then placed the rest of the cards back into the box.
She sat there for a bit with her eyes closed in order to get her self to be totally calm and at ease. Once Rosalie had achieved the state she was working toward, she opened her eyes and started turning the cards over, one at a time. She gasped loudly at the sight of the first card, The Wheel of Fortune.
"The appearance of the Wheel of Fortune shows that change is not only likely to happen, it is certain to happen, and soon. The nature of that change and the effects it has really depends on how much you understand the concepts of fate, and whether or not you can prepare for it. Generally the change shown in the Wheel of Fortune is a dramatic change from the established order. So if you have been scraping along for a while, expect big changes in your favor within a few days. But if you've been feeling on top of the world for a long time, batten down the hatches and keep an eye out for storms - one is bound to hit you sooner or later," Rosalie stated rather flatly.
Jasper just sat there quietly waiting for more. What Rose was saying kind of sounded like the answer to his question already.
Slowly Rosalie turned over the next card in the stack and said, "The Ace of Cups will predict the start of a relationship, one that is full of potential and may eventually lead to true love and happiness. But you must always remember that the Ace can show only potential, not the final result of a situation. If a relationship starts out well, it is up to the two people involved to keep it that way, and improve upon it in any possible manner. The Ace of Cups is not a guarantee of happiness, but a guarantee that you will have the chance to make happiness for yourself if you want to."
Jasper noted that Rosalie was frowning a bit now and wondered if this was a bad reading or why she would be concerned.
Turning the next card Rosalie stated, "The Two of Cups is often seen as the card of the soul mate, that person with whom we share a special connection and whom we can love unconditionally. The synergy of a person with his or her soul mate is like the meeting of two stars which, though bright when separate, shine even more brightly when together. From a distance they may even appear to be a single entity. Such harmonious combinations, whether they are between two people, groups or ideas, are a staple of the Two of Cups."
Looking up at Jasper Rosalie asked, "Was your question about Alice?"
Jasper nodded and Rose turned over the next card. "The Knight of Cups is not dashing across the land with the wind blowing through his hair. His horse moves forward, but slowly, giving an impression of calmness and peace. Indeed, the Knight of Cups is the most feminine of his group of four, though that does not mean by any definition that he is any less of a Knight. He is in touch with his intuition and emotions, and he uses them for his own good during his quests of romance and seduction. He can manifest as an event, a person in your life, or as a part of yourself. I'd say Jasper that this card represents you in this matter," Rosalie said smiling slightly.
"What's it all mean?"
"I'd say that you've either met or you're about to meet your soulmate. However, you are the only one who knows for sure. The cards are only signposts of an individual's progress along his or her Life Path," Rosalie explained.
Jasper sighed and stood. "Thank you Rosalie. That was very interesting."
"If you want me to do a more in depth reading I could. Maybe it would give indication of just who this soul mate of yours is." Rose stated.
"No, I think I know without any more indications," Jasper stated.
"If that is what you want. Shall we join the others?" Rose said as she retrieved the rest of the cards from within the box wrapping them all once again in the black silk cloth, and placing all back into the sandalwood box.
She then rose and walked around the table and Jasper and headed to the front of the store. Jasper followed on her heels.
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A/N: My undying thanks to my Beta JoanOfArt; buggins74, AnakinsRealMom, and Gabby1017 who pre-read for me. Wouldn't be able to do this without you! I have a great team helping me bring this weirdness.
A/N2: The explanations for the Tarot Cards used came from various sources on the internet.