[I am sharing the first draft of my new novel with you as a series here. I don't want the sympathy that goes to a parent with an ugly baby. I would appreciate your truthful thoughts about this story. Thank you for taking the time to read it! ~MDann. PS. Copyrights are in place.]
The House of the Soul was an ancient three-story whitewashed townhouse that was presently no longer white, but not quite grey or jaundiced. The same pallor was often evident in the complexions of the neighbors who were not nearly as old. Beatrice occupied rooms on the ground floor. Her front door was windowless and unadorned with wrought iron like others nearby. There were remnants of chalked or inked crosses marked by passers-by requesting wishes as some still did on the tomb of Marie I, but for whatever reason refused to enter the premises. Even though there was a long history of cooperation between Catholic clergy and various priestesses, some people still considered voodoo devil's work.
Following his custom, Sebastian stood at the door and knocked three times before entering. Beatrice was sitting at her table engulfed in a fog of burning incense and herbs. The room was aglow with the light of a multitude of candles. Beatrice was focused on the tarot cards spread out before her. She held a single card aloft in her right hand while the remainder of the deck rested on the edge of the table in her left.
"Welcome, Sebastienne Stee-vins. It has been some time since you come to Beatrice."
"Hello, my Queen. You were concentrating on your cards so intently, how did you know it was me who entered your house?" Sebastian asked only out of curiosity.
"You come to me who see all tings in dis world an' da nexx and akx me such a question? I'll tell you how I know. Look at dis card. Do you see?"
"That is the Magician, I believe," Sebastian answered.
"Dis is your card, Sebastienne. I wuz holdin' dis card when you knocked at m'door. Dis is how I know you wuz at m'door. Sit down, Sebastienne. I will tell you what you need to know." As Sebastian sat in a chair opposite her, Beatrice placed the card on the table and pulled the next card from the deck. She smiled as she placed the Page of Cups next to the Magician.
"I see you have met a new lover, Sebastienne Stee-vins. Dis man bring you a lot of happiness."
Sebastian's jaw dropped. "Well, yes. As a matter of fact I have met someone I want to know better, but he is not why I have come, I―"
"Sebastienne, Beatrice know. I know he is a good man. You don't know yet, but Beatrice know he has ev'ry ting to do wid why you come." She then pulled the next card from the deck. It was the Queen of Wands which she placed next to the Page of Cups. "There is a new woman in your life as well, Sebastienne. This woman is lovin'. She has fire in her. She is a passionate soul. She is very impordant to your purpose. She is a lioness and wants to protect you. Stay close to her. She is connected to the new man and togedder dey will make a new famlee for you. Love dem."
Sebastian was alert and speechless. So far Beatrice had seen both CJ James and his Aunt Ursula. He was excited though a bit apprehensive to see what came next. Beatrice drew the next card and held it in front of her for a couple silent nerve-racking minutes before she placed the card below the Magician. Finally, she sighed. It was the card of The Lovers. It was upside down. "Oh, Sebastienne! Dis is unexpected news. You will encounter a lover from da pass. Dis could be good or it could be bad, but he will turn your world upside down if you do not trust yo'sef and da people here," Beatrice told him as she pointed to the Page and Queen. 'Whatever you once had wid dis one is over. Nobody owe nobody no-ting'. Listen to me, Sebastienne Stee-vins. What is done is done and cannot be undone. Don't let dis one disturb you. Have no regrets. Be strong. You be aw-right."
Sebastian thanked Beatrice for the reading. As he stood to leave, he placed the usual small silk pouch containing thirty silver dollars next to the cards on the table. He bowed his head and the older woman placed the palm of her right hand on it and said, "Go with God, Sebastienne. Take care o' yo-self." He turned back for a last look of the cards before he opened the door in time to see Beatrice pull another card from the deck. The Lightning-Struck Tower. He shuddered, but continued his exit. He had a strong feeling he knew what that was about. He heard Beatrice whisper, "God go wid him," as he closed the door behind him.
The House of the Soul was an ancient three-story whitewashed townhouse that was presently no longer white, but not quite grey or jaundiced. The same pallor was often evident in the complexions of the neighbors who were not nearly as old. Beatrice occupied rooms on the ground floor. Her front door was windowless and unadorned with wrought iron like others nearby. There were remnants of chalked or inked crosses marked by passers-by requesting wishes as some still did on the tomb of Marie I, but for whatever reason refused to enter the premises. Even though there was a long history of cooperation between Catholic clergy and various priestesses, some people still considered voodoo devil's work.
Following his custom, Sebastian stood at the door and knocked three times before entering. Beatrice was sitting at her table engulfed in a fog of burning incense and herbs. The room was aglow with the light of a multitude of candles. Beatrice was focused on the tarot cards spread out before her. She held a single card aloft in her right hand while the remainder of the deck rested on the edge of the table in her left.
"Welcome, Sebastienne Stee-vins. It has been some time since you come to Beatrice."
"Hello, my Queen. You were concentrating on your cards so intently, how did you know it was me who entered your house?" Sebastian asked only out of curiosity.
"You come to me who see all tings in dis world an' da nexx and akx me such a question? I'll tell you how I know. Look at dis card. Do you see?"
"That is the Magician, I believe," Sebastian answered.
"Dis is your card, Sebastienne. I wuz holdin' dis card when you knocked at m'door. Dis is how I know you wuz at m'door. Sit down, Sebastienne. I will tell you what you need to know." As Sebastian sat in a chair opposite her, Beatrice placed the card on the table and pulled the next card from the deck. She smiled as she placed the Page of Cups next to the Magician.
"I see you have met a new lover, Sebastienne Stee-vins. Dis man bring you a lot of happiness."
Sebastian's jaw dropped. "Well, yes. As a matter of fact I have met someone I want to know better, but he is not why I have come, I―"
"Sebastienne, Beatrice know. I know he is a good man. You don't know yet, but Beatrice know he has ev'ry ting to do wid why you come." She then pulled the next card from the deck. It was the Queen of Wands which she placed next to the Page of Cups. "There is a new woman in your life as well, Sebastienne. This woman is lovin'. She has fire in her. She is a passionate soul. She is very impordant to your purpose. She is a lioness and wants to protect you. Stay close to her. She is connected to the new man and togedder dey will make a new famlee for you. Love dem."
Sebastian was alert and speechless. So far Beatrice had seen both CJ James and his Aunt Ursula. He was excited though a bit apprehensive to see what came next. Beatrice drew the next card and held it in front of her for a couple silent nerve-racking minutes before she placed the card below the Magician. Finally, she sighed. It was the card of The Lovers. It was upside down. "Oh, Sebastienne! Dis is unexpected news. You will encounter a lover from da pass. Dis could be good or it could be bad, but he will turn your world upside down if you do not trust yo'sef and da people here," Beatrice told him as she pointed to the Page and Queen. 'Whatever you once had wid dis one is over. Nobody owe nobody no-ting'. Listen to me, Sebastienne Stee-vins. What is done is done and cannot be undone. Don't let dis one disturb you. Have no regrets. Be strong. You be aw-right."
Sebastian thanked Beatrice for the reading. As he stood to leave, he placed the usual small silk pouch containing thirty silver dollars next to the cards on the table. He bowed his head and the older woman placed the palm of her right hand on it and said, "Go with God, Sebastienne. Take care o' yo-self." He turned back for a last look of the cards before he opened the door in time to see Beatrice pull another card from the deck. The Lightning-Struck Tower. He shuddered, but continued his exit. He had a strong feeling he knew what that was about. He heard Beatrice whisper, "God go wid him," as he closed the door behind him.
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