A Collection of Wyrd Sister Stories: SEMANTIC, #1

By Jocelynn Babcock

15 Standalone Psychic Stories in a Single Book!

When a group meant to be three expands to five women from diverse backgrounds, they combine tarot, astrology, tea leaves, palmistry and the ability to connect to the dead. The group falters under the weight of chaos as they face paranormal predicaments, moral resistance, and revealed secrets. Until the fateful day when one of the members makes a lethal mistake, costing the group their destinies, and perhaps their lives.

Join the Wyrd Sisters to discover their first psychic encounter, how they came together, and what pulled them apart.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Jocelynn Babcock
• Release date: Jun 5, 2017
• ISBN: 9781546974819

Book preview

Semantic- of, relating to, or arising from the different meanings of words or other symbols.

~ Dictionary.com

Mantic:

Greek word meaning prophet or seer.

Of or relating to divination. Having the power of divination.

~ Dictionary.com

For Saturn Celeste

INTRODUCTION

This collection of short stories features psychic readings, and specifically how symbols have different meanings through different modalities. Semantic also refers to the reader trying to convey the message and the querent misinterpreting those words in a way that benefits their desires.

Within these pages you will find tarot, astrology, tea leaves, a psychic medium, and palmistry. The characters deal with the moral obligation to disclose information to people or their own moral resistance to the phenomenon occurring.

Though these are expansions of deleted material from the entire MANTIC trilogy, it is an interquel after all, these are standalone short stories that will not leave new readers lost. This is a taste of what was in The Eyes of March, what is in To Dance with Serpents, and what will be in The Iris House.

So join the Wyrd Sisters, a group meant to be three that expanded to five, for psychic stories from their adolescence through to present day.

Mimi

Cartomancy- Divination with the use of tarot cards

Fly da Coop

Mimi - Age 17

Natchitoches, Louisiana

The day was sweltry. Mimi cowered from the heat under the covered porch, her back against the scratchy brick house.

The oak tree was old. Its branches, thicker than a small child, extended the length of the house. It cooled the front yard, but did not allow grass to grow.

Auntie Josette’s rust colored Volvo wagon pulled up. The car was slightly older than Mimi. She walked up, her yellow and red plaid skirt swaying behind her. She wore a loose white blouse with gathered, capped sleeves and her hair hidden behind a red tignon.

Mimi smiled. This is a surprise.

Ah, child. You shoulda seen me comin’. She leaned down and kissed Mimi’s cheek. The scent of citrus and geranium surrounded her. She whispered, You still using da cards?

Mimi patted the purse next to her where she hid a deck of tarot cards Auntie Josette gifted her. There, they were secret  from her Moman. She also hid cigarettes. The purse was never separate from her, and kept under her pillow while she slept.

Good girl. She patted Mimi on the head. I need to speak wit yo Mama. Without an invitation, or knocking, Auntie Josette opened the storm door and walked into the house.

Mimi hopped off the porch and snuck around the side. Crouching slightly below window view, she followed the path of pavers into the courtyard toward the back door. Grass grew on this side of the L-shaped house, but there was the setting sun to contend with. Light reflected off a copper fleur-de-leis bolted to the chimney next to the sitting room window.

I saw Marie in Shreveport with soldiers! Auntie Josette blurted out to Moman.

Damn. She spotted me. Couldn’t she just talk to me about it? Why rat me out to Moman? Mimi drove the hour to Shreveport with some girlfriends. There was a social event, and soldiers were supposed to be there. She never expected to meet anybody. They separated into a smaller group, her friends and their pick of the guys. She met an ambitious man named George. He had big plans for the places he would go and what he would do. It sounded exciting.

I know. How dense do you think I am?

How did Moman know she spent her time in Shreveport with men? She told her the girls and she were going shopping at the mall. Not that they came back with any retail bags. Was Moman psychic like Auntie Josette?

Enough dat you don’t notice what’s comin’.

Moman glanced toward the window. Mimi slinked back on the other side of the chimney, unsure if her gait gave her away.

I have to check on dinner. Come have tea.

Mimi crouched down and followed the shape of the house toward the backyard. The dining table where Moman would serve Auntie Josette tea was on the other side of French doors with lace curtains. Mimi sank in a dusty, white plastic chair off to the side of the doors.

The back patio was a simple concrete slab and received full sun this time of day. Sweat trickled down her face, neck, and underneath her breasts. She hoped this would not be a long conversation. The sound of a saw blared from the detached garage on the back of the property. Her Popa’s hobby. Between that and a swamp cooler in her parent’s bedroom, she would be lucky to hear anything.

Absentmindedly, she fanned out her tarot cards on the patio table. She pulled the first card. The Fool. A new beginning or a journey.

I suppose you’re worked up because you think Mimi is leaving, Moman said.

I don’t think, I know.

Good.

Mimi strained her ear toward the door. Did her Moman really say ‘good’ to her leaving?

I want better for Mimi. There’s nothing for her here.

If You feel dat way, let Marie come live with me.

A saw pierced wood again, long and shrill.

Her heart leaped at the thought of living with Auntie Josette. She led a mysterious life of psychic readings and potions. Moman never allowed Mimi to visit. A strict Catholic philosophy presided over the house.

... I don’t want her around the occult.

The old argument. A Ouija board was in the parlor room, but Moman considered it a game. When it came to divination and spells, she and Popa were clear that hellfire and damnation would result.

You wanna deny who you are, fine. But don deny Marie her heritage.

Heritage. Hocus pocus for a quick buck. Some heritage. That’s not for my girl. She has the hands of a healer. She’ll do great things, but she has to leave to do them, and a soldier is the quickest way outta here.

The hands of a healer. Moman still observed some of her voodoo traditions in secret. Nursing school was part of Mimi’s plan, now that she completed high school. She wanted to help people. They had programs at the local technical college followed by a transfer to the university in Shreveport. Living by her aunt, by George. It would be nice to have a change of scenery.

But she believes I should get out of here with a soldier. Mimi did not go looking for a ticket away from home. She wanted to have fun with her friends. She pulled another card. The Three of Wands. A man stands on high ground, overlooking ships in a bay. The wands are firmly set in the ground. Commitment to future plans.

The saw blared again, eleven short cuts, and stopped.

You get ya wish. She leavin’. To get left behind. You do her no favors lettin’ her go.

Mimi sat straight in the chair. Leaving to get left behind. What does that mean? She turned another card. The Five of Pentacles. A destitute man on crutches and a barefoot woman walk in the snow. Abandonment. It could mean poverty.

You’re incredibly selfish. She’s leaving. You may have seen what will happen if she goes, but did you examine what will happen if she stays? No. You didn’t. She’ll live longer out of Louisiana.

We can change all dat.

No! Magic isn’t always the answer. It just makes things worse. She’s a woman and she’ll make her own choices now.

Mimi chuckled. That’ll be the day. So long as I’m here, I have no choices. A life of travel with George had the appeal of freedom. Nurses were needed everywhere. If she went to Shreveport, she could get him and her goals.

A chair scraped the wood floor inside the house. Don’t let youngins fly da coop, said Auntie Josette, You never see dem again.

A French door swung open and Auntie Josette stepped out, pulling the door closed behind her. She reflected on the tarot cards Mimi tried to hide back in her purse. She motioned to follow her as she walked around the house. When they reached the side of the front porch, she spun around, her plaid skirt twirling around her legs. In her hand she held a leather bound book.

Dis is our family legacy. She slipped the book into Mimi’s purse. You need dis in da future. She pulled Mimi into a tight embrace, the sweet smell of citrus wafted over her. I won’t look on ya again Marie.

Mimi clutched tighter to her aunt. Sure you will. I’ll move to Shreveport and we’ll...

The phone rang, making Mimi’s body stiffen. What time was it? George’s usual time for their nightly chat?

Auntie Josette pulled back and cupped Mimi’s cheek. Dat be ya man. But it alright. Your Mama knows.

Mimi, Moman