Written in the Sky* Rise of the Wadjet Witch (5 page)
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Authors: Juliet C. Obodo
BOOK: Written in the Sky* Rise of the Wadjet Witch
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An open door appeared, and through it she could see a woman or a child—she could not tell which. The person was small, but a gray veil covered her face. She wore something that resembled a burka, and it was also gray. She signaled for her to enter, and neither of them spoke.
Memphis was now inside the pile of rocks—it was in a cave. The female closed the door and pointed in the other direction. Memphis began to walk ahead of her. She walked for what seemed like a mile. When she finally turned to ask where the next door was, the female was gone. She was now alone.
She continued to walk and noticed sheets of papyrus on the ground. She bent down and began to collect them until she had quite a large stack. The sheets started to vibrate and morphed into a book with a dark cover. It had no title. She moved to open it when suddenly the female reappeared. She still wore a veil and a burka, but they were now orange.
She traced a doorway into the cave’s wall with her index finger. A door appeared and it was bright; it looked like it had caught fire. The fire extinguished, and words had been burned into the door.
“
This is the Gate of Mercury. You have left the Gate of Man.” She didn’t want to touch the door; she was afraid it was still hot. She did not have to, however; it opened for her.
This is the Gate of Mercury. You have left the Gate of Man.” She didn’t want to touch the door; she was afraid it was still hot. She did not have to, however; it opened for her.
She had been to this place before. The bright orange hues enveloped her, and she felt warm and safe. Her feelings of joy grew as she walked toward a wooden door. There were no words, but she knew that this doorway would lead her to Venus. She turned the copper knob and entered.
She followed a short and golden path to the Gate of the Sun. It was made of gold. She entered and arrived in a rock garden. The rocks in the center formed a path. She hopped onto each to get to the next door. She counted one, two, three, four, five, six; she was almost there. She was almost to ten. She was almost to her center.
She reached the door marked with the symbol of Mars. There wasn’t a knob. She waited for it to open. It did not. She moved closer, but the door remained closed. She knocked. No one answered. She knocked harder, but still no one answered. No! She had to continue her journey.
She began to knock harder and then pounded on the door with both hands. She had to get to the other side. She felt the ground beneath her begin to shake, and she was relieved; this must be another way in. A black hole formed. It was a void; it was not the way. Frightened, she began to move backward away from the hole, but it followed her, and it was growing. She turned to run back to the Gate of the Sun, but she could not escape the ever-expanding hole.
The Sun’s door reappeared but it was too late; she had already fallen through the hole. She screamed.
“
Miss? Miss, are you all right?”
Miss? Miss, are you all right?”
Memphis opened her eyes to find a young woman looking down at her. She was on the couch in the doctor’s office. Memphis just stared at her blankly.
“
Miss, are you all right? Are you here to see the doctor? I can schedule an appointment.” The woman’s brow furrowed with concern.
Miss, are you all right? Are you here to see the doctor? I can schedule an appointment.” The woman’s brow furrowed with concern.
Memphis’s mind suddenly went blank, but she managed to speak. “No, that won’t be necessary. I’ve already seen the doctor and I think she cured me.”
“
You have? I didn’t know she was in today. I’m sorry I wasn’t at the desk. Come, let me help you up.” She pulled Memphis onto her feet. “Do you know where the doctor went?”
You have? I didn’t know she was in today. I’m sorry I wasn’t at the desk. Come, let me help you up.” She pulled Memphis onto her feet. “Do you know where the doctor went?”
“
No,” Memphis answered mechanically.
No,” Memphis answered mechanically.
“
Oh, well. That’s fine. What did she treat you for? I’m so glad you’re cured. She’s a great doctor.”
Oh, well. That’s fine. What did she treat you for? I’m so glad you’re cured. She’s a great doctor.”
Memphis couldn’t find an answer for her when she noticed a stop smoking sign on the wall. “Stop smoking,” she read.
“
She treated me for that, too. It’s amazing. I haven’t had a cigarette in weeks,” the receptionist gushed.
She treated me for that, too. It’s amazing. I haven’t had a cigarette in weeks,” the receptionist gushed.
“
Yes, it is amazing. Neither have I,” Memphis agreed.
Yes, it is amazing. Neither have I,” Memphis agreed.
“
I thought you were just treated today?” she asked with a confused expression on her face.
I thought you were just treated today?” she asked with a confused expression on her face.
“
Yes,” Memphis simply answered.
Yes,” Memphis simply answered.
“
Yes? Yes to what?”
Yes? Yes to what?”
“
Yes,” Memphis repeated. She picked up her bag and walked out of the office, leaving a very confused receptionist behind.
Chapter 5Yes,” Memphis repeated. She picked up her bag and walked out of the office, leaving a very confused receptionist behind.
A cool breeze woke Memphis out of her trance. She shook her head to clear her mind, but it seemed that someone else beat her to the punch. She couldn’t remember anything about her session. One minute she was lying on the couch in Dr. Thompson’s office, then the next she was outside on the street. She glanced at her watch; she could not recall the last two hours of her life. Could this be one of the side effects of hypnotherapy? She would have to look into it, but right now she was extremely thirsty.
She decided to stop at the news shop before taking the subway home. She walked stiffly into the store to purchase a pack of Marlboro Lights and a bottle of water out of habit. She walked past the cashier before heading to the back to grab the water. By the time she returned to the register, there were two people in line. She was too thirsty to wait; she opened the bottle of water and drank all of it. She was still thirsty. She went back and continued to drink until her thirst was quenched, which was several bottles later. She took one full bottle and the empty ones back to the register.
She needed to get home. Not only did she now need to use the bathroom, but she wanted to go back to sleep. She was completely exhausted. The first customer in line purchased a pack of cigarettes and left quickly. The woman in front of her pulled out several slips of lottery forms. Oh, no. Memphis knew that she would take forever to choose her numbers.
“
Excuse me, do you mind if I just pay for this water?”
Excuse me, do you mind if I just pay for this water?”
Memphis no longer wanted the cigarettes. All she wanted was another nap. Man, what was with her? She’d been sleeping like a…like a pregnant woman. Oh, no way. She was not pregnant with Jonathan’s baby. There was no way. The universe didn’t hate her that much. She gave a homeless person a dollar whenever she could; that had to be good for something. She felt sudden pressure in her temples and a wave of panic washed over her. Then, as quickly as it came, it went away. She knew that she was not pregnant. She also knew that the winning numbers of tonight’s lottery drawing were two, seven, forty-five, thirty-two, nineteen, and eight.
“
Ma’am?”
Ma’am?”
The woman ignored her.
“
Ma’am,” she repeated at a higher volume. She placed her hand on the woman’s shoulder.
Ma’am,” she repeated at a higher volume. She placed her hand on the woman’s shoulder.
“
Hey!” the woman exclaimed. She turned to look at Memphis, ready for a fight. She was about to yell at her, but she must have seen something in Memphis’s eyes that stopped her. She was younger than Memphis thought. She looked tired and sad.
Hey!” the woman exclaimed. She turned to look at Memphis, ready for a fight. She was about to yell at her, but she must have seen something in Memphis’s eyes that stopped her. She was younger than Memphis thought. She looked tired and sad.
“
Miss,” she corrected herself. “I know tonight’s winning numbers. Let me just purchase these bottles of water and I will give them to you.”
Miss,” she corrected herself. “I know tonight’s winning numbers. Let me just purchase these bottles of water and I will give them to you.”
The woman continued to stare at her, but she nodded her head.
Memphis reached past her and paid the cashier. She waved her hand when he silently offered her a bag, and then she turned her gaze back to the woman. She repeated the winning numbers to her, wished her luck, and floated out of the store.
It was ten o’clock when Memphis awoke from her second nap of the day. Gemma was knocking on her door.
Are you all right, love?” she inquired. She must have thought Memphis slept the whole day. “Are you sick? I saw you drank the coffee and cleaned up. Thanks for that. Would you like a cup of tea?”
The great thing about having a British roomy was that she made an excellent cup of tea.
“
Sure,” Memphis responded sleepily.
Sure,” Memphis responded sleepily.
She followed Gemma into the kitchen. Thankfully, the living room lamp was the only source of light in the apartment. She didn’t think she could take the harsh, bright fluorescent lighting in their post-war kitchenette.
“
So, how was your day?” That must have been British for, “Surely you didn’t sleep the entire day. You had to be so busy running errands that you must have tuckered yourself out and decided to have a nap.” Gemma placed a small cup in front of her and deftly filled it will hot, brown liquid.
So, how was your day?” That must have been British for, “Surely you didn’t sleep the entire day. You had to be so busy running errands that you must have tuckered yourself out and decided to have a nap.” Gemma placed a small cup in front of her and deftly filled it will hot, brown liquid.
“
Interesting,” Memphis replied. “I went to see a therapist.”
Interesting,” Memphis replied. “I went to see a therapist.”
“
Yes, of course you did—to treat your depression. Your breakup with Jonathan has left you feeling a greater sense of loss than you thought. This may also be tied to the fact that you don’t know who your real parents are and you were never legally adopted.”
Yes, of course you did—to treat your depression. Your breakup with Jonathan has left you feeling a greater sense of loss than you thought. This may also be tied to the fact that you don’t know who your real parents are and you were never legally adopted.”
Gemma took the same freshman psychology class and decided to make a career of it. She was pursuing her masters in cognitive therapy. She constantly treated Memphis as her in-house patient. So far, she’d been labeled as a narcissistic, co-dependent alcoholic with trust issues, and diagnosed with adult attention deficit disorder. Now she was also suffering from depression. There must be truth serum in the tea, because ordinarily Memphis would have not shared the fact that she went to any type of therapy—even physical—with Gemma.
“
Um, well, sort of. I went to a hypnotherapist. Jill suggested it, to help me quit smoking. It was quite an experience. I don’t remember much, but I haven’t had a craving for a cigarette all day.” Of course she’d been sleeping most of the day, but Gemma didn’t need to know that.
Um, well, sort of. I went to a hypnotherapist. Jill suggested it, to help me quit smoking. It was quite an experience. I don’t remember much, but I haven’t had a craving for a cigarette all day.” Of course she’d been sleeping most of the day, but Gemma didn’t need to know that.
“
That’s brilliant! I and the upholstery are grateful! So you don’t remember anything from the session?” She bit into a digestive biscuit.
That’s brilliant! I and the upholstery are grateful! So you don’t remember anything from the session?” She bit into a digestive biscuit.
“
No, I don’t. I just remember meeting Dr. Thompson and lying down blindfolded. Then I was suddenly outside of the office building. I think I might have said good-bye to the receptionist, but the doctor wasn’t there when I came out from under her trance.”
No, I don’t. I just remember meeting Dr. Thompson and lying down blindfolded. Then I was suddenly outside of the office building. I think I might have said good-bye to the receptionist, but the doctor wasn’t there when I came out from under her trance.”
“
You wore a blindfold? Now that’s strange. Hypnotherapy doesn’t usually require a blindfold; it affects the feeling of trust between the patient and the therapist.”
You wore a blindfold? Now that’s strange. Hypnotherapy doesn’t usually require a blindfold; it affects the feeling of trust between the patient and the therapist.”
“
That’s what I thought, but I did go down rather quickly, and it worked. I guess the end justifies the means.” She shrugged off her own suspicions.
That’s what I thought, but I did go down rather quickly, and it worked. I guess the end justifies the means.” She shrugged off her own suspicions.
“
Well, it was lovely chatting, but I have to be off to meet a new suitor.” She gathered her service items and placed them in the sink.
Well, it was lovely chatting, but I have to be off to meet a new suitor.” She gathered her service items and placed them in the sink.
“
What happened to the one from last night?” Memphis inquired and took another sip of tea.
What happened to the one from last night?” Memphis inquired and took another sip of tea.
“
Oh, nothing happened to him, but it’s always good to have options.” She winked. She grabbed her coat and scarf, kissed Memphis on the top of the head, and left her feeling young and boring. She also had more dishes to wash.
Oh, nothing happened to him, but it’s always good to have options.” She winked. She grabbed her coat and scarf, kissed Memphis on the top of the head, and left her feeling young and boring. She also had more dishes to wash.
She decided to change the location of her loafing to the living room sofa, just to shake things up a bit. The television was still on the Public Broadcasting Network. Gemma never watched television; at least not at their apartment since she was hardly ever home.
Memphis grabbed her phone and texted Jill to tell her she was right. “The hypnosis worked after one session. The doctor was a bit strange and I couldn’t really understand her through her accent, but it still worked.”
“
Hey! We have the same accent and you can understand me perfectly, unless you’ve been pretending all these years.” Jill was so funny. Her Texan drawl sounded nothing like Dr. Thompson’s musical lilt.
Hey! We have the same accent and you can understand me perfectly, unless you’ve been pretending all these years.” Jill was so funny. Her Texan drawl sounded nothing like Dr. Thompson’s musical lilt.
She replied, “LOL.”
The Universe Now
was on again. The bespectacled host was in the middle of another discussion on birth charts and how the Moon affected people.
was on again. The bespectacled host was in the middle of another discussion on birth charts and how the Moon affected people.
“
The Moon enters a different sign about every 2.5 days, so tracking these changes is one of the best ways I know to understand the energies of the signs and how they work for you personally. The Moon is the archetypal symbol of our emotional body, our self-image, what we need, and where we feel security. In one month, we go through every possible emotion, sometimes withdrawing to reflect upon what our emotions are telling us, and sometimes projecting those emotions outwards.”
The Moon enters a different sign about every 2.5 days, so tracking these changes is one of the best ways I know to understand the energies of the signs and how they work for you personally. The Moon is the archetypal symbol of our emotional body, our self-image, what we need, and where we feel security. In one month, we go through every possible emotion, sometimes withdrawing to reflect upon what our emotions are telling us, and sometimes projecting those emotions outwards.”
He continued to explain that the multi-lunar complexes were very different from Earth’s one moon, Mars’s two, and Pluto’s three; he was discussing the effects of a newly discovered planet. It was discovered by one of Jonathan’s old classmates. Memphis was impressed. The show wasn’t just about horoscopes.
“
It’s conceivable that their lunar effects are different, possibly stronger, in relation to the Sun, since the Sun is distant and visually smaller than many of those moons. Looking at the gas giants Jupiter and Saturn, might their moons’ numbers and comparatively tiny size make their effects less consequential than our relatively larger and single Moon? For an example of a lunar cycle different than ours and similar to our Stellaluna example—except the moons are different sizes—Charon, Pluto’s principal moon, is much larger than our moon is, relative to Pluto. Also similar to Stellaluna, with the Sun being very faint, Charon could have a stronger lunar effect than our moon. Charon has a very long lunar cycle,” he explained.
It’s conceivable that their lunar effects are different, possibly stronger, in relation to the Sun, since the Sun is distant and visually smaller than many of those moons. Looking at the gas giants Jupiter and Saturn, might their moons’ numbers and comparatively tiny size make their effects less consequential than our relatively larger and single Moon? For an example of a lunar cycle different than ours and similar to our Stellaluna example—except the moons are different sizes—Charon, Pluto’s principal moon, is much larger than our moon is, relative to Pluto. Also similar to Stellaluna, with the Sun being very faint, Charon could have a stronger lunar effect than our moon. Charon has a very long lunar cycle,” he explained.
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