Jason Roberts left his apartment on Franklin Street, entering the coffee shop/Occult bookstore, to indulge in his addiction to caffeine.

The twenty-nine year old ran a hand through his dark spiky hair and watched as a young patron looked his way and asked. "Excuse me, do
you know where I can find good books on Hermeticism, and stuff on the Golden Dawn by any chance?"

Jason did not work their, but as a practiced Wiccan and knowledgable man in the occult sciences, he smiled at her and answered her
question anyway.

"Your looking in the wrong section. This is the section on Wicca. You wont find anything but Scott Cunnighman and the like over here.
You need to look over here....." Jason pointed her to another shelf of books.

"Ceremonial magic appears to be in this section. The Essential Golden Dawn is a good book. Green Hermeticism. Alchemy and Ecology, by Peter
Lamborn Wilson, Christopher Bamford, Kevin Townley is also a very good book.

Hermeticism and Western Esotericism by Virgina Klass is a newer one I recommend." Jason said in response to the young woman's question.

"Thanks....I know your just doing your job but...." The woman said in
reply.

"My job?" Jason laughed. Of course she thought he was employed here. "I dont work here. I'm new in town, still looking for a job. Im just
here for some coffee."

Jason slid into the line to order something from the attending waitress.

He was pretty happy with this store. It had a bunch of really neat titles. The coffee thing was also cool because you could read your
titles over coffee.

If he had a store like this, he would give classes on metaphysical topics, teach the making of potions, do tarot readings. He could
think of a lot of neat ways to use a store like this.

Jason ordered a cappuchino and had a seat, beginning to flip through one of the titles he had just purchased Witch Crafting: A
Spiritual Guide to Making Magic by Phyllis Curott, having a seat, enjoying his coffee looking forward to an afternoon of peace and
quiet.

"You know your stuff!" a lady, with flowing bandannas, and colorful  gowns said. "And did I overhear you say, you need a job?" she asked.

"Hi" she said, extending her hand to the young man "I'm Jean, and I own this place" sha said, introducing herself. Her face, saddened a bit.

"It seems I'm in need of a new shop assistant" she added. "So, you want  the job, or do I give it to some other person?" she questioned.

Jason turned from the book he was reading and the coffee he was drinking and said. "Sure Jean....I'd love a job...it would help me to
pay for my apartment down on Franklin Street.

You have some great coffee here by the way. I absolutely love this stuff. Caffeine I am afraid is a big vice of mine. I Cant ever seem to
get enough of this stuff..

I like the way you have things organized here....it makes a lot of sense."

"So, what will you need me to do, aside from the obvious book recommendations and pointing people to the right section of the
store?" Jason asked as he took another sip of his cappuchino.

"Well, brewing and running the coffee counter, as well" she answered. And with a twinkle, in her green eyes, she added "And coffee is free,
for employees" she added. "Oh, and there are other employee benefits" she said.

Jason smiled a bit and said. "I can handle coffee brewing, and free coffee for employees sounds absolutely spectacular.

He regarded Jean with a curious gaze as she mentioned other employee benefits. "So does the store do special orders of books? The bookstore
I worked in back in Detroit did. Though your inventory is so expansive I am betting you probably wouldn't even need to make special orders
very often."

Jason looked around the store at all of the various otber things which she had to sell. Knick Knacks, potion bottles, incense. "I love the
store....you did well here..."

"Well," began Jean, as she looked around her place  "It took some time and some resources but" she turned
back to her new shop assistant "I like what I put together"  she told him. "And as for special orders, well, we do that
more often than you'd think" she said.

"Now, I want you to know, that there is NO overtime"  she said. "I close the shop, before sundown, no matter
the season" she said, pausing to let the rule set in

"And open at sunrise" she told him. She began to turn from him. "So, beginning tomorrow,  you come to work" she said to him "But, starting today, the coffee is free" she added with a smile.

Jason was about to pour himself some more coffee when he realized, all of the coffee was out.

He decided to remedy this by making his first official pot of coffee in the bookstore.

Grabbing up the little tote of Folgers coffee, and the filter, he began to set up everything like so, so that he could make a freshly brewed
pot of coffee.

"You have a really good model here...these stainless steel things last forever....even if they cost a fortune. I went cheap only once,
bought one of those Mr. Coffee Coffee pots, I will never do it again. I am telling you that coffee pot was one of the most finky pieces
of technology that I have ever encountered in my life.

It made noises like it was possessed by demons or something. It was just utterly insane. I dont recommend that brand at all. Cheap is not
always the best way to go."

Jason poured himself a cup of coffee and began looking at a few of the special orders books that Jean had in the coffee shop.

He wanted to sort of get a feel for how things operated around the bookstore.

Jason sort of noticed that Jean and one of her customers were talking about something on the other side of the store, but in truth he was really
too focused on reading his purchases today and drinking his coffee too notice much.

Though he could have sworn someone said something about funeral arrangements for a woman and that caused a bit of sadness for him.

He tried to push it away. He had come a long way, a looong way trying to forget about the tragic loss of his fiance Rebecca. There were
undoubtedly going to be reminders here and there of the fact that she was gone. He was just going to have to deal with them and take them
in stride.

Jason flipped through his collection of his purchases on Wicca and related subjects, including hermeticism and ceremonial magic, and
switched to a book on Celtic Spirituality that he had thrown in their with his mass of purchases, beginning to read D.J Conway. He liked to
remain well versed in all manner of things, not just Wicca, otherwise, how was he to advise people on purchases and whatnot?

"Thank you, Adrian" Jean said. "But, as callous as it may seem,  I've had the luck, to run into a bright young, and knowledgeable ,
man". she said. "I hired him, to help out, around here, in..., in Jessica's place" she said flatly

"She's in Hell, you know!" Steven announced to the crowd. Brenda choked on her coffee and simultaneously slapped his head.

Brenda wiped the splattered coffee from her face and clothes.

"Stop it, you jerk!" she hissed. Damien sauntered over, and gripped his shoulder tightly. "Cool it!"

"Uncle Herndon would say that. He'd say exactly that." He spread some powdered cream on the counter and said, "Ok, who wants
a line!" he teased. Looking around, he saw no one was laughing.

"Right. She's not in Hell. Hell is on earth anyway. Along with the va... vuh... victims... all we are here for is to suffer and die.

Damien hit him on the arm. "What is wrong with you!"

Steven ignored him, trying to sweep up the cream on the counter, not looking at anyone now.

He wiped at his moist eyes.

"Behave or get out!" Damien ordered.

"I agree" spoke Jean, as she returned her attention to the small group. "And you," she said, glaring at Steven "She was a wonderful young lady, and if you even THINK she did anything to go to hell, I'll send you there, myself!" she said, defending Jessica's good heart and name.

"There is a time and place and NOW is not it! So just shut up ok?!" Brenda hissed.

Jason had been downright ignoring the conversation between those talking about a woman's funeral arrangements until someone said
somehting about her burning in hell or whatnot.

Jason did not know the man but he turned looking straight in that mans direction giving him a slightly dirty look.

He controlled the urge to say anything because he didn't want to be told he wasn't going to work out in this store before he even got
started working here, but it was extremely, extremely hard.

Jason prayed that the man would keep silence and not rave on about such things so he would not lose his composure.

What kind of person looks at someone who has a friend who has just died and presumes to play god, and tell them that they are bound for
hell?

Jason merely exhaled and ignored it. That kind of ignorance was not worth him getting a rise over.

Its not as if as a Wiccan Jason had never heard such things before.

But if anyone had dared said that about his fiance, Rebecca when he buried her six monthes ago, he would have come unglued.

He was sick of stupid people that did not know his religion was not evil.

He saw the young man casting a contemptuous glance in the direction of Steven.

"A shame it is, what's happened," he said. "But even more of a shame the way Steven is going on right now. I know his life has been
filled with difficulty, but this … this is just so unexpected …"

"Yes I know my way around coffee, and around books, especially these kind of books." Jason said in reply. He smiled a inspite of himself.
"Yes, tradgedy is always a shame. I recently buried my fiance. Its why I moved actually, I wanted a change of pace. A change of scenery."

Jason took another sip of his cappuchino as he looked around the room.

He couldn't think of a single thing someone could tell him that would justify talking ill of the dead like that and standing in judgement of
them yet, at the same time, he remembered to handle it tastefully, with tact.

"Death has a way of making people crazy like not quite anything else. Even love does." Jason said in reply. His hand went to the
wedding ring he had not yet taken off, even though Rebecca had been gone for six monthes.

Jean turned her deep green eyes, to Adrian. "Thank you" she said. "I didn't even know her faith"
she said "That subject never seemed to come up" she said sheepishly. "I'm not sure where to begin,
to tell the truth"

"Perhaps something ecclectic then," Adrian said softly to Jean. "You and I both know she loved this store and was so knowledgeable in
helping anyone out. If Jason wouldn't mind, he could help us put something together. I'm certain that many of your customers would want
to be involved. We can create a ceremony that celebrates her life and will serve as a fine introduction to anywhere the afterlife may take
her ... "

Adrian was deep in thought.

"You said she was a bit of an orphan?" he asked, gently. "But is there anyone we need to notify, that you know of? I'll be glad to help
contact them, to spare you the difficulty."

Jean smiled "If it weren't for the circumstances, Adrian,  I'd almost think you were trying to 'Pick me up', as it were"
she said. Jean reached over, and patted his hand "But,  I know your being a good friend" she assured him
"And thanks" she added. "My only dilemma now is, do I  choose cremation or full burial, for Jess?" she said to her friend.

Adrian flashed a brilliant smile at Jean's words. He was glad, at least, to be able to lift her spirits at a time such as this. She'd
been an important friend to him in the community, and he found her store invaluable in researching the true worth of the antiquities he
dealt with.

Her question regarding cremation or burial for Jean struck him unprepared. He truly didn't have an answer. It was such a personal
choice, one that had so many religious ramifications, and neither of them had known Jessica's religious preferences.

"Jean, I truly can't say," Adrian said. "On the one hand, cremation could be nice. It would be thoughtful to have a special garden where
the ashes could be spread and she could still be a part of things. But to tell the truth, a larger part of me can't bear the thought of
her body being reduced to ashes ..."

Adrian's thoughts couldn't help but stray to his latest "acquisition" as he thought of burial practices. He was hard
pressed not to blurt out something to Jean that would give away his exciting news. But he knew that in order to escape prosecution by
the Egyptian authorities, he'd have to remain silent for quite a long time.

Jean had shuttered the last window. She felt better, now that she had some kind of service for Jess, in mind. "Miss you, baby" she muttered to herself,  as she drew the curtain, across the window. This effectively shut the place off,
from the outside world.

If the sign on the front door didn't say it enough, then the shuttered and covered  windows should. This place was closed, for bussiness.
Sure, that nobody was about, Jean pulled off her bandana, that covered her hair.

Only, it wasn't hair, that she unveiled. Her locks flowed and turned of their accord. The green strands, tipped with a viper's head, turned and streched, as they were  unleashed, from their covering. "How are my babies?" Jean asked, as she ran her  hands through the snakes, that grew from her scalp. The viper strands swirled  around her hands, and tickled the skin on her hands, with their tonuges, welcoming
her touch, as much as she welcomed thiers.

"Time to open for the evening's customers" she said to them, as she pulled her  hands from the strands of snakes upon her head.
Jean made her way to the back door, and set a sign in the window. To most of the  normal people, it was unreadable. To an educated few, they'd recognize the ancient  symbols, many of them considered a "Dead Language". They were nearly right.

But, her customers, of the night knew otherwise. They could read that sign simply  read "Open".

Jean had thought that Jason had left for the evening, when he came walking back into the store. "Sorry Jean I forgot to take one of my books with me and..." He stopped staring wide eyed at his boss as she let her coils out from underneath the bandanna. "Your a gorgon."

"Dont be afraid Jason...." Jean said in reply, as she looked to the young man.

"I'm not. I'm suprised, to say the least but, I'm really not afraid." Jason said. "My store is a place of non-violence. None that enter these walls come to harm here, and that now includes you. But if you run off telling everyone what you've seen today, they are just going to call you crazy and lock you up in a mental hospital somewhere.'

"There is no need to threaten, I more than understand.." Jason said. Yet he did not tip his hand that he was a magic user to her, not yet, as if she was lying, it could mean the difference between surviving or dying in this experience.

Jason saw the ghost that stepped out of the bookshelves giving him more of a start than Jean actually had.

That was when a ghastly creature with blood dripping down her mouth stepped out of the bookshelves, startling him. There was a shriek that came from the spirit, and Jason watched her, as Jean looked in her direction, whispering an incanation in an ancient almost long forgotten language to get her under her control.

When a young man entered the store, and she grabbbed him knocking him against one of the bookstores so hard it killed him, Jason looked to Jean, to see her reaction to this.

"Its all right sweetie..." Jean said. "Lets get you back in the basement...I'll dispose of this body.."

"She killed, in this place, and your going to let her stay here?" Jason said to Jean.

"Of course I am. Its not her fault. Its just her nature." Jean said to Jason.

"I cant work under these conditions..." Jason said. That was when she tried to turn him to stone. Only his not having tipped his hand earlier, probably saved his life.

He became incorporeal in that instant, then reformed again, conjuring a mirror and making her look upon herself in that instant. He remembered that killing gorgons in an ancient tale, and the next time she tried to use her powers against him, it indeed, did turn her into a living statue.

He then hurled a fireball in the direction of the creature who'd attacked him. He left the place sadly. He had hoped she wasn't lying to him. That she lived honorably, not monsterously, however, she had been a liar. He'd actually liked her.