Gypsies, tramps and thieves; We'd hear it from the people of the town
They'd call us gypsies, tramps and thieves; But every night all the men would come around
And lay their money down

Picked up a boy just south of Mobile; Gave him a ride, filled him with a hot meal
I was sixteen, he was twenty-one; Rode with us to Memphis
And papa woulda shot him if he knew what he'd done

I never had schoolin' but he taught me well; With his smooth southern style
Three months later, I'm a gal in trouble; And I haven't seen him for a while
I haven't seen him for a while

She was born in the wagon of a travelin' show; Her mama had to dance for the money they'd throw
Grandpa'd do whatever he could; Preach a little gospel
Sell a couple bottles of doctor good

("Gypsies, Tramps and Thieves" by Cher)

     My father's name is Valentine, and my mother is Deveyanna. My parents are a long line of Romani from Europe that tried to make a living here in the states. Daddy claimed that one day he would make enough money to return to the Mother Land and rejoin the clan of old.

     As the song said we traveled from town to town. Life was great, I was a care-free child. So the local children always teased me, but it made me stronger and fueled my desire to be a famous singer. The boy we picked up in Mobile was the first love of my life, his name was Cade Hunter. He was running from his life of riches and wealth. He came from a rich New England family, that place allot of hope and pressure on him to one day take on the family business.

     No wonder he found the Gypsy life intoxicating for a brief time. He left me in Memphis after I told him I was pregnant, but that wasn't the reason that he left, he really did love me and wanted to stay and live the free life with me and his unborn child. It was his family that tracked him down and took him away. When my daughter Ivy was born, I wrote to him and sent him a picture. It was days after her birth, that social services came to collect her and they stated that her father could provide for her a proper upbringing. I was saddened by this but I also knew that Ivy would have a better life with Cade. We would write to each other often, dream of leaving the country with our daughter, but the winds of fate can be cruel.

     At age 18, the tribe pulled into a small town outside of New Orleans. On a trip into the city to scout out small bars and nightclubs to perform at, I saw Cade one day at a posh restaurant. He didn't seem like the loving man I knew. His eyes seemed lifeless. His lawyers were quick to issue a restraining order on me, and told me to never try to see Cade or Ivy again. These lawyers were terrifying, so cold and lifeless behind there dark suits and sunglasses.

     In that depressing mood, I sang my heart out at a New Orleans jazz club. Night after Night. People loved me. It wasn't long before I started to fill the club, and I noticed one handsome man always in attendance. The man was Alex Hawthorne, son of one of the wealthiest families in New Orleans. I couldn't go through this again. The more I pulled away from his affections, the more he pursued. His charms and romantic personality warmed my icy demeanor and we were soon dating. I told him my dream of being a proper lady one day, and he enrolled me at Tulane University where I began to study business and music. I also told him of my dream to reclaim my daughter. Through his contacts he discovered that Cade was now the president of his family firm, and that Ivy was now in London at a private pre-school and living with Cade's new wife. My heart ached for the daughter I never really knew. Alex was understanding and promised that we would start our own family one day. Alex was my knight in shining armor.

     I graduated from Tulane and we were married on my 22nd birthday. Life was incredible. I continued to sing, as that was my true love. Alex and I were the Prince and Princess of the city. We were invited to every party, every Mardi Gras Ball. Alex and I even paid for my parents to move to Europe which was their fondest dream. The tribe that remained we set up bank accounts and money market accounts for. We joked that they were the wealthiest Gypsy tribe in the world. But knowing that true wealth comes from love and passion, they continued to wander the country and only drew out money when needed, but I had them promise to send every Romani child in the tribe to college when they came of age. The tribe called me their new Gypsy Queen, rumor was it didn't sit to well with the "real" Gypsy Queen of New Orleans. Ruby Damiana the Dark Lady.

     Like the flower that blooms, it must also wilt. Life with Alex was better than I could ever guessed it would be. But over time I noticed the spark in his eyes started to diminish and that he was beginning to spend more time "at the office". From my gypsy background I knew a little bit about charms and spells, and it seemed that my husband was under the influence of something. And with this town being a Voodoo capital, I got scared, and requested a meeting with the Dark Lady for her advise.

The fortune queen of New Orleans; Was brushing her cat
In her black limousine; On the back seat were scratches from
The marks of men her fortunes she had won; I couldn't see through the tinted glass
She said "Home James" and he hit the gas; I followed her to some darkened room
She took my money; She said "I'll be with you soon"

Dark lady laughed and danced and lit the candles one by one
Danced to her gypsy music till her brew was done
Dark lady played black magic till the clock struck on the twelve
She told me more about me than I knew myself

She dealt two cards, a queen and a three; And mumbled some words
That were so strange to me; And then she turned up a two-eyed jack
My eyes saw red but the card; Still stayed black
She said "the man you love is secretly true; To someone else who is very close to you
My advice is that you leave this place; Never come back and forget you ever saw my face"

So I ran home and crawled in my bed; I couldn't sleep because
Of all the things she said; Then I remembered her strange perfume
And how I smelled it once in my own room; So I sneaked back and caught her with my man
Laughing and kissing; Till they saw the gun in my hand
The next thing I knew; They were dead on the floor
Dark lady would never turn a card up anymore

("Dark Lady" by Cher)

     I was shocked, angry, and sad. I couldn't believe that Alex could do this to me. But then I heard him call my name in a desperate plea. Through bloodstained lips, he pleaded his love for me that Ruby was the one who put the spell on him. She was jealous of my tribe calling me the new Gypsy Queen. He died there in my arms, as my tears fell to his handsome face. It was then that I was overcome by a great thirst. I knew it was magical in essence but I couldn't fight it. I glanced about the room for something to drink. It was then I noticed the chalice of "Gypsy Brew" that I drank from earlier in the night. I drank the contents down, barely noticing the coppery taste of Ruby's blood that fell into the chalice. It was then and there that my world exploded in to light, and darkness at the same time. I could feel magic and power flow through my body, power of life, power of mind, power of love, loss, and anger. Power of blood, sweat, and tears. Gypsy power, and the magic of the Mother Earth rose up in my blood.

     Ruby's servant James entered the room and started cleaning up, as if he didn't see the two dead bodies on the floor or didn't care that the mess on the table he was wiping away was blood and not some errand sauce split from dinner. He handed me a black dress and said "Mame, you might want to change the coven will be here soon". Coven?

     True to his word, in about ten minutes the twelve limos pulled into the drive of the Ruby's Antebellum Mansion on the edge of the swamp. Twelve elegant woman in black dresses stepped out of the limos in unison, and walked up the steps and into the mansion. Upon entering the dining room, they didn't appear shocked at the crime scene, but only shook their heads. Their drivers helped James clean up the murder scene. They took Alex's body and later I found out they drove back to the city and made his death look like a Decatur Street mugging. The Twelve took my hand and I walked with them as they carried Ruby's body outside to the edge of the swamp. We boarded small boats and heading into the swamp towards a small cypress covered island not far from the mansion. With a wave of their hands the torches on the island came to life. The torches formed a walkway that lead to the middle of the island. Once there, I noticed that the torches then formed a circle with a balefire in the middle. Off to the what I believed was the Northeast was a stone altar-like table.

     "Ruby lived by the blood and died by the blood. Even though her passions caused her death, she was freed from the curse, by the love and passions of another. On this night as we return one sister to the Earth, we ask that you look upon our new Sister, and bestow upon her the power and the curse, that is way of our tradition and coven."

     After they said this in unison they threw Ruby's body into the swamp, the gators ready to feast and do their part in the eternal cycle of life, death, and rebirth. The twelve sat me down and like as if some one threw a switch they became individuals and more personable. They grieved for the loss of my husband, and they explained how their are a powerful coven of Verbana. Each of them are the wives of wealthy men in New Orleans, and all share the magic of Blood, Sweat, and Tears. They told me that Ruby was their High Priestess, and that now she is gone it is my duty and curse to fill her shoes. The curse is that we are granted power, but it is through our power and passions, if we are not careful that we will die. Especially when it comes to Enchanting other women's men. Half the coven gained their magic by killing the previous Sister who had enchanted their husbands into an affair. That was one of the most passionate and dark traditions that I would learn about. But because I had "returned" Ruby, I was granted the power of the Dark Lady. I was destined to one night rule the Coven, but that wouldn't be for many moons. I had to be trained, and sent out to discover the "war" for myself.

     Over the next two years I was trained by my Sisters in the ways of the Verbana. I was told there was a war among mages in the world. There were other traditions and other supernatural creatures that I couldn't even being to imagine. In those two years they taught me the basics I needed to know. Now came my test: The Test of Blood, Sweat and Tears. I needed to go out into the world and discover my path, find my place in the world. To discover this "war" for myself, and my place in it. I was told that this might take several years, and then upon my return I could take my rightful place as a full fledged Sister of the Coven.

     I left my houses in New Orleans to the care of the Coven, to await my return, and headed to Las Vegas. I was don't know why but my blood called to me to go there. Using my wealth and enchantments, I purchased a small jazz club on the strip. It is there I sing nightly to packed rooms and await my test. I know it will come soon.

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