Pisces: Teacher's Pet

by Sèphera Girón

  They walked down the hill and found themselves in a forest of thick, purple trees. The path continued to shine, and they followed it farther, weaving and winding along.

  “Look,” Devin said.

  At first, Adele couldn’t see what he was pointing at, but as she stared, a house seemed to materialize before them. They walked toward it.

  The house was huge and seemed to be made out of a shiny marble. It had at least three floors and many windows.

  “Wow,” Adele said. “Do you think anyone lives there?”

  “I don’t know,” Devin said as he pulled her closer.

  “Maybe we shouldn’t get too close.” Visions of gingerbread and Baba Yaga chicken-leg houses flitted through her mind.

  “We’ve come this far,” Devin said, tugging her forward. Adele stared at him. Thick ropes of black clung to the shiny rainbows of his aura.

  “I don’t know,” she protested.

  “Well, maybe we can just look in the windows, then,” Devin said. He hurried ahead, and Adele reluctantly followed him. He climbed the stairs to the porch quietly and went over to the first window, peering in.

  “What do you see?” she asked.

  “There’s no one in there. Well, at least in that room,” he said, moving on to the next window.

  Adele climbed the stairs, looking around to see if anyone was watching them. She had the sense of being watched, but maybe it was just the birds flapping in the trees.

  She joined him at the second window, where they saw a woman sitting hunched over in a chair, her shoulders shaking as if she was crying.

  “Who is that?” Adele whispered.

  “I don’t know,” Devin said.

  “Is it anyone you’ve painted?”

  “I can’t tell. She looks old, though, judging from her hands.”

  Adele studied the figure, the old, withered hands and the long, black but graying hair that spilled over them.

  “We should go before she sees us,” Adele said, pulling on his arm.

  “Maybe we should see why she’s crying,” Devin said. “Maybe we can help her.”

  “I don’t know, Devin. We’re in a strange land.”

  “It’s okay. We’re supposed to be here. I’m sure we’re supposed to be here,” he said.

  “Shh. She’s going to hear us,” Adele whispered.

  “I think we should go in.” Devin walked over to the front door and stood before it.

  “Do you really think we’re going to be able to help her? Maybe she’s just sad because someone died.”

  “Or maybe she’s waiting for us to help her do something,” Devin said firmly.

  Adele stared at him. “Do you really believe that?”

  “I don’t know. But maybe there’s a reason I’m always painting those pictures.”

  “I agree there’s a reason you’re painting the pictures, but I’m not sure she’s going to be able to tell us.”

  Devin put his hand on the door and tried to turn the knob. “It doesn’t want to give,” he said, jiggling it.

  “Really? Let me try,” Adele said as she put her hand on it. A sense of urgency and dread flooded her, and she snatched her hand back. “Honestly, Devin, I don’t think we’re meant to go into the house.”

  “And I think we are,” he said as he pushed on the doorknob again. Adele put her hand over his and a violent shock surged through both of them.

  * * *

  Adele and Devin were back in his loft, standing in front of the mural.

  “Oh my God,” Adele said, rubbing her hands. “That hurt.”

  “What does it mean?” Devin asked. “You’re the wise one. What is going on?”

  “I have no idea,” Adele said. “That was truly weird.”

  “It was more than weird. I felt as though someone was shouting at me. As if there was something pushing me away from the door, yet something else wanting me to go in.”

  “You wanted to go through the door so badly,” Adele said.

  “I don’t get it,” Devin sighed, flopping down on the couch.

  “Me neither. Maybe we’re just not supposed to get it,” Adele said. “But I do know one thing.”

  “What’s that?”

  “I need a drink.”

  They had another glass of wine while sitting and staring at the mural. It wasn’t shining anymore. Adele looked at Devin and wondered if she should try to resume their lovemaking. Although she was rather satisfied, she felt bad he hadn’t been allowed to come.

  She slipped a hand between his legs, rubbing his crotch.

  “I’m distracted now,” he said. “And it’s late.”

  “I know,” Adele said. “I’m distracted too. But I just wanted you to know that if you wanted to finish...”

  “It’s okay. I think we’ve had enough excitement for one night. Morning comes early,” Devin said.

  Adele looked at him with a raised eyebrow. “Are you sure? I don’t want to leave you hanging.”

  “Oh, I’m not hanging. I’m not hanging at all. It will be twice as good the next time,” he said as he kissed her fully on the lips.

  “Next time, then,” Adele said as she kissed him back. “We’ll take care of you next time.”

  * * *

  Walking home, Adele had a spring in her step. The stars flickered brightly in the sky, and the pungent scent of the ocean tickled her nostrils through the muddy, slushy smells of the road. A power was flowing through her, one she had never experienced before.

  She had been unnerved by the house, and by Devin’s insistence on entering it. He was a stubborn boy, but that’s what Taurus was known for, she surmised. Stubborn just because. No rhyme or reason. If he had a reason, he didn’t share it.

  The shock that had surged through her body when they touched the door didn’t make her feel too happy. To her, it was a warning. She hoped Devin saw it that way as well—but she suspected he didn’t.

  A wolf howled in the distance, a common occurrence in the past few months. She wondered if she should be afraid. Thoughts of the body on the beach crossed her mind, and for the first time in years, she grew nervous walking alone. After all, there could be a murderer out there. She didn’t know if there was. No one knew if there was. She quickened her steps, her legs strong and forceful.

  She walked past an antique store with a large mirror in the window. Her reflection glinted at her as she passed, and she stopped and went back. When she looked at herself in the mirror, she was astonished at what she saw. Her face seemed even younger than it had that morning. All thoughts of wolves and killers pushed aside, she stared at her eyes, searching for the crow’s feet.

  I want this mirror, she decided. After all, it had to be the mirror and the way it was formed that made her look so attractive. I should carry this giant mirror around with me all the time and make people look at it. See how young I am?

  She laughed at her foolishness but then remembered the wolf and the unsolved murder on the beach. She nearly ran the rest of the way home, stealing glances behind her all along the way.

  Chapter Five

  A gathering with friends may provide more questions than answers.

  The air was warm for March, and Adele was filled with excitement as she climbed the stairs to Lucy’s house. The full moon shined bright in the sky, its glow lighting up the slushy streets of Hermana.

  The last few days, Adele had spent a lot of time puzzling over her encounter with Devin. More than that, she couldn’t seem to stop looking at herself in the mirror. Why did she look so young? Even when people came into the store, they couldn’t help but comment on her new look.

  Most of the girls had already arrived, and the buzz of excitement was in the air. The circle nights were always a time of joy and merriment, and with the coming spring, everyone seemed to have kicked their moods up a notch.

  Maggie spotted Adele first and came over to give her a hug.

  “How’s it going with the new guy?” Maggie whispered to her.

  “Fantastic. O
h, and your corset should arrive tomorrow, so make sure you come by and get it.”

  “Definitely. We’re leaving in a couple of days. I can hardly wait. St Patrick’s and the Solstice, all in one whirlwind,” Maggie said.

  “And the Solstice is on a Friday this year. Party time! I take it you’re still smitten with Weldon,” Adele said.

  “I can’t believe it, but yes. Still smitten.”

  “That’s great,” Adele said. “It’s so nice to see things finally working out for someone.”

  “Maybe it will for you too. It’s your night tonight. Your birthday power push.”

  “I’m looking forward to it,” Adele said. Another pair of arms were flung around her, and Toni kissed her on either cheek.

  “Happy Birthday!” Toni cheered. “I know I said it before, but tonight’s that night.”

  “Are you going to try to power-push with Devin?” Madeleine asked as she came into the room. Adele greeted her with a hug.

  “I’m going to keep myself open to all possibilities,” Adele said.

  “Devin, huh?” Natasha edged her way into the cluster and stared at Adele with dark, mysterious eyes. “He will be around for a while.”

  “Do you think so? That would be so cool,” Maggie said, pushing Adele in the arm. “Don’t you think, Adele?”

  “I think so,” Adele said. “I like him.”

  “See?” Toni said. “I knew she had a glow about her.”

  “She has more than a glow. What have you been up too?” Lily asked as she leaned toward Adele. Her green-eyed gaze studied Adele’s face, and she moved a hand toward Adele’s eyes.

  “Botox?” she asked as she squinted. “Whatever you’re doing, you look mighty fine for forty.”

  “I don’t know what’s happened,” Adele said. “Maybe the moisturizer finally kicked in now that the weather isn’t so harsh.”

  “Nonsense,” Natasha said. “She’s in love. Her lover is special. He makes her young.”

  “He is young,” Madeleine said. “What is he, twenty-five?”

  “Twenty-six in May,” Adele was quick to say. “He’s almost twenty-six.”

  There was a shared laugh among the ladies, and Toni high-fived Adele. “Nice job, girl!” she cried.

  Adele laughed. “He’s a sweetheart, and very talented.”

  “She’s not just talking from her pussy,” Madeleine said. “I’ve seen his paintings. Amazing. Makes you feel things. Even me.”

  “Even Madeleine,” Lucy said, startling the group. The ladies all turned to look at Lucy. She was old, more than eighty, with long, white hair. She wore many pendants of cut gemstones, each reflecting a different vibration for her chakras. Her fingers were adorned with rings, and she wore a black robe with a hood gently puffed around her neck. She looked frail, but her watery, blue eyes held a strength that belied many years of travails. She had seen much in her lifetime and was a direct descendant of the twin sisters who had founded Hermana with twin brothers.

  Lucy emitted a strong vibration, and Adele noticed that her aura was a vibrant purple and pink, a strange contrast to the dark, gothic surroundings.

  “Are we ready, ladies?” Lucy asked. “Is everyone here?”

  “Everyone except Ellie. She’s late, as usual,” Jessica said. Jessica was a Virgo and very punctual. She was a personal trainer and ran her life like a boot camp. Lateness irked her.

  “Well, everyone can go get ready. I just need to speak with the birthday girl for a moment,” Lucy said, taking Adele’s hand.

  Lucy led Adele down the hall to her office. It was a huge wood-paneled room with carvings of gargoyles looming down from each corner of the high bay windows. The view was of the gardens, illuminated by the lawn lights for the evening. The snow still hung heavy from the branches of hedges and trees, creating a winter wonderland in contrast to the gray, struggling spring out front.

  “Have a seat,” Lucy said as she indicated the couch. Lucy sat in an overstuffed chair across from her.

  Adele stared expectantly at Lucy, glancing down to the many pendants around the old woman’s neck in order to avoid the glare of the aura.

  “The ladies tell me you’re seeing a new man.” Lucy smiled. “I’m happy to hear that.”

  “Thank you.”

  “Tell me about him,” Lucy said, leaning closer. The smell of Lucy’s perfume was cloying in Adele’s nose, and worse was an undercurrent of a decaying, sick odor.

  “He’s... young. Twenty-five. But he paints... oh, my, he paints these beautiful pictures.”

  “Of what?”

  “A place he sees in his dreams. He calls it Harmoni.” Lucy nodded thoughtfully.

  “Go on, Adele.”

  “Well, he painted some pictures in my class and told me he had more at his studio. So I went over to see them.” Adele paused. “Uh, he has this big mural. Of Harmoni. It’s breathtaking. He had other paintings too. Old girlfriends and the like. The usual stuff. But those Harmoni paintings, Lucy... Have you ever felt like you could walk into a painting?”

  Lucy shook her head. “Great works of art inspire all kinds of feelings in people. Someone with obvious talent and obvious good looks is more apt to elicit a passionate response.”

  “There’s more to it, though. The paintings... do you think he channels them? He says he dreams about this place, and...”

  “And what?” Lucy narrowed her eyes.

  “I’ve been there too. I don’t know how it happened. Well, I do in a way, kind of...”

  “Tell me about it,” Lucy said.

  “I, well, we were making love, and all of a sudden we were there.”

  “Both of you? Are you sure you just weren’t dreaming?” Lucy asked.

  “No, we both were there. We talked about it when we got back.”

  “How did you get back?”

  “I’m not sure why or how we came back.” Adele thought for a moment. “We just did.”

  “Well, that’s very interesting. I had a sense something had shifted about you. Your face, for instance.”

  Adele put a hand up to her own cheek and patted it. “Every time I come back from Harmoni, I look younger.”

  Lucy gave her a sharp look. “Every time? What do you mean by that?”

  “I mean, well, we’ve been twice now. Together.”

  “Oh. And do you think you’ll go again?” Lucy asked.

  Adele blushed. “I’m not planning to stop seeing him, if that’s what you mean,” she stammered. Then she quickly added, “Unless you think I should.”

  “It’s not up to me to tell you who you can and cannot see. That’s not my job. It’s something you must decide for yourself. What concerns me is the sense of danger around you. I’m not sure what it is, but something has been telling me that I’m to give you this.” Lucy went over to a little cupboard and opened a drawer. She plucked out a brass key and held it out to Adele.

  “Why are you giving me this?” Adele asked, looking at the old-fashioned key with the ornate scrolled handle.

  “I don’t know. I just had this urge, this feeling that I had to give it to you. You know I don’t like to play mysterious games. Your guess is as good as mine. Better, I would imagine.” Lucy stared at Adele as if she were waiting for some kind of revelation. But Adele only took the key and held it in her trembling fingers for a moment. As she looked down at her hands, she noticed how smooth and soft they looked, like a young girl’s.

  “A key,” Adele said softly. “What’s it for?”

  Lucy shook her head and walked over to the door. “I don’t have the faintest clue what it’s for, where it goes. For all I know it opens a door in that Harmoni you go to.”

  Adele’s heart slammed in her chest. The key seemed to twist in her hands and grow warm. “Harmoni,” she said dreamily. “Do you know anything about it?”

  Lucy stared at the door and grudgingly returned to her chair. “We have to start this circle soon, but I need to tell you about Harmoni. The memories come and go these days. About everyth
ing and everyone.”

  “I can imagine. I’m always forgetting things and I have way less to remember,” Adele said.

  “So you can understand. But right now, I’m remembering something about Harmoni, so I’d better relay it before I forget.”

  Adele sat back down on the couch.

  “I first heard about Harmoni when I was doing a reading. This person insisted she went there. So many things happened to her there. At the time, I was young and skeptical and just thought the lady was kind of nuts, so I didn’t pay much attention to her prattling. But I learned my lesson. As I got older, I paid more attention to what sounded like insane babblings from people but was really just stream-of-consciousness. You see, sometimes we can’t find the words to explain things and we just pick at a series of words. I don’t know if you run across that kind of thing in the work you do, but I see it quite a lot when people are excited or don’t know how to explain something unexplainable. Colors that don’t exist, sounds we have no words for, creatures we can’t describe. So we end up in a kind of charades-type thing.”

  Adele stared at Lucy. She wondered if the woman was losing her mind.

  “Anyway, I heard about Harmoni four more times. This wonderful, mystical place that calls to someone. A Brigadoon or Shangri-La. How it flirts with mortals, luring them there. Then something happens. Something bad.”

  Lucy stood from her chair. “You be careful, young lady. You use that key wisely. I know you’ll figure out what it’s for.”

  “I will.”

  “I’m sure Ellie has arrived by now. Let’s get this circle started before I forget why all these people are in my house.” Lucy laughed.

  Adele looked at the key in her hand and slipped it into her pocket with her obsidian ball. She was getting quite a collection of trinkets. She didn’t know whether to be glad everyone was so concerned about her, or scared shitless.

  Lucy’s nonsensical meanderings didn’t help matters. Adele was more confused than ever. Never mind, she thought as she headed into the ceremony room.

  The room had been used for circles and other ceremonies for well over a century. The ceilings were high and from the outside of the house looked like a giant bubble at the Taj Mahal or some other ornate place. The whole house was cavernous, lovingly built by people who prided personal space and secrecy most of all.