Running From Forever

by K. Aten

  Sarah leaned over and whispered in Keller’s ear. “Catherine? Is that?” Keller’s blue eyes looked dark in the low light as she nodded her head. The singer glanced at her sister and Jesse and kept her voice at a whisper. “Will you tell me the story later?”

  “Yes.”

  They were interrupted by Annie. The younger women were heading for the revolving door. “Come on you two, I want to see this place!”

  Sarah laughed at her sibling’s enthusiasm. “We’re coming, don’t get your panties in a bunch!”

  As the foursome exited the revolving doors and stepped to the side, they could only stand in awe. The peak of the vaulted ceiling stood nearly four stories above them. There were high wires crisscrossing one story above the dance floor, and at the opposite end of the cathedral stood a great stage with Louve under a spotlight. The music had been lowered to a throbbing growl, and the French woman’s voice cut through like a knife. “Hello, my new friends! I see you have all braved the teeth of the wolf to come worship in our temple. And we, myself and all my antiquated brothers and sisters, give you the warmest of greetings. We have all been so hungry to have you! So, enjoy the music from the famous DJ Jon Kaydell. Let him fuel the beast inside. Enjoy the finest liquors we have to offer, dance like there will be no tomorrow, and welcome to Cirque du Loup! The Wolf’s Circus!” She gave a broad sweeping gesture behind her as the aerial silk acrobats unfurled on either side of the stage. Another spotlight hit high above the dance floor, showing a man and a woman walking the tightropes with no safety net in sight. Laser lights came on to create an intricate floor made of light below the tightrope walkers, and the music cranked back up to a level that shook the temple.

  The crowd moved on a dance floor that was made of glass blocks and lit from below by even more shining lights. A low fog rolled around at their feet to creating an eerie glow. Closer to where the little group of four stood, lines snaked from each bar on the first floor and most of the tables in the back appeared to be full as well. Keller glanced around and grinned at the layout. Pool tables, bathrooms, and the main entrance were all near the back of the church. Because of the noise, she merely gestured to the stairs leading up, hoping it would be easier to get a drink once they were off the main floor. She was surprised when Sarah reached down and took her hand, and she paused while Annie and Jesse continued their way up the stairs. When she gave the taller woman a curious look, Sarah leaned close to be heard.

  “I feel—” She paused to search for the words. “—strange here. It’s like there is pressure pushing on me from all sides.”

  Keller was having the same problem and knew what it was but wasn’t sure how to explain it without talking about the metaphysical stuff that Sarah insisted on ignoring. She started, hesitantly. “It is their—energy. Louve and her Cirque du Loup are— more than they appear.”

  Sarah cocked her head in confusion. “How do you mean?”

  A hand raked through blond hair as Keller sighed and tried again. “There are things in this world, people like me, who are— different. They are legends, stories, and myths, but all very real. Louve is—” She paused unsure if she should continue.

  The singer whispered. “She wolf.” Her brows rose with surprise and a slight amount of alarm. “They are wolves? Werewolves?” When Keller flashed a surprised look in return, Sarah gave a little smile. “I did take French in college. But come on, they don’t really turn into wolves, right? It’s probably just more stories and fancy scientific explanations, all bullshit.”

  Keller raised an eyebrow and took a chance. She could feel every single one of Louve’s people around them. They broadcast energy like antennas. It would be intoxicating if she didn’t have herself well shielded. Still, there was some leakage, which Sarah had picked up through their bond. Keller relaxed her shield just a little and something like heated lust hammered her from all sides. Her pupils narrowed when she heard Sarah gasp. Keller looked up into those green eyes gone dark and spoke. “Am I bullshitting you, Sarah? Does that feel like a story?” Things tightened low on her body, and she felt her teeth begin to prick her bottom lip at the look on the taller woman’s face.

  Sarah felt sweat break out all over and she licked her lips. Mouth suddenly dry, her voice was a growl over the music. “No.” Turning abruptly, she headed up the stairs and called out to her lover. “I need a drink.” The sound of Keller’s laughter followed her up the steps before the other woman quickly caught up.

  The second level was more like an over-sized balcony, wrapping around the building on three sides, leaving the center completely open from floor to ceiling. There was another large bar at the top of the stairs, and red and black leather booths lined the sides closest to the bar. They had a good view of the tightrope walkers from the second floor, though they were still quite a ways out of reach. After getting their drinks, Sarah and Keller went to stand next to the two younger women that had come up earlier. Farther along the balcony and overlooking the crowd below, there were cages on each side of the dance floor. An identical twin stood in each cage, taking turns breathing fire out over the high wire act. Clearly these were the two Louve spoke of. They were the ones who had carved the massive revolving door. Annie shook her head slowly, still in awe. “Seriously you guys, this place is sick!” She turned to her boss. “Why aren’t we this cool?”

  Jesse slapped her arm. “Annie!”

  Keller just laughed. “Well for one, we don’t have a giant gothic church, nor do we have a circus troupe. I guess we’ll just have to be boring—you know, as the hottest gay club in Columbus.”

  Annie rolled her eyes in response and was quickly distracted by her girlfriend’s kisses.

  Seeing the younger women occupied, Sarah pointed to the curtained alcoves along both sides. “Let’s see what’s over there.” Still feeling out of sorts, she held tightly to Keller’s hand. The first alcove had a sign above it that read Tarot, but the curtain was closed. The second was titled Palm Reader and was open.

  An older woman smiled at them from inside the opening. She had graying dark hair gathered under a colorful wrap, and her eyes were black as coal. The lines on her face told a story better than any visiting palms she would see. “Come, come! You wish to have reading?” Her words carried a heavy accent, something other than French.

  Sarah looked at Keller and the got a shrug in response. “Sure, why not.” She took a twenty dollar bill from her wallet to pay for both of them. Once the money was paid, the palm reader came around the table to close the curtains. Curtains shut, the sound was immediately muffled. Sarah raised her eyebrow, wondering just what the material was made of. When the older woman was seated again, she leaned forward with elbows on the table. “Privacy is much important when I read lines. Now, please to give minute for me to clear aura.” The woman shut her eyes and Keller’s brow furrowed, wondering just how authentic the reader was. Sarah, for her part, remained politely curious. After less than a minute, the woman seemed to shake herself and opened her eyes again. “My name is Sylvie, I have been fortune-teller many years.” She squinted and leaned across the table, then poked a gnarled finger toward Keller. “You—you are like hole, like sponge.” She pulled her finger back and paused. “You are— bautor de sânge!” The look she leveled at Keller carried caution, but no judgment. Then she turned toward Sarah. “And you— there is connection. You are—bautor de sange de sufletul pereche. Give me minute!” She stood and shuffled over to a cabinet against the wall.

  Sarah looked at Keller and whispered. “What is she saying?”

  Keller whispered back. “I don’t know. I think she’s speaking Romanian, but I don’t speak Romanian.”

  The brunette snorted. “You seem to speak fluent French…”

  “I’ve had a lot of years to practice.”

  They both shut their mouths when Sylvie turned back around holding two polished milky apple-green stones. She set a stone on the table in front of each woman. “Is Chrysoprase, will bring you much luck! Now
, let me to see hands. Who goes first?”

  Keller glanced at Sarah and gave her a slight nod. Sarah sighed. “I guess I will. She held out her hands toward the mysterious dark-eyed woman. Weathered hands firmly held the singer’s. The old woman’s skin was rough from many years of life.

  “Hmm, much loss I see. Look—look to your lines.” She traced the one running under the base of Sarah’s fingers. “This is heart line. You have many lovers, but nothing true.” She traced small spidery lines crossing the heart line. “You have suffered loss that is very strong. Perhaps someone close, like family.” She looked up at the singer. “Your parents—you have lost both your parents, no? Is many years now since they have gone.” Sarah swallowed, and nodded yes. Sylvie continued by tracing another line just below the heart line. “And this is line for head. You have much creativity, you are artist or musician. See the way your line curves and slopes across palm. Again, you have many little spidery lines meaning your loss affects all parts of your life.”

  Keller was impressed at how accurate the old woman’s reading was. She looked at Sarah, who sat very still. “She’s very good, isn’t she?” Sarah merely nodded and waited for the fortune-teller to continue.

  Moving on to trace the longest line on her hand, she spoke again. “This is lifeline. See how straight it is, running across your palm close to the edge. You are very cautious when it comes to relationships. Your past has made you afraid of loss. And no wonder, look here!” She moved her finger to trace a deep line running vertical on Sarah’s palm. “Your fate line is one of the deepest I’ve seen, you are much controlled by the fates. But there will be great change for you. There is point where your interests will be surrendered to others.” Moving back to the singer’s lifeline, she pointed to an area where the line formed a little circle before continuing on. “Have you been gravely injured, maybe in hospital?”

  Sarah gave her a curious look, surprised that Sylvie’s words were unexpectedly off track. “No, never. I’ve been healthy my entire life with no major injuries or sickness. Why?”

  The old woman looked up at her, and then moved her gaze to Keller. Her voice took on a rougher, darker quality. “Veți pierde aceasta femeie în curând, și vor fi obligați sa schimbe aceasta femeie.”

  Sarah looked at her. “Wait, what does that mean?”

  Sylvie turned darkened eyes toward the taller of the two women. “You will face great change. Your soul will die and be reborn. When that time comes, you will know what it means. But until then do not be afraid.” She closed Sarah’s palm gently. “Do not be afraid.” Palm still closed, Sarah slowly pulled her hand back, mind awash with confusion.

  Sylvie looked up at Keller. “Now you. You still wish a telling, yes? There is much you know already.” Keller slowly slid her hand forward, and the old woman grasped it in a firm grip. “You are very much like your suflet pereche. You too have had many lovers, but I think not out of fear. You are clear and have much focus—your head is on ground. But you have many big decisions in life. And look here.” She pointed. “Your lifeline has a break here meaning something changed you a long time ago. You know what this change was, primul deces. Longer than I can see. But after that break, you have additional lifelines start. You have much strength and vitality, inima de sânge. But beware, you are as much controlled by fate as she.” She aimed a wrinkled finger back at Sarah. She released Keller’s hand and sat back with a sigh. “I am thinking you are done. There is much you already know, your future is past, and past is future. This—” she waved her hand to encompass the small curtained alcove “—it is naught but a swallow from your cup.”

  As if sensing that was their cue, both women stood. Keller smiled at Sylvie. “You are right and thank you for your time. You have given me much to think about—” She glanced at Sarah. “You have given us much to think about.” Keller left another twenty dollar bill on the table as a tip on their way out of the alcove. The dark-eyed palm reader didn’t say anything, she simply tucked the money into a fold of the sash around her waist.

  Sarah was the first to speak when they exited the curtains into the wash of energy and throbbing bass music. “Well that was—weird. I wish I knew what she said though.”

  Keller merely whispered while Sarah’s head was turned. “You probably don’t.” Then louder, she asked, “Would you like another drink?”

  The singer turned her head away from the stage act and smiled. “Yes please! I’m going to go down this way a little farther so I can see the stage better.”

  Keller nodded, then noticed the upstairs bar now had a line.

  She grimaced. “It may be a few minutes.”

  Sarah glanced around the second floor and didn’t see Annie or Jesse anywhere so she assumed they either went up to the third floor or back downstairs. She noticed the balcony area was darker the closer to the front of the church she got. When she reached the end, she found herself staring down into a mass of writhing bodies. The high wire act was gone but the stage now featured jugglers and a knife thrower. She was so engrossed in the action below that she was startled by the voice coming out of the shadows next to her. “So how are you enjoying our show, Sarah?”

  Sarah jumped at the voice. “You scared me!” Then she laughed self-consciously and answered. “I love it! The work you’ve done here is really amazing.” She cocked her head at the attractively androgynous French woman. “So how long have you been friends with Keller?”

  Louve laughed. It was a beautiful and broken sound that caused goose bumps to race up Sarah’s arms. “Oh, we have been friends many years now.” She squinted at Sarah, sensing more than just curiosity or the questions of a jealous lover. “Our people are much drawn to her kind you know, we have so much to give. Our energy will fill you up and those like Keller can take it all. It is relationship much like plug and socket. Our peoples seem to fit together.” She reached a finger out and traced Sarah’s jawline and graced her with a secret smile. “You can feel it too can’t you? You can feel us?”

  Sarah gasped as a wave of that same energy pushed inside her. Her eyes fluttered closed and she hissed, “Yes.” She felt things down low tighten with arousal as whatever the force was caressed her deepest spaces. The energy was intoxicating and it made her dizzy. Because of this, Sarah was completely unprepared when Louve stepped near and pulled the singer down into an aggressively dominant kiss. Before Sarah could respond, they were interrupted by Keller.

  “Salope!”

  Louve abruptly pulled back, leaving Sarah dazed like she was waking from a dream. “K—Keller?” Then she looked down at the little ringmaster and realized what had happened. “You! What the hell?”

  Their combined anger only made the French woman smile all the more. “My apologies buveur de sang, but she is so delicious! I could not resist.”

  Sarah was still uncomfortably aroused but refused to let the small woman bate her. Instead she turned it around. “I am delicious but there is only one whose mouth is allowed on me—” She pulled Keller into an embrace as her words trailed off. Their mouths made a connection while their bodies were forced to wait.

  When they finally pulled apart, they found Louve standing mere inches away. Her hand rose as if she would touch them, red lips parted and breathing rapidly. “Mon dieu! Vous brûlez ensemble comme les flammes d'un grand feu!”

  Sarah snarled. “Va te faire foutre!”

  Louve pulled her hand away and smirked. “You have certainly warmed me enough, perhaps I will.” With one last look her guests, she gave a little wave and walked away. “Adieu, mes belles.”

  When she left, Sarah sagged with relief. Keller looked at her in amusement. “I can’t believe you told her that.”

  The taller woman laughed. “Yeah, well, I didn’t appreciate whatever that shit was that she pulled on me.”

  Keller frowned. “Sarah, I’m really sorry. I had no idea she would do that. It’s been many years since I’ve seen her, she seems more—predatory than I remember. And you wo
uld be a draw for her.”

  “Why?”

  The bar manager leveled a serious gaze at her. “You know why. We are connected, Sarah. She feels the drag of my power through you just as you feel the push of theirs through me. This—” She once again opened herself to the energy that swirled around them and pushed it through to Sarah.

  The taller woman gasped and staggered for a second before turning her hot gaze to Keller. She licked her lips and when she spoke her voice was low, barely audible over the music. “Keller, you can’t do this to me in public.”

  Noticing an empty curtained alcove at the end of the balcony, she grabbed Sarah’s hand and pulled her toward it. Once inside she quickly tied the curtains shut to block out curious eyes and pressing sound. “So let’s make this a little more private.” Sarah had time to suck in a surprised breath before Keller was pushing her against the brick wall at the back of the curtained area. Keller’s mouth feasted on her neck while knowing hands wandered up the front of her shirt and under her bra. When the shorter woman got to her ear, she hotly whispered. “Sarah, please…”

  Fueled by the pulsing lust from Keller, Sarah threaded her fingers through blonde hair and pulled the smaller woman’s head back enough to devour her mouth. While their lips remained unseparated, Sarah’s hand made a straight line down the front of the bar manager’s loose fitting jeans. She sucked in a breath at the wet heat that enveloped her fingers. Keller moaned at the contact and that was enough to send Sarah’s arousal into overload.

  Keller moved her own hands to unbutton her jeans and simply said, “More.” Sarah pulled her over to a couch, bringing the smaller woman down to straddle her right leg. Then, before Keller could think another thought, the long talented fingers of the guitar player entered her fully. A low moan, punctuated by whimpering cries, was muffled by the heavy curtains around them.