Ursula slid back into the booth and held out a small leather pouch to Adele.
“What is that?” she said.
“It’s a combination of herbs and some gemstones. It’s for protection. Wear it all the time, or at least until you know for sure you won’t have to anymore. It’ll keep you from hearing everyone’s thoughts too, likely.”
“Gotta love all the cryptic stuff,” Adele said, smelling the pouch.
“Cryptic stuff?”
“Well, Dorothy gave me this obsidian ball to protect me against something she doesn’t know about but I’ll know when it happens, and now you’re giving me a magical pouch for the same reason. I feel like I’m gearing up for a battle but I don’t know about what or with whom. And you divination experts aren’t telling me.”
“That’s one of the issues with this divination stuff. We know there’s energy reflecting stuff, but we sometimes don’t know what it actually is. However, I guess Dorothy and I both were able to tell that you’re going to need protection.”
“Oh, boy. I guess I’ll just hang on for the ride.”
Chapter Four
Use your creativity to enhance your life.
The shark was chasing her again. She paddled as fast as she could, swimming for the shore, clawing away the rose petals that threatened to drown her. There was the lifeguard, waving her in. She kicked and paddled, watching as a shadowy woman approached the lifeguard. He seemed to be talking to the stranger.
“Over here,” Adele screamed. “Throw me the line.”
The lifeguard didn’t hear her. She screamed louder. “Throw me a line!”
The shark was snatching at her feet, but she continued to kick it away. As she made it to the shore, her feet found purchase in the soft sand. The shark leaped one last time, nearly catching her in its mouth, just as she stumbled forward and landed on the beach, her mouth filling with sand and rose petals. The lifeguard looked over at Adele as the shadowy woman ran off.
“Here, let me help you,” he said, pulling her with strong hands. She couldn’t see his face again, but his aura gleamed golden in the hot summer sun.
“I nearly... I almost couldn’t...” Adele panted as she coughed.
“It’s okay, I’m here now,” he said as he held her.
* * *
Adele woke up. Again, she smelled the roses, strong at first, and then faded.
She got out of bed and set to work starting her day. First, she started the coffeepot, and then she went over to her computer to check her horoscope.
A mysterious event will have everyone talking. You hold the key.
Adele puzzled over the horoscope for a moment, then checked her e-mail. She found one from Devin.
Hi, Adele,
How are you? I just wanted to touch base and make sure everything is okay. I really enjoyed the other night. I hope you did too. I’m looking forward to seeing you in class.
Devin
Adele smiled as she played with the obsidian ball Dorothy had given her. Devin hadn’t forgotten about her and would continue to show up for class. That was a good sign.
She was a bit startled to feel like a lusty teenager. She ached to see him again, an ache such as she hadn’t felt in years. She yearned to see his bright blue eyes and feel his strong arms wrapped around her.
She daydreamed for a moment about the night they had spent together. About the weird and wonderful night of wine, sex, and Harmoni, and how she yearned to do it all again.
But it wasn’t going to happen that moment. She had to put in a full day at the shop before class that night.
* * *
Adele stood at the counter as she watched two women pick over the nightgowns. Their auras were bright and shimmery, and Adele had trouble concentrating on the book work she was trying to do. At least her ability to capture thoughts seemed to have dissipated. She fingered the pouch underneath her sweater.
One of the ladies turned to her.
“Did you hear?” she asked Adele.
“What?”
“About the body they found. Washed up on the beach this morning,” the tall brunette said.
“Here? In Hermana?” Adele asked.
“Yes,” said the other woman, a short redhead wearing a green parka. It was a bit of a heavy coat for the breaking weather; however, Adele understood how the wind had a habit of blustering up out of nowhere.
“What happened? Someone drowned?” Adele asked, wondering who would be fool enough to go swimming in the cold March weather.
“No. Not drowned. It’s a murder of some sort, but the cops are pretty tight-lipped about it.”
“What kind of murder?”
“Don’t know. All they’ve said is that foul play is suspected,” the brunette said.
“First I’ve heard of it,” Adele said.
“It won’t be the last, I’m sure,” the redhead said, holding up a flannel nightie. “I think I’ll take this one. Will this size fit me?”
Adele walked over to the woman and took the nightgown. She held it against the woman. “If you want it tight, this will work. But if you want it to be a bit loose, I’d suggest a larger size.”
“Loose is better. I tend to thrash around in my sleep and don’t want to rip it.”
Adele found a larger size and brought it to the counter. The redhead paid for the nightgown, idly discussing the weather with her friend as Adele wrapped it. The women left.
Before Adele had a chance to think, another customer came in. It was Toni, the Aries from circle.
“Hi, Toni,” Adele said. “What are you looking for today?”
“I’m not here for that, actually. I was just wondering if you’d heard the news.”
“About the body?” Adele asked, raising her eyebrow.
“Yeah. Weird, huh?” Toni bounced on her feet, looking around the shop nervously.
“I don’t really know any of the details,” Adele said from her spot behind the counter.
“No, me neither. I was hoping maybe you’d heard something, since people come in here all the time.” Toni stared at her.
Adele slowly shook her head. “All I heard was that a body had washed up on shore and it is probably foul play of some sort.”
Toni nodded. “That’s all I heard too. Wish there was more, but I guess there isn’t.” She tightened her scarf around her neck and headed for the door. “Well, I’ve got to be off. Have a good day.”
“Sure thing, Toni.”
Adele watched Toni leave and wondered about the body. Strange things could happen in this town. But murder? Could it have been the work of a vampire or maybe a werewolf? She wondered what condition the body had been in.
* * *
The class was full and Devin kept looking over at her and smiling. Adele had butterflies in her stomach. It was so silly, having a crush on him. But as she studied his most recent rendering of Harmoni, she knew it was much more.
“You surprise me every time with the beauty of your work,” she told him.
“I told you, I don’t know where it comes from. It just happens.”
“Well, keep it up.” She grinned as she wandered over to another student.
* * *
During the break, Madeleine cornered her.
“What do you think about that body they found at the beach? Poor guy.”
“Guy?” Adele asked. “Well, you know more than I do. Up ’til now, I just knew there was a body, but I didn’t know if it was a man or a woman or even what condition the body was in.”
“Really? Well, the guy was like a husk. All caved in as if something had sucked the essence out of him.”
“Like all his blood?” Adele asked.
“No. He had his blood, apparently. I know what you’re thinking. That’s what I thought at first too, until I got to talking to one of the cops. Since I’ve done some work for them before, he told me some stuff that most people don’t know.”
“Like what?”
“It was a man, about thirtyish. He was found aro
und dawn by a jogger. And, off topic, can you imagine jogging in this slushy shit?”
“I know. Some people love their fitness.”
“Anyway, he didn’t have any marks on him. No strangling, no gun wounds, no bites, no shredding. He was fully intact but like a husk,” Madeleine repeated. “That’s all the cop kept saying. A husk. He was kind of freaked out by it.”
“I can imagine.” Adele fondled the obsidian ball in her pocket. It seemed to buzz a bit as she touched it. “So do they have any leads?”
“No, nothing. They don’t have a clue to what might have happened.”
“Well, what are they going to do?” Adele asked. “Especially if they aren’t releasing information.”
“I guess they’re just hoping some kind of witness might come forward. Maybe someone saw something.”
“Maybe.” Adele looked at her watch. “I’d better get the class rolling again.” She called the class to order and let them finish working on their paintings.
After class, Adele sat at her desk, making notes. She was startled to see Devin standing over her.
“Adele,” he said softly, looking around to see if anyone was listening. No one was.
“Yes, Devin?”
“Do you want to come over? I’d love to see you again,” he stammered, his face growing flushed.
Adele grinned. “There’s nothing I’d like more,” she said.
* * *
Adele and Devin sat on the couch, drinking wine and discussing painting techniques. As they talked, the mural of Harmoni sparkled and shined. With every passing minute, the picture grew more vibrant. As Adele pontificated about the mastery of the brushstroke, Devin leaned over to kiss her. Hungrily, Adele kissed him back.
It didn’t take long before they shed their clothes. Their urgency to touch each other grew. Devin fondled her large breasts, his mouth roaming from nipples to her lips. Adele kissed him, her tongue darting in and out of his mouth.
He pushed her back on the couch and nuzzled his face between her legs. She sighed as he licked her hungry clit. It swelled under his firm, probing tongue, and exquisite sensations of delight filled her.
Her hands pressed down on his head, forcing him to eat her deeper. His tongue licked from her clit and into her vagina. Her wet juices glistened on his face as he drew his head up for a breath.
“You taste so delicious,” he said. “I’ve never tasted a sweeter pussy.”
“You make me feel so good,” Adele said. “I’ve never enjoyed having my pussy eaten as much as I do by you.”
To her pleasure, Devin resumed his ministrations, his fingers searching inside her vagina as he sucked on her clit. He pumped her with one hand, his tongue dancing. She moaned softly as first, savoring the feelings. Before long, she was bucking against him, unable to control herself as glorious sensations swelled through her. With a gasp, she came. He hummed around her clit, letting her enjoy every last moment.
When she caught her breath, she sat up. She looked over at the mural. “See? It’s changing,” she said. Devin looked at it.
“Yes, it is. Do you think we’ll go there again?”
“I don’t know,” Adele said, “but I’d like to try.”
“Me too.”
Adele reached over to his cock and pulled on it. Just her touch caused it to harden. She ran her hand up and down his shaft as she leaned over to take him in her mouth. He moaned as she licked his head, pulling on him up and down. She took him deep in her mouth, crouching as she sucked all the way down to his base. He leaned even more when she slurped her way back up again.
“Oh, yes, baby, play with my cock,” he sighed, leaning back into the couch.
Adele crouched on the floor, sucking him up and down, working him with her hand. He moaned softly as she quickened her pace. When he was very hard and she could feel the blood pumping through his shaft, she stood up and squatted over him. She took a condom from the coffee table and rolled it over his erection.
She held the back of the couch as she lowered herself onto him.
“Oh, yes, that’s so good,” Devin sighed. Adele kissed him as she raised and lowered herself. He was bigger than he had been the previous time, and Adele really had to work to take him all the way into herself. She sat for a moment, enjoying how big and hard he was inside her.
“That’s fucking great,” Devin said. “I feel like I’m impaling you.”
“You are,” Adele said, kissing him again. She nuzzled her face into his neck as she resumed fucking him. She looked over at the painting. The wind from Harmoni tickled her hair.
We’re almost there, she thought.
She rode him some more, angling herself so he was hitting her in all the right places. Her legs trembled and once again, the rush of orgasm filled her.
“Oh, God, fuck me,” she cried as the moment seized her. He bucked up against her, filling her and emptying her and filling her again. She shivered and cried, closing her eyes as she wrapped her hands around his head.
He pushed her back onto the couch and, without missing a stroke, continued to fuck her. She opened her eyes again, and there they were. They were on the bank, on the couch, with the weird-looking trees rustling behind them. The glint of a purplish sky and the more purplish mountains created shadows on their faces.
“Devin,” she called. He slowed down his pace and looked at her.
“What’s wrong? Am I hurting you?”
“No, not at all. But look. Look!” Devin looked around them. “Do you see it or am I mad?” Adele asked.
“Yes, I see it. We’re here. We’re in the painting,” he said in disbelief. He lay on her, still firmly inside her. “So, what happens? What do we do?”
“I don’t know. Do we keep fucking? Does it all go away when you come?” Adele asked.
“I don’t know. I can stop if you like, so we can see,” Devin said.
“I guess we could try that. Try pulling out and see if it all goes away,” Adele said.
“Oh, I so don’t want to pull out. You feel so good.”
“I know. I don’t want you stop either, but this is kind of cool, don’t you think?”
“Most definitely,” Devin said as he slowly pulled out of her. Adele’s pussy throbbed, wanting him in her still, wanting him to make her come again and wanting to feel him come inside her. But she wanted to know more about the strange place they found themselves in.
“It’s still here,” Devin said as he flopped on the couch beside her.
“So, we’re here on a couch in the big outdoors. Well, outdoors in a strange land,” Adele amended. “And it’s not freezing cold. It’s not hot either. It’s just right.”
“Harmoni. Where the air is what you want it to be,” Devin joked.
“Do you think there are people here?” Adele asked.
“Should we put on clothes?” They looked at their clothes, still rumpled on the couch around them.
“I guess maybe we should see if getting dressed is okay. I don’t really want to jeopardize whatever it is that’s going on.”
They slowly pulled on their clothes, happy to see that Harmoni still welcomed them once they were dressed and standing up.
“This is so cool,” Devin said as he walked over to the brook. He put his hand in it. “It’s the perfect temperature. We’ll have to go swimming sometime. Do you like to go swimming?”
“I love swimming. I’m a Pisces, remember? We’re all about the water.” She laughed as she put her hand in. “But I’m not going to go swimming in a strange place until I know if there’s anything bad in the water. You know, there could be sharks or piranhas or even alligators.”
“I doubt it,” Devin said and laughed. “That brook is too small for a shark, and there’re no piranhas in New England, or alligators for that matter. Maybe a snapping turtle.”
“We’re not in New England, baby,” Adele said, kissing him lightly on his cheek. “We don’t know where we are.”
“That’s right, sorry.”
“Don�
��t be sorry, but we should be careful. Who knows what could happen?”
“Yes, who knows?”
Adele fingered the obsidian ball in her pocket and found her herb pouch in there as well. She slipped the pouch around her neck. “Well, shall we go exploring?” she asked.
“Why not? Which way should we start?” He looked at the woods, then at the meadow that lead to the mountains.
“Why don’t we move away from the woods? If there are any monsters, we won’t meet them,” Adele suggested.
“That sounds like a good plan to me.”
They set off walking through the odd-colored meadow. Patches of weeds and flowers grew wild in clumps, but the couple was careful to avoid them.
“Watch for snakes and things like that too,” Adele cautioned. She thought of the danger she had been warned about—twice—and wondered if they would be attacked by some kind of animal. But it didn’t seem possible. The air was clean and sweet and hummed with a soothing vibration. Adele felt a burst of energy, as if youth were flooding through her body. She looked at Devin and saw his eyes sparkling bright. He looked intense, as if he were on a mission.
“What are you thinking about?” she asked.
“Nothing, really. I just feel like I’m looking for something now. That there’s a pull to go in this direction,” he said as he led her along a faded path.
Once they started to walk, it glowed brighter with every step. They climbed a hill, and at the top were startled by creatures like birds that burst into a strange, melodious song as they passed by. Adele looked at their long, sharp beaks and wide, beady eyes. She thought about what Dorothy had said about the queen and the birds and wondered if they were reporting their presence. The ball in her pocket grew warm in her fingers.
Pisces: Teacher's Pet Page 7