Taurus: A Hearse of a Different Color

by Sèphera Girón

  Leave Oscar alone. Leave the show alone.

  The shadows flickered and swelled then shrank down to tiny lines.

  Thank you.

  She debated whether to go over to see the array of desserts. There were pieces of pie and cake as well as cookies. But her waistline... those professionally created pastries...

  “Dorothy,” Oscar’s voice startled her,

  She looked up to see Oscar standing by her in a bathrobe with slashes of blood across his face. The chit chatting around her stopped as attention turned towards one of the stars of the show, in background holding.

  “Oscar!” Dorothy stood up, her face flushed as she realized everyone at the table was watching. Oscar touched her arm and turned her away from prying eyes.

  “Do you want to spend the rest of your break in my trailer,” he asked. He looked at her finished plate. “You can bring your food.”

  “Love to,” Dorothy said. “I’ll just grab a drink and some cookies. I already had chicken.”

  “You can get more chicken if you like, I’ll wait.”

  Many eyes were on Oscar as he stood in the room, his bathrobe hiding most of his make up and his jockeys. He looked around and sheepishly waved.

  “Hey, everyone. Great work. You’re all doing a great job. I hope you’re having fun.”

  There was a buzz as people agreed. Since there were strict rules about working as a background performer, no one bothered him for an autograph or even spoke directly to him.

  “Just remember not to take life too seriously,” he said in his character’s voice. It was one of the catch lines from the show. The room filled with easy laughter. Oscar turned back to Dorothy. She had gathered her purse and phone. They went over to one of the long tables and she took a coffee and several cookies.

  They walked back through the room towards the door; dozens of envious eyes bore holes into Dorothy’s back. Since half of them were witches themselves, their envious glares burned a bit. Jealous women and men wished they were her. They could wish all they want, they weren’t her. She smirked.

  Oscar led her through the maze of cables, lights, sets, and endless boxes of everything. They walked along a side road where several trailers stretched along the curb as far as the eye could see. Dorothy marvelled as they passed different types of trailers such as one for cooking, one for wardrobe, one for make up and then the cast and crew. Finally, they reached his trailer.

  “Wow,” Dorothy said as she looked around. “This is just yours?”

  “Welcome to Hollywood,” Oscar smiled.

  “I never really knew it would be like this.”

  There were all the comforts of home trailer-style; a couch, mounted TV, small table, several chairs, kitchenette, and more.

  “I love this!” Dorothy said as she went over to the double mirror dressing table. The mirror had light bulbs all around it. In front were little bag and kits of makeup, jars of creams and sprays.

  “I need to get a makeup mirror like this. What I have is great, but this is over the top.”

  She stood staring at herself in the mirror. Oscar walked up behind her and put his arms around her. He hugged her very lightly.

  “I’ll try not to get you full of blood,” he said, stroking her arm.

  “Do you ever worry that blood will stain your skin... forever?” she asked as she tilted her head away from him so as not to get blood on her face or neck.

  “Sometimes. But there’s make up for that as well so it wouldn’t affect other shots. I always have to trowel on a foundation.”

  “A never-ending cycle of wear and tear on your skin... our skin.” Dorothy said, as she raised her hand to her face and then remembered she herself had on camera make up. Although she was only wearing modest make up, it still had been professionally applied and was expected to remain somewhat intact through the lunch hour. She would have to be certain to clean it with her rosewater potion when she returned home. All those layers of creams and powders on her face would surely cause wrinkles. Wrinkles on her, and wrinkles on him.

  I should give him some rosewater elixir when he leaves for the next location.

  When he leaves...

  “That’s showbiz.” Oscar’s words jolted Dorothy from her thoughts.

  “There’s no business...” Dorothy joked.

  “I’m so glad we get to work together for a couple of days. I miss you.” Oscar said as he led her to a little table surrounded by five small chairs. He pointed at one of the empty seats.

  “I miss you too,” agreed Dorothy as she lowered herself into the chair. He sat across from her. There were bottles of water in an ice bucket in the middle of the table. Freshly laid out fruits, cheese and crackers were on trays. Dorothy added her cookies to the array.

  “Help yourself,” he waved. “Are you enjoying working on set?” he asked as he plucked a couple of grapes from the fruit platter and popped them into his mouth.

  “It’s fun. I could get into this for a lifestyle.” Dorothy said, laying a piece of Brie cheese over a rye cracker.

  “It’s fun to be other people for a living.” Oscar said giving them each a dripping cold bottle of water from the ice bucket. He was flushed, no doubt from all the running and emoting. His forehead was glistening, his hair was damp, and hung in a loose tousle over his face. He kept pushing it back as he spoke, careful not to spread blood around.

  “It’s fun to get a peek into this world for a while. Being a cashier can get tedious, but I need a job with healthcare. Witches can do a lot of things, but we need healthcare as well.”

  “I get healthcare through the guild. I’m lucky with that. Of course, if I ever decide to stop acting, then, I guess I’ll be a cashier working for healthcare as well.”

  They nibbled at the cheese tray and drank long gulps of water.

  “It’s surprisingly dehydrating being on set. I guess it’s the long hours. Thanks for letting me be part of this.” Dorothy looked around the trailer again. “I’m glad you were cast in this show. You’re perfect for these characters.”

  “Am I?” he asked, giving her a penetrating stare across the small table as he slowly slipped his bathrobe from one shoulder and then the other. “Perfectly cast?”

  He gave a little sneer, his TV persona’s trademark look, and licked his lips. He stood up, his bathrobe off, streaks of bloody makeup lashed across his chest. Small polyester shiny shorts stained with blood and dirt did little to conceal his rising interest in her. Dorothy’s heart raced. She swallowed and raised one eyebrow.

  “Yes.”

  Oscar walked around the table to Dorothy. As he approached her, she stepped back until he had her pinned against the wall, still not touching each other. The air between their barely touching bodies was charged with thick electricity, sparking between them, making Dorothy’s longing more intense. He stood with his arms above her, pinning her hands above her head. He slowly lowered his head, his eyes staring into hers.

  Just as his lips were about to touch hers, a spark jumped from him to her. Outside there was a loud crash, the ground rumbled.

  The trailer shook, tipping far over, making Dorothy think it was going to roll right over, and then it tipped back again. The whole ordeal caused them to break apart, food slid to the floor, cupboards flung open as dishes flew out. They struggled to find balance without breaking anything more.

  “What the hell was that?” Oscar cried out. “You don’t get earthquakes out here...” He raced for the trailer door and flung it open. He was down the three stairs in no time and stared down the street that seemed much darker.

  “The lights. I think one of the light stand cranes must have fallen over. Something doesn’t look right down there.”

  “What?” Dorothy asked and raced out after him. As they walked quickly towards the set, watching and bracing for anymore violent shaking or other forces, they saw one of the light bearing scaffoldings had fallen right over. The light was smashed, and pieces had flown out in all directions for an impressive amount of fee
t. The scaffolding was already being reassembled.

  “How does something like that fall over? There’s no real wind today.” Dorothy said.

  There was another crash and two other lights had smashed to the ground. Shards of glass flew all over and the crew ducked behind cars and doors. There was more smashing and flinging. Next, garbage cans were flung across the set, then a big breeze roared up. Within the wind, Dorothy saw faces and forms, huge and horrible, long arms and legs, jagged faces and fiery eyes. Jeering shrieks whistled through the wind.

  “Did you see that?” Dorothy asked.

  “All those things getting smashed. Is there a tornado or something?”

  “Things were being smashed before the wind, now we have to run,” Dorothy said. She led him to the nearest store, Adele’s lingerie shop. They ducked inside while the wind raged on the other side of the door.

  “What’s going on out there?” Adele asked as she peered out the window. “Last time I checked; it was a gorgeous day, or night, rather.”

  “Storm blew up out of nowhere,” Dorothy said.

  “Is this what they call a Nor’easter?” asked Oscar.

  “Maybe,” Adele said, giving Dorothy a look. The wind stopped whistling, and soon, there was just darkness outside.

  “Crazy. All that stuff falling apart like that,” Oscar said looking out the window. “It’s not the first time though.”

  “Really?” asked Dorothy. “It’s not?”

  “Maybe not that exactly, but there’s been weird stuff happening almost every day. People are saying that the show is cursed because, well, it’s about murder and ghosts and stuff.”

  Oscar pulled out his phone and looked at it.

  “I have a text. Take a two-hour break.”

  Dorothy’s phone vibrated.

  “I have one as well. Two-hour break. I guess they expect to pull this all back together in two hours? That’s nuts.”

  “Not really, that’s show biz,” Oscar said. “Don’t forget, they build all this from nothing to begin with.”

  “But all those shattered lights?”

  “They usually have back ups. This is a big budget production. And they’ll likely have a huge order for Boston in the morning. I’m sure the new lights will be up by the time we get back over to the trailer... or wherever else you might like to go on our two-hour break.”

  Adele smiled. “I’m not sure where you’re going like that.”

  Oscar caught a glimpse of himself in the shop mirror.

  “Oh, right. Our costumes. Our make up... Back to the trailer it is then.”

  “Thank you for letting us take shelter, Adele,” Dorothy said.

  “Anytime, sweetie,” Adele waved.

  * * *

  They returned to the trailer, after another walk through the aftermath of chaos.

  “Now, where were we before all hell broke loose?” Oscar said once the door was shut. He removed his bathrobe again.

  “Oh, my...” Dorothy said, as she backed away from him. This time, he caught her. He lightly wrestled with her until he held her firmly and kissed her roughly.

  “Take off your shirt,” he commanded. She did as he said as he watched her with gleaming eyes.

  “Your bra,” he said. She nodded, unhooking her bra and revealing her large breasts, nipples perked with excitement.

  Dorothy’s legs went weak as his strength overpowered her. She let him take her hands and he pinned her against the wall, kissing her, grinding against her.

  “You don’t care about the make up anymore?” she whispered.

  “No. I can get it reapplied... and so can you,” he said as he kissed her on the lips then down her neck and chest. He pulled her skirt up and pulled down his shorts. He paused for a moment to pull a condom from his robe pocket on the ground, and slipped it on. He entered her wet pussy with a couple of pushes. Dorothy’s breasts tingled against her clothes while her pussy eagerly took his cock. He whispered into her ears all the nasty things he wanted to do to her as he fucked her. Dorothy spread her legs wider, loving every push and pull of him inside of her.

  He took his hand away from one of hers and lifted her leg, going deeper inside of her. She gasped.

  “Oh, Oscar...” she used her now free arm to wrap around him, hanging on as he pushed in deeper and deeper. She was helpless to his rhythm, passion flooding her, juices running down her legs.

  He lifted her, carrying her while still impaled until they ended up at the tiny couch. He lay her back and kept fucking her. This time he held her legs in the air as he stared into her eyes.

  Seeing his eyes staring at her with open lust made her writhe onto him with more abandon. She was trembling as she took him in deeper and deeper, revelling in how he pulled nearly out and then was back inside again. Soon, she shuddered in orgasm, a loud moan escaping her lips before she remembered where she was. Oscar was moaning and panting as he fucked her even harder. Her pussy clamped around him, trying to pull him inside of her forever, his rhythm going faster. He kissed her as he leaned over her, her legs spread wide allowing him the deepest possible penetration.

  Another orgasm began to overwhelm her, and she felt him grow bigger and harder inside. He moaned louder, but them checked himself, moaning softly, whispering her name, telling her all the things she had ached for him to say to her. As she quivered with pleasure, he groaned one long loud noise that seemed to surprise even him as she felt him coming inside of her. She rubbed against him, her pussy pulsing, slick and fulfilled. Her orgasm finally subsiding.

  They lay on the couch, panting and sweaty against each other.

  “Is this what they call the casting couch?” Dorothy laughed as she stood up.

  Oscar laughed. “No, we’re both actors in this scenario. We’re just having a good old-fashioned showmance.”

  Chapter Fifteen

  The Chariot: You are the Star of your own life.

  The two days that Dorothy was an extra flew by. There were several more opportunities to enjoy Oscar in his trailer between takes and she greedily took them. And then, before she knew it, she was back at her cashier job once more. Back to life, back to reality. Back to working for her health care.

  Toni came through her aisle, picking up some fresh lemons and limes for the bar.

  “You know, every single day there’s some kind of freak accident on that film set, you know,” Toni said.

  “No kidding?” Dorothy asked as she rang up the fruit. She believed it. Just the few days she was there, there were some odd accidents and incidents. But since she wasn’t used to being around movie sets, she wasn’t sure which incidents were ones to worry about unless they were obvious like the spirit winds that nearly blew over the trailer that one night.

  “Yeah. You know how a lot of the crew come by for either lunch or dinner or just a few drinks. I hear all kinds of crazy stuff.”

  “Really?

  “Someone’s always getting hurt or equipment’s getting screwed up.”

  “Hurt? Like how?”

  “Nothing super major, of course. No one’s broken anything or died or anything like that.” Toni turned around to see if anyone was behind her. There were several cashier aisles open and so customers were using those ones.

  “No, just stuff like cuts, or falling down. Missing costumes or props. Just stuff like that.”

  “Are you implying there’s something going on?” Dorothy asked.

  “Isn’t there always something going on in the town?” Toni rolled her eyes. “Which ghost is pissed off about what this time around? It’s endless. You know that.”

  “Wouldn’t it be nice if there was finally a one size fits all portal or way to make them all just stop or calm down.”

  “Do you think there’s a main portal?” Toni asked. “A place they all come and go, maybe they even scheme stuff up before they get here. I know this whole town resonates and obviously there are portals of some sort... I think... I imagine.”

  “I’m not sure what to think about any of it,
” said Dorothy. “There’s always been something going on and likely always will be.”

  “I’m going to see what Madeline has to say.”

  “About what? The TV show?”

  “I think there’s something to it all. I think maybe the ghosts, some ghosts, a ghost, doesn’t want the show here.”

  “Or maybe there are no ghosts and it’s all just the usual TV show accident stuff. I’m sure lights have fallen before.”

  “Oh, lights were only one night. Every night there’s something, some incidents just aren’t as big as lights falling. But there’s been close calls with some of those crazy stunts.”

  “The stunts?”

  “One time, they realized at the last minute that Oscar’s prop knife had been switched out with a real one. Can you imagine if no one had noticed?”

  “How does that even happen?”

  “I don’t know. You’d wonder why there would be a real knife around at all on a set like that. It’s far too easy for accidents to happen.”

  “Just like the ones that almost did. It’s chilling.”

  A customer came up behind Toni, so Dorothy finished the order.

  “See you later,” Toni said as she took her groceries and left.

  “Oh, Toni, wait, I’m going to send you a text later about a little gig. K?”

  “Sure. Can always use more gigs!” Toni smiled.

  * * *

  Dorothy reluctantly went to the gym after work. She really didn’t want to go, she was exhausted. Long torturous hours checking people out, long hours for a few days of working as a background performer, long hours of sex with Oscar... she could sleep for a month. But instead, she hit the gym. She wasn’t sure what she wanted to do. Maybe lie on a mat and take a nap.

  As she headed to the locker room to change, she ran into Jessica. Jessica was wearing her personal trainer uniform that complimented her muscles complete with badge that showed her name as Jess.

  “Well, look at you!” Jessica said.

  “What?” Dorothy said.

  “You’re glowing, my dear. What is going on? You must tell me.” Jessica pulled her to the side.