Chapter VII

We haven't seen a lot of Megan around, not since we discovered that she is a Deamhan. We have taken a few precautions though. I finally have started to wear the red teardrop pendant that Mia had given to me in the black chest. It's a jasper stone. Very pretty; it's highly known for its protective qualities. Also, I've been carrying around a small pocket knife in my jeans or inside the boots I wear. This was insisted by Mia, even though I think I can protect myself on my own, without the help of knives or any objects. I may not know what my full powers are, but I'm sure instinct will kick in when I need it.

The seasons are changing and it is getting cold quickly. Weeks have passed and thankfully nothing bad has happened. Even outside in the streets, it's quiet. There haven't been any more murders. Not that we know of. Maybe she took off or something. Although, Britney is still in the school given the strange circumstances. She hadn't made any attempt in hurting me or anything. Well, is not like we have seen much of her anyway. Oddly things were normal, I guess, as normal as they can be.

I'm waiting outside of the Astronomy classroom after class. Dean has gone up to his room to look for who knows what and left me here to wait. That boy drives me kind of crazy sometimes. "Alice," William calls over to me from inside the classroom. I walk over to him. He is reading and signing some paperwork. He looks distracted and odd. After our last encounter, when I crashed and ended on top of him, we haven't seen much of each other, except for classes of course. My head hasn't been fully focused in his class or any class, and he hasn't talked to me like he used to do before.

"Yes?" I stand in front of his desk. He looks up from the mountain of papers he's buried in. "Your grades are suffering gravely. It's time to start your private tutoring. I want to start tonight since this is an astronomy class. We'll review the astrology constellations. Meet me here at 9 pm sharp. Ok?" He was cold, so cold and distant. Not like he was before. There is no warmth in his voice. No heat in his eyes. Just the formality of any other professor.

"Yes, Professor. I'll be here." I manage to answer. I don't know if to ask him what's wrong, after all, he's my professor. I resolve for turning and walking away.

"Where were you?" Dean looks at me. He had finally returned from who knows where. "I was talking with Professor Strauss. He will start tutoring me tonight. I have left my grades to slip with everything that has been going on." His eyes smile at my incomprehension. We go and spend some time outside in the chilly winds of early fall.

*****

"Now concentrate Alice. Try to go around my mind wall and tell me what you see." Mia has been with me for a couple of hours now. We are in the garden, right in front of everybody, but they don't seem to notice or know that something totally out of the ordinary is happening. We are sitting arm to arm in one of the wooden benches. I'm trying again for the fifth time to see what she wants me to see inside her head without success. I am not bleeding like the last time I tried this, but it sure hurts like hell. My head feels like it is on fire every time that I try to drop or kick down her wall.

"I can't. You are too strong." I say panting, my voice barely above a whisper.

"So are you Alice. You can do this. Push the wall aside and see." I keep trying and trying. My head is on fire and I feel a drop of blood running down my nose. Then, suddenly, a brick moves, just a bit, but enough for me to push harder. More dark red bricks move and soon enough the wall is coming down before my eyes. I see green fields again. The same children as before are running happily.

They go up and down the valley hills laughing, singing songs I have never heard before. It's so peaceful and joyful. Before long, the skies turn gray and there is a thunderstorm. The children run around in the rain, enjoying themselves. A group of cloaked men starts to head toward them. They moved fast and the children didn't see them until it was too late. Two of the men got a hold of two of the kids. The other one chased the other girl but lost her at the forest edge. She was trembling with fear behind a tree. I'm seeing through her blue scared eyes. How those clocked men drop the two kids inside of brown bags and lift them up on their shoulders like they were just a sack of potatoes. I can feel the girl's fear of watching this. 

I return to the garden and to my senses.

I look at Mia and there is a string of blood coming down her nose. She takes out a napkin from her backpack and wipes it. Still, no one is paying attention to us.

"You did well, Alice, very well. Once you get better at this, it will be a useful power." She looks sad. Her eyes are watery and I am beginning to understand.

"You were that little girl." She nods a teardrop falls down her cheek.

"They were my sisters. That was the last time I saw them. We were playing outside. When the storm came, our parents called us inside, but we didn't listen. We just wanted to play. You know, have fun." She swallows hard. "They came as they always did, at nightfall. We didn't see them until they were too close to hide. They grabbed them and I couldn't do anything. I ran and lost the Deamhan that was behind me. I was so scared that I didn't move from behind that tree for hours. When I found the strength again, I walked home only to find my parents butchered on the kitchen floor." She sobs and I hold her tight.

"Did you see that girl's eyes? They are like gold."

"Yellow eyes."

"They must be contacts."

"She has always been a little odd."

I glance up and there are some students passing by and looking at us. It never crossed my mind that mind-reading would affect my eyes too.

"Mia we should go. We are drawing too much attention. My eyes are..." She wiped her tears with the back of her hand and nodded.

*****

Short black dress, knee-high boots of the same color, and my silky hair around my shoulders. That is how I am going to my tutoring lessons with Strauss, by Dean's instructions. He wants me to make an impression. I can't believe I let him dress me up, more importantly, I didn't stop him. I wanted to look good for my professor. But I didn't expect to be looking like this either. Why do I always let him get away with stuff like this?

I find myself in front of his classroom. The door is closed and I can't bring myself to knock. I pull my dress down in an attempt to not look too out there, too easy. The school is quiet tonight. There are not students' hidings to mess around, or pranks being planted on professor's classrooms. There is just the peaceful silence of a cold night. I gather courage and knock. I'm already here dressed like I'm going to some kind of date, right? There's no response. I knock again. I hear the knob turning and the door swings open. There he is, dressed in jeans and a black t-shirt. Informal, just like the first time he talked to me that day at the mall. It feels like ages have passed since that day. Since he was sweet and kind to me.

"Good evening Alice." His green eyes are intensely looking at my eyes tonight. My breath leaves my lungs and I'm soon found gasping for air. How can he make this reaction in me with just one penetrating look of those green eyes? He gestures me to come in.

I step forward and I hear him close the door behind me. I walk towards his desk where he had a chair for me. I sat and took out my notebook and a pen. He has the back windows open. There is a black telescope in front of it. I see that this isn't going to be a regular lecture. We are actually going to look out to the sky. Exciting. I haven't look through a telescope since mine broke a few years back. I haven't been able to purchase one yet. He pulls back his leather brown chair and sits back. He starts to explain the origin of the astrological constellations, their legends, their structure, among other things. I take notes of everything paying little attention to his intense staring. He stops talking suddenly. I glance up from my notebook.

"I haven't given you a chance to ask questions. Do you have any?" His green eyes sparkle in the half-light the moon was shining from the window. I shake my head. He nods. I'm ready to start writing again. "Then I can ask one of my own." I look up again confused. "Are you and Chris a thing?" The question takes the air out of my lungs. The notebook falls out of my lap. I stare at him utterly shocked. I can't find my voice.

"Come again?" I whisper.

"I asked if you have something with Chris. I have heard the rumors." I think my eyes were about to come out of my head. I stand up and pick up my notebook from the floor. I lock my eyes with his. 

"No. We are not a 'thing'. Why do you ask me anyway? What's it to you?" He wasn't prepared for my rash response. I didn't expect it either. He stands up too. 

"I was just simply curious. Come, we are going to use the telescope now." My breath was speeding up when I passed beside him. I placed myself in front of the telescope waiting for his instructions.

He still hadn't moved from his desk when I heard his voice again. "Is it not obvious?"

"What is?" I find the courage to ask. I don't turn to see him, but I feel him close to my back. The heat of his body sends shivers down my spine. I feel his breath on my neck. Goosebumps rise on my arms and legs. My stomach is in knots. My skin heats up to his closeness. The same heat travels all around my body. I turn around slowly. We are face to face. Not talking, just looking at each other's eyes. His eyes as green as the valleys on spring, but with the heat of a longing hot summer night. He breaks the heated silence.

"You are different, Alice. You are not like the rest of the girls your age. You have a light like no other person I have seen. A passion that makes me wonder about you. You are special." He softly caresses my cheek. I lean towards his touch. His hand grabs the nape of my neck and pulls me in. His lips are soft and welcoming. I welcome his tongue in my mouth, circling mine into his in perfect a dance. I push my body against him and he receives it pulling me firmer against him. Our bodies click in perfect shape with one another. My hands dig into his curly hair, while he grabs my hips desperately. I am out of breath and I don't care. I am at the moment. There is neither past nor future. Just us. I'm his.

An unwelcome thought: this cannot be. He's a professor and I'm a student, it doesn't matter that I'm already old enough. And there is also Chris. 

Chris? Why am I thinking about him now? My god, I'm making out with my professor. I push him back gently. His eyes are confused searching mine. Before he can say anything I grab my things and leave running.