Venus Under the Gemini Moon
Somehow it seemed the opposite of everything else that had happened
that night. Sitting in the red sporty two-seater and winding through
the blackest of roads up to the humble estate. She watched as the
driver precariously shifted gears, taking no care of what was ahead.
The silence of the drive was like the chill of the wind whipping past
her, dangerous…almost deadly. And even if the dance floor had proved
nothing she had her grip tight in reason one of the reasons. The dark
eyes of the driver moved over her briefly, perhaps summing her up even
more…perhaps gripping tightly to her own reason. It was hard to tell.
As the car settled into the drive, she noted the family crest hanging
on the post. She quirked an eyebrow, chiding herself for forgetting her
host was an aristocrat. It was easy to forget looking at the older
woman. Easy because for all her elegance she had the cold fog of a
soldier around her. Dorothy stepped out of the car and walked closely
with the older woman to the house. Entering it, she noticed how
unbelievably quaint it was, small, antiques cluttering the front room,
a long entryway that shot off into various other rooms, polite
staircase just before the kitchen. She let her host take her light,
barely necessary jacket and waited for something to spark.
“Can I get you something to drink”, the older woman asked as she
wandered into the kitchen.
“Tea would be delightful”; she called. Her deep blue eyes took in the
whole of the front room as she entered it. It was a little overly
cluttered but she suspected no one used the room for anything
important. Two large glass cases held a museum of military decorations
and medals. A few pictures on the wall gave away very little of who her
host really was. The picture of Trieze sitting ever so politely on an
end table was expected…as was the small clutter of pictures of
Mariemea. Those were the things everyone knew about the woman. She had
loved Trieze and was the legal guardian of his daughter. It was
interesting. Her eyes then caught the mementos on the mantelpiece.
Brushing back her pale blonde hair she stepped over and took a closer
look. Three glass boxes each with a discarded bullet. “Fascinating”,
she quirked, slight grin extending on her face. The floor gave a little
creak and she spun around to meet her host.
“Enjoying the gallery?” The question hit the air with noticeable
contempt.
“Oh yes”, she replied. “I nearly had forgotten what an accomplished
soldier you were. But tell me...”; she paused inching closer. “Why keep
the bullets?”
“Because they serve as lesson’s.” Almost a cold response, but there was
a hint of warmth deep within her brown eyes. “One tells of death…one of
great folly-“
“And the third?”
“Was not meant for me.”
Dorothy nodded, just as the kettle in the kitchen began to sing.
Une moved stealthily to the other room, noting the way her guest
gracefully followed. Reaching the stove she brought the steaming kettle
over to two delicate teacups that were neatly laid out ready to accept
the scalding liquid. When she finished pouring she began to dip her
teabag in and out of the cup, noting that her guest just let hers
settle.
“Sugar”, a soft and chilled tone asked.
“Just one.”
She pushed the sugar bowl over lightly, took a small spoon of sugar and
ushered it into Dorothy’s cup. “Cream?”
“No thank you...”
It’s just a game
It’s just a sport
Isn’t it?
Isn’t it?
It’s just killing time
Just something before the storm
Isn’t it?
Isn’t it?
I half suspect to be torn in two
I half suspect I’ll be mauled
Devoured
Discarded
Left without a trace
But it’s just silence
It’s just waiting
Isn’t it?
Isn’t it?
They sat at the kitchen table. Not a word passing between them, just
slight sighs here and there as a pair of brown or blue eyes moved over
the other. Watching the way tea was sipped; a cup placed…it was a slow
dance. Finally it was broken as the young woman placed her cup down a
wolfish grin on her porcelain face.
“Refresh my memory”, Dorothy began. “Is it Lady Colonel or Colonel
Lady?”
She smiled a real, genuine smile. “Neither…I’m not a Colonel any
longer.”
“Ah! So your just a Lady?”
“Just barely”, was the quick reply. “The aristocracy is dead. The
tittle only remains because no one wants to take it away. Don’t you
bare a similar title? If I recall correctly your Grandfather was a
duke.”
“I never carried a tittle. Not that I care to be known by one.” An
eyebrow sprang up. “Although, Duchess Catalonia has a nice ring to it.”
A slight chuckle left her lips. She brought her cup up and sipped the
last drops of her tea. Ready for the quickened pulse of the early
evening to return. Knowing the game, what was left of it, would soon
return. Dorothy hit her cue perfectly.
“So what does an ex-colonel do these days to keep herself busy?” The
question hit with superb accuracy.
Hazelnut eyes shut briefly opening with a chill, small grin over her
mouth. “I make sure nothing happens to make me a colonel again. What
does a girl of privilege and wealth do?”
“Gives generously to charities, listens to politicians drone one about
new laws…final campaigns…”, she took in a breath to add speed to her
next remark. “I also help finance a very secret but necessary group of
ex-soldiers who keep the world at peace.”
Silence again, tumbling over and bringing rhythm to the dance. Broken
once more on cue, perfection in a question.
“What does an aristocratic lady do for fun these days?” She picked up
her cup sipping away the last of the now lukewarm drink.
“Isn’t it obvious”, Une set her gaze in deep. “I go to pulsing night
clubs and hunt for gods and little girls.”
Her grin slid from wolfish to predatory in a heartbeat, knowing full
well which she was regarded as. “What about princesses…ever hunt for
them?”
I need to know
I need to feel that spark
That thing that took her
Took her from my heart
“Never royalty”, she quipped. “Tell me…what do goddesses do for fun?”
She sat back into her chair, politely crossing her legs, an eyebrow
ready to arch. “They play with hearts who dare to challenge them…Listen
to the worshipers prayers and turn a deaf ear.”
“Ever mistake a prayer for a challenge?”
I need to know
I need to see
That thing that made her run
From you to me only to leave
And return back to your sea
“Almost…Ever mistake a little girl for a god?”
She stood and gathered the teacups. Walking over to the sink she
replied, “Almost.”
The cups hit the tile with a light click. She brushed away her brown
hair and looked at the clock. “It’s getting late.”
“Is it?” She walked over to the hunter, nearly staring her down.
“Nearly three…how are you planning on getting home?”
“I wasn’t planning on making it back at all”, she replied, and stepped
closer. Her prey did not even flinch. “You hurt her you know…that
little girl you nearly mistook for a god.”
Une shook her head and stepped away. Remembering the chill of ending a
relationship that never moved from the ground. The sting of pulling the
pistol from the girl’s hand as she begged…begged for freedom. “She
wanted to be hurt. Wanted release…she still does. But you and I…we
refuse to give it to her”, she nearly choked out. “She didn’t want
anything I had to offer…and I never let her race back to me. She did
not love me.” her voice was solid ice.
“You seem convinced the princess loved the goddess.”
“She did.”
“But she left me, Une. She left for you.” Dorothy inched closer,
destroying the game, vying for a challenge instead.
“It doesn’t change how she really felt”, Une stated coolly. “It doesn’t
change that she returned.”
“It didn’t last.”
Those light brown eyes were alight with something not really
recognizable; maybe it was hurt…or even concern. Dorothy wasn’t sure.
She watched the older woman carefully as she stepped to the challenge.
Here in the dark
Nothing makes sense
I need the daylight
Won’t you lead me to it
Won’t you tell me where it is
Here in the dark
Lost in these dreams
Nothing is right
If I become your heaven
Will you show me the way
Will you show me what warmth is
Leave me in the daylight
“Why are we doing this?” it was asked so lightly the goddess could have
sworn another soul had entered the room. “Why are you still trying to
force the game…make a challenge... force a fight? You won Dorothy. In
the end it was always you… and you won. She needed the divine…but as
things have it she didn’t know what that meant.”
She wanted to applaud. She really did want to clap and set in like she
would have with her princess, but the way the words hit her…They were
so sincere. Une was conceding, not because she didn’t have the
artillery to win but because she had already lost. The lady’s eyes were
still flickering with something unrecognizable, something that seemed
to burn deep and refused to be extinguished. The older woman leaned up
against the counter, her eyes shut for half a moment. So the goddess
moved closer, needing to reveal what it was the hunter was trying to
hide.
She felt her guest getting closer. Moving in ready to kill or seduce
but it didn’t matter which it was. “What more do you need to know?”
The goddess was extraordinarily close now, closer than she had been on
the dance floor, pushing her weight forward...daring expecting danger.
Her lips whispering at the lady’s ear, “What’s your name?”
Une leaned in a silent word slipping from her lips caressing her
guest’s ear.
She dared
Dared to listen
Dared to ask
Dared to take
And she takes
Takes without question
Without permission
She dares
Dares to want
Dares to claim
Dares to steal
And she steals
Steals this heart
Without permission
Who is she to dare
To claim and take
Whatever…whenever
She feels
She loses
She gains
She needs
She dares
Dares to challenge
And she challenges me
It was strange how it happened. It was nearly unexpected even though
that’s where she wanted things to go. Even though it was what she
craved, she didn’t think she would get it. But those eyes…those light
brown almost frozen, hard eyes were sparking. They were calling and
speaking in a tone she wasn’t used to, and maybe this isn’t what they
wanted. But she didn’t know the language so she just guessed. She
claimed the lady’s soft lips with her own…pushing lightly… almost
asking… what was next. Arms pulled her close taking things deeper and
the goddess only came up for air once to whisper a name that no one
else seemed to know. As if it were a curse or a sacred prayer…something
that only the divine could learn or speak without being struck down.
Then the pulse, that long dead call, began again, like music only
grander, like dancing only terribly still. It was frightening not being
able to move, but still somehow pushing. Pushing the sky to move
outward, stars to expand, commanding that the universe obey...because
she had the power. And she wanted to share it, wanted the elegant
mortal in her grasp…who was moving fingers through her hair…pulling her
closer…urging her to take more…She wanted her captive to move the stars
back with her. And it was odd…odd and strangely comfortable because she
realized…and quickly that she was the one being held prisoner. She was
the one being asked to join the ranks of heaven. She was being pulled
in as she pushed. She’d never let go of so much control, even while
waxing submissive she always held the reigns…but now it was all gone.
She was still strong, still held her power but for once it didn’t
matter that it wasn’t hers to control.
I told you
Whispered it
This is not a game
I am not a sport
I’m something else
Something different
Something that lingers
Leaves
Wishes
Wanders
I make them all feel
Just how they need
Make them all see
They are part of me
And when it over takes your heart
Settles in the dust
You’ll wonder why
You never dared to take too much
She was never happier waking in such a way. Fingers pulsing down her
back, brushing through her hair, asking gently for her to wake up. She
hugged the body beneath her tightly. It made sense, being there just
made perfect sense. She couldn’t claim love, but she never even tried.
She just knew things were building. Things were just starting. And
somehow everything would come together like it was supposed to.
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