After the day I have had at work I think it is time for me to unwind. I fill the bathtub with hot water infused with apple cider vinegar, crushed peppermint leaves and ground ginger. I gently sit in the bath and my pores breathe a sigh of relief in the water. My crochet cotton cloth rubs against my skin and my beeswax based soap. Once I scrub down, I curl up on my side and rest my head on the cool tan rim of the tub. All I have to do is take a deep breath and slowly exhale counting to fifteen. What will I see? Where will I be this time? Hmm...
Darkness greets me as I stare into the abysmal black expanse all around me. No stars twinkling around me. Just a deep, warm black not naming me anything or expecting anything from me. The blackness that allows me to just be who I am without any definition. Why can't life be this simple? I turn to the right and see a bright big reddish orange orb beaming in the darkness. I wonder what will happen if I go inside of it.
Without a sound, I dive deep into a Sun. Instead of resting in the pool of orange light around me, I go all the way through until I meet more warm blackness. What am I even seeking? Why do I keep traveling in my dreams? I guess I'm seeking a place to belong. A place that feels more like home but will I stay there once I find it? Or will I keep seeking?
Beyond the Sun there is darkness and after that there is another Sun. Well, that's what I found. This one is different from the last in size. It's way more massive and shines more brightly with a light blue undertone amongst the huge yellow. I dive into it to find a throne blazing with cool flames. The flames all around dance like spirals of smoke but they are cool to the touch. In here, I look like a shadow and I stand out from all the bright surroundings. Nowhere to hide my being in obscurity. It's uncomfortable but I can manage.
My shadowy black hand reaches to touch the chilly, blazing flames ahead of me and when I do the chair stands strong. I peer around it to find a male with silvery, white hair and light blue skin. His face a chiseled masterpiece. His head bowed and his thick, straight eyelashes blinking slower than a drip on a leaky faucet. My hand brushes his bare shoulder and he quickly looks up at me. His eyes reflected the light of the fire around us. In them, I saw my shadowy image with disheveled, long afro-curly hair spiraling down to the floor beneath me and not torched by the flames. I start to pull my hand away from him and he catches my hand. "You shouldn't be here. Nobody is allowed here. You're trespassing!" He says with a thunderously deep voice.
My eyes widen. I'm not doing much with myself right now... I might as well explore this situation more and see where it leads me. So, I pounce on the guy and I kiss him. Existing on the edge feels good! I dig my hand right into his chest and as our kiss intensifies I feel his heart beating faster on my fingertips. Through his plasma flesh I dug into his heart and retrieve a third of it. It felt warm and fluid but it was not wet. In that hungry moment, I feel I have gained something. I feel more powerful and more than I have ever been before. I'm invigorated!
I pull myself away from him and soar back through the black expanse from which I came. In the warm darkness, I kiss my thumping golden treasure speck and hide it somewhere safe. Once I sail back to reality, I open my eyes and the bath water around me is cold. I must've been really tired. I didn't know I fell asleep.
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The next day at the shop, Ms. Dean tapes her phone number on a piece of receipt paper behind the cashier's desk. "Remember Ash, that little rascal shows up again...you call me. My number is right here. Look. I'll even underline it for you. See?" She asks. I nod.
"Me and the boys are going out to retrieve the stolen item, hopefully. A pal of mine said he saw Baran leaving a hostel nearby. Most likely this is the place he's staying for the time being. While he's out we're going to do our thing but I need to know you'll keep the shop safe."
"I'll try."
"At least try harder than you did last time."
I sigh and nod. Her heels tap out of the shop and I am alone again. I guess I'll work on my online training classes while I wait for them to return. Let's try module one. It's named: the customer is always right. Maybe I should save that one for later. "Hmm..." I say and tap my chin with my index finger.
Oh, there's a loss prevention course. Let me see what that's about.
"Welcome to Befors' online training center, let's begin the course selected."
"Hmm..."
"In this course, you will learn about five red flags and what to do if you incur one. First red flag: if a customer has no items in their shopping carrier and they've been in the store for a while. The solution: approach them and ask if they need help with finding an item."
"Ok. I did that." I chuckle lowly.
"Second red flag: someone that comes in with overly big clothing. The solution: assist this customer as they shop and keep a close eye on them. "
Is every solution keep a close eye on them and assist them with shopping?
"Third red flag: if you see someone stealing something report it to your supervisor immediately.
What if it takes forever to reach them? What if the perp gets away with it because the supervisors come too late? This is stupid.
I chuckle. "What is so funny?" I look up at the owner of the voice. Baran.
"Are you here to return what you borrowed?" I ask.
"Yes. I don't need the book anymore."
"Who are you looking for? A witch?" He passes the red book to me.
"Not anymore. I'm looking for a mage that can travel through space and time. They're rare but have you come across any?"
"No, not that I know of. Ms.Dean wants to chat with you."
He walks around the counter and stands a breath away from me. He leans over me and whisper down at me.
"Why would I want to do that?"
I sigh. "How did the last mages that worked here die?"
"Transformations are costly. How much would you risk to look a certain way, to gain favor, or to be more powerful?"
"I'm not that ambitious. I like to just make it by. If I can get a B+ or an A- in a course, I am satisfied with just making it to success."
"Sometimes not striving to be the peak of the best keeps you away from being greatest being you deserve to be."
"Imagine the immense pressure that comes along with being perfectly great. The fall from it, as you even implied, is so great that it can take your life away. I don't think that's a worthy exchange."
A black heel hits the bookshelf beside me. Thud! "Ash, I told you to call me as soon as this rascal shows up. Boys pat him down. Who knows what else he took?" Ms.Dean says out of breath. Sam and Tom pat him down. Nothing? I'm actually surprised. I giggle.
"Nothing is funny you two. Now Baran, it's time you paid back your dues. Come with me to my office young man." She says. I nervously sigh. Sam and Tom shake their mushroom haircuts at me. Tom's bowl cut has thick bangs like a sheepdog that is reddish brown and Sam has his swooped around his face with natural black waves cascading through it. Sam narrows his dark eyes at me. "You think you're off the hook that easily? Nope, it's time I teach you about counting the item logs. Tom watch the register."
I look down. Today is going to be a long day. "Don't look so surprised. You had to learn this someday. You thought you were going to keep getting away with not having to pull late nights keeping track of the item logs, when you're the one who lets Baran just take anything he wants. No, you'll pay for it."
"Sam, I don't even know the guy." I say flatly.
"So, you want to act like we didn't catch you two making-out over there. Please. You like him and how he was leaning over you... I'm sure the feeling is mutual."
"What? I don't like him I'm just...kind of attracted to him. There's a difference there. One is committed to the idea and the other can take it or leave it."
Sam lightly grabs my wrist and lowers his voice. "Ash, Baran is bad news. Every mage that has gotten close to him has died."
"Did he date them or was romantically involved with them?" My big brown eyes widen and I look up at him.
"No but Ash... He's a wildcard and trouble tends to follow him. It's best to keep your distance with that one. We still don't know why all those mages died in their sleep. Ms. Dean says they overworked themselves and got exhausted. She said something about their hearts couldn't take it but one died from a stroke."
"Really?"
"Yes and those were dudes. Imagine what he'll do to you and you're a lady. Just leave his weirdness alone over there. Ok?"
"I'll try." I laugh and he gasps.