Celeste (Gemini 1)

They have tried every way they could to pierce our protective shield. They made me sick once and gave me headaches. They even resorted to entering the body of a dog. It is no surprise to me that they concentrated on spoiling you. Noble, and tried to spoil you by using that young man. I should have been even more diligent when I learned of your initial contact with those people and you had told me of the bad things they were doing. Its not all your fault. I was too trusting, too dependent on those that watch over us.

"But thankfully, they continue to do so. I am not surprised about what had happened. Of course. I am disappointed in you, and there is work to do now to cleanse you. but I am grateful we are still safe, still being watched over and blessed."

She paused, squeezed her temples with her right thumb and forefinger, and took deep breaths. I held mine in anticipation. Finally, she looked up at me and nodded as if she had just been told exactly what to do.

"Go upstairs and get undressed," she said.

"Undressed?"

"Yes. I'll be right there," she said and walked toward the kitchen and the pantry.

For a moment I was too frightened to move. What was she going to do? I started up the stairs slowly and then walked quickly to my room. where I began to undress. I was in such a daze I didn't hear Mommy come charging up the stairs and into my room. Suddenly, she was there rushing past me into the bathroom. I heard her turn on the faucet for the tub.

"What's taking you so long?" she cried from the bathroom doorway, "Hurry up and get yourself naked and in here. There is no time to lose."

She turned into the bathroom. I continued to undress. When I was naked. I entered slowly. It had been a while since Mommy had gazed upon me and seen my body develop, but when she looked at me now, it was just a glance and it was as if she saw nothing different from the first day she had dressed me in my brother's clothing.

She stood by the tub and looked down at the water pouring into it. I saw the jar of black powder in her hands.

"What's that?" I asked.

"It's from my grandmother's secret closet," she said. "Her own recipe. Get in the water," she told me and stood back waiting.

I approached the tub and then slowly brought my leg over and my foot down. The moment I touched the water, I leaped back. It was scalding.

"Its too hot!" I cried.

"It has to be very hot. Get in," she said without emotion. She sounded as if she was under a spell herself.

"I can't. Its much too hot."

"Get in," she said again.

I shook my head and backed away.

"Get in. Noble. Get in."

"Make it cooler."

"Okay," she said suddenly, and she turned the cold faucet on and let it run. "Try it now," she said. and I cautiously dipped my foot in again. It was still very hot, but bearable.

"Soak," she said. and I sat slowly and endured the hot water.

She then sprinkled the black powder into the water, and it quickly turned the water into a dark blue.

"It smells terrible," I said.

"It s not supposed to be bath salts. Just soak," she said and left me.

"How long?" I called after her.

"Until I return," she said.

"What does it do?" I shouted, but she didn't hear me, or if she did, she didn't want to respond.

I had to turn my head because the smell was so gross. I felt like I was going to vomit. I leaned over the side of the tub and waited and waited. I thought she had forgotten me when she finally came into the bathroom. I looked up and saw she was carrying a large cauldron. Before I could protest, she rushed at the tub and poured out the contents, which was scalding hot water. I shouted and tried to get out, but she pushed down on my shoulders and held me in the water. I cried and cried and begged. Finally, she let me emerge. My skin was as red as it would be if I had lain out naked in the hot sun for a day. It was painful, too, especially where some of the boiling water had hit my body.

I gabbed a towel and began to wipe myself, but that hurt.