Chapter 5

To my utter dismay, it was a Texan sales man who had called, asking if I was interested in buying a lawn mower for an 'amazing' discounted price. My disappointment must have been too apparent, for the salesman stumbled on his script and promptly hung up. I threw my phone away and tried to pick up where I left off in my memories and tried to summon the accompanying emotions. Unfortunately, before I could gain some traction, the phone rang again. I angry snatched the phone, ready to hurl a barrage of insults to the would be intruder but was stopped shot by sultry, silky voice.

"Hie Joe.....",said Helen. It was as if a lump of concrete was lodged in my throat, for I could not find the words to respond to a simple 'Hie Jo'. I cursed myself for always being caught off guard by this temptress. I was still struggling with a response when she said, "I have been thinking about you, Joe. Was happy I bumped into you today,"

"Err, yeah...Hie Helen. I wasn't sure you were going to call back," I said, regaining my composure somewhat.

"Bumping into you there of all places was some coincidence," I paused.

"When can I see you, Helen?', i ventured. I found myself literary sitting on the edge of my bed.

"You can come see me at Club Vivo tomorrow, Joe. I am performing there at midnight. You talk to my assistant Jessica when you arrive, ok?"

"Sure thing. Will see you there!", I almost shouted. she hung up without any preamble and I found myself sweating from just such a simple conversation. I wondered if I had the same effect on her as she did on me. Maybe. Nevertheless, I should have been able to sleep well that night, owing to such good news isn't it? On the contrary, I had a very restless night while I counted the hours to day break, shifting between being awake and dreaming about Helen Star's lips. I eventually fell asleep at some point, because I woke up to my mother's call to come down for breakfast. I wasn't hungry regardless and mum had to threaten burning my old Nintendo console so I can eat.

I spent the rest of the day looking for new threads, vowing I would sweep her off her feet this time around....

*************

Club Vivo was spectacular, to say the least. Gyrating bodies on the dancing floor dominated the scene. The smell of sweat and fluids filled the atmosphere as i began to look around so I can spot the entry to the VVIP lounge. I spotted Jessica, Helen's assistant craning her neck, likely looking for me near one of the stairwells. I squeezed my way through the sea of bodies and barely managed to make it to her, when the lights dimmed and a voice boomed over the crowd.

"GET READY FOR TODAY'S SPECIAL PERFOMANCE YA"LL!!! PLEASE WELCOME HELEN STAR!!!" shouted a dreadlocked DJ. The club erupted in a frenzy as Helen made her way onto the stage. If I had any misgivings I was nursing for going through the trouble of looking for her, they disappeared at the sight of that woman. I felt I had made the right move. Then she opened her mouth and started singing. The clubs activities disappeared and i found myself on a milky beach surrounded with tropical foliage. Helen was gliding towards me in a primitive looking bikini that barely hid her voluptuous body. She was looking at me in a way that made feel like jelly inside. It was as if she was looking into my soul, and I, hers. She stretched her hand as she drew closer to caress my face....Then suddenly, i was back in the club. Helen had stopped singing and was stepping off the stage. Apparently, I wasn't the only one affected by Helen.

Every male on the property had a trance like experience to varying degrees, and others were reacting differently. The club let out a belated applause, but Helen had already disappeared backstage. Females around the club were visibly confused. Girlfriends all around were asking their boyfriends why they had zoned out and failure to explain that occurrence was fast leading to scuffles everywhere. No man could fully understand what had happened. Jessica, Helen's assistant, motioned to me to follow her and so I gingerly followed. I was shown Helen's private quarters on the club and ushered inside after squeezing my way through the bodyguards. One of them looked at me with pure hatred as I passed by. I paid no attention to him.

Helen sat atop a single couch in the room, still in her stage costume. When I closed the door, she arose from her perch and glided towards me, same way I had seen her in my trance. She stretched forth her hand and touched my face, softly running her fingers over my two day stubble. I closed my eyes briefly and leaned into her open palm, savoring her touch. It was as if in her presence, my senses were heightened. I could not delay it any longer. I slid my hands around her waste and pulled her close to me and planted a solid kiss on her parted lips. She crooned closer to my body and purred in pleasure. I ran my hands across her body, marveling at the intricate curves that my hands came into contact with. Her hands were busy as well, touching me everywhere. Never though I would enjoy being touched by a woman before. I grunted in pleasure and she smiled on my lips. I was about peel off the lacy costume when she pulled away.

"No", was all she said. I was confused. I was nursing a serious boner and I couldn't help but feel angry. I could see myself deep inside her and she just pulled away. I did not understand.

"You are confused, I understand," she finally said as she increased the distance between us. "But you cannot have me the way you desire without losing your life, Joe".

I thought she was referring to losing my life in the metaphorical way, but when I looked at her, I knew she meant the actual thing. I couldn't find any words to respond to that, trying to comprehend what she was saying. My lack of understanding only served to frustrate her.

"Joe, I am a siren. That means that you are fated to die after hearing my voice. You think you are in love with me because of the magic residing in my voice. You are in danger, Joe and you need to stay away from me-"

"If you needed me to stay away from you, you could have simply ignored me in the airport. You could have not called me back. Back in New York, you could have stayed in your dressing room. But you didn't. You wanted me here," I spat out. I looked around for some place to anchor myself.

She looked embarrassed at that and looked at her hands. There was an awkward silence. I moved to touch her when she spoke.

"I have never felt the way I felt when I saw you that day Joe. Forgive me for being selfish but I just had to.... see you again. But bringing you here has placed you in danger, because of the connection we have here. I'm now certain of it. My sisters must not know about you. I fear that if they suspect I have a love connect they will hunt you down. Your heart in this state is a potent well of power and my sisters need it to remain immortal. For me to remain immortal...."

I began to understand the trouble I had gotten myself into. My erection had long shriveled deep into my abdomen. All this talk about spells and death pretty much took me out of the copulation mood. I was still processing this and was about to make a move for the door. I was done with this, for now anyway. The door opened before I could reach it and three beautiful women walked into the office, followed by three salivating men. These women were drop dead gorgeous, the Helen kind of beauty.

The woman in the lead looked at me with interest. Helen started when they entered and she bore such a look of fear and sadness that I latched onto it as well.

"You managed to find your Connect, Hela", said the lead woman. Helen just nodded slightly and the woman shifted her attention to me. "Hello, Joe..."