To Safely View Fire [Part 1]

By the following afternoon, Andrew believed he finally understood what Tepnos was trying to explain to him. He went to the library right after class, inhaling a fruit leather as he climbed the stairs. Tepnos was already sitting in her place despite him being early. He dropped his bag on the floor, sat hard in his chair, and leaned forward with his elbows resting just proximal to his knees.

"You don't believe in mythical creatures because you know them," he said.

"Yes," Tepnos replied, pausing her reading.

Andrew laughed. "How do you know them, Tepnos? They don't exist."

"They don't in this world, but they thrive on their own world."

"And where is that exactly?"

"On a plane man has not yet discovered."

"Now you are making things up."

"You are earnest in the knowledge you seek, Andrew. There would be no point in lying to you."

"If that were true, how do you know these creatures?"

"I grew up with them."

"A human who grew up with dragons, satyrs, centaurs, etc."

"For this moment I am Human."

"And the next moment?"

"Depends on you."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"If you have a place where a bright light won't attract or draw unnecessary attention, I'll explain there," she said.

"Why not just tell me?"

"Because you alone are ready to know what I know."

Andrew gave a slight nod then leaned back to think. He thought of a shed.

"How strong is your fear of fire?" Tepnos asked, breaking his thoughts.

He sat up. "Fire?"

"Yes."

"Why would you need a fire to tell me what you know?"

"I don't need fire. There will be fire. But fire that is different from what you have experienced."

"Something is not right in your head, Tepnos," Andrew said, reaching for his bag. He was afraid and needed to leave.

"I've told you the truth, Andrew. If you want me to share what I know, we need a private place where you can safely view fire."

Andrew shook his head. Slowly, he rose from the chair, backed away from her—bag in hand—then fled from the library. He ran into the trees then stopped and looked around. Tepnos had not followed him, but still…. He shook his head and went home. Andrew buried himself in his research. Maybe he could find what he needed and not have to take Tepnos' fiery suggestion. Because she brought up fire, he didn't sleep well.

Andrew woke sweating. He got out of bed and took a long shower. He tried hard to scrub the memory out of his head and the smell of fire from his body. He cried for his friend. Only when the water turned cold did he get out. He dressed in Kenny's clothes and pulled on his well fitted school robe. Andrew gathered his things and went downstairs. Grammy set her hands on his arms before pulling him into an embrace. He held onto her. She rubbed his back until his shoulders relaxed.

"Good luck at school," she said, letting him go.

"Thanks, Grammy."

He attended his classes then went to the library. Tepnos was there. He went to another place on the floor. He drew the phoenix. Then he got up to see if Tepnos had gone. She was still there, so he went back to where he had been sitting. He drew the various stages of the phoenix renewing fire before starting for home.

There was an allure to Tepnos he couldn't place. But she had to be crazy if she needed fire in order to tell him how she knew mythical creatures. Or maybe she really was a psychotic Human who was toying with him. He turned back to the library. Andrew reached the end of the tree lined trails. He stopped when he saw Tepnos leave the library. He followed her from a distance. Followed her to a house. He stood across the street and watched the windows. The one on the far end lit up, but it wasn't an electrical light. More like the flickering light from a candle, a very bright candle, since the blinds had been drawn. The window wasn't open either. So, what was she doing?

"You're on drugs," he said when he saw her in the library the following afternoon.

"No."

"You've dyed your hair so many times you have brain damage."

"No. This is my natural hair color."

"So explain how you know these creatures exist!"

"Tell me a place where it will be just the two of us and I'll tell you."

"Only if you leave out the fire," Andrew said.

"That is not possible."

"Sure it is. Flashlights work just fine."

"Lighting is not an issue, Andrew. You need to be okay to see flame in order for me to explain."

"You don't know what you are asking of me," he said softly.

"Actually, I do. I know how you received the scar on the left side of your head and whose clothes you wear out of remembrance."

Andrew's eyes widened. "You know nothing about me."

"I know everything about you."

"Who do you work for? The police? FBI? CIA?"

"I have no affiliation to any group."

"Private Investigator."

Tepnos shook her head.

"Then you don't really know."

"I may not have been present, but I know you lost your best friend, Kenny Lanterne, that day."

Now Andrew's eyes really widened. "Who have you been asking about me? How do you know that name?"

"I was given a vision about you. I was shown your past. Specifically the events that drove you into creative writing."

"Now you're sounding crazy again."

Tepnos didn't respond.

"Okay. So, if you know everything about me, what was the name of my dog in fifth grade?"

"Villosus. And it wasn't a dog, it was a large guinea pig."

"Wrong."

"No, that is right, because Piddles—your stuffed animal dog—you've had since Kindergarten."

Andrew frowned. He looked at the clock on the wall. "You have to leave for class soon, don't you?"

"No. I don't have class on Friday afternoons."

"Then why haven't you left for your house yet?"

"I don't want to."

Andrew sighed. Guess it was now or never to get over his curiosity. "Okay. Come on."