Page 5

Souxie Lafayette

“Oh this class is huge,” Celeste leaned in to whisper.

I looked back at the seats filling up as I sat my things down underneath my desk and tucked my hair behind my ears. It was a brand new class that just opened up. The amount of students piling in while others hung around the doorway in hopes to get a peek of the teacher was shocking.

“They all want to see what she looks like,” I said under my breath.

Celeste organized her notebook and textbook accordingly on her desk while straightening up her posture. I smiled. Without even trying, you could tell she was feminine and a girl’s girl from the way she pulled out a small pouch to apply her lip gloss to the way her nails were freshly done. She was naturally pretty with the light makeup and I bet when she took her glasses off, her pretty lashes had room to flutter, and her round, full cheeks had a natural red undertone against her otherwise caramel complexion. She was older than all of us, that much I could tell in the way she carried herself. My guess would be mid-thirties but just starting over in life with no clear direction. Very much grown and sexy and too old for the BS but that was right up my alley. I preferred the company of older men and women and had she been into women, I would have already made my move since she was my exact type. She was refreshing from the usual girl next door, Maggie Grey, the earthy bully that is Asha Avery, and my wild flower, Isis.

“Did you want some gum?” She asked, turning to look at me. I smiled before nodding as she dug into her bag.

“What do you think a mere human can teach us about ourselves?” Someone complained. “I wanted to transfer out of this class but like everyone else, I was curious.”

“I just want to see if she’s pretty,” a girl retorted.

“They say she was handpicked by The First Family themselves…”

“Please…she’s their blood slave,” one of the guys let out. “They’re all taking turns fucking her. How else do you think she got this job and was allowed down here? She’s probably running late now because she’s laid up with one of them.”

Celeste looked at me while I slipped the strip of gum in my mouth.

“Vampires?” She questioned with her glossy, heart-shaped lips. I nodded as we continued to snoop in on the various conversations surrounding the near teacher.

“They said she got a nice house…one of those fancy townhouses that new teachers aren’t supposed to get. She’s getting the special treatment because she’s fucking them. ”

“Yeah…hundred percent human blood is the best blood for them to drink,” another said.

“He’s not lying, y'all. I saw one of the guys walking around The Grounds, and he was definitely here because he heard there was a human professor. I’m sure that white-haired girl will be the first to attack her.”

I slowly turned around, ready to say something when I heard heels clicking loudly against the floor in the hallway. A few of the students lingering around the door suddenly backed up as a tall woman with a head full of wild, curly hair burst into the room with her things.

“I’m so sorry I’m late,” she said with excitement. “My first ever class and of course, I’m late… I had to drop my son off at his new school and that was a whole ordeal…”

Everyone grew quiet as we watched her put her things down on the desk from her iced coffee to her tote bag and purse. You couldn’t get a look at her face because she was moving so much but when she finally did face the class, I smiled.

She was absolutely beautiful in a natural disaster kind of way. Her wild hair stuck out in different directions. She wore a white blouse that was halfway unbuttoned where you could see a peek of her bra. She also wore high-waisted black pants and heels as she quickly adjusted her shirt. She knew she was showing .

“She looks like a model,” a girl whispered with envy. Professor Birdie Jones was indeed petite in frame and lanky in height.

“This is my first class…and you’re all in your cute uniforms,” she said in awe, looking around the large room. “First off, let me just say…I know there is some hesitation with some students not wanting to be in my class. If you feel you’ve been misplaced…leave. You can leave. I’ll figure out the paperwork later on how to transfer you out.”

I turned around and pointedly looked at everyone that spoke about wanting to leave but nobody said a word and nobody moved. Her sharp eyes and full lips turning into a smile were two toned when she turned around towards the board to write her name.

“My name…is Professor Birdie M. Jones,” she said, spelling her name out in cursive. “This is Underground Mysteries and Lore 101.”

She turned around with a smile and wiped her hands on her pants, not caring that she was getting them dirty with white chalk.

“Do you have any questions for me?” I heard a few shift in their seats from behind me as she nodded. “Yes?”

“What makes someone like you qualified to teach someone like me? ”

Jones’ eyes lit up as she slowly walked forward in her heels.

“Excellent question, and you are?”

“Nadine Winder,” she said with an uppity tone. “I’m a third year here, and I really don’t understand why they’re sticking me in a class like this.”

“What’s your major?”

“Witch doctor with a concentration in hoodoo practices in the Southern states of America.”

“I met a witch doctor once,” Jones said as she walked towards the door to close the peeping students out. “Out in South Carolina…I was doing research on families and traditions out in Charleston…the Geechee Gullah people and how they came about. Do you address yourself as a witch or…priestess?”

I heard a few gasps as the woman snorted.

“You took a guess based on my major,” she stated.

“No, I recognize the family tattoo on your neck,” Jones pointed out as I turned around to see the tribal marking. “You come from a long family history of Black magic. Just like the young man behind you is of Yumboes ancestry…It’s in your face.” She waved her hand around her own face. “Your features are very fae like…Yumboes date back West Africa, specifically Senegal. Am I correct? ”

The guy’s nose twisted up as he gave her a small nod.

“That shit is way back in my ancestry. I barely have that in my blood. Both of my parents are regular people,” he argued.

“That’s debatable,” she said as a few people chuckled. “I will admit I’m not very good at figuring out shifters. I still have a long way to go to learn just how many different types of mythical beings exist, but I am excited and willing to learn if you’ll let me.”

Celeste raised her hand as Jones pointed to her.

“Yes?”

“What do you know about fallen spirits or lost souls?” she asked.

“Well I–––”

There was a loud commotion in the hallway as her door opened with a few more students piling in. Professor Jones glanced at her watch on her wrist before rushing towards her desk.

“Of course, I need to take attendance. My apologies to everyone. This is my first day teaching…It’s all very new to me. Just give me a second and again, if you feel you’re in the wrong class or if you think I’m not qualified, please…remove yourself. After that, we can get started with going over my syllabus and basic rules for this seme ster…what I expect out of you and what you can expect out of me.”

Surprisingly, the class went so well that a lot of students ended up staying over just to talk with her. She had something about her that made her personal and easy to talk to, so Celeste decided to hang around for a bit after everyone left.

“I can wait for you,” I said, gathering my things. Quan was still in my bag sleeping when Professor Jones walked over towards us.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t get a chance to answer your question before getting distracted. It’s very easy to get overstimulated in a place like this,” she joked.

“It’s fine. It’s my first day, too.” Celeste smiled as the last lingering students left out of the class. “I was wondering what you knew about a fallen or lost spirit?”

“Hmmm…a tortured artist.” She dramatically sighed. “Their imagination is touched with magical abilities. I think at this school, you’re treated as an art student…do you paint or draw?”

“Write.” Celeste smiled. Jones nodded.

“Yeah that sounds about right. In my research, I’ve heard they have vivid dreams…severe daydreaming and tendencies to dissociate.”

“What about oracles?”

“Oracles?” She questioned, surprised. “Well, I recommend reading up on books written by Dr. Kevin Hanner.” She walked over to her desk to write something down. “An oracle is somewhat of a prophet. Personally, I think it’s the same thing. I believe an oracle is in fact a soul that is a lost or fallen spirit. A fallen spirit or soul has prophetic tendencies. The ability to see things for what they are, what they can be, or will be through visions and dreams. If they know how to interpret their visions properly, they could change the world. They would be the closest thing to God in my opinion.”

I looked at Celeste, seeing the fear gloss over her eyes before masking it as she held onto every word Jones said.

“I knew of a man who claimed to be one, an oracle or messenger…They go by many names. Seer, oracle, prophet …He would record himself sleeping. Sometimes, he would write down random notes but he mostly liked to draw, sketch, and paint.”

“Which brings you back to the fallen spirit,” Celeste said. Jones nodded. “I see why you think it's the same.”

“Here…” She scribbled her last few notes on the paper before tearing it to give to Celeste. “Let me know what you girls discover,” she said, glancing at her watch. “I have to grab some quick lunch before my next class.”

“Right,” Celeste said as she gathered her things.

“It was nice meeting you both, Celeste annnnd…”

“Souxie,” I said with a smile, locking in with her. “Souxie Lafayette.

“Clairvoyant, yes?”

“Mmm hmm.” I nodded .

“Observant…taking in energies…perceptive beyond human comprehension. Niceee.” She nodded. “Celeste and Souxie. Let me know what you discover and if you have any more questions, feel free to email me.”