Katie found herself in a hallway, lined with paintings in heavy gold frames. It was then that she found the first Peace Rose. It lay on the cold floor looking flushed and pretty. She picked it up and smelled the still fresh petals. They were the softest yellowish pink, small and round, and fit perfectly into Katie's hand. She carried it with her as she wandered through the hallway.
The first picture she looked at depicted a shark in sunglasses, and besides it was an iguana in a straw hat and suspenders.
She studied them for a few moments, and then, remembering suddenly, reached into a pocket of her nightdress. She pulled out 1 of the little papers, unrolled it, and read;
Owls Walk on Wednesdays;
Don't look to the left.
Hats Taken off,
Voices Raised in Song.
Masks;
Mirrors;
Mystics;
And a Sharp Shark
Waiting, Hidden in the Dark.
"Hmm.." Katie said pensively and she let the paper fall to the floor.
The next little canvas showed a rabbit, formed entirely of silvery smoke; its eyes shone bright red.
Again Katie put her hand into another pocket and pulled out a paper that read;
Darkness, and an Ever Cold:
Heed the Waste,
Taste the Place;
Do not Dally in the Sacred Space.
The next was a Woman with angel's wings; white birds spread their wings all around her, lifting off into the sky. She held a smooth oval egg in her fair hand. A tear traced its way down her snowy white cheek.
This time Katie's paper said;
The Wind;
The Rushing Wind;
The Wonderful, Gusting Wind;
Stir the Ground,
Stir the Sky,
Stir the Wavering, Watery Ways.
Walk in Moist Moonlight
And See The Sweet Stars
That sit upon the Woman's Lap.
She looked at the paper; she looked at the painting; she looked back at the paper. What does it mean? She wondered. Shaking herself, she turned.
The next was a bright full moon with enchanting little fairies dancing across its surface. 3 words were written across it;
The Stars Pace.
The next was of 2 very beautiful koi fish swimming in a circle, lotus buds blooming around them.
Her pocket paper was very simple for this one:
Sweet Music,
Wood and Butter.
She smiled. She liked this one.
The next was a yawning cat, its mouth stretched wide, teeth gleaming sharply.
She grinned at it wickedly.
The next made Katie's heart leap: A shining eye, glaring at her from the canvas, it's pupil burning a fiery red.
She fumbled for the paper;
Lights; Lights in the Dark;
I See them Flash
Twinkle and Wink.
I See them;
For they are Eyes.
Eyes?
Eyes!
Green Eyes and Blue Eyes,
Flaming Eyes and Icy, Crystal Frozen Eyes..
She shivered.
But the picture beside it made her own eyes wet.
A stunning, thick lashed Woman's eye, delicate tears gathered at its edge.
It made her heart ache and a lump rise in her throat.
Eyes, Eyes, Eyes!
(The paper read,)
So many Eyes.
Eyes of All Shapes,
Colors and Contrasts.
They Flash and Flair;
Glare and Stare;
But they Refuse to come out,
They Don't Dare.
Katie looked at the picture for a very long time. Finally she shook herself thinking,
I must continue if I want to see all—or nearly all, there are so many—of the pictures in this hallway. She moved off to the next.
The next showed a Man in a pink rain hat and gray suit walking down a sidewalk, a dead raven laying on the walk infront of him.
She stared at it intently, inquisitive about where the man was going and if he would stop before stepping on the Raven or not.
A small plaque underneath read:
Les Moräboräs
"Strange..." Katie thought. "But Interesting. I wonder what it means..."
She trailed her fingers over the plaque, looking around curiously for the next picture.
A very fluffy looking bird took center stage of the next canvas, wearing a brightly colored feathery hat, and holding a elaborate far under her large enchanting eyes.
Katie sniffed at it, thinking it rather vain, and unrolled her pocket paper.
When The Sky is full of Stars,
No Sight Nor Sound is Heard,
Of The Thrushes,
Listening Quietly,
Whispering Silently,
Through The Rushes.
Katie paused and thought about this.
"Maybe the thrushes... talk to the rushes when... night closes about us. I wonder...."
She turned to the next painting.
This one showed a child in a rainy park, with messy blond braids, holding a grumpy chihuahua in her arms. She stared back at Katie with a lost, determined expression. Katie felt a little sorry for her, as the girl looked very cold: scantily clad and without shoes. but then her expression seemed to change to defensiveness and her gray eyes seemed to say; don't you dare feel sorry for me, I know what I'm doing and I'm not letting anyone get in my way. My Prabhu has my back—you'll see.
Across the bottom of the painting read;
Anna Cambhochanii
1963 April 3
Courtnian Park
Hovesworth
Katie shook her head. She had been standing into the little girls eyes for a very long time, too long she decided. She turned and gasped.
The last painting depicted a Goddess: She sat in lotus position with her long black hair flowing around her. A baby nursed at her breast and her black eyes shone down at Katie as if saying; I Am She Who Nurtures the World; I Am The Power From All Corners; I Am She Who Gives Life and Takes Life; And I Am She Who Directs All Things To My Ways.
Katie stood rooted to the spot. Every nerve in her body was alive, tingling with a recognition: a jubilant coming home. It was her Mother, she Knew she was: She was the Mother of everything; Nurturer of all things; Protector of the defenseless; The fiercest warrior the word has ever known.
Automatically Katie's hand went to her pocket and brought out the next little scroll, unrolled it and read numbly;
Dine On Moon Loaf
And Sip on Sweet Star Cream;
Sleep in a Heavenly Bed,
And don't worry for the Wild Things
I Shall Save You From.
Sleep, My Kit,
And Dream all Night
Of My Sublime Sight.
Finally, with a pensive little sigh, Katie turned and walked through the tall black opening at the end of the hall, leaving the wonderful paintings and rolled up papers behind.
End of chapter 3
xxxxxxx
Hey!
Alright.
So.
Thanks for reading, if you enjoyed this chapter,
Don't forget to leave a Star🤩and comment💬 and tell me what you think!
Well,
Hope your all well, my Hamsters!
Till Next Time!
Blessings✨♥️
Namaskar🙏🏻♥️
~Peace♥️
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Arcane House
Fantasy*•*•*•*•*•*•*•*•*•*•*•*•*•*•*•*•*•*•*•*•*•*•*•*•*•*•*•* When Do We Dream? At Night, Or in Daylight, Or whenever our Hearts Feel Freest. Where Do We Dream? Wherever it would Seem. What Do We Dream? Our Deepest Cares, Or m...
