The Green Witch and the Red Lion – Chapter 2

2

Fall 2024

The black cab stopped on the right side of the main road. A young man in his mid-twenties stepped out, putting a large suitcase and a heavy backpack on the footpath before closing the vehicle’s back door. His tall, thin silhouette was dressed in elegant casual clothes, primarily blue, with brown leather shoes. He looked around with his round hazel eyes, resting on a chiselled face covered with short brown hair and a flawlessly trimmed thin beard. Everything in his appearance showed a higher upbringing, with a conservative background. The driver pulled down the window and said:

“Right in front of you are The Miss Jean Brodie Steps, also called Vennel Steps, according to folks. Just walk up; Brown’s Place is halfway on your left. I’m sorry, I can’t take you any closer.”

“It’s okay; I will manage. Thank you very much for your help. Have a nice day.”

“You too, lad. See ye efter!” Then he drove off.

François contemplated the last part of his trip, which began in Toulouse early this morning. Just a bit more effort, he thought. He started ascending the stairs, pulling and carrying his heavy load through the crowd of tourists more concerned with taking a souvenir picture of one of the most beautiful views of Edinburgh Castle than giving way. Almost out of breath, he finally made it to Brown’s Place. He paused to catch his breath, looking at the square before him. It consisted primarily of a charming, colourful garden in the middle of a late Georgian four-storey tall building at the rear and what resembled more like a house on the left. The private grounds were separated from the public staircase by a wrought fence interspersed with wisterias. He picked up a folded sheet of paper in his back pocket. It was a letter of acceptance from the University of Edinburgh, with the address of the accommodation that had been reserved for him. 3 Brown’s Place. He looked up. It was the brown door on the left, at the top of the staircase. Oh, no! More stairs… He then walked through the entrance gate and, after one last effort, finally reached the entrance and rang the bell. A woman in her late sixties showed up at the door within seconds. Her face was round, with delicate plumy skin, brightened by rosy cheeks, thick curly grey hair falling just above her shoulders, and beautiful light green eyes. She wore an elegant emerald long dress, tightened around her waist by a large white belt, subtly sublimating her generously curved body. Fashionable bright yellow high-heeled shoes and an expensive golden bracelet on her left wrist completed the picture.

“Aye. May I help you?” she asked.

“Mrs MacGregor?”

“Aye. Ms, please.”

“Oh, my apologies. I am François Levalois. I have a letter from the University of Edinburgh mentioning a room reserved for me?”

“Of course, of course! Please, come in!”

He walked across the door into a small hallway while Ms MacGregor closed the door behind him.

“Take the doorway to your right, please. We will get more comfortable there.”

He entered a cosy room furnished with three large comfortable armchairs, all covered with an opulent floral pattern, and a round, antique mahogany coffee table in the middle. There was a beautiful Victorian fireplace on the left and a large window overlooking the garden.

“You are the French gentleman, are you not?”

“Yes, indeed. I apologise for arriving a bit later than the schedule I sent you. But there were many road closures along the way, and the taxi driver struggled to get through the city.”

“I am not surprised, given all the preparations for the coronation of Prince Charles. You may have heard that to strengthen the country’s consideration for Scotland as an equal partner in the Union with England, he decided to be crowned first in Westminster Abbey, then on Scone Abbey’s grounds. After the ceremony, I fear a major parade will take place in the streets of Edinburgh, whose organization is causing some small jolts in the streets presently. But, please, have a seat. Would you like tea or coffee?”

“Coffee, please. With milk and one sugar, if you don’t mind. I have to confess, I’m getting a little tired. My day started very early.”

“I shall bring sandwiches, too. You must be famished. You look a bit thin and pale. But don’t worry, my dear, after a year under my care, you will be strong and healthy like a Highlander!”

Her spontaneity was refreshing.

“Thank… thank you. I’ll take your word for it, I guess…”

She left him and returned five minutes later with two cups of coffee and a plate filled with a pyramid of different types of appetising triangular sandwiches set on a silver tray.

“That looks gorgeous! Thank you! I’m not sure I can eat all that, though,” he chuckled.

“Oh, do not worry, dear. It is not intended just for you, of course. You are the first to arrive, and I expect another four students. One from Australia, one from America, one from India, and finally one from London; a Greek fellow, I believe.”

François nearly choked on his coffee. The whole dwelling seemed too small to accommodate many such people.

“Four more! My apologies, but is this place bigger than it looks?”

She laughed.

“No, no, no. This is where I live. The student housing units are at number four, the blue door on the other side of the garden. I also own number one, my nephew lives there, and number two, which I use for storage. Number five is the property of the private school close by. They use it as an administration facility. You may have noticed a door, but it is actually sealed, and they do not have access to the plaza.”

He glanced at the woman with wide eyes. She must be pretty wealthy, he thought.

“Not as much as you might think,” she replied as though she had read his thoughts. That time he choked on his drink. “That is all that remains of my great-grandfather’s estate, you see. My father made dire investments back then, which, sadly, turned out to be huge mistakes, and we ended up in debt, forced to sell a large portion of the estate. However, we still managed to keep all that, which I inherited upon his death a few years ago, along with my nephew. You see, my brother and his wife lost their lives in an unfortunate car accident twenty years ago. A tragedy for our family. My poor mama never recovered from this.”

“It’s a sorrowful story. I’m sorry to hear it, Ms MacGregor.”

“Please, call me Eleanor. That are the hazards of life, I am afraid…”

The doorbell rang.

“Would you please excuse me”?

She walked up and opened the door.

“May I help you?”

“Hi! My name is Aditee Sharma. I was sent here by the University of Edinburgh?”

“Absolutely! Please, come inside. One of the other students is already there; I will introduce you. This way, please.”

 A young Indian woman walked into the room wearing a lovely bright yellow sari, contrasting with the sneakers on her feet. Physically, she was of average size, thin, almost brittle in appearance, like a delicate porcelain doll. Her face was beautiful, oval, with smooth wheatish skin, a narrow nose, dark almond-shaped eyes topped with a saffron bindi, and long silky black hair falling over her back. She let go of her suitcase and approached François with her hands pressed together.

“Namaste. I am Aditee.”

“I… I… am François,” he replied, stuttering. His eyes kept staring at her goddess look.

“Oh, my apologies for my traditional look. I could not access my suitcase during the flight and had no time to change into more modern clothing. I must admit that my parents are quite conservative.”

“It’s… it’s okay. You look amazing.”

“Oh, thank you,” she answered with a charming smile.

“Would you like some tea or coffee, dear, or some food perhaps?” asked Eleanor.

“I’d be delighted. However, at the risk of appearing slightly rude, I am dying to freshen up and change into new clothes. It’s been a long journey from Kolkata.”

“But of course, my dear. Where are my manners? Follow me, both of you; I will take you next door.”

Francois picked up his luggage and headed towards the exit. As he was about to reach the button, he noticed an intriguing design at the rear of the door. A Pentagram! The symbol was drawn within a circle, in a neo-pagan style, but with obvious intent.

“Open the door, François. It is unlocked.”

They walked through the garden, up to the entrance of number four. Ms MacGregor gave them each a set of keys.

“The shorter key opens both locks of the entrance door. The longer one opens your respective rooms. Aditee, yours is on the first floor, on the right. It is labelled “Sriramachakra.” Whereas yours, dear François, is on the second floor, at the end of the left hallway when you exit the staircase. It is named “Triquetra.” She giggled. “Sorry, I’m quite fond of symbolism, as you may have noticed earlier. I tried to assign to each of you something related to your nationality. Anyway. You, my dear boy, are the first PhD student to live here. So, I took care of some renovations and improvements to your accommodation during the summer. You will find your room slightly more spacious than those of other students. But with your research, I figured a little extra space would be more than welcome. In addition, you pay a higher rent, which further justifies it. At the end of the day, I think that is fair, at least from my perspective. But do not worry, dear Aditee, I am sure you will find your accommodation very comfortable. All right, I will let you settle in. The others should arrive soon, I believe. We will meet again this evening at 6:45 pm in the communal room directly on your right after the entrance. Have fun!”

Then she went back to her house, buzzing with joy. Aditee opened the main door, and they both went inside. “WOW!” she cried out. The place looked even bigger inside than outside. In front, there was a solid wooden staircase leading to the upper floors. On the left, they could see a large kitchen with modern appliances and a table long enough to accommodate up to ten people. On the right stood the ‘communal room’ decorated like a set used for a nineteenth-century drama movie. Its large armchairs, covered with dark green velvet, lay on waxed floors surrounded by wooden panelled walls adorned with various portraits of people from different centuries and discreet bronze floor lamps. There was an oval ebony coffee table in the middle and a beautiful stonework fireplace in the back. And, on the right, the windows opened onto the garden.

“Well, I wasn’t expecting this at all!” Aditee said.

“Neither was I, I have to say. But before we explore further, we must still face…this.” François was nervously pointing at the staircase.

“Yeah, you’re right. Come on, let’s work together on this…”

“Do you need any help?”

They both jumped at the sound of the unexpected voice coming from behind. Standing there was a middle-sized young man, his toned body fully dressed in black, wearing canvas sneakers, tight jeans, and a loose short-sleeve t-shirt lightly stained with paint. His hands were both tattooed. A dharmachakra on the right one, and a Celtic tree of life on the other one. A third was visible along his right arm, depicting an elaborate Celtic artwork drawn across his milky skin. François took a closer look at the astonishing apparition. He had a very handsome face, a square jaw and a Greek nose, and bright fringed hair the colour of fire. But what captivated the young Frenchman was his eyes. They were hypnotic, spellbinding, and exceptionally light in colour, like glacial blue. He could not let go of them. They seemed to penetrate directly into his soul. He suddenly felt awkward, unable to move or speak.

“Sorry to startle you. I’m Callum, Eleanor’s nephew. I was working in the kitchen when I heard you guys walking in.”

“Hi Callum. I’m Aditee, and this is François. How nice of you to offer your help. We will be delighted, especially me!” She devoured him with her eyes as if she were staring at a tantalizing piece of cake.

“Let’s do this, then,” he replied with a smile.

“François?” Aditee was staring at him, perplexed. “François?” she repeated. “Earth to François!”

“Heu… quoi? Hum, sorry, my mind just drifted away, I guess…”

“Really?” She watched him suspiciously. “Come on! Let’s move up!”

After leaving her luggage on the first floor, the two men eventually reached the entrance to François’ flat. When he opened the door, the Frenchman realised that Eleanor did not exaggerate the inside size. It was like a real flat, made of a small living room with a marble fireplace, two armchairs and an exotic rug on wooden floors. The adjacent alcove had been converted into a study furnished with a comfortable desk, several built-in wall shelves, and an antique desk. And finally, a separate bedroom, including a cosy double bed. Francis stood in awe.

“You have a small shower room behind the blue door, to the right in the room. I refurbished it myself last month. I thought it might give you more privacy if you wanted it. Of course, you can also use the main bathroom on this floor, which features a large Victorian-style tub.”

“I… I don’t know what to say. I wasn’t expecting all this.”

“Well, your rent is higher, so the extra luxury looks just right.”

“I actually don’t pay for it; the University does.”

“The amount is deducted from your monthly allowance. So, somehow, you’re contributing to it.”

François looked at Callum with eager eyes.

“Does the fireplace work?”

“Aye! I tested it myself a couple of weeks ago. You will be able to enjoy cosy nights in winter if the occasion presents itself…” he said with a wink.

The Frenchman’s face turned red.

“Well… we’ll see about that. Thank you very much for helping me with my bags. I feel like I’ve been dragging them up and down for the past twelve hours.”

“You are most welcome. Okay, if you don’t mind, I’m going to go back and finish what I was doing in the kitchen to make sure it can be used tonight.”

“Of course, please.”

“Make sure you come down on time; my aunt hates latecomers.”

“I definitely will.”

Once alone, François took another look at his quarters. The perfect place to self-isolate if needed. He had been somewhat apprehensive when the University informed him that they could not provide him with a single accommodation because of the high demand this year. But now, he was quite relieved and grateful.

He was unpacking when he heard someone knocking on the door. He opened up and froze in amazement. It was Aditee; at least it looked like her. The young woman was now looking entirely different. She was wearing dark ranger shoes, a pair of holed black jeans and a heavy metal t-shirt printed with some satanic symbols. Black lipstick coloured her sensual lips, and her hair tightly tied on the back uncovered a line of six piercings on her right ear. He barely recognised her.

“Aditee?”

“Yeah! What?”

“You look quite… different.”

“I do, don’t I? Yeaaaah! Off with that terrible conservative sari. Freedom, man!”

He laughed.

“Okay, I got you.”

“Wicked, man! That’s quite a fancy bachelor’s pad you have here. Ms MacGregor meant it when she said you had the biggest place. I like mine, too. And there’s a canopied bed. Can you believe it? It’s so cool!” She was jumping in delight. “So, what’s up with you and Callum?”

“I… What do you mean?”

“Oh, come on! Do you think I didn’t notice the zombie trance downstairs? You gay? It’s okay to be gay. Do you think he is? Because if he’s not, you’d better hide, Mister; he’s all mine.”

“I… I don’t know. Why… why are you asking all this?”

“Okay, okay. You’re the introverted type, obviously. I’ll stop embarrassing you. Listen, I was thinking. It’s nearly 3.00 pm. What about hanging around the neighbourhood together until 6.45 pm?”

He considered the proposal for a few seconds. “Okay. Just give me ten minutes to get changed.”

“Brilliant!”

He went to the bedroom to look for clothes while she sat in one of the armchairs.

“What are you doing?” he asked.

“Waiting for you, Doh!”

“I’m not taking my clothes off in front of you!”

“You’re gay; what’s the big deal?”

“Out, now!”

She left with a cackling laugh.

***

Aditee and François entered the communal room at precisely 6.30 pm, after a relaxing afternoon in the old city. The other three students were already there. One was a young black woman, very elegantly dressed in fine clothes and shoes, undoubtedly from a wealthy family. She was seated with her legs and arms folded. Her large dark eyes looked slightly bored in the middle of her round face with long black hair tied in thin braids grouped in a neat bun. Next to her was a young Eurasian man. His attire was casual, consisting of a blue t-shirt, camel shorts and flip-flops on his feet. His tall body was V-shaped from years of swimming practice. He smiled as they entered, staring at Aditee with his almond-shaped blue eyes covered with semi-long hirsute brown hairs dotted with highlights. Finally, sitting on the right, was a short, slightly corpulent young man. He was wearing loose-fitting linen clothing with open leather footwear. His oval face was rather boyish, with a short beard around the chin, a small delicate nose surmounted by bright brown eyes, and brown hair with a military haircut.

The two new friends introduced themselves and sat together at the back. Then, Ms MacGregor walked in, accompanied by her nephew.

“Good evening, everyone. A very warm welcome to you all. I am your hostess, Ms MacGregor, as you are all aware. But, please, call me Eleanor. I am delighted to have you staying with us in one of the most pleasant neighbourhoods in this beautiful city. And hope you will enjoy your stay during this academic year, and the years to come. This is my nephew, Callum. Please get in touch with him for any minor repairs; he is very handy. Most of the time, he can be reached in his flat, at number two, just below the stairs heading to my flat. He is also an experienced guide and can take you around the old city to discover its most intimate and darkest secrets. You will not be disappointed, I promise. And for those of you who might be interested, he is an accomplished tarot and palm reader.”

“Auntie, please…”

“Come on, dear! There is nothing shameful about our trade. And did I mention that he is twenty-three years old and single?”

“…”

“Alright, alright, I will say no more. Right, let us move on to more practical matters. There are a few rules of conduct I insist you abide by while living here. Do not be scared; you have not entered some penitentiary or convent. I insist that all major noises cease between 11.00 pm and 7.00 am. This is for the convenience of all residents. There are sufficient technologies available to respect everyone’s privacy, I believe. You will notice several bins in the utility room beside the kitchen. Edinburgh Council imposes them. Large greens are for recyclable materials, small ones for food waste, and tall grey ones for general waste. Simple! A cleaner comes in every Wednesday. Make sure your respective rooms are accessible and tidy on that day, so he can easily carry on with his duties. There are one bathroom and two separate toilets on each floor. Their use is entirely yours for organising. As you may have noticed, there is sufficient space in the kitchen and communal room to accommodate up to ten people. This means you are more than welcome to have guests around, provided you inform your co-residents and they follow the general rules, especially the 11.00 pm one. Same recommendations regarding the small rooftop accessible by the main staircase. Very convenient for watching New Year’s fireworks,’ she added with a wink. “The fireplace here is fully functional, and I supply the firewood at will. The kitchen is equipped with appliances that come in pairs to avoid waiting too long when preparing your meals. There is also a selection of local takeout options in one of the drawers. I have a supermarket delivery every Thursday. Feel free to add your grocery list to mine. Just notify me by Wednesday noon. Finally, you may also have noticed the absence of a television in this room. Past experiences have taught me that it brings more disturbance than anything else among residents, and I eventually decided to remove it. However, you are free to install your own television set in your assigned rooms. They all come with all basic connections, cable, and Wi-Fi. All this is included in your rent, so no registration is required, except for the television licence you must pay individually. Callum will provide access codes and help you set things up if you are not technology skilled, like me. Oh! Before I forget about it. We have a resident house cat on the premises. His name is Merlin. While he mostly spends his time at my place, he may sneak into yours. He is very gentle and non-aggressive. You all have stated on your application form that you are not allergic to pets. Still, I can appreciate this could be a disturbance. So, feel free to chase him away if he becomes a bother. Gently, of course.  Right! Any question?”

They all remained silent.

“Superb! Now, since you will all share this place for at least several months, I think it will be a good thing to introduce yourselves briefly, In the spirit of breaking the ice. Let us start with you, young lady,” she pointed at the black girl.

“Hi, my name is Aliyah Jones,” she started with a posh American accent from the East Coast. “I am nineteen years old, from Roxbury, Massachusetts. My father is one of Boston’s top criminal lawyers, and my mother stays home. I have two older brothers, one studying law at Harvard and the other engineering at Yale, and a younger sister still in high school. I came to Edinburgh to start an MA in Architectural History and Heritage.”

“Any specific reason you decided to come to Edinburgh and not stay in America, dear?” asked Eleanor.

“One of my teachers, who emigrated from Scotland a few years ago, strongly recommended it because I wanted to study abroad but remain in a similar climate zone. And my family has Scottish ancestry as well.”

“That is a very reasonable motive. And this teacher of yours is incredibly wise for recommending us. Very well, next one.”

The Eurasian boy went on.

“Hi guys, I’m David Lee. I’m also nineteen years old and come from Manly, in beautiful Sydney, Australia. My parents own their own business, manufacturing sportswear. My mother was born in Thailand, and my father is, I quote, ‘pure Australian breed’. I’m a single child and came here to study for an MA in Medieval Archaeology. I love castles!”

“Did you bring your surfboard?” asked Aditee in a humorous tone.

“Actually, I did, but the customs seized it at the border. They said I wasn’t entitled to smuggle drugs into this country.”

“You’re funny! I like you!”

“Pleased to be of service. You’re up next, I take it?”

“Of course. Hi everyone. My name is Aditee Sharma. I’m nineteen years old and from Kolkata, India. My father is a BJP member of the parliament of India. Please, no comment; I’m embarrassed enough as it is. And my mother is the executive director of a major tea company. To my father’s disappointment, I have two other sisters who are ‘happily’ married to wealthy men. That’s what they say. I’m here to study for a BSc in Biological Science, Plant specialisation. Oh, and just in case you haven’t noticed, I’m a huge heavy-metal fan.”

“And did you bring your elephant?” asked David.

“I was dying to, but unfortunately, I couldn’t figure out a way to fit it in my suitcase.”

“Oh, come on! You must know how to fit an elephant into a suitcase. You open it, put it in, and close it.”

“You are a funny guy, indeed! High five!” They slapped their hands together. “Okay, your turn, François.”

“Hello, everyone. My name is François Levalois. I am twenty-five years old and from a small town near Toulouse in the Southwest of France called Pibrac. My mother passed away three years ago, and my father just retired from his civil engineering job. I am starting a PhD in Scottish history, specialising in the Reformation period. This was in the time of Mary Queen of Scots and her son James VI, for those who may not know. I am a single child.”

“Mary’s first husband’s name was François, wasn’t it?” asked Eleanor’s nephew.

“You are quite right, Callum. François II, precisely. And he was a member of the Valois dynasty, hence my name. My parents have a particular sense of humour…”

“And what about you, dear?”” asked Eleanor, looking at the last one.

“Hi. My name is Alexis Nikolaou, but you can call me Alex. I’m nineteen and come from London. But I was born on the island of Andros, in Greece. My parents divorced when I was three, and then my mother moved to the UK to live with my stepfather, who works for a digital company. My mum stays at home and looks after my younger half-brother. I came to Edinburgh to study for a BSc in Psychology. I’m an asexual trans-man, a vegetarian, and I identify as he/his/him.”

“Jesus!” suddenly said Aliyah, looking up. “Do we really need to be acquainted with your intimate personal details?”

“I believe it’s important to clarify things right from the beginning,” Alex replied, a little annoyed.

“And you are right to do so, dear,” concluded Eleanor. “We all appreciate your candour. Very well, thank you all. I am sure you are tired from your long journeys and eager to settle in. I took the liberty to prepare a set of delicious dishes, vegetarian included, that you will find in the kitchen, saving you from having to cook anything tonight. And, for those interested, the Coronation celebrations start this weekend with a Scottish Pageant. This is a unique opportunity to experience our great culture. Again, I hope you all enjoy living here and wish you well with your studies.”