As they had agreed, Adam came back a few days later, again disguised as a guard. When Teela opened the door, he said, "I cannot stay, there's someone watching us."

"Adam, I don't care if they know I spent the night in company. I'm entitled to a personal life. Come on in."

"Yes, you are entitled to a personal life, but I don't want anyone talking about you if I can prevent it. Believe me, it is for the best. I'll figure out a way."

"You know you can't summon me for sex, right?"

Adam was hurt by the dark joke. Teela could tell he was angry, by the look on his face.

"Of course I know that. Teela, sometimes you are too harsh on me. Stop that, we're adults now."

Teela looked away.

"We'll get together again, soon. Off the records," said Adam, emphatically. Then he turned around to leave.

Adam heard Teela slam the door behind him and it made him furious.

"She does that when she's angry. Let's hope she wears it off soon," he said to himself, trying to release his frustration.

He had thought that things between them would go smoothly, after they had shared something so beautiful. Although, as the recent episode had shown, it made matters more sensitive.

So that was what his health mentor tried to explain, so long ago, by telling him that "the act of love is not a substitute, but a magnifier", as the old man advised against "the hazards of promiscuity". There was no way that Adam's clueless 15 year old self could have made any sense form that pompous speech.

Here he was, years later, still puzzled by the implications of "the act of love".

Adam didn't understand why she was so combative all the time, especially with him. Mostly with him. Only with him. Now that he thought about it, no one else was on the receiving end of her attacks.

By contrast, she was so calm and agreeable around He-Man, she always laughed at his jokes and he had even caught her watching him with starry eyes of admiration. It almost made Adam jealous of him… self? Well, that was enough oddity for one night. He'd better try to get some sleep.

Teela was so irritated. Adam was too easily hurt at times, and so certain that things would go his way. He was so sure they would meet again… what if she decided to end things to teach him a lesson? That would show him.

She went to bed, knowing it would be useless and that she wouldn't get any rest that night. The few hours that she slept, she kept dreaming about Castle Grayskull and she felt the urge to go there.

For reasons unclear to her, she felt at home at the ancient castle, and of course there was the warm and welcoming presence of the Sorceress. She had to wait until morning, and the night seemed to last forever.

Sorceress was surprised by the early visit, and the evident uneasiness on Teela's face.

Teela offered her help in whatever task Sorceress needed.

"I've been neglecting my library for too long, your help is more than welcome", said Sorceress.

An entire hour passed by, with the two women dusting and arranging books, almost in complete silence. Then Teela, without making eye contact, finally shared, "I got myself into a tricky situation, and it keeps getting more complicated," she just stood there, looking defeated, "I know it was my own doing, but I don't know how to deal with it anymore."

Sorceress saw that Teela's vital energy was disrupted around her chest and her head.

"This situation calls for the Waters of Sight," was Sorceress' conclusion.

Right away, she prepared a potion and poured three drops into a large silver cup filled with pure water. She told Teela to sit on a big chair and take six small sips from the cup. When Teela closed her eyes, Sorceress let nine drops of the water fall over Teela's forehead. By the ninth drop, Teela was in deep trance.

"What do you see, Teela?"

Teela's eyes moved underneath her eyelids as they explored the scene on her mind, "I have a big red apple in my hand, it is beautiful; I watch it for a long time. I put it in my bag for later. But then I start to crave it, so I take it in my hand again and smell it. Then I take a bite."

"What happens next?"

"Then it falls from my hand, or I drop it, I don't know. But I don't do anything; I just leave it there and watch it rot. That's all, the vision is gone."

Sorceress helped Teela carefully out of the trance. She had a calm expression while she explained the vision.

"An apple often symbolizes a heart, it might be yours or it can represent someone dear to you. What do you think that biting the apple means?"

It took a few seconds for Teela to grasp the meaning of the image.

"That I stopped watching and I acted on my impulses."

"And, did you like how it tasted?"

"Yes, it was sweet and fragrant; the smell was delicious, almost like a perfume."

Sorceress smiled at her, "Then, this time your impulses were right."

Suddenly, Teela got agitated with a realization.

"But then it falls and it rots and… and… I don't want that to happen. There must be a way to prevent it! Sorceress, please, tell me what to do!"

+o+o+

Hmm... Teela and Adam just had a reality check, intimacy doesn't make things work magically. Let's see if they can get through this. Are you enjoying this? Please, let me know!