Second instalment.
Christy stood in the second story window, crouched over the sill her hands lightly placed to hold herself aloft as she watched the sleeping boy. Everything had been rechecked, replaced, and fortified, there was nothing more she could do for her charge but let him sleep…
Aaron had been so bewildered as they left the shop, that a simple mind erase wouldn’t have eradicated the questions building in his mind… she had to put him to sleep and personally cut out everything, including the mention of a strange message posted on the internet.
It had been a long drawn out process, and he will be exhausted come morning, but it had to be done. Sighing, she bowed her head and leapt from the window, closing it with a last minute thought she floated to the ground, darkness covering her descent, and the human eye ignorant to her very presence she landed lightly and began walking down the street, into the night…
*****
Dark animalistic eyes watched with predatorial intensity as the floating being fell to the ground, leaving the window, and tall building unprotected, physically protected it reminded itself turning its twisted gaze back onto the building across the street. Inside sat something precious, something weak and misinformed, something very important to the happenings of man and immortals, and its mistress would be gleefully pleased to hear such news from one of her cherished spies. Lifting to the sky with a bird like squawk a black shape flapped large bat like wings before vanishing from sight, like all birds do at night.
*****
“Deny your own existence!” The growling cat’s voice echoed over and over in the empty space between wakefulness and dreams, the mantra gave birth to twisted dreams bordering suicidal, imprinting the sense of long forgotten memories as he bowed under the weightless pressure of nightmarish dreams.
He sat atop a pile of broken bodies, bones and skulls stacked high off the ground, all around him the dead were unceremoniously placed in jumbled mounds, disrespectful, but meaningful, a terrible necessity of the day’s events. Black smoke billowed out of several heaps, pyre smoke that darkened the crimson skies, this was a bleak day, a sad day.
The fine gold plated regalia, chainmail and plate gleamed dully, scars and gouges, cracks and burned smudges marred the perfection of his dress but he could not be moved to dust himself off, or to wipe away the drying blood flaking across his chest, his usually bright golden skin, a skin that took on a crystal like depth now colored ashen grey and pale cream, the warmth was drained from him, and there was no sun shining in the sky above to offer a symbol of hope, all was lost this day, and it was his doing.
Reflecting the memories of a time before, flashes and images leapt to his mind…
The sky above was turning in swirling blues, rosy pinks, sullen purples and gleaming oranges, the glorious sun was setting in the west, the nights sky soaring up to sprinkle the canvas with gleaming stars and a sliver of moonlight.
They sat beneath the canopy of painted beauty, gazing at the masterpiece of their creations. She ran her fingers through the long prairie grass that swayed gently in a warm summer breeze, her eyes a cool coral gazed at him longingly her thick rich hair fell in a main of shimmering curls and bouncing twists to flood across the grass behind her, the color of new strawberries, her pale skin like honey and milk sparkled in the waning evening light, a vision of early spring, cheeks flushed with abandon and excitement, she was holding her breath waiting for him to break the silence.
He sat in a similar fashion, long tunic robe and tight breaches the colors of warm autumn and sunshine, contradicting the careful blues and soft greens of her gown, his skin gleamed from within as if he took the very sun that was now setting and kept it within the core of his being, deep golden bronze, warm and satisfying. His hair was similar in color, a dark rich earthy brown strewn with oranges and yellows to catch the last rays of sun just right.
His gaze was careful and raw, it didn’t mirror the longing his companion showed, but swam with despair, and sadness, resolve and persuasion.
“Come now Arrorian.” She whispered in such a sweet voice, the delicate taste of honeysuckle swam in his senses. “Tell me you love me tell me how much you desire me…” There was a tinge of desperation in her tone, rolling off the tongue like a sour grape, not yet ripe.
“You know I cannot Spriina.” He whispered softly, an echo of the fading sunshine.
“But I am yours.” The desperation was turning rancid on her tongue. “You are mine, Father, Brother, Lover, body and soul, you are mine…” Resolution was thick in her voice; she was so sure of her declaration…
“I have never been yours solely.” He whispered softly, a gentle cool breeze. “You know that Spriina, you’ve always known that…” His gaze turned to the horizon, the swirling purple and indigo slowly engulfing the skies, night was almost upon them, a flutter in his chest ignited excitement in his blood.
“No.” She hissed. “I refuse to allow the insignificant thought of you deserting me for that… that… He’s not even a god!” Her throat closed around emotions she could no longer give voice to.
“Please… Spriina…” He reached out to touch her beautiful face, a face twisting with rage and spite.
Another joined them as night engulfed the fading sunlight. He stood in dark violets and navy tunic and tights, much like the other man, his skin was pure white, a crystal that glowed with the ebbing radiance of the moon, long midnight hair fell in straight lengths down his back, and over a shoulder, the essence of night and cold winter, the bright blue eyes reflecting the first snow. He stood out of range, careful and cautious, waiting for Arrorian.
“Fine.” She murmured darkly, her coral pink eyes turned toxic with malice shade after shade until the color resembled watered blood. He reached out and kissed her cheek, tasting rotting desire, he would regret this, he knew. “Take your Night, and fade away in the cold dead silence of death.” Her oath was powerful as it echoed through time and space across the world, she vanished from his side, and from sight, slipping away from reality…
The memories turned and swirled into burning death, and screaming despair, the world was being punished for his choices… the innocents of their beautiful creation were being turned against each other, forced to fight a never ending battle…
If he could cry.
There would be no more tears to shed.
“I hate to see you so.” A voice whispered as another dressed in a similar fashion, gleaming silver armor adorned with just as much filth and ware shimmered dully in the red glow of the timeless moment.
It took every ounce of his will to turn and give the weakest smile he could afford to offer his companion. The weight of his decision was heavy, and he sat like a man walking to the gallows.
“I don’t like the look of that thought.” The tall man in silver muttered forlornly. “Please reconsider…”
“There is no other way.” He sighed, sliding off of the mound of empty soulless shells; he walked up to the cold looking man, coming to a stand in front of him.
“You look terrible my Sun.” The Night murmured reaching up to press a cool hand against his cheek.
A slight glimmer of light sparked from within his crystal like being, before dying away. “It has been a terrible day my Night.”
“But your immortality… for their mortality?”
“It is the only way to trap Her between.” He looked Night in the eyes, a deep aching sadness bared for his companion to see. “Powers will be assisting the ritual…”
“I will lose you… forever.” Despair filled a once strong voice with weakness.
“Perhaps…” He kissed the hand holding the side of his face. “Perhaps not.”
“There’s something you’re not telling me…” Night stared in realization.
“Something I cannot say…”
Something somewhere shook the ground under their feet, and he stumbled away from the other, hands out reaching to grab hold of his companion Sun tripped and fell into the space that had eaten away the edges of his memories and the empty stretch of dreams took hold and swallowed him up, sending him deeper into a realm of silence and nothingness.
*****
Aaron woke the next morning with a strange sense of sadness he couldn’t explain and an exhaustion that ached all the way to the marrow… what had he done the night before? Rubbing at his tired eyes he got up like every morning, readied himself for school, grabbed his pack, and left, without a second thought to the weird feeling of forgetting something important.
Aaron had been so bewildered as they left the shop, that a simple mind erase wouldn’t have eradicated the questions building in his mind… she had to put him to sleep and personally cut out everything, including the mention of a strange message posted on the internet.
It had been a long drawn out process, and he will be exhausted come morning, but it had to be done. Sighing, she bowed her head and leapt from the window, closing it with a last minute thought she floated to the ground, darkness covering her descent, and the human eye ignorant to her very presence she landed lightly and began walking down the street, into the night…
*****
Dark animalistic eyes watched with predatorial intensity as the floating being fell to the ground, leaving the window, and tall building unprotected, physically protected it reminded itself turning its twisted gaze back onto the building across the street. Inside sat something precious, something weak and misinformed, something very important to the happenings of man and immortals, and its mistress would be gleefully pleased to hear such news from one of her cherished spies. Lifting to the sky with a bird like squawk a black shape flapped large bat like wings before vanishing from sight, like all birds do at night.
*****
“Deny your own existence!” The growling cat’s voice echoed over and over in the empty space between wakefulness and dreams, the mantra gave birth to twisted dreams bordering suicidal, imprinting the sense of long forgotten memories as he bowed under the weightless pressure of nightmarish dreams.
He sat atop a pile of broken bodies, bones and skulls stacked high off the ground, all around him the dead were unceremoniously placed in jumbled mounds, disrespectful, but meaningful, a terrible necessity of the day’s events. Black smoke billowed out of several heaps, pyre smoke that darkened the crimson skies, this was a bleak day, a sad day.
The fine gold plated regalia, chainmail and plate gleamed dully, scars and gouges, cracks and burned smudges marred the perfection of his dress but he could not be moved to dust himself off, or to wipe away the drying blood flaking across his chest, his usually bright golden skin, a skin that took on a crystal like depth now colored ashen grey and pale cream, the warmth was drained from him, and there was no sun shining in the sky above to offer a symbol of hope, all was lost this day, and it was his doing.
Reflecting the memories of a time before, flashes and images leapt to his mind…
The sky above was turning in swirling blues, rosy pinks, sullen purples and gleaming oranges, the glorious sun was setting in the west, the nights sky soaring up to sprinkle the canvas with gleaming stars and a sliver of moonlight.
They sat beneath the canopy of painted beauty, gazing at the masterpiece of their creations. She ran her fingers through the long prairie grass that swayed gently in a warm summer breeze, her eyes a cool coral gazed at him longingly her thick rich hair fell in a main of shimmering curls and bouncing twists to flood across the grass behind her, the color of new strawberries, her pale skin like honey and milk sparkled in the waning evening light, a vision of early spring, cheeks flushed with abandon and excitement, she was holding her breath waiting for him to break the silence.
He sat in a similar fashion, long tunic robe and tight breaches the colors of warm autumn and sunshine, contradicting the careful blues and soft greens of her gown, his skin gleamed from within as if he took the very sun that was now setting and kept it within the core of his being, deep golden bronze, warm and satisfying. His hair was similar in color, a dark rich earthy brown strewn with oranges and yellows to catch the last rays of sun just right.
His gaze was careful and raw, it didn’t mirror the longing his companion showed, but swam with despair, and sadness, resolve and persuasion.
“Come now Arrorian.” She whispered in such a sweet voice, the delicate taste of honeysuckle swam in his senses. “Tell me you love me tell me how much you desire me…” There was a tinge of desperation in her tone, rolling off the tongue like a sour grape, not yet ripe.
“You know I cannot Spriina.” He whispered softly, an echo of the fading sunshine.
“But I am yours.” The desperation was turning rancid on her tongue. “You are mine, Father, Brother, Lover, body and soul, you are mine…” Resolution was thick in her voice; she was so sure of her declaration…
“I have never been yours solely.” He whispered softly, a gentle cool breeze. “You know that Spriina, you’ve always known that…” His gaze turned to the horizon, the swirling purple and indigo slowly engulfing the skies, night was almost upon them, a flutter in his chest ignited excitement in his blood.
“No.” She hissed. “I refuse to allow the insignificant thought of you deserting me for that… that… He’s not even a god!” Her throat closed around emotions she could no longer give voice to.
“Please… Spriina…” He reached out to touch her beautiful face, a face twisting with rage and spite.
Another joined them as night engulfed the fading sunlight. He stood in dark violets and navy tunic and tights, much like the other man, his skin was pure white, a crystal that glowed with the ebbing radiance of the moon, long midnight hair fell in straight lengths down his back, and over a shoulder, the essence of night and cold winter, the bright blue eyes reflecting the first snow. He stood out of range, careful and cautious, waiting for Arrorian.
“Fine.” She murmured darkly, her coral pink eyes turned toxic with malice shade after shade until the color resembled watered blood. He reached out and kissed her cheek, tasting rotting desire, he would regret this, he knew. “Take your Night, and fade away in the cold dead silence of death.” Her oath was powerful as it echoed through time and space across the world, she vanished from his side, and from sight, slipping away from reality…
The memories turned and swirled into burning death, and screaming despair, the world was being punished for his choices… the innocents of their beautiful creation were being turned against each other, forced to fight a never ending battle…
If he could cry.
There would be no more tears to shed.
“I hate to see you so.” A voice whispered as another dressed in a similar fashion, gleaming silver armor adorned with just as much filth and ware shimmered dully in the red glow of the timeless moment.
It took every ounce of his will to turn and give the weakest smile he could afford to offer his companion. The weight of his decision was heavy, and he sat like a man walking to the gallows.
“I don’t like the look of that thought.” The tall man in silver muttered forlornly. “Please reconsider…”
“There is no other way.” He sighed, sliding off of the mound of empty soulless shells; he walked up to the cold looking man, coming to a stand in front of him.
“You look terrible my Sun.” The Night murmured reaching up to press a cool hand against his cheek.
A slight glimmer of light sparked from within his crystal like being, before dying away. “It has been a terrible day my Night.”
“But your immortality… for their mortality?”
“It is the only way to trap Her between.” He looked Night in the eyes, a deep aching sadness bared for his companion to see. “Powers will be assisting the ritual…”
“I will lose you… forever.” Despair filled a once strong voice with weakness.
“Perhaps…” He kissed the hand holding the side of his face. “Perhaps not.”
“There’s something you’re not telling me…” Night stared in realization.
“Something I cannot say…”
Something somewhere shook the ground under their feet, and he stumbled away from the other, hands out reaching to grab hold of his companion Sun tripped and fell into the space that had eaten away the edges of his memories and the empty stretch of dreams took hold and swallowed him up, sending him deeper into a realm of silence and nothingness.
*****
Aaron woke the next morning with a strange sense of sadness he couldn’t explain and an exhaustion that ached all the way to the marrow… what had he done the night before? Rubbing at his tired eyes he got up like every morning, readied himself for school, grabbed his pack, and left, without a second thought to the weird feeling of forgetting something important.