Nov 06, 2011 10:04
Voices…I hear voices in the distance. Maybe it’s one voice. I want it to stop. All I want is to sleep.
***
Voices again. Why can’t they leave me alone? It’s one voice now. What is it saying? Maybe if I answer it will stop. If I can just open my eyes…
“Tom? Tom!! Oh, thank God!!”
It was my mother. She was hugging me and crying. What…?
“Mom?” I could barely speak, my throat was so dry. “What happened?”
As my head and vision cleared a bit I saw my parents and sister leaning over me.
“You were shot, Tom,” my father said.
“Shot? How? When?”
“At the meeting,” Mom said. “Don’t you remember?”
I rubbed my head. One side was very sore and was wrapped with a bandage. “Ow!” It all started to flood back into my memory. “The meeting…the men with guns.”
My sister nodded. I blinked at her. It was then that I was aware of someone’s hand on my arm. I turned to look to my other side.
“Cirrus?”
He smiled at me, tears filling his eyes.
“He’s been with you the whole time,” Mom said.
“He saved you,” Beck added.
“The bullet grazed your skull. You lost a lot of blood,” my father said. “The nearest hospital was too far for you to make it.”
“Many Wraeththu came to heal those who were hurt. If not for them…” My mom broke down.
Cirrus propped me up a bit and gave me a glass of water.
“The others…was anybody…?”
My father nodded. “We lost two of our people. No one we knew well. They were killed instantly. No hara were hit.”
I felt a bit woozy and could hardly believe it all.
Cirrus squeezed my hand and leaned over to kiss me on the forehead. “I was so worried,” he said. “We all were. You were unconscious for three days. It was all we could do to get water in you.”
“I’ll get you some broth,” my mom said. “You need to get your strength back.” She left the room with a motion to my Dad and sister to follow. Then Cirrus and I were alone. He looked into my eyes.
“I’m going to do more healing on you every day until you’re strong again.” He sat on the bed beside me and I leaned my head on his shoulder.
Then suddenly a thought occurred to me. I drew back and looked at Cirrus.
“How…? How could this have happened? I mean…”
He heaved a sigh and looked down.
“I know. The hara let their guard down. No one sensed them until the last minute. We’re not infallible, we…”
Cirrus put his head in his hands. I hugged him.
“I’m sure no one blames them.”
“No. Your people are very understanding. We blame ourselves.”
I didn’t know what to say. Obviously the Wraeththu must have been devastated about the incident. I decided to change the subject.
“Did you tell my family about ‘us’?” I looked up at him.
“No,” he said, chuckling a bit. “But I think they’ve figured it out.”
“Good, that’ll make it easier for me to tell them I’m becoming har. And they’ll have to accept it since you saved my life.” I grinned at him and he hugged me closer.
“You’ll have to be back to perfect health before you can even think of going through inception.”
I sighed. “I know. But I still want to tell them soon. I don’t want it to be just a nice dream any more. I want it to be something I can definitely look forward to; something that will become real.”
~~~~***~~~~
Cirrus returned to the Wraeththu settlement but he came every day to visit and do healing on me. I began to feel my strength coming back. I sat up in bed now all day and I was not dizzy or nauseous when I got up to use the bathroom. I was reading one day, enjoying an apple when my mom came in and sat on the bed. She smiled at me but there was a sadness in her expression.
“What? Is something wrong?” I asked.
She shook her head. “No, not really. I just…” She took my hand. “I’m very thankful that Cirrus is taking such good care of you. I like him. We all do.”
I knew what was on her mind.
“I like him, too. A lot.” Then giving her a knowing smile, I added, “You know it’s more than that, don’t you?”
She nodded. “It’s pretty obvious.”
I felt my face become hot and I looked away. “I love him, Mom.” I turned back to meet her eyes once more. “And he loves me.”
“I figured as much. But I don’t quite understand. He’s not human, right? I mean how can you have a relationship? And I know Wraeththu are male and female so…I’m sorry, Tom, but I don’t see how this can work.”
“It can’t. Unless I become one of them.”
She looked a bit perplexed and more than a bit concerned. “So the rumors are true.”
I nodded. “Yes, but the Wraeththu everyone hears about abduct boys and force them to do it. I’m doing it by choice.”
“Are you sure this is what you want? You’re so young. How can you be so certain?”
I gently squeezed her hand and looked purposefully into her eyes. “I’ve never been more certain of anything in my life. I’d rather die than not be with Cirrus. And I felt the call to be one of them even before I fell in love with him. I know this is what I was destined to be and Cirrus is the one I’m meant to be with. There’s absolutely no doubt in my mind, Mom, no doubt. You can see that can’t you?”
“Yes. I can. All I want for my children is for them to be happy.” She got up and walked toward the door. “After it happens, will we ever see you again?” Tears formed in her eyes.
“Of course you will. I’ll only be across the river.”
She smiled but we both knew it wouldn’t be the same. She gently closed the door behind her and I wiped the tears from my face.
<>*<>*<>*<>*<>
Beck, of course, had long since guessed what my plans for the future would be and she was happy for me, though sad that I’d be leaving home. The only one I hadn’t really spoken to one on one with was my father. I’d always had a close relationship with him and his total silence on this very major issue was a complete aberration. I wasn’t sure what made him reluctant to bring it up but I knew I had to discuss it with him.
I think he felt the need to speak about it and I also knew I had to be the one to initiate that. As soon as I’d healed enough to be up and around like normal, I decided to invite him to go fishing with me. That way we could have a private heart to heart with no interruptions. The day I suggested it, he agreed happily and we set off down the banks of the river. It was a beautiful late summer day and though the air was warm and comfortable, the tension between us was not. Finally, we sat on some rocks near a naturally formed deep pool and cast in our lines. We sat for a while in silence listening to the sound of the rippling water, the twittering birds and the breeze gently rustling the leaves.
It’s now or never, I told myself.
“Dad? Um, there’s something I want to talk to you about.”
“Yeah, I know.”
“I guess Mom told you about me wanting to become Wraeththu.”
He nodded.
“And about Cirrus…and all.”
He shifted his position on the rock and looked uneasy.
“I know it’s all kind of strange, but…” I didn’t know quite what to say. He looked over at me with an expression of unmistakable concern on his face
“Is it because Cirrus is a male and I’m attracted to him? Or because he’s part female and I want to be that, too?”
He shook his head. “No, no it’s not that. I think I’m pretty open minded about that stuff. It’s…it’s just--”
“That this isn’t the future you envisioned for your son,” I finished.
He heaved a sigh and looked back out over the river. “None of this is the future I envisioned, for any of us. I mean, we took you and your sister away from a normal life. We moved out here and…I don’t know.” He rubbed his hand over his forehead.
I put my hand on his shoulder. “Beck and I know you and Mom decided to move here because you thought it was best for us. Even though we didn’t want to come here, we always knew you did it to protect us and because you love us. In spite of everything, we never doubted that for a minute.”
He seemed to feel better and gave me a smile.
“And when I met the hara and found out that I could be one of them, it was all I thought about. I’ve known from the moment I met them, even before I knew it was possible, that I was destined to be har. Then I met Cirrus. I’ve never felt about anyone the way I feel about him. We love each other and want to be together as far into the future as we can imagine. The Wraeththu call it ‘chesna.’ We’ve already pledged ourselves to one another.” I looked into my father’s eyes and smiled. “I haven’t told that to anyone yet.”
He seemed touched.
“Your mother and I, we just want you to be happy.”
“Yeah, she told me the same thing. Believe me, if I’m able to be with Cirrus, I will be.”
My Dad patted my knee and reeled in his line to cast it out again. It was settled.
***<><><>***
The next time Cirrus came to visit and do healing on me, he told me that I was completely healed. I was ecstatic. We took a walk by the river.
He slipped his hand into mine and said, “There’s nothing to prevent you from becoming one of us now.” He stopped and faced me, taking both my hands in his. “Are you ready? I don’t want to rush--”
“Yes,” I interrupted, smiling into his sky-blue eyes. “I’m ready. So ready.”
We sealed it with a kiss and it was decided that I’d come to the Wraeththu settlement the next day to begin the Forale: the three day ritual of fast and cleansing.
<><>**<><>
That morning, I awoke early. As I sat thinking on the edge of the bed, my glance settled on several of the gifts I’d gotten for my birthday. Those things and many of things there in my room meant a lot to me. What would I take with me? Would my clothes even fit or be appropriate? I wouldn’t physically be a ‘boy’ anymore. I looked out the window at the morning sky and decided I’d take nothing with me but my body and soul. These things would stay here with my family and I could look at them when I visited. I took the clothes on my back and the necklace Cirrus had given me. I hadn’t taken it off since he put it on me.
I walked out into the kitchen where my family was eating breakfast.
“Are you sure you can’t have anything to eat?” My mom asked.
I shook my head. “No. I need to fast. Cirrus told me it will make the transition easier for me. Smells good though.”
My mom got up and came over to me, grabbing me into a hug. I could tell she was crying.
“It’s okay, Mom. I’ll be fine. You’ll see me soon, I promise.”
“You’re not going to be my little boy anymore.”
I chuckled. “That would happen anyway, right?”
She nodded, wiping her eyes. My father then came and hugged me.
“See you soon,” he said.
It was then Beck’s turn. “I’ll be jealous if you turn out prettier than me,” she said pouting at me. After having a laugh, she hugged me. “We’re really lucky, you and I. I have Josh and you have Cirrus.”
“Yeah, we’re lucky,” I repeated, my eyes filling with tears.
Just then there was a knock on the door. It was Cirrus. After greeting my family he offered to wait for me outside, but I said I was ready to go with him.
As we walked away from the house, I wiped my eyes.
“Are you alright?” he asked.
“Yes, I’m fine.” I looked into his eyes and he gently took me into his arms. When we crossed the river, my spirits lifted and I looked forward to my future.
When we went through the barrier, Cirrus took me to a tent that was to be the forale ‘house.’ I got undressed and into a nightshirt. Cirrus sat by me on the small bed that had been set up for me there and took my hand.
“Some hara will come to take care of you for the next three days. They’ll wash you and give you water and tea. When I leave, I won’t be allowed to see you except for the actual inception when I give you my blood.”
I nodded my head solemnly. Cirrus gently tipped my face up with his fingers.
“But after the change, I’ll be waiting.”
We leaned into a kiss and all my apprehension melted away and I knew in my heart that whatever I was about to go through would be worth it in the end.
<><><>*****<><><>
At the end of my three days of fast and cleansing, I felt weak but anxious to get on with the process. On the final day, I was washed and dressed in a white robe. I was given something to relax me, so I was a bit out of it. I still could hear voices around me as I lay on my bed. I figured I was no longer in the forale house, but I had no idea of my exact location and I really didn’t care. I remember seeing Cirrus’s face above me as he kissed my forehead. I felt something cold on my arm, then it felt hot. Somehar was speaking a prayer or something and I felt pressure on my arm. I was vaguely cognizant of that being the moment of inception when Cirrus’ blood mingled with mine. The last thing I consciously remembered was thinking: It’s happening…it’s really happening…
The next several days were a blur of pain, hallucination and unconsciousness. I remember feeling some-har trying to wash me and dabbing my face with cool water. When I’d feel the pain, it was horrific; like someone was burning me inside and twisting my guts around. Then suddenly it would fade into oblivion.
One day I awoke to the sound of birds chirping and the breeze blowing through the trees. I found myself in a white tent, clean and pain free. Was it over? Was I one of them now? I felt my face and looked at my hands. Stll freckled, still me but somehow…different. I seemed to be naked so I gathered my courage and lifted the covers to look at the rest of me. I breathed a sigh of relief as I realized I was still male, but something was different. Then I remembered what I’d been told. That was my ouana-lim. It’s done. I’m har. I gently and gingerly slid my fingers further to check out my ‘girl’ parts. Sure enough, there was what I then remembered was my soume-lam. The whole thing was a little overwhelming to me so I laid there taking it all into my mind.
Out of nowhere, I detected something on the air, something familiar. A scent of lavender and spice. Cirrus!
I looked toward the door of the tent and Cirrus stood there silhouetted by the sunlight behind him, his long shirt flowing about him in the breeze. He looked like an angel and I thought back to the first time I’d ever seen him and his kindred. Even though I now knew better, they still looked like angels to me. He came over and knelt by my bed, taking my hand in his and raising it to his lips. He closed his eyes and said , You are Wraeththu now, my beloved--one of us. But he hadn’t actually spoken. I’d heard his voice in my mind. I smiled at him and he gave me a sweet chaste kiss on the lips. It felt different, so much more intense than before, like someone had opened up all my senses.
A har appeared behind Cirrus and handed him a large mug, then bowed and left. Cirrus helped me to sit up and handed me the mug.
“This is a special tea to bring you strength. Drink it slowly but drink it all.”
He sat by me on the bed while I sipped the warm, sweet tea.
“How long was I sick?” I asked.
“Three days. You did very well. I attribute that to your youth,” he said with smile.
Suddenly a thought shot into my mind.
“What…what do I look like? Can I see myself?”
“Certainly. Come with me.”
I stood up, still feeling a bit weak. Cirrus helped me over to the corner of the tent. There stood what looked like an antique full-length mirror. I got a little nervous.
“Don’t be afraid,” he said. “You’re beautiful. I didn’t think it was possible for you to be any more beautiful than you already were but--see for yourself.”
Even though I was anxious to see myself, I tentatively stepped in front of the mirror with my eyes closed. The vague memory of my peeling skin was still very fresh in my mind. I opened my eyes and looked at my reflection. I could hardly believe that the slim, elegant creature staring back at me was--me! I touched my face and looked closer into my own eyes.
“Yes, my love,” Cirrus said, putting his arms around me from behind. “It’s you.”
I stared for a few more minutes as Cirrus stepped away. He came back with a robe and helped me into it. “Let’s go to my tent. I have a gift for you.”
We walked through the enchanting pathways of the settlement until we got to Cirrus’s tent. It was made of a creamy-yellow hued material, which gave the inside a warm mellow feeling as it diffused the sunlight. He lead me to his room, that was bathed in the same softening glow as the entry way. There were banners of silky diaphanous fabric of varying delicate colors hung on the tent walls.
“These are for you,” Cirrus said, indicating some clothes lying on his silken gold bedcover. I smoothed my hand over the emerald velvet of the tunic and leggings and smiled over at him. “These are beautiful.”
“Go ahead. Get dressed. I’m taking you to your inception ceremony and then to a party at Andren’s home.”
He stepped close to me and pressed his lips to mine. Then we’ll come back here and finally be alone. He spoke into my mind and then we shared breath for the first time as hara. He showed me golden clouds and blue skies. I felt his love for me in such an intimate way that I can’t describe it in mere words. I became aware of sensations in parts of me that I literally had not yet fully discovered that I had. When he drew away, I still stood with my eyes closed, a bit disoriented, wishing it hadn’t had to end.
Cirrus chuckled. “That is only a taste of the delights we’ll share.”
I opened my eyes, wondering how I’d be able to stand it and wanting desperately to find that out.
Cirrus handed me the clothes as I tried reluctantly to come back to reality. I got dressed as Cirrus went over to a wardrobe and brought back a pair of black boots and something silver. I put on the boots and stood up.
“Perfect!” he said. “I knew the green would be gorgeous with your red hair. Turn around.”
I turned and he pulled the long part of my hair into a ponytail and tied it with the silver cord. I’d let my hair grow ever since I’d seen the hara at the river.
“There.” he said, giving me the once-over. He looked into my eyes. “You are so exquisite.” I still felt like the skinny awkward fifteen-year-old I’d been but I remembered my image in the mirror and began to believe his words of praise.
“We’d better go before I lose my resolve not to take you right now,” he said. I truly wished he would do just that.
Cirrus took my hand and we walked through the settlement together. “Something on your mind?”
“Yes! A lot of things,” I answered with a laugh. “But I was just thinking that you’d never before shown me your home.”
He chuckled and looked a bit embarrassed. “I guess I didn’t trust myself. And I wanted to wait until it was your home, too.” He squeezed my hand. “Have you given any thought to what your har name will be?”
“I, uh…not really.”
“How would you feel about ‘Scarlet?’ I’ve seen you with that name ever since I met you.”
“Scarlet,” I repeated. “Yeah, I like it.”
We walked to the square, where I’d assumed the ceremony would take place but he lead me on to the other end of the settlement where many hara were standing among the ancient trees. When they saw our approach, they formed themselves into two lines, with Andren standing alone at the other end. Cirrus locked his arm in mine and we walked down the middle of the two lines of hara as they bowed. Yellow leaves fell slowly from the trees as we walked. The whole thing felt like a dream. Cirrus and I stopped in front of Andren and all were silent until Andren spoke.
“We gather here today to welcome a new inceptee. He has passed through the trial of pain and has been forever changed. He is now Wraeththu: one of us, bound to our clan by blood and will. We also honor the chesna bond that has been forged between these two.”
Andren turned to me. “What name have you chosen for yourself?”
I looked to Cirrus and then answered, “Scarlet.”
Andren placed a hand on both our heads and whispered a blessing and prayer. He then took both my hands in his and said, “Welcome, Scarlet.” He kissed me and then Cirrus on both cheeks in turn.
“Let us now welcome our newest brother!”
Hara clapped and cheered. Then we mingled for a while as har after har came to congratulate me and Cirrus and to welcome me personally as one of their own.
Soon the crowd dispersed and some of us headed toward Andren and Brinn’s tent for the reception party. We enjoyed the food, drink and well-wishes of Andren and Cirrus’s closest friends for an hour or so. As I finished my second glass of sheh, Cirrus leaned close and said, “I think it’s time we took our leave.” He turned my face to his and kissed me as hara cheered and whistled. I was a little embarrassed, but in such an ecstatic way that it was very pleasant. I also felt a stirring that was somewhat familiar to me but was now of such a powerful and intricately intense nature that it almost overtook me. I caught my breath as Cirrus parted us, much to the amusement of the attending hara.
“I envy you,” Andren said with a knowing grin. “Your first aruna is always…enlightening.”
Hara laughed and chortled. A toast was made to Cirrus and me as we stood up to leave. We left Andren’s tent, the hoots and whistles of the hara fading as we made our way to Cirrus’s tent: our tent, our home.
***<>*<>*<>*<>***
Once inside, Cirrus went to the kitchen and came back with a bottle of wine. He took my hand giving me a look that sent shivers all through me, pleasant shivers of desire. He sat the bottle down on a bedside table and walked back to me. He looked into my eyes as he slipped his hand around my waist gently removing the silver cord from my hair with the other. I closed my eyes and parted my lips as he touched his own to mine. Soon, I saw my first meeting with Cirrus in my mind’s eye and events after that flashed before me--but no, it wasn’t that. Cirrus was giving them to me. I began to think with him and felt our minds touch as we shared images of our times together. It was a waking dream that we were sharing; giving and taking, mingling our images and innermost feelings. It was an intimate, erotic sharing like I never could have imagined. Our bodies, minds and our very souls seemed to merge and melt into one.
When Cirrus parted us, I still felt as though I was in another world as he gently laid me back on the bed. He slowly removed my tunic, and then my pants, kissing me lightly on my skin as he did so. I opened my eyes to see him undress, his pale, slender body and white-gold hair made him look like a divine being.
He lay next to me and planted warm, wet kisses on my neck, then murmured into my ear, “You’re mine now, truly mine and I am yours…forever.”
We again shared breath as we explored each other’s bodies. Cirrus slid his fingers to my soume-lam, that rather mysterious part of my new anatomy. I felt an ache deep inside me that was a mixture of pleasure and pain, desire and need. Involuntary sounds issued from my mouth; unbidden noises of pleasure that I couldn’t control. Suddenly, I felt another strange sensation and I caught in my breath as I realized what was happening. My ouana-lim recoiled into my body and I became soume. Cirrus and I shared breath again and I touched his ounna-lim. The shaft was hard but the skin was like velvet. After a short time, he flowered in my hand, as his delightful soft sounds of pleasure were whispered in my ear.
I felt something deep within me; a burning fire of need that could only be quenched by him inside me. I lay on my back and involuntarily uttered needy sounds. I was beyond being able to form words, but I didn’t need to. We’d passed beyond them. My every need was known to him and he met each one immediately and perfectly.
Finally he entered me gently and the intensity of pleasure was almost unbearable. We moved together and I felt the burning in my core cry out for him. When the quenching tongue struck my core, colors flowed in my mind’s eye as my body quaked and spasmed. I felt like I was melting; melting into one with him.
At almost the same time, I sensed his ouana-lim pulsing inside me, adding to our shared ecstacy. Afterward, I lay immobile and really didn’t care if I ever moved again. Cirrus gently slid out of me and nestled by my side, kissing my neck and face and murmuring things I couldn’t really hear. But I sensed their intention and I returned the sentiments to him in mind touch, still feeling that words would only fail me.
We lay like that close and silent for quite some time. I found myself wondering if it could ever feel quite like that again. It did. There was something unique about that first time, it’s true, but every time with Cirrus was exquisite and almost surreal.
We spent I believe a whole week alone, together in our little cocoon of erotic pleasures. We stayed in our tent; eating, drinking, rooning, bathing and sleeping. I never wanted it to end.
“Do all hara feel like this at first?” I asked him after a delectable arunic gambol. He leaned close and kissed my neck, then whispered in my ear, “Only the lucky ones, my love. Only the lucky ones.”
Finally, it was time for us to branch out into the rest of the world. So after a week, we agreed to get dressed and leave the tent, somewhat reluctantly. I watched Cirrus pour the coffee for us and sit across from me at the small round table in the corner of the kitchen.
“I don’t think we’ve been this far away from each other since our first night,” I said. He chuckled at me. We began to eat the pancakes I’d helped him prepare.
“Would you like to visit your family?” he asked. I nodded, eagerly.
“It seems strange now to call them my family because we’re chesna.
You’re my family now. But I guess they still are, too.”
“Well, in the interest of clarity, let’s call them your family and me you’re ‘one and only,’” he joked.
After cleaning things up, we stepped out of the tent and into a perfect early autumn day. Beryl and saffron-colored leaves fluttered down and swirled around our feet as we made our way through the settlement. I started to feel a little apprehensive as we got closer to my family’s house. I didn’t know why except that I felt so different. I guess I was afraid my feelings for them would be different, too. I would soon find out that wasn’t true, much to my relief.
When we got to the door, I almost knocked. Then I laughed at myself and shook my head. Cirrus gave my shoulder a reassuring squeeze.
“Mom? Anybody here?” I called. Soon my mother and sister came out of the kitchen. They stopped in their tracks. Beck’s jaw dropped open.
Tom!!” my mom exclaimed. “My God! Is that really you?”
I felt my cheeks flush as she rushed over and hugged me. After a few moments, she pulled back. “Let me look at you!” She covered her mouth with her hands.
“I’m speechless,” she said. “You look kind of older, but ageless, really.” She looked me up and down and then touched my face. “You’re beautiful.”
“Damn!!” my sister shouted. “You ARE prettier than me!”
She rushed over and hugged me. “And I’ll never forgive you for that. You brat!”
She’d gotten us all laughing. “Well, sit down!” Mom said. “Your father and Josh are tending to some horses. They should be back soon.
I felt my stomach flutter. I was thrilled with the reactions of my mom and sister but Dad and Josh. I was a bit afraid of what they’d think of me.
Mom got us all some iced tea and we talked for a while, until I heard a commotion at the door. My dad and Josh were talking and stomping the dirt off their boots. They opened the door and entered in their stocking feet.
“I like the dappled one,” Josh said. He’s got spirit. I think--” He stopped in mid- sentence and stared at me, then Cirrus then Beck. My Dad only stared at me.
“Tom?” He came toward me slowly as I stood up. His face morphed from surprise to approval, as a smile graced his lips. He gave me a hug. “Tom. God, it’s good to see you.” I hugged him back. When we’d let go he, too looked me over. “You…you look great, really great.” I could tell he was a bit stunned. “How do you feel?”
“Wonderful. Different…” I said with a self-conscious smile. “But wonderful. Oh, and I’m called Scarlet now.”
My dad turned to shake hands with Cirrus as Josh approached me.
“Wow!” he said extending his hand, which I gratefully took to shake. “You sure are one of them!” He gave me a wide smile. “I guess you kinda always were.”
I took it as a compliment and figured he understood. A wave of relief came over me.
Cirrus and I spent the day with my family and even ate dinner with them. They all wanted to know what inception was like. Beck was the only one to ask me what aruna was like--and in front of everyone! I knew she just wanted to see if I’d still turn vermillion. She wasn’t disappointed. Of course Mom told her that was private and was mortified that she’d asked. But I’m sure no one was surprised that she did. This was Beck, after all. I knew some day I’d tell her about it.
That night as Cirrus and I lay wrapped in each other’s arms, I mulled over the day’s events and felt peace. I’m sure Cirrus sensed it, as he could sense just about everything I was feeling.
“So, you’re happy with the way your family sees you and feels about you now?”
I nodded into his chest. “Yeah. It’s actually a load off my mind. They’re still important to me.” I raised up and looked into his eyes. “That’s okay, isn’t it?”
He chuckled. “Of course it is. It’s just that most hara don’t live in such close proximity to their human family. It’s kind of a unique circumstance. But I have a feeling it won’t be so unique before long. We’ve already had quite a few boys express interest in becoming Wraeththu. We’re breaking new ground here. I have a feeling it’s going to be quite an adventure.”
As he kissed me, I thought back to when I’d first felt the need to answer the call of the beckoning ‘angels’. I knew Cirrus and I were also about to embark on an adventure of our own: one I was certain would last as long as we lived.
<>* THE END *<>