Chapter 61: A DANCE WITH MARA.
Ethan woke up in the middle of the night to strange music sounds and cheers. Curious he left his room’s environment and headed for the mountain where the noise was coming from. To his surprise, what he saw was the survivors, dancing wearing ancient clothes and hair-do.
Under the velvet canopy of the night sky, the bonfire crackles and roars, casting a warm, flickering glow that pushes back the surrounding darkness. Shadows dance and sway to the rhythm of the flames, their forms elongating and twisting in the fiery embrace. Sparks rise like a thousand fireflies, reaching for the stars above.
Around the bonfire, a circle of people gathers, their faces illuminated by the orange-red glow. Drums pound in the background, their primal beats reverberating through the air. As the music quickens, the dancers begin to move, their bodies responding to the ancient call of the fire.
Each step is deliberate, each movement a tribute to the flames. Arms sway overhead, fingers tracing intricate patterns in the air. Hips sway and feet stomp in time with the drumbeats, creating a hypnotic, pulsating rhythm.
The dancers wear vibrant, flowing garments that catch the fire’s light and transform it into a riot of colors. Beads and feathers adorn their attire, adding to the ethereal spectacle. Some wear masks, concealing their identities as they lose themselves in the dance.
As the night deepens, the energy of the dance intensifies. The dancers become a blur of motion, their bodies becoming one with the fire’s elemental force. The heat and intensity of the flames seem to merge with the heat and passion of the dancers, creating a transcendent experience.
Around the bonfire, spectators watch in awe, drawn into the primal energy of the dance. The night air is filled with the scent of wood smoke and the sound of rhythmic chanting, adding to the sensory feast.
As the bonfire dance continues, it feels as though the boundaries between the physical and spiritual worlds have blurred. The dancers become vessels for ancient spirits, their movements conveying stories of love, loss, and rebirth. The bonfire itself seems to come alive, a sentient being that watches over the revelry with a benevolent gaze.
And as the first light of dawn breaks on the horizon, the bonfire dance reaches its climax. The dancers, bathed in sweat and firelight, slow their movements and come to a serene stillness. They raise their arms in a final, reverent salute to the flames, offering their gratitude for the mystical connection forged in the heart of the night.
Ethan stood aside as he watched this unfold. His eyes fixed on the scene before him and a smile on his face. It had been hundreds of years since he had seen the Immortals repeat their ‘dance to the gods’, a beautiful dance and celebration created by the Immortals back then when they all loved in unity. It was weird to see such a scene in a modern time, in the 21st century. But, seeing this again made his heart feel so warm, warm that he wanted so much to be his little self again, dancing in the bonfire with his mother and father. A very delicate memory.
The bonfire itself gradually subsides, its flames flickering lower and lower until only glowing embers remain. After what it felt like hours, the dancers disperse, their bodies and spirits spent but deeply fulfilled. The night’s magic lingers in the air, a reminder of the ancient ritual that brought fire and humanity together in a dance of life and transcendence.
Mara spotted Ethan and happily skipped towards him.
“You came, why didn’t you join us?” she asked.
“This was the ancient tradition of the Immortals, why should a wolf join in?” Ethan replied.
Mara smiled, “you are an exceptional man really, it makes my heart dance. But why stand there while you yearn for such a memory to repeat itself?” Mara asked and took his hand before he could even answer her.
Ethan had forgotten that she could feel his emotions. She took him to the now dim bonfire. Few couples were dancing to ancient drums and music.
Every eye was on them as Mara took Ethan towards the bonfire.
“Listen, I don’t really have any interest dancing now,” Ethan said, but Mara shook her head.
“When I saw you just now, I could feel your heart,” she said, he voice now like a whisper, but Ethan could hear every single word despite the music.
“You wanted to replay old memories so badly that I could sense you tens of feet away. Don’t be to hard.”
She then took one of his hands and placed it carefully on her waist, while she held his other hand firmly. Both hands outstretched and fingers intertwined. They began dancing, the ancient dance steps of the Immortals. Ethan soon became absorbed in all this, his dance became more fluid as he danced gracefully with Mara in his hands.
As they kept on dancing, the other couples close by stopped to observe such a magnificent scene before them. They whispered to one another about how an outsider, a wolf was able to dance their ancient music with such grace. Taking advantage of the states thrown at them, Mara began to make advances towards Ethan, forcing sexual tension between them. Just as her lips brushed passed his ears, she said, “I have heard of your mightiness dear wolf,” her voice husky.
Ethan smiled, then he answered, “you have heard of me, and yet you still approach me this way?”
Mara chuckled, then after a few more moves, when she was now close to Ethan she said again, “I am the only one here that knows just exactly who you are. The Zathkanan Palace’s savior. The one no one dares to mess with. Wielding unspeakable powers in which all supernatural beings could not comprehend or dare to challenge. You could pull women with just a smile. For what I know, you are now different from these legends.”
Hearing this from Mara’s mouth, Ethan couldn’t help both smile, “different? How so?”
“You have grown softer. The Zathkanan Palace’s alpha I know wouldn’t come here for information, or rather would not have resisted my advances today,” Mara said.
Ethan frowned at this, “I haven’t gone soft. I am doing this for a reason.”
“Convince me,” Mara said.
When the dance was over, the Immortals cheered on for them and flowers were thrown at them.
Ethan walked away from the scene refusing to eat or drink anything. Mara called after him and they walked side by side, silence in the air. When they reached the mountain, Mara spoke up.
“Seems like you find this place familiar,” she said, noticing his feelings.
Ethan sighed in despair. He hated how Immortals just walk their way into his head, but someone like Mara that would dare do that even after saying that she knew his might intrigued him even more. Knowing that he could not do anything about it, he only sighed.
“Privacy young maiden. This wolf needs his privacy.”
Mara smiled, “young girl? How old do you think I am?” she asked.
Without looking at her Ethan responded, “a thousand years probably, but with the behavior of an immature one.”
His response didn’t annoy Mara, she only smiled more, “ah, you speak the truth.”
There was another round of silence before Mara spoke up again, “do you have a mate?”
The sudden question took Ethan by surprise, “what?”
“I mean do you have a love partner, I mean you are an alpha, and I guess alphas have mates if I am correct.”
Ethan sighed, he had never thought about it before or he never wanted to. He did have a mate, but there was no reason to talk about it. He had long forgotten such tragedy that came with the thought.