Chapter 21 Chapter 20

Chapter 21 Chapter 20
CHAPTER 20

AILA

Fireflies surrounded me as soon as I took a step. I  trudged up the hill leading to the dome, the undeniable feeling of being free making my heart leap in my chest a hundred beats for minute. I laughed out loud as Caelon followed me  and lifted me on his shoulders, my feet dangling off the ground as we trekked the remaining distance.

Without exerting much effort, he balanced me on his arms and settled me down on the grass, his head automatically settling on the hollow of my neck. He smirked, tickling me.

“What would you like to do for the rest of the night, love?” his voice made me shiver as I turned, drawing closer, his forehead now leaning on mine. I am quite amazed at how handsome his shadowed face is. I wanted to say so many things to him but I contented myself by saying what I most desired at this moment.

“Kiss me, Caelon.”

I waited with bated breath.

The glowing flowers appears to be the most entertaining thing at the moment as I darted my eyes away from his intense gaze, feeling my cheeks heat up. I am quite thankful of the dark for it has settled around us - It will make it harder for Caelon to see my expression.

Though I tried to avoid his eyes, I can feel them burning the side of my face. I turned, gasping when he kissed me with such ferocity I haven’t expected from a god like him – he almost resembled an animal acting by instinct.

I shifted so that I am sitting on his lap, assuring that I can properly receive the loving he is providing me while I try to reciprocate the feeling, forgetting about my worries of having a limited time to live.

My life appears to be so short. I haven’t even experienced half of it yet so why must fate be cruel at me? At us?

Caelon must have sensed my worry when his kisses became gentler, his arms drawing away from my waist as he settled his hand on the back of my head – like  he was cradling a child. His kisses turned into sweet lingering ones that took my breath away at how much the affection he puts, clenching my heart. His action made it harder for me to respond as I tried to rewire my mind, willing it to store this in my memory.

I shall not forget him.

Caelon stopped and I gasped as the cold air touches my lips. I opened my eyes, surprised that I have closed them in the first place because of the overwhelming feeling that seems to hold unto my very being. Caelon is frowning at me. I bite my cheek, watching him as his hand caressed my cheeks, brushing the sides and wiping them.

Have I cried?

Embarrassed of what I have done, I bowed my head but he only raised it with his finger, a sad smile plastered on his face, “Why cry, my love? Have I gone that bad at kissing that I made you cry?”

I shook my head and tried to stop the sob that is bubbling up my throat, biting my lip. His fingers held my cheeks and slide his thumb down at the base of my lip which he pulled, making me let go of it.

“I am the only one who have the right to treat those lips like that – biting them is not up to you,” He smirked before enclosing me in a tight hug that took my breath away.

I couldn’t help but sighed at the action. I might die earlier if he keep on doing this. I bet, he have taken special lessons with Hades to be an expert at killing people with love alone.

I grabbed a fistful of his shirt and tried to shelter myself under his warm embrace, sniffing and trying to store everything in my memory, committing it in my heart.

I loved how his touches felt like feathers on my skin, his eyes turning darker of every caress he delivers while his honey scent intermingled with the smell of the field.

Caelon kissed the top of my head and whispered, “You know, the field has the best view of the stars in all of the realm, this earth and the next world. I have heard from Rause that girls like you, wants this things,” He smirked at me and tucked my hair beneath my ear, “I brought you here so that you can see it for yourself. Now, will you stop crying and lie down next to me as we gaze at the stars?”

I simply nodded, not having the energy to answer him for I am trying so hard to suppress another wave of tears.

How can he be so thoughtful?

Even if he is witty and snarky, he is still so affectionate that it tugged on my heartstrings. It was a bizarre thing to witness him change from being a Dieuoubliè to a cupid.

He pulled away, instructing me to scoot over so he can take a blanket from his worktable and lay it on the grass. I crawled on top of the blanket and lied down, my shoulders still shaking slightly of each suppressed sob. Caelon settled next to me, his breathing slow and calming as he pulled me close so that I am lying on top of his chest, my ears leaning on his heart that thudded occasionally.

“This organ has been dormant for two thousand years. I have never expected that it will beat again,” his words made me stop. I put my hands on top of my chest and listened – though it may not beat consistently like a normal heart would, it is very enchanting to hear it thud as though it has just waken.

“Did you regret it – falling in love with me?” I blurted out the question that I have been thinking for weeks now, my own heart thundering against my ribcage. I hid my face from him as I thought of how I only embarrassed myself for asking him such a stupid question.

Caelon did not speak for a while; his arms around my waist occasionally traveling up to my arms and down my spine, like they were tracing words on my body; unbeknownst to the two of us but is engraved deep down in our hearts.

“At first, I felt angry,” I can tell from his voice that he is scowling up at the sky, a wrinkle forming in the middle of his brows, “But then, I realized how much I have been deprived of something that I freely had given in the past without so much of a demand or assurance. I did not even noticed it but I began accepting the idea that I can love, even after all this time.”

He adjusted me so that he is looking at my face , the gentle glow of fireflies lighting up his face as they flew by.

“It was painful, Zeus. I can’t even fathom the words that I needed to say, I mean, I have never known that being trusted into love is like having thousands of elephants trample down on my chest! My brain felt like it has gone mushy in certain places and the weight, oh Feta! I can’t believe how heavy a little organ can affect the whole of my existence.” He pulled a strand of my hair and leans in to kiss my forehead, smiling slightly.

I turned at the sky and observed the stars as they glimmer and shone.

“Caelon?”

“Hmm?”

“Is it true that when you wish upon a falling star, your wish will come true?”

Caelon frowns before answering, “I heard that from humans but Emyr once said and I quote,” Caelon motions his hand at the beginning of his speech making me laugh, “ ‘Wishes only comes true if it is achievable to happen. However, one cannot trust their life on a star that has fallen out of the sky, instead, cling on the star that is holding on.’ ” Caelon shrugs, giving me an apologetic smile.

“Emyr is as weird as that, spouting things so sudden that it beats me which of his wind and him is faster at changing. As for me, it all depends on you to make that wish come true.”

And with those words, I closed my eyes, asking the heavens for permission to love the man I have always loved; To let me have the life that I have been snatched of, the moment the arrow has pierced my heart. As I desperately asked the heavens, I barely noticed the tears that have left my eyes and the worried glance Caelon has given me, tightening his hold like he will never let me go.

I just wish that he won’t.

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