Chapter 24 Chapter 23

Chapter 24 Chapter 23
CHAPTER 23

AILA

I carefully caressed his cheek, running my hands on his beautiful curls that is currently framing his face, brushing his forehead tenderly. He is sleeping soundly, his mouth slightly opened.

I smiled wistfully - I don’t want for him to wake up, yet.

I tucked my hair beneath my ear and leaned down to kiss his forehead, pecking his lips and pulling away abruptly, for I do not want to be tempted of the idea of snogging him quite blatantly without his consent.

Caelon looks so serene when he is like this – asleep on my lap, with no worries about what is going to happen; no worries about my limited time here with him.

I huffed.

How am I going to explain all of these to him?

The question that popped inside my head appears to have alerted him as he shifted on my lap, his eyelids twitching before he finally opens his eyes. I braced myself for his hate and anger, for his wrath to dawn, instead, I am met with the warmest embrace I have yet to receive from him.

“Rubin!”

His relief was apparent, while he kept on murmuring my name as though it were a prayer. He pulled away, touching my face like he couldn’t believe that I am standing here, right in front of him.

“How did I – I mean – how am I?” He let go of me, rubbing his hands on his face, “I traded my soul –“

“Yes, you did.” I gritted out, trying not to break under her guilty gaze. “Without even informing me, you have traded your soul.”

Caelon shrugged, flashing me an apologetic smile. “I’m sorry,” He pulled me closer, nuzzling his head on my neck, “I am so stupid.”

“Yes, you are.”

“But, how come I have been restored? Did Hades let me go? Did he void the trade I made with him?”

“No, he didn’t.” I sighed, biting my lips. I bowed my head, trying to find the words I shall say to him that will explain my situation.

A silence passed between the two of us and I can almost imagine the cogs in his head working thrice as hard as he thinks. It takes a little while after when I heard his sharp intake of breath, “You made another bargain?”

I bowed my head, before tucking it in between my shoulder and scratching my ear. I tried to burry myself within the depth of my knees but the jerk on my chin made me look at Caelon, filling me with such guilt as I catch his accusing gaze, “Rubin, tell me what is it that is bothering you? Why are you acting like this?”

“I didn’t do it on purpose.” I whispered, bowing my head again but he sharply jerked my chin back, making me cry out.

“What did you do?”

“I stick with the original bargain – of Hades taking my soul.” Caelon closed his eyes as he groans, letting me go, “No, that won’t be possible. I saw you drink that nectar! Even with just a vial, Hades cannot take your soul for it was tampered, already.”

I sighed once again and turned, refusing to see his face as I say the next words, “He could. I have asked Aphrodite to restore me back. Hades has given her choices and I asked her to choose you, Caelon, because no matter how much I want to live here on earth, I won’t survive or even experience happiness without you.”

The sound of fist hitting flesh is the only thing that made me look back at him.

Caelon’s face was murderous but his eyes were full of guilt and sadness as he said, “Do you think I could? Do you think, I do this petty sacrifices to show off my powers? Rubin, I do not care, okay? If Hades takes me then, so be it. It should be my punishment for defying and escaping Hades the first time I died. I don’t need you to save me.” His words were like arrows aimed at my heart and I didn’t like how it hurt me.

I chose to ignore it.

I moved closer, laying my head on his shoulder which made him stop his viscious rant, “It doesn’t matter now. Please stop being mad at me anymore – I only have thirty four hours left.” I wrapped my arms around his waist and tried to stop myself from shaking as I cried.

His hands wrapped around while he cried silently, caressing my hands as he takes them on his, “If that’s how it should, then allow me to marry you.”

I pulled my arms from his waist and he reluctantly released me.

I craned my neck so I can see him better, noticing the uncertainty and fear in his eyes  while the rest of his face remains expressionless.

I gave him a smile, saying, “Must you propose to me in such a rude way?”

Caelon lets out a nervous chuckle, tackling me so that the two of us collapsed under the coxcomb blooms.  



“Why take me to this foggy stretch of land, Caelon? I thought you are going to show me the best of earth before we marry?” Caelon shakes his head at me, leading me on, flashing his lights across the marshland and waving it as he called out, “Mike!”

“Aye!”

The response we have received made me jump a little. Caelon dragged me towards the shining lights, his face split in a wide grin.

As we draw closer, I noticed the humming machines and big bloated stuffs that floated up on the air with a huge basket at its base. Before I even open my mouth to ask questions, Caelon put his arms on my shoulders to stop me from taking a step back, “No need to be afraid of it,  this is called a hot air balloon.”

Caelon indicated at the floating thing as he explains, “It starts out with cold air, and then it uses this machine to make that cold air, hot. With the now hot air, it propel itself up in the sky. It is crucial that we should ride on a clear day with no wind present to assure us a proper lay off. You’ll enjoy the sight above, I’m sure.”

“But it is foggy, how can we see anything at all?” Caelon only smiled, slipping his hands down on mine and holding it tight as he point at the stationary man who stands next to the hot air balloon.

“Mike, will you give me a hand?” The said ‘Mike’ rolled his eyes, smirking at Caelon and I. Mike provided us a ladder we can use to climb on the basket and before I knew it, we’re off the ground.

Caelon is smiling so wide that it surprises me to see him so cheerful.

“Turn unto your right, Rubin, I don’t  want you to miss it.”

I followed his words and gasp when I saw it – the bright golden sun is like an orb floating at the sea of equally golden clouds. Everything from below seems to not exist as we watch the sunrise. Caelon wrapped his arms on my waist with my hands nestled on his while I lean closer to him.

“This is magical! I take my rude words back,” Caelon lets out a chuckle, tightening his arms around me. His actions are so sweet and natural, with no deliberate thinking, making me choke back some tears. I looked down at my recently earned magical watch that reflects my remaining numbers, making it appear on my skin.

“Where are we going exactly?”

Caelon pulled my sleeves down hiding the magical watch from view and tightening his arms around me as though he doesn’t want to let me go.

“You don’t have to worry about the remaining time. Just spend every moment with me, happily – that’s what matters more.”

I wanted to argue with him, to tell him how he is wrong and how he can’t possibly know what I am feeling right now  because he is not the one who is dying but I restrained myself. I swallowed all the words and chose  to store this thoughts at the back of my head, gently nodding at him and avoiding to look at his eyes as tears prickled mine.

There seems to be a lump developing in my throat and I stay silent, pondering about my thoughts of leaving Caelon alone again without even spending that much time.

“Hey,” Caelon turns me so that I am facing him. He puts a finger under my chin so he can see my face, “It will be alright, okay? I will make sure that you will enjoy this day.”

I bit my lip and sniffed, “But I don’t want to spend just this day with you. I want more time, more experiences – more of this…laughter, of sadness, of everything! This is so unfair, but I couldn’t, I won’t allow you to die because of me.” I whispered with such hate I chose to bear alone, spouting the words as though they brought bitter taste in my mouth. Caelon leaned his head on top of mine and nuzzled his nose on my ear.

“I know it is unfair. I’m so sorry my plan has failed.”

“You don’t need to apologize.” He nuzzled my nose with his and kissed my forehead, making me sigh.

“Caelon, I am scared.” I whispered, grabbing tight of his arm, “ I don’t know how Hades will come and take me when tomorrow comes. I don’t want to leave you.”

I bit my lip and sniffed, my body shaking. We stayed like that for a while, ignoring the sun that has now showered the vast mountain of its light, dissolving the sea of fog that has surrounded us so that I can see the other balloons - its magic expanding to the rivers and the trees and the life below.

“We’re closed to the ground now. I’ll cook you some breakfast, come on.” Caelon fumbled with the machine on top of me and we descended.

We say our goodbye’s to Mike and together, me and Caelon ran, barreling towards the tree. We tried to even out our breaths and I shivered, feeling the slight tingle on my skin as Caelon held my arms before he flicked his wrist.

Autahvuwns Manor welcomed us with its red tiled roofs and ever glistening fountain. Caelon marched up to the front door with me following close behind, expecting that as the door opens, Emyr and Newman will be waiting for us by the threshold. My heart felt like it was being squeezed as we entered the empty manor, our footsteps echoing to what used to be a familiar haven for me, now a place of memories.

“I know you felt disappointed not seeing them here but I do not know how I will deal with your divided attention. I want this remaining hours to be spent between the two of us. Call me selfish, alright, but I won’t have it in any other way.” Caelon shrugs, walking out of the parlour, heading inside the kitchen which is next to it.

I shake my head at him, trailing behind with a small smile on my lips.

“What would you like to have, ma moitié ?”

“Anything that you can prepare for me.”

Caelon gave me a serene smile as he started working by the knob, occasionally glancing at me. Soon, the wafting smell of pancakes made me stand from my seat and look at what he was doing – it smells like pancakes but they are thinner, as though they were made of papers.

“This is called a crepe and the fruit, well, I would like to do some flambé -I hope you are not that afraid of the fire.” Caelon concluded as he tossed the fruit on the pan and bathe them with wine and honey. He worked on them on top of the knob and I gasped as the fire shot up, startling me.

“Whoa!” I covered my mouth before frowning, hitting Caelon’s shoulder, “Caelon, you’ll burn the food.”

“Nope, just watch ‘til the end. Be patient, ma moitié, no one’s gonna burn nothing.” I rolled my eyes, simply offering him my plate and watch him with intent as he arranged the paper thin pancakes on my plate. He accompany them with some bananas and strawberries, finishing it with some crème on top.

“Thank you, ma moitié.” Caelon blushed as I returned the endearment to him. He settled across me with a cup of coffee on his hand, holding it over his lips so he can hide his face behind it.

We silently ate our breakfast.

I discreetly shifted my wrist when he is not looking, bothered about how I am going to spend the remaining twenty eight hours.

“Come on,” Caelon rose from his seat and I followed after him, excited about where we would go next. I raised an eyebrow when he slipped on an apron and tied it around his waist.

“What are you doing?” I watch as Caelon gathered our plates and headed by the sink.

“Isn’t it obvious?” Caelon rolled his eyes at me as he threw an apron on my face and laughed.

“We’re really doing this?”

“What? You haven’t done the dishes before?” I blushed a deep red, squaring my shoulders while I tried to defend myself from his accuse, “Well, Aunt Lilia let me wipe them.”

Caelon looks at me as though I have grown a second head before he leaned his head back, laughing. “Unbelievable. I will never marry such a lazy woman like you.”

My face fell at his words.

Snatching the sponge from him, I began cleaning the plates, scrubbing them rather forcefully. I gritted my teeth. Well, if I will have another life, I will never marry a boisterous man like him – airhead!

My hands tightened at the plate I am holding and I debated about what I shall do with it – shall I throw it at him or maybe hit him with it? Either way appears more thrilling once I see it happening.

Caelon wearily eyed my fisted hands and scratched his neck, “Hey, I don’t really mean it like that,” He whispered as he tried to snatch the sponge from me, making me flinch away and draw some distance between us.

“It doesn’t matter if you mean it or not because in the end, we will never marry for we won’t end up together. You are free to tease me and make fun of me because you – oh!” I gasped as Caelon yanked me away from the sink.

He lifted me off my feet and settled me on top of the counter. His eyes appears to drown me further as I stared at him, frowning, trying to figure out what’s going on inside his pretty little head as I melt under his gaze.

He doesn’t deserve this perfection, ugh!

After a few minutes, he reached out to his back pocket and produced a rose bud. He sang to it softly, his breath tickling them, making the petals dance and the rose opens to reveal a gold ring, “Here it is, so you won’t have to complain about me not marrying you.”

He rolled his eyes, his expression full of mischief as he watched me, my mouth wide open while I sat, enthralled with the rose as it floats.

“Will you marry me now that I have proposed?” I gasped, not believing his demand as Caelon takes the golden ring and caressed my hands, preparing to put it.

“Caelon!”

“What?” He asked, his hand that is holding mine tightening. “You wanted to marry me, right?”

“I do. I really do, but…” I huffed, glaring down at my hand, “Hades will take my soul and you will be left alone. I don’t want for you to suffer once I am gone.”

Caelon bowed his head and ran his hand on his hair, smirking ruefully, “It doesn’t matter what I feel, Rubin, what matters to me is you – your feelings, your desires, your happiness. I don’t care if Hades ruin us again. What matters is that you are married to me and no matter what happens, we are tied to each other, in this life and the next.”

His words weighted so much that I have to lean down amd capture him in a tight embrace. Because he did not anticipate my action, both of us toppled over the floor and laughed at our own silliness. I held out my hand for Caelon to take and he slips the golden ring on my left finger, kissing it, showering me with warmth  that only him could provide.

Caelon pulled me up to my feet and we stand next to the sink, him scrubbing the plates while I do the wiping. The job did not take that long to finish and soon, we’re sitting on the sofa by the parlour, limbs tangled with each other.

“Do you want to drop by the beach of Lakhowt island?” I shake my head at his suggestion, crossing my arms over my chest.

“Nope. I don’t want the relentless rain – it made me feel so sad. In fact, I detest it!” I pulled my legs from his and put my chin on top as I folded them in.

“ How about the fields?” I suggested, leaning my head on my knees and imagining them, “The golden flowers are so enchanting and we can watch the sky before I-“

I averted my eyes, my voice dying down as I burried my face under my arms. Caelon leans close to me as he pulled me into his arms.

“Alright, the field it is then. We will marry by the river bank with the sun, the sky and the whole of nature as our witness.” I smiled at him, watching him as he flicked his hand, the parlour fading away to be replaced by the vast sea. The waves lapping at my feet as we remain seated on the sand.

“Come on!”

“Where are we?”

“Somewhere nice and warm.”