Chapter 26 Chapter 25
Chapter 26 Chapter 25
CHAPTER 25
CAELON
My heart has never beat like this way before – so erratic and alive.
I cannot fathom how such a small organ can beat so strong inside my chest without damaging my ribcage; thundering as though it were a hundred hooves barreling against my chest. It is a mystery; a wonderful one, to be able to commit into memory every sound she makes, every touch she delivers.
It’s a wonder how I can feel every dip of her tongue, every caress of her fingers that are like feathers on my skin; I am absorbed by the very sigh that she lets out and her whimper, Oh! They sound so soft against my ear that it melts me. How can she sound so pretty like this? When every moan appears that she was begging for her life and every thrust felt like it was her last move.
I have wondered for years how humans can be satisfied of this kind of loving when I always find myself disappointed. I thought they end up miserable for they only know one kind, yet I am wrong. Every time I drew closer, I felt like I needed to climb more, reaching out to something I have yet to find out.
Heaven is more like a state of mind; confine into a place of safety, of peace.
The feeling that I have seems to flow in my veins, pulsing and I quite like how it temporarily drove me high, as though I were floating. It was overwhelming and I would love to do it over and over again.
The slight dazed look she has made me smile as I carefully lay her down on my side, having been finished with giving her the proper loving she deserves. The blush on her cheeks are pretty and I like how they turned her serene and beautiful.
She was asleep and thankfully, it gave me more time to contemplate about what had just transpired for the whole of the hour we spent at the field.
The fireflies drifted to and fro from us, their lights like twinkling stars, matching the one from above. I can barely see Aila’s face as I leaned over her sleeping form, draping a blanket over the two of us and burying my face on her neck, my hand automatically resting on her naked stomach.
I huffed.
I wish I can just freeze this moment and never let her go. It will be very useful to manipulate the time and repeat the last twenty four hours – just a day of bliss, of perfection, happiness and the essence of normality; a day that is spent like how we should have had for the rest of our life. I frowned, sighing once again because I know it was impossible for Hades will not be swayed for the third time, no matter what bargain I shall offer to him. I rested my head on my hands, my eyes trained on her calm face.
It was a miracle that a human like her can make a god fall in love – twice!
Maybe if I am not a god and I am born a human -everything else would have been normal. We could have had our happy ending - a mortal life with difficulties and sadness, with happiness and love. It hurts to think that if that certain variable is changed, this life can present a better future for the two of us.
Aila shivered slightly so I pulled the blanket over her, making her sigh. Not wasting any chance I have, I leaned down at her face and kissed her lips, gentle at first before deepening it. Aila whimpered so I pulled back, gazing at her sad green eyes.
“I’m sorry I wake you.”
Aila shakes her head at me and I wearily observe her as she covered her naked body with the blanket, averting her eyes away from my exposed manhood. I smirked, earning a rose thrown my way.
“We did it.”
She whispered softly and I nodded, taking the end of the blanket so I can use it to cover my waist.
“We have done it.” She said, louder this time – her cheeks tinted red while she bit her lip. I put my arm around her and kissed the sides of her forehead.
“How do you feel?”
“I’m –“ Aila turns her head to look at me. She was smiling, her eyes twinkling in the dark, “I feel…complete.”
Her hands shot off to cover her mouth, hiding her smile. I laughed, lightly squeezing her shoulders as I tucked her on my side. We fell silent for a while, both lost in our own thought.
I can’t believe that she acted like this for she appears to be so timid back when we first met. She’s now a different girl; more confident compared from the one I just spent an hour, loving.
I burried my face on her neck, whispering, “I feel the same way too.” I sniffed at her neck, kissing it then pulling away.
“I wish we can be together, forever.” She whispered, her voice breaking. I rested my head on hers as she leaned closer, “I wish we won’t need to separate again. This is so…hard.”
My heart clenched as I hear her cry, her soft whimpers and tears falling as though she have no control over them. I let her cry on my shoulder and smooth my fingers on her locks. My hands would probably bruise her arms because of how tight I am holding her but she seems to not care.
I sigh – she was my everything.
I don’t care about my money, my property, my name – I will gladly trade it all just to have her next to me, forever.
My eyes prickled, and suddenly, they felt so warm as I felt tears on my cheeks. I wanted to tell her that it will be alright; that she don’t need to worry about anything and how I will gladly save her from Hades but, I can’t.
I do not want to give her false hope just like how I just did – feeding her the nectar, keeping her in the Lakhowt Island and bargaining with Hades.
I do not want to promise anything to her that I will not be able to fulfill.
I bit back a sob as I pulled her up from the blanket, sitting her on my lap. Her naked skin felt soft and smooth that I couldn’t help myself from trailing my mouth down on her upper arm, hoping that it will somehow serve her some comfort. She is still shaking quite hard from the sobs that is wrecking her body. I pulled at the blanket and use the sides to wipe her tears and snot, “Shh.”
“I have barely twelve hours left, Caelon, that’s only half a day!”
“I know, I know…” I kissed her forehead and whispered, “Hush now, ma moitié, stop your crying now. Sleep, love.”
“But I don’t want to sleep,” She pushed me away and stood, not caring the state she’s in as she stands before me – naked from head to foot. “I have barely half a day , Caelon, and you want me to sleep. Are you joking? Because it isn’t funny!”
Her outburst made me smirk a little – she looks so elegant standing in front of me with her exposed womanhood, her red hair like a flame framing her face.
She is so mesmerizing.
I licked my lips and stand next to her, wrapping my arms around her waist, pulling her close so that I can rest my head on her shoulders. “Hey, stop being a grumpy pants and relax. Nothing bad is going to happen. You are tired is all which is why I want you to sleep. Note that we can still do a lot more with those twelve hours left.”
She abruptly turns at me, eyes wide and filled with fear, glistening because of her recently shredded tears. She pushed my hands away, crossing her hands over her chest which made them appear bigger than they should.
“But if I did sleep, I’ll reduce my time with you – is that what you want? Less time to spend with me? Do you really hate me that much to make me sleep for the rest of my limited time?”
“No, you are misunderstanding it all, Aila. I don’t hate you – in fact, I love you so much that it hurts me when I see you suffering like this. I never wanted to hurt you in any way possible and would never wish for you to go.”
I forcefully yanked her back in my arms , ignoring her protest as she slaps my chest, “Aila, if I could, I would trade with Hades again and ask him to take me. I will gladly trade my life for you, Aila, as long as you are safe. It is all my fault, even in the past – it has always been my fault.”
She stopped hitting my arms, her hands falling limp on her sides. I leaned close and buried my head on her neck, sobbing. “I shouldn’t have fallen for you. I shouldn’t have taken you from your family in the first place the very first time. A Cupid like me should not have lusted over a mere human whose beauty is comparable to Venus herself. I regret it all. It is all my fault and I ask for your forgiveness.”
Aila put her hand on my waist, her breath even. I stared down at her, noticing the fact that she has stopped crying, “I’m sorry for dragging you into this mess, Aila. It is all because of my mistakes in the past.”
She sighs, her eyes droopy. I leaned down, kissing her forehead before her eyes closed. Aila raised a shaky hand and latched it on my shoulder, “I don’t want to sleep, Caelon.”
“Hush, ma moitié, I will still be here when you wake,” She tried to push herself up but I just lower her down on the blanket.
“But I don’t want to waste my time sleeping.”
“You won’t waste your time, besides, I will be here. I’m not going anywhere so hush now, “ I watch her as she slowly fell to her dreams with her hands tightly holding mine.
I took her clothes from the bushes and carefully dressed her while chanting for her to continue sleeping. Her soft breathing tickled my ear as I pulled her jeans up her legs, fixing her halo of hair round her face.
“Pretty,” I whispered, resting my hands on the sides of her face. I caressed her soft skin and reluctantly refrained myself from staring at her body as I settled down on her side, focusing my gaze at the field.
This place has been the most memorable place for me ever since I have been vanished from the heavens and thrown down here on earth. This is where I was found and this is where I have devoted my time during those depressing years when I have longed for her.
Thinking back about the sullen days I have spent alone tending to the field – digging the earth, planting the flowers and waiting for them to bloom all the while imagining how I will take that certain girl in this majestic place. I used to imagine how she will explore the field and discover all the secrets; the blossoms of which are so beautiful that I am the only one who can raise such precious delicate things.
I have dreamt of things only to end up disappointed when after a hundred years, I cannot find her.
I consider it my dark years to finally realize that she’s a fiction – a part of my imagination, someone that is unlikely to redeem me from my tragic fate. The anger follows after the sadness passed and I believe, I am poor and lacking with regards to dealing with that emotion for I almost resulted with ending my own life.
I’m glad I didn’t do it for I will not have the opportunity to spend some time with my other half, ma moitié, if I have perished back then.
The dark sky transitions to midnight blue as the surrounding life slowly wakes from its slumber, yet my other half remains dormant, breathing softly. I discreetly pulled at the sleeves on her wrist and stared down at the numbers, sighing – there’s only eight hours left.
I leaned back, remembering my promise of marrying her and I vowed that it will be one of her best experience here on earth.
I took a sunflower, and rested my arm on her sides, while I slowly traced her face with it. She stirred once before swatting the sunflower away, squashing it against my face. Pouting, I took a rose instead and ran it from the middle of her brows and down to her nose, leading to her lips, lingering on them. I leaned closer so I can replace the rose with my mouth. I let it rest there, purposefully kissing her – channeling my sadness on the kiss then pulling away.
“Wake up, Aila. Wake up, ma moitié.”
She groans, turning on her side so that her hair covers her face.
“I’m gonna marry you as the sun rises up and the field will slowly wake up while the flowers began to open.” I whispered next to her ear, knowing how she hates that for it tickles.
Aila turns away from me and resumed with her fetal position, hugging her knees close to her chin. I transferred to the other side, leaning my head on hers as I continue, “I’ll watch you as you walk the path leading to me, golden glow bathing the field, surrounding you. I will give you a bouquet of roses and tell you how much I love you.”
I smiled as she opens one of her eyes, the other one following afterwards making me raise an eyebrow at her action.
“You love me?”
I chuckled at her question, taking her arms so I can settle her on my lap, before snuggling close to her, “Yes, I do.”
“We will still marry?”
“Only if you want to. “
“But what should I wear?” She looks down on her red jumper and black trousers, her green eyes wondering as she glanced at me.
“I’m glad you asked,” I took her hand on mine and we made our way up the hill.
The dome is only a dark shadow with a dim blue background, looming large and menacing from afar. Aila tightened her hands on mine as I plunge a hand in the thick tangle of vines, smiling as the two of us was swallowed inside.
I’m glad that Aila can still access the dome with me even if she is a human now.
I guess, she isn’t entirely human.
She shivered next to me and I sigh, sitting down on one of the carousels and watching her as she puts her hand on top of it.
“I’ll never light it up again,” she whispered while looking down at her hands as though she was talking to them and not me.
“I can try,” I suggested, giving her a sad smile as I touched the carousel she previously held. It lit up and so did the rest of the dome. Some of the fireflies from outside has managed to enter the dome and I smiled, facing her before putting one of her hand on my waist as I held the other with my own.
I gave her a little sway and her eyes widen while I twirled her around to a song that is not heard by others; a music that is in sync with our heartbeats. It is a melody of sadness and happiness and of that desperate wish of having to extend her limited time.
Aila giggled, her face filled with joy even if her eyes glisten with tears. I couldn’t agree more for she looks so beautiful in any emotion her face shows.
I spin her around, the both of us drowning in our imagination; both heartbroken to perceive what is real or faux as we laughed, ignoring the throbbing pain that is lingering in our hearts.
Soon enough, Aila was so red in the face that I have to stop her from laughing, pushing her back on the carousel where she sat awhile ago.
I headed at the far side of the dome, rummaging for something that I have planned to take the moment we arrived here before we got distracted. The box was hidden under piles of books and trinkets I have chosen to forget and abandon yet the sentimental value made me hate the idea of throwing them away. I have no heart to dispatch these things for they have served me well for hundred of years, never failing to comfort my soul.
I touched the box; the cold surface is the only indication that it is the one I’ve been looking for. I took the box and carry it back to Aila, her eyes alit and her cheeks flushed only to stop when I heard some whirring, something shifting – the both of us stunned into silence as we watched the carousel move.
The sight of her knocked the air out of my lungs, I wonder-
“Here,” I put the box on top of her lap and explained as she stared at me. “Emyr have given this to me, a hundred years back when the romans has started conquering the world. He figures that I will need it someday.”
Aila’s hand shakes with anticipation so I nodded at her, giving her the permission to open the box. She takes the end of the golden ribbon and pulled it towards her. She takes the lid and carefully lifted, her hand flying to her mouth as she gasped, “This is –“
“Yes. It is the dress Aphrodite have asked the river nymphs to weave using the riverbank foam. With the help of Anemoi’s east and west wind, they were able to harvest the foams and dried it with the aid of the southern wind.”
“Aunt Lilia have mentioned this to me when I was growing up as a child. Every little Erosian girls in Eros has dreamt about seeing this someday. I thought it was a legend, a story told for us to believe.”
“Nope.”
“It was lost – the Nereids, they took it for their mother, Doris, and it angered Aphrodite, promising them no love. So how did Emyr –“
“I didn’t asked him how he got it. I just took it because he keeps on whining about how ungrateful I am to receive such a treasure that even the goddesses are fighting because of it. After I have received it, I stuffed it inside the dome, like the rest of things I had, not knowing what to do with them but still refusing to throw them away.”
Aila smooth her hands down on the dress, as though she was reveling at a diamond.
Well, the dress was worth more than a diamond.
“Come on, it is almost sunrise. I want to marry you as the sun glows and bless us with its light.” I took her hand and she carried the dress on her arms, her lips pulled in a smile.