A Night she recalled

That Stormy Night that she recalled all to well 1

The crimson light of late evening caressed her flaxen curls. The last rays painted the forest and glen gold in the warmth. She turned, about to call  out."To whom am I calling?", she thought. Nothing came. The thought of speaking drifted away on the evening breeze. Her green eyes found him, "shall we have a fire?", she asked. He needn't respond, she knew the answer. His blue gaze followed as she gathered small bit wood and formed the fire. The fire light shadows played games upon their faces. 2

A sudden wind cut through their clothes, carrying a haunting sound from far off. The sound of an eluding memory? A sigh of sadness rested on her lips. He grabbed her, waist in hand, twirling her to a rythm of warbling birds, hidden crickets, and whispery tree tops. They danced a jig of ancient descent. Extinguishing from her mind the sadness she could never quite identify and the memories that eluded her. 3

The many sounds of the night fell silent. A deadness seized the air. The lack of nature's music caused her to falter, then fall. Her laughing, fallen mass looked up for her partner. Her horrified eyes caught the glitter of quartz just as his head split from stem to stern. The semi-precious stone, now gored with his life, lay unaware of it's misconduct.4

Crawling to him she paused, started to speak, then fell silent. She waited for his soft voice. His mind blackening, he tried to grasp clarity. How can I tell her? So many things she has no knowledge of. It had been almost 2 years since they met. He had traveled long to be with her. He knew what she was though. Her energy had lead him to her. He had delayed his unmasking, afraid of her scrutiny and self-denial. Now, laying in disbelief at the situation, he hoped she would believe and not be afraid. His once soft, soothing voice was now a wet gurgle. 5

She leaned in, her tears pummeling his face, trying to hear. "Believe...", he rasped. "Believe? Please don't leave me!", she cried. "I can't...not ever..." Her watery eyes searched his. She sees nothing. Her world empties, then floods with grief. A light breeze flickers the fire and carries his name to her ears. No, that can't be...we were alone. As she looks for the origin of sound, she again realizes the harmonies of nature. The void now fills with life again.6

She turns her gaze once more to the lifeless mass aside her. Weeping hard, she lays her head soft upon his breast. Gently touching his limp body, letting her loss become total. Her fingers start to tingle. She doesn't notice until the sensation begins to climb her arm. Pulling away in panic, she realizes the agonizing pain of loss giving way to a slow moving calm. Gentle bliss engulfs her. Somewhere, under her consciousness, she hears his voice. Her grief stricken agenda is swallowed whole. 7

Consumed by feelings of utter elation and peace, she is barely able to grip the idea that this is not right. He lay dead, less than 2 feet from...the thought remains uncomplete when she notices (fireflies?), no, that can't be fireflies...hovering slightly above his body. No, coming out of his body. She takes note of only a few at first, they congregate as more evolve. A hundred, no, a thousand, those are not fireflies. 8

A vortex now, reaches skyward, swaying to the sighing wind. Lifting to dance among the leaves, he regains form and leaps about. He pauses to catch her gaze. His human form still by her side, she stares in awe. Something prods her mind. She is almost able to catch the echo of a long forgotten secret. Join me... His voice! His sweet, soft voice echoing in her mind? 9

Blindly, she grabs the dagger from his belt. Without breaking her gaze she drives it deep into the hollow of her throat. The soft flesh immediately rips away, releasing a scream that would shatter glass. She crumbles upon his empty shell as her life flows upon the ground. The stars reach for her, embracing her light, drawing her out of her prison. A pure spirit, long forgotten, flows from the body. A wondrous, vibrant light washes over the surrounds, dimming the fire, chasing away the shadows. 10

Merlin N Sanity Echo` N Chaos2u11