Crimson Black

by C C Morgen

“You should go.” Amphis turned her eyes away from mine. “Your mother is waiting for you.”

  My heart sank as I assumed what she’d intended to say was, ‘this is over.’

  “As you wish. I’ll leave you be.” I stepped away from her. “Farewell, my Ocean Princess.” Her eyes kept away as I walked back towards the castle. A single tear fell down my cheek while sadness clouded my mind. I was wrong to think things could ever stay as is. Should I regret feeling this way for Amphis? Or should I just accept that I wanted to be in love with her? She talked about forgiveness. Maybe she’ll find it in her heart one day to forgive me or maybe accept me for who and what I am. Only time could tell how she’d really feel about me.

  I understood honesty from a unique perspective. I remember my mother’s words we don’t hide who we are or our desires. We accept our nature, so there is no need to be dishonest. Those who accept us are the ones worthy of our friendship.

  My mother waited for me at the archway and had dismissed Yuna. By her expression I still saw the disappointment in her eyes. “I’m sorry, mother.”

  “Hmm. No need to apologize child.” Her face softened. “We all have our flings. But we never let our hearts fall in love with them. It will only hurt them in the end if we invite them into our world. They fall in love with us, they will only fall into torment, watching us from afar, because we can never love them back.”

  “What about Luna?”

  “Luna was an accident.” My mother frowned. “When Hades brought her, I didn’t expect her to imprint on me. I learned it's rare among wolves to imprint on their one true mate, but I never witnessed it for myself until she first met my gaze. What a horrible fate to have such devotion to someone to the point of feeling like you’ll die without them. It’s a curse that can never be broken. My dear Luna has nothing but love and devotion for me until the day I end.”

  “That’s sad,” I blurted out, understanding why Luna is the way she is. The aggression she succumbed to everyday from imprinting on my mother and forever being bound to her, desiring love from the one she is devoted to. She could never escape those feelings.

  “I don’t pity her,” My mother replied. “I’ve grown to adore her devotion. It’s been so long, and I always want her with me. Even without my love, I want her. Do I touch her? It’s sometimes hard to resist the temptation. Just as you can’t resist the temptation of a Sea Nymph. Which they are quite desired among many beings. It won’t be too long before another suitor gets her attention.”

  My mother’s words about Amphis hit the core of my heart.

  “Don’t be sad my child. Soon enough that pain in your heart will cease to exist. I’ve decided on the day of your twenty-first birthday will be your ascension.” She kissed me on the forehead. “You will make a beautiful member of the clan. I am so proud.”

  My mother dismissed me afterwards, and I was free to go back to my room in the tower.

  Yuna waited at the door for my arrival. “I’m sorry, milady.” Yuna bowed her head. “She’s always known of your indiscretions.”

  “It’s all right.” I stood at the balcony and glanced out at the other side of the beach to see if Amphis was there, but the beach appeared deserted with no life in sight. “This was bound to happen eventually. Now she knows the truth, so there’s no reason to hide from it anymore.”

  “She will come around, milady. Her love for you is genuine and hard to not consider.”

  “You mean was?” I glanced at Yuna. “My mother has set the date. May I ask you something?”

  “Yes, mistress.”

  “What happens during an ascension ceremony?”

  Yuna paused for a moment in sorrow. “You will receive the poison.”

  “Poison?" it baffled me.

  “It’s more of a potion made from the blood of Hades. Just as a hound is made through the flames of Hades. A true born Harpy is made from his blood and the darkness. Your mother will use her power to manifest the potion with her dark matter to form it into a dagger.”

  “What does she do with the dagger?” I fearfully asked.

  “She will thrust the blade in your heart.”

  I gasped and sat in my bed with shock. “Will it hurt?” I asked.

  “Immensely!”

  The information I received from Yuna was hard to grasp. I never knew what the process involved to become part of the clan. However, it didn’t seem to bother me as much when everything absorbed properly. This was my fate in the first place, and I couldn’t help but wonder what Amphis was thinking at the moment. What did she now think of me? Or did she love me as Yuna assumed? I had so many questions overrunning my thoughts. In the end, my fate remained the same. I would lose my heart.

  Amphis, I hope you sense how I feel.

  CHAPTER X

  Embrace My Heart

  TIME HAD PASSED FROM DAYS TO MONTHS since my mother revealed my secret to Amphis. My stay in the castle became difficult with my mother preparing for my ascension ceremony. The celebration would be grand on the following day of my birthday. My mother had organized a social gathering for all the three clans and the other siblings from the family who were immortal beings and considered Gods, to join the party. Even though many events were about to take place in my life, it didn’t change the loneliness in my heart. I missed Amphis. I waited every evening, after the usual long hard training with Luna, for a message or at least to catch a glimpse of her on the beach from my balcony.

  The Fairies helped me by spying on her occasionally to see if she was ok. It was wrong to ask such an act, but my curiosity won the battle in my decisions when it came to her. However, the only news I received was that she stayed in the cove most of the time and appeared to avoid this side of the island. At least she was still around and hadn’t left. It had already been too long to believe she would want to see me again. Especially, when my twenty-first birthday was only a month away. But I wanted to see her.

  One day, I decided I couldn’t wait any longer. I wanted to visit her one last time while I was still human. That was the last gift to give myself before turning. I wanted there to be closure between Amphis and me, so I could move forward and feel more at ease with the changes in my life. It took every ounce of courage to dissolve my ego to make my way to the cove. The weight of my legs was heavier than usual as if I was afraid to see her. This was rejection deep within my soul. She has rejected me because of who I was to become.

  When I reached the cove, I didn’t know what to expect as Amphis stood near the water, looking out into the ocean. Her face stern and confused; and I figured her intuition would sense me nearby, with our soul connection still active.

  “Hello, Alphard!”

  “It’s been a while. I came to see you.”

  “What does your mother think about you being here?”

  “My mother doesn’t care. She’s too busy, preparing for my birthday.”

  “It’s soon isn’t it?” Amphis vaguely asked, without me realizing what she referred to.

  “My birthday?”

  “Not your birthday.” Amphis turned to look me in the eye. “I meant your ascension. Is it soon?”

  “It’s on my birthday.”

  Amphis walked away, nodding her head in annoyance, until I had to grab ahold of her wrist to stop her.

  “Of all days!” Amphis’ tone changed into sadness. “Why did she have to choose the day you were born to have the ritual?”

  I pulled Amphis closer. “My mother is nostalgic about my birth. It doesn’t really bother me it’s happening on that day.”

  She turned to gaze at me once again. “Well it bothers me. You should care.”

  “I don’t. I don’t care at all! I came here to see you one last time before I’m no longer the person you remember here today.”

  Amphis stayed silent without a word to say.

  “You still look as breathtaking as ever. And I’ve missed you. I don’t have the slightest clue what you think of me, so I won’t ask. I just want to say good—.”

&nbs
p; She pressed her hand over my mouth.

  “You need to stay quiet right now.” A tear rolled down her cheek, and she blinked rapidly, willing herself not to cry. “You do not understand what I’ve put myself through, trying to understand why I love you this much.”

  My heart raced against my chest at the sound of those three simple words. I pulled her hand away from my lips.

  “Alphard, I’m sorry if I made you feel rejected. I don’t know what to do. The idea of you losing love for me… I just cannot imagine myself without you. I’m so in love with you it scares me now you will soon disappear. I’ve been living in torment, thinking about it. You, a Harpy. I can’t imagine you becoming a tormentor or a killer!”

  “Thank the ninth heavens, I understand how you feel. This, I can’t imagine myself either. But I do wish we had more time. More time with all these feelings I have for you.”

  She threw her arms around me in a strong embrace. “I’ve missed you so much.”

  I wrapped my arms around her waist and held her close. “All this time, I thought you didn’t.”

  “Well now you know,” Amphis replied. “If it's ok with you, can we still be together for a while until you forget about me?”

  “I don’t think I could ever forget about you. I will always want you in my life. And yes, we can be together for as long as you want. I love you too.”

  I spent the rest of the day with Amphis and we sat on the rocks to watch the sun set over the horizon. The night covered the sky with a blanket of stars. The full moon was so close to the earth and bright, it lit a path back to the hut in the cove. I didn’t want to leave, so we spent the night cuddled naked together in her bed until the next day.

  The smell of the morning mist and the sound of the Fairies and Pixies, fluttering around, woke me from my dreams. I gazed upon Amphis still in a deep sleep next to me; her fair skin soft in my arms and her face looked as if she was in a state of peace and tranquility in her dreams. I wanted to stay like this forever.

  “Umm… It’s rude to watch me sleep?” Amphis still had her eyes closed as she gently caressed my face and kissed my lips.

  “You look so peaceful asleep.” I cleared the hair from her face.

  “I want to continue sleeping.” She murmured as she kept kissing me.

  “This is not sleeping just so you know.”

  “I’m enjoying my dream right now.” She pulled me close and her warm tongue, touching mine made my blood pump hot. Her fingertips grazed my back as she rubbed it down to my thigh. Her kisses became more aggressive while she was biting my lip, as the passion became more intense between us.

  Suddenly, I suffered a shock wave in my abdomen that throbbed like a heartbeat. I panted heavily, my body temperature raised so fast I saw the heat rising from my body. Amphis pushed me on my back and climbed on top of me. Then she held my arms down firm against the bed and her deep blue eyes gazed into mine. She laid her body onto my chest until I felt her breast against mine. She kissed me, keeping her eyes on me.

  “I want you.”

  Her lustful stare captivated me, putting me into a hypnotic trance. My cravings for her grew by the second and the hunger in my abdomen grew out of control with her every kiss and every sensitive spot she touched. Her body nestled in between my legs as she continued to kiss me slower before tracing her hands from my neck, down my waist and reached down where her fingers touched me in bliss. I gasped as a heated pleasure rushed through my body. A fire burst within my abdomen and I understood, something inside me changed. Her passionate embrace consumed most of my will power and my control. I opened my eyes to look at my hand, and it had shifted into a snake like skin. I gasped at the change until suddenly, in the background we heard Luna yell from the beach. “Alphard!”

  Amphis halted, and the passion died at an instant.

  “I can hear you both in there.” Her voice stern. “Come on out! Playtime is over.”

  I became so embarrassed, remembering hounds had acute hearing.

  “What in the ninth heavens?” Amphis whispered.

  I smacked my head. “I was supposed to be at training this morning. I forgot.”

  “ALPHARD!”

  “All right,” I replied. “Give me a moment.” I found my training gear on the floor and hurried to get dressed.

  Amphis whispered as softly as she could. “Are you serious?”

  “I’m sorry,” I mouthed back.

  “I can still hear you two.” Luna became impatient. “I’m not apologizing for ruining the romance. NOW GET OUT HERE!”

  I stepped out of the hut to face Luna. “I’m here.”

  Luna shoved me to walk. “Say goodbye to your lover. You have double the time with me today and the rest of the few days as the punishment for not coming home last night.”

  “Punishment?”

  “Rule number one. Never make a mother worry.”

  She shoved me again as I glanced back at Amphis, standing in the doorway as we left.

  My heart had settled from her touch and my body heat reduced. Amphis was so intoxicating that I thought I would lose myself in her. For a moment there with her body embracing mine, I didn’t care about losing control and getting closer to satisfying the hunger. My soul was so voraciously hungry. I wanted to have more of her.

  CHAPTER XI

  The Ritual

  MY PUNISHMENT LASTED FOR DAYS under Luna’s observant eyes. My mother forbade me to leave the castle grounds until my amends had ended. I missed being at the cove with the sweet ocean princess. She had granted me a world of love and content in this wretched life. It was complicated to let go even with the time running out for me, being a mortal.

  The days seemed long without seeing her and my birthday approached closer with every sunset that passed. I never gave up faith that Amphis would remain in my life during my moment of punishment. A Fairy flew to my balcony every evening with a note from her. They recited simple messages such as ‘I miss you’ and ‘I love you.’

  “My dear Ocean Princess, I want to see you before the ascension. -S.O.”

  Days went by and my birthday finally arrived. I could visit Amphis; however, I had to be accompanied by Yuna at all occasions, because my cousins and aunts would arrive in the evening. My protection before the ritual was a must since my mother and Luna didn’t entrust my aunts to have me attend my ascension ceremony.

  Yuna’s scar had become small to a scale where it was just a faint line on her neck. It turned out she had been seeing Amphis occasionally for many years endeavoring to restore her voice. The healing process was a tedious one that required consistent healing energy for an old wound to restore, especially when her speech once carried magic.

  Amphis waited on the waterfront as expected. “Happy Birthday, Solitary One.”

  “Tonight’s the night,” I proceeded by offering her a hug. “It so wonderful to look at you right now.”

  “Your mother made certain you didn’t see me all this time.” She kissed me. “She even has Yuna, following you.”

  “It’s just for a brief while. My aunts will arrive shortly with my cousins.”

  Amphis had a distraught look. “So that’s why. She’s afraid those ruthless women will pursue to slay you again. Is it always going to be like that? You are looking over your shoulders every night?”

  “I don’t know. My mother insisted they are supposed to seize. She further mentioned sometimes the transformation will take a while after receiving the blood of Hades, so until I turn they have free reign to keep trying. It all depends on how weak or how powerful my ambition is to let my heart to turn instantaneously. Although, I don’t believe my mother when she reassures me that their attempted assassinations would end once I change. Somehow, I yet to foresee my relatives will ever stop striving to secure the throne for themselves.”

  “What happens if you don’t change?” Amphis asked.

  “My mother made it evident I don’t have a choice or a say in the matter. My family won’t avoid chasing me until I’m dead a
nd being mortal makes it simpler for them to assassinate me.”

  “Ugh… Your clan is barbarous.”

  “Yeah. That’s why it’s imperative to my mother for me to accept the throne. My relatives will not remain unified and it will be chaos because they will constantly confront each other to rule. Hades only demands my mother’s lineage to take over the throne, not the others.”

  “You are necessary,” she gazed into my eyes. “I’ll give everything to protect you in this realm or all realms. I don’t wish to even imagine a world without your existence. So please stay alive.”

  “I will…” I reassured her. “I will not make it simple for them to take me down.”

  Amphis grasped my chest plate and tugged me closer, her lips enveloping mine in a fierce kiss. Her body quivered and melted in my arms as I grasped her tighter against me. I accepted it in my heart, the sorrow within her. She didn’t want tonight to happen.

  Her forehead leaned against mine. “Please stay bright as you are.”

  ***

  The sun set over the ocean boundary and in the distance, black winged figures flew by the hundreds towards the island. One by one, they landed on the seashore near the stairs of the castle. It was the first time witnessing how gigantic the clan was and how many children her sisters have had and their descendant’s offspring.

  I watched closely from my bedroom balcony as my mother’s sisters rose up the steps first to meet Luna and my mother. One had deep red hair, the other blonde, and they were decorated like warriors. My cousins on the shore all frowned up at me while I resided in my tower and seized their stare with a defiant me of my own. They displayed their insignias for their clan on their leather chest gears.

  One tribe was crimson with a black painted emblem of a triangular and horizontal line across the top. The others had gold chest gear with a pattern of an eye. My chest gear was black with a chalice like a cross with a circle as my family emblem. The chest gear helped to separate which clan you were born in. I could imagine it was tricky to keep a record of so many tribe members; however, I was solely under the black insignia.