“Where were you? I was gonna get this loser to drive me to your place to check on you,” Ambrose queried, pointing at Finn.
“I am literally right here,” Finn protested.
Courtney ignored him, gently placing her hand on Ambrose’s toned chest. “I just had to deal with some stuff back home, don’t worry about it.” She turned away from him to look at the others. “Are you going to introduce me?”
“Oh, right. Amos, Dave, Imani, this is my beautiful girlfriend Courtney Rossborough.”
“It’s great to meet all of you. Always nice to see you as well Finn.” She beamed at them. “Anyways, I’ve got to steal my boyfriend for a bit, we’ve got some stuff to talk about. Let’s all catch up later?”
“Alright, see you around,” Imani said.
“Yeah, see you,” the three boys repeated, waiting until Courtney turned away to mock Ambrose. “You’re in trouble,” they mouthed, their minds somehow synchronized for the purpose of vexing him.
Courtney walked him down the corridor, looking at him with those piercing, sapphire eyes. Ambrose would do anything for them. He wondered what she needed to discuss so urgently.
“What’s wrong?”
“Oh, nothing. I just wanted to have you all to myself. New friends?” she laughed.
“Yeah, they’re pretty cool. They like to talk about Ronald way too much, but otherwise, I think you’ll like them.”
“Ah, that’s good.”
They reached his locker. He said, “You know, I’ve actually got something for you.”
“Ooh, I love surprises,” she purred. Ambrose opened the locker and pulled out a scarlet rose, freshly picked, and offered it to her. “Oh Ambrose, you’re the best!” she squealed in delight, putting her arms around his neck and drawing him in for another kiss. While in that sweet embrace, Ambrose could feel his heart melting into hers as they held each other in perfect union, until reluctantly, he pulled away.
“Courtney, there’s something that I have to tell you.”
“Hmm?”
“You’re gonna think I’m crazy. Last night, I had another strange dream.”
“Go on?”
He hesitated, but steeled himself and continued. He had to tell her. “Well, you were in it.”
“Aww…” she swooned, trying to distract him. “I love you.”
He smiled. “And I you. The dream though, it seemed so real, but it was so impossible. We were running away from an army.” He stopped, unwilling to share the gory details.
“Oh?” she feigned confusion. In fact, she remembered those days very well. She remembered hiding in holes and ditches in the ground. Nights spent in caves by the firelight, risking discovery by Alexandros’ troops to stave off a greater, ever present threat. She wondered if he had seen the slaughter when they had been found by Peithon of Macedon.
“Then,” he continued, “you became some sort of Viking Queen, and I was a Roman. I don’t understand. Weren’t the Romans gone by the time of the Vikings?”
“Yeah, the Western ones were.” Except for one. Flavius Aetius, Dux et Patricius.
“Hmm… well I don’t know. The truth is, I’ve been dreaming about your eyes since before we even met. Now you’re here, with me. It’s gotta mean something, right?” He looked at her, searching for answers in those sapphires.
“Ah… you’re the most amazing boyfriend a girl could ever ask for. Maybe we were just meant to be is all. Maybe that’s just life telling you that the two of us belong together,” she began to lie, straining to hide her joy. Even if he could not make sense of it, his heart still beat for her. She knew that he loved her, as much as she loved him. All those long years, he had missed her as much as she had missed him. She had to tell him the truth. She had to. She opened her delicate mouth, forming the words that would bring back her Asr-
“There’s something else,” he said, his voice trembling, interrupting her.
“Yeah?”
“Remember when we danced, the night of your ball?”
“Mhm?”
“You know when I, well, when I fainted?”
Her face became concerned. She urged him on, “Yeah?”
“I kinda hallucinated. I don’t wanna sound insane, but I gotta tell you. I saw another you. She was in the crowd, wearing a really freaky mask. It was red, with feathers sticking out of it and strange markings painted all over it. It couldn’t have been you, you were dancing with me, but she had the same, blue eyes. The same, blonde hair. She was walking towards me. Then, I heard the strangest name in my head and passed out. That’s why I asked you about someone called Belit.”
“I see. Well, it was probably the heat and all. I guess you just can’t stop thinking about me. I like it,” she teased, taking his hand. “Come on you, let’s get to class.”
The urge to tell him the truth left her as suddenly as it had come. His words had been bittersweet. He remembered her true name. After all their time apart, and despite his accident, he knew her name, even if he did not know that it was hers. She knew how lucky she was to have someone who so adored her, and she had resolved never to lose him.
Yet what he had told her had disturbed her, and she knew that to tell him the truth would hurt their relationship. She remembered that crimson mask, millennia ago. It had been a dreadful era, and they had sworn never to speak of it. The mask was a reminder of a terrible secret kept hidden by the passage of time. It was a stark reminder that the truth included both the beauty of their undying love and the horrors of another age. She could not tell him the truth until he was prepared to accept it, all of it. When, she wondered, would that be? More importantly, how would she know?
I feel love is the closest thing to magic.
It is when you care about a person more that you care about yourself.
The most beautiful kind of love is the love between a mother and a child.
It is unconditional.
And everyone deserves to be loved.
-Anon, India
16
“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” Finn objected. His panic was made painfully obvious by his reddening face and fidgety hands.
“Oh, just tell him you coward,” Imani growled.
“What? There’s nothing to tell.” There was a pleading glimmer in his shifting eyes, begging her not to continue. He found no mercy in those imperious emeralds.
“Fine, I’ll do it then. Am-” she began, but was rapidly interrupted.
“No! Don’t believe a word she says. I would never. I didn’t. You know I wouldn’t. I’m your friend,” Finnegan shouted over her frantically.
“We know you wouldn’t what?” Courtney inquired, frost creeping into her voice. Now her sapphires glared fiercely at Finn.
“What? Nothing. Whatever she was going to say.”
“What was I going to say?” Imani demanded.
“I don’t know. How would I know? What is this?” Finn whimpered, trying to recover from his blunder. Ambrose remained silent, looking impassively towards the window, unwilling to gaze upon his friend. By now it was obvious that he was guilty; all that was left was to find out what he had done.
“Right. So Finn has been hanging around Ronald-” Imani continued, but was interrupted again.
“It wasn’t like that…”
Ambrose remarked, “Man, I really don’t care if you’re hanging out with Ronald. I don’t care who you’re friends with. That’s your problem. Imani, is that it?”
“Ambrose, let her speak,” Courtney put an arm on his chest. She knew that Finn was dear to him and sensed that he was trying to forestall the coming revelation.
“Thanks. That fat, ginger rat was going around with Ronald talking trash about the two of you. They say you’re only together for attention and that Courtney’s cheating on you with Dave and Amos, while you’re off with me. They’re pretty much making us out to be a bunch of deviants.”
“Liar! I would never say that,” Finn seethed. “You just want to get closer to Ambrose, an
d you’re trying to get rid of me to do it. It’s so obvious.” He glanced at Ambrose, despairing upon seeing his friend’s dispassionate gaze. There was no kindness in those hickory eyes. Turning to Courtney, he saw only scorn in her beautiful face. “Courtney, please. You gotta believe me. She’s lying, I’m telling you. She just wants to take your place.”
Amos, who, along with Dave, had been quietly observing the exchange, lunged abruptly at Finn, catching him in the gut with an iron fist. As Finn crumpled to the ground in pain, Amos stood over him. “Don’t you dare try to tear us apart with lies. Admit to what you did, I was there and I heard you myself, snake,” he spat.
“I didn’t do anything,” Finn insisted, as tears began to well behind his eyes. As Amos’ handsome, brown face twisted in contempt, he prepared to launch a savage kick into Finn’s plump stomach. Just before he did, Ambrose stepped between them.
“That’s enough.” He offered Finn his hand, but the fallen figure cringed before it. “Finn, I would never raise a hand against a friend. I thought you knew that,” he muttered, genuine hurt in his voice.
“Ambrose, I’m sorry. I’m so sorry,” Finn said, remorse etched into his face. “I didn’t mean to-”
“Well you did, and I can’t forgive you. How could you betray me? I thought of you as a brother. How could you say such things about Courtney, who also loves you dearly? What did we do for you to hate us so?” Ambrose asked, pity softening his features as he finally saw Finn for the pathetic, insecure creature that he was. Regardless, he knew what he had to do. Feeling Courtney’s gentle, but firm, grip on his shoulder, he spoke, “Go away Finn. I never want to see you near us again. Go to Ronald, or go where you will, but I do not know you anymore. Approach us again and you will not be welcome.” He glanced back at Amos, who was glaring at Finnegan with murder in his eyes. With a final look into his former friend’s clear, blue eyes, he sighed, “Just go.”
Finn surveyed the group one, last time, trying to find even a hint of benevolence in their solemn faces. Dave had remained silent throughout, watching the scene play out before him. Even in his usually meek eyes, there was only pure venom as he gazed upon the traitor. Finn slowly picked himself up and backed away, bowing his head so as to avoid eye contact. Without a word, he walked away from the group. They had taken his friend from him. No, he had lost his friend. It had been his fault, and there was no one else to blame. Regret and anger were his only companions as he trudged down the suddenly lonely forest path, wondering what would become of him. When he was certain that no one could see him, Finn sobbed quietly. He had lost Ambrose and could not bring himself to go to Ronald. His only comfort was that he only had one more year in Hastings, and there was always college.
The remainder of the group watched Finn until he was out of sight. No one wanted to be the first to speak after the confrontation. They stood in silence, waiting for someone to say something to lighten the mood. When no one did, they began to walk back down the forest path, slowly so as to avoid catching up to Finn. Ambrose did not get far before he felt Courtney’s hand slip out of his. He looked back, only to see her falling. He rushed to catch her before she hit the ground, calling to the others for help.
“Courtney? Courtney! Are you alright? Talk to me. Please, wake up!” he pleaded.
She did not respond. Her eyelids covered her sapphire eyes and she lay prone. She still breathed, albeit slowly. Ambrose held a trembling hand to her ivory wrist. A panic seized him as he scrambled to find her pulse. Thankfully, it passed quickly. His searching fingers felt a faint beat. She lived. Frenzied thoughts passed through his mind as he heard sirens in the distance. Amos had called for help, talking gravely as the others knelt around her.
“Please,” Ambrose whispered.
The dying night, it was the colour of her soul
The colours black and blue all mixing together in a whirl storm
She could never quite see right, but when she did it was dark
-Freya Paige, England
17
Imani entered the hospital room where Ambrose and Courtney waited for the inevitable. Her friend had still not stirred. The doctors had not discovered what was wrong with her. They had been kind enough to continue to insist that there was hope, but she could see defeat in their faces, and in their eyes full of pity and shame. She looked around, wondering whether to wake Ambrose. His parents had called again. They wanted him to return to their home, get some rest and try to get on with his schoolwork. Every time, his response had been the same. He would merely glance at her, his hickory eyes aged beyond recognition. Then, his gaze would turn once more to his beloved. Imani sighed and walked towards Ambrose, stretching out her delicate hand to shake him from his slumber.
“Imani… don’t wake him,” a faint voice whispered.
Imani’s eyes widened in amazement, and she gasped, “Courtney!”
“Come closer,” Courtney smiled weakly. “I felt him watching over me while I slept. Even now, I can feel the warmth of his heart and the pain in his spirit. Do you know how it feels to love like this?”
“We-”
“Of course you do. Or at least you will. I can tell that you and Dave like each other.”
Imani hesitated for a moment, bowing her head. Then, she looked up and whispered, “How did you know?”
“I know the little looks, the subtle words, the shy smiles. I know that whenever you walk into the room, he stands just a bit straighter. I know that when you see him, your eyes light up. Oh Imani, one day, I hope that you two find what I have found with Ambrose. Maybe then, you will know what it feels like to dance amongst the stars. Oh, how I love the stars. You know, Ambrose and I would sit for hours staring at them. I hope that there are stars where I am going. I will wait there for Ambrose, so that we may once again hold each other under their sweet light.”
“Courtney, you’re not going to die. You can’t die. You’ll be fine. You’ll be just fine,” Imani insisted, feeling tears begin to fill her eyes.
“It’s alright. Hey, you know why I love high school? It’s because I think it represents a point in human lives when we are almost entirely free. On one hand, our parents let us begin to figure ourselves out, make our own mistakes and be what we want to be. On the other, we have no real responsibility. School is easy. When we fall, we have a safety net. We are pretty much free to do as we will, you know?”
“I- I guess, but Courtn-”
“Hush, don’t cry for me. Believe me, I’ve had a good life,” Courtney said, gently reaching out to wipe away a stray droplet rolling down her friend’s cheek. “You have to be strong now. I need you to take care of Ambrose when I’m gone.”
“What do you mean?”
“Be his friend. Comfort him, protect him while he is vulnerable. Don’t let him do anything stupid.”
“I- I’ll try.”
“Thank you.”
“Courtney, should I wake him up? He’ll want to talk to you.”
“No. Let him rest. If he speaks to me now, while I am helpless and weak, it will break his heart. I will speak to him when the time comes, and I find the strength to do it.”
“Alright. I understand.”
“If only you did.” Courtney sighed, “Oh, Imani. There is so much that I wish I could tell you. For now, I want you to write something down. Give it to Ambrose after I am gone.”
“OK.” Imani took out her phone. “Ready.”
“Observing humans, I have noticed that they often like to divide themselves into those who are ‘primitive’ and those who are ‘enlightened’. The former are wild, free and have no code of law beyond their own sense of honour. The latter, on the other hand, practice the art of repression. They mask their emotions and abstain from worldly pleasures. For the obvious reason that it is an easier, and far more entertaining lifestyle, people tend to lean towards the ‘primitive’. I do not understand why, then, to be ‘primitive’ is to be looked down upon. Why deprive ourselves of the material world? However, if one’s spirit, as I h
ave seen many times, urges one to commit to a ‘englightened’ lifestyle of gentle serenity, then is that not equally admirable? My point is, I have found that to judge a person on how they choose to live out their numbered days is a useless exercise. Judge them instead on what lies in their souls. Judge the ‘enlightened’ on their silent strength and the ‘primitive’ on their indomitable hearts. Both are happy as they are. Guide them, but do not seek to change them. My love, when you face the future without me, keep always in your heart our fantastic past. One day, I promise you that we will be together again, even if we have to cheat the great powers that govern the world. Remember the good times, and the bad times. Be a good man, and you will keep me always in your heart.”
“Wow.”
“Sorry, that was a bit long wasn’t it?”
“No, it was just, it was deep.”
“Anyways, Imani, I feel weak. I will go back to sleep now. Do not tell Ambrose that we have spoken, or he will be angry at you for not having woken him. Also, please, those words are for him alone.”
“I swear.”
“Thank you,” Courtney mumbled, smiling faintly and closing her eyes, drifting back into peaceful oblivion.
***
The mighty Hofburg, a monument to Habsburg glory, was usually an imposing sight. That evening, however, it had been made into something marvellous. The city of Wien had truly come alive on that cold winter’s night. Massive banners decorating the walls depicted a black double-headed eagle, the symbol of imperial pride. Light emanated from every window, transforming the royal palace into a great beacon of light even as the rest of Wien became a wonderland of mirth and merriment. In the Zeremoniensaal, the hall of ceremonies, two dozen white marble corinthian columns supported a coffered ceiling from which hung twenty-six ornate crystal chandeliers. Each held fifty wax candles, illuminating the revellers below. The ladies of high society, donning luxurious gowns paired with the loveliest of jewels, danced the evening away with gentlemen in silk tailcoats and uniforms of high office. Guiding them, a great orchestra laboured to fill the gargantuan hall with a pleasant symphony even as the finest products of the imperial kitchens were carried into the room by an army of jolly servants.
An Immortal Dance Page 13
