I smiled, I loved seeing her this enthralled with my story. “Sheep. We had sheep.”
“Wow. That is awesome.”
I nodded. “I loved tending to the sheep. I spent my afternoons with them most days. When I was ten-years-old, I decided I wanted to be a warrior and since Art lived by my example, he decided to be one as well. We took our warrior oath in front of the Árd-shagart that year, and began to train with the Laochra ceannaire of the village,” I saw the confusion on her face and clarified “Árd-shagart means High Priest, and Laochra ceannaire is our warrior leader or chief warrior.”
“Oh,” she said then frowned. “You became a warrior at the age of ten? You were a child?”
I nodded. “It is tradition that a boy will choose what kind of man he will become at the age of twelve, but my… Our lives had severely changed the year before, and I needed to become a man. Look after my brother. So I chose to be a warrior and began my training.”
Her frown deepened. “How did it change, what happened? And your parents didn’t care that you were training so young? You and your brother?”
I stiffened. My parents were not a matter I wished to discuss. “Please forgive me, for I would rather not converse about it, my Goddess.”
I could see the confusion in her eyes. “No I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have asked. Did you like training to be a warrior?”
I relaxed a bit. A small smile grazed my lips. The memory of those days was a sweet one, yet it was tinged with sadness.
“Yes, I was very excited about choosing my life path and training for it. I wanted to be the bravest warrior, the finest there ever was. I trained every day. I began as soon as the sun awoke and finished only when it was time to go to bed. I wanted to be a warrior more than anything.” I chuckled. “My poor brother, bless him. He was younger but stood beside me and fought as hard as he could to learn as much as I did. He managed to endure. I am really proud of him. He gave it all he had to be by my side. It was tough for him at times, I knew he struggled and I helped him as much as I was capable of. But he had a strong determination. He pushed on. No matter what challenge was thrown at him. I became a warrior because it was my passion, and my duty. He became a warrior for me.”
I raised my gaze from my hands to her. My mind returned to the present and my breath lodged in my throat. She was gazing upon me with a look I could not quite describe but it stole my breath away. And it was in that moment that I realized what the strange feeling I had been experiencing around her all this time was.
I wanted desperately to kiss her.
Claim her lips in such a way that left her gasping for air. I desired to kiss her so deeply that no space existed between our lips and only her sighs slipped through. My eyes went to her lips in response to my thoughts. I wished more than anything that she believed I was real. I wanted to court her, to hold her hand. Feel the warmth of her skin touching mine. I wanted to love her. She blushed looking into my eyes and I knew she had guessed my thoughts towards her. I swallowed the lump in my throat. My eyes gazed upon her lips once more and I stood up before I could do something foolish. Something I greatly coveted but knew I should not attempt.
“My sincerest apologies my Goddess, but I must leave. May I please visit you tonight?”
She looked at me with longing and my heart constricted in my chest. This was not the time, nor the place for our lips to meet. I must not…
She blinked and nodded. “Yes, I’ll see you tonight.” She offered me a smile.
“Then I shall see you then, My Goddess.” I said with a slight bow and turned around walking to the room of copies to make my escape. Escape. Yes, I was fleeing from her. I did not consider myself strong enough not to kiss her at the moment.
I walked into my hut and opened the trunk, pulling out my journal. I took the cloth containing my plume and ink and sat on the table. I dipped the tip of in the bottle and I closed my eyes, the images of my Goddess came to me. I placed my hand on the paper and began to write…
“There is nothing on this earth,
As exquisite as your lips.
And I have tasted worthy feasts,
The richest wines, the sweetest meads.
There is something about them Mo ban-dia,
That could drive any man mad.
Their curves, their shade, and lushness,
They are truly a work of art.
One touch and I will see the Blessed Isles.
One taste and I will completely be yours.
And I will never be able to leave you,
For I want your lips, your heart, your all…”
*
BRIANA
I walked towards the entrance of the building at the same time Grandpa walked towards me. It was the end of the day and finally time to go home. He opened the door with a smile on his face and kissed my cheek.
“My beautiful little bee, you look happy. How was your day, sweetheart?”
I smiled wide, and I stepped outside. “I am very happy. I had lunch with Lia and it was amazing. She’s so funny and sweet. She was born and raised here in Seattle but her grandmother was from Latin America and so is her mom. She speaks fluent Spanish and I think I’m going to ask her to teach me. Can you believe that? That would be amazing right? Oh! And she knows so much about Auras. Do you know what auras are? They are an extension of your essence and represent who you are. They are like a band of energy around you and they have different colors. Every color signifies a different thing, and the more you have, the more ‘special’ your aura is. Well that’s what she said, anyway. She can see them and she saw mine. I have four different colors, isn’t that amazing? Oh, your essence is your soul by the way,” I stopped when he opened the car door for me and looked at him. There was a confused and maybe a bit alarmed expression on his face. I cringed. Crapola, I shouldn’t have given him all that info, he’s going to think Lia is a weirdo.
“Don’t worry Grandpa, I’m just kidding,” I added sitting in the car, but I feared it was too late to revert my screw up. He nodded absentmindedly and closed the door walking around to the driver’s side. I sighed. I was completely fascinated by what Lia could do but Grandpa might get spooked and there goes my “friends allowance,” we remained silent on the way home. I kept glancing at him while he looked at the road with a strange expression on his face. I silently begged whoever was listening, for him not to get creeped out by what I told him and change his mind about me meeting new people. I stepped out of the car when we parked outside our townhome, and looked at him again while he walked beside me to the door. His silence was killing me.
“Are you ok, Grandpa? You are not like regretting your decision of urging me to have friends, because of what I told you, are you?”
He stopped and turned to look at me with so much love my heart sighed. He gave me my favorite smile and cupped my face.
“Of course not my little Bee. I’m happy for you. I’m so glad you made a friend and that she is such an interesting young lady. She sounds wonderful sweetheart. I’d love to meet her one of these days. You should bring her home.”
I beamed. “Really Grandpa?” He chuckled and kissed my forehead then turned to open the door.
“Yes sweetheart. Absolutely. Don’t mind me, I’m just not feeling too well. I think I’m coming down with something.”
My protective instincts kicked in and I raised my hand to his forehead, “you are a bit warm but nothing major. What are you feeling? Is it the flu? Did you take something? Maybe you shouldn’t go to work tonight. Stay home and rest.”
He chuckled. “I’ll be fine. I think you might be right, it feels like the flu but I already took something for it. No need to worry about your old man. Now go inside and lock the door. I’ll be back in the morning to take you to work.”
He kissed my cheek and stepped back giving me room to pass. I nodded and went into the house, still worried about him. I sat by the window and watched him until he drove away.
I stepped out of the shower and looked at my refl
ection in the mirror. I remembered my conversation with Cyn. He had spoken so beautifully about his brother. There was so much feeling and devotion in his words. There was also a hint of despair in them. He had looked so lost at one point I wanted to hug him. I had actually wanted to reach for him and touch him. Give him comfort. I’m not sure what happened to his parents but from his reaction it could not have been anything good. Could he be an orphan like me? Could my subconscious have created him that way, so I would relate to him? Was Cyn really in my mind?
“Sometimes he seems so… real.”
I wasn’t sure what I thought anymore. When he looked at me again after speaking about his brother with so much emotion… the way he looked at me. My lips. I was sure he wanted to kiss me. There was need in his eyes. The same need I felt when I looked at him. The truth is I wanted to kiss him too.
“Oh sweet mother of all things Looney, I’m seriously crazy.”
I sighed and considered what I was thinking. He couldn’t possibly be real… I mean… could he? No, he couldn’t. But I did want to kiss him, so badly. It was a good thing he left because in that moment all I felt was the need to kiss him. Another minute and I probably would have thrown myself at him and face planted the wall behind him.
He isn’t real Bri. Pull yourself together!
Those dimples were doing a number on me.
“I wonder if you can actually nibble a dimple,” I sighed. His tempting, sensual dimples were only the beginning. The way I felt with him was the worst part, or the best, depending on how you look at it.
“Considering he isn’t real, I’d say the worst,” however, I still loved talking to him and then there was this feeling inside me I couldn’t decipher. Whatever it was, it was strong. Something pulled me to him, like we belonged and I so didn’t want to resist.
I would love to throw myself at him, arms and legs and don’t let go until he issues a restraining order. Then ignore it and do it all over again. I mean it would totally be worth the jail time.
His lips had to be the most luscious thing I’d ever seen. “I’m sorry Chris Hemsworth, but Cyn wins hands down,” I placed my fingertips on my lips, tracing their curve and the tingling I felt when he looked at them returned. His heavy gaze had felt like a touch on my skin and I liked it. If he kissed me, it would be my first kiss. Needleless to say I’ve never had a boyfriend.
“I’d love to feel his lips on mine,” I whispered closing my eyes and imagining it. I sighed.
“Yeah keep thinking like that and the next couture item you’ll wear will be a straight-jacket,” I made a face at myself and went downstairs to the kitchen. I proceeded to take the dry dishes out of the dishwasher and placed them in the cabinets. I cleaned the counters and replaced the trash bags that Grandpa had taken out. I sat on the sofa and grabbed the remote. I was about to turn on the TV when the little hairs along my arms stood up. The tingling spread across my skin and I smiled. Cyn was here. I threw the remote on the sofa and rushed upstairs. When I stepped into my room I found him standing next to the window. The light of the moon illuminated his face so beautifully. I wished he were real.
“My Goddess,” he said still looking at the sky and I smiled.
Turning around I closed the door and walked to him. “Hi Cyn, what are you looking at?” I stood on the other end of the window.
“Na reultan,” he answered. I looked up at the sky. It was magnificent in its starlight beauty.
“The stars?” I asked taking a guess and looked up at him.
He smiled and turned towards me. When his eyes settled on mine my heart did a little dance. I sighed. I was doomed. He nodded, and looked at the sky again.
“For my people, the sky holds the pages of our true history and future. It is written there for us with cosmic clarity. It has been inscribed by each and every one of our ancestors and it is our connection to them. The stars are their light shining down on us. They are gone but their essence never dies. Some await there, resting peacefully until it is their time to be born once again and rejoin us. Our souls continue on. They live again, once they leave this body and are reborn either in this world or the next. We are constantly renewed.”
He spoke with such reverence it made me believe every word. My eyes were fixed on him while he spoke. “And the moon?”
He looked towards the moon and smiled, then looked at my face. “The moon is our Ghaolach iùl, our loving guide. She lights our way at every turn during her cycles. Thus we can follow our path and achieve spiritual growth through knowledge and understanding of our existence in all existences.”
“Do you worship the moon? I mean, is she your Goddess?”
He looked at my lips for a second before looking at my eyes and a chill ran down my spine. He raised his hand towards my cheek. So close, that I could almost feel his warmth. The back of his fingers moved down slowly, like he was caressing my skin. More than ever I wished he were real so I could touch him. Feel him.
“No. My Goddess shines much too brightly to be compared to the moon.”
He answered and let his hand drop back to his side. I followed his movement and noticed it trembling slightly. He closed it tight. My cheek tingled like he had in fact touched my skin. But he couldn’t. He wasn’t real.
The blush spread on my cheeks. “Do you believe in God?”
“Not the way mortals do,” he answered without explanation. “Do you?”
I shrugged. “Not really. We’ve never been religious people. We are more spiritual than anything else. We believe in not harming others, in always being kind and helping anyone who is within our capacity to help. In being honest, and always remain true to ourselves. But I do believe that there is something out there. That guides us and helps us along the way. I’m not sure if it’s a God or a Goddess. I’m not sure what to believe. I just know there has to be. This world is way too amazing to have been created by accident. I believe there is a reason and purpose for all of us, and everything around us,” I said looking at the stars again. He smiled.
I looked at him again. I was absolutely fascinated by him.
“Tell me about the magic.”
CHAPTER 8. INNOCENT
CYNWRIG
I kneeled on the bed before her while she laid the beach pebble between us. I smiled when I remembered her picking the stones on the beach. It was forever engraved in my mind.
“Ok this is totally silly because in reality, my mind is going to come up with someway for me to experience your magic trick. But I’m still excited so go ahead.” She said clapping her hands enthusiastically.
I chuckled and waved my fingers above the stone.
“Os cionn Mo pailme.”
The stone lifted from the bed and followed my hand. I turned it, and it hovered above it not touching my skin. She clapped again.
“Oh sweet mother of… I did not expect that at all,” she said with a small gasp then giggled. Her hand went to the bed. She patted the place where the stone had been a moment ago and tried to make sure it was no longer there.
I smiled seeing the twinkle in her eyes. Her innocence and lack of knowledge about my world was utterly endearing.
“Fhathast”—remain. I whispered.
The stone shimmered with the magic transferred and I removed my hand leaving it floating in the air.
Her eyes grew wide. She gazed at the stone hovering by itself above the bed, then at me with wonder.
“You may touch it if you wish.”
She pointed her index finger and slowly moved it towards the stone. Her eyes went to mine once more before poking it with her fingertip. She squealed when the stone wobbled but remained in the air. I laughed when she looked at me with wide eyes.
“Yep, I’m going to need a lot of therapy after this.”
I laughed again, and she chuckled continuing to poke the stone.
“Place your palm under it,” I instructed and she squealed again but complied.
“Leig”—Let go.
The stone fell onto her palm. She yelped a
nd threw the stone on the bed seizing her hand with the other and pressing it onto her chest. She looked at the stone as if it was a spider that had attacked her. I laughed. She opened it and looked at her palm then at the stone then and finally at me. Reaching for the stone she touched it carefully, then frowned and held it in her hand.
“How did you? Where did I…? How did my…? I…”
She frowned once more, without finishing the thought and I chuckled.
“I am not a product of your mind, my Goddess. I am real. It’s my magic connecting to the stone’s essence.” She looked at me as though she did not believe me, which was to be expected.
“Show me something else.”
I smiled. “Very well, this is something I have been able to do ever since I was a child. I began to experience it while asleep and it was my brother Art who brought it to my attention. It is the way I first realized that the magic was inside me. My elemental connection was strong.”
I gestured towards the bed, silently asking her permission and waited. She gazed at me, then the bed and finally nodded. I lay down and rested on my back. Closing my eyes, I took a deep breath and concentrated. I willed my body to relax and enter a deep state of ease, similar to the one we experience when asleep. Without needing to utter a word I felt the tingling spread through my body and the rush of magic coursed through me. I felt as light as a feather and I welcomed it. The next second, I heard her gasp. I smiled. Opening my eyes I found her hands cupping her mouth while she looked all around us. The small objects in her room where all floating a few inches from where they first rested. And so was I. She began to laugh in amazement. She got up and walked to the closest object. Her necklace floated above her night table. She touched it with the tip of her finger and it drifted away from her. She went to her vanity table and began to push the items in the air, playing with them, laughing and gasping when they bounced off her hands. She tried to catch them once they drifted. I felt accomplished seeing the joy in her eyes. She was truly mesmerizing. Her gaze returned to me and she gasped covering her mouth once more.
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