Every night Harry dreamt that he was with Damian and how they would be together, they’re forever in his dreams. Every day was so hard; living became worthless if Damian’s bright, healing smile and sweet laughter were not there filling up his world every minute of every second of every day. Harry’s passion, his fire, his zest for life had died; it had died that day he was told Damian had been killed in the attack on his former home of Mul.
He never wanted to wake up from those sweet dreams.
-_-_-_-_-
One day, as Damian strolled along the road thinking about life, how Harry was doing, if he had met someone and was happy now, and, how dull the water had looked since Harry left his side. Without warning a sweet-smelling Li had stepped out of seemingly nowhere with a broad smile. The startle caused Damian to yelp and jump back a little.
“Li! Hey, I didn’t expect to see you here. What are you doing here anyway? ” Damian queried his long-time friend and laughed awkwardly. Li stood there staring intensely at Damian; Li had intense eyes, but when she spoke, her voice was the most gentle and soft voice Damian had ever heard, it felt like water flowing over his ears when Li spoke.
“Hi, Damian. I just wanted to talk to you. Alone…” Li started, clearly shy about something. Normally she was a bit more open and less shy in front of Damian and Kalendra, especially as Kalendra was her best friend.
Damian smiled widely and nodded for Li to carry on, as the pair made their way to the labyrinthine central waterfall gardens. The gardens were filled with waterfalls and flowing water acting as walls. Some water flowed backwards and some whooshed through the air at random intervals only it was privy to, causing a roar of giggles from nearby children running around and head-shaking parents watching on as the kids got drenched.
“Well, I, umm, I know you haven’t been the same since Harry left, and well, uhhh, no one has really”, she trailed off before carrying on eventually. “I mean you both really took care of me when we were younger and from those bullies as well as other kids, you guys were like, I dunno, the dream team or something, heh, but, I know how much you hurt because I too know what it’s like to love someone from afar, never knowing how they feel about you”. She looked down at her feet which were shuffling awkwardly.
Damian was slow sometimes but he wasn’t that slow, “Li, umm, are you saying that you are in love with me!?!”
“Yes! I am! I have always been in love with you, Damian, and all I want is to love you, to take away your pain of losing Harry. It’s been ten years. I, I want to help you…like you helped me all those years ago.” Li said softly, the emotion dripping from her every word; she stepped closer to Damian and pulled him into a tight hug.
Damian could do nothing but relent, all he wanted was to be loved and be held. He knew that he and Harry would never be able to love each other; well, not physically at least, they would never be able to hold each other, hold hands, or make love. But Li, she was there, she was always there for Damian and he never even realised. As the scales fell from Damian’s eyes, he began to cry and hugged Li tightly; it felt so good to be able to hold another and be there through the good, the bad, the happy and the sad times.
Li’s voice soothed Damian into a calmer state and the pair pulled away; he then reached up to Li’s face and gave her a small kiss on the lips. He realised he did love Li. At least in a small way, where the love would grow. Tearfully, Damian said “I…I never realised that you were always there for me, Li, loving me and helping me in your own way. I’m sorry for crying on you.” He laughed awkwardly and whispered, “Yes, let’s try dating.” He flashed his bright smile at her. The pair giggled and started to walk in no particular direction.
Stopping suddenly, Li turned to Damian and said, “I don’t want to, nor can I ever replace Harry, but I am here and will try to be the best girlfriend I can be!”. Li said and smiled sweetly, while pulling Damian in for another kiss, this time it was a deep and loving kiss, and then the pair shared another long tight hug.
“Ahh shit! I gotta go, my parents will kill me if I'm late for dinner again! I’ll call you Damian my darling!” Li said as she gave Damian another light kiss on his cheek and went running off happy.
Damian just stood there, lost in thoughts, as he touched his lips carefully, remembering his first kiss. The kiss he had shared with Harry. He had many questions, too many questions.
He thought to himself, ‘Harry, are you okay? I’m sorry I am dating now, I hope you are happy.’
Damian’s mind was full of all sorts. He shook his head and made his way back home, trying to clear his head.
The days went on, filled with growing affections and more holding hands and sweet kisses and joyful days out with Kalendra, their close friend from school and Li’s best friend. The years began to fly by and still no word from Harry, yet, there was always a part of Damian yearning to be with Harry, yearning to find out what happened to him. Damian could always feel a ‘pull’ towards Onyx and the land of Fire and Brimstone. He could never shake this inexplicable pull, this little warm ball of love for Harry deep in his heart.
Every night in his dreams he met Harry and the pair enjoyed each other's company as if no time had passed at all and were as happy as could be, he never wanted those dreams to end.-_-_-_-_-
The airship made its way through the air smoothly and swiftly; it was made of dark stained wood, with white highlights featuring gold embellishments of the clouds, moon, stars and the sun. It looked regal and yet somehow warm and inviting.
Will stood on one side, staring in awe at the various terrains and bodies of water passing by below. He was wearing a powdery blue-silver set of robes, which showed off part of his firm and toned body; he looked beautiful and strong, yet soft and vulnerable. His blond hair with its gold and silver highlights moved daintily in the wind as if they were controlling themselves with their own personal wind machine.
‘I wonder what kind of horrors might greet me? I wonder what this Harry guy will be like? It says here, that Damian is alive and Mul is in perfect condition. It seems that Onyx has cut all ties with Mul as a way of hiding its true intentions. Sources say that everyone has been informed that ties have been cut, due to the level of devastation to the Kingdom of the Bards of the Waves. Hmm, but how am I going to convince him?’ Will pondered to himself, then shook these thoughts from his head as they approached the scorched, yet somehow pleasantly green lands of Onyx. His mind wandered again, ‘Hmm, will I find love out here in this big world? Out on my own, this big adventure.' The airship let its anchor down and two men hooked up the massive chains to large posts in the ground.
Stepping off gingerly, Will immediately felt a difference in the air. It was warmer, but in a thick heavy way, like the air had been tainted by ash, dust and fire, and who knows what else. Looking around and up a little, some clouds parted at that moment revealing a giant volcano, and yes, it was active, not devastatingly so, but still active. ‘Ah, that would be the reason the air is so thick and the land surprisingly lush’, he said to himself while making his way to the immigration bridge.
A cheerful woman stood by a booth at the other end of the ornate iron bridge. It was a beautifully constructed piece of art. The woman took people’s tickets and welcomed them into the city, and also directed them to another cheerful copy of herself. “Must be twins”, Will thought. It looks like the second lady is in charge of information. She too was standing by a booth but a little farther down the path.
“Hello! And welcome to the fire capital of the world! Onyx! Ah, are you visiting from The Sanctum? Those robes are from there….yes?” the woman said with a glint of cheekiness in her eyes.
Will smiled and nodded, “That’s right. This is my first time away actually! It’s all so very exciting! Actually, I was a bit...um, dubious about visiting Onyx.” he continued shyly, but needed to clear his mind and get some information.
“Oh!? Why is that?” She laughed. Without waiting for an answer, she went on “we all know the world thinks Onyx is a dark and dreadful place! But it really isn’t! It’s super interesting and exciting! We have so much to offer!” Pointing at her twin, she said “my sister over there at the information booth can give you more information about the city and the surrounding areas! Oh yes, ticket please”. As she took it from Will’s hand, she continued with her boundless enthusiasm “I have ALWAYS wanted to visit the Sanctum! I hear the boys there are just dreamy! Ahhh! And your singers and dancers! Oh, my good gods!”. Suddenly, she appeared to have finally remembered she was meant to be working, she stopped suddenly, “Ahem…oh, sorry! Pardon me, please do have a good stay here! NEXT!” The woman bellowed and tried to calm down by fanning herself after Will had walked off towards the information booth with a bemused expression plastered on his face.
“Hello! Your sister told me to--” Will started but was cut off.
“I know, I saw her getting all giddy over there, from the Sanctum right? Cool! So, what would you like to know about our city, cutie?” The woman was cool, calm, sophisticated and, somehow looked more mature than her twin sister.
“Oh! Ahh…well, umm, I was a bit worried about com--”
“Oh! That’s okay! Everyone feels the same way until they actually get here and explore the city for themselves. Here is a map of the city, you will definitely need it! Anything else I may help you with?”
“Ah! Thank you.” Taking the map from the lady’s hand. Will tried to catch her gaze before she shouted ‘NEXT!’ like her twin sister earlier. Luckily, it didn’t seem like she was in a rush to get rid of him yet as she was scanning the details of his robes from the bottom up. When her eyes finally met his, he asked in a hopeful tone “I am actually looking for an old pen pal of mine, I know his father is a blacksmith but umm, that’s all I know.”.
“Hmm, blacksmith…” “There are quite a few blacksmiths in the city. Though at the moment, they are all still under the employment of the great Mistress Nuria. That means you’d want to go to the central housing area in that case. That’s where all the key workers are housed. It’s a lavish area, but I’m sure someone like you can get in without any problem. By the way, please don’t be scared by our city and please do not judge our city, Mistress Nuria may be a strong and powerful leader, but she cares deeply for her people and the prosperity of Onyx. She does things that may seem harsh, but are necessary for the best of the Missdom. The city is actually full of attractions, parks, clubs, bars, restaurants and leisure places! Please, enjoy it all and oh, we have daily excursions to Mount Pyre and into the Forests of Burn, where both places have unique and special animals and wildlife.” Will thanked her for the information, although most of it was clearly a speech she had delivered many times before and turned to leave before she called out again, “Oh! And one more thing, be careful of any signs that say keep out! Those are places where only a very particular type of people live and go...” The woman said with a genuinely warm smile as she turned away to serve the next tourist.
Will wandered off to the exit of the immigration area. Armed with a map and his air powers, he should be able to locate this Harry in no time at all.
‘Gosh those two sisters, they were a bit…mm, odd. I hope the people here aren’t all like them.’ Will thought to himself as he was greeted with what seemed like a billion people rushing about the city, going about their day-to-day business, merchants touting their wares and even some people from the Sanctum had already begun trading with the locals. Music played from somewhere unknown and people talking and laughing about something nearby, added to the rich and colourful cityscape he was taking in. The smell of hot air was mixed with chargrilled food, roasted vegetables and some nearby bakeries, making the air much sweeter and tastier now that he was paying attention. It all made his stomach growl at the delicious scents carried along the airways and so off he went towards the busiest of bakeries.
Comments (0)
See all