CHAPTER I

It felt like an eternity had passed since his arrival in the beautiful gardens which had become his home. Indeed perhaps it had been an eternity for there was no sense of time in this mystical place. The sky seldom changed, remaining a brilliant shade of soft aqua peppered with an array of vibrant colours beyond imagining that dazzled the eyes. The pearly white floors would emit a sweet scent of musk upon contact that would refresh the mind and liven one's spirits. Flowers bloomed always and trees stood strong, decorated in priceless jewels that were their leaves. Creatures of all sorts dwelled also in the land and possessed such remarkable beauty as could not be described; each was more beautiful upon sight yet no less beautiful than the other.

But it was the river of wine that Basil found himself always drawn towards. It was a rich red colour that was strikingly magnificent against the pale floors and gentle sky. It was a colour fierce and captivating and flawless in every way possible. Its appearance was intoxicating to the eyes though when consumed it would not alter the mind as wine should. Its taste was sweet and cool. It would swim in one's mouth and dance exotically with one's tongue before igniting all that it touched with a fiery passion just for a moment and would then dissipate as suddenly as it had begun.

Basil would often sit by the river in peaceful solitude, content to simply watch and be absorbed by the luscious red before him. At times a sudden urge would overcome him and he would cup his hands and drink generously from the pool, but otherwise spent his time simply gazing.

Heaven the creatures in his attendance would answer whenever he asked where he was; you are in heaven. He would wonder why they said that, what they could mean by it. A retort would form on his lips but would quickly die away as he could not collect his thoughts. His mind felt hollow at such times and his attendants would only smile before singing in their melodious voices that would make him forget what it was that had concerned him moments earlier.

One day Basil went for a stroll about his gardens with his personal attendant who he had named Adonis. They continued for a seemingly endless period, indulging in idle chatter whenever the moment seemed appropriate. Adonis was special to Basil. He understood that Adonis was an angel, just like his other attendants, but there was a closeness the two of them shared that was lacking amongst the others.

"Sit with me, Adonis," Basil announced when they had reached and halted at the river of wine. Adonis did as he was told, moving closer to Basil as per his gesture. Basil was staring deep into the pool of wine as he spoke; "There's something. Something...that's missing, Adonis." He turned his gaze to meet the eyes of Adonis where it remained for a brief moment before turning back to the river of red. Adonis remained silent and unmoving. "I try to think," Basil continued, "but when I think beyond this place nothing seems to make sense. It's as though a power beyond me wishes me to remain ignorant but I do not wish for that to be so." Adonis stirred a little beside him but Basil took no notice. He turned only when he felt something upon his shoulder. Adonis was watching him intently, a hand placed on his shoulder and a wing hovering just above him, almost protectively yet with a hint of hesitation. Basil closed his eyes and the two of them remained that way for a comfortable period.

Upon hearing the sweet tune of a bird nearby Basil opened his eyes. He watched as the golden bird fluttered around the river, descending as though to drink but ascending without disturbing the surface of the liquid. Intrigued by this curious flight pattern Basil inched closer to the river, leaving behind Adonis, and kneeled before the wine. He scooped up a moderate amount, crossed his legs and beckoned the bird with a low whistle. The bird swooped down and landed with delicate precision on Basil's thumb. With its small red beak, that was a tint darker than that of the liquid, it began to drink. It would frill its feathers with a slight tremor after each mouthful which made Basil smile in earnest.

Its feathers were golden and captured the light from the sky like nothing else did that Basil had seen in his gardens. It was as though the light were designed for the sole purpose of accentuating the beauty of the bird's golden feathers. Its blue eyes Basil noticed next. They were not as bright as the scattered jewels nor did they shine with such brilliance as the eyes of Adonis but the colour was remarkably familiar to Basil and in that moment he deemed it to be the most exquisite blue he had ever seen.

The bird took a final drink from Basil's hand then hopped down beside him. Basil drank the remaining wine and revelled in its effects before turning back to the bird. He had all but forgotten the presence of Adonis who remained as still as a statue where he had left him, a few feet behind.

The bird spread out its wings, flapped them a few times and then was still. There was something about its posture, the way it held its head up, beak slightly parted, legs straight but not stiff and chest slightly puffed giving an appearance of importance and air of nobility to the bird that struck Basil and stirred his thoughts. But that same helpless feeling of ignorance and forgetfulness spread over him. His mind seemed to be a dark abyss wherein no light flickered to guide the wanderer. For the first time since he could recall being present in these gardens Basil felt afraid. He turned quickly in search for Adonis but the wings of Adonis were already wrapped around him, covering him completely and emanating such warmth that he could not describe. At the same time a soft melody played beside his ear and a sweet smell calmed his senses.

"You are unhappy, Master?" Adonis all but whispered when Basil had relaxed in his embrace. Basil did not answer. Was he unhappy? He has all that he could ever wish for and more. If indeed this was heaven and he was served by angels amongst gardens of endless beauty and youth, what could there be that could make him unhappy? But there was something that Basil did not know, did not remember, and that made him uncomfortable and for once it made him afraid of the perfection in which he found himself. "I don't think I should be," Basil murmured. "But you are, correct?" Adonis pressed, gently smoothing out Basil's dark hair. Without a thought Basil found himself respond; "I am." "One cannot be unhappy in heaven, Master Basil, for then it cannot be heaven. For this reason you shall be granted what you wish, even if you are not aware of what it is that you wish for. May I not lose you, Master Basil, for we angels can do only as we are commanded, but if I could have but one thing, that would be to remain with you here forever unchanged. I fear such may not be so, but I was born to be yours, Master Basil, and shall remain as such. Now if you will, take the golden bird between your hands and you shall have that which you desire."

The words of Adonis had a dramatic effect on Basil and he found himself at the centre of a twister of emotions. At first he felt relieved and excited at once as he would finally gain access to the deeper reaches of his mind that had all but been denied to him for so long. Confusion soon dominated his feelings as Basil failed to understand the meaning of Adonis's words. He became uncertain then if he should indeed proceed with his request, or wish as Adonis had called it. He did not know what he would find or what it all would mean but was that not why he wished to know? He reached out for the bird then hesitated, his hand remaining as still as stone in the air.

Basil felt a warmth come over his hand, guiding it towards the bird upon which his eyes were set, and realised that it was the hand of Adonis that was guiding him. Upon grabbing the bird Adonis released his hand and Basil brought it close to his chest to hold with both of his. The bird did not react in the slightest and seemed content to be in the restrains of Basil's hands.

In that moment a bright yellow, blue and red light shone from Basil's hands and he was forced to close his eyes whilst his mind was opened. It was in that instant that everything that Basil had been and had known came back to him. The light faded and Basil slowly opened his eyes. He felt the warm thumb of Adonis wiping away a stray tear that was streaming down his face. He closed his eyes again as fresh tears threatened to spill and uttered the words: "Dorian Gray."