A woman Kaisa has never laid eyes upon is force-fed every day. She is kept in a room down the hall. In the mornings you can hear her sobs followed by a door slamming shut as a disgruntled 'Pant leaves her room. This begins a countdown of five door slams until the 'Pant reaches Kaisa's shared room. She must be out of bed and clothed before then or else her and her cells mate would be eating their breakfast off the floor.
SLAM.
Kaisa is in no rush this morning for she is already dressed.
SLAM.
'She' woke Kaisa early by wrapping her warm body around her's. This, however, was not what caused Kaisa to bolt upright with red cheeks. Every night 'She' slips under Kaisa's covers neglecting 'Her' own bed. What was so shocking was the feel of 'Her' nude flesh under her fingers when Kaisa wrapped an arm around 'Her' waist. All 'She' did was chuckle and pull the girl down beside 'Her' where she was encased in naked arms.
SLAM.
Cheeks aflame, Kaisa stayed awake as 'She' drifted off.
We are going to get out of here.
SLAM.
'She' never wakes at the sound of doors slamming. It is always Kaisa who must kiss 'Her' awake. A memory drifts across the girl's weary mind… 'She' smiles, "If you want me up, you'll have to lay one on, otherwise, I sleep as long as I want."
SLAM.
Kaisa untangles herself from 'Her' limp, burning arms. Such words were exchanged between the two women within their first week together. 'She' had instantly become enamored by Kaisa. It was such bold interest and latent attention that prevented Kaisa from taking her own life. There was no more privacy.
She knows all.
Kaisa is standing in front of the door when the 'Pant walks in. He is holding two trays that Kaisa quickly snatched from him before he can toss them to the ground. It was the same practiced dance every day only the song changed.
"Good day."
"Careful pet, the Boss wouldn't like to see us chatting. She caught Byron the other day with Stacy."
The gruff man walked around the room his fingers running along the surface of the small desk she had positioned in the corner by the 'window'.
"Tonight, I will come visit you and 'er, pet, so don't barricade the door like you did the one time." Kaisa rolled her eyes in response.
Of course, he would choose to bring that up. In my defense, the new meds Dr. Wyzel put me on made me extra paranoid.
His voice was very hushed when he said this. Fingers pulling on the air vent on the floor by my bed, he exclaimed loudly, "You 'aven't been messin' 'round with 'ere vent, 'ave yous? I'll come back with me tools later, can't 'ave you gettin' out." With this he stood and walked to the door. His eyes are sad, but not pitying.
"Good day, Kaisa."
The door slams shut and the electronic lock makes a depressing click. Ms. Malvic must have bugged the 'Pants again. Now that the Human Rights Activists had moved on to other facilities there was no reason for her to play nice. She had regressed back to her true, evil nature. In fact, now she's worse than before. Kaisa could see why Vic was taking precaution.
Kaisa's eyes glanced to 'Her' slender frame still fast asleep in the shared bed. It is true that 'She' won't wake unless Kaisa kisses 'Her'. 'She' is truly that stubborn. Once she had simply refused to kiss 'Her' and 'She' had slept for two whole days. Eventually, Kaisa had succumbed partially due to lonliness and partially because the Doctors were considering "putting her down and getting rid of just another problem". It had made the young girl furious. Well, as furious as she could be under the influence of suppressants.
Kaisa grabbed the blanket off the abandoned bed and spread it out on the floor before putting the trays down. The furniture in the room was lacking a table and the desk was not large enough to be a substitute. Thus, the two tended to eat stretched out on the cold stone floor. Kaisa never ate with this much formality before her cell mate. There was no reason to. 'She' was the first and only to room with Kaisa. No one else in the facility was allowed to have a companion. The Boss allowed it because without 'Her' Kaisa was aggressive and beyond difficult to control. Whispers that drift from inmate to inmate often speak of Ms. Malvic having a fascination with a particular female inmate… No one dares to say who they believe it to be. Either out of respect or out of fear is unknown.
The mattress compressed under the pressure of the girl's knees and hands as Kaisa approached 'Her'. She tossed her leg over her cellmate and shifted into a straddle. The thin blanket hid 'Her' nude form. For a while, Kaisa simply observed. Eyes flitting over the way 'She' laid on 'Her' back, a hand fisted in 'Her' hair. Kaisa's eyes study 'Her' slumbering face.
A burning spreads though out Kaisa and she places her hands on the sides of the woman's head. The girl leaned down and her cold, clammy lips collide with 'Her' warm ones.
Spice…
And warmth.
Soon 'Her' body begins to move beneath Kaisa's. Twin gasps escape parted lips. A beautiful sound of surprise fills the air. 'Her' body arches, bursting forth with life.
… like mother's moonflowers…
Yes, 'She' was such flowers blooming under silver glow. 'She' is born from the light that only presents itself in the darkness. In a way, this is much like the two women's relationship. The darkness that clings to the facility was pierced by the glow that was Kaisa to bring forth the bloom in 'Her'. To make 'Her' into the flower that Kaisa will one day pluck.
'Her' arms wrap around the girl's waist pulling her down under the woman. This caused a bright red glow to Kaisa's cheeks as the blanket no longer hid 'Her' body. The kiss had ended to draw air into starved lungs. 'Her' hand rose up to stroke raven hair.
"Why so shy? This is nothing you haven't seen before."
Had Kaisa met the woman's eyes she would have seen 'She' was smiling. It was true what 'She' was saying. Kaisa had seen her naked during shower time, getting dressed and strip-searches… but for some reason this was different. The context was something darker… more lustful.
With a final chuckle 'Her' smile turned into a determined look. 'She' kissed the girl's chilled forehead and her eyes fluttered shut. 'She' loved Kaisa's eyes. They did not hide the girl's true nature with their burnt orange hue flecked with amber. Despite the girl's current submissive behavior her eyes were feline, predatory and framed with long dark lashes. 'Her' thumb grazed the skin beneath such eyes that were rimmed red no doubt from lack of sleep. Kaisa's mind was dark and powerful and tended to keep her up.
…I keep her up sometimes too…
"I have made a promise to get you out of here and I will make good on that promise, Adara." Those words are what Kaisa clings to every time she is scheduled for electrotherapy or carted to the doctor's office for a physical that left her feeling dirty. Filled with a sense of security, the raven beauty leaned up to press a chaste kiss of 'Her' lips. That name, Adara, only 'She' called Kaisa by such. The woman had begun referring to the girl by such when she found out Kaisa possessed soulfyre.
"Kaisa is no name for such a rare and fiery creature with the likes of you. You need a name that is fire. You will be my Adara."
Never once did Kaisa argue against the new name. Had her life been different Kaisa would have been given a fire name instead of hiding behind an ice name. Majority of the population would continue to call Kaisa by Kaisa but that was quite fine as she was 'Her' Adara.
"Come, get up. I'll get dressed and then we will eat." 'She' shimmied off Kaisa and shuffled over to the small chest in the corner. 'Her' grace and fluidity had the ravenette enrapt. Muscles coiled and rippling like a snake 'She' shimmied into a thin linen dress. Kaisa never saw 'Her' smirk since the woman was turned away from her. 'She' knew the younger woman liked to watch 'Her' get dressed. The woman loved the attention and often would sway her hips a little more as 'She' walked or roll 'Her' shoulders so that the muscles bunched. Kaisa's gaze was never truly lustful. It was a gaze full of innocent adoration with perhaps just a hint of attraction. That didn't mean that Kaisa wasn't attracted to her cell mate. The young woman quite liked the kisses, the cuddling, and the gliding of fingers over bodies. However, her actions weren't driven by carnal urges that you sometimes saw in the eyes of other cell mates. The feeling wasn't love, not quite yet, but it was this feeling Kaisa experienced that made all the better meal for the woman.
"Did Vic come today? I've been trying to track the rotations for the council." 'She' shrugged on a deep red sweater and untucked her hair before turning to Kaisa.
"Um… yes, he did. I have reason to believe Madmoiselle Malvic is bugging them again. The rotation might change now too."
'She' frowned and buttoned the sweater. This, of course, was not for 'Her' sake but Kaisa's. In about ten minutes, 'She' will complain that 'She' likes the young woman's light grey sweater more and beg to trade. 'She' knows Kaisa would never take 'Her' sweater without good cause. The young woman feared for 'Her' health which was sweet but stupid since 'Her' core temperature was a lot warmer than 98.6 degrees and 'She' was immune to any non-magical illnesses. The woman knows that Kaisa is constantly frozen stiff when in facility walls due to her condition. Therefore, 'She' found a loophole. It seemed 'She' always knew when Kaisa's sweater was no longer warm and the pair would repeatedly switch throughout the day.
"Why would the rotations change if she is just going back to her usual bitchy self?" The two sat down on the blanket and began eating the same breakfast that was serve to them every day. Kaisa took a bite of dry toast not necessarily hungry but needing the extra time to collect herself to voice her concerns to the woman she spends her literal every waking moment with. It was when swallowing the bread proved to be difficult with the lump in her throat that she realized delaying would not make this any easier for either of them.
"Do you remember when Stacy told you, well us, that she had found someone? Someone special, that is. Remember she wouldn't tell you what they looked like or their name?"
'She' looked up from the bowel of mush that was supposed to pass for oatmeal with a curious and playful glint in her eye. Stacy had made her secret a game of sorts for 'Her'. During Rec. time, if more important matters were not to be discussed, Stacy would have 'Her' guess who her suitor was across a game of illegal poker. It was a sacred time meant to make the both of them forget where they were and act like girls in their twenties again. Perhaps, this was so hard for Kaisa to share because the girls, while not bonded over trials and blood, were close.
"Yeah, of course. How come?"
Kaisa watched as the playfulness ebbed away and way replaced with concern and she swallowed around the lump once more. Her tongue felt like lead in her mouth and she fought hard to find the words and no, they weren't in English, but it was the best she could do.
"Elle aime… adors Monsieur Byron. Or… she did? Um," Kaisa licked her lips and blinked away tears. "Mademoiselle Malvic a compris ce qu'ils faissent. Je pense… je pense qu'ils pourraient etre… morts." A more than inappropriate laugh fell from Kaisa's lips before a strangled moan that brought a torrent of tears and harsh sobs. Stacy had been a good friend and an even better ally and Kaisa could appreciate the relationship she had with her cell mate. She still didn't think it was her place to show so much emotion when 'She' had more reason to grieve, so Kaisa tried to hide her sorrow in her hands. This action was what had the older woman reacting after such a shock. Having known Kaisa for what seemed like two and a half years now 'She' knew how the younger girl would handle a situation like this. More than likely she would feel sad, then feel guilty for feeling sad, then feel angry for feeling guilty before the cycle would repeat, with varying levels of intensity. The older woman held bore no ill-will towards Kaisa. Grieving was healthy and different for everyone. 'She' found it easiest to pull through hard times when 'She' felt useful. This often meant 'She' would take extra care of 'Her' Adara during hard times.
Dishes clanged when 'She' dropped them before gathering the young girl in 'Her' arms. 'She' rocked and cooed into the ravenette's ear. Most of which were sweet nothings until Kaisa's breathing began to slow, not back to normal, but not on the verge of hyperventilating. It was then 'She' tried to reason with her.
"Oh, Adara. Hush, hush. We can't possibly be sure of that until we see the bodies ourselves. For all we know Stacy could have been transferred or tossed into solitary for a few weeks. I know it doesn't sound pleasant but… it's better than the alternatives."
Small, frozen fingers curled into the front of 'Her' linen dress instantly warmed by 'Her' blazing skin. 'She' rocked and Kaisa sobbed and 'Her' voice continued to carry sweet nothings. It wasn't the words that mattered at the moment but the sound of 'Her' voice and the warm puffs of air being blown across Kaisa's neck which helped calm her. The dismal breakfast had been abandoned.
All the while 'She' felt concern and sympathy for Kaisa's loss as 'She' cradled the girl to 'Her'. Little did she know that the tears Kaisa shed were not completely for Stacy. No, a good deal of the salty drops were shed for herself. Kaisa hated that she was being so selfish but she couldn't prevent her mind from producing the thoughts. In her mind if Stacy was dead she was better off. Especially if her lover was also deceased. It meant they were both free from these cold dead walls and brutish ways. That the two could love and be loved without hiding, without fear. Kaisa cried because 'She' was still here. Kaisa cried because 'She' was still here because of Kaisa.
Had her cell mate only been tasked with getting herself out 'She' would have been long gone years ago. However, 'She' had become attached to Kaisa and with Kaisa came the people Kaisa was attached to. Again, the woman held no ill-will towards Kaisa for caring, but Kaisa didn't understand this even after much reassuring. With that the ravenette still lost many hours of sleep thinking about how much of a burden she was to 'Her'. Hours spent thinking on how 'Her' warmth didn't fit this frigid world she found herself trapped in. It was in these hours that a decision was made.
Whatever may come 'She' must escape.
Kaisa leaned away and swiped at her eyes. That was enough self-wallowing for the day. She noticed the breakfast was cold and neither of them had barely eaten a thing. Not as though that would deter them from eating it later.
Later…
Kaisa listened for noises in the hall but there were none other than the wailing of the woman who had recently been force-fed. This meant they still had time before 'Pants would come to escourt them to Church then, if their behavior was up to par, the Rec. room. That's where the inmates swapped information and small items that could be smuggled. All this was done as discretely as possible obviously. If anyone was found out by one of the many authority figures they would become one of the medicated. Don't be fooled. Almost everyone was drugged but not everyone was medicated. There was a difference. Those who were drugged could still operate fairly well and by that they were able to answer certain questions and perform simple tasks. The medicated on the other hand could not move on their own or speak. Often drool dribbled down their chins and their eyes would stare back lifeless. No one wanted to become a medicated.
"We still have some time before the 'Pants come. Do you think you could hold me while I lay down? I can't say I really slept well last night." The question was quiet and timid but the slight quip at the end managed to lighten the air if only slightly.
'She' nodded then smiled and laughed, "How could you possibly know that we still have time?" Before Kaisa could make a move to disengage from 'Her' she was being lifted from the ground in slender, muscled arms. 'She' showed no sign of strain at the action. 'Her' face was serene and loving. This was not lost on Kaisa. She wasn't fat but Kaisa knew her athletic frame wasn't necessarily light. Especially, since the girl stood at 5'9" and yet 'She' cradled her as though she were a small child. It was comforting.
Shaking herself from her daze, Kaisa fixed a smirk on her face trying to keep the conversation light and playful. "Unlike some people I have amazing senses due to not being human." Kaisa knew 'She' wasn't human but she was teasing the older woman in an effort to keep her mind off… other matters. 'She' pouted. Her plan was clearly working.
"Hey, I have incredible senses!" 'She' sat Kaisa carefully on the bed and crawled under the covers after her. They laid there facing each other breathing the same air. Not quite touching but still drawing strength from one another.
Kaisa rolled her eyes and her smirk twitched into a grin. "Doesn't mean shit when you can't use those incredible senses. Shouldn't have bragged so much."
It was 'Her' turn to roll 'Her' eyes, "It's not my fault those jealous assholes keep me on those fucking suppressants." Kaisa stroked 'Her' pouty bottom lip and watched as shivers racked 'Her' spine at the small contact. She wanted to lean in and nip at that lip but instead Kaisa's jaw unhinged as she yawned.
"Here, roll over, I got you."
Kaisa anticipated what happened next. A clash between two bodies, one warm and one cold. The older woman wrapped her arms around the younger and buried 'Her' face in her hair. 'She' inhaled the smokey scent of Kaisa, relaxing instantly.
The story was not the same for the younger woman. Right now, if she closed her eyes Kaisa could pretend they were in the French countryside, having a lazy day or well, lazy night. She could imagine the two of them free to do and be whatever, whenever. Living exceptionally exciting lives together on the outside. If Kaisa closed her eyes all the cold despair would disappear and bliss would remain. This terrified the young girl into keeping her eyes open. For no matter how beautiful, a dream is still just a dream and when she opened her eyes the two women would still be stuck here, in the facility.
'She' will still be here.
There it was. The first dark thought that would build into a twisted, evil war within Kaisa's mind. No matter, how many times the older woman proved herself Kaisa would still doubt as to why anyone would want her. Often she felt 'She' was only this way with Kaisa because 'She' felt guilty, maybe even sorry for the younger girl. Sometimes she would start to think 'She' actually might love her.
It was times like that Kaisa would berate herself for being so hopeful. She knew from experience that hope was dangerous and yet there she would go again. However, believing in 'Her' was the only thing Kaisa had left anymore. 'She' kept Kaisa breathing on 'Her' life support but ultimately 'She' will be the one to pull the plug.
When Kaisa's mind attacked her like this it was loud. That was a good thing though. It meant 'She' could catch up on it and pull the young girl out of the darkness. At that moment, Kaisa's mind was causing a cacophony of noise. 'She' lifted 'Her' head from the inky pool of hair and ran her teeth along the pale skin of Kaisa's neck. This caused the young girl to whimper at the feel of sharp teeth and shuffle closer to 'Her'. As 'She' laughs warm air cascade across the young woman's neck and she sighs content.
"You can relax, don't worry. I'll watch over you, my sweet Adara."
Hello everyone, I am the author of Solfyre and I am proud to say that every character and plot detail is a product of my own mind. This has been a pet project of mine since my Freshman year of high school and I would love to see if people will fall in love with these characters just I have. I'm open to questions, not spoilers, and comments, especially the negative kind, so feel free to message me. My tumblr is dammitcarlisaidno if you would rather interact with me on that site. I may or may not decide to blog about Solfyre. -KJ