Chapter 9
(Author's Note: Hello readers! I just wanted to note that in this chapter the song Tenebris sings with Lux is called Defying Gravity from Wicked. I thought it was a good song that reflected Tenebris's character, even though I modified the lyrics a bit to fit reflect it more, and I thought it would be a great love song to sing between the two. Plus, imaging Adam Lambert singing that song is pure perfection. Thanks and enjoy the chapter! :) )
"Lux," Tenebris whispered in my ear, trying to wake me up, "Lux darling!"
"Mmmm," I rolled over and grumbled to myself. I wasn't ready to get up yet. Tenebris shook my arm.
"Get up! You're going to miss it!" I groaned.
"Miss what?" Tenebris chuckled.
"We're going to raise the moon and We want you to see it!" I rubbed my eyes and yawned.
"Okay okay, I'm up!" Tenebris hopped up and chuckled.
"Come quickly, Lux!" He tugged on my arm and pulled me outside to the backyard of the castle. He took us all the way to the top of a hill, then released me of his grip. "Ready?" I nodded.
"Mmhmm! I'm pumped to see this! I've never seen the moon rise up close." Tenebris giggled.
"Prepare to have your mind blown." Tenebris closed his eyes and took a slow deep breath. His hands trembled as he slowly began to lift them up. As Tenebris's hands moved up, so did the moon. I gasped in awe. The moon slowly rising reminded me of the first time my mother had taught me to raise the sun. I felt bad that Tenebris didn't get to share a similar experience with his own mother, but it astonished me that he taught himself to raise the moon on his own. Tenebris sighed happily as the moon took its rightful place in the sky. I clapped my hands and hopped up and down with excitement.
"Bravo Tenebris!" I cheered. "That was wonderful!" Tenebris chuckled and began to levitate off the ground.
"That wasn't even the best part. Watch this!" Tenebris waved his hands in a circle around each other in a very mystical and cryptic way. I leaned in closer to him and saw that sparkles began to form and dance between his hands. I gasped as Tenebris laughed and levitated up higher into the sky.
"Something has changed within me," sang Tenebris, "something is not the same. I'm tired of living by the rules of someone else's game. Too late for second guessing, too late to go back to sleep. It's time to trust my instincts, close my eyes..." Tenebris levitated in front of the moon, closed his eyes and threw the sparkles into the sky, "And leap!" Tenebris's voice continued to astound me. His voice was so smooth and it echoed and pleasantly chimed through my ears. As Tenebris continued to sing, the stars flew to different corners of the sky and began to form the constellations. "It's time to try defying gravity! I think I'll try defying gravity! And they can't pull me down!" Tenebris smiled and laughed as he flew across the night sky, dancing with the stars. I smiled bright. Watching him made me feel so warm and lovely inside. It was the best feeling in the world to see him like this. He hovered in front of me and held my hands in his. I gasped as Tenebris lifted me into the sky.
"No no Tenebris!" I shrieked with glee. "I'm afraid of heights!" Tenebris smiled as he looked me in the eyes.
"Don't worry," he said, "We won't drop you." Tenebris held my hand tight and I laughed as Tenebris flew through the stardust.
"I'm through accepting limits, cause someone says they're so. Somethings I cannot change, but till I try I'll never know! Too long I've been afraid of, losing love I guess I've lost. Well if that's love, it comes at much too high a cost!" Tenebris twirled me around and we began to dance together in the gorgeous nightsky. It was the most enchanting moment of my life. "I'd sooner buy defying gravity! Kiss me goodbye, I'm defying gravity! And they can't pull me down!" Suddenly, the stars began to sparkle and twinkle around us. Tenebris rested his nose against my own, nuzzling me, making me blush bright red. "Unlimited," sang Tenebris softly, like a gentle whisper, "together we're, unlimited. Together we'll be the greatest team there's ever been." I blushed lightly and sang back to Tenebris.
"Dreams, the way we plan them," Tenebris smiled bright.
"If we work in tandem!" I had never heard the song before, but when I sang with Tenebris, I felt the lyrics just bursting from my heart. Together we harmonized perfectly and no sound had ever sounded sweeter in the history of the world.
"There's no fight we cannot win! Just you and I, defying gravity!
With you and I, defying gravity!"
I giggled softly and smiled as Tenebris intertwined his ringed fingers with mine, singing to me sweetly.
"They'll never bring us down." I swooned slightly and sighed happily.
"Oh Tenebris," I said, "that was so beautiful. I don't think there's ever been a more perfectly created sky." Tenebris's smile illuminated the darkness around us.
"Wanna see our favorite trick?"
"There's something even better than that?!" Tenebris giggled and nodded. "Show me!" Tenebris let go of my hands.
"This is one of the more...difficult tricks, so unfortunately We must let go of you." I chuckled.
"That's okay, Tenebris. Focus your abilities." Tenebris nodded with a smile. He rose once again above the ground, his body blocking the moon. Tenebris started singing again, but this time, his voice was powerful and strong. You could feel and really hear the empowering emotion echoing through it.
"So if you care to find me, look to the dark night sky! As someone told me lately, everyone deserves a chance to fly!" As Tenebris sang, hundreds of stars began shooting across the sky in different directions. My eyes widened in awe. I had never known that the night had such beauty and mystical enchantments hidden within it. It was more than just a dark, cold, and empty period of the day. It contained some mystery and some magical elements that people were too blind to see, people like I was. Tenebris opened my eyes to that, and I wanted to open everyone elses eyes to it too. "And if I'm flying solo, at least I'm flying free! To those who'd ground me, take a message back from me! Tell them how I am defying gravity! I'm flying high and defying gravity! And soon I'll match them in renown! And nobody is ever gonna bring..." Tenebris took a large deep breath. He hit a note so high that I didn't even know if any being on the earth could reach that many octaves. "MEEEEEEE DOOOOOOOOOOWWWWN! BRING ME DOOOOOOOOOOWN! WHOAOOOOOOOOOAA!" As soon as Tenebris stopped singing, the stars stopped falling. My jaw was on the ground and I was completely speechless. Tenebris lowered himself down in front of me and lifted my jaw back up gently.
"We take it that you liked it?"
"LIKED IT?!" I squealed with joy. "THAT WAS UTTERLY AMAZING!" Tenebris laughed and hugged me tightly.
"Oh Lux," said Tenebris, "you are the first to compliment our night!" I hugged Tenebris back and he purred as I rubbed his back soothingly. I felt so bad that no one else had appreciated Tenebris's hard work and exceptional results. I thought about what made everyone love the Solem so much. Don't get me wrong, I absolutely adored my family, but I didn't understand why the villagers of Gemina didn't appreciate Tenebris as much as them. Sure they thought that he was evil, but he didn't do anything the Solem didn't. His job was to raise the moon like the Solem's was to raise the sun. If only there was a way for the townsfolk to see the truth...and then it hit me!
"Tenebris!" I gasped excitedly, making Tenebris jump in surprise.
"Don't scare us like that!"
"Sorry, sorry!" I held Tenebris's hands and hopped up and down, giggling uncontrollably. Tenebris looked at me like I was insane.
"What is wrong with you? Why are you acting this way?" I giggled.
"Because I know how we can make everyone see who you really are!" Tenebris gasped lightly.
"Y-You do?" I nodded quickly.
"Mmhmm!"
"How?!"
"Okay, so every year around this time the Solem people celebrate the Autumnal Equinox. They do so by sponsoring a huge festival that the people of Gemina throw in the village. You can go to this festival and be yourself, and then everyone will see how great you really are!" Tenebris looked down at the ground and held himself.
"A Solem festival? In the daylight? Oh no no Lux...We aren't safe in the daylight...the villagers will harm us..." I held Tenebris's hand in mine and turned his face so that he was looking in my eyes.
"They'd have to get through me before they could lay a finger on you." Tenebris bit my nose playfully and we both giggled as I blushed.
"Do you really think that We're ready for this? We have not been out in the daylight for 17 years..."
"That doesn't mean anything. I know you can do this and I'll be right by your side when the villagers discover how amazing you are." Tenebris blushed very lightly and I kissed his cheek, making him blush even more. "Besides, I'll show all the things you'll need to do to win their affection."
"We are conflicted on whether or not We want the villagers affection...What would Mother and Father think of us if we befriended the ones who took them away from us?" I gently caressed Tenebris's cheek.
"Don't worry," I said softly, "these people are not the same as they were. And with my help, you'll be able to make friends with the children of the village and play with them and bring them joy." Tenebris looked at me, his eyes wide with hope.
"We will bring them joy? Like the daybringers?" I nodded happily and Tenebris smiled a little. "Okay, We'll do it!" I hugged Tenebris tight.
"Oh this is gonna be great!" I was truly thrilled. This was perfect! If I got the townsfolk to love Tenebris, then no one would have to kill him and the Solem wouldn't have anything to worry about! I didn't see one flaw in my plan. What could go wrong?