Chapter 11

Falling

"Regular Talking"
:Telepathic:
Flashback

"Love is like an infant child.
You have to learn to crawl before you can walk,
then you can run.
If you try to walk or run too fast,
you may fall down along the way and getting up isn't always that easy."

-Anonymous

The next day couldn't come any slower for Scorpius. He had not slept the previous night out of anticipation that Apollonius would soon be gone forever and his path to Celiane's heart left wide open for him to reach out to and take a hold of.

He would help Celiane remember how it felt to hold true love in the palm of her hand.

He would help her to remember that her loyalties did not lie with a monster with wings that had been stained red with the blood of their people.

He would make her see that by fighting side by side against these monsters they would be victorious.

He glanced outside. The sun had almost reached the peak of its journey through the sky.

"When is that Shadow Angel going to show his face?" he growled quietly to himself.

Celiane had been awoken early that morning by the insistent Angel Dog Pollon. The dog had not given up licking her face and yipping every now in his efforts to wake her.

She smiled remembering the surprise she had felt finding Apollonius waiting outside her door and suggesting that they take a walk somewhere outside of the city. She had agreed wholeheartedly and was thrilled when Apollonius had taken her within his arms and flown out the window with her.

She had lost track of time as they soared across the heavens not caring that the wind was nipping at the bare skin on her arms and face.

They were approaching the same forest that they had walked partway through to get to the shoreline, but instead of continuing to fly over the forest, Apollonius descended to land in the middle of a large meadow filled with wildflowers of every color creating a rainbow throughout the grass.

A stream trickled through the plethora of colors along with a small wall of shrubs all competing for the best spot next to the water.

Celiane gazed about admiring the colors surrounding them speechless at the wondrous sight she was seeing.

Apollonius drifted closer to her and placed a gentle hand upon her shoulder.

:Celiane….:

Celiane turned to him with a beaming smile. "Apollonius, this is gorgeous. I didn't even know this meadow was here."

Her eyes swept over the meadow once more as she attempted to memorize every detail in her mind.

:Celiane, I brought you here because I wished to say that…:

Apollonius hesitated, unsure of himself for the first time in so long. Celiane turned her gaze back to him.

"What's wrong, Apollonius?" she asked. The sincere worry in her voice and displayed on her body was clear to him, and yet he found that this was something he had a hard time saying.

:Celiane, I never would have thought it possible that I would care for a Wingless One in the way that I care for you. I…I have fallen for you, Celiane. I have fallen in love with you. Your ability to give away your own life for those you love. That same ability to see past our differences and see inside my soul and your boundless kindness:

Celiane was speechless uncertain if she had just heard what he had said and yet knowing that she had heard and understood his words.

:My world has changed since I met you. I am no longer the same warrior that you first met that day…:

She did not give him another chance to say anything. Celiane had her hands clasped behind his neck and stood on her tip toes claiming his lips with her own not needing to hear anything more.

Apollonius stiffened in surprise, then relaxed into her embrace leaning down just a bit so she wasn't straining to reach him.

When they broke apart Celiane gazed into his eyes with an open longing.

"What is it about men and not just spitting it out?" she questioned with a slight teasing tone to her voice.

Apollonius grinned :I would not be able to tell you:

Celiane smiled and moved forward for another kiss.

A cry of anger stopped her and she both turned to look around confused. No one was there besides themselves and Pollon who was trying to catch the small fish in the stream.

Apollonius however had recognized the sound of the voice and turned his gaze skyward to find Toma hovering in the air. The anger and disbelief evident upon the Shadow Angel's face worried Apollonius.

:How dare you! You worthless Wingless One!:

Toma was beside them in an instant roughly pushing Celiane away from Apollonius who looked just as shocked as she was.

Celiane remained sitting amongst the flowers unable to bring herself to push herself to her feet.

:Toma, please settle down: Apollonius pleaded placing his hand on his friends shoulder.

:The Wingless One has seduced you, Apollonius!:

Toma turned on Celiane with a murderous gleam in his eyes. Celiane looked to Apollonius alarmed.

"I haven't seduced anyone!" she protested.

Toma glared at her. :I should have killed you the first time I laid eyes upon you:

:Toma!: Apollonius grabbed his arm and yanked Toma around to face him. :She has done no such wrong!:

:Return to Atlandia with me, Apollonius. Return and see through the lies the Wingless Ones have fed you: Toma pleaded.

Apollonius glanced back at Celiane with an apologetic expression.

:Toma…I have not been seduced by or lied to by anyone:

:NO! Apollonius, you must return with me!: Toma pleaded. :Please…Return with me…:

Apollonius glanced between the two uncertainly. Celiane stood and took a step forward reaching towards him pleading with Apollonius with her eyes.

Toma whirled around and sent her a glare that promised her death should she say or do anything.

Celiane halted and lowered her arm hesitant to say anything and praying that she wouldn't cause the two friends to fight because of their difference in opinion.

Toma turned back to Apollonius pleading silently.

Apollonius hung his head, then looked up at Toma. :I will return. However, I will make no further promises:

Toma visibly relaxed and gently took Apollonius' arm to guide him to enter a portal that appeared beside them. Celiane watched as the two Shadow Angel's leave.

:I will be back in three days: Apollonius promised her with a glance over his shoulder at her.

Celiane nodded and held onto that promise that he left her with suppressing the tears that threatened to spill over.

Pollon nuzzled her face before following the Shadow Angels through the portal.

Scorpius entered Celiane's room after the third unanswered knock. He sighed when the first thing he saw was an open window.

"Apollonius has taken her out somewhere…"

Annoyed at this new predicament Scorpius frowned and stormed out of the room not bothering to pull the door closed behind him.

Celiane arrived at the gates to the city after an hour and a half of walking. She was lucky that they hadn't gone any farther or she would have had to deal with how to get food without a weapon and how to protect herself from the wild animals around. Of course she didn't escape from the luxury of getting even one blister. Both her heals had fresh blisters. One had already popped, the other was extremely painful and still growing.

She passed beneath the gates into the city and continued on her way at a steady pace. The first thing she was going to do was clean up these two blisters. After that….well she didn't really know what she would be doing after that.

She certainly couldn't do anything except wait for Apollonius to return as he had promised.

Author's Note: Well I am doing well with the time that I have at the moment. However that time may not continue to last as I will be starting classes again next week.

I hope you have all had Happy Holidays and especially a Happy New Year.

Please review and leave your thoughts and opinions! :)