"She's not my type."

"Hello, Baby Doll."

"Azalie is all I care about."

"This is delicious - I mean it, Cleao."

"You're not that bright."

"You're amazing."

"You're a stupid, spoiled brat, who thinks of no one but yourself!"

"Promise me, Cleao. It'll be just between us."

"You taught me how to accept someone by my side. That maybe it
isn't always best to walk alone."



She awoke in a cold sweat, flying instantly into a sitting
position. Cleao's breath was so ragged and deep. Her dreams were
filled with memories of the dark sorcerer. So many of them perturbed
her slumber. Some of them good, but it were the hurtful ones that
overtook them. She would always member the pain at hearing the
insults being thrown at her. But, she would fashion the gentle
words that had flowed from his lips, to her soul.

Cleao settled back down and pulled her blankets around her
frigid body. Even if it was winter, the decrease in temperature was
not the reason she was cold. Since the parting of their ways - all
there was was an ebony darkness, filled with tendrils of chills. No
matter how many or how thick a blanket was, the iciness seeped in.
Her heart that once beat so vivaciously when he was around, lay
dormant - still, with sleep. Cleao felt the part that she had
come to love the most ripped from her flesh - tarnished.

When she first met Orphen, his orbs had mesmerized her.
His voice soothed her aching heart. He had attached himself to
her brain as a barnacle would a ship. His presence would never
depart. Day after day she could feel him drawing her life force
out. Even two inches away from him, caused her heart to stop and
beat fervently at the same time. She had longed for his skin to meet
hers. It didn't matter that his fingers were rough and skin as dry
as a reptile's. Just to be able to touch him - feel him - to be molded
together as one.

The pillow was entirely different tonight. It was soft,
gentle in its caressing fingers. Opposed to its usual flat and
coarse strokes. Cleao could hear her hair rustling against the
cotton pillowcase. But this was not what would disturb her.
True, her dreams were filled with what Orphen had assumed.
This night a new proverb was etched in her mind. One she had
not heard spill from his lips. 'You taught me how to accept
someone at my side. That maybe it isn't always best to walk
alone.' She had never heard him utter these words. Not to
her recollection, anyways. Where did it come from? This
she must know. It was something that sent chills across
her body. His voice, Orphen's melodious tone was what
she adored above anything. She adored the echoing sound
- she reveled in it.

Now, in this feverish state of reverie, fingertips of slumber
beckoned to her. Though dreams of what was would persist each time her
eyes shut. And as her eyes closed slowly, the thought of Orphen
returning and declaring his desire for her. Slumber befell upon her.
Cleao would sleep serenely on this bitter quarter moon.



"The Heavenly Ones have long since been deceased. As well as all but
forgotten. There is nothing to learn by sifting through their graveyards,"

"If you could even find their graveyards,"

This defiant statement came from Orphen, the dark sorcerer.
He was now one of the elders, an oxymoron with his young age.
Heartia nodded slightly, he too, sat on the council. It was a truly
elder member who thought there to be knowledge in the Land of the
Dead. This land was a fabled cemetery for the Heavenly Ones. The
ancient ruins of Castle Aetherius, a mausoleum. It supposedly lay
far to the north, where not even the bravest dare go. A desert must
be crossed, then to trodge on into dark woods. So filled terrible
carnals, which even the rabid dogs would be, better company.

"But, think of the ancient magick that could be learned. Such wisdom
cannot be just passed upon. Surely, the council recognizes the
knowledge to be had. In the ruins lay the greatest of treasures,"

Orphen sighed, agitatedly. It had been far too long for
him to be in a room that as much vitality as a stone. Of course
there were advantages. He had an apprentice that was willing to
try, fail, and try again. Majic's presence brought a smile to the
face wrought with lines of sorrow. Majic had grown so much in past
few years. He had learned so much and his magick was strong.
Orphen's teachings showed completely, even in Majic's stance.
Orphen had toiled long with effort to bring serenity back to the
Tower. And now this elder, wanted to send an entourage of sorcerers
fumbling into a legend.

"Of course we know that knowledge is divine. But we also know that
only a fool would follow a legend so punctured with holes."

"Are you calling me a fool, Orphen?"

The elder spit out his name as if it were poison. Orphen
abhorred the way his name sounded on this man's tongue. As if his
name were his to keep or throw away. The man was obviously smitten
with power and only cared for himself. These thoughts traveled back
to a day passed so long ago. 'Come to my room later, I want to do
some magick.' For an instant he saw the notorious smile. And in that
instant a needle pricked his heart.

"I'm giving credit, where credit's due,"

Heartia grinned childishly. He had not changed since they were
children; he was still a smart-mouthed, un-tamed soul. Heartia could
remember how Childman would chastise Orphen for having a quicker tongue
than hand. Even this could not reform him. And, in truth, Heartia
preferred outspoken people. Someone who was willing to speak and do
things for themselves is a virtue that he truly admired.

"Orphen," Heartia soothed, "you are too rash in your words. Perhaps if
the legend had more of a bases..."

"Every legend is based on some face," interrupted Orphen.

"Yes, this is a well known fact, my friend. But if the legend is correct,
by traveling through such peril, the secret will be revealed,"

Heartia continued as if he had never been broken into. Words
that left the silver tongued sorcerer never ceased to amaze him. This
legend, though, was what lingered on his mind more than anything. What
could possibly be uncovered? Surely there were thousand upon thousands
of secrets hidden by the celestial beings. But this seemed like the secret
to end all secrets.

"Secret. What secret is this anyway? What - the meaning of life? So
you send a squad of sorcerers across the desert. And all you find is a
big secret to easy baking,"

"Be serious for a moment, young one. The chosen one, the being that
will be initiated as a Heavenly One. When they trodge across the desert
into the depths of darkest green, there will they find a treasure that
surpasses any man's dream. There in Aetherius will ye find the divine
remains and the secret that will unlock any door,"

Orphen reflected for a moment. He respected this elder, more
than lustful one, anyhow. The chosen one would be able to teach them
the way of old. The ancient magick that has long been forgotten is
hidden in a tremor of moss. Perhaps it was time to pull back the veil
that lay so heavily on Heavenly Ones. Orphen looked up, into the face
of Heartia. He was searching for an answer. Was the harsh trek worth
it? If it revealed something so explicit that it would hurt the eye to
gaze upon it - was it worth dying for?

"Who will go?"

Heartia broke through the silence and Orphen's thoughts. The
elder's all clamped their mouth shut. Not one, besides Lai, himself,
and Orphen had been out of the Tower in years. They were comfortable
making the decisions that molded young sorcerer's lives. It was only
seconds before Orphan stepped down. It was in his blood to trodge.
For six years had he walked a road alone? For six years he had self
consciously longed for companionship...

"I will go,"

The elders silently breathed easily once more. It would not be
a forced journey. It had to come of one's own volition. But they did
want to look as if they were lazy and they did want to look foolish if
their ruling was misjudged. Heartia glanced at Lai, quickly. He knew
that Lai was feeling much anxiety as of late. His last divination had
revealed something clouded. But not so clouded that he could not see that
Orphen would once again prove that he was the greatest sorcerer. Heartia
stepped down, as well. A unanimous gasp rang out in the torch lit room.
Heartia was now the head of the council. It was he who made the final
decision in rulings.

"And so will I,"



On the looking out toward the vast hills that rolled
along outside of the tower, Orphen shivered. It had been too
long since he had felt the ribbons of cold. Unlike most people,
Orphen encouraged the winds to chill him. Then again, he was not
most people. The winter was a way to enlighten the body to move.
Life was meant to be experienced through all senses - heard, seen,
smelled, tasted, and most of all touched. Touch, what a wonderful
thing. How could one live with not ever felt the tresses of winter.
Not being able vigorous or anxious - killed apart of the world somewhere.

"Master?"

Majic, it was his apprentice. His voice was timid and
unsure. One too many times had he disturbed Orphen's lamenting.
That was what he was doing. Lamenting for the things he should
have done - could have had... He had heard the soft footsteps of
Majic. From Majic's departure from his room, he knew it was he.
The school was filled with delight and hope that Orphen and Heartia
would be successful in their journey.

"No, Majic, no,"

He did not even turn to deny him. Majic wanted to go,
for it to be like times before. But, in his heart he knew that
it could never be like before. Such a childlike innocence once
lived with him. Too much had happened - too much had been learned
and it could not be un-learned.

"Yes, Master,"

And then he was gone. So swiftly with a heavy heart and
hurt feelings. Orphen needed Majic to linger at the Tower - he
needed those that he could trust to look after things. He knew
that with the denial of accompanying him on this mystical journey,
a bit of hatred would be embedded in Majic's soul. Then, he felt
Lai, standing outside the door - waiting.

"Lai,"

Lai was not one for interaction with others. He was more
at home with a ball of crystal or bowl of water. Even when in an
empty room would visions plague him? So, when Lai's presence was
felt, Orphen knew that what he had to say was important to say the
least. The door cracked, just enough to catch a wisp of his hair.
And his voice rose to just above a whisper.

"I have the seen the chosen one, Orphen,"

"Who?"

Orphen was exasperated and more than curious at the same time.
The chosen one, so simply revealed. He thought it would be incredibly
difficult to find the one that would transform into a celestial being.
And Lai, the greatest visionary in the entire Tower, laying before him
the one who is chosen.

"You know her well. The one with golden hair, kissed by the sun and
eyes cradled by the sky,"

An invisible sword plunged into his stomach. 'Desire me.'
The whisper was so pliable and filled with need - it could not be ignored.
He knew it; Orphen would have this voice carved into memory banks. He would
not care if he forgot his own name, only to hear the honey in her voice
once more. 'Molded together." It was another surge of violation - he felt
in his bones. The thoughts were projected so clearly - it wrenched his
heart. A dark, yet, glowing image flashed languorously in his mind.

Bodies - his intertwined with hers - this she dreamed of -
desired? Could all of her lust be summed up into this awe-inspiring
portrait? Her skin, so pallid and silken - how could she see him in
a god-like sense? Orphen's mind was pounded with the passion in this
vision. He felt every sensual feeling along with the pain that he had
caused her. Even now with his absence, her heart broke more and more.