Chapter 2
~*~
Yay! Hi everyone!
/crickets chirp/
T.T I'm unloved.
Adrian: Big deal.
/smack/
Adrian: /swirly eyed/ Anyone get the number of the bus?
Smartass. Any of YOU care to make anymore comments?
Muses: /back away slowly/
Well. I'm glad to have at least ONE suggestion. ^^ Thanks. I already thought of Joey though and he's willing enough to do it. Anymore suggestions, please?
Adrian: /still knocked out/
~*~
A clutch purse of silver beads and satin and a winter coat of blue-gray wool soon joined the gowns after, each redolent of rose perfume. I smiled slightly, fingers tenderly caressing a light summer dress of her favorite periwinkle blue and rose pink.
~*~
She was laughing at him, teasing him as she ran through the sweet flowers and fragrant grasses. "Come and catch me!" she shouted, hitching up her skirts so they would not get in her way.
And chase her he did, gladly. Her form wove in and out of view, her slender legs carrying her farther, like a graceful doe. He finally captured her, his arms wrapping about her slim waist and spinning her round while she shrieked and laughed.
It was summer, the height of life as they celebrated it like spirits of the wood, eternally youthful, eternally happy. Nothing mattered to them, only the presence of each other and the day that blossomed about them. How it seemed it would never end.
~*~
Tears threatened to spill from my eyes and I hastily brushed them away with the cuff of my red jacket. The air seemed to be lighter, smelling of sunshine and flowers blooming. Yet over it was the lingering smell of roses.
Oh Cyndia.
Why did you have to leave me?
Beneath two more gowns of fading sapphire and deep rose, I encountered a mass of white. My fingers traced over intricate white-on-white embroidery, painstakingly detailed beadwork, and designs of crystal sequins. A mask of white feathers and pearls accompanied it, long plumes dropping gracefully, perhaps to grace a lovely face and fall over long golden hair.
~*~
She surveyed the party beneath her through the eyeslits of the mask, looking like an angel in every sense of the word. There was serenity about her, as well as beauty. No, not simple, physical beauty, that was useless, but real beauty, a light that shone from beneath the mask of flesh and bone. She was like a queen, white-gloved fingers trailing on the rich wood of a banister.
Her steps were light, heels clicking softly upon the floor. She seemed to float, rather than walk, Cinderella making her appearance. But she was confident, proud as any well-loved monarch.
He was waiting for her at the bottom, transfixed by this angel. But in contrast to her white, he was in black, a masked imp. She came to him and he blushed, his head ducking shyly and causing the drooping black plumes of his mask to sway. They stood there, an angel and demon, like sun and shadow. Then he went to one knee and silently begged for her hand. She granted that request easily, and he brushed his soft lips to the fabric gently.
He would have continued to stay on one knee, forever in reverence to this lovely vision, but she pulled him up. All the masked people in the room watched both of them, in awe and in wistful admiration. But it mattered not to the white woman and the black man.
She made a low courtesy to him, he a sweeping bow. The quartet of string players, all masked and tucked away into a gallery of red silk and gold barding, glanced at one another and began to play. A lovely, nymph-like young woman stepped to a slightly elevated platform and began to sing. While the musicians were in deepest of greens and white, she was in faded gold, like a fairy of the autumn, her rich hair falling down her back.
"tsukiakari
kaze no haoto ni oriru
aoi mizu no ue no yoru."
'Moonlight
comes down through the fluttering wings of the wind,
above the blue waters of the night.'
The imp led the angel to a sweeping waltz to the haunting music. All other dancers gracefully stepped aside, to let sun and shadow dance.
"itsu made mo
sameyaranu yubisaki de
omoi wo tsudzuru."
'with warm finger-tips,
composing memories
forever.'
They had no eyes but for each other, the music the only other thing registering to their deaf ears.
"Io sono prigioniera."
'I am your prisoner.'
He loved her so, his movements and eyes proclaimed. She loved him more, her own gestures and gaze answered back.
"watashi wo
senaka kara dakishimete
sasayaku anata no kuni no kotoba wa
sukoshi dake
setsunai ROMANTI-KU
anata no toriko."
'Embrace me
tightly from behind.
The foreign words you whisper to me
are a bit
heart-rending and romantic.
I am your prisoner.'
Indeed, they were prisoners, prisoners of love. The nymph crooned the words, the music flowing like liquid emotion through the air, wrapping about the dancers in a protective, beautiful cocoon.
"Io sono prigioniera
kon'ya anata wa
watashi wo yasashiku tsutsunde kureta
keredo asa no hi ni
terashite mo kuroi
hitomi wa watashi ni sono mama kirameku no."
'I am your prisoner
Tonight, you
held me tenderly.
Even after the morning light comes,
your dark eyes
are still shining before me.'
The nymph stopped singing for a moment, allowing the quartet to continue her song. Softly, the imp brushed his lips at his angel's brow, feeling feathers and beads under his seeking lips. The angel raised her head, her lips parting softly.
"mou ichido
watashi wo fukai yoru ni
tsuremodoshite kata koto no AMO-RU."
'Once more,
please bring me into the deep night
with those half-said words of amour.'
The nymph had begun to sing again, her eyes closed as she sang like a caged bird, putting her soul into the song as it soon came to a finale. It was all the sweeter to the sole couple upon the ballroom floor.
"sukoshi dake
ayashige na kuchibiru ga
watashi wo tokasu
Io sono prigioniera
kon'ya anata wa
watashi wo yasashiku tsutsunde kureta
keredo asa no hi ni
terashite mo kuroi
hitomi wa watashi ni sono mama kirameku no."
'Your dangerous
but attractive lips
melt me.
I am your prisoner.
Tonight, you
held me tenderly
Even after the morning light comes,
your dark eyes
are still shining before me.'
The music slowly drifted away as the angel and demon shared a soft, fleeting kiss in the very center of the floor.
~*~
Tears ran freely down my face now. I absently toyed with the white cloth, not caring of what damage my saline tears could do to the aged fabric. There was something moving, falling down the folds of cloth and landing on the ground with a decisive clunk. I picked it up with trembling hands. It was a music box, a lovely, delicate little thing of pink enamel and gold. My fingers found the little key at the base, twisting it slowly, and opened the top. The ghostly strains of Adesso e Fortuna wrapped about me in tinkling bell tones. My favorite song.
/Our/ song.
We had danced to it at our wedding, at the masque to celebrate our union. But now it was gone. Nothing but memories and aging garments in a dilapidated trunk. And the little mechanical box continued to sing in a tinkling, bell-like voice.
~*~
I kept the music box, ordering gowns and trunk to be put away, hidden from my sight. It sat upon my nightstand, twinkling innocently in the lamplight. I sipped at one last glass of wine, letting the bitter, rich alcohol carry me to oblivion. As another ritual, I found myself winding the key to the music box before I slipped in between silken sheets and let myself sink into dreamless sleep.
Before I let darkness claim me however, I felt a soft touch, like a kiss, upon my lips, a breeze bringing the heavy scent of roses to my nostrils. Someone whispered an endearment as I sailed to the shores of sleep. And in the background, a little music box tinkled my wedding song.
~*~
Cheers! [hic!]
Adrian: /shakes head, picking up bottle/ Sparkling grape juice. Now that is just SAD. /starts running away/
Jerk.
Ken: /steals bottle/ My precious.
Adrian: /sighs, reaches over and takes it away/ You just finished therapy. You don't need anymore. Our budget IS limited you know.
Ken: NO!! Precious!
Adrian: /looks at bottle then at Ken, promptly breaks bottle on Ken/
Ken: /knocked unconscious/ x.x;;
Adrian: Sorry you had to see that. /drags Ken off/
Review, please?
~*~
Yay! Hi everyone!
/crickets chirp/
T.T I'm unloved.
Adrian: Big deal.
/smack/
Adrian: /swirly eyed/ Anyone get the number of the bus?
Smartass. Any of YOU care to make anymore comments?
Muses: /back away slowly/
Well. I'm glad to have at least ONE suggestion. ^^ Thanks. I already thought of Joey though and he's willing enough to do it. Anymore suggestions, please?
Adrian: /still knocked out/
~*~
A clutch purse of silver beads and satin and a winter coat of blue-gray wool soon joined the gowns after, each redolent of rose perfume. I smiled slightly, fingers tenderly caressing a light summer dress of her favorite periwinkle blue and rose pink.
~*~
She was laughing at him, teasing him as she ran through the sweet flowers and fragrant grasses. "Come and catch me!" she shouted, hitching up her skirts so they would not get in her way.
And chase her he did, gladly. Her form wove in and out of view, her slender legs carrying her farther, like a graceful doe. He finally captured her, his arms wrapping about her slim waist and spinning her round while she shrieked and laughed.
It was summer, the height of life as they celebrated it like spirits of the wood, eternally youthful, eternally happy. Nothing mattered to them, only the presence of each other and the day that blossomed about them. How it seemed it would never end.
~*~
Tears threatened to spill from my eyes and I hastily brushed them away with the cuff of my red jacket. The air seemed to be lighter, smelling of sunshine and flowers blooming. Yet over it was the lingering smell of roses.
Oh Cyndia.
Why did you have to leave me?
Beneath two more gowns of fading sapphire and deep rose, I encountered a mass of white. My fingers traced over intricate white-on-white embroidery, painstakingly detailed beadwork, and designs of crystal sequins. A mask of white feathers and pearls accompanied it, long plumes dropping gracefully, perhaps to grace a lovely face and fall over long golden hair.
~*~
She surveyed the party beneath her through the eyeslits of the mask, looking like an angel in every sense of the word. There was serenity about her, as well as beauty. No, not simple, physical beauty, that was useless, but real beauty, a light that shone from beneath the mask of flesh and bone. She was like a queen, white-gloved fingers trailing on the rich wood of a banister.
Her steps were light, heels clicking softly upon the floor. She seemed to float, rather than walk, Cinderella making her appearance. But she was confident, proud as any well-loved monarch.
He was waiting for her at the bottom, transfixed by this angel. But in contrast to her white, he was in black, a masked imp. She came to him and he blushed, his head ducking shyly and causing the drooping black plumes of his mask to sway. They stood there, an angel and demon, like sun and shadow. Then he went to one knee and silently begged for her hand. She granted that request easily, and he brushed his soft lips to the fabric gently.
He would have continued to stay on one knee, forever in reverence to this lovely vision, but she pulled him up. All the masked people in the room watched both of them, in awe and in wistful admiration. But it mattered not to the white woman and the black man.
She made a low courtesy to him, he a sweeping bow. The quartet of string players, all masked and tucked away into a gallery of red silk and gold barding, glanced at one another and began to play. A lovely, nymph-like young woman stepped to a slightly elevated platform and began to sing. While the musicians were in deepest of greens and white, she was in faded gold, like a fairy of the autumn, her rich hair falling down her back.
"tsukiakari
kaze no haoto ni oriru
aoi mizu no ue no yoru."
'Moonlight
comes down through the fluttering wings of the wind,
above the blue waters of the night.'
The imp led the angel to a sweeping waltz to the haunting music. All other dancers gracefully stepped aside, to let sun and shadow dance.
"itsu made mo
sameyaranu yubisaki de
omoi wo tsudzuru."
'with warm finger-tips,
composing memories
forever.'
They had no eyes but for each other, the music the only other thing registering to their deaf ears.
"Io sono prigioniera."
'I am your prisoner.'
He loved her so, his movements and eyes proclaimed. She loved him more, her own gestures and gaze answered back.
"watashi wo
senaka kara dakishimete
sasayaku anata no kuni no kotoba wa
sukoshi dake
setsunai ROMANTI-KU
anata no toriko."
'Embrace me
tightly from behind.
The foreign words you whisper to me
are a bit
heart-rending and romantic.
I am your prisoner.'
Indeed, they were prisoners, prisoners of love. The nymph crooned the words, the music flowing like liquid emotion through the air, wrapping about the dancers in a protective, beautiful cocoon.
"Io sono prigioniera
kon'ya anata wa
watashi wo yasashiku tsutsunde kureta
keredo asa no hi ni
terashite mo kuroi
hitomi wa watashi ni sono mama kirameku no."
'I am your prisoner
Tonight, you
held me tenderly.
Even after the morning light comes,
your dark eyes
are still shining before me.'
The nymph stopped singing for a moment, allowing the quartet to continue her song. Softly, the imp brushed his lips at his angel's brow, feeling feathers and beads under his seeking lips. The angel raised her head, her lips parting softly.
"mou ichido
watashi wo fukai yoru ni
tsuremodoshite kata koto no AMO-RU."
'Once more,
please bring me into the deep night
with those half-said words of amour.'
The nymph had begun to sing again, her eyes closed as she sang like a caged bird, putting her soul into the song as it soon came to a finale. It was all the sweeter to the sole couple upon the ballroom floor.
"sukoshi dake
ayashige na kuchibiru ga
watashi wo tokasu
Io sono prigioniera
kon'ya anata wa
watashi wo yasashiku tsutsunde kureta
keredo asa no hi ni
terashite mo kuroi
hitomi wa watashi ni sono mama kirameku no."
'Your dangerous
but attractive lips
melt me.
I am your prisoner.
Tonight, you
held me tenderly
Even after the morning light comes,
your dark eyes
are still shining before me.'
The music slowly drifted away as the angel and demon shared a soft, fleeting kiss in the very center of the floor.
~*~
Tears ran freely down my face now. I absently toyed with the white cloth, not caring of what damage my saline tears could do to the aged fabric. There was something moving, falling down the folds of cloth and landing on the ground with a decisive clunk. I picked it up with trembling hands. It was a music box, a lovely, delicate little thing of pink enamel and gold. My fingers found the little key at the base, twisting it slowly, and opened the top. The ghostly strains of Adesso e Fortuna wrapped about me in tinkling bell tones. My favorite song.
/Our/ song.
We had danced to it at our wedding, at the masque to celebrate our union. But now it was gone. Nothing but memories and aging garments in a dilapidated trunk. And the little mechanical box continued to sing in a tinkling, bell-like voice.
~*~
I kept the music box, ordering gowns and trunk to be put away, hidden from my sight. It sat upon my nightstand, twinkling innocently in the lamplight. I sipped at one last glass of wine, letting the bitter, rich alcohol carry me to oblivion. As another ritual, I found myself winding the key to the music box before I slipped in between silken sheets and let myself sink into dreamless sleep.
Before I let darkness claim me however, I felt a soft touch, like a kiss, upon my lips, a breeze bringing the heavy scent of roses to my nostrils. Someone whispered an endearment as I sailed to the shores of sleep. And in the background, a little music box tinkled my wedding song.
~*~
Cheers! [hic!]
Adrian: /shakes head, picking up bottle/ Sparkling grape juice. Now that is just SAD. /starts running away/
Jerk.
Ken: /steals bottle/ My precious.
Adrian: /sighs, reaches over and takes it away/ You just finished therapy. You don't need anymore. Our budget IS limited you know.
Ken: NO!! Precious!
Adrian: /looks at bottle then at Ken, promptly breaks bottle on Ken/
Ken: /knocked unconscious/ x.x;;
Adrian: Sorry you had to see that. /drags Ken off/
Review, please?