(At Vitalion, Julian sitting in the garden)
There is just something about her; I just can't put my finger on it though. It's as if there are two sides to her, the one I know now… And another one, that doesn't exist anymore.
"I wish I knew what it is." Julian whispered to himself.
"Wishes never come true," Said Bloom from some-where up in the oak tree Julian was sitting beneath.
Julian started, and looked up, staggered by the fact that she could sneak up on him so easily.
Bloom jumped down from the tree's upper branches, her red leather mini-skirt flowing out around her thighs (for it was no longer then that). She also had on a matching leather tank top and knee high crimson boots.
The instant she landed, fire pooled out around her feet as if the flames were ripples of the sea.
"At least they never come true for me." Bloom said, finishing her sentence.
"What do you mean... Bloom?" The word tasted funny on his tongue.
"That's for me to know, and for you to hopefully never find out, Julian." Bloom replied.
A tear formed at the corner of her eye and ran down her cheek. Julian reached up and gently wiped it off.
Bloom then looked down, and saw a picture of Sky float across her vision.
Sky would always be there when I was down. He would always be by my side, there when I needed someone I loved more then the world, to hold me… But those days are gone now… I wish my life would just go back to normal, Bloom thought to herself. But then went back to the idea that she would never be able to be happy again.
Bloom had grown accustomed to waking up every day, without a glimmer of hope in her life, afraid to close her eyes, for the fear of the dreams that would not rest. Afraid to remember something that haunted her as if it were her own shadow.
Her life had become a hole that was so deep it could not be filled; the fear that she was alone in life, yet afraid not to be, the dread that she could never smile again without it being a lie.
She felt as though she were a specter, unwanted and feared by all that surrounded it. All she wanted anymore was the life that was never really hers in the first place. But another's, always controlled by the one person that had the power to break it.
Another tear rolled down her cheek as the memories of Sky came flooding back in one giant surge.
"Are you okay Bloom?" Julian asked as she sat down beside him on the grass.
"I wish I were, but then, my wishes never come true. So what's the point?" Bloom replied, as if asking no one.
"What happened to you Bloom? That could make you so cynical towards life." Julian questioned.
"It's still too fresh a wound Julian, hearts do not heal easily." Bloom replied, then looked even further down, realizing that she had just revealed too much to this stranger.
"You had your heart broken didn't you Bloom?" Julian said, taken aback.
"I not only had it broken Julian. It was torn out of my chest and stomped on until it shattered into a million minuscule pieces."
"I would never do that to you Bloom, you can trust me." Julian said and put his arm around her, suddenly realizing that she had no intention of marrying him.
"I wish I could believe that, but it's hard to believe anything anymore." Said Bloom sadly.
Bloom looked up at him, and Julian saw all of the pain that had hid so successfully behind her sapphire eyes for so much time.
"I'm sorry Bloom, but I would never do that to you. I want you to be with me… And I want you to feel safe." Julian whispered.
"The truth is Julian; I'm scared to love anybody anymore. Not after what happened." Bloom whispered back.
Julian then put his other arm around her and pulled her snugly to his side, then kissed her softly on the forehead. "What can I do to make you trust me?" Julian asked.
"I don't think there is anything anyone can do to make me trust again Julian." Bloom said softly.
Bloom's face paled as a thought hit her.
Do I love Julian? Bloom asked herself, and then the answer came slowly.
Yes.
Julian looked at her the second she thought that and said. "Bloom I'll always be by your side."
"How do I know that?" Bloom asked and got her answer a little differently then she had expected.
Julian remained silent for a second, still contemplating whether or not he should do something as crazy as this, but the part that loved this woman more then the universe won… And he gave her a silent, tender kiss on the lips.
Bloom just sat there for a moment; her eyes wide open as his lips were on hers. Then she let her lids droop and fall shut as she sank slowly into the warmth of it.
As he backed off, Bloom's eyes snapped open again, but she knew she'd been caught red handed, so she smiled and Julian saw a little bit of hope, life, and love seep into her sapphire eyes.
He then smiled back, and Bloom leaned her head on his strong shoulder.
In return Julian leaned his head gently on top of hers, and breathed in the sweet scent of her hair.
The feeling of Julian's head on top of hers brought back some memories of Sky that should be painful. But at the moment, became dulled and were soon forgotten.
"Bloom?" Julian whispered.
"Yeah?" Bloom whispered in return.
"I don't want you to be afraid anymore." He said a little louder.
"I'm not." Said Bloom, under her breath.
(Eraklyon)
"Sky," the high priest questioned. "Are you prepared to take on the full responsibilities of being King?"
"Yes." Sky replied in the hypnotized voice that had become known as natural.
"Are you informed of all the responsibilities? Guiding your people on the right path? Being able to take on any task? Even if it means war itself?" The priest continued in his booming voice.
"Yes." Replied Sky.
"Then with this crown that I place upon your head, I pronounce to Eraklyon and all of its allies that you are now the rightful King." The priest said this with a tone of finality.
The high priest placed the golden crown upon Sky's head: the very same crown that had been worn by his Father and every King before him.
Sky's mother smiled, and walked over to her son to place her arm around his shoulders. "I'm proud of you, son. You will do this planet proud some day. That is, after you destroy our enemies, and every other planet along with them."
"Yes Mother. I will follow your plan, and I shall destroy each planet, one by one." Sky replied.
"Good, do you understand that you will destroy Princess Layla's first?"
"Yes Mother."
"And do you realize that you shall not destroy Sparx until I say? For that I wish to see. I can't wait to see that puny Queen die… right in front of my eyes," the Queen said, and sashayed over to the throne, then continued. "Come son, this throne is yours now. Your father, bless his soul, is dead now. You shall take your proper place among us, the royals."
Sky smiled a smile so deadly it could kill with one glance.
"When do the troops and I leave? I am anxious to get started." Sky said maniacally.
"Humph, I'm certainly glad the thirst for blood runs in the family." The Queen whispered, knowing full well that it didn't.
That is, whether or not it has been magically induced. The Queen thought to herself.
"I think I shall retire to my chambers Mother. I wish to rest before the battles begin." Sky whispered in a fake hypnotized voice.
"Of course child." Said the Queen, yawning herself.
Sky walked over to the spiraling stone staircase and moved slowly up it until he was out of view. Then he began running, as if his life depended on it.
The moment he reached his room he burst through the door gasping for air and threw himself onto the divan.
"What is happening to me?" Sky shrieked to himself. "She's got me under some sort of spell, I can't believe she wants to destroy all of the planets but our own. No one can be that bloodthirsty. Can they? How long is this momentary freedom going to last? How long will I be able to think for myself before it returns."
"What I fear most is, what by all means! Did I do to Bloom? I know I did something, but I can't remember. I'm going to have to find her, before this thing overcomes me again. For some reason I've got this horrible feeling she's going to hate me."
(Vitalion, Bloom's room)
"How could I let myself fall in love? Especially right after what Sky just did to me? I must be crazy." Bloom mumbled to herself.
(I wrote this poem; it's the poem from which this story and its name were derived.)
Bloom walked over to the beautiful antique writing desk that sat in the middle of her room, and began to write. For writing was the only way she wished to express her feelings. Particularly after what had happened with Sky. She still couldn't trust herself. Even if she had been able to kiss Julian, she still could not find the strength to tell herself that everything would be ok again someday.
I Just Can't Believe
All I can feel is darkness,
That oh so sweet feeling of death.
All I can see around me,
Is black…
Shaded by the shadows of a life,
That I don't want to exist anymore.
Oh beautiful devoid of light,
You hath save me from myself and my dreams.
That one thing that can't hurt me,
Is the one thing that may not be real.
I want to be blank of all feelings,
God only knows that I need to be,
Oh please… Would you take away my pain?
So I could yet love again,
I want to feel hope,
But I fear to find it.
For with that hope,
I know shall come…
People and adventures that want to hurt me again.
And what will return with hope besides that?
But light…
That is all that I can see to come of painlessness.
A blinding light,
That will bring back the numbness of a beat-less heart.
I just can't believe that I am forced to live another day,
For what reason I will never know…
I have this impression,
That I should no longer be able to breath,
Yet something drives me on,
Day after day…
To take another step on a path I did not choose to take…
I want to be rid of this feeling,
Though I know it will never go away.
Now I realize that the only thing I can believe,
Is that my life will always be shrouded in a darkness…
That I cannot shed,
Nor would I ever dare to try again…
For now,
It is my only protection.
A tear slipped gradually down Bloom's cheek and she hugged her knees firmly to her chest.
"I just can't believe that I could ever love again. Yet why do I feel as though I do?"
(Julian's room)
"Well, I've gotten her to trust me, now I've got to make her love me. Because now, I could never live without her." Julian said to himself.
"I'll show her she can love me, and once I gain her heart. I will never lose it, no matter what. I don't know what happened to her, but if she stays by my side. She will always be safe, in my love's grasp."
I re-did the poem in this chapter, if past readers were wondering what it was that looked different. Please, would you guys tell me what you think of the poem? I hope you like that chapter! Please R&R!
-Crystal Hauntress