Somewhere
I Belong
Chapter 5
First Glance
"Who are you!" screeches Elphaba, a flash of emerald and darkness folds like a blanket of silk around Atlas's mind. Silence, a whispered kiss, drifting and tumbling along the silver edge of the gale breeze, wafting, sailing through a silver torrent of mist, dancing gracefully across his flesh in a lovers caress, pulling him further beneath the water's edge, and dragging him further down beneath the wretched coils of darkness and death. Two the dark side of the crescent moon, where twilight vanishes, and ones darkest fears dwell and nightmares hide beneath the veil of darkness and shadow.
A siren screams tangle in the gentle breeze, turning the air to ice and snow. Crystal snowflakes drift through the sky; ballerina's of ice and snow, twirling on the slippery northern breeze, dancing, twirling on currents of silver mist.
Out of the mists of darkness, a voice, low and seductive, tinged with silk and honey, warm like the gilded rays of sunlight wafted over his body, caressing his heated flesh. A moan and shimmering emerald flickered in the darkness of the night. Fingers of fine silk danced down his body, teasing his flesh and setting it aflame.
Groaning, Atlas weakly lifted his head. His dark, emerald eyes shimmered like plate glass; splintering and refracting the light of the silver moon. A gasp and his body went rigid, for kneeling beside him was a woman, her head was bowed, and an ethereal glow, shimmered around her, vibrating in time with his racing heart.
Silent prayers slipped past Atlas's quivering lips, his heart stilled, and his mind raced, for never, in his wildest imaginations had he ever believed he would lay eyes upon this angel of light again.
A groan and Atlas forces himself up. Propping himself on his elbows, he stared, holding his breath, waiting for the phantom of mystery to speak, to move, to dance back into the darkness falling over the crescent moon, allowing the emptiness once filling his heart, to flood his body once more, swept away once again in the currents of despairs sweet serenade.
Slowly he turns away, for he couldn't look at the reflection of his hearts desires, it was too painful. A mirrored memory of times gone by, when the daylight fell over his body, filling him with an indescribable heat, when his frozen heart once beat as one with the goddess, the keeper of his soul.
A flash of movement, graceful like the flutter of butterfly's wings catches his attention. Stiffening he turns as stares as the figure regally rose high on her hunches. Her long, golden hair tumbles over her shoulders; a river of golden silk, spilling over the cliffs of an exotic waterfall. A soft tinkling giggle fills his ears, and forcing his body to relax, for the laugh was like silver wind chimes of crystal, dancing in the breeze.
A breath, and she turns to face him, her eyes shimmer like crystal sapphires, glimmering in the sunlight. A soft smile tugged at the corners of her soft lips. A flutter of black lashes and she leans closer, her small delicate hand presses against the nothing that surrounds them.
"Atlas" smiles the woman.
"Arcellia…but…how?" Atlas's eyes widen, and his breath hitches, at the ghostly image of the woman who had taken his heart with her, to the underworld and beyond. He could feel her heat; smell her exotic scent, twisting his senses to crackle like coal fire.
A soft smile and Arcellia leans closer. Tears shimmer in her eyes, as her hand rises and cups Atlas's cheek. A soft breeze whistles by, threading through her hair and making it dance like sunlight, striking the darkness.
"Atlas…why have you turned your heart to ice…shut out the daylight…and hidden in shadow?" Arcellia's voice was soft like silk, yet low and tinged with pain. Her heart broke, seeing the man she loved, kneel before her, so broken and lost.
"Your gone" was Atlas's simple reply. Weakly, he turns away. Arcellia's hand stiffens. Stilling, Atlas's eyes flutter closed, for he could not gaze upon her, he couldn't look at the specter still haunting his heart.
Gently, Arcellia forces Atlas's gaze to shift. A soft smile; tinged with pain tugs at the corners of her lips. "I'm still with you" a whisper, soft as the summers breeze wafts across his face, making him shudder against her touch.
"I can't feel you anymore" a pain filled gasp, slips past Atlas's quivering lips. He could feel it, the hot sting of his tears, teetering along the fine edge of his eyes.
"I'm in here Atlas" regally, Arcellia leans closer, her hand slowly slides away from Atlas's cheek. His eyes snap open, and watch as her slender fingers trail down the graceful slope of his chin, down his neck, to his chest. A pause and the tips of her fingers, lightly press against the spot where his wretched heart beats.
For a moment, Atlas stares, his eyes refusing to leave the sight of her fingers, pressing gently against his skin, and yet, he could not feel her. For her touch was like a wisp of air, cold and icy, and unforgiving. Closing his eyes, he forced his senses to feel her, yet no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't. Clenching his eyes, his hand rose, and threaded with hers. Sighing deeply, he gently pried her fingers away.
"Your not here Arcellia" chokes out Atlas. Turning, he stared back into the eyes of a ghost, a mirrored image, a reflection shimmering through the darkness of an ebony mirror. "No matter how much I wish you to be…your not…you're but a reflection of the woman who once was…and is no more"
"Atlas…don't close your heart off to love" whispers Arcellia softly, her voice rising above a soft breeze.
"Why would it matter to you what I do! Your dead!" snarls Atlas. Angrily he turned away from Arcellia, he knew he hurt her, and he didn't want to see the pain shimmer like plate glass in her eyes. "You left me"
Stilling her tears, she sighed. Bowing her head, she lowered her gaze. A soft sob and her trembling hand rose and cupped Atlas's shoulder. A part of her wondered if he would shrug away from her touch and a part of her wouldn't blame him. She was surprised when he didn't.
"You know it wasn't by choice Atlas…the Great One's called upon me…and I could not ignore my Calling…they needed me Atlas" a sigh, and her hand lowers. Slowly, she lifts her gaze, her dark sapphire eyes, shimmering like fragments of crystal glass, shining back at him beneath a veil of icy tears. Slowly her hand rose, the tips of her fingers press once more against his heart. "I never wanted to leave you"
A trembling gasp, and Atlas's hand rises and cups over Arcellia's. "But you did"
"Atlas…it was my time"
"You were my life Arcellia…there's nothing left for me now…you were my heart...when you left…it shattered…like crystal glass…fading beneath the waves of darkness" Atlas's voice cracks as images of that far-gone day flashes within his mind. Shuddering, he turns away.
"I was not your heart Atlas" whispers Arcellia, her voice a whispered breath.
"What!?" sharply, he turns and glares back at Arcellia. "How can you say that? You were my life! My love!" snapping away, he jerked to his feet, and stepped away.
"Your wrong Atlas…for I am not the Keeper to your heart" turning, she stares off into the distance. The truth pained her, yet it needed to be said.
"What do you mean?" turning he glared back at Arcellia, sitting upon the ground, her slender legs tucked gracefully beneath her. A gentle sweep of her gilded white skirts flowed like a waterfall around her. A crest of gold, twisted over her shoulder, set aflame by the gold and tinges of oranges mingled as one and flowed like a river, weaving through her hair. It was like a sunset, magickal and ethereal.
"I'm not the Keeper to your heart Atlas" repeats Arcellia, her voice soft like thunder. Weakly, she lifts her gaze towards Atlas, tears shimmering like twilight.
"How can you say that?" questions Atlas confused. Turning, he steps towards Arcellia. Kneeling, his hand reached out, the tips of his fingers lithely skimming the tip of her chin. "Wasn't our love pure?"
"It was Atlas…I just wasn't the one for you" turning, she unconsciously nuzzles her cheek against the palm of his hand, for even though he couldn't feel her touch, she on the other hand could.
"Then who?" his voice trembled, for though he wanted to know, a part of him didn't. He'd rather remain blissfully oblivious to what Fate had weaved for him upon her spinning wheel.
A gentle smile played on her soft lips. Slowly, she turned, and gazed back into Atlas's eyes.
"You'll just have to keep your eyes open Atlas…love will find away…when your ready…don't be afraid…reach for it…seize it…hold onto it…and never let it go"
"I can't" rage billowed deep within his veins as he gazed into the eyes of his beloved, of the woman whom he wanted to tie his life with, forever. "I can't and I won't. You were my heart my life my soul Arcellia…and nobody can take your place"
"Then you'll live your life in frozen isolation" whispers Arcellia, her voice soft, and tinged with pain. Slowly, he bows her head; a crescent shadow falls over her eyes, darkening her features. "Fading into the shadows…until all that is left…is a memory"
"If that means that I will one day be with you…then so be it" growls Atlas.
Arcellia's face softens. Slowly, she turns to face Atlas. One tear falls, dancing like a crystal snowflake down the slender slope of her cheek. A soft sob and her hand rises and cups his cheek.
"There's no future…no peace…without love…the flames of hope shall extinguish…until your frozen heart melts" whispers Arcellia softly.
"Arcellia" sighing, his hand rises and threads with hers. A soft gasp slips past his lips as his fingers slip through hers. "There is no future for me…without you"
"Atlas" whispers Arcellia softly. Slowly, her gaze lifts and for a moment, Atlas forgot how to breathe, for the world shimmered in her eyes; a hidden winter wonderland that only he could see. Her hand rises, the tips of her fingers, lightly brush against the edge of his eyes. A soft smile and her lips move.
"ATLAS WAKKE UP!"
Screaming, Atlas's eyes flew open. A gasp and he jerks away from Bonileea, hovering over him, her face an inch away from his.
"Gah!" stumbling, he shifts and rolls off the table with a thud. "Owwwie" groans Atlas.
"Oh my Oz Atlas!" cries out Bonileea. Picking up her skirts, she leaps over the table. Her eyes widen, seeing Atlas lying prone on his side, blood spilling from his nose. "Are you alright?"
"I'm terrific…never felt better" groaned Atlas. His fingers reach up and pinch his nose. Wincing, he pulls his fingers away and his eyes widen, seeing the tips covered in blood. "Great…now I have a broken nose" grumbling he awkwardly rises off the floor, his dark, emerald eyes glaring back at Bonileea, standing before him.
"Actually" starts Bonileea. Nervously, she shuffles on the tips of her toes. "Your nose was already broken"
"What…how?" gasps Atlas.
"Ah…Elphaba…might…have…punched…you" replies Bonileea, her voice softening with each word slipping past her lips.
"Beg your pardon…I'm sorry I didn't catch that?" smirking, he leans in closer, and his hand rises and cups his ear.
"Elphaba…may have…punched you…earlier" nervously, she bumped her fingers together.
"Excuse me?...Beg your pardon?" smirks Atlas, Oz he was having way to much fun.
"Elphaba punched you brainiac!" Smirking, Bonileea rose high on the tips of her toes and leaning in closer, screeches into his ear.
"Alright…got it…good" stumbling, Atlas's finger rises and plunges into his ear. Suddenly he stiffened and turning, stared shocked back at the Spryte, standing before him, arms crossed tight across her chest. "She did what!?"
"She punched you…Oz…did your brain get damaged too?"
"She punched me" repeats Atlas. Stumbling, he backed into the bed. "Oz…she punched me"
"Yes…I think we established that already" sighing, she rolls her eyes before stepping up closer to Atlas's rigid form. Her eyes narrow as her fingers rise and tenderly touch his forehead. "Your head looks bigger now"
"Not funny Bonileea" growling, his fingers rise and clench around Bonileea's, stilling his movement, and gently, pulled her hand away. "Is she alright?"
"What your head? You call your head a her?" asks Bonileea. Quirking an eyebrow, a mischievous smile tugs at the corners of her lips. "That's so cute Attie"
"I meant Elphaba" rolling his eyes he steps away, his dark emerald eyes staring softly back at Bonileea. "Is she alright?"
"She's a bit shaken…but alright" sighing, her arms rose and wrapped tight around her waist. "Doctor Dillamond is with her"
"What why?"
"The infection spread through her body Atlas" replies Bonileea, her voice softening slightly.
"But…she woke up" whispers Atlas in shock.
"Even though she woke up" came a voice. Spinning, both Atlas and Bonileea twirl around to see Doctor Dillamond, standing at the threshold. "Doesn't mean that she's out of the woods"
"But…she" stammers Atlas. Mentally, he slapped himself. Why in Oz would he even care if this woman lived or died? She wasn't Arcellia, she wasn't his love.
"The infection is still ravaging her body, and unfortunately…there's not much left that I can do to stop it" replies Doctor Dillamond softly.
"The fever?" asks Bonileea.
"Rising…I've given her every medicinal herb I can think of to bring down that fever and none of it has worked" reports Doctor Dillamond sadly.
"Your giving up?" asks Atlas, his voice coming out harsher than intended.
"What have you make me do Atlas" sighing, he turns and stares softly back at Atlas. "I've used everything I can think of…I've researched every book and nothing seems to be working…all we can do is wait…and pray"
"Pray…ha!" chuckles Atlas icily. Angrily he stomps toward the wise old Sage, and shoving his face closer, clenches his fists tight against his chest. "Just admit it Doctor…you've given up"
"Atlas!"
"No!" turning, he glares back at Bonileea. "He's giving up! I can see it in his eyes! He's giving up" turning he levels Doctor Dillamond his most deadly of glares. "Your giving up…and if she dies…it's her blood on your hands"
"Atlas" whispers Bonileea. Shaking his head Atlas storms out of the room, leaving Bonileea and Doctor Dillamond alone.
"He loves her Bonileea…even if he won't admit it…he does" smiling, he turns and stares back at Bonileea, a knowing glint, sparkling in his eyes.
"Love?" quirking an eyebrow, she tilts her head to the side. "But"
"Trust me…he does" winking, Doctor Dillamond steps out of the room, leaving Bonileea alone to contemplate his words.
Alone, Atlas storms into the Infirmary. His eyes soften, as he gazes upon Elphaba, laying limp and pale beneath the sheets. Shimmers of sweat glimmer like star dust across her forehead and her breathing was hard, and gasping.
Softening, he takes a seat beside the bed and reaching out, threads his fingers with hers. Inwardly he shuddered, feeling the cool bite of death dancing against her skin.
"Please…wake up"