It was the shortest day of the year—cold and dark.
The day that darkness triumphed and coldness conquered the hearts of the human race. Arrogance, greed, envy, indignation... These were traits that were strengthened this day, leading to pain, to grief, to gaping holes in souls that could never be healed.
And that was the reason the Light rose up. Every year, she sent an envoy to Earth who let her love shine, melting the darkness away.
The Dark Night turned into the Night That Lovers Are Born.
Hearts were opened, looking for the presence of the True Soulmate. Every kiss that night was binding, a beacon of love, of hope.
At least, that was how the story went.
A story Wylan had always clung to. After all, his life felt like a fairytale—a cruel, sinister fairytale—and Wylan was still craving for that happy ending. This Night was a night he'd been looking forward to for years, now he was finally 16 and welcome at the feast.
But he should have known better.
He should have known that Jan van Eck would crush every sliver of happiness.
For his door was locked, he couldn't leave. The feast would go by; people would find their soulmates while he was sitting on his bed, all alone, trying not to think of Jesper.
When Jesper would kiss someone tonight... he would be bound to them.
Wylan sighed softly, his head bent. Something itched his cheek. At first, he thought it was one of his annoying curls, but when it slid down his chin he realized it was a tear.
The conversation of earlier today echoed in his mind.
His bedroom door opened. Geraldine was standing there, her ocher curls spiraling down her shoulders. He looked at his sister—his father's pride and joy. She wore a beautiful dark green dress with twinkling rhinestones, emphasizing her female curves.
A little awkwardly, he looked away.
"What do you think, Wy?" she asked sweetly. "Do you think our young mister Fahey can resist me in this dress?"
He didn't know what to answer; he was simply shocked because Geraldine brought up Jesper. Did she know about his feelings or was this pure coincidence?
She chuckled while she toyed with her curls. "You know how he is. One or two drinks and he forgets that tonight's kiss is binding. He'll be a great brother-in-law, don't you think?"
The thought of his sister and Jesper together caused a stab in his stomach. In a whim, he answered: "He might as well kiss me!"
He could, right?
He would in his dreams, in his fantasies.
And even though Jesper was popular and Wylan was a weirdo who could barely write his own name; nobody would deny that Jesper often went to talk to him. At first, he only asked questions about homework, but they discussed more and more other topics lately. Wylan knew it didn't have to mean anything—Jesper talked to everyone who would listen—but to Wylan... To Wylan it meant the world.
And he planned to tell it to the boy tonight, no matter how nice his sister would dress up.
Geraldine however burst into laughter. "Don't be ridiculous, little brother. You'll stay here tonight. Nobody would ever want to kiss you. Save our family the shame of going to this feast; you'd still be going when you turn sixty. It's a tradition you better not start."
"That's for me to decide," Wylan huffed.
Slowly, she shook her head. "Sadly, it's not, little brother. Father doesn't want you to leave the house. And if I see you there anyway, I'll make sure you're brought back home instantly." She winked. "And you know nobody wants to disappoint father. Except you, I guess."
Her words stung. He'd never wanted to disappoint his father. And yet it happened, time and again. He wanted to say something back, something that would hurt her too. "He's not interested in you!"
His words sounded hollow. It wouldn't hurt her at all.
She chuckled, amused by his weak attempt to strike a nerve, and leaned into him. Her long fingers stroked his curls. "I'm just like daddy," she whispered. "I always get what I want."
Stepping away from him, she winked once more. There was something sinister about her smile.
"And tonight, that's Jesper Fahey."
The memory faded. Wylan clenched his jaw. He tried to banish the distraught feelings he felt. She'd only said that to taunt him. She wouldn't go after Jesper, right? Plus, he still needed to kiss her too...
And yet... That determined look in her eyes; he knew that look all too well.
That was exactly how Jan van Eck looked when he wanted something—and he always got his way.
Wylan stood up and walked to the window. Two guards stood in the garden, below him. Even the illusion to escape was taken away by his father. Despondent, he leaned with his hands on the windowsill, staring at the full moon.
In the distance, he saw all the lights surrounding the decorated town hall. There, people were laughing, dancing, finding love.
His fingers clenched and he swallowed a frustrated scream.
He felt like Rapunzel, locked into a tower.
Waiting for a prince who would never come.