Shadow Under the Starlight

6. A song from the past

A/n: Layla and Isla’s past life memory

Amelia walked down the hallways hugging to her chest one of her favourite books, she had her day all planned out — read, re-read, this lovely piece of literature in the garden. Quite a beautiful scenery for a magnificent book, only the best for the best.

What a dream come true.

Earlier in her room, she managed to braid her hair into one large braid, as neatly as she could get it done. She wasn’t quite familiar with braiding, she knew a lot — she read a lot of non fiction and fiction — yet basic necessities her hair required, she could barely keep up. She could surely learn over time, for now this weak barely retaining her hair would do.

Amelia’s long purple gown swayed as the wind brew past, the free strand of hair slightly tickling her face. Freeing her left hand, she moved the strand behind her ear — for now that had to do.

A couple more steps down the path taking it the beautiful scenery, she found her lovely bench right beside the oak tree, smiling contently Amelia thought ‘True peace and fun’. Brushing away the few leaves off the bench, she sat.

A line was all she managed to read as someone thought it best to place their large palm, on the page she had been read.

Her gaze fell from her book to the smiling menace standing over her. Her perfectly free black hair mocking her imprisoned curls, her unusual choice of clothing much more thrilling than her composed gown. The white loosely fitted shirt barely tucked in well with an ankle length blue skirt.

“Will you go to ball with me tonight?” she asked, leaning further into Amelia’s preferred personal space.

Leaning away from the brown eyed girl, Amelia spoke. “I shall not, I’ve already told you Elis a couple of times this week.” with her right hand, she smacked her hand off her precious book.

“Why not?” she pestered taking a seat right beside the girl, leaving no space between their two bodies at all — and considering Amelia felt the bench armrest touching her hand, she could not scoot further away. Quite devastating.

“I have books to read.”

“Fantasy books, romance — it’s all imaginative.” Elis mumbled, her hand now thrown over Amelia’s shoulder she gently pulled her closer — resting her head on her own shoulder. “Tonight you could actually experience all that, with me.” Elis added trying to entice the girl, it had a couple of days if not a weeks.

“With you?” Amelia pulled away. Her gaze meeting that of Elis who held a rather snugged expression.

“Am I not your type?”

“You won’t take me sailing across the seas.” she ignored her question, with that said Amelia tore her gaze away.

“You refuse my proposals, Amelia.” Amelia turned to look at their hands gracefully interlocked. “You know I dream of the day you come with me on an adventure.” Elis said, as her thumb caressed Amelia’s hand ever so lightly.

“I am busy.”

“Reading?” she questioned — more like laughed the question out. “One day without a book shoved up your nose, won’t kill you.”

“It might — a dull day without imagination.” were Amelia’s words as she pulled her hand out of her grasp.

“Hallucination.” Elis objected, before she could give Amelia a chance to respond. She laid her head on her lap, puzzling the girl and she did not mind the cute confused face she made. “—And there is never a dull moment when you are with me.” she added, staring up at girl making herself comfortable.

“I wouldn’t bet on that.” Amelia glared at the girl, invading her personal space once again.

“You bruise my ego darling.” Elis’ hand rested over the chest, quite dramatic of her but when was she not.

Amelia mumbled, “It’s quite big.”

“Not as big—”

“My love for you.” she mocked. Amelia had not given her a chance to finish that overused phrase, she threw around at least once every conversation they had. “You’ve over used that line, darling.” she said placing emphasis on the word ‘darling’ persisting to mock her.

“My delicate ego.” clenching her shirt, Amelia had her response. Lightly pulling at her ear Amelia giggled at Elis hiss — as menacing as Elis could be, she liked it. One thing Amelia hadn’t noticed was her hand unconsciously brushing Elis’ hair.

“You would not like to go to the ball with me. I understand, if that is what you wish so be it.” Amelia stopped running her fingers through her hair, staring at Elis who now sat up, her hair a bit tamed than she came earlier. “—but would I have a dance under the moonlight tonight as everyone drinks and parties away, just you and I?” Elis asked, once again.

And how could Amelia say no to that. Exactly, she couldn’t.

“Where?”

“Here, in this very garden when the clock strikes eight.” Elis had not broken eye contact, not once and Amelia found it hard to look her in the eyes. It was pressing.

Diverting her gaze, she stared ahead. “Very well, you have yourself a date.” not a second to waste, Amelia stood gripping onto the book she came with earlier — sadly today was not the day to read it, it seemed. Turning back to Elis still sitting, Amelia added. “I don’t like to be kept waiting, eight and no time after.”

“I’ll be the one waiting for you darling!” Elis shouted as Amelia began walking away, very composed despite all her legs wanted to do was run — her ears and cheeks rather uncomfortably warm.

§

The moon stood in all it’s glory under the night sky, accompanied by the beautiful bright stars — Elis took took note as she stared at the sky, a few more seconds and she’d be holding and dancing with her brightest star.

Her gaze fell on the cherry blossom she held, she could only hope Amelia liked it even if she randomly plucked it as she wondered through the garden.

“She’ll like it.” Elis tired to convince herself as she straighten her blazer. She had to like it, right?

“Like what?” Amelia asked walking into view. Just like that Elis felt her lungs give out, she couldn’t breathe — Amelia never failed to amaze her, she was lovely — no, no words would be enough for her in this moment.

She was everything.

Her hair was no longer braided in a single braid, rather rested freely flowing down her shoulder, perfectly resting on her bare shoulders. Her red gown was simply styled, it did not overflow with material, the black corset perfectly outlined Amelia’s curvature.

Elis shook her head, she had—needed—to stay focused. Amelia chuckled once Elis came out her mind. A soft smile on her lips, Elis handed Amelia the flower she gladly accepted — placing it in her hair she thanked.

“You look lovely.” she breathed out like she had been holding in her breath for centuries. Elis took a step back, taking in Amelia’s outfit once more, she was afraid the word ‘lovely’ did not do her justice.

Amelia smiled, taking in Elis’ appearance. She noticed how Elis had her hair pulled back in a low ponytail, it made it easy to stare at her beautiful facial features, especially her eyes. She had on a black blazer longer at the back with high waisted pants — her white shirt, slightly open exposing her smooth skin — she look dashing.

“Not too bad yourself.”

Smiling Elis held out her hand. “May I have this dance?” Amelia’s hand perfectly slipped into hers, her free arm wrapped around her waist pulling her closer as Amelia’s rested on her shoulder.

“If you don’t mind me asking, where is the music we are dancing to?” Amelia asked, swiftly looking around the dimly lit garden.

“Can you not hear it?” had been Elis’ response as she stared into Amelia’s hazel eyes.

“What?”

Elis laughed as Amelia scrunched her nose puzzled, she definitely could not hear a single thing — she was so cute though. “The song my heart sings whenever you are close, the tune the wind plays when you smile dearly?”

Amelia groaned resting her head on Elis shoulder to hide her blush, she couldn’t help it okay. Additionally Elis was laughing at her, it did not help — what didn’t help as well was how much her scent invaded her nostrils in this position, or how warm Elis felt and certainly how close she was — her blush worsened.

Eventually Elis stopped laughing, brushing her hand up and down Amelia’s back she spoke. “Follow me, try to keep up.”

“You’re a horrible dancer.” she mumbled, still resting her head on Elis — she didn’t think she had the will power to pull back right now — it all felt too good.

“Only when my partner is anyone other than you, Amelia.” Amelia remained quiet, her mind couldn’t formulate the right words to respond, but her body responded quite well.

Following Elis’ lead, she moved her body as Elis moved hers, in the exact same way — following her lead. No words had been altered since Elis counter remark, Amelia was too quiet.

“Am I a bore?” Elis asked, they bodies still swaying to lovers music — only the two of them could hear.

“It’s too early to tell.” Finally Amelia responded, there she was. Smirking, Elis let her left hand fall to her side, gently she spun Amelia around, her gaze now fixed ahead. Her body lightly being pressed against Elis’.

Her right hand rested on Amelia’s waist, as she brushed her hair aside leaning closer to her right ear, her fingers lightly brushing her neck. “And the night is ours to take.” whispered Elis into her ear, she felt hazy — her mind body and soul were in overdrive.

A light gasp left her lips as Elis spun her again, abruptly and so fast. Amelia stood facing Elis again, much closer than before — if at all that was possible or her raging heart made her quite aware of their predicament at hand.

“I hope I don’t disappoint.” Elis added, as she smiled her body guiding them through garden as they danced. Suddenly all that mattered to her as she flowed with Elis had been her brown eyes tenderly gazing down at her, the lovely scent she could not get tired of, her melodic voice, her smile against the dim light — just her.

“You’ve never.” Amelia whispered with all the energy she could master.