Sora of the Moon

PROLOGUE~N6

I took a deep breath. I knew very well in how much trouble I had put myself into. My father’s call was never a good omen. I assumed that Laylath had opened this big mouth of hers, telling him everything. Of course, she wouldn’t miss a chance to make me suffer.  I gently flipped my wings which I would use if they weren’t useless and hid them again inside my back. I walked tentatively towards the lake and using my mind I ordered the water to take the form of stairs in every step I took. This would be able to lead me to the Throne Room. If only I had my wings… this would be a matter of seconds. But neither did I have them nor would they be healed so easily. The fact that besides the Thunder I could also control the Water I tried to keep it a secret. This was a power coming from the Moon’s Realm from where my mom was descended from. I inherited this along with the predisposition of growing feelings. If they found out about this, I was a goner.

I walked into the room pompously looking past my father’s fearful silhouette. He would be sitting on his throne as always radiating wealth and power. With his huge black wings, which, when spread in full length, they would stand proud of his seat. His image was so familiar to me that I could imagine him without even looking. His silver crown decorating his head and his long curly silver black hair covering his wide shoulders. His cold face would remain still. His black cold eyes would look down on me and they would sparkle from impassivity.

Laylath was sitting to the empty throne’s hand next to him, brown-nosing him relentlessly and gazing at me disrespectfully. I hated it but I was used to it. They wouldn’t break me, not them.

I didn’t even have the time to properly bow to him when a sharp pain ran through my body.  I fell onto my knees. I knew well from where was that coming from.

“How many times do I have to tell you to respect your older sister?”

His heavy calm voice echoed to my ears sending shivers down my spine. I stiffly raised my eyes to look at him. I wasn’t afraid of him. I was done with fear, it never helped anyway.

“When she learns when to respect me, then I’ll gladly return it”.

Her ironic laugh caught my attention.

“Do you even hear what are you saying? Can you believe him daddy? He demands respect from me. Who? Nathanael! It’s utterly ridiculous”

“Get your head around something Laylath. The fact that I’m speaking the truth doesn’t mean that I don’t respect you! You can understand this much. You know that I’m right, we both do, so get off your high horse with me!” I threatened tired of her attitude.

Of course pain got more intense forcing me to bow down. I really was trying to hold back my screams.

“What happened with the girl?” he asked ignoring my dialogue with Laylath. I was about to answer but she barged in.

“She escaped from him of course. That’s how stupid he is. Not to mention, saving her. She was a step away from death!”

He turned to her slowly.

“You tried to kill her?”

“Yes?” she responded.

“i***t!” he said slapping her. The slap echoed everywhere causing me unhealthy feelings. I was waiting a long time for this. She did start getting way ahead of herself.

“What was that for? Don’t we want her dead?” she sobbed irritated.

“Not yet Laylath, not yet. If she dies now, her power will die along with her and anarchy will prevail again in between the realms. That’s something we want to avoid at all costs. And don’t act so irresponsible ever again”.

She stretched her wings furious and once again with just one phrase she disappeared to the sky.

“One day you’ll be thanking me father!”

His eyes returned to mine.

“You are aware of the full moon tonight, aren’t you? You know what you have to do”.

Yes, I did know and I didn’t like it one bit. But I was not going to obey his orders by word and I didn’t care of the consequences that would follow if he found out. I harbored distinct feelings on Sora for personal reasons that only I knew and I couldn’t bear to do something that horrible to her. I clearly would rather torture myself for eternity than hurting her.

“I know…” was the only answer I could give him as I averted my eyes from his cold gaze.

“Don’t mess it up Nathanael, this is your last chance. Dismissed”.

With this my body was liberated from the pain my father was causing and finally I could stand on my legs again.

“You have no right giving me chances. I’m not your pawn but the pawn of myself”. I said and without giving him a chance to answer I jumped out of the Hall. I landed calmly on the lake which I had prepared to receive my weight.

Once again I walked to my mother’s grave to take something that I had forgotten earlier. I placed my palm over the soil and focused on what I wanted. It didn’t take long for me to feel my mother’s flying blade touching my skin and waiting patiently for me to hold it. When I gripped it the purple light that was surrounding it, disappeared. That blade was one of the holy instruments that belonged to the Moon Realm. My mother had given it to me when I was in despair. She told me that with this, I could save her. But how long would that hold? I had already overused this instrument, something that was strictly prohibited but I didn’t have another choice or… I couldn’t bear my other choice.

I promised to myself that this would be the last time. I wouldn’t see her ever again after that. I wouldn’t grow feelings for her, I wouldn’t let her approach me, ever again because the more she tries to get to know me, the more dangerous it was. 

I let out a sigh. Each time made it more difficult for me. I knew what I had to do though. It was for her own good. With all this bothering my mind, I didn’t realize that I had already landed out of her open window. I looked discreetly inside. She was sleeping soundly on her bed uncovered. This time, she was blonde. Blonde with blue eyes. I wasn’t really used to her this way. For me she was always a brunette. Simply because when I first met her she was a brunette. Simply because when I first fell for her she was a brunette. Her beauty though was always the same for me. I came closer to her and caressed away the bangs that covered her peaceful facial features which were being washed by the moonlight.  Her pink lips half open adorned her white skin. She was slowly breathing.

I couldn’t believe that I had the strength to do something like that again. I leaned to caress her cheek and she turned on her back.  Terrified I looked at the straps from her sensually falling on her shoulders and once again I questioned myself where did I found the power to do something like that without even allowing myself to take a taste of her body. I shook my head. This was not the time for that and it would never be. I should get over with this. I didn’t know if I could bear to be so close to her for much longer.

I gently brushed her arm and after two moans she opened her eyes. She must have been surprised to see me over her with my eyes glowing because of the strong feelings her sight was causing me.   

“You came…” she said sitting up.

“I told you that I’d be seeing you tonight”.

“Will I finally learn what’s going on?” she asked desperately.

“Yes, yes you will but not here. Let’s go somewhere else”.

Lies. She wouldn’t learn a thing. All I was going to do was make her forsake me once again.

“Where to?”

I took her into my arms.

“Somewhere high”.  I answered and with a leap I found myself jumping from roof to roof until I found the most distant one.

It was there. A house on the edge of a hill that had the most marvelous view of the city along with the view of the ocean on the horizon. Today, the waters where sparkling more than ever due to the full moon. I let her sit on the roof tiles and I sat beside her. Her eyes traveled to the scenery that was unveiling in front of her as if it was a work of art. 

“It’s so beautiful…” she said standing up and I noticed that her eyes were shining. It was windy, something that helped me observe her every single facial feature. She turned to me.

“Why did you bring me here?”

“When it’s full moon, this view is the best. The more height the better”.

“Yes, but I’m afraid of heights…”

I raised my shoulders and caught myself smiling at the beautiful memories.

“Well that’s something that stayed the same…” 

She looked at me puzzled and then I realized that I said something that I shouldn’t have.

“Pardon?”

“That’s bad I say. There are so many beautiful things that heights can offer you that it’s a shame not to give them the chance because of fear”.

I tried to paper over the cracks thinking about my wings and the delight that flying gave to me. I wasn’t the only one delighted though… Sora as well. When she had first met me, when I still had my wings, when I broke all the rules for her, she loved holding onto my embrace when I was flying even though she was afraid. That was because of the blind trust she had in me. She knew that she wouldn’t fall when I was the one holding her. 

I sighted. This was never meant to happen. We weren’t supposed to feel like this for each other. If we hadn’t met, she wouldn’t be found. If she hadn’t chosen to interact with me, she would now be living a normal life with normal people away from realms and heirs.

I stood behind her. That was the last time for me to talk to her so I intended to enjoy every last moment with her. I wrapped my hands around her waist and brought her closer to me. She laughed.

“Are you flirting with me? That’s quite daring for someone who just met me”.

I couldn’t help but smile at her words.

“You can just say that I’m living the moment”.

Yes, a moment that I was never going to be able to live again. I stiffened only at the thought of that.  It was so difficult.

“Weren’t you supposed to give me some explanations?” she insisted.

“But you just met me. Who gives explanations to someone that had only just met?”

“You’re not being fair! My whole life is hanging from the things you have to tell me”, she said averting her gaze from the horizon. She looked at me.

To be exact her life was hanging from my hands. And as for me, at this brief moment I was hanging from her lips that were so inviting. Her eyes started in confusion and she observed me for a little while before speaking.   

“Nathan, I know that this might seem weird but, do I know you from somewhere? You look so… familiar”.

I looked at her shocked. This was bad. She shouldn’t be recognizing me. It didn’t make sense but then I remembered the full moon. I didn’t have much time, I had to act quickly. And I would if the question troubling my mind for some minutes now hadn’t come to the surface.

“What is your heart whispering to you Sora?”

She gazed at me more troubled than before.

“My heart?”  she repeated and I nodded.

“Do as it says”.

She looked lost.

“What’s saying to me is complicated. I- I don’t understand”.

“Trust this feeling. Maybe that’s what’s going to lead you to the truth and I’m no more than a mediator”, I insisted knowing exactly what her heart was talking about.

Her hand reached out to me as if to stroke me.

“Why? Why so you suddenly seem so familiar to me? What’s this that I feel for you? I really don’t understand”.

She ran her fingers to my face and my body as if she wanted to recognize me.

“It’s fine Sora, you can help yourself understand with a single move”.

“I’m scared”, she sounded anxious.

“No need for you to be”.

“But it’s so weird what I want to do to you right know”.

“The more you think about it, the worse it gets. Just follow your instinct. It’s rare for something bad to happen when following your instinct”.

“You’re right. Please don’t misapprehend me after this…” she said eventually.

“Only if you also promise me not to tangle with me again. Under no circumstances”.

“I can’t understand what is that you mean but I don’t care. In fact, I don’t care about anything right now. The only thing that I can think of is this…”

Moments after she stopped talking I found her lips covering mine. The pleasure this kiss offered me was immeasurable. It had been so long since the last time I felt her but the sensation of her lips was the exact same. Just as I remember it. Her way also hadn’t changed. Her hands wrapped around my neck and her fingers gently pulling into my hair for me to come closer for her to reach me. Mechanically I followed her lead and pulled her closer to me. This was the last time I was kissing her and I was selfish enough to enjoy every span of her body. She pulled away from tentatively and looked at me shaken.

“How could I forget?”

I stiffened once again. She was actually remembering me.

“Please Sora, don’t…” I begged desperately.

I wouldn’t bear her remembering me. I wouldn’t bear her looking at me with eyes full of love as I was doing something so horrible to her. I knew it. I knew that something like this would happen. It was always like that but still I couldn’t get used to it. It still hurt me. Deeper each time.

“What do you mean Nathan? I missed you so much…. Why are you trying to push me away from you?” she said tearing up, something that made it even harder for me.

“That’s what I meant… Sora, don’t fall in love with me again, stop loving me, hate me if possible. It’s for your own good”, I said with my hand reaching for the blade on my belt.

“Nathan no, don’t push me away again! Nathan, please!”

Now she was sobbing holding onto my shirt tightly as if she wanted to prevent me from leaving her. She gazed at me pleading and attacked me with a kiss. But before that, she whispered the words that I was most afraid to hear.

“I love you…”

Her words felt like a burden to my heart. And the moment I pierced the blade into her heart, mine broke completely. She pulled away from me and she struggled to look me in the eye. I saw her life draining slowly from her eyes and her soul coming out of her body as a white light. Her hand that was gripping my shirt moments earlier started lessening until it fell dead next to her body that turned into thousand pieces before disappearing to the dark sky.    

Devastated I threw my body on the roof tiles and looked at the sky. I wiped away some tears that had escaped and observed the blade.

“I don’t need you anymore. You can return to the Realm you originally came from. This was the last time for both of us”. I spoke to myself and let the blade floating. With a move of my hand I send it up, to where it did belong. To the Moon Realm. I wouldn’t be holding it ever again. It’s over.     

I had done the best for her. I deleted everything from her, even the predisposition I had kept all the previous times. I was such a coward then so I never deleted everything. I didn’t use the spell I was supposed to but today I was determined.

“I wish you have a beautiful normal life Sora. Away from me and anyone who wants to hurt you”, I spoke to the void trying to hold back my tears but who was I fooling?

It was so painful for me. She would forget everything but I would remember every moment, every single second with her for an eternity and also I would keep following her from behind as a shadow, protecting her but unable to get into her life. That was the torture I was made to bear. It was the cost for having feelings.

I knew I was cursed and my forbidden love for Sora was the worst curse of them all.