Sora of the Moon

NATHAN~14

I walked into my empty room and stood in front of the mirror. Reluctantly I glanced at my reflection just to see in what mess I had gotten myself into. I touched my almost burnt chest and a sharp pain ran through my body. This sucked. How was I supposed to clean this up? I breathed out soundly and headed for my wardrobe. I opened it in search for the towel my mother held me in when I was still a baby. My wings were so small back then and the towel was huge, but now it could only cover my hips. I had it hidden because I wouldn’t want Laylath running into it. I unfolded it carefully because the material that it was made out of was extremely rare and vulnerable. Moon silk with moon silver dust straight from the Moon Realm. It was Violet’s wedding gift. I only used it due to its healing powers and when I absolutely needed to. With soft moves I cleaned my wounds quite quickly but the major problem was my wing cracks.

Whether I liked it or not I had to spread my wings to check how much damage I had endured. For a second I thought that the room would be too small for my wings but then I remembered that they were destroyed. I let out a sigh as I uncurled my wings and I was startled. Ilay’s blood was all over them but of course I didn’t feel a thing. They had turned completely numb. I could still feel the pain in few places but that was just it. I tolerated it. I knew exactly what I had to do so I walked to our balcony. I stood there and flapped the remained wing skeleton. Ilay’s blood luckily was shaken off.

“Good God!” I reacted at the pain this plain flap had caused me.

At least I could still move them. A wave of relief flooded me in. Then a soft voice echoed. 

“Nathan…”      

I turned around to face a very familiar person. She was standing on the balcony rails with her long dark hair casually on her shoulders and her slant dark grey eyes looking straight into mine. Her wings were so beautiful and glossy, as always making me envious of them.

“Ailith…” 

A very loyal and good soldier. The woman my dad had decided for me. She approached me with grace, her long black dress showing up her curves. Her cold fingers touched my chest and specifically my wounds.

“You’re hurt”.

I looked away.

“It’s nothing, I’m recovering. More importantly, what brings you here?”

“Your father asked me…”

I immediately cut off her words.

“He asked you to spy on me? If that’s the case then I must ask you to leave and tell my father that I’m not his f*****g pawn”.

Due to her family connections with my father, she was the number one choice for my dad to send if he wanted to reach me. She looked away troubled.

“Is it true? Sora showed up?”

I froze at her words. I should have thought that her awakening would send out a wave.

“That’s none of your business”, I responded fiercely.

She caressed my shoulders.

“I’m not here to argue with you, you know that. I’m just…”

“Following orders, I know. Tell my dad that I have no idea what he’s talking about. I didn’t sense a damn thing”.

Lies. I sensed it. More than anyone but I just couldn’t let her get wrapped in this mess again. I would figure something out, I just needed time.

“Nathan, don’t lie to me. I know you since you were just a little boy. I know you’re protecting her but please think about your world for once in your life. We need a new king. It’s chaos up there”.

  My world huh? Because of my world I had to go through all this. I cursed it and its policy.

“I don’t give a damn Ailith. Maybe it’s better that way. Have you even thought the reason of all this? It’s like this every one hundred years. Have you any idea of how many women have been sacrificed for that crap? There’s a reason behind this chaos you’re talking about and I’m going to find out about it. Alone. You can say whatever you want but I have no intention of giving Sora off like she’s some kind of prey”.

Her features darkened.

“Nathanael, things are serious! There is going to be a war if we don’t do something”.

I started getting so furious that I could feel my wing bones tremble.

“Do something? And that something is making my father the Lumen King? Do you think that’s going to prevent the war? Because that, is going to be the start of it!”

“I believe you’re being a little too harsh with your father”.

I felt like laughing.

“Harsh? Are you kidding me? You don’t know a thing about my father. He’s a monster”.     

“He’s not a monster, he’s a leader and I definitely prefer him over the Sun brats”.

 “I can’t believe it…” I mattered to myself brushing my hair backwards with my hands.

“Do you see my wings Ailith? They’re torn out because of him. That’s the kind of person he is. That’s the kind of leader you’re supporting”.

She sighed as she gently brushed my cheek.

“But that’s because you disobeyed him Nathan…”

“Disobeyed? What am I? A freaking soldier? Thank the Moon I have my own life, my own feelings and my own perceptions”.

“Your perceptions are utopian Nathanael. You need to come down of that pink cloud of yours and focus on our Tribe”.

“If they were utopian, I wouldn’t have been born having them. Sora won’t be tangling any further in this. I won’t permit it and if you have no intention of backing off then our conversation ends here”, I spoke strictly and I could feel my eyes glowing.

She looked down disappointed.

“You don’t get it Nathan…”

“No, the one who doesn’t get it is you. I can’t blame you, you don’t have feelings…”

“Maybe that’s why you can’t do anything. You’re nothing more than a slave of those feelings you’re talking about”.

I harshly grabbed her wrist.

“I won’t allow you insulting me any further”.

“I’m not insulting you Nathan! I just care about you. I don’t want you to get lethally hurt again because of some silly, baseless perception-”

I didn’t let her complete her words.

“Leave”.

“But Nath-”

“Now”.

She gave up eventually with a shrug.

“You know what? It’s my fault for caring. It’s my fault for trying to put some sense into you”.

“No one asked you to!”

“I just- I just want to help you…” her voice broke.

“If that’s your way of helping, then I don’t need it”.

“You know what? Do what you want but the weight of your death will be entirely on you”.

Those were her last words before spreading her wings and disappearing into the distance. 

“My, my… Couple fight?” I heard Laylath’s voice coming from the room and I literally wanted to die.

“We’re not a couple”, I pointed out.

Laylath approached me with an arrogant smile and stood where Ailith was a couple of minutes ago.

“You not accepting it, doesn’t mean that she stops being your fiancé”. 

“Laylath, I really don’t have time for that. There was never an engagement and I never agreed to this”.

She laughed sarcastically.

“You think your opinion actually matters? How cute. Never mind that, look at those burns. Who was it this time? Ilay or Aaron?”

“Go to Hell Laylath”, I said trying to escape from this madness but she didn’t let me. She stood in front of the French door.

“Hey, what kind of attitude is that?”

I ignored her pushing her aside and took my phone. Before I approached the door, I hid my broken wings. 

“Leave me alone. I really am not in the mood for this”.

“You’re going out, looking like that? And wait… what’s that?”

An ominous wave wrapped me as I reluctantly turned to face her. She was holding my towel. My heart stiffened. How stupid of me. I got distracted by Ailith.

“Give that back”, I demanded slowly and her smile widened.

“Oh? Found something important?”

“I said give it back!” I raised my voice abruptly.

“Raise your voice again and I’ll burn it. It’s a strike away and you know it”.

This was dear to me and watching it on her filthy hands drove me crazy. Without thinking I pounced on her throwing her against the floor.

“And then you’re calling our father beast!” she mocked me throwing it outside. I immediately tried to stand up and reach it but she pushed me back down with her heel on my chest. She stood up as she moved her foot on my neck. 

  “Heh… look at you. How pathetic”, she laughed enjoying the fact that she was cutting my breath.

“You’re so lucky I got some business to take care of…”

“I bet you have”, I responded disgracefully already knowing that she was talking about a guy.

She freed me leaving me coughing and disappeared with her wings making so much wind that the towel fell of the balcony. As soon as I caught my breath I jumped down the balcony just to find out that it has landed on Claire’s hands. She looked at me startled and jumped away.

“Oh my God…” she shouted frightened.

“It’s me. Relax”.

She laughed hysterically.

“How the heck did you jump out from this height… Are you an angel or something?”

“I just…”

“Not that it matters. You know Nathan, I heard tooons of weird things today that I think I’m going crazyy…” she said creating invisible circles with her finger next to her head.

I noticed her cheeks had reddened quite a bit and that she was tipsy, hardly even standing. Was she drunk?

“And now it’s raining towels! I… I just can’t”.

“Listen to me Claire. You’re drunk, let me walk you to your room… Where’s Hayley?” I said slowly taking the towel from her hand. I was somehow relieved that it fell on her of all people.

“She’s with Phillip. Those two literally kicked me out of the theatre saying that I was too drunk to stay. What nonsense! Drunk? Me? I don’t even drink alcohol”.

I took her by the shoulder and helped her walk towards the dorm entrance. Even in that life she was weak in alcohol. If she was afraid of heights too then I wouldn’t need any other confirmation. I brushed her hair terrified of how attractive I found her like this. So innocent.

“And then Luna told me some stuff about some children and that I needed to avoid you of all people. Why I don’t even understand! You’re the most reliable of all those tribe creatures. Plus you’re hot. Has anyone ever told you that? Nathan you’re like the hottest male I have ever encountered and believe me I have met a lot due to my job. There’s just something so magical about you, I feel like I want to get to know you but of course you wouldn’t agree to that because I think you hate me for some reason…”

I stopped walking the moment I heard this phrase coming out of her mouth. Hate her? I loved her. I loved her for more years than she could count.

“What the hell are you talking about Sora? I could never…”

“There is it again. Sora… Sora… Sora… Sora… Just stop it. All of you! My name is Claire and I don’t know anything about that girl you all want me so desperately to be”.

This was the worst timing for my feelings to take the lead.

“You need to rest”, I said swallowing down my desire to attack her with my lips.

It had been so long since I touched her. Eighteen years. Was the softness of her lips the same? Did she taste the same? Had she dated another man? I so desperately wanted to make sure.

“And then Aaron… Aaron tried to attack me, thank God Ian was nearby. I was supposed to have fun tonight but then all that… I… I think I’m going to pass out”.

She said losing her balance but I held her up. Aaron tried to make a move? That bastard, I should have thought.

“Come on, I’m taking you to your room”.

“No. Nathan, I’m fine really. Put me down, I can walk”.

“Claire you can barely even stand. Let’s go, we have morning lesson tomorrow and if you want to get up at eight o’ clock you need some sleep”.

I glanced at the huge gothic clock that decorated the dorms. It was already past midnight.

“Wait we?”

“Yeah, I’m in the art department too”,  I answered but I would rather keep that a secret from her. The students were a lot, she wouldn’t even notice me.   

  “Really Nathan? How awesome”, she screamed delighted but then her voice turned into a whisper.

She reached her hand for my face brushing some bangs away from my eyes and I shivered at her gentle touch.

“You know… you are so beautiful Nathan. I would love to draw you someday… Hope you let me…”

And she fell asleep. In my arms. That meant trust. She trusted me even though she just met me. I couldn’t help but smile. But of course. It was only natural.  She always trusted me. She always felt security when I held her. She knew that I would never harm her. Quite contrary to the method I used to protect her.  I held her closely and started going up the stairs, to her room. 

“Maybe someday”.