Wings of Enchantment (The Vampire Genesis Chronicles), page 7
“Oh, Little Dove, your innocence warms and hurts my heart at the same time. I see you’re already trembling. Let’s find a tree to take respite.” He flew us to the tallest oak and landed on the sturdiest branch.
I felt somewhat better when my feet touched something other than air. Until I looked down and realized the chances of me surviving such a fall were close to none. A dizzying spell took over, and my body lost its balance. Luckily, Zburătorul caught my hand quickly and pulled me into his embrace. If before his proximity bothered me, now a new dizzying spell emerged. His gaze bore into my eyes as if trying to mesmerize me. And maybe for the first time ever, I wished to let myself be swept by his charm. There was something effortless but also genuine that pulled you under a delightful spell. Something fleeting but also able to leave a lasting impression. I had abhorred unnatural beings all my life, thinking they were nothing but monsters enveloped in cloaks of charm meant to use humans for their benefit. But his presence here and now made me think differently. Maybe I was wrong the whole time? Maybe he indeed had good intentions?
Narcis noticed my hesitance to distance myself from him, so he cradled my cheeks and eyed my mouth. I had to be an entranced fool not to notice his obvious ambitions. His only desire was to captivate a maiden’s heart and mind and suck all their vigor. Nothing unusual for a monster disguised as a seducer.
I withdrew my face from his caress (though it felt cold for a moment) and stepped back.
“What are you doing?” he asked.
“The necessary thing. You’re out here only to get me for my vigor. You do not care about me.”
“As much as I wish to prove you wrong. Now it’s not the time.” He grabbed my arm, but I ripped it from his grasp.
“No, now it’s the best of times. I refuse to be led by the likes of you. Everything you’ve done for me until now was for selfish reasons. And even now that you try and pull me close to you proves my point. I will never fall in love with the likes of you.”
“Very well.” He crossed his arms, forcing all his muscles to bulge. “You might never fall in love with me, but you are definitely going to fall.”
I looked at him dumbfounded as I made another step back. “What do you mean fa-aaa-ll?”
“Down.” I heard him say as I began plummeting to my certain death.
But not a second later, I once more felt cradled. This time between Narcis’s strong arms.
“I’m so relieved you didn’t faint this time. Maybe you will acknowledge the sky for its true wonders with time. Though in my eyes, you already shine brighter than the sun,” he said as he fluttered his wings and flew us deeper into the woods.
I didn’t dare to say anything. But from my point of view, the way the rays flickered around him made him look nothing more than the sun’s son. He shone so bright I had to close my eyes several times and imagine myself far away where I didn’t have to deal with whatever was emerging within me.
“I supposed we’ll still have some time to get you accustomed,” said Narcis when he noticed my clenched fists and eyes. “No worries, Little Dove. I have all the time in the world to teach you how to fly. You’ll be soaring in no time. But first, let’s free your brother from that wretched mother pretender.”
The flight took several more moments of agonizing closeness to him until I felt something sturdy under my feet and sighed in relief.
“You didn’t need to run so far away from me,” he said. “I already know how much you hate me.”
“I don’t hate you,” I retorted.
“My, my, if it isn’t the quarreling and oblivious duo,” said Samca as she emerged from the burrow.
“Watch your tongue, Samca,” said Narcis.
“We’re not quarreling,” I said.
“Ah, but you’re definitely oblivious, darling. Did you bring me the goods?” she asked.
“Yes,” Zburătorul said, boasting with pride. “But first, we want to see the boy.”
“Aren’t you a smart feather. That won’t work. First, I need to see the comb, and then we can negotiate.”
“What do you mean negotiate? How do we know you didn’t turn the child into clay?”
At the sound of those words, my heart clenched.
“You play a hard bargain, darling. Fine, wait a moment.”
“Do you think Doru is still alive?” I whispered.
“Knowing how much she wants Ila’s comb, I’m sure of it. But we must act fast. Otherwise, we risk losing more than one life.”
Fear engulfed my body until Narcis’s hand reached my back. Surprisingly, the warmth it emanated calmed me.
“And here we are,” said Samca as she got out of the burrow.
“Sister,” I heard Doru’s voice say, and my heart almost leaped out of my chest.
“Doru, I’m here. Your sister’s here. We’re going home soon. You have my word,” I said.
“Hold your horses, maiden. Don’t hand out words you’re not sure you can keep.” Samca placed a saggy arm across the burrow’s entrance.
“But I am sure,” I said.
“First, the goods.”
Zburătorul handed her the comb wrapped in a handkerchief. As Samca began unwrapping the comb, Zburătorul yelled: “Now.”
I ran to pull Doru from the burrow, and when I finally could see his sweet face, Samca grabbed me by my hair. She shoved Doru back and dragged me to the ground.
“What do you think you’re doing?” Samca hissed. “And you?” She looked at Zburătorul, who hovered above us, ready to fly us away. “You think you can fool me with a piece of lead? I could feel it through the cloth. It is not even golden, you dolt.”
“Another shiny thing has fooled me.” He tsked. “I’ll tell the boyar I got it from his fortune is but a fool’s game.” He descended next to me.
“You have stolen this one as well?” I asked Zburătorul.
“It’s always from those who don’t deserve it, Little Dove,” he said. “I would never deceive someone so kind as you.”
“Enough with these love declamations,” Samca hissed.
“Who said anything about love?” I retorted. “I am here to bring my brother home.”
She began laughing hysterically. “And you still believe this dimwitted parrot can help you?”
“Samca, choose your words wisely,” Zburătorul warned.
She cackled even louder, then stopped suddenly. “I don’t need your threats, darling. As they always inspire me to become more wicked. How about this? I give you three days to bring me the golden comb and save the boy. I believe I’ve been considerate enough already, given I didn’t shred the youngling to pieces when I smelled deceit.” Samca’s fury turned her eyes red and her face purple with silver streaks instead of veins.
“But three days is not enough. Give us at least a week,” I pleaded.
“You had that chance before. Now it’s three days or the boy is dead. Given how many headaches you’ve caused, I will give him a special place within the walls of my burrow.” She grinned a devious smile and scurried inside it.
“No, please, Samca. Give us more time,” I yelled into the hole as loud as possible, yet there was no response but the void and the echo of my voice.
Chapter 12
narcis
This time, I downright messed up. I landed next to my crouched Little Dove and placed my hand on her back. “Do not touch me.” She slapped my hand and began crying.
“There is still a chance,” I whispered. “Kings have conquered lands in three days. I believe we can save your brother as well.”
“No,” she said as a stream of tears trailed her cheeks. “I’ll do it on my own.” She rose and began stomping toward the woods.
I rushed toward my little dove, turned her around, wiped a tear off her cheek, and said, “We have to do this together.”
“I can see your eyes spinning. Are you trying to entrance me?”
“Is it working?”
“No,” she said and shoved me. I was a head taller than her, and my frame doubled hers, but when mad, she was stronger than a lioness. “You can leave now. I will find and talk to Ila on my own.”
“But that’s impossible. By foot, you will reach their meadow in three days. There is no time for that.”
“Then I’ll run,” she said and dashed ahead.
I flew above her and landed before a very stubborn Little Dove. “That won’t work either. For you must dance their nightly dance for them to even consider helping you.”
“Move,” she growled. My heart skipped a beat at the most inopportune of moments.
“Even if you abhor me, you still need me.”
“How can I need you if every time I seek your help, your awful qualities ruin any chance at saving my brother.” She turned away from me.
“What awful qualities?” I asked, too perplexed to think.
She flashed me a glare and began hitting me in rhythm to her words. “You sleep around, you steal, you lie, you deceive, you…you,” she said as she looked into my eyes. “I lost my mind for a mere moment, and now, because of it, I will lose my brother.” She lowered herself to a squat and covered her face.
“These awful qualities helped me survive. But I see now. They don’t do me the same favors,” I said, raising my little dove to her feet. “Give me another chance to prove myself. I will make everything right. I promise.” I searched for her gaze.
“How can I trust you? Again and again,” she said as she finally glanced at me with the most hurting eyes I’ve ever seen.
“It doesn’t have to be again and again. Just this one time. That’s it. I ask for one more chance.” I kneeled and brought her hand to my forehead.
She ripped her hand from mine but then whispered: “Fine.”
The jolt of happiness pushed me to do the unthinkable. I rose to my feet, grasped her arms, and kissed her. A taste of sweet pear and spice enveloped my sense. She was too enthralling to stop, and for a second, I thought she enjoyed it as well. That is until she slapped me so hard I felt my jaw dislocating.
“Are you out of your mind?” she bellowed. “The moment I begin trusting you again, you jump at the first opportunity to steal kisses.”
“That’s the thing, Little Dove. I need life mana to be able to fly. You have it in abundance, with the bonus of not becoming weak. It is the first time I’ve seen such a thing. It might be your utter hatred for me, or your unyielding righteousness, or both, but it could work to our advantage. You grant me life mana, and I make sure to fly as fast as possible from one point to another. This way, we can make sure you return in time to save your brother and can avoid the bloodsuckers.”
“I…I…That’s preposterous. I cannot agree to such a deal. And you’re not in the position to offer it.”
“You are not in the position to refuse. We have only three days to succeed.”
“And whose fault is that?” She retorted, fury encompassing her eyes.
“What has happened in the past cannot be undone. Let’s focus on the now.”
For a second, I believed she would strike me again, but she simply sighed. “It is my fault for allying with despicable unnatural creatures. Now I must pay the price.”
“Does that mean it’s a yes?” My entire body tensed in excitement.
“My yes is only out of necessity, unnatural creature.” She glared at me but quickly turned to the side.
Now I was demoted to an unnatural creature, but it didn’t matter. I would get to taste those lips again. The feeling got me giddy inside, licking my lips for a delectable meal.
“Then may I kiss you now?” I made a step closer.
“Only if you must. I’m doing this to save my brother and not to satisfy your whims. And do not forget I despise you just as much as the first day I met you.”
“I can live with that,” I said, unable to control my smile. “The flight to the Iele is a long one. I will need a boost at the moment. That is if you don’t want us to have another encounter with the strigoi.”
At the sound of my words, I noticed Anca’s body tremble. I didn’t want to lose momentum and stood mere inches from her sweet mouth. She looked at me, visibly conflicted. But there was something else between the hatred, the scorn, and the fear in her eyes. Something I’ve never seen before. She parted her lips, signaling preparedness. How enticing. Slowly, I pushed her toward the closest tree until she yelped at the sudden stop. Now, trapped between the tree and my body, she had no choice but to succumb to my seductive snares. I tipped her chin up with a finger and lost myself in the vastness of her green eyes. A myriad of emotions dwelled within them, and I yearned to discover each and single one of them.
I wished to prolong the moment as much as possible, so I trailed small pecks at the corner of her mouth. Her soft and delicate lips deserved to be caressed ad infinitum. Except her words woke me up from my reverie.
“What are you trying to do?” she asked.
“I’m just taking my time to admire you.”
“There is no time for dilly-dallying. As I said before, I’m doing this for––”
As much as I loved the sound of her voice, I couldn’t help myself and plunged my mouth into hers. Her discontent resounded in the form of grumbles that dissipated as soon as my tongue found hers. I began exploring the insides of her mouth like a bear searching for honey. So sweet I could lose my mind. Or maybe I lost it and wasn’t ready to accept it. Not only did her lips taste divine, and I could feel a surge of strength flow through me, but her mouth also followed mine as if she secretly wanted to be up to par with my mastery. Even if she denied it adamantly, my little dove was of the ambitious kind.
While we were locked at the lips, my hands couldn’t help but explore other parts of her body, from her shoulders to her supple waist. I didn’t dare go lower though I pined to touch every part of her. The only strange thing about it was her conformity. The woman who just moments ago barked at me, slapped me, and accused me of awful qualities, now stood motionless ready to receive everything I gave her. Were my powers at play? Was my enchantment so strong I didn’t feel it leave my body? But from the looks of it, she didn’t look depleted. I couldn’t risk it, so I broke the kiss. “Are you tired? How are you feeling?” I asked.
“Fine,” she said in the form of a soft moan. But then realized the situation and threw me a scornful look. “I’m fine. Why do you ask?”
“It’s just for a moment, I thought you enjoyed the kiss,” I said, fighting the urge to grin.
“Who? Me?” she retorted. “In your dreams.”
“You are my dream.”
“I was simply following your lead,” she continued. “I do not know how this whole kissing and life mana works.”
“Wait. You mean you have never kissed before?” I asked.
“Why are you asking as if it’s a bad thing?” she said as her ears turned red. “I didn’t have time to frolic around when my family needed my help and I had to leave them to find work at the castle.”
“No one is accusing you. You’ve been dealt a heavy burden and handled it with great valor. But there comes a time when you will have to face a mirror, and within it, you will need to see yourself rather than everyone you try to care for.” I caressed her cheek, but my words scared her.
“You’re one to speak. You only care about yourself. What’s the use of being so beautiful if you only see yourself?”
“You think I’m beautiful?” I asked in surprise.
She pushed me to the side and walked away. “There’s no point talking to you. I’d rather go by foot.”
“Still, you called me beautiful. That makes me so happy,” I said and almost grabbed her for a spin.
“Being beautiful means nothing if there’s no value underneath your glowing skin.”
“You think my skin is glowing? It’s because of our kiss, you know,” I said, rushing after her.
“What’s the use of me talking if you continue your self-loving anthem, no matter what I say.”
“At least we’re on the same page regarding my looks. Now I only need to convince you about my inner world.”
“Pfft. As if you have one. Inside you, there’s probably only things you stole from others, including kisses.”
“There’s also a myriad of portraits with you as their subject. You have become my muse.”
“What nonsense are you spewing? How can I be your muse? There’s nothing special about me. I’m just a simple castle maid trying to save my brother.”
“If only you could see what I see, your opinion would change.”
“Stop blabbering and start helping. Or did I grant my lips to you for nothing?”
Her refusal to accept a compliment made me more eager to tease her, but given her tone, maybe another time.
“Yes, Little Dove,” I said and spread my wings. When she turned around, I enveloped my arms around her and took flight.
Chapter 13
narcis
As per usual, my little dove kept her eyes closed as we flew across the forest. It made me somewhat sad that her fear impeded her from enjoying Mother Nature’s beauty as I did. It was probably a sign that she never relished in anything besides the hard work and sacrifices she made for her family. Was it selfish of me to wish for her to discover the world’s wonders, from outside or within? If only she knew what cosmos dwelled inside her, she would only look at the night sky for comparison. If only she would let me be her guide, her teacher. I could show her how to feel, see, smell…, and taste. Uh, I can still taste her lips on my mouth. I could spend days discovering the different flavors of Anca. From pear and spices to honey. It could probably lead up to a tome. It’s been so long since I’ve held a quill in my hand, but for her, I would write for days only to bring to completion the encyclopedia of her body and soul. The more she pushed me away, the more I wanted to know why. And the longer I wanted to figure her out, the more I fell in love with her…with her…everything. I couldn’t even discern one part of her I enjoyed most. Even the kitten’s strokes, she called slaps, felt like a caress. She could strike me as much as she wanted as long as I could taste her lips once more.
