𝕤𝕡𝕒𝕣𝕜 !!

        breath ragged , fingers trembling , wings broken , in the moonlight , he appears as a twisted shadow . stray feathers and pools of blood stain his path , dark indications of his presence on the balcony , slumped among bright flowers . even in this state , halfway from humanity , he has found it -- his home . bones creaking , lids nearly closed , he finds his way to her window , and raises a knuckle to knock , just as he had for so many of those sweet nights ---

        and he hesitates . his body , that of a MONSTER , would be unrecognizable even to her . a wretched fate lies before him : to be seen for what he is , by the one he wants to hide his true self from the most . but as the cold seeps into his wounds , the light summer breeze cutting deep into his skin , all he wants is to feel her warmth , to come back to the arms that feel so much like home to him .

     ‘ rachel . ’ whispered , under a quivering breath , he calls . once again , he brings the back of his hand to the window , and knocks three times . he takes a deep breath , gritting his teeth as the feathers fall off his shoulders , claws receding back into familiar human limbs . once again , the wizard calls , his shaking voice reminiscent of his rattling bones . ‘ rachel , please --- ’ 

╳ ┊   `   ♔   —   ﹠﹠ ˢᵗᵃʳᵈᵘˢᵗ⋅   ◞

          in   an  instance,   the  world  blurs     &     her  eye  squeezes  shut.    fear    interlaced  with  each   thrum   of  her  heart    ——    teeth  catches  bottom  lip  to   muffle   a  yelp     &     her  hands  would     TREMBLE     if  her  grip  of  his  hands  weren’t  so  tight.

                       she  forgets  to  breathe,   to  see.

          the  wind   drowns   her,   but  his  voice     &     his  warmth   coax   her.     a  sharp  inhale.     ocean  blues  open  to  see  the  moon  so  near     &     rooftops  her  cobblestones.   now,   as  the  wind   rushes   by  her,   it’s  not   FEAR   that  races  her  heart.   no.   the  wind  sends  chills  of     adventure     down  her  spine.

          her  dreams  have  all  come  true.   within  her  grasp  ?   a  world  untouched  by  others   …   within  her  grasp  was  his  hand.     there’s  a   vibrancy   in  ocean  blues     (   a  radiance  in  her  smile   )     unmistakable  even  as  she  half  turns  to  face  him.     ‘     how  is  this  possible  ?   it’s  …   it’s   absolutely   breathtaking  !   `

*     @devcouer   /   @execurse.

        GOLDEN THREADS TICKLE HIS CHEEK , and her aquamarine eyes , dazzling with wonder and awe , are what capture his attention in that moment . their flight , a quick trip to the white moon , breathes life into a fantasy -- a daydream of freedom , of blissful abandon . if only he could take her to that silvery land , if only they could waltz further from the earth and into the stars above .

       ’ have you ever seen the moon shine so brightly ? she must be pleased , to have such a radiant companion to help her light up this night . ’

       and he means every word ; who wouldn’t give the world for that smile ? their paces meet , footsteps aligning gradually -- perhaps if he listened closely enough , past the rush of the evening breeze , he’d be able to hear their heartbeats meeting tempo through bodies held firmly together . 

          gradually , their feet meet the surface of a rooftop , adorned with flora and stone . a noble’s garden , no doubt , and therefore unwelcome to strangers , but there are no other souls in sight .moonlight drips from the petals of hundreds of flowers , small statues frozen in dance seemingly greeting the pair . 

◜   ◦ ♕ ◦   ﹠﹠ ᶜᵒᵘᶰᵗᵉˢˢ⋅   ━   ◞

         long   had  the   LIGHT   left  it’s  throne     ━━     long  had  its     warmth     forsook  the  land     ━━     but  still,   it  resides  within   her.   minions  of  darkness  touch  every  crook     &     cranny,   they     envelope     her  as  the  cloak  atop  her  head,   but  as  the   twinkles   in  black  skies,   she  only  shines   all  the  more.   azure  hues  still  sparkle  as  if  there’s  light     &     the  sun  still  resides  in  silken  locks.

          darkness  did  not  scare  her,   the   shadows   lingering  in  it  do.   wariness   takes  root  in  petite  frame     (   manifesting  as  a  downward  tip  of  her  crown     &     the  brushing  of  shoulders  with  dusk   )     as  she  treads  along  silent  terrain.     heart  leaps  to  throat  as  a  shadow  dances  ‘cross  the  light.     

          it’s  as  if  she  was   COMPELLED,   eyes  drawn  upwards  to  the  lone   figure  of  a  man     ━━     the  moon     &     it’s  sliver  of  light  his  backdrop.   so     entranced     she  hadn’t  notice  her  hood  fall     (   she  forgets  to  breathe     /     she  unable  to  look  away   ).   ocean  blues  were   allured   by  his     OTHERWORLDLY     charm  …   though  he   soared   in  the  air,   it  felt  as  though  he’s  in  water.

          ❛   i  ━━   ❜     it’s  hard  to  breathe.     two  opposing  worlds  had   collided,   the   friction   it  creates  will  elicit  pain.     she  has  read  it  before.     ❛   …   can  i   TRUST   you  ?   ❜     naive.     yet,   lithe  hands  already  reach  out  to  slip  into  his     ━━     surprising  herself.   she  begins  to  pull  away.

        HEARTLESS , AND YET HIS CHEST BURNS when they come together , gazes reaching into each other through fingertips lacing --- was this but a dream ? funny , that the man racing through the sky with magic propelling his heels found something beyond his imagination in this woman , who stood in tangible flesh and blood , whose hand he takes gingerly and yet with a swift pull . 

        there’s no time to waste , no breath to take .

         ' trust me ? of course --- . ’

          a twirl , reminiscent of a waltz , blooms as he rushes forward . he takes her hand , raising it past her head in a single swift motion , bringing her heels spinning once around before she lands comfortably , her back against his chest , and his fingers find their place among hers once again . and his footsteps begin again , slowly , allowing his newfound companion time to adjust to his gradually accelerating tempo .

        HE BECOMES HER PILLAR , shifting his weight as her arm finds a place against his ribs , her hair spilling over his shoulder as she takes rest . his gaze falters from the colorless lights adorning the rich evening sky upon swirling gold , and he leans in closer to ensure her comfort . a sigh accompanies his smile , a sigh not of exhaustion or the like , but for the heaviness against his chest . he is heartless , yes , but there is still a grinding and tugging coming from within him as he watches her lashes quiver into her deep sleep . 

        a wish he cannot grant . 

         he fears the warmth , or perhaps , it would be more accurate to say he fears the light . exposing his secrets , exposing the one whom he desires to protect the most --- himself . sunrise brings back his troubles from which he runs from under the cover of shadows . when the first rays pierce the dark horizon , that will be his cue to leave his companion , however unwilling , and take flight without her . 

          a wizard and a noblewoman --- the rumors would certainly be ruthless . a being that knows only to destroy , to eat the hearts of young women , with a tragically beautiful heiress with weak breath , a story for the public to relish in . but he won’t let such things destroy the beauty he has found ; this is their secret , held preciously only by the two of them . 

         a flash of soft gold !

         for a moment , perhaps his ‘ heart ’ stopped . a dream , the pure sapphire gaze looking on at his leaping figure with wide eyes --- yes , this all seems too surreal . burning brightly even under the cloak of darkness she stands , the sole reflection of the luminous moon above . seconds of hesitation , yet there is no doubt in his actions . with deliberation he falls , reminiscent of spring blossoms taken away by the breeze and disintegrating into thousands of petals . he takes off , leaping from the roof’s edge he had been tracing with footsteps  and landing into an easy , yet formal bow . his cloak falls gently upon shoulders dressed in billowing white silk , and his hand extends before him , offering his companionship to the noblewoman adorned with lace .

           his heart would be racing .

        ‘ a fine evening , though perhaps a bit dark for one to be out exploring on their own , don’t you think ? ’ the moon is nothing but a slim crescent , the night in which ocean and sky meet with their gazes , though a hollowness echoes in worlds beyond his pupils . gentleness beckons in his voice , fingers outstretched and yet curved so nonchalantly . he has done this before , though he cannot remember having courted a damsel in distress ( not that the woman before him is aware of the danger following his steps ) . ‘ perhaps traveling in pairs would be more favorable for the two of us , milady ? ’