Candlelit Shadows

Chapter 12

“Do you believe in love, sweetheart? Love, pure and sweet. It can change your life.

      “Love had existed from the very beginning of time. Solis loved his brother, and all of his Creations. Most of them picked up on it, and began to love each other. Even in the middle of war, love exists.

      “The saddest love story to happen during the tournament was that of the snake and the panther. They started off as casual acquaintances, then rivals, then opponents… and finally lovers. They lived in the same type of environment, see, and when food was aplenty they were happy just to leave each other be. But when drought fell, they would fight over the smallest rat, if they believed it would keep them alive for another day.

      “When the Tournament began, that rivalry became full-fledged opposition. Before moving on to bigger things, each had to first secure their own territory. The snake and the panther had been living alongside each other for so long it was hard for both of them to imagine any other intruders posing much more of a threat. They were equally determined to purge each other of the land, and no one else mattered.          

      “Of course, others tried to take advantage over their infatuation. In repelling these outsiders they acted in unison—once the outsider was gone they resumed their fight. On and off, dragging on longer and longer… Their only true enemy throughout the entire Tournament was each other.

      “And it seemed as though even they thought they needed no one other.

      “It became obvious to all but them soon enough. Whenever the snake saw an opening, she would hesitate, allowing the panther to recover. Whenever the panther found a chance, he would wait, for just that fraction of a second, giving the snake time to fight back. Their battle was more of a game, and Solis watched in amusement as they sparred back and forth, without ever wanting to end the game. No one else mattered.

      “Eventually though, he got became impatient. He appeared to them one day, and demanded they finish it, once and for all. For a moment the world was silent. Nobody moved so much as a muscle. And when they finally spoke, they spoke as one.

      “They could no longer fight one another, not to the death. And if my Lord should insist, after one has been felled the victor shall take his or her own life, because there really was no point in one living without the other.

      “That’s why, darling, I’m sure Daddy will come home tonight. As sure as the snake and panther were of their love.”

 

***

 

The large marble door swung inward easily under her knock, just as she had hoped it would. On the other hand, she had barely registered the mystical carvings on the door. ‘

      If she had, she might have changed her mind. It was, in the long run, a good thing she had not.

      Warm light filled her disoriented eyes, soothing after the empty blackness. The room was as cozy as a summer’s day. Its occupant was out, but his or her scent seemed to linger, pleasantly reminding her of crushed pine and snug woolen scarfs.  

      It was furnished like an average living room, with plushy couches and a slightly worn television set. Children’s toys littered the floor, as the cheerful voices of kids playing drifted from the tightly-closed door she knew would lead only to more cave walls. But more interestingly, the coffee table, shelves and racks all had the same pictures—of a young couple, a pony-tailed man with an infectious grin and a gentle-looking elegant young woman, both in their mid-twenties, beaming happily at the photographer. Cera recognized neither.