War of Hearts

04 - Kisses of Death

They sat under the moon, the pale rays whispering a long forgotten song of love around them. Fine dew drops caressed the long grass, and the creatures of the night watched them with bated breath.

He kissed her and the whole world fell away. It was a gentle melody, comforting in ways that mere words would never be. He was grimy, dressed in his battle gear that would soon be bloodied while she was wrapped in a white dress, pristine as a pearl. They were lying in the grass, mother earth cradling them in her secure arms for but a moment in time, where they were the only thing that mattered and the whole world felt right.

His hand rested below her ear, his thumb caressing her cheek as their breaths mingled. She ran her fingers through his sweaty locks as he pulled their bodies close until there was no space left between them. She could feel the erratic beating of his heart against her chest, even though the armor.

"I love you, Ever." Cael whispered in between the kisses.

"And I, you." She whispered back.

But then the world tilted and her gentle eyes hardened. With the speed of a Serpent she leapt, unsheathing his ebony sword. He couldn't react for he couldn't fathom, and she plunged the obsidian blade right into his chest.

And then, she laughed. The sound echoed through the heavens, and the moon his herself behind dark clouds. His life blood oozed out, dying her dress into a deep scarlet as he stared helplessly at the cackling phantom of his heart stared at him with crazed, remorseless eyes... 

Cael woke up, drenched in sweat, his hands flying to his chest to find his body unwounded.

What in the nine hells had he just dreamed?

"Cael, Cael." Parisa, Cael's sister called out from beside him on the bed.

He turned to her and had a double take. She was dressed in formal wear. Why was she dressed in formal wear at this hour?

Parisa took pity on her buffoon of a brother and said, "We're travelling to Eden, and we will arrive shortly. You need to get dressed in order to meet her majesty the Queen."

Cael sighed deeply, coming back to reality.

"Yes," He whispered, "Yes, I should."