Seeing Red

Seeing Red

"The art of love is largely the art of persistence"

-Albert Ellis

For my mother and aunt, for editing and supporting, and to everyone I know, because I probably stole a personality trait from you.

Prologue

It was a normal summer night, and as he did every evening for as long as he could remember, Zev waited patiently for the stars to come out. While he waited he absentmindedly rubbed his hands through the glistening, damp, sweet grass that littered the ground.

To the human eye, Zev appeared to be but a two year old, but being that he was an elf, his thoughts and emotional maturity were equivalent to that of a fourteen year old human. Zev was unconcerned about this difference. He didn't care what the humans thought of him, as his thoughts were focused on unworldly matters-the stars themselves. He did not stir himself to even ponder human pettiness-he only cared for the stars. Seven stars in particular held his attention captive.

Momma had often said the stars were the same color as his eyes and as his heart. Momma had also said they were golden. But when Zev gazed lovingly up at the stars he saw some silver ones as well. As beautiful as their swirling and pulsing colours were, it was not the colors that held his eyes up to the blackened sky . It was The Seven that called to him, speaking to his heart and creating a yearning he had no words for.

There were six gold and silver stars that formed the circle, with a little red one in the centre. The Seven. As he watched the stars slowly appear, Zev compulsively began to draw them, needing to capture their majestic wonder on paper.

When he was done his drawing he raised his eyes skyward and watched The Seven in awe. There were three golden stars and three silver stars surrounding the red one, Their balanced pattern remained, always consistent. It was never The Eight, or The Six, but always The Seven. Each star held it's own power although some were brighter than the rest, As the sky continued to darken Zev's concentration sharpened, as it seemed that the red one glowed brighter and brighter.

"Zev! It's time for dinner" mother called.

"Coming mother!" he responded automatically, yet he made no motion to leave. The magic gripped him, overcoming his need to stir. He was captivated by the red one, and only the red one. It was so beautiful up in the sky of his idyllic home. He stared lovingly at the star, and the star stared lovingly at him. Then suddenly it was blinding to look at for Zev. It grew brighter and brighter until-

FLASH! The sky exploded in red light, causing Zev to fall backwards. Then a hundred visions of his future swam through his mind, the magic of it forever changing and molding his mind into that of a fully mature male, filling him with purpose and wonder. He looked into the sky again, staring at the beautiful red star that was now holding the others into place with its light. For the first time in hundreds of years the seven had changed. In his mind a vision was forever imprinted.

"Layana" he whispered, a knowing smile playing on his lips. Thousands of miles away, as he whispered her name, a newborn elf girl was born.