Iniquity [HS]

Chapter V.

Three months and eleven days later.

Harry's gaze was searching for hers desperately. He needed her. Her touch. Her smile. Her. He needed everything she had. Her soul, her breath on his skin. The church needed her. The smell of incense was not the same without her perfume, with its mordant scent of lavender and nostalgia. Every little inch of her was needed by Harry in that exact moment.

Celestria walked every single day on that dry ground. She gracefully managed to make her way through the graves and enter the church to buy candles. But she never met his gaze. He felt like she was avoiding it. And so it was. Celestria tried to avoid him. He knew she couldn't fall in love now. But Harry never thought it would be that hard to wait for her. Seeing her every day without hearing her voice saying his name frightened him.

The candles were burning slower, the choir was silent, the white marble floor was not the same without the clacking of her heels on it. Pure agony. It felt like he was in the middle of hell. An inferno. The hopes of his heart started forming holes while he was waiting for her in his little paradise that was now just a church waiting for her presence too.

Until one day, when she showed up earlier than all the days before that one. Her gaze was still fixed on the marble floor, but she stayed and listened to the choir and to the priests who were showing her heaven with their voices. Harry was in front of the altar, reading the pages of Bible, while the others were above it, on the next floor, harmonizing with him.

Her hair was covered by a black material, with little faded blue flowers on it. Celestria's black dress was better than her fancy pants in many ways. Even though Harry enjoyed seeing her in any kind of clothing, her fancy pants were his favorite. The clacking of her heels wasn't present this time. He slowly widened his eyes as he darted his gaze at her silent steps. Celestria's face was pale, so were her hands. The candles she was holding started to melt slowly between her fingertips.

She made a few steps forward to reach the front chairs. Celestria stayed on her legs, of course, but she needed to be closer to Harry. Even if she couldn't show that to anyone. Not even to herself. She wanted to hide her feelings into a small box with chains and locks just to throw in into the lake next to the old church. Celestria was sure her feelings might end up growing in her heart and then reach for his, just to feed itself.

For the first time in months Celestria lifted her gaze and darted her eyes to his. Their hearts were echoing between the sound of angels surrounding them. Candles started burning, the choir has never been louder.

Their eyes met. Black was all over under her eyes. Celestria was pale and cold. Her gaze was fixed on him strangely. He was just lost in her eyes, he almost read her thoughts, the concentration in her gaze gave him the urge to move his glance to something behind her back. Or someone. That was holding her hand.

Harry hurriedly finished the mass and walked slowly towards Celestria and the man who seemed strange. He tapped the man softly on the shoulder. He turned around and met Harry's eyes. He was quite handsome, Harry thought. Blonde hair was a perfect match with green eyes and cold blue lips. He looked pale as well.

"Are you looking for something?" Harry occurred to ask, and stopped a bit, analyzing the man's gaze, that was all over Celestria. "Is there any chance i can help you with something? You seem new here." Harry talked as his eyes fixed on Celestria's expression, and then melted on her cold lips, wishing he could warm them up. He slowly moved his eyes to where their hands were placed together right in front of him.

"Thank you, you are so kind. But she lived her entire life here, so we're good. Thanks again." The blonde guy pointed out to Celestria, as she curled the sides of her mouth into a faded smile. Celestria was sad. Her eyes were unfocused, and buried into the red carpet. "Actually, there might be something." The guy smiled as he turned around to walk towards the doors.

"Who is he?" Harry asked, touching her shoulder with one of his fingers. Their heads were leaned forward, their foreheads almost touching. Harry could hear a tear leaving her eye. "Celestria." He whispered in a serious tone, a tone that made her shiver. "Who in the name of the holy spirit is the guy you just walked in my church with?" Harry repeated his question. She lifted her gaze up to face his eyes. "Joseph Norton. My cousin." Celestria spoke, her eyes red from tears as she faced Harry's jealousy.

Harry's words were silenced now. He started pushing himself away from her, as he was trying to think. "I'm sorry, sir?" Joseph turned around when he arrived next to the doors, and whispered loudly.

Harry's eyes fixed on Celestria's cousin for a few seconds, and then on her again. He tried to breath, but there was no air left for him. "Yes, what can i help you with?" He spoke to Edward, as he forced a faded smile, yet he was furious inside.

How could he blame her for such a sin?

Harry knew more things than Celestria. Some things that could have change a life. Their life. He knew she is a pure soul sinner. A secret that has been burried in the deepest hearts in Bladeshire. In the hearts on their parents. Hearts that are worshipping God. A secret with God. Harry thought.

Celestria extended her opened fist and stopped Harry by pulling his arm back to her. "Don't make this harder than it already is, Harry." She whispered and burried her eyes into the ground, shyness and sadness all over her expression. Celestria took a deep breath and faked a smile.

"Don't worry Joe, i can show you around. Let's not bother mister Styles." She smiled at him. A smile so fake that if Harry did not know the truth, he would have no other choice than to believe her. To believe she's happy. That she does not have a grieved heart. Celestria turned her head back to Harry. Her eyes were screaming for help. Her lips for a warm kiss and her body for mercy.

She withdrew her hand that was clenched on his wrist with a surprisingly powerful passion. When he could not feel her fingertips anymore, there was only an immense breath taking void state that was forming in his body.

Joseph smiled at him with thankfulness written on his face. Harry used to love smiling at people, especially at the ones who seemed kind and idiotic at the same time.

However, in that moment, nothing could break that heartbreaking state of complete darkness that was starting to manipulate his entire visual field.

Just her.