Old Legends

Chapter 3 - Sela

Picture is concept art of what Gabriel looks like 

I wake to the sight of two men tied to my wall and start with surprise. I rub the sleep from my eyes and relax as the memory of last night comes back to me.

The one named Dagon leans his head against the wall, causing his long brown hair to fall away from his face. Despite the way the bindings restrict his muscular frame, he looks content with his dreams and position. My gaze is drawn over to the twin, Than. Since he entered my hut, I've felt a pull to him that makes me uncomfortable. It also makes me behave in ways foreign to me. I overcompensated for the way I'm lured to him by being rude. I'm ashamed of that behavior and make a note to apologize later.

He has long black hair that hangs in his face, covering everything above his nose. His body leans forward as he sleeps; the only thing stopping him from falling face first is where he is bound to the wall. "Than..." I whisper the name to myself, startled at how easily it comes off my lips. I crawl forward slightly and increase my investigation. Even in his sleep, he has a face of pain. I stare closer and watch as his eyelids twitch with the terrors that haunt his sleep. In spite of this, he is the most beautiful person I've ever seen. Although the twins have near identical faces, my short appraisal makes me believe they are nothing of the same. Than is different.

I let the temptation to be closer to him win me over and I slide off my bed to be closer to him. I crawl over to him and sit close enough to continue my examination. I reach my hand to his forehead and push his hair back out of his eyes. The second my hand touches his soft, warm skin, I start and pull my hand back from the spark that surges through me at our touch. As I fall backward, his eyes jolt open.

Before he can shout in response, I scramble forward and press my hand over his mouth. Zing. The spark is still there, but ignore it as it moves up my arm. "Shh... I'm not going to hurt you."

His eyes scan my body and I feel my skin heat. I watch as he drags his eyes up before settling his gaze on my own. I can see his questions swirling in his stare. I slowly pull my hands away from his mouth and he lets out a soft whisper. "Did I do something wrong?"

I feel a tug at the corner of his mouth hearing his voice. What is wrong with me? I shake away my smile and respond, "No you have done nothing wrong. I'm sorry for startling you awake. You looked like you were in pain, so I was feeling to see if you were sick, but your temperature was fine. What haunts your sleep?"

He pulls his gaze away from mine and looks to the corner of the room. "I'm sorry, My Lady, but I do not know what you're speaking of." As his eyes idly roam, I know his mind is elsewhere.

I don't know why I want to know more about what occupies his mind, but I can't help probing further. I lean in close and whisper, "Than, no one who sleeps with that expression is not haunted." I know those eyes hold more pain in them than his words reveal. I do because that same pain exists in my own when I see my reflection. He turns his face back to me and I see tears glisten in his stare. His eyes again peruse my body, lingering at my breasts, before fluttering back to my face.

"You seem to be nervous, Than." I give him a small smirk, hoping to ease his nerves. My fingers unconsciously move to his cheek, brushing his stubbled cheek. I close my eyes as the shock tingles the tips. He hitches a breath in response. I reopen my eyes, lids heavy with a foreign feeling of lust. "Have you never been this close to a woman?"

Something flares behind his brown eyes before narrowing directly on my lips. "My Lady, I have no right to have you this close to me."

"Are you not a prince of the Royal City? Is that not a position that gives you a right in and of itself? Plus, who is more authorized to give you right, than the lady herself?" I lean forward and feel his breath on my skin as he lets out a haggard sigh.

He no longer tries to keep eye contact with me, but I'm still able to see the emotion behind his eyes. The flare grows like a flame as he watches my lips move. I lightly wet them with my tongue and without hesitation, he pulls off the wall and brushes his lips against mine. He strains against the chains, moving his mouth against mine, his tongue seeking entrance. Just as quickly as he lunged forward, he falls back against the wall. My fingers find my lips and even though I know why I'm intrigued by the moist feel. The intensity of the shock from our kiss leaves me dazed.

Mortification spreads across Than's face and he stutters out an apology. "I'm-I'm sorry."

Wanting more of that feeling, I push closer so I'm on my hands and knees with my face directly in front of his. My eyes flutter from his eyes to his lips and back again. I lock gazes with him and explore the bronze and gold flecks in his eyes. "Than-"

"-Lady Sela '' Than's eyes dull and melt of all emotion as Gabriel's voice in the door breaks the trance between us. Gabe looks at me and then at Than and the distance that separates him from me "...Um...If you are not... busy I would like to speak with you. Meet me under the Moon Willow, if you will." He struggles to get the words out before abruptly turning to leave.

Than looks confused and pained. "He is your partner?"

I rest my hand against his cheek and shake my head. "He only wishes" I let out a sigh. "I must go see him..." Before I stand, I hesitate, then kiss him on the cheek. "Maybe with time, you will speak of the ghosts that follow you."

***

I approach the Moon Willow and find Gabriel standing at the base. He runs a hand over his short black hair and the muscles in his arms shift beneath his skin. He is incredibly well-built and any woman would be lucky to call him her's, but he isn't the one for me. He leans against the tree and braids strands of grass as he mutters to himself.

I take a deep breath and exhale out my nose. As I approach him, I ask, "You wished to speak with me?"

He starts, tosses the braid to the floor, and straightens his stance. "Yes, I... First, will you explain what the hell that was back there?" He stammers. His face reddens with rage, but his eyes are full of hurt. He has loved me for so long, but I only see Grant when I look at him. He is my brother and that is all he will ever be to me.

Despite his pained expression, I hold my resolve. I know I must be cold and stern otherwise he will misinterpret my kindness. "What I chose to do is of no concern to you. You may be chief, but I am the lady of this village."

In an instant, his anger leaves him. I watch as his gaze softens. "Well, those princes are not the reason I called you out here." He drops to his knees and pulls out a white crescent moon necklace. With a voice barely above a whisper, but dripping with love, he says the words I never wanted to hear "Lady Sela, daughter of Luna, the Goddess, and the Moon, will you accept my hand and become my partner?"

I stare at him shocked. How had we gotten to this point? I had made it a point to never respond kindly to his advances. I had thought he understood that we could never be. I felt annoyance creep into my voice as I explained "Gabriel, your father was my father. You are my brother, I cannot become yours." My voice cracks as I say the next words, "You know, I do not wish to marry until I am the only remaining holy child or Luna has sent me my soul mate." Not many people believed in the archaic tradition, but I had heard it when I was still so young and it stuck with me. When the goddess created us on her loom, she weaved in another's thread. Our fated one. And when we met them, we would know because their soul thread would desire to connect to the rogue piece it had found.

Gabriel looks at me, stunned at my answer. He rises to his feet slowly and closes his fist around the necklace. He walks up to me with controlled composure. When he stands before me, he leans forward and presses his lips to mine. Unlike my kiss with Than earlier, I feel nothing. I leave my arms at my sides and let him move his lips against mine. I feel a tear fall down my cheek. A moment later, I pull away and step to move past him. He wraps his arm around my waist and presses his lips to my hair. He whispers, "Come to my hut, and I will change your mind."

I let out a soft sigh and shake my head. Pulling myself out of his arms, I walk away, leaving him alone under the Moon Willow.