Fairy blood was shed, and the consequences were about to be f**king severe.
~
Beyond the beautiful mystic world of light fairies exist the grim worlds of humans, the transformed and dark fairies. The fall crescent solstice was supposed to be a day...
In the dimly lit room, Elysium's cerulean eyes meet Halo's mesmerizing hazel eyes as he pleaded Halo to reconsider going through with the release. "Halo, I can't let you go through with this. There has to be another way," he urged, his voice tinged with desperation.
His striking jawline became tense as he took a deep breath. Halo was torn even more as she responded. "Elysium.. this is bigger than us. I have no choice but to participate. If I run away with you today, we will never be free. I will never be free."
Elysium took her hands, his grip firm. "I understand, but I can't lose you. There must be an alternative. We can find a way together."
His intense gaze drove spikes into her heart as she tried to fight against the temptation to run away. Elysium's tall and strong statue made her feel safe as she fought back tears hugging him. His strong heroic arms concealed her petite frame.
Halo hesitated, the weight of her duty pressing on her shoulders. Elysium continued, "We can leave this place, and start anew. I'll do whatever it takes to keep you safe."
Torn between love and her duty, Halo met Elysium's gaze. "It's not that simple, El. I need to release all this darkness inside of me. I can't do that on my own."
Elysium, refusing to give up, whispered, "We can create our way, Halo. Away from all this darkness. I love you too much to let you face something so perilous."
"How can you get me away? If I am the darkness."
As the clock ticked down to the ritual, Halo's faith wavered. Elysium went against her wishes as he started to pack a bag for her. She took his hands guiding him to the balcony entrance.
"I need to do this. Elysium I love you...I need you to trust me. I need you here with me. I can't do this on my own."
" Halo I promise....I'm not going anywhere."
There was a knock at her door. Quickly, she hurried him over the balcony ledge. With one arm he gripped the railing tightly, and with another, he grabbed Halo's exposed olive-colored waist. The power of his touch, made her feel powerless against him.
As he pressed up against her she could feel his stone-hard muscles and veiny arms. El's brunette wavy hair brushed against her cheek and neck. Another knock at the door and a moment later the sound of keys can be heard.
He whispered, " I love you."
"I love you."
Swiftly, he kissed her pink full lips one last time, a bittersweet farewell etched in that stolen moment. Halo clung to him, her arms wrapped tightly around his neck, a silent plea for time to freeze before letting go.
He spent the last moment to remind her of the intense intimate connection they have. Reluctantly, she released her hold, as the creak of her bedroom door broke the spell between them.
Elysium dropped down, landing gracefully in the garden down below. Staring up at her and catching the picture moment of Halo's silky brown hair dancing in the wind. In that suspended moment, he blew her a kiss, a silent promise of their love. Halo, in response, sent a heartfelt kiss back before darting back into her chamber.
~
The water turned black as Halo submerged into the bath. It was hot and soothing as remnants of chaos steeped out from her hair. She spent these very few moments of privacy floating and mediating, especially for today. This is the only part of her day that felt all hers.
This cleansing the church prepared for her will hopefully serve its purpose as a shield and protect her today. When the time was near she sat in silence as the nuns patted her dry. For once, they were gentle as they assisted her.
The delicate fragrance of Holy Land Flowers enveloped her senses while they anointed her with sacred water. Observing her in quiet reverence, they witnessed as she completed the remaining steps of her ritual independently.
With a tender touch, she combed her hair and nourished her skin. The initial phase of purification ended as Halo settled within a ring of smoldering incense and candles. Encircled by sorcerers, nuns, priests, and healers, they formed a silent assembly, united in prayer around her.
Everybody knew what today meant.
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The cotton felt soft on her skin as they dressed her. She took one final look into the mirror bedside her bed and stared at the false princess looking back at her. She ran her hands over the floral lace and corset details of the low-cut whimsical dress. Halo has never felt this radiate in her short life before. However, in this situation, she is beautifully dressed for her funeral.
Halo enjoyed her last walk down the east corridor as the sun's hue bounced off the church walls and stained glass windows. The sun lit her pathway to the ritual room. Every step felt heavy and light at the same time. Elysium's words echoed relentlessly in her mind. In the pit of the ritual room, they laid her down and began to shove black sand burning her alive. Halo found comfort in the sand as she felt her body being swallowed up by it and the noises of the world above being tuned out. Slowly, the sounds of shovels and the praying congregation didn't reach her ears.
It was dead silent, a true luxury she hadn't experienced much since she was a child. Traditionally, this ritual was only held on the last day of the vessel's life. Today was that day. Tomorrow, she would hope to start anew, but that's only if she could survive the release.
Her 'salvation' will be her damnation.
After all the chaos she had been coerced to absorb, she would finally be able to let go. The endless amount of bad energies, thoughts, and memories that she had been forced to assimilate had been eating her alive since the beginning.
Halo's fifth birthday was supposed to be a day filled with joy and laughter but the church had other plans for her. They knew who she was and the power she held even before she was out of her mother's womb. There was no way to say no to them, but her family made a pact to keep her best interests in mind. There was no escaping the prophecy in this life or the next. Halo decided as a child to join rather than fight the storm that was within her.
All this time they've treated her as a human Pandora's box. They controlled when she 'opened' and 'closed'. The vessel has been around but thousands of years but in a world that was slowly moving into the next renaissance she was no longer a secret. Halo is meant to be the last one of her kind.
