The Taming

Comforting Shadows

It was a fine art, drawing with a quill. But after so many centuries, Sebastian had mastered it.

Eventually, he tilted his head to inspect his finished work. Only when he was satisfied that it was a true depiction, did he turn to the next page. And then the words flowed.

Dipping the quill over and over. He scribbled tormented thoughts in the light of a tiny candle. Though he didn't truly need it, it offered some comfort in the darkness.

His guilt eased in increments with each confessing page. He purged pain and longing, as best as he could. Filling the pages with his need for closeness with Elsabet. And his desire to hold her.

He articulated his dream of a day when he could reach for her and know she'd turn into his touch, rather than him risking the likelihood of rejection if he reached for her. All the complexities of this life with her was, ironically, wearing him down. Whereas she still stood fast.

Like a boulder in the tides of the ocean, standing unmoved.

When she's in my arms, she's different, full of life and warmth, and smiles...Utterly captivating.

When he had no more ways to describe his longing to connect with her, on every level, to be physically and emotionally close with her he set the quill in the inkwell. Hearing the click, he realized it was nearly empty.

Sighing, he flipped the book closed and slumped back in his chair. Releasing a long breath that took the dark tension coiled in him, with it.

Today he was combatting that soul-deep hollow of loneliness and anguish which no one ever saw. But unbeknownst to him, someone did now. Though he couldn't feel it, a small hand rested on his shoulder in a reassuring gesture. He could feel only a sudden chill.

But cast across the floor behind him, silhouetted in the glow of the candlelight, there was the shadow of a tall, strong woman there with him. Standing behind him as he wrote his agony, trying to offer some comfort.

Trapped outside of time, as she was, she was incapable of telling her former friend what she so longed to but she said it anyway. "She does love you, Bast."

Calisto was heartbroken that he couldn't hear it.

She couldn't reach him.

But she could reach one of them...

***

"Elsabet!" A snapping voice announced her name with the ferocity of a cracking whip.

"What?" The blonde's head swung so fast a sweep of blonde hair streamed out. Her alarmed expression relaxed in recognition as she greeted. "Calisto."

But at the sight of the pretty blonde's face, Calisto's tone changed. "You're mournful?"

"No." Elsabet sat on the edge of her bed. Staring at her hands fiddling her skirts in her lap. "I'm seething..."

Calisto waited. The hazy outline of her tall, lush figure vibrated so fast that it occasionally flickered out before reappearing. Like she was a nervous spirit. When in truth, it was the toll it took on her to appear as she did for Elsabet. Her black hair made darker shadows in her silhouette and her purple eyes nearly glowed. She was a truly striking image. Standing there posed with her hands linked before her, as she waited for Elsabet to explain.

Knowing there was more.

"And I'm shattered."

Calisto sat next to her. "What can I do?"

"Make him let me go. Make him want to set me free."

"He can't even hear me." Calisto said dryly. Her own frustration eeking into her voice. She wandered over to sit next to Elsabet. Her taller form dwarfing the small blonde. The bed dipped though if anyone had come in, Elsabet would've appeared to be sitting alone, with only that curve in the rushes and bedding, next to her.

"I know." Elsabet leaned a little to the side and dropped her head to Calisto's hazy shoulder. "It's a hopeless thing. He's kind and gentle and loving. But there is a relentless, stubborn line of determination running through him, when it comes to me. A sort of coldness that allows him to hold me when he'd have freed any other soul."

Calisto gasped slightly as she felt a swell of energy pool in her. Making her shoulder and her whole left side solid enough to support the other woman's head instead of passing through her. Calisto felt tears immediately jump into her eyes at the sensation of a physical touch.

No one had been able to touch her since Radix cast her outside the limits of time.

Yet, this little valkyrie, inexplicably could. It took Calisto a moment to compose herself. Careful not to move for fear of dislodging the other woman. "I don't think that's quite how it is."

Calisto looked at her hand on her knee. That whole side of her body was thicker, real. Made of true substance. She curled her fingers and bunched her skirt beneath her fingers. Feeling the texture of the fabric.

Beds or chairs dipping beneath her weight was one thing. But this...This was a miracle...

"No?" Elsabet asked morosely. Drawing Calisto back to the conversation, despite her awe.

"No, my friend..." Calisto gingerly reached over with her other hand and rubbed Elsabet's cheek with her other hand. As she stroked the girl's cheek, she felt that hand coming to life too. Vibrating with energy. Everywhere her body made contact with Elsabet, she was pulled into the present. But she knew from past experience, that the moment the connection was broken, the magic would shatter.

After a time, her soothing touch relaxed Elsabet and that powerful energy which had brought Calisto to life began to ebb away. Making Calisto's spirit wane with it.