book 1 of the windows of the soul duology
✿ ✿ ✿
lucent: softly bright or radiant
✿ ✿ ✿
My brother's hand traces the cut on my right cheek for some minutes. I have no idea how a cut can be so interesting, but I won't judge a book by its cover.
...
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
✿ ✿ ✿
"Can you remove your hands now?" I whisper to Kipp, who's standing pretty close to me so that nobody will hear whatever I say. Apparently, my brothers have taken the liberty of making some changes in my room. What do those changes mean, I have no clue as there're not giving any hints about it. They want it to be a surprise.
I'm just being left with the option of waiting patiently for Voski and Zeke to check that everything's set up, whatever that might mean.
Meanwhile Kipp's hands are covering my eyes just in case the door turns invisible at any instant. Niko and I have come to the conclusion he's paranoid.
"One more minute," my blonde brother mumbles back. I know Mayne and Lennox stand back a few feet away from us, as all seven of us strode up the stairs just moments ago, which was quite strange. I feel like a child in between the masses of brawny bodies my brothers have.
Just in that moment, I hear the scraping of my bedroom door being softly opened. Then Voski says, "Come in."
At first, it's only darkness that seeps through the cracks between my brother's fingers, but then a warm yellowish light appears. As Kipp removes his hands from my face, I observe my unchanged room. It's only when I look up to the ceiling, towards a new source of light.
The ceiling is decorated with illuminated floral patterns, resembling abstract or stylized flowers. Each flower design consists of petal-like shapes, which have uneven textured edges, arranged around a central circular cluster, which has a few smaller circular elements within it. The background is dark, providing strong contrast and making the light-emitting flowers stand out prominently.
The flowers vary slightly in size and orientation, creating a scattered effect across the ceiling. The light source within each flower gives off a warm, soft glow which enhances the cozy atmosphere of my room.
I blink slowly, taking it all in; mouth wide-opened as if not believing what I'm witnessing. I gawk at the piece of art my ceiling has been converted into. This is the most artistry, creative illuminating sources I have ever seen in my life.
If you look closely, you can almost discern how this was constructed. It's like a ceiling has been added right underneath my old one. The first has the flowery designs cut out. The latter has been filled with light panels so that the illusion that both give is of flower lights.
I stare in awe at what my brothers have labelled as their surprise. I am at a loss for words. I'm indecisive if I should continue to gaze at the enthralling new ceiling or if I should acknowledge my brothers, who have gathered behind my back.
At the end, I don't have to decide either as Voski silently approaches me, crouches down next to my ear and whispers, "You don't have to be afraid at night anymore, Lala."
