ORPHEUS

Chapter 19

Orpheus felt anger cloud his gaze, red tinted his line of sight as the word left the Seers lips. His felt his Shadows almost hiss in contempt.  Abomination.

He would dare call her an abomination.

Now isn't the time, he thought to himself. He tool a deep breath to calm himself. The red started receding with every deep inhale. He looked the Seer in the eyes and asked once again, voice slightly calmer.

"What is she?" He asked slowly.

"She is the product of a demon and an elf, Orpheus." Said the Seer with a grave look. "She is forbidden, she will be hunted."

Orpheus who was almost leaning over a dumbstruck Katherine, smacked his curled fist on the creaky desk, causing the whole table to shake and the candle to fall over.
The Seer picked it up as if nothing had happened and flicked his wrist, causing the fire to come alive again.

"No one, and I warn you, no one will ever take her away from me! Do you hear me, Seer." He said, his voice still calm, but strained, as if on the verge of violence.  "Be warned, if I find out that you have told anyone, I will come for you."

The Seer's eyes hardened imperceptibly. "If the girl is hunted, it is not because I told of her."

Orpheus gave the Seer a nod and dragged out a frozen, teary eyed Katherine out of his workplace.

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Katherine was numb as Orpheus dragged her out the slim door, leading her out onto the streets. She was tense, her spine straight as a broadsword. She was an outcast even in the mystical world it seemed. She would be hunted. She looked up at Orpheus. He was dragging her to the stables. She could see that his back was tense and his other hand was fisted, despite that, the hold he had on her arm was gentle.

Oh what would become of her now? What would Orpheus do with her? She didn't want to die, but it looked like it was going to happen eventually, and soon.

As soon as they entered the dark stables that tended to smell like horse dung, Orpheus hurried to Deimos and hoisted her on the horse. He reigned Deimos out, straddled him and took off as fast as the horse could, eager to get to the cottage. Katherine didn't utter a word as Deimos trotted down the almost hidden path, she was still in shock it seemed as Orpheus had to clutch her at her torso so she wouldn't fall. Her eyes had dried up, she'd had enough. She was just so tired of crying all the time, it obviously did nothing to help. Her expression had turned to stone. She hoped Orpheus would not want to kill her, but if he did, she would have to run. But where would she run to? She thought as she bounced gently on Deimos' and the chilly winds stung her face.

Once they had gotten to the back of the cottage, Orpheus climbed down and lead Deimos to his stable. He took hold of Katherine's waist and gently set her on her wobbly legs ons the ground. Katherine stood with her hands on his shoulders, trying to steady herself. She was off balance after the bumpy ride. She looked up at him, her face set in her best attempt at being expressionless, but she feared he could see all her shock and fear in her eyes. He surprised Katherine by removing his hands from her waist to cradle her cheeks. His thumb was caressing her cheeks as he looked into her eyes with sympathy and concern.

"It's alright Kathy" he murmured, as if to himself, he engulfed her in his arms, with his cheek resting upon her head.  "You'll be fine, I'll make sure of it."

Katherine relaxed in his arms, burying her face in his chest as she clutched at the fabric covering his chest. She inhaled his scent as she clung to him. He wouldn't harm her, he couldn't. It would break her heart.

Katherine rested her cheek upon his chest.

"What am I, Orpheus?" She asked with a soft voice. "He called me an abomination. Am I a monster?"

"No" he muttered back, leaving a gentle kiss at the top of her head. "No, you're an angel. You're my Angel."

"Oh Orpheus, I don't deserve you" she whispered. "You deserve all the world's kindness, all its happiness."

"I have all the happiness I need right here, Katherine." He whispered back.

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That night, Orpheus stood under the large walnut tree. He had gotten all the candles and a the green silk ribbon that was required. The candles were placed around them and near the roots of the tree. The place looked ethereal in the candle light, the flickering of the fireflies and the half-moon looming over them.  He stood facing the tree with Katherine by his, so they could make sure his dear friend and her husband would pass over to the other side. He spoke the prayer, foreign to Katherine, wishing for a successful passage to the afterlife, then for her rebirth in good condition, he prayed for their reunion in their next life and for their eternal peace.

He took the slim green ribbon and placed it over the fire of the candle Katherine was holding. It burned, and as it burned, sparks were released, little goldern flickers and fiery embers. He and Katherine then blew out the candles and headed back into the cottage hand in hand.