Magini

Chapter 1: The Forgotten

The sun seeped in through the windows and cracks in the stone, but Elijah felt no warmth from its rays as stared at the front of the old ruins, where people once worshiped the old gods. His papa was right, many nights ago, that was a story for another time; a time that had been long forgotten.

"Elijah!" came a very familiar feminine voice. "I found you!" A soft, sweet smile played across her lips as Camilla walked towards him.

He almost felt guilty, as he had forgotten that they were playing a game, but couldn't find it in himself to do so. Not when he had come across the forgotten ruins- like so many other things- which been ignored by their people for years.

"Camilla," he said with a half smile, one that didn't fully reach his eyes. Looking past her, he knew who had really found him, the Magini. He felt his chest tightening in sympathy.

"What's wrong?" Camilla asked, her eyes going soft with compassion. She tried to kiss him, but he pulled away. "Elijah?"

"Not here, it's getting cold."

She glance back to the Magini and he knew what she was about to do. He felt even more sadness as he knew she was about to tell the boy Magini to create a fire for them.

"Camilla," he pulled her into his arms, nuzzling into her soft strawberry-blond hair and brought his lips near her ear. "Wouldn't a nice warm bed be better?"

She shivered in his arms, and he couldn't be for sure if it was from him or the wind blowing through what remained of the structure. All the same, he guided her out, holding her hand as they walked through the forest.

"You okay?" Camilla spoke up beside him, concern could be heard in her soft voice.

"I was just thinking about my papa," he squeezed her hand gently and smiled.

"Oh."

She sounded almost disappointed, and he couldn't blame her. His papa was a sore subject for most. They either held very little fondness for him or nearly worship the ground he walked on, but all could agree on that they all felt uncomfortable around him when he brought up the talk of the past. More importantly, the fact that the Magini should be treated as a gift to cherish, not to be treated as servants.

He pulled her to him, not caring that they had came out of the forest where there were people, and kissed her, fully. His lips taking over hers easily from her being caught off guard. Elijah had never publicly kissed her before, as to do so nearly signifies marriage.

He pulled back and smiled at the shock on her face.

"Elijah?"

"Don't worry about it," he said warmly and because he wanted to see her face color that rosey pink, he added, "And look, we're almost to our bed."

Camilla's eyes went wide as she stared at those who were close enough to hear them talk, her face turning pink. He knew she was itching to get him back, but she wouldn't do that here. She had always been kind and level headed. It was one of the things that had drawn him to her. When his papa had passed away when he was a child, it was her who had stood by his side.

"We better hurry, too. Your cheeks are turning pink from the cold!"

She glared at him, not understanding the strange behavior of today. Though, two could play at the game.

"Then you better be good and warm me up quick," she kissed him. A quick, teasing kiss before pulling him to her place as it was closer.

They could hear some laughter behind them, but Elijah didn't care. As soon as they were in the bedroom he had already begun undressing Camilla, after having already discarded his own clothes, his hands grazed over soft, creamy skin. Her body almost seemed to glow with her beautiful heart. Things had been going on long enough, it was about time he made it public. He didn't know why hadn't done so sooner.

"What are staring at?" Camilla asked, placing the palm of her hand on his cheek.

"My future, my past, and my present." He moved his head and kissed her hand.

"I love you," Camilla whispered.

He guided her down to the bed. "And I love you," he said, kissing her deeply.

Both were caught in the moment that they had forgotten the boy Magini that stood in the other room, witnessed to everything that went on as he kept the place warm. They couldn't see the sadness in his eyes, or the tear that fell down.

Nobody even knew that Magini were capable of tears, let alone have feelings. They were always sentinel; their face expressionless. Perhaps that was what made it easier for people to order them around. But it wasn't really fair to call the Magini a boy, as he was more a young man; a young man that quickly wiped away the tear before any could see.