The friend who can be silent with us in a moment of despair or confusion, who can stay with us in a moment of grief and bereavement, who can tolerate not knowing... not healing, not curing... That is a friend who cares.
- Henri Nauwen
Chapter 1: Ties of Confusion
Daniella
The moon was shining down onto the empty courtyard, and leaves rose into the air on the wind. As I looked down from the window, I imagined jumping into the air and flying away with the leaves to a new world and a new life, with no ancient battles, or evil step-mothers.
"Maybe if you concentrate hard enough you can turn into a bat," said a voice behind me. I quickly turned but an annoyed look fell over my face when I realized who it was. Gabe, my sworn protector and best friend, simply smirked at me knowingly before walking forward as silent and graceful as any predator you would find in the woods surrounding the palace.
"Your puns and attempts at humor are not appreciated, at all Gabriel. Besides I am so amazing I probably could turn into a bat if I wanted to." I said making sure to use my signature don't argue with me face as he smirked and sat on the window ledge beside me.
His dark brown hair was curling at the edges and, as always, I thought of how it looked above his dark green eyes, a Chocolate sky above deep green forests. That was how I had described them to my brother when we had all first met anyway. I had always wondered why my brother and I having personal body-guards, was a condition of the treaty between the two species, but I hadn't ever questioned it out loud.
As I slowly snapped back to the real world I noticed that Gabe was looking at my face, deep in thought. "What is so interesting, Chireshlo?" I questioned as innocently as possible while using the formal title he hated so much. "I thought I told you not to call me that, Zylan" was his contemptuous reply.
Upon hearing him call me by my title, I coldly gave him a twisted smile and leaned closer to him, giving the impression I was going to tell him a secret. "Chireshlo is the perfect name for one's personal guard dog though."
He stood up quickly with his shoulder muscles tensed in frustration. At the look of pure annoyance on his face I began laughing uncontrollably and I watched as my joy caused Gabe to quickly unwind. Soon he too was laughing and we continued like that for some time. This was how it had been for as long as we had known each other; tease one another until the only way to disperse the tension was the inevitable laughter.
As we walked through the hallways, laughing quietly, Gabe and I's lighthearted banter remained a familiar default to any actual conversation. While we were moving through the darkness a cold wind blew through the stone balconies, sending a shiver up my spine causing me to subconsciously wrap my arms tighter around myself. Without even hesitating Gabe took his jacket from his shoulders and draped it over mine, almost like it was second nature.
Although maybe it was, considering the whole "Sworn Protector" thing, I mean there had been an official ceremony with vows and all. Soon I felt eyes on me and realizing Gabe was looking at me again, I hastily snapped back to reality. "Oh thank you, I guess I should have been prepared huh?" I said smiling uncertainly, due to my questioning of the strange look in his eyes as we gradually came to a stop in front of a small alcove. Gabe stared at me for several unnerving moments before he said, "It really sucks that my one job in life is to take care of and protect a girl who is as independent as you are."
He smirks widely while his eyes sparkle with an untold emotion. Suddenly another chill goes through my veins but it has nothing to do with the long, forgotten wind and it scares me that the normalcy between us is quickly disintegrating, collapsing from beneath my feet, and I feel myself falling through a tunnel. Clouds cover the moon and soon the only light around is that which is in my companion's eyes, yet I can't seem to figure out where they could possibly be getting the reflection from in the surrounding dark.
"Are you okay? Daniella?" Gabe asks with his accent becoming even more prominent as his green eyes darken with worry. I am quickly shocked back to attention at the use of my full name, and working hard to focus as I put on a mask of sarcasm and reply "Oh I'm fine I just - I'm afraid you've bored me sir, and I need to go sleep." I quickly looked away and yawned so he would believe me, and when I heard his sigh of exasperation and disappointment my head swung up and I grinned. His smile however, took longer to form.
Starting in the middle, as his lips parted in surprise then the left corner of his mouth turned up followed by the right until his smile was so big and so bright I couldn't help but start laughing. He soon joined in so we walked, and laughed until we reached my bedroom door. I looked up when I felt Gabe wipe one of my joyful tears from my cheek.
"Sleep well Dani," he said "and I'll see you tomorrow." He looked down and smiled shyly and then, moving too fast for me to generate some kind of reaction, Gabe leans forward and gently places his lips on my cheek. I tried to inhale any kind of air but I find myself too shocked and surprised so I just let my mouth gape open as I stared at him and then I felt the blush run to my cheeks and ears. Suddenly I don't need his jacket to feel warm because the embarrassment has done the job. Glancing up I see that Gabe looks almost as shocked as I'm sure I do, so I back away as quickly as I can while mumbling "Good night". All I hear as I open the door is an intake of breath along with a muttered "crap" before retreating into my bedroom.
~~~~~~~~
Language Guide:
Zylan: Princess
Chireshlo: Guardian, Protector
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The Ties That Bind Us (on hold)
LobisomemDaniella knows she is special. Her father told her years ago who her mother was and what important role she would play in the future of the supernatural world. Yet as she attempts to rise to this challenge various forces work against her threatening...
