The Insomniac's Lullaby

The Specials

-Midnight's POV-

We continued our trek to the Specials. The walk was different, we were different. We had fully opened ourselves to eachother. We had nothing inbetween us but air, air and magic. I don't know if the tingling had increased because of the change between us or what was going on, but the magical energy was growing so much strong, waking me up in a way that I never had before. Dagger stopped suddenly, he spun around and grabbed me by the wrists, looking deep into my eyes.

"Around this bend, is the gate. The gate is nothing special, but you've learned to not underestimate things here. Once we go through there, we will be seperated and I cannot help you. An elven dwarf will lead you to the Specials. Do exactly as they say, do not make eye contact unless instructed to do so, and treat them with the highest of respect. The will decide your fate."

He was going to leave me? How could I face them without him. We had only known eachother for a few weeks but this was intense, I've grown a dependency on him.

"Don't worry, it'll be alright. They are not frightening, and you will get to like them. I understand you are nervous, but you will see me at the end of the day."

I shook my head and swallowed my fear, "Alright." It gives me something to look forward too, knowing that I'll see him at the end of the day.

We made the finally bend, and embrace me in his arms. He kissed my head and them my lips. We stood there for a minute in this position, and we tilted our heads so only our foreheads were talking. His smooth, sweet, velvety voice assured me once more, and we broke away, our fingers lingering at our final touch. I passed through the gate, and the world around me changed.

No longer was I in a forest, the world around me had changed into a booming fairy-ish city. Not like skyscrapers and greasy people but tons of small straw earthern huts and creatures of all different kinds in the streets. I saw little children at play. I felt a tug on my shirt and saw a small boy looking up at me.

"The Specials have been awaiting your arrival. I will take you to them." The little boy smiled at me and grabbed my hand. He led me to a hut a little bigger than the rest. We stopped outside the door, "I have to leave you now, just go through this door. The Specials will be waiting inside."

"Shouldn't you let them know I'm here?"

The small boy's face light up, a smile spreading across his face. He starte giggling uncontrollably, he managed to choke out, "They already now, silly, they now everything." He then skipped away.

I breathed deeply and went through the door. Where I was, foolishly, expecting a hut like interior, a grand room spread out. Velvet curtians hung from the ceilings and a silk carpet was rolled out. On a raised platform sat three very wise looking people, whom I can only assume is the Specials. I adverted my eyes down so I would not make eye contact. I moved forward, following the carpet.

"Stop!" I heard, so I paused where I was, my heart beating in my throat. "Let Aires assess you." I just stood, face down. I saw barefeet appear in my vision, circling around me. A sweet metallic voice filled my ears, "Look at me, my dear" I looked up and saw a very kind looking man. He had a soft, pale blue eyes, that seem to smile all by themselves. He looked only about 25 in the face but had long gray hair. He looked deep into my eyes and sighed. "You, my dear, are very special. Do you know what you are?" I didn't know if it was a retorical question or not, but Aires smiled and said, "You may answer, good dear for taking into consideration my question." He patted my shoulder, but his eyes never left mine.

I breathed in and said, "Elemental" The two other Specials gasped but Aires beamed with delight.

"Yes, my dear. That's exactly what you are. Do you know how rare that is, that you are an Elemental, an Untouched Soul?" I shook my head no, he laughed said, "That one was retorical. There are only 2 Elementals born every centuary. A boy and a girl, who are meant by the laws of Magic to be soul mates. You, my dear, are the first Elemental of this centuary." I absorbed what he was saying. What about Dagger? I love him more than anything, but he's a Dormant Vampire, not an Elemental. We're not meant to be?

Aires took his place back on the platform and the dark haired lady confronted me. Her rusty voice inflitrated my mind, her dark black eyes pierced my soul. "Give me your hands." she commanded. I held my hands out and she snatched them, she rubbed them and closed her eyes. Every now and then she would let out a "hmmm" or "ahhh". She finally opened her eyes, and stared back at me, "You are the most powerful Elemental yet. I have assessed every Elemental since the beginning of time, and you are the strongest. You will achieve great things." She nodded her head in approval.

The dark haired woman returned to her seat and an elderly man descended towards me. He placed his hands on my temple and just stared at me. He removed his hands and gave me a dissapproving grunt. "She may be the strongest, Anya, but she is definantly the dumbest. She knows little to nothing about this world", he shot me a repulsive look and as he walked to his seat seat, "you have much to learn before you pass my test."

Aires stood up once again and took me by the hand, "Let me personally escort you to your meal. It must have been a long journey, I heard that you traveled on foot. Very dangerous."

"I wasn't alone, sir."

He stopped and looked at me, "What do you mean?"

"I was with my boyfriend, Dagger. He protected me this whole way, making sure to keep me out of danger. He let me know of my true power."

Aires shook his head with approval, "Nice boy, Dagger, I personally mentored him after the death of his sister. He is a good fellow, but you mentioned that he was your boyfriend. You realize that he is not the other Elemental? Your not meant to be together."

I shook my head, "Sir, love is the strongest magic, that I know, and it can over come anything if its true."

Aires nodded his head gleefully, "I hope you are right, as long as your feelings for eachother are true."

We continued along and came to a dining room. On the table was a pitcher of a red liquid. "Umm, sir, I've never drank human blood before."

Aires chuckled, "This is not human blood, its a substitute. Although it doesn't keep as strong, the other Specials and I find it inhumane to drink blood."

That eased my stomach and we sat down. A steam of sunlight hit the pitcher of red, casting an amber reflection on the white table cloth. Aires poored me a glass and poored himself a glass. I took a small sip and it took all my might not to vomit it. Aires saw my distaste, "Don't worry, you'll get used to it." I continued taking small sips, forcing myself to swallow.

Aires and I sat there and talked till the sun was about to dissappear.

"Should I summon Dagger to take you to your resting place?"

"Please."

Aires dissappeared and I sat there in awkward silence. I could hear the clock ticking, waiting. Aires showed back up and said that Dagger was here. I said my farewells and walked out, returning to the city. Dagger beamed when he saw me. I couldn't help it and ran to him, jumping in his arms. It seemed like it had been an eternity since I saw him last. He kissed me and carried me.

"This is my home." He said, arriving at a cottage. I expect it to look completely different on the inside, but it didn't it looked like a cottage...with Dagger's personal touch. There was still band posters on the wall and red melted candles and dark interior. It was nice. I flopped down on the couch, exhausted from our trek. Dagger lifted my head and sat down, and then returned my head to his lap. We layed there in silence, and then he looked down at me, and kissed my forehead. He then kissed my cheek, and then my mouth. We layed there like that for a second, then I blushed.

"I know where this is going, " I said, "but its not happening right now, not yet. We've got all eternity to do that."

Dagger shook his head and blushed, "I know, I'm sorry. You're right. Let's go to sleep."

I was right, and I was tired. So we ascended the stairs together and walked into a cozy room. The sheets were drawn back, waiting for an occupant. I changed my clothes and brushed my teeth in the bathroom, while Dagger changed in the bedroom. I walked in an layed on the bed, covering myself up and laying on my side, Dagger came out from the bathroom in his boxers and layed down with me. He layed on his side and pulled me towards him. Our bodies fitted together perfectly, and it was the best sleep of my life.