LIGHTNING AND THUNDER

(12): Levi

*Levi*

                I stroked my horse’s muzzle and I could see Henrys shoulders falling, but as he looked into his fathers eyes, he strengthened his resolve.

                “I shall leave at dawn,”

It was not a voice that was asking, it was telling. The anger and futility was rising in his chest, and mine. He took my hand and before he slammed the door he said quietly

“Pegasus and will be prepared in the morning, there will be no details left unresolved,”

Hade’s flashed me an evil look and I quietly led my horse out of the room. I had to name him, he couldn’t be nameless. I took a small strand of his mane and I used that as my lead. The horse seemed to be my own, connected to me without contact. He was mine. Henry slammed the door of the court shut. I dropped my horse’s mane, knowing he wouldn’t run. I touched Henrys face, and I could see silent tears streaming down his face. His eyes looked up into mine. I could see him; see what his heart was doing—tearing into two— and how, on his own, he could not mend it. I clasped his face and I brought it to my lips.

I heard the sweet music of my soul emitting from me and pouring into him, wrapping around him, comforting him, soothing him, loving him. His lips moved with mine in coordination, his harmony was sad and dark, haunting and fearsome. He poured his cursed music into me, and he replaced his sorrow with my melody. I took his sorrow and expelled it, obliterating it. He pulled himself away and he looked deeply into my eyes, our love was almost a tangible thing.

“I don’t deserve you,” He whispered to me as his mouth pulled up into a small smile, but his eyes squinted near the corners, revealing the minute sadness. I pulled his forehead to mine, our noses brushing up against each others.

“Don’t ever say that,” He closed his eyes, and I touched his eyelids, they flicked open to stare into my violet eyes. I sighed and he shivered, I started to dip into the coolness of his mind, my control faltering as I started to feel new frequencies. I heard a new voice, cool, slick, and rough at the same time.

Levi is master, must stay with master, must not fly,

I jerked my head away from Henry’s so fast that I got a crick in my neck. My head swiveled, looking for the voice again, but all there was, was my horse, staring at me intently with big red eyes that plead innocence.

Violet eyes look at me, Levi is master, must stay with master, must not run

I whirled, my head spinning, could I hear the horse’s thoughts? Henry became worried; he touched my shoulders and said

“What is it? Levi? What are you looking at?”

“The horse. I can hear its thoughts.”

My horses ears pricked and I heard its eager thoughts

Master called me, I must go to her, must not run, must come.

Henry had his mouth open, my mouth hung slack with dread

“I thought you couldn’t hear animal’s thoughts?”

“I couldn’t… until Artemis touched me! She gave me the power over the wilderness, I guess that includes animals, I can hear them now!

I wanted to crumple to my knees and bury my face in my hands. I had finally discovered peace with my new boyfriend, his silence had been my perfection, but now a newfound horror had stolen over me. This new power was the next worse thing. But I had to be strong for Henry; I wiped away stinging tears in my eyes. I shook myself and Henry’s searching eyes came to me, I constructed an elated smile on my face, even though tears came to my eyes. He interpreted it as tears of joy. I turned to my horse and I touched his muzzle. He whickered and I heard him say softly