The Enchanted

The Enchanted Part 1 - The Tower

The distance between the narrow ledge to the bottom of the cliff had doubled during our climb. I was certain of it. The waterfall thundered at my side, close enough that its mist soaked my hair and clothes. I smoothed damp strands of my blond hair back into its haphazard topknot and imagined not dying.

"Stella! Stop mucking about and just jump!"

My cousin earned the deadly glare I leveled at him. At seventeen, he was six feet tall, with longish brown hair that waved about his beautiful face. Silvan should have been born a poet in the time of absinth and morning coats, his bones were so elegant – a sharp contrast to the idiotic grin on his face. He was enjoying my hesitation way too much.

Staring into his hazel eyes, I removed a hand from the mossy rock face behind me to flip him off. Although nearly a foot shorter than my cousin, I was also two years older, which should have entitled me to a little more respect. His grin widened before he stretched his arms towards me. I blinked through wet eyelashes without expression. He knew I didn't like to be touched. 

Silvan was wearing athletic shorts and no shirt, revealing ribs that protruded from his pale torso. He had at least thirty pounds on me but I knew from experience that I could take him down easily. I just wasn't sure I could stop him if he tumbled over the ledge. A kick to the balls would be effective yet he would be expecting that. As soon as the thought passed through my mind, he shifted to stand at a more protective angle.

Far below, I could hear the faint call of my best friend's voice. Squinting against the summer sun, I saw Amanda's faceless form across the river basin. She jumped and waved frantically as a growing group of curious hikers surrounded her but I couldn't make out what she was saying. 

I studied the water below, marking the spot I would need to hit to avoid death or wheelchair. Not wanting my shirt over my head upon impact, I tucked my sleeveless white tee shirt into the back of my shorts. Fish darted beneath the aqua—blue surface and I knew that it would be cold, even in the August heat. If something went wrong, we were at least two miles from the nearest road.

The world disappeared as my eyes closed and I willed my heartbeat to slow. I envisioned the Tarot card I'd finally finished painting last night. It was the Tower, the symbol of adventure and taking a leap of faith. I inhaled slowly, holding the image of the Major Arcana card. It was a good card — definitely not a harbinger of death. At least I didn't think so. Could death be considered an adventure?

"Chicken." The whispered word was filled with glee. I cocked an eye open at Silvan. 

Wiping the waterfall's moisture from my face, I turned towards him on the narrow ledge. He relaxed his shoulders and stepped backward to give me room to pass back up the trail. I removed my favorite mala bracelets and tucked them into my sports bra for safekeeping while he raised an eyebrow. Satisfaction curled slow and deep at being underestimated.

Smiling, I stepped sideways off the ledge, making sure to push off at just the right angle. Silvan's wide eyes and open mouth were the last things I saw before the air swallowed me.

The surface enveloped my legs and the world became a violent vortex of bubbles. Once my feet touched the small stones covering the bottom, I bent my knees, becoming boneless. Triumphant and relieved I didn't seem to have shattered bones, I pushed off from the bottom. It was an uncomfortable amount of time before my head broke the surface.

My heavy hair had snapped its elastic in the fall and I pushed the mass away from my face before swimming backwards to better see Silvan high above. He clutched his chest with one hand and waved a thumbs up with the other. I cupped my hand and swung it over my head in an invitation for him to jump after me, but he shook his head, easing his way back down the trail.