In the morning, Amory sat up from his blankets, and remembered exactly what he had learned the night before.
Just as he had yesterday, he felt his heart drop once more.
But today, he would find a way. He stood, throwing a shirt on over his fit figure, and put on his pants and armor as usual. He glanced at his reflection in a shined jar before he straightened his tunic and stepped out of the door. He needed to find that boy again.
The intense sunlight gave him strength, as he stepped out into it, feeling power running over his skin at the harsh rays.
Today would be a good day.
When he found Io again, he had been searching all day. It was nearly sunset. Amory's confidence faded with the natural light.
The boy was staying in a cave outside of town, high on a hillside. High enough to see the little city below and the people in it like ants on a hill.
Amory glanced down again, and gulped. The sun was setting. If he didn't talk to Io, fast...
He stepped over to the cave. It's maw yawned at him hungrily, as if asking him to step in.
Clearing his throat, he rapped his knuckles on the stone, hoping to hear someone within.
The knock echoed through the cave with no response.
Amory listened for a moment longer, then sighed.
Well. So much for that.
Just as he turned his back, a voice called, "Why are you following me around so much...?"
He knew that voice. Amory whirled and smiled, seeing to two pairs of reflective eyes staring at him from the darkness.
"Io, you are the moon." He exclaimed. "I am the sun. We cannot exist without one another. Is it so strange for me to want to know more about you?"
Io blinked a few moments. He seemed to be nearing. Amory could feel his presence coming closer.
As the sun's last rays shown over the mountain, Io stepped out of the cave, his clothes covering all but his face and his hands, to keep him safe from the daylight.
He reached out, with a pale, shaky hand, and touched Amory's collarbone. As if to see if touching him would hurt either of them.
Amory felt energy shoot through him. Like a high. As soon as Io's fingers touched him.
Based on the other boy's dilating pupils, he had experienced the same thing. Io panted, and gave the smallest of smiles, looking up to meet Amory's eyes.
"You are so warm."
"And your touch is cool. It is welcome." Amory whispered, not sure where his words were coming from. But he could feel himself cooling to a nice temperature where Io's fingers touched.
He looked down at the boy's hand, so pale and soft. Wrapping his fingers over it, he dragged Io's hand down, to right over his heart. It thumped wildly, under the boy's fingertips.
Io's eyes fell down to his palm. He smiled.
"It beats."
"Does yours not?"
"No... not this quickly."
Now he pulled his hand away from Amory's chest, and took the man's hand, setting it on his own chest. He was slim. Amory felt not much but bone and soft tissue under his palm. He cool surface of Io's skin.
Well, skin under his clothes.
He squinted, waiting to feel a beat. Anything.
Nearly thirty seconds passed. Then a beat. Then another, and another.
YOU ARE READING
The God and His Moon
Spiritual"Is the journey a difficult one?" Amory whispered, his voice a dull ghost in Io's soft, snowy hair. The breath that brushed over his skin made goosebumps rise on his neck. "That is yet to be seen." Io replied, reluctant with his words. His head lay...
