Awaken

Part Two

"Why Lucian? It's a very human name and honestly a little outdated." Aimee touched the spot under her jaw that held the mark for my darkness. I liked that, it was like a whisper of her touch that only I could feel. She seemed amused that I chose a name at all, but that seems ridiculous. Why on earth would I let someone assign me a name when I finally left my realm?

"Is Aimee any better? Answer truthfully, now." My lips curved into a comfortable position for the mild annoyance I felt at her questioning me. A smirk or.... A sneer. Yes, I sneered at her, but politely as my situation is still rather foreign.

She put a singular hand on one of her hips and those emerald orbs still flashed amusement. "I suppose not, but it was chosen for me, by my superiors, so you could trust me."

"So you didn't even choose your own name." A huff of laughter broke through my sneer. Damn it all, I don't think the sneer was worth not reacting to that. I think laughter is my favorite of things I can do. "Pity. And if say I decided to name you something else as means of building trust would you let me?"

"Yes, Lost one." She answered me plainly, watching my reaction to her for some sort enjoyment.

"Ah, ah, it is Lucian." I tsked, waggling one of my upper appendages at her, my annoyance returned. I turned away from her since her damn eyes. Where is this girl's sense of identity? I very clearly understand my subconscious and mind, so I believe I had the right to name myself. This is a rather frustrating notion, to not be in control of one's own identity, almost as frustrating as their damned wastefulness with the sacrifices. Swiveling back, I pointed something connected to me at her for emphasis, not entirely sure what but it was directioned with intention. "Who are you really then? What's your real name. I know who you are to me, a lone voice of kindness and warmth that gave me compassion toward the end of my little bout of isolation." I paused and my appendage fell back to my side.

My voice returned much lower than my initial scolding tone, a mere whisper. "There is power in existence, Aimee. You've given me a gift, and one of those is a name. Your superiors will not take it from me, nor give you one to manipulate, lest they care to find their own oblivion." Aimee cautiously walked over to my side. She touched my shoulder and I felt her warmth for the first time in physical form. It made me feel weak and strong at the same time, like my entire existence was a paradox but this being here brought the contrast together. My earlier threat still hung in the sweet air, softened by this girl's actions toward me. The mark on her neck flashed and for a second I heard something. Her voice but not aloud, it blinked out of my mind before I could decipher it.

"It's very sweet of you to view me as such a kind person, and I didn't have a name before, so Aimee is growing on me. It is mine unless you want to change it." Soft words from a soft entity, there was truth in her tone. Aimee it is then, she claimed it despite its origin, and hopefully she won't ask about my choice of name. After however long I was gone, I still needed the shadows that followed me but every living thing requires light. Even me. I think.

"Then that's done." I shook myself free of her touch, feeling rather suffocated having come to my conclusion. A thought crossed my head and I now understood a reason why she would question my name. "Now. Am I male or female?" My voice still had two tones, so that wasn't an indicator. My skin was cloaked in eager shadow, so i couldn't very well see the mechanical parts to give me any answer either. I shot a look over to Aimee who promptly started laughing at me. Rude, and rather useless to helping me determine sex at the moment.

She started waving her hands around the shadows to try and dispel them like smoke, and they did for a second before returning. The green of her eyes twinkled with amusement, "Pretty sure you're male. Can't really tell any more without you dropping the shroud you got going." The problem lay in the fact that I had no idea how or even why it was there. Having a comforting presence, they weren't hurting anything. What SHOULD I look like?

So many features that I could have and honestly there are so many choices I don't have the patience to make. Taller than Aimee and male, that's all I had in terms of appearance. Rather annoying to have excess external parts, but I'll make do. Of all the features, embodiments of opposites in one body pleased me. Slight build that didn't show the power it truly held within the chorded masses under the skin, concealed by skin the color of honey and sand. Pale red and tawny hair that reflected the warmth of the sun's' rays, an image of golden fire that brushed the shoulders. Eyes of the earth, they would be a faded color of Aimee's emerald ringed with a light amber.

I felt the stretch of skin as the shadows pushed and pulled at my body. As if kneading my very skin, I become a type of clay, dry pops and and sticking grasps distracting from the mild discomfort. My consciousness was tugged away from me and I saw my body from the outside. It was horrific how the shadows manipulated, pulled and dyed my body into what I had envisioned. I heard a gasp from the new source I was watching all of this from and worry flooded my vision. It wasn't mine, but it was so consuming as they watched me crouch over as my appearance manifested physically. Through a small tug again, I was back in my body, most of the feelings normal and the shroud of dark gone to reveal my body. I turned over to Aimee to see her watching me in slight horror, only letting loose a breath once it seemed to her I was alright.

I felt an intense satisfaction knowing it was her worry at my transformation. I could use her for something, like a host for me, but I don't know how it was triggered. "Aimee, dear, staring is rude. Go get me something to cover myself with?" I gestured to the lower half of my body, and she reddened at a fascinatingly quick rate. Sharply turning away and leaving me alone, laughter bubbled up again in my chest. If she didn't figure out a way to take off the little mark my darkness made on her, her body was as good a vessel for consciousness as my own. I cracked my knuckles and imagined a basic black material to cover my body, quickly appearing linen pants and shirt appeared, sufficiently covering my form. Things seemed to manifest with outward gestures with the help of my little darkness tendrils. I smiled at the thought of never needing anything, to be self sufficient. I would need for nothing! I'm like a god.... No, I am one, that's already been figured out. But of what?