Dragonfly

Chapter Six

No matter how I tried to mentally approach what had occurred that day, my mind found no logical answer, though I felt so desperate to find one.

    Carefully, I squeezed through the gap in the fence and for a moment, I felt almost certain that the metal was going to cut into my breast as I snuck through. Once I reached the other end, I couldn’t help but feel relieved that I hadn’t injured myself.

    It’s been far too long since I did that… geez! My boobs have gotten big! I thought as I chuckled to myself before my gaze fell upon the most surreal scene I had ever laid eyes upon. The reflection of the full moon danced with grace upon the water of the large pond, whilst fireflies and dragonflies sored through the air around the bridge that stood proudly above the water.

    Dragonflies and fireflies were the last thing I had expected to see in England especially when it was the middle of autumn and soon approaching winter. Upon the decrepit, wooden bridge stood a shadowed figure and I couldn’t help but wonder as to who it was that stood there. It appeared to me as though he were waiting for someone though it seemed ridiculous for someone to wait in the old park in the middle of the night.

    “Riley Jones,” he said as I stood there at the very edge of the pond, staring at him. It hadn’t been until that point that I realised that I had walked towards him, “the dragonfly,”

    “Who are you?” I muttered, unable to stop myself from feeling overwhelmed and afraid as I stared at the shadowed figure of a man.

    “My name is little of your concern but if you must know it, I am Azazel,” replied the man, his voice as cool as the winter breeze.

    “How do you know my name?”

    “Have you already forgotten our encounter this morning, my little dragonfly?” Asked Azazel and immediately, my heart began to hammer violently against my ribs as I felt a sudden danger emanate from the man.

    “You’re the man who came to my house,” I blurted uncontrollably as I took several steps away from the pond.

    “That I am,”

    “What the hell do you want with me?” I blurted as I felt the sudden anger take control over me. My fists clenched as I took several steps towards the pond once again, “Why are you following me?” Where my shoes touched the floor, a circle of ice began to form as it spread towards the water before stopping upon the ledge. My eyes widened and I couldn’t help but flinch slightly as my mind registered what was happening.

    “A fresh streak of white I see, stronger and larger than the rest,” replied Azazel. His voice remaining cool and collect causing me to feel irritated. How was he managing to stay calm? Couldn’t he see what I had just done?

    “Just leave me alone!” I shouted.

    “Do not command me, dragonfly!” Azazel commanded firmly and as he spoke, I saw the glowing sanguine pulsate from within them for a moment, terrifying me, “You are a mere child compared to me and though you have power, you are nowhere near the strength to threaten me!”

    “I’m sorry,” I muttered quietly, feeling myself turn into a young child once again as his shadowed figure seemed to grow until it toward over me before returning to his regular height.

    “You have questions, I merely wish to answer them,”

    “Okay,” I whispered as I nodded my head desperately, silently wishing that I could flee from the man though something in my gut told me that I wouldn’t be able to do such a thing.

    “Then ask, we do not have very little time as the world we both know is changing rather quickly,”

    “Why do you keep calling me ‘dragonfly’?” I paused as he answered, “What are you? Why do you keep following me?” I blurted, my mind hadn’t registered his first answer as the following two questions seemed far more important at the time, though now that I look back on it, the first question was the most important of them all.

    “I will bring you no harm, little dragonfly. I wouldn’t allow any harm to come to you after what I have seen,” replied Azazel.

    Funny… considering you just threatened me and scared the hell outta me! You have a real sense of humour Azazel!

    “I am a Fae. I am sure you have become aware of such creatures after the spectacular reveal earlier,”

    “What the hell is happening to me?”

    “Your inner pain has found its escape,” replied Azazel.

    “What do you mean?”

    “You must learn to reveal your own true nature before it is too late, and many of your questions will be answered upon the day that you learn to do so. You must understand that it will be permanent and what you have witnessed are mere glimpses of what shall come to pass,” Azazel explained, his words sounding almost cryptic to me.

    “That’s not much of an answer, I have about as much clue to what you’re saying as that tree over there does,” I replied as I pointed to the tree, whilst attempting to seem cocky and confident though my legs were trembling with fear.

    “Look inside of yourself and bare witness to your true nature before it destroys all you have grown to know,” replied Azazel before he appeared to vanish into the darkness of the night, leaving no trace of him ever being present. Within seconds, a sharp stabbing pain arose in both of my shoulder blades, crippling me to the floor whilst the dragonflies and fireflies dispersed from around me.

    An agonised moan escaped my lips as I tightly shut my eyes and attempted to search my mind though I couldn’t find any explanation for my actions. I felt desperate, alone and terrified. Something seemed to be drawing me into my mind, to search myself for answers though I couldn’t explain as to why.

    What I saw in my minds eye was unlike anything I had ever expected as I saw the beauty of the world, what I had always enjoyed to stop and admire, play inside my mind. Following the images of the sunset and rising of the full moon over the water, the woods in the beginning of autumn as the sunlight pierces through the leaves of the trees, amongst many other images, was the image of a single falling snowflake.

    I opened my eyes and to my surprise, that was what I saw falling from the sky. A single snowflake. Without thinking, I reached forward and let it fall onto the palm of my hand.

    To hide and remain hidden. Never allowing anyone to see my true self. I have kept so many things secret all of my life and never truly understood why… I thought and as the thought appeared in my mind, the pain in my shoulders seemed to vanish. Slowly, I stood up to see the frost that appeared to have exploded around me. The pond had a thick layer of ice that had formed out of nowhere and within seconds, along with everything else that surrounded me.

    The park looked almost as though it had been attacked by Jack Frost himself. Snow fell from the sky directly above me and landed upon my skin. Yet somehow, amongst all of it, I didn’t feel either warm or cold.

I felt neutral.

Not a single goosebump had risen upon my skin.