II
Full morning. The village is awake.
An old man is shouting standing on a stall in the market.
-We shall protect ourselves from this impure race, these Devil's servants. They will lead us to the Doom. They will lead us to ruin and to the death and to ETERNAL DAMNATION. Devil's lovers are leading us to the Sin. Beware of them, trust the Gods of Light and Dark because one day they shall cast them to the Dark and lead us to the salvation!-
Some people ignore his words, some listen to him, some are offended by him.
Ariel is offended in her pride of powerful witch, whose powers equal the skills of Celandra. Better get to her shop of potions safe to check Celandra is safe.
-How could man control the world? Especially such ignorant ones? Man who so easily let themselves astray by their own weaknesses and desires. They shall destroy this world, our world.-
-They do not understand our ways, child. They never will. They're not worth our anger.-
-It's not right, mother...-
-I know. But this is the way it is. We cannot judge them. We cannot decide their faith.-
Celandra puts a gentle kiss on her forehead. That always worked a treat.
-Where did you get that cloak?- Celandra's eyes changed quickly from love to curiosity.
-Ehmmm. I fell asleep in the forest and.....-
Celandra's amused look had a very cheeky smile that made Ariel blush.
-I think I know. I'm glad you're safe. Now let's crack on, shall we?-
-Yes, mother.- Ariel blush quickly disappears. She puts the cloak down and she will be looking at it from time to time.
Deep in the woods, a lonely soul is deeper into his thoughts.
In a hollow dead tree a secret passage leads in the depth of the forest, but only those who know of this place are allowed to enter.
Deep into sand and stone, the people of the Darkness live safe from the rays of light. The ground has been dug in a twisted ladder. At the sides of the ladder there are rooms, each door has a symbol representing each name in their ancient tongue.
No window can access any light.
The roots of the trees wrap the walls like motherly hands holding it together, like veins running vital fluids into the Earth.
Every room is full of candles, giving a warming and reassuring light.
At the base of this twister there is a fountain. As high as the pillars of the Earth, pouring the purest waters from the mountain.
Its splashing echoes sweetly, giving some feeling of Peace to those restless souls.
The roots of the trees extend inside the rooms, creating elegant furniture.
Mefistofel is sitting on a bench with his back on the wall, his fingers playing with its amulet.
Feldor enters the room so quietly he can't hear those silent steps.
-Heart is such a hidden place, my son. Even those who possess it can't truly understand it.-
Mefistofel stands up quickly, ashamed for not hearing his Master coming.
-Sorry, Master. I didn't hear you coming.-
-What are you so afraid of? Having feelings? We are not so different from humans as they make us feel. Our hearts may not beat, but they used to and it's still part of us.-
-We may possess a heart, but we do not possess a soul. Once we die, we just vanish. Men do have a place for their souls. What do we have? Just a body in which we dwell for some time, whether long or short it may seem. What is time for us? Nothing but eternity of damnation....-
-Does this bother you? We try to live according to the values our Fathers taught us and maybe one day a place for our souls may exist. We just need to search deep and believe even deeper.-
-This is not my only torture, Master. I get feeling, emotions which bother me. They make me think that maybe what I really am, is not what this body represents.-
Looking at his pupil, Feldor can see himself, centuries younger.
-Far is the time when I felt the same emotions you feel now. I remember a creature whose grace and elegance was mostly rare in this world. She was the moon giving light on the Winter night, the rose blooming as the Summer approaches. An immortal beauty..... War took her away from me.
Love, Mefistofel, it's not a sin. It's what guides us. There is no creature which cannot feel it. We seem beasts to human, they do not realise what beast truly hides within them.-
Feldor's words seem falling from his mind like a crashed mirror, whose pieces are spread in his mind and can't collect them because they are too sharp and too painful to pick up. Mefistofel sees his Master as an old man who's been denied everything he fought for. A sad man with no cane to walk with in his old life.
-...Master?-
On the light of the candle, Mefistofel is not sure whether a shadow is drawing a shape on his Master's face, or a red tear is falling.
-Never escape your feelings, my son. Even if you fear suffering. Don't regret what never happened. Our un-life truly is so short. You shall never meet such a creature again in thousand life times.-
Still in his proud figure, Feldor exits the room carrying such a heavy burden hurting his heart, whose scar is so deep, that Time may never heal. Mefistofel says nothing. He can't, he won't. He wants revenge for his Master, he hates men for what they have done to him. He will never forgive them.
That same night his brothers go to town to feed and for their watch.
He stays in the woods, walking under the moon. After feeding, he walks, enjoying the gentle breeze of the summer. Everything is sunk into darkness, silently and peacefully under the light of thousands of diamonds in the black blanket of the sky. Just one thought is clear, always vivid: a young woman. Her image warms his beat less heart, warmth he believed he'd never be able to feel.
His eyes are once again drowned into the moon. So perfect, so far and untouchable, so pure even thinking of touching it would be sinful.
A shadow is moving in the dark, behind him, the step so soft. A shadow lit by the moon.
Behind him, the figure hands Mefistofel a red cloak. Long fingers and delicate skin.
-Thanks.-
-It was my pleasure. How did you find me?-
-I'm a witch. I see with more than just eyes.-
They sit together for long moments without talking, staring at the moon and the stars.
Both their eyes reflect the white diamonds from the light of the full moon. She is still bothered by the man in the village. And the blood on the bark.
-What bothers you, Ariel? - His words penetrate her brain like daggers.
He can read thoughts, but he promised never to do that without her permission.
-How can the power be given to the weak? How can weak and deranged man be holding up this world?-
Mefistofel's face turned on her side. His eyes reflect hatred for the human who hurt his Master. In aeons of existence it was Man who had always started War. How they could imagine that the creatures who they hated so much were the same who gave them Life....
-We may have conquered peace in hundreds of years, but I shall never trust humans. They just kill for power, hatred. This Peace is not eternal.-
-Would you fight one last time? Would you fight a war which shall finally put the worthy ones on the throne?-
Mefistofel's heart is pierced by Ariel's pride and honour.
-If the World has to end tomorrow. I will be ready to die tonight.-
The warrior she is looking at is a being so full of honour and so worthy.
A beast of Death trapped in human form.
She gently puts her hand on his face. He closes his eyes, enjoying the warmth of her skin.
She kisses him softly on his cheek. He never wants this feeling to end.
