47 All I Am (2/2)

Isilla shook her head, ”I am not as unobservant as everyone thinks. I have just been very distracted. What will happen if I don't. What happens outside of me if I just let it take me?”

The shade sighed, ”Clever Sorgia. The power will be lost again, for another thousand years.”

”What does it matter? It's already been gone so long,” Isilla asked.

”Magic, dark and light, will die with you, Sorgia. Our worlds will become like the Third Realm, without wonder until another Sorgia is born. Is that what you want?”

”You're lying,” Isilla said.

The shade tilted her head to the side, ”Am I? Is that what your blood says? That I lie?”

Isilla looked at her hands, the threads of light materializing of their own will, wrapping around her being. The truth of the shade's words thrummed through her, a low red feeling that made her stomach churn.

She stood, ”I have to see my husband, to shed some of this.”

The shade lifted an eyebrow, ”Bind with him, end this, set things right.”

She nodded as she left, taking Ilun with her.

She found Arren in the dreaming quickly, his energy like beacon, drawing her. She dropped in, her heart sinking further. Dank, ash filled air flowed around her. Through the haze she could make out the silhouettes of broken and burnt buildings. Why is he dreaming about this, she thought as she stepped forward, the ash turning to sludge as it met the wet ground under her feet.

She located him, the haze parting to reveal his form, sitting on the ground, covered in the same ash that fell from the sky. In his hands he held something small and bright, his body protecting it from the ruin around him.

I didn't bring anything, she thought. I just wanted to see him, she admitted to herself as she reaching out, touching his hair, knocking the ash from it. He looked up at her with tear streaked cheeks.

”Isilla,” he breathed.

”Why are you dreaming this place?” she asked as he reached for her, grabbing her arm and pulling her body down to him. Still holding the light, he pressed his lips against hers, kissing her deeply, urgently.

”Arren, I didn't bring anything, I have to find something,” she started before he kissed again.

”Don't go, my love, wake up,” he said.

”I will wake but I need something, the light is almost too much to bear for me, I need,” he stopped her again, covering her mouth with his kiss, holding her tightly against his body.

”I'll give you anything you need,” his voice strained and hoarse against her from his tears, ”just don't leave me.”

She touched his face, his eyes green the shade of moss over stone flecked with brown stared back at her. In the dream they were alive with emotion, anxiety, fear, worry. She wiped his cheek, ”Arren, what's wrong?”

”Take this,” he said dropping the light into her hands. A glowing orb that pulsed in time with his heartbeat. He pulled her closer, with both arms now, the orb nestled against her chest as he kissed her.

What is this, she thought even as his mouth pulled at her neck sending a shock of pleasure through her. A strange feeling began in her, a sort of warm darkness, comfortable like falling asleep, stretched along her spine, spilling through her as his mouth moved over skin.

”I can't take this,” she said, breathless from his touch. ”This isn't something I should take from you, you have to keep it.”

He brought his lips to her hand and opening it, swallowed the orb, his tongue catching her fingers as she closed his mouth.

”As you wish. My love, wake up, come back to me,” he said bringing his lips back to hers.

”I'm so tired,” she said as he lifted her so that his lips could brush against her breasts. ”But I need,” she started as the words were stolen by his touch on her skin.

He settled her against him, holding her body so that she straddled his. The tears that fell from his eyes were thick and black, they turned to mist as they fell away from his face.

”Take whatever you want, all that I am is yours,” he responded gently

She shook her head, ”Don't you remember? You made-”

He covered her mouth quickly with his hand, ”Stop! Your words, they're dangerous. I remember. You are all I want, you are all I need. Everything I do, I do for you. That is all there is.”

”Make something with me,” she said gasping as his hands touched her more intimately, the strange darkness spreading in her.

”Don't doubt me,” he whispered to her.

His touch chased away her thoughts, warmth flooded her.

She fought against the pleasure, holding an image in her head. A strange heat raced through her, rolling through her body from his touch, his kiss and gasping, she woke up.