by the strands that bind us
.
tie / verb
attach or fasten with string or similar cord
The bright orb sets lower over the horizon, still in power, and I move closer to my destination, reaching the right warehouse. My hand sliding against the rough walls made of faded orangy-red bricks; tall, divided windows with black frames, catching the sun rays. The thin glass laced with dust made of decades embracing the glow and hugging it, matters on the heated sun and fragile glass mixing. I sigh quietly. How much of this will be destroyed when I’m done? The question falls so unexpectedly out of my head, that I stand there for a moment, frozen and not moving. Then I quickly shake it off, stopping as the nearby double doors; old, wooded with iron elements giving it extra strength, making them seem heavy and willing to stand through every obstacle time may throw at them. I pull them with steady force and enter inside, looking around for a while, taking in the familiar scenery. I take off my shades and stick them in the collar of my shirt, waiting as my eyes slowly adjust and take in each detail, to finally land on the only person in this great space. A space that seemed lost in time, filled with a deep aroma of nature and rich herbs.
I look at her and the sides of my mouth lift with delicate content. My fingers dance around letting out just the slightest amount of vibrations, disturbing the peaceful matter. I know that she can sense it, her eyes slowly lifting, a soft smile spreading her lips as she signs hello.
I repeat the gesture and point my hand to her plants.
“How are your energy levels, love? Is it spreading in even fractions?”
She nods.
“Yes, they have. I feel much better now.”
I watch her hands moving, her fingers seeming to “round” up each word with her mild movements. It somehow opens a latch in my brain, that I thought I had already sealed shut. As if opening an album full of old pictures.
Suddenly, the visions of her flood me without warning, and I remember everything in vivid detail; how good it felt to share her energy in mine. Both spirit and body alike. She knew all the ways to keep my attention constantly engaged and drawn to her. The green energy surging in her veins a perfect match with mine, that light mesmerizing me as nothing else had before. And what she did was never forced or fake, just the way that she was made, a true spark in the universe’s creation. But that stage of my life was long behind me. Throughout my life, I have made myself focus on one goal alone; to destroy my enemy, no matter when she came in my life and in what form.
And yet.
I stare at the delicate line of her soft bare arms, her muscles moving as she arranges the humid soil in the pots. Slowly, precisely, with a lot of care. The sun sipping through the glass warming her skin and brightening her already fair, loosely braided hair. I stare at her closely and it all just flows in me, my energy feeling hers; tracing small footsteps on a sky map that leads me to her. It’s intoxicating, like the smell of flowers in the evening after a hot summer day, it gets everywhere. Making you almost taste the overwhelming sweetness, leaving you in a flawless, enticing daze.
My mind keeps me occupied as I remember how it felt to slowly undress her... the silky material of her shirt, laying on her shoulders, two lines of fabric gently cascading down her back, and then effortlessly falling to the ground. How it felt to touch her and savor each moment; to make my fingers glide against her skin and stop at the most suitable parts. How it felt to make them linger, and how they sank gracefully between the line of her thighs. Our energy intertwining, sapphire against soft emerald, so powerful that it threatened to bring you demise as if you might soon lose your mind completely.
My head moves to the sides, neck stretching, spirit trying to regain some focus. Long gone. It will remain in the past and you have to position yourself in the present. Now, because your time no longer belongs to you. You have a purpose to follow.
I watch as she turns around, wipes her hands from the dark soil and smiles at me warmly, while I absentmindedly notice how her clothes move against her body. Something snaps next to me. I look down confused and notice an old plant pot broken into small pieces, fresh dust lingering above it. I stare at my fingers rolled into a fist, blue light embracing it, gliding against the surface of my skin. I quickly move my fingers and stretch my hand, trying to regain some peace. I feel a light tap on my arm and look up; her eyes on mine, a worried expression clouding her normally sunny features.
“Why did that happen?”
“I’m not sure, myself.”
“Are you troubled by something?”
“No”
I start to sign, but then I move in frustration.
“I have been off lately. Sorry for the damages.”
She waves her hand dismissingly as if letting me know that mundane things didn’t really matter - unless they were her plants, of course. She was connected to nature, and such damage to the living flora and fauna almost hurt her physically. She spent her days nurturing the elements that grew and breathed and that needed her help. Her life energy was meant to heal, not to cause any pain. Not to say that she couldn’t if she was challenged to do so, or if someone mistreated her trust and good soul. That day hasn’t come yet, but no one could predict what would happen as future days got nearer, marking the time of our people.
“What caught your mind just now?”
My gaze follows her as a heavy sigh escapes my throat. I knew she wouldn’t judge, one of the few that I could trust. I had less and less of that kind of people over the years, and it was just a matter of time before I had to stand completely alone on the front lines. My hands move to construct just two words.
“Our past.”
My open hand moves first to her and then back to me, so she knows what I mean exactly. She doesn’t seem to be surprised and reacts with a soothing calmness that I always appreciated about her.
“But that wasn’t what got you upset.”
“No, I could never be upset with you.”
She guides me to a long wooden table where a gathering of plants, flowers, and multicolored seeds lay. I couldn’t even name one-third of those, yet I knew that she could with ease, even just by their smell or characteristic structure. She was like knowledge and magic put into kindness. I never met a human who could ever match that in the slightest.
She makes sure I sit down and takes a chair that for some reason stands next to the bags filled with soil, not really fitting in.
“What has got you in this state?”
“My energy seems to be off, as yours was. Just more.”
“Why?”
“Things seemed to have shifted since I met that girl.”
“The one...”
Her hands stop, her face is a bit unsure.
“Yes. The one our kind fears off.”
“I thought that it wasn’t true. The way you were so dismissive about her when you mentioned her two days ago.”
A sigh escapes my mouth, a sound that she cannot hear, but that she can feel with all of her.
“I was. I still am. But things seem to become more peculiar by the minute, and nothing fits.”
She tilts her head to the side, observing me, then her stare gains serenity and confidence.
“You will make it work, you always do. You were born with the strength I could never grasp. There is a deep faith that runs in my veins for you.”
She shifts and holds my left hand in both of hers, squeezing it tightly. Then she looks closely at my fingers and frowns. I notice the now barely visible scratches and new dark spots on them. My vibrations must have burned me again, and I didn’t even feel it. My gaze numbly follows her hands as they let go of mine, and are lifted in the air.
She signs, marking each letter with her fingers, slowly calming down my erratic state. I get captivated by it, watching her carefully, as my whole name opens up just like rose petals before my eyes. As if regarding a pretty thing made both from fragility and strength, just wit the movements of her hands. I observe her gently touching her index finger against her open palm, making the first letter. Then her fingers connecting, the middle with the index finger, only to return to the first sign; finally she lowers the finger towards her thumb and holds her other hand. My lips spread into a faint smile. Lily. I was taught sign language by my teachers and found it the only useful and beautiful language on this planet. I knew many languages but this was the only one that felt like home. And with her, there seemed to be something gentle and thoughtful in whatever thing that she did, in all that she “said” to me, I always listened intently.
“It’s alright. I’m fine, Wren.”
I move my hands deliberately slow, to let her see that I’m no longer bothered by this, that my hands do not shake or tremble. Then I smile at her. My kind and gentle Wren. The needed light in this thoroughly dark world, a cold and lonesome universe that pulled us in. Wren, a little bird without a voice, that sings with her magic, an unlikely warrior that beat the king of birds*. She gazes at me for a moment, nods a few times, then gets up, clapping her hands against her thighs, dusting away the material from remainings of dirt that could still linger around. She looks indecisive about my current state but tries to be helpful as always. Never the one to pick up an argument if it wasn’t absolutely necessary. Her stare seems to be still worried as she signs.
“I will make you some tea, a special blend of herbs. It should soothe your senses just
fine.”
I gaze at her with a faint smile as she disappears to the further end of the old warehouse. My eyes still see her as she moves to the simple kitchen area. Filled with a few old but sturdy oak countertops, a metal stove that she heats with wood and many hanging gardens above her head filled with herbs and small medicinal plants. My stare follows her as the light gently follows her moves, lightning her skin in different places. I try to ignore all the pleasant views and just concentrate on the mundane things that she does. My eyes focus on her hands as she uses a pestle to methodically grain some of the ingredients for her aromatic brew and then puts it into a small bowl, to finally pour hot water over it. She then leaves it at the side and starts to chop herbs for what seems to be a preparation for a later meal.
That’s when my mind shuts off and just lingers above the surface, thoughts about this day slowly slipping through my skin right to my slowly simmering blood. I block them instantly, not in the slightest mood for such worthless things. The situation was currently under control; Ramsey and his men were on a lookout for anything out of the ordinary, constantly checking the perimeter. Aware of the danger. Besides, my energy seemed to be still off. If just a memory of some passionate moments caused such a reaction, then I feared what would happen if I got angry. And with my character... well, let’s just be happy the city is still in one piece. I smile at the thought, of all the devastation. But then my mind quickly stops being so amused. Focus, there is too much at stake, both for you and your people. Focus, dammit. You’re better than this, you can win over this girl without any hesitation. Besides, she seems to be so fond of you that she would give herself all too willingly if... when you decided to end her. Yet, not in the way, she would have like to; a smirk appears on my face but then quickly disappears. There was so much that still needed to be done.
I’m lost in my thoughts when just ten minutes later Wren puts a brown ceramic mug on the table and makes a notion with her hands to indicate the tea is still hot. I nod at her once and give a distracted smile. I look at the steam move up in the fading out light of the day and feel a strange sensation; a slight frown appearing on my face as the scent of the tea makes me dizzy, yet it smells just as it always does. A delicate blend of berries, wildflowers, and soothing herbs. Nothing out of the ordinary, yet... it feels like my head is spinning for no apparent reason. Maybe it was the heat and barely any water that I drank today? Just a lot of coffee and a few croissants that I ate. I pick up the mug and look at the things floating at the bottom of it. It makes me giggle slightly. The sound is so unfamiliar that it gets me to cover my mouth in surprise. I can’t seem to remember the last time I laughed like that, or ever for that matter.
My stare moves up and I watch the light play with different surfaces. As if watching little fairies play around, dancing to some unheard music. I shake my head. What was I thinking about here? What was going on? Suddenly, I notice dust motes floating around me and how they tickle my skin. My bare arms feel ever speck of it and I start to laugh gently, amused at the sensation. Everything seemed so colorful and bright as if in a blurry but beautiful dream. I smile as the world around me fades slightly and I just notice myself in the matter. I hear my breath, feel the blood moving around in my veins, I feel it twitch and swirl as another giggle escapes my mouth again. But this time nothing restrains me. My hand moves up and starts to stroke my left arm, sending delicious goosebumps to the surface, the notion so powerful that it shoots electricity to my spine. My thighs tighten against each other and I give out a rushed breath.
What kind of foolishness...
I mumble to myself as my head starts to spin again. I slowly get up, but then quickly sit down again, my legs not listening to me like they normally do. I look around and notice Wren; how the air moves around her and the light caresses her skin, how lightly she moves, busy with her doings. I close my eyes for a moment. Regain control. My eyes open and I reach out for the mug, slowly sipping on it, enjoying the taste, my mind soothed just for a fraction of a second. Then I really notice how it tastes and what it does to me - another delightful giggle escapes my mouth, but I hardly notice this time, too focused on the flavor of the tea, and little bits of flowers and herbs tickling my tongue, and how the still hot tea slides down my throat and fills my stomach. I feel everything. My taste buds go a bit crazy, all the sensations stirring inside me... I inhale sharply. I need fresh air. Now.
I walk out the door and slide my back against the nearby wall. What was going on around here? I think distracted as my hands feel the roughness of the brick wall, my fingers going slowly up and down against it, feeling some strange current from it in my body... the mood changes, and without any warning, I feel... the thoughts seem insane after all that I just felt. I’m hungry. My eyes open wide, and I start to laugh as if hearing a joke that nobody else could hear. Suddenly, my head shifts, hearing low steps, and somehow I’m able to distinguish each one separately. I look as she steps in front of me, and my gaze falls slightly, her concerned face taking just a fraction of my attention. Her lips seeming to grab me much more. I make myself exhale a breath that held all the wonders that her face showed.
Wren.
I mouth out, unable to move my hands from the comfort of the bricks behind me. I feel every edge and dent of the surface behind me. She grabs me by the shoulders and shakes me with force I never suspected of her. This makes me regain some focus, just enough to make my hands lift to her.
“What’s wrong?”
She sighs concerned before I can even say anything.
“I feel very light-headed.”
She nods, this time calmer. It looked like this wasn’t the first time that she saw such reactions.
“I will help, try to be still.”
My eyes watch as she moves her hands to my wrists and gazes at me, then her fingers slowly climb up, green energy waking up to life, cursing through her skin and fingertips. I feel my lungs move with speed as I stare at her, the action is... mesmerizing. My eyes travel up just like her hands, as she glides them to my elbows, my shoulders. They gently slide against my collar bones and then shift to my jaw, the side of my face and finally my forehead. Her hands lay there, fingers spread. I close my eyes and feel her energy slipping into mine. Emerald hills on a windless day. That’s the image that fills me, overpowering and calming at the same time. Her energy covers me, embracing me tenderly but with strength. It’s been so long since... my mind trails off, as her fingers move down, marking different parts as her touch stays there for longer. Forehead, throat, heart, then just under my ribs. Her hands sinking in deep and cursing her powers through my skin and organs.
It’s so strong that it leaves me breathless as a realization hits me. Solar chakra, that stands for power and wisdom. She has been moving past my chakras, gliding into my powers. I don’t stop her, completely trusting that she is here only to heal me and make me stand strong on my own two feet. She means me no harm. Her hands slide to my waist, and new dosages of her power attack me as my body starts to tremble. She’s holding me in place so I won’t fall to the ground, stopping the whole process from working. I feel myself murmuring as I take all that energy in, at the same time always feeling her hands on me. It’s a complicated set of feelings and vibrations. It’s almost as gaining a new breath of life. My eyes slowly open, a feeling of peace taking me in, and spreading through my blood; a state of tranquility. I gaze at her overwhelmed.
“What did you do? What was that?”
I wait as she lifts her hands, looking a bit drained but not bothered by it.
“I disconnected you from her.”
My body stands there, frozen into place like a statue, brain trying to understand what’s happening as a sense of deja vu kicks in. I shake my head, letting a soft denial linger over my veins.
“You were picking up on her vibes, that’s why you feel off. This will only work for a while, so I advise you to visit me daily.”
I stand up abruptly. Daily visits? Disconnected?
“You have been feeling her for some time now. It explains the eruption of your powers.”
I watch her take a deeper breath before she continues.
“And your hands.”
My fingers lift automatically so I can inspect them, trying to find all the answers just by staring at my small wounds. But my mind doesn’t let me process it all, and all I can do is look at her with a weak but grateful smile.
“Thank you for doing this for me.”
She nods with calm.
“You need to come to me more often. If not every day then at least when you feel your vibrations going off.”
“I will.”
She gazes at me and signs my name again, this time there is sternness in her movements. I smile at her with more power, lifting her hand to my mouth and kissing the inside of her wrist with gratitude. I notice a light blush on her face that only adds to her natural charm and sweetness. Then I repeat, mouthing.
I will. I promise, Wren.
She exhales slowly and nods again, the softest smile spreading on her lips.
“But take my herbs with you. They will calm your energy when I am not there. I want you to be safe.”
She heads for the big table and comes back with a small purple bag, made of smooth material, then hands it to me. My fingers spread wide and I catch the little sack, grabbing onto it. I walk out of the warehouse, just as the sun finishes to set, letting me know the day is coming to an end. It was time to rest and gather new strength, and fight again. Just like I have been doing all my life. Always pushing forward until I reached my final goal. My destination. I had new orders for my big friend. I needed to know exactly what she was doing for the past hours and what actually happened to me. I would not be surprised like this again.
____________
* The wren is also known as “kinglet” in reference to an ancient Germanic folktale concerning a contest to determine the “king of birds.” The eagle, of course, was the frontrunner – the one bird able to outfly all other birds and the one able to climb the highest of altitudes. However, he was beaten by the cunning little wren who had cleverly hidden in his feathers.
Previous chapters :
1. https://theprose.com/post/214855/worlds-colliding
2. https://theprose.com/post/215912/signs
3. https://theprose.com/post/219168/the-stripes-on-a-tiger
4. https://theprose.com/post/223324/disturbance-in-the-matter
5. https://theprose.com/post/237003/leaving-marks-part-1-2
6. https://theprose.com/post/237515/leaving-marks-2
7. https://theprose.com/post/266243/cause-and-effect-part-1-2
8. https://theprose.com/post/266557/cause-and-effect-part-2
9. https://theprose.com/post/324197/rooted-grounds-and-foundations