Beneath the tumultuous froth Through which I sailed. As I hoisted my heavy cloth I swear I could see the glistening scale.
Of a maiden on the prowl In the great old, cerulean sea. And from the frigid, icy, bowels Did she long stare back at me.
Her face, though fair Reflected in her piercing gaze. An expression I’d compare To that wondrous, prussian maze.
I watched in quiet unrest As she dove further down. Disappearing below the breaking crest And I then too, pushed through the sound.
Coal tar eyes, penetrating, taking away the pain Ravenesque coils cascading, dancing like summer rain
That toothy grin, lips curling to reveal soft dimpled cheeks Every part haunts me still, undoing any hint of peace
The semblance of happiness gone Ripped away with the breaking of dawn
But the irony of this bittersweet tale The dark coffin’s rusted nail
Your embrace is a sweet delight, already spoiling And your love is like an arrow...laced with poison
Warned of her wrath But burdened by arrogance They committed their sin And were felled by her magick Those brothers with noble blood And pride of equal measure Sprouted feathers black as night Cursed for the remainder of their lives The years passed with their deafening cries Cawing laments from dawn to dusk Until the day they each drew final breaths A solemn reminder of their hubris Emblazoned on the archways of the estate And still today The song of the birds can be heard outside the window
Softly the wind blows against my cheek Intangible kisses laid over my temple Caressing my skin the way you would As the regrets cascade over my being I wonder if my avaricious tendencies Could they have been quelled With your touch, your presence Or is this loss a blessing To never truly know the truth
“Don’t be obtuse, Jackie. You know what Zoe meant.” “...well maybe she should say what she means...” Jackie huffed. Sol shot her a quick glare, Jackie rolling her eyes in response. Zoe opened her mouth to speak but was interrupted by another voice behind her.
“C’mon guys, fighting won’t get us anywhere, now.”
The three turned to see Sol’s sister Flora, leaning against the, now open, hideout doorway. She scanned the trio, a smirk dancing at the corner of her mouth.
“You’re right. But—“ “Jackie, enough!” Sol huffed as she made her way across the narrow walk. Flora pushed herself off the door frame to meet her sister’s embrace. “I thought you weren’t coming!” Sol beamed. “And miss you lot getting your asses handed to you?! No way!” The two of them chuckled and sighed, before securing the door.
“Welcome back, Flo!” Zoe finally piped up, a small smile inching over her face. Flora grinned and gave her a nod.
“Nice to see you too, Martinez...” she teased, eyeing Jackie for a moment, before returning her attention to Sol.
“So, what’d I miss?” Flora asked walking over to the little wooden table with a hand drawn map scrawled over it. Her fingers traced along the territories lines as she studied it.
“We’re down in numbers. We even lost Hadley and April.” Sol replied, following her to the center of the small space. Moving to show the markings she’d made on the parchment, she continued, “and here, the Wailers were able to commandeer the southern bunker. The eastern safe zone is the only—“
“Don’t you mean I let them commandeer the bunker? I thought, you prided yourself on using “overt and concise language” right? No need to sugar coat it for my sake!” Jackie sneered. Everyone looked at her in quiet judgement for a second until Flora furrowed her brows, shifting on her heels before she spoke.
“What the hell is your problem, Martinez, it’s just a goddamn game?!” she spat, taking a few steps toward Jackie. “Flo.” Sol interjected. “No, I wanna know why she’s getting all bent over this shit!” “Flo,” Sol swept her arm up in front of Flora, giving her a stern look. “Pfft. Whatever.” Flora sucked her cheek in as she leaned back against the table. Sol turned her attention to Jackie and Zoe. Both staring silently, each displaying expressions of exasperation, disappointment, and regret.
“Everyone makes mistakes, Jackie,” Sol breathed as she approached the pair, “and this is just a game. But most importantly...” she moved to place her hand on Jackie’s shoulder, and finished, “we’re a team.”
Jackie’s mouth fell open as she looked up at Sol’s reassuring expression.
“She’s right.” Flora conceded, shuffling over to the others. “Now what do you say we win this thing?” “You’ve got a plan?” Sol probed, eyes narrowing as she glanced over. “I’ve got THE plan...” Flora winked.
Everyday, as I stare into these mirrored waters I am reminded of just how much I look like him But more than anything I feel how much I truly miss him
So I sit here pleading to the gods Begging to bring my brother back to me I have no greater wish, and no hope of an answer If wishes fell like rain, then certainly I am a storm
“Don’t take that tone with me.”
“Well, what tone should I take, Your Highness?!”
“I’ve afforded you nothing but respect! The LEAST you could do is acknowledge that!!”
“Oh, so everything I’ve done means nothing to you!”
“....that’s not what I said.”
“But—“
“Nor is it what I meant... I know all this has been hard on you. And I do appreciate your efforts. I just...never mind. I’ll see you tonight.”
“Wait.”
“Yes?”
“...”
“Is there something else you wish to discuss?”
“No, I...I do appreciate you, and your efforts. I’m—”
“No need. I’ll see you tonight.”
And with that, the door closed.
Trudging along the narrow street City lights blinding my eyes Just then my heart skipped a beat For a new scent stirred my mind
I searched in a fever To uncover its source Following the sweet ether That beckoned with subtle force
The mystery reaching its finale In that pitch black alley
She stood in shrouded darkness Her grave, eerie countenance Bearing such a starkness Against the soft fragrance
This wicked, beautiful enchantment Enrapturing my very soul Too late to escape its entrapment Her influence had already taken its toll
I shifted under a faint canopy of leaves, eyeing the ebb and flow of pale waves just a few feet from where I sat. I closed my eyes for a moment to breathe in the salty air, as the tide rolled out, slower than I remembered. The sun, crowning over the horizon, cast a gilded film along the tiny island, far as anyone could see. With a smile spread across my face, I leaned back on my hands, digging the heel of my palms into the soft, woven blanket I’d spread over the damp, cool sand. A stiff breeze brushed my bare back and shoulders, causing me to gently tug the fine fabric of my sweater up around my neck. It’d been years since I’d watched the sun set over this place. Since those last fragments of shimmering splendor danced on my skin. Since my last sleep began. And now I was finally awake. I inhaled sharply, rising and dragging weary limbs up into a more lively stance. Dusting sand from my body, I looked out at the expanse of sea, in search of what had spawned this arousal. My only answer, pearlescent arches crashing against a grainy shore.
I turned my attention to the brush of vegetation next to me, wondering if the delicate blooms would emerge soon as well. The light trickling in now, illuminated the entire northern side of the island, as I witnessed the sullen phoenix palms stiffen their newly brightened leaves, textured trunks writhing and stretching toward the budding warmth. I stirred at the sound of rustling and quaking coming from further inland. I gathered myself and ambled into the thicket, south, toward my favorite haunt.
I pushed through to find the red mangrove swamp, once more, teeming with life and excitement. The roots of the shrubs twisted and raised, shaking away all indications of sleep, while water drained steadily from the area. Mudskippers leapt through openings in the entangle of limbs as the crabs and small lizards scuttled about to find meals before the birds found theirs. My eyes finally landed on the quiet night heron, with a snake in its beak. As it unfurled its dark plumage, preparing to soar, I knew I too, had to take flight.
