Emilia danced her fingers over the surface of the hot fragrant water in the tub as she sat aside watching the ripples she created with her movements. The steam rising from the bath made the air she breathed, thick and humid, she hated that feeling. Though as she had great disdain for it, the bath was a necessity, for this evenings event.

Emilia removed her towel and stepped into the water, her pale smooth skin turning slightly red due to the heat near immediately. She slowly lowered herself into the bath, the fragrance of oranges and cloves engulfed her senses. She wasted no time on enjoying the hot water, she got straight to work scrubbing her body, ridding it of all dirt, impurities, and any imperfections she could. The bathing did not take her long, she even managed to wash her thick raven hued locks on her head.

She stepped out of the large stone tub, letting the water drain off her body naturally before grabbing a fresh towel from the nearby toiletries cart and wrapping herself in it. She grabbed another, to wrap her hair. Emilia finished drying herself and glided over to her large wardrobe, rifling through the countless gowns she had acquired. She pondered as the options continued to grow as she dug through the large collection.

This evening required a special dress, one that would make her stand out to him. She recalled a garden walk she had shared with him months prior. He seemed awfully drawn to any and al flowers with a purple color to them. This bit of information would be key in finding the perfect dress for the evening.

Eventually in the back of the wardrobe, Emilia found a long deep purple dress embroidered with silver flowers and small white jewels. The dress was in no doubt beautiful, but not to her personal tastes. She hurriedly adorned the dress and inspected her look happily.

She finished her evening look with a simple bow in her hair and a crystal necklace. Emilia stared hard into the mirror. Tears nearly forming in her eyes as she saw how beautiful she was in the gown. She was excited for tonight, and yet the feelings of betrayal and heartache still lingered from the event two days prior.

There was a soft knock at her door.

"M'lady" Spoke her maid through the thick wood door. "Tis' almost time we departed." she said happily.

"Yes of course Edith!" Emilia said happily while reaching for a small parcel from her desk. Before walking out her bedroom door she checked the pouch to ensure it had the right contents one last time. The bag contained a small vial of liquid, and a long sharp knife kept in a decorative scabbard with the house sigil of her cousins on it. Emilia then hid the parcel in a layer of her dress and exited the room.

"Oh M'lady you look stunning, I'm sure the prince will reconsider!" Edith said lovingly.

"Yes Edith, I'm sure tonight will be an eventful one. With my Prince.."

Sepitus stomped his way into the drawing room where Romulus stood already waiting for him with a glass of brandy in hand. Romulus gulped down the last of his liquor before setting the glass back onto the small bar table against the wall, making a small click that was like thunder in the tense silence of the room.

“Dear brother, I have heard of your plan to marry the Brightwall girl.” Romulus said with an antagonistic sneer on his face. “You know she is not up to the family standard, or did you think only because you are the second born that rule does not apply to you?” Romulus said staring through his thick brow at his brother who by this point was nearly seething with anger.

“I would hardly call what we are a family, brother.” Sepitus said in retort. “But you have heard correctly, I will be marrying Ms. Amberly Brightwall at the end of next spring.”

As Romulus listened to his younger brothers words his jaw clenched in anger, however he held his temper.

“I highly advise against this course of action Sepitus. If you go through with this, as the man of this house I will have no option than to-“

“Disown me.” Sepitus interrupted. “Cast me out? Proclaim me a dishonor for the whole of the town to gossip over? So be it then brother.” Sepitus finished as Romulus stood mouth nearly agape.

“I only want you to consider the consequences to this more seriously Sepitus.” Romulus said calmly before taking a step towards him.

“Oh that is rich isn’t it brother” Sepitus said nearly in hysterics. “I really cannot stand you. Your pretentious air, your sucking up to the nobility.” He said nearly laughing now.

“Then why come here and listen to me Sepitus. You would not, If you didn’t at least have some sense to you.” Romulus looked at his brother almost pleadingly. Trying to get him to understand his point.

Sepitus merely shook his head in denial and left the room. Leaving Romulus to his drink.

Freed held his breath and braced himself for an onslaught of anger and harsh words. He gently pushed open the large black door with a pristine gloved hand. The rush of cold air escaping the room rushed past him. His hair blew back as if it were a leaf lazily floating in a chilly autumn breeze. His verdant eyes scanned the dark room, illuminated only by a single candle making it difficult to see properly at all.

Movement in the corner of the room caught his eye. A figure stood from a luxurious plush chaise, a woman. She was draped in a fine silk dress the color of freshly fallen snow, her body was adorned with many bracelets that shone gold in the light of the candle. Her skin was a deep midnight pitch, as if she was bathed in ink. Her hair was curled and bounced as she walked into the light of the candle, a solemn look on her countenance.

“Arc..” freed said under his breath, watching the woman walk towards him. He admired her beauty greatly, taking great time to look over her as she approached. She said nothing to him as she finally stopped in front of him just inches away. Her scent reached him, it was a light smell of brandy and sweet flowers. She still, remained silent as she looked up at him.

“Will you please tell me,” Freed began before he was interrupted by a kiss planted on his lips. His eyes widened for a moment before pulling her closer giving into the urge, the need, to be closer to her. The two kissed passionately in the flickering candle light. Freed’s fingers danced lightly over the skin her dress left exposed. He traced the white freckles on her skin tenderly as if trying to learn their pattern.

They kissed and embraced one another for what seemed a lifetime. Though after some time freed pulled himself away from her. He held his gaze to the floor as he tried to catch his breath. He held her back at arms length trying not to get swept away again.

“Freed.” She said softly taking his large hand in hers.

“I love-“ she began before he lurched at her holding his finger to her lips.

“Do not.” He said firmly, the look in his eyes pained. “Do not give me hope where there is none.” His words stung her like venom.

“I knew you to be cruel, Arc, but I did not think you this cruel.” Freed let go of her slowly taking in the image of her one last time before swiftly exiting the room.

Arc was left standing amongst the dancing shadows that the candle cast. Tears forming in her eyes while the soft sounds of midnight echoed outside.

Dream Seer was released into the public market when I was only sixteen. It was the talk of the world for years when a scientist by the name of Gelmude Forrest came forward with the data from his study. When it finally hit there was a surge of people buying it.

Dream Seer was a new medical cream developed to give peace of mind to others. You take the cream and rub it onto your eyelids before sleep and you supposedly dream of your death. This was a huge revelation in science and medicine. It was unheard of and yet it was proven to have worked countless times. Though the world was captivated by its mystery and promise of a future you can plan for. I wasn’t as taken with the idea.

I’m twenty eight now and my life has taken a turn for the worst. For the first time, using Dream Seer has crossed my mind. I was reluctant as first but I just don’t see how this can get any better. So I stopped at my local drug store here in my small town, and picked up a little jar. They asked for my ID at the register.. I didn’t realize that you had to be at least eighteen to purchase it. Though considering what the drug did it didn’t surprise me to learn that.

I took the jar home and couldn’t stop thinking about it until it was time to put it on my eyelids and sleep. The cream was easy to spread and warm, it caught me off guard since most creams are icy cold when you first apply them. The scent of coconut and citrus flooded my nose as I rubbed the cream into my eyelids. It was soothing and helped me fall to sleep quickly.

Not long after I’d fallen asleep the dream began. I was standing on a large Viking ship, the skies were stormy and grey. I could hear large booming thunder in the distance. The cold dark water of the sea was churning beneath me, lapping at the side of the ship. I stood there on the deck dressed in furs and leather, a sword at my hip, as if I were really a Viking.

I stood and watched the water and the storm for a while before a large bearded man joined me at my side. He grunted and nodded towards an island to our left in the distance. The island was engulfed in flames, the orange light rising off the land into the stormy sky. The smoke billowed off the houses near the cost and I could swear that I could hear screams in the distance. The man next to me looked horrified at the sight. He turned to me looking angry. Though he said nothing, he picked me up and tossed me overboard. The icy waters socked me to my core, the furs became heavy preventing me from swimming, I sank. Deeper and deeper into the dark water. When I neared the bottom, my vision faded and I could no longer move.

Shortly after I awoke from my dream. I was drenched in sweat and my heart was racing. I went to the bathroom and washed my face trying to get as much cream as I could off my eyes and threw the jar away.

It’s been years since that day. I haven’t been that scared in a long time. Until today… today at work, I saw him. My new coworker.. is the bearded man I saw in my dream that night..

My feet hit the ground hard as I broke into a sprint from the blacktop into the forrest. My heart pounded, my lungs were on fire but I kept running. I knew he wasn’t very far behind me, and I couldn’t take the chance of being caught to slow down for even a moment. As I neared a quarter mile into the forrest the clouds that had been looming overhead all day finally began to rain. I used the rain as an opportunity to hide for a moment and catch my breath. His senses would be dulled so it was the only time I’d be able to rest. My heart was still racing… it had been four years since I’d seen him and it was still to soon. My mind floated back to the day we’d met, that being the last day I truly felt safe..

I was pulled from my thoughts as I heard him. “Veronica!” His voice was muffled by the rain but it sounded close. I gathered my courage and began my sprint again. I weaves through the trees and thick undergrowth hoping it would lose him. After a while I slowed to a jog, I wasn’t easy to track to begin with, but with the weather conditions it was near impossible. I smiled to myself thinking I’d done it, when I heard him.

“Veronica..” he said out of breath. I whipped around to see him standing there just feet from me. His clothes were soaked and stuck to his skin. His body heaving trying to regain his breath. I took a step back as tears began to form in my eyes.

“Veronica don’t move” he commanded as he took a step towards me. I felt trapped and helpless, I couldn’t go back there again. I decided my chances would be better off if I started running again. I turned to run and as I did the ground began giving way beneath me.. a mudslide.. I braced myself for the pain, closing my eyes tightly.

I felt his hand grasp my arm as I fell, pulling me up with great strength. I began to beat on him begging for him to let me go, but instead he held me. He held me close to him, with big gentle arms and a large hand placed upon my head.

“Please Veronica.. don’t scare me like that” his voice was filled with worry. I looked up at him and saw the tears in his eyes. I couldn’t help but feel confused.. why him? The one who’s been actively ruining my life for years. The one working for the people who want me dead.. why is he worried about me?

We stood there, for a long time, until the rain had stopped. That was the day, I began to feel safe again.

It’s hard, looking back at it all now. Mind you it’s.. easier than it used to be but if it’s all the same to you then it’s still hard. Where I come from, consistency is the golden law. We do the same things over and over again exactly the same way never straying from the path set in stone. Never wandering or changing, never exploring or divulging into the unknown.

That’s where our first problem arose. See I was the favorite, the golden child. Being the youngest I had a lot of people to impress. So I played the game by the rules, read the script as written. 

Until I couldn’t.

 It started small, an outburst here, an argument there. Soon however, defiance arose within me like a wildfire tearing across a forrest in drought. My family had been working on an important project for a time, and while there was no doubt that the project was beautiful.

It wasn’t in their norm.

 They strayed from the path that they had kept me bound. The hypocrisy was infuriating.  They sat and observed their perfect project for a while before I couldn’t take it any longer. I was the golden child I was the beloved not this thing. Not this wretched useless thing. Sure I’d misbehaved a time or two that didn’t mean I deserved this. 

So while the others were resting I decided to corrupt their silly little project. I used my power, corrupting and manipulating, before long their project had strayed from its path. It wasn’t long until the other had found out. It broke their hearts to see that their project was now soiled, ruined for all time.

I happily confessed.

“Don’t you see!” I had cried! “They are not perfect, they are not confirmatory, they cannot resist temptations!” While I explained myself the grief on their faces grew darker. I watched as they all discussed on what they would do with me.

I was cast out.

Their decision was concise and unanimous. I would be stripped of my status and tossed out of my home to walk the infernal world of their creation. It was from that day..

Lucifer, the golden child, would never return home.

Can you imagine

A young girl on a farm, about seventeen years old. Beautiful and full of life. Long gilded locks, shinning eyes the color of a deep spring. Skin so smooth and perfect that it looks as though the angels themselves crafted every inch. Her name was Beatrice, the daughter of a wealthy farmer in the Scottish countryside. 

And could you imagine,

Every man in the village, pining for her day and night. Offering gifts, great deeds, land and more just for a lick of her attention. Though she keeps them at arms length while teasing them with midnight dances under the stars. Beatrice grew tired of the gifts and the gawking. It was constant and tiring. She wanted rid of them.

She hated it.

One day while walking the market with some other girls from the village she heard a rumor the witch in the north woods. Could grant any wish they say. Only cost a copper. Beatrice was intrigued by the rumor of the witch. She believed her problems could be solved.

So, In the dead of night.

She snuck into her fathers office and stole a single copper. She took her coin and headed into the woods north of town. Wrapped in darkness she walked. She walked for a long while. Long enough for the sun to rise and warm her face. She had lost hope. The rumor was fake. She decided to turn back but when doing so she saw a small hut. It hadn’t been here the moment before.

Right?

She trudged up to the door and knocked. When no answer came she knocked again and on this time the door opened. Inside was a dusty stone flood and a fire pit of dying embers. Nobody was seen inside. She took a step into the hut, the floor then fell out from beneath her. She was so startled the air was sucked from her lungs denying her a scream as she fell.

She landed.

Not on a pile of soft hay or woolen blankets. But on a pile of thorns and sticks. She lay motionless and limp. No more problems of men, no more of the village. Her wish was granted.

Back at the village.

Nobody could recall who was missing at events or at the market. The men focused on other women and the family once belonging to Beatrice lived without grief. Beatrice, was gone.

And could you imagine,

That at the edge of the village they say, a blonde dancing girl at the dead of night wails at the north woods.

It wasn’t long before he came knocking like he’d done so many times before. I slid into the comfortable window side bench and gently unlatched the metal hook causing the window to swing open. There he sat across from me his deepest eyes looking right into me.

“Can you see it?” I questioned in a light airy tone. His face contorted in confusion as he stared at me.

“See what, dearest Gloria.” He responded, voice raspy and rough as always. The moon illuminating his pale skin so I could just see his features. They weren’t as grotesque now as I had found them when we had first laid eyes on one another. They were subtle and pleasant.

I situated myself into a more comfortable position and smiled. “My soul,” I began “my dreams, desires, hopes and aspirations..” again he only stared back confused. I returned his look of confusion with a sad smile.

“Never mind, it was a silly thought” I brushed the thought out of my mind. It would be a waste to talk of those things with him. I should just enjoy the time we spend together rather than searching for something more. He seemed to relax after I dropped the subject. The rest of the night the conversation flowed like water. We talked about problems big and small, things that troubled him, things that troubled me. It was simple and perfect as always.

Though our chats can never last forever. Soon the sun began to rise warming my skin. He took my hand in his softly kissing it before fading away promising to come back again soon like he did every night. Once faded away I inspected the area where he had kissed my hand, I stuck out my tongue and tasted it.

I savored the flavor of him for a moment. Relishing in the sin and imperfection.

“Human souls really are.. divine..”