Eclipse: the Beginning

Carrying the teenager on his back, Seraph ran across the rooftops once again. They both knew it was dangerous, but they would not abandon the Light; she was their friend even if she would never admit it. Seraph knelt on the roof of the mansion, motioning for Samuel to dismount. The two crept to the edge. There was a gathering in the courtyard.

“Your silence will grant you no mercy! Why has the Captain of the Guard assaulted the viceroy’s estate?!”

The two on the roof gaped at the sight of Celestial in shackles, surrounded by Wind soldiers. Seraph held his breath. This was his fault. He wanted to strike with Cherub, but Samuel’s safety was in his hands right now. He tried his best to be still.

“Is this an act of the king?! Answer woman!”

“I have nothing to say to a soldier who has forgotten himself.” Celestial held her dominating presence even as a prisoner. The king was not to blame. That would only bring needless war. She could not acknowledge her connection to her Wind companion after the poor thing managed to escape. She should have given Saraii more credit in how to handle herself. They could not blow their mission this soon, either. Samuel was too weak to stand against King Zemnas if the prophecy called for it. That left her with silence.

“How dare you insult me!”

The soldier rose his rod to strike, but even shackled, Celestial grabbed the shaft, twisted it about, and brought him to his knees.

“I said you had forgotten yourself. Lord Zion would be ashamed of how his country has fallen in his absence.”

“You dare utter that name on my property?” the voice of the viceroy called from his doorway. The haughty coward walked toward the gathering. He stared at her confiscated weapons, getting a chill at the sight of the legendary sword. “I see. You must be part of the resistance in the West! This sword is proof enough! This is an assault on the King of Heaven! I’m sure my king will be most pleased for handing over another traitor carrying this weapon. Take her and that metal slab to King Zemnas for judgment!”

The soldiers stared at the viceroy as he cackled. Deep in their spirits, the sight of Lord Zion’s sword in their homeland had brought them joy. This warrior had protected their country’s last treasure. Now, they had to repeat history and hand the blade over to King Zemnas. It broke them, but they were powerless to rebel. Celestial’s own spirit sank just looking at their faces.

Seraph twitched, fighting the urge to attack the sham of a governor. Samuel grabbed the flexed arm. The Wind looked back, seeing stun in the youth’s eyes. He moved away from the edge, pulling Samuel with him.

“What’s wrong?”

“Did you hear what they called her?”

Seraph looked more confused by Samuel’s concern.

“They said Celestial was the Captain of the Guard. That’s got to be a high ranking position in Heaven’s military. The king might judge her the same as he did Lord Zion, especially when he hears she has his sword. Seraph, what can we do?”

Seraph looked down at his clothes. He had to change before he took on anyone. He ran a hand through his loose locks, trying to think of a plan. The Wind glanced at Samuel. He had to keep the weaker youth in consideration.

“We have to prepare. She’ll be heavily guarded at all times, so when we strike, it’ll have to be quick.”

“Wait. You don’t mean to hurt the Wind soldiers, do you?”

“I have to if we want to free Celestial before they take her and Zion’s Arm to Heaven!”

“Can’t you see their remorse for doing this? We’re supposed to help the people of this world by restoring it, not causing more grief. You don’t want to attack your own soldiers, do you?”

“I …” Seraph bit his tongue as he tried to think. He wanted to avoid hurting his own province’s soldiers, but what other choice did he have? “Do you have a better idea?”

“Well … what if we follow them until they hand her over?”

“So you would have me attack soldiers of Celestial’s talent over passionless ones?” The Wind gave his friend a baffled expression.

“The king is supposed to be our target, Seraph. Soldiers forced to follow a cruel viceroy are not. I believe that’s what we should do, and Grandmother Wingie said to follow my lead.”

Samuel’s gaze was serious, making the Wind gape. Such a risky plan had to carry confidence behind it. The determination on the youth’s face made Seraph want to have faith in him. If he was to always trust Samuel’s decisions, how could he question his leadership now of all times?

“All right … I need new clothes, first.” Seraph held a hand up to silence any protest. “We’ll do that my way though.”

Samuel gulped.

Samuel stood on the dark street. The pale blonde fidgeted, looking down the lane. They had been waiting for almost an hour, or at least it seemed like it. His shy nature was slipping through again.

“Seraph,” he whispered behind him, “there’s no one here. Can’t we just buy you clothes?”

“I told you it’s difficult to find clothes for me. We have to take someone else’s,” the Wind whispered back from the shadows of the alley. “Late at night is when the big fish come out, so keep looking!”

At that moment, someone came into Samuel’s view. He hoped they were not a match. Just his luck … he gulped at the dark figure’s similar frame. What were the odds of finding a match to Seraph’s build right when he wanted to talk him out of this plan? He hoped he wouldn’t rack in bad karma for this, but Seraph needed clothes. Recalling what the Wind had told him to say, he waved to the figure dressed in black.

“Hello! Please, my master has collapsed in the alley! I beg your mercy!”

The person stared at him a moment. Samuel tried to imagine what the stranger must be thinking. What was anyone doing out at this hour? Where was that accent from? He doubted they wanted to draw more attention than the necessary right now, but the teen persisted.

“Please help me! He isn’t moving!”

The figure walked briskly toward the squeaky runt. Samuel noticed the stern expression on the man’s face. He looked irritated. As he reached for Samuel’s face, a strong hand yanked the figure into the alley. A brief brawl ensued as Samuel gawked into the dark, but Seraph’s grunt was the last noise heard.

“Samuel Watson,” Seraph asked in a low voice after a long pause, “why these garments?”

“They’ll fit! Don’t be so fickle!” The Brit made a flustered face.

“They’ll only make my chest more noticeable! They’re tight as well! I can’t wear these!”

“I won’t stand, looking like a Lady of the Night – or whatever Miss Celestial said – a moment longer! We followed your plan and it got you clothes! Just put them on, please!”

Seraph fussed as he finished dressing. When the Wind emerged, a stern expression stared back at the teenager. Samuel blinked. The clothes formed to his frame like a glove. The youth noticed how the breasts compressed in the taunt material. Seraph appeared masculine and dominating despite the mounds. He wondered if this was a glimpse of the real Seraph as he saw himself. A small smiled sprouted, eager to see more sides of Seraph.

“They’re terrible, aren’t they? I’m taking them off.”

Samuel grabbed his friend by the arm. Dragging the Wind along, he ignored the whining as they walked toward the edge of town. For a moment though, he wondered why a person of Seraph’s physique would walk around the sleeping capital. How common was his build? Seraph made it sound like his clothes always had to be custom works with his chest. Once they were almost out of the city, Seraph stopped the young man, raising him off the ground.

“Seraph!” Samuel yipped, gripping onto the Wind’s strong arm. “Not another word about your clothes!”

“It’s not that,” the stronger replied in a grim tone.

“What is it now then?”

“We shouldn’t travel by night, at least without light.”

“Oh,” Samuel blinked. “Sorry, I keep forgetting where I am.”

“I’ll find us a torch. It should last us until the Sun rises.” Seraph walked behind a building, returning with a piece of wood and a soaked rag.

“What’s that for?”

“That inn’s kitchen does the same thing we do back home. They leave used oil from the day in a jug outside the door to ward away wild animals from coming in at night. If any were to try sneaking in, they’d have old oil crashing down on them. It’s effective, and the only cleanup is kicking dirt on it the next day.” The Wind grinned as if he had had the pleasure of cleaning up said mess before. He wrapped the rag around the end of the piece if wood. “The torch will burn all night. Do you remember where our things are? Once we pick them up, we can be on our way.”

“By the boulder I was hiding by where we met up.” Samuel stared back at Seraph, watching him knot the rag on the torch. Back home? Was he talking about a local tavern or his home-home? Just where was his friend’s home?

“Cherub.” The staff twitched in its place under his arm. “Lead us to that boulder.” When the wooden staff took flight, the Wind walked after it, shifting about in the new clothes as he tossed the torch back and forth between his large hands. “Coming, Samuel Watson?”

The youth snapped to his senses as he ran to catch up. After reaching their belongings, they found Samuel’s original torch on the verge of dying. Seraph lit the new one from the dying tongues, letting it brighten up the area. Samuel was clinging to his waist. The Wind raised an eyebrow with curiosity, but Samuel did not leave his side.

“I never realized it was so dark in Aurora.”

“Now you see why I insisted on bringing a torch,” the Wind smiled, patting the younger on the head. “You didn’t realize, so it’s not your fault. Let’s get going. We need to catch up to Celestial’s escort.”

The two walked all night long, following Cherub’s direction. Seraph had instructed the staff to lead them to Heaven. Samuel wondered if Cherub was some sort of organic GPS unit. The dirt from the soil turned to sand under Samuel’s sandals. He was far too tired to take note beyond that, though. When the Sun peeked over the horizon, a yawn escaped the Nomad.

“You’re tired, my friend,” Seraph said in a compassionate tone. “You’ve been awake all night, walking in pace with me. I’m proud of you for making it this long.”

“Thank you, Seraph … I’ve pulled a few all-nighters back in my world. Though I’m not so sure,” he yawned again, “I’ll make it more … than a few steps ….”

His metallic gaze stared at the Sun. Seraph noticed how the light reflected off the silver irises. They were like sheets of looking-glass. The eyelids grew heavy, and the slow pace stopped. The Wind turned to catch the youth as he fell asleep on his feet, making Seraph smile.

“Well done, Samuel Watson. Rest for now.” Seraph shifted the bags on the teenager’s back to his shoulders. He hoisted Samuel onto his back, letting his hair fall in his face as he stared at the white sands beneath his feet. “Let’s get going, Cherub. I told him we would save Celestial his way. We can’t waste time.”

When Samuel woke again, he was on the Wind’s back. Literally, Seraph was riding on his staff – they were flying! He gaped in awe, feeling like a witch’s familiar. Seraph was staring straight ahead of them. Perhaps it took concentration to ride a staff. Samuel was unsure, but he did not want to distract him. He closed his eyes to let the sound of wind rushing by them lull him back to sleep. It was comforting, unlike his fall from the sky.

Seraph covered a great deal of ground by riding his staff. He had thought Samuel would panic at the idea, since magic seemed to be a foreign idea to him. Seraph thought to use it as little as possible for now, so he waited until the boy fell asleep before mounting his staff. The Wind was not a hundred percent himself though. He was staring back at slumber’s threshold, but he could not let it take him yet. At least, not until Samuel was somewhere safe. He found such a place in a town near Heaven’s gates. Landing, he woke the sleeper on his back.

“Seraph? You’re exhausted,” Samuel said as he walked around, looking his friend in the face. “Please don’t push yourself too hard. You said so yourself that we must have passed the escort coming here. Take the time to sleep.”

Seraph had no energy to argue. They noticed an inn not far into town. He instructed Samuel how to pay the innkeeper for a room, so the Wind could rest. The teenager tried his best to carry the packs, but Seraph still ended up carrying Celestial’s things as they made their way up the grainy steps of the inn. A solemn expression sat on Seraph’s face, recalling how he had gotten her into this mess. Samuel pulled the bag off the broad shoulders once they reached the room, startling the Wind.

“Off to bed with you now,” the Brit said, pushing the weary giant toward the bed. “Don’t fight it, mate. Get some sleep.”

Seraph’s groggy gaze stared at the smile on the teenager’s face as the youth pulled him. Falling on the bed, he stopped resisting, letting Samuel tuck the blankets around him. He watched the youth for a moment longer. It was not long before his sight blurred and the heavy lids closed.

Samuel sat on the floor in the corner. His metallic eyes stared at the late morning sky. Had there been another New Moon? Maybe Aurora’s orbits differed from Earth’s. He trying to grasp the differences here from Earth in the few days he had lived there. He wondered what else he might learn. His mind drifted as he reflected.

A man’s voice cried from outside the inn. He was so loud that poor Seraph jilted from his slumber. The two companions leaned out the window to listen.

“Captain Celestial has been arrested for treason! Captain Celestial has been arrested for treason!”

“Hold, sir!” Seraph called to the man. He was so tired that he forgot to adjust his voice. “How do you know this?”

“I just came from the city! She was led through the streets by Wind soldiers! They say she had Lord Zion’s legendary sword! The king will surely repeat his sentence! It’s terrible!” The man continued to run down the street, yelling his message.

Seraph stepped away from the window. Panic painted on his face. How long had he been asleep? How could he let this happen? His legs crumbled beneath him.

“Seraph! It’s not your fault! I must have dosed myself! We might have a chance if we leave now!”

“It’ll take time to reach the city … and she’ll be heavily guarded when we get there. For all we know, the king is passing judgment as we speak. We were too late.” The black eyes gazed at something beyond Samuel. Sweat poured down the sides of his face. “Just like Lord Zion ….”

“No! We will save her!” The young man grasped the tremulous shoulders in a tight grip. “You can’t give in while there’s still hope! Come on, Seraph! I believe in your strength! Grandmother Wingie said we are bound together by fate! You believe that, don’t you? We can do this!”

Seraph gaped at the touch. What was happening? It was as if his worries had vanished in a wisp of vapor. The hope Samuel spoke of was growing inside him. He believed in the impossible. Where had this faith come from just now? It was strange, but he felt little need to question it.

“Seraph? Are you all right?”

“Yes … let’s hurry. I shouldn’t use Cherub just yet. We need to run.”

“That’s the spirit!”

The two leapt from their window. Seraph had Samuel on his back as they retraced the man’s path to the center of Aurora along the rooftops. Holding him in place with Cherub bracing him, both stared straight across the rooftops toward the edge of town. Celestial was ahead of them, and she was all that mattered. Their fates, threaded together for an unknown purpose, would open a path for them. They could not lose. The Sun was setting to their left, leaving the bright light of Heaven as their guide in the distance.