Cruel Indulgence [Wattys 2015]

o n e

c h a p t e r  o n e

silken flesh hath drawn the wound ,

pearls enamored conceal which tear;

rippled waves warn of fair storms,

'tis naïve minds with waves to wear;

worn silver fangs, clench unrevealed ,

come hither curves, faith to pronounce;

to embrace claws adorned with shells,

fear then raves, to breathe, and drown.

BETWIXT TAINTED WAVES of murk, the ocean bewailed it's darker reigns within unfortunate isolation. Miles, aye, infinite miles turned either route mirrored the desolate state of none, but of cold, soulless space. The waters still, inevitably unmoving. But of course, so merely until the frailest, most impotent of creatures - or so benamed - flew within the frozen seas, and into the palms of thy Lord.

A butterfly, mayhap an inch and no more, gleamed of virgin liberty upon it's descending. Of ivory winglets, and yet, translucent still. Particularly enthralling in it's movement of oscillation, the delicate flutter bequeathing life to swirls of miniscule degree in it's radius. And with the swirls that traced her path, the waters of prior inactivity emersed within placidity. Swirls bursting forth as the faintest of waves, aye, bona fide brilliance, albeit by inchmeal.

The wings she wore, of spotless magnificence, brought forth a hue of aquamarine. A tranquil glaze overlapping it's desolate lull, in possession of a light of great virtue. Among a glow of cyan, that which dressed all seas following the butterfly with a colorless shimmer, positively mystical.

The lass's indifferent gaze crept over the feature. Unblinking, t'wards the inhuman force by which all of the ocean transformed before him. An incurious gloom of the icy waters, akin to a starless space about midnight, languidly fading to give way to a more serene state with which came steady waves of glowing cerulean and great allure. With silver orbs deprived of the faintest of curiosity, he remained rooted as the otherwise bewitching little creature flew his way, before settling upon the right of his broad, brawny shoulder.

"Grazie." The man uttered with a delicate curl adorning his full lips. His voice, a low growl. Sore, natheless utterly moving as a pleasured groan would upon a muted twilight. The creature, as lead by service to a master, acknowledged the grace with a mere, dainty flutter of her striking wings.

That very division of the seas remained isolated of aquatic lives. The man's quarter, of the utmost nobility rested distant from the rest of habitation, howbeit offering a watchful of all. 'Tis why the dulcet sigh behind him had been startling, if only merely so.

"Render me false," a mellow voice sighed, laced with subtle cynicism. "But bizarrely enough, your deceit fails to be amusing."

The rigidity encasing the man's broad shoulders, conjointly the nerve ticked through a thickset, withal, relatively slender neck portrayed the notice of the lady's presence as well as her words. Still, the man hadn't a glance to spare along his retort.

"Why then, 'tis commendable how the intention here hadn't been a ply for your amusement, is it not?"

The lady's rose lips pursed upon this, as a soft furrow of her shapely brows hinted at her dismay. "Is there a base of this unyielding pursuit? What of your reason?"

Her prodding merely graced a sharp glare upon his striking gaze. "Aye, how could you question it? Do you not care for Gabe?"

"Why, of course I do!" the lady claimed, faintly appalled, as a stern crease marred her lovely face. "But I do understand that no allurement, or claimed magic cures a dying man." Her glare then defaced, a soft sigh escaping her lips. "I'd only wish you'd see sense amidst the same."