The forest bottom was spongy, its softness threatening to consume my feet as we walked toward flowing water.
We reached a stream, except its surface was as calm as a still lake, reflecting the forest on its glass surface. I turned my head, looking for the source of the flowing water I’d heard moments ago, but only silence met me. It was as if the gurgling sound was a whispered enchantment that called us here, then stopped once we’d arrived.
Caius removed his shoes, like one reverently readying to walk on sacred ground. His bare feet stepped forward to the edge of thestream, where he knelt, unconcerned with dirtying his almond-colored pants.
He bent at the waist, hands clasped, and slid them into the water just enough so that the liquid slowly filled his palms in small rivulets.
Once filled, he said, “From the molten at our core to the skies above, you give us life. May I be honored by the life force of this water with a sacred connection to you, my mother, our mother, the Mother.”
He gently tilted his hands up and drank.
Caius stood. The energy emanating from him was clearer, softer, fulsome in a way. I almost reached for him, yearning to feel it.
He gazed down at me, his usual curious, playful demeanor replaced by an ethereal regality, that ancient part of him now fully dominating his presence. It was beautiful.
“It’s your turn, Nyleeria.” His voice was the soothing caress of a lullaby.
Stepping out of my shoes, I knelt as he had. Slowly, purposefully, I slid my hands into the stream. It was pleasantly warm, so unlike the glacier-fed waters back home.
I was surprised at the silky smoothness of the still water as it flowed between my fingers. It wasn’t idle at all, and there was a depth to it I couldn’t comprehend. I allowed myself to get lost in its magic and brought my palms together, hoping to catch some of it. I shut my eyes.
“From the molten at our core to the skies above, you give us life. May I be honored by the life force of this water with a sacred connection to you, my mother, our mother, the Mother.” I opened my eyes and beheld the beautiful, glittering liquid dancing in my palms. Hunching over, I brought my mouth to my palms and drank the blessed, magical liquid.
As I stood up, a profound lightness came over me—not of light-headedness, but of freedom. Like the darkness and fears that had plagued me had been transferred to someoneelse. I was filled to the brim with a disembodied inhibition that yearned to be free and sway—a deep-rooted tranquility asked me to let go, to be at peace with myself, with life.
Caius held out a hand, beckoning, and I took it. Water seeped into our clothing as we waded across the shallow stream, the ripples of our presence washed away by the phantom current.
About halfway across, a shimmer met us, and we stepped through it—the sensation like being dusted with microscopic glitter. On the other side of that glimmering threshold was a wholly different world.
Caius watched me, drinking in my awe, an unbridled smile consuming his features.
I released his hand, taking slow, steady steps, spinning in place to absorb every detail. I reached out to touch the spot we’d just come through, but my fingers only met the cool smoothness of the cavern’s façade; there was no trace of the shimmer.
A narrow pathway led to a small stone bridge. Beyond it lay a circular plateau, its edges brimmed by aquamarine waters that I could have sworn glowed as if they were luminescent.
As we crossed the bridge, I craned my neck, taking in the five towering obsidian stones that lined the perimeter of the plateau like primordial guardians. Unable to resist, I touched one, and an unexpected warmth greeted my palm as a distorted reflection of my face rippled back at me, captured within the natural waves and curves that danced across the stone’s lustrous midnight surface.
Wildflowers bloomed in obscene numbers and colors at the foot of the mammoth stones, following the perimeter, as if keeping the guardians company. I was surprised that the myriad of colors didn’t clash with one another. Each seemed perfectly content being part of the whole, unwilling to stand out, lest it take away from the beauty of their combined existence.
“Nyleeria.” Caius’ soft voice pulled at me.
He stood atop a wide staircase that lay opposite the bridge and led down into the water.
Joining him, I walked between a pair of towering stones, then slid my foot into the milky water onto the first step. A distant part of me wanted to stop, ask questions, but that blissful peace filled my chest, carrying away any such notions.
Caius threaded his fingers through mine, and I followed him down into the silken water, which was pleasantly warm against my skin.
Soft, silty sand caressed my soles as we reached the bottom of the stairs. We waded in further until the water came up to my waist while barely feathering Caius’ hips. I looked up at him. Even without a smile, his every feature was lit with the magic that coursed through our veins. His rich golden skin was breathtaking against the water’s aquamarine.
I closed the gap between us and unlocked our hands, laying his palm on mine. I caressed the inside of his forearm, marveling at the juxtaposed colors of our skin. Caius’ powers were visible below the surface, beautiful and glistening as they coursed through his veins. I traced my fingertips along the hidden lines of his forearm, awed at how his power pooled from the light pressure of my touch.
A low, throaty growl left Caius. I looked up at him, his focus near predatory. A tug of a smile ghosted his lips as he whispered, “To us high lords, Nyleeria, what you are doing is extremely…intimate.” His words caressed me the same way.
I should have released him, but I was too entranced by the flowing magic. Looking back down, I continued to explore those lines, lightening my touch in hopes it would lessen the effect.
He shuddered, and his breath hitched before evidence of exactly how much I was affecting him showed just below the water’s surface. I paused, looking up. In that moment, I wanted to explore more than his magic, as if the primordial piece of me yearned to be fully connected to the primordial-ness of him. I wondered if he would’ve stopped us from giving in to that base need if I continued, but with no small effort, I released his hand.
The second the connection broke, a fresh surge of disembodied bliss filled me.
