5 The Last Dance

The cave ceiling glowed a soft blue from a thin strip of moon moss vaulting over from the darkest corner to the entrance. Below, resting on a mattress of soft moss, Azurious looked upon the ceiling like one would with the starry sky.

One hand rested under his head, acting as a pillow, and the other laid open at his side, waiting for someone to interlock her fingers with him.

As a moon moss glowing leaf fell like a shooting star, he closed his eyes and made a silent wish before going back to sleep. His wish came true when in his dreams, he could finally embrace Eleria again.

Azurious face had gone back to normal, and his short lustrous hair framed an image of happiness. Reflected in his brown eyes, Eleria brightly smiled, too, leading him into a dance. The two laughed while spinning around the room, hearts united through the inseparable hands.

When they finally got tired and collapsed on the nearest sofa, Azurious couldn't contain himself anymore and took out his gift for her, a small gift box wrapped in red paper and an elegant black bow.

"Huuuuu, Azurious, what you got there, is it for me?" She innocently asked while eyeing the box and leaning forward.

"Nah, it's for the butler. Where did he go this time?" Azurious looked around, pretending to look for the butler, and even snapped his fingers a few times to call him.

"haha, cut it out!" Eleria said, snatching the box from his hands and ripping the paper with unparalleled enthusiasm. Azorius, meanwhile, feasted his eyes on her beauty, the way her long dark hair stuck to the slightly sweaty neck, all the way down to her sinuous nape.

How her golden tanned skin reflected the light of the candles and crackling fireplace. How her strong hands ripped apart the packaging, he had carefully put together.

Under her relentless assault, the box's content quickly appeared, a red crystal pendant hanging from a sophisticated golden chain. Eleria's eyes went open wide at the sight of the expensive jewel.

"Do you like it?" Eleria didn't open her mouth, still fixated on the gift, but nodded yes.

"And that's not everything. This is a bloodstone. No matter where in the world I go, the stone will always know how and where I am." He smiled, proud of how speechless she was.

Finally, she turned and faced him. Her big beautiful eyes stared deep into his with an emotion he had never seen. Suddenly the room felt warmer and the colors brighter.

As her red lips started moving, he felt transfixed. "You know... my parents aren't home." She said, her voice warm and inviting.

"So?" He curtly said, unconsciously swallowing his saliva and moving a little farther.

She leaned forward and whispered in his ear. "Close your eyes. I have a surprise for you.." her warm breath tickled his ear, every word made him tremble in excitement, and by the end, he had blushed like a tomato.

As she was leaning right in front of him, her arms on the couch, he caught sight of her neckline and followed it down before the embarrassment stopped him from going any further. Swallowing his saliva, he closed his eyes, fearing that if he tried talking, nothing would come out.

"And no peeking." She reminded with a small peck on his forehead. Her moist lips on his forehead were the stuff an innocent guy like him could spend all night thinking about.

With his eyes closed, he could hear her getting up and the rustle of clothes. His mind went blank, all thoughts drowned by his heart thumping, unable to explain what was happening. Timid, he didn't dare open them until she said. "It's ready."

Barely containing his excitement, he peaked through and saw Eleria wearing the bloodstone necklace and holding a box in her hands. A hint of disappointment flashed through his face, a hint Eleria capitalized on with a devious smile. "What did you expect? I'm a respectable lady."

With a giggle, she pushed the box into his hands. "Now, open your gift."

Embarrassed, Azorious opened the box, and surprise, surprise, Eleria had the same idea as him. A bloodstone on a silver chain, glowing red.

"This is a bloodstone. No matter where in the world I go, the stone will always know how and where I am." Eleria mock-repeated what Azorious had explained earlier.

"Thank you for the lesson 'Professor.' " Azorious jested after recovering his cool, in response, Eleria giggled again, covering her mouth.

Azorious looked down at the small trinket, moving it around. As he had tested on the one he bought, the red color would always get darker in the direction of the target.

"I love it, and you, we are really of the same m-" Before he could finish his sentence, the gem turned transparent white.

A sign the wearer had died.

In a panic, he looked up. Eleria was nowhere to be seen. A strong gust of wind, like the scream of a banshee, bust through the window, extinguishing the candles and fireplace crackling in the corner.

Beastly howls came through the window, midway between wolves and bears.

Azurious gritted his teeth, his eyes going mad and glowing a blinding electric blue. Streaks of lightning jumped around the room between metal objects.

"ELERIA!" He screamed in pain and fury. He was gone a moment later, turned into an electric streak, and flashed outside the window.

That's when Azorious woke up with a startle.

Alerted from the feelings it received through the shared connection, a lithe worm had climbed on top of his face and bit his cheek, waking him up.

Azorious breathed hard, thankful he missed the ending of the nightmare. The bittersweet nostalgia of his last dance, still fresh in his heart, consoled him like a warm blanket.

The first thing he did, out of habit was to look to his right, where Eleria casket would usually stay while he slept, except this time there was nothing.

With a sigh, he got up and observed the cave. Getting ready for another day of hard work.