Have you ever walked through absolute darkness alone? I have, it is beautiful as well as threatening at the same time. There has always been a power in darkness. A power so strong and malicious that we are warned to venture away from it. It has a pull to it, a pull stronger than the highest of the tides. I should have run the other way. But it pulled at me, with the sound of my footsteps as my only companion I ventured deeper into the darkness. Voices called to me! Most of them unfamiliar and some I am sure I would never hear again. Suddenly a faint whisper falls on my ears. I turned around and there in a faint glow his body shimmered.
Father! Father! Is that you? I cannot believe my eyes. Tears blur my vision, but I am least bothered to wipe them. He spreads his arms wide, welcoming me for a hug. I run to him, pulling my gown to my knees. Becoming a child again, I giggle as he takes me up and twirls, leaving wet sloppy kisses all over my face. I laugh as we squat to our knees and hug each other. But as the laughter abates I break down into tears embracing him. I snake my arms around his neck as he gently pats my head. Just like the old times. He kisses my forehead and tries to calm me with soft whispers. But like the old times, I cry. I cry until he sings my lullaby,
"Sleep my golden child,
Just close your blue eyes.
Trust your brave father,
And know that all shall be fine.
Answer me, should you ever worry?
When the Angel looks after you here.
Just smile in bits,
let your laughter surround.
Sweet child giggle around,
Just Wipe these tears.
Answer me, should you ever lament?
When the Angel blesses you here.
Look as the storm sneers,
Just listen to the thundering skies.
Hush these silly fears.
Just look them in the eyes.
Answer me, should you ever fret?
When the Angel roars them to shears.
Demons won't touch you,
and the devil won't hurt you.
Monsters won't haunt you,
No one can touch you
Answer me, should you ever dread?
When the Angel guards you here.
I know now you see,
You know where to listen.
You can even feel,
And now you believe.
Still, why do you cry?
When the Angel is for you here.
Sleep my golden child,
Just close your blue eyes.
Trust your brave father,
Just dream merry dreams.
Should you ever worry?
When the Angel looks after you here".
He wipes my tears and says, "Open your eyes daughter, won't the crown of my life grace me?" It's the same, same as always. Even though I don't want to, I unwillingly open my eyes. I can't resist it. I tighten my arms around him and try not to cry with all my will. I hope that this once it might be different. I sob harder as I reluctantly open my eyes. But, I am wrong! Nothing has changed. His eyes still drip blood, a thousand cuts over his seraphic flesh. Each cut is fresh, oozing blood like small rivulets merging into a river. We are embracing each other in the pool of his blood. He even has the same red-feathered devil of an arrow shot through his shoulder. His golden hair, which used to shine like the rising sun, is soaked with blood. The blood of the dawn. I move back in horror and tremble as I see my hands. They are dipped to the elbow in his blood. I turn away, this will end if I run, it always does. But, as soon as I move my foot, he screams, "Atarah, where are you going?". No one ever calls me that other than him.
YOU ARE READING
The Gilded Queen
FantasyThe lives of most people change with their dreams, but for us, it was our nightmares. The night had always harbored horrors for us, but perhaps it was our nightmares that bound us. Perhaps it was because we faced similar horrors that we trusted each...
