The Cost Of Paradise » Places

         Sunlight rose across the hill, gently caressing flesh though the window. It started along the hollow of her throat, kissing up along her jawline to land softly against closed eyelids. Pink lips parted in a breath and slowly muscles stirred, stretching and popping as bare flesh prickled at the brisk morning air. A hand wrapped around Haru’s chest and pulled her tighter, closer against the sleeping body as Haru gently stirred. Elisa mumbled in her sleep, pulling tighter against Haru as she released a little squeak. It wasn’t uncommon to find the Priestess’s sharing a bed, or time, or a meal, but the morning routine always found them apart. Haru rubbed the sleep from her eyes, the green orbs blinking against the light of day as her hands dropped to push gently against Elisa’s breasts. The High Priestess groaned and released her hold on her youngest, letting Haru free to sit up. Pale skin prickled at the cold of day, her breast bouncing as she shivered and placed her hands over them. Shirt it was. Haru was not about to poke someone’s eye out.


She rose, walking towards the high set window where the light shone like a beacon across her flesh, illuminating and highlighting her curves and darkening her shadows. Soon she appeared as glorious as she was mysterious, her muscles rippling as Haru pulled on her dress. It was the same one she had worn the day before, wrinkled and abandoned on the cold marble floor as her feet happily dove into the much warmer boots. Today was the day, she realized excitedly. The final day to prepare for the journey! There was so much to do! So much to pack and get ready so that she, Priestess Haru, would finally be allowed to go! Without a moment’s hesitation she finished quickly running her fingers through her hair, turned to kiss a sleeping Elisa on the cheek, and bolted out the door. Her footsteps echoed through the vast altar room, her eyes locked eagerly forward as she swung wide the wooden doors and greeted the lightening sky.


As promised she didn’t actually live inside of the temple. After completing the building, she had taken the liberty to build a small gift for herself. With the remaining stone material she had built, by herself, a one room cottage on the hill just below the temple. It was there she went now, a small dot of white darting across the green hill along the dirt trail. Her boots scuffed against the trail, kicking up puffs of dirt until she’d hit her garden, through the roses and past the small bird bath by the front window. Her hand flew to the brass doorknob when she finally paused.

Vines rose and curled up along the old stonework, locked into niches as bluebells and foxglove opened up to the light of the sun, drinking light like nectar. Two windows faced out towards her, Haru’s hand trembling on the door. Her eyes were locked onto a figure in her bed, curled up under her blanket. She’d nearly forgotten that the reason she’d forgone her bed was not because of the ritual with Elisa, but because of Oberon. She hesitated. Did she go in and try to move about stealthily? Did she leave him be and let him sleep? Haru was stumped. She let out a small groan, leaning back against the door as she puffed away a strand of hair hanging between her eyes. She only needed to grab a few things, most of which she knew exactly where they were. Surely he wouldn’t wake. Right? Haru turned, opening the door to her house and slipping inside, quickly removing her boots by the door. Her bare feet tip-toed across the wooden floor as the door closed behind her. Her hands grabbed the backpack behind the door on a hook of deer antler, the buckles on it clinking loudly as she flinched and quickly pulled it against her chest. The lump under the covers didn’t so much as stir. After a small sigh, she began collecting her things. Moving without so much as a sound, she danced around her house grabbing a cape, a few shirts, her pants, belt, bread, cheese, and a flask that she would later fill with water. All of it was stuffed into a bag when finally she rose on her tip toes to pull out a small coin purse from the rafters. She paused at the door after pulling on her boots, her green eyes resting softly on her bed. He still had his helmet on, her face reflected back at her curiously. How strange and horrible. They said his kin were worse than murderers: torture and limb removal were not uncommon when it came to their victims the stories used to say. And yet, here one was, sleeping as innocently as a newborn before her. He didn’t look the least bit dangerous, so was it true? Could he really be capable of doing such horrible things? Could he do them to her?

Oberon claimed he hated all the human race, calling them vile names and looking down upon them as if they were no better than….than… Haru frowned. There was nothing in the world that was a scourge. Every living thing had a purpose, a duty. The question remained, what was hers? Haru slowly closed the door behind her, giving a small shake of her head as the sun struck her in her face. Today was a new day, another chance to figure out what had brought her here, now, in this moment. But first she needed to visit her horses. She smiled, pulling on her cape as she secured the backpack round her shoulders and took off down the hill and into town with a joyful laugh.