Eternity (Circle of Light)

by April Margeson

  I went to my room and sat on the platform. I was bored and wondering what Eric was doing. The thought crossed my mind to use my power to find out, but I thought against it.

  I didn’t want to be all up in his business all the time. First, I wouldn’t want him to do me that way; second I think it is wrong to violate someone’s privacy, so I just sat there and watched out the window for any sign of him.

  I must have fallen asleep. I looked around at my clock and two hours had passed. It was unlike Eric for me not to talk to him by now. He would have at least called I would think. I wonder what is keeping him from it.

  Someone knocked on my door. “Come in.” I called.

  It was Mom. She was back from town. I could tell she was pleased about something, but I was too worried about Eric to ask what it was.

  “Mom, has Eric called today?”

  He called about an hour ago, but you were sleeping. I told him I would have you to call him when you got up.

  “Oh. Ok. Thanks Mom.”

  She told me she would be downstairs and pulled my door closed behind her. My hair felt like I had tied it all up in knots, so I got my brush and did my best to untangle it. When I finished, I went downstairs to call Eric back. He picked up the phone on the first ring.

  “Hi, Princess.” he greeted me.

  “Where have you been?”

  I had a little shopping to do and your mom said you were resting, so I decided not to bother you.

  “I missed you.”

  “I missed you too.”

  “Do you want to come over?”

  “How about you come over to my house? I don’t know if I told you, but I have a pool and it is hot out today. Would you want to go swimming with me?”

  “That sounds great! I‘ll get my swim suit on and I‘ll be right over.” I said and hung up the phone.

  I got my red two-piece out and put in on. I had a beach towel somewhere, but I was having trouble finding it, so I went out to the hallway and shouted down to ask Mom if she knew where it was.

  “In the top of your closet.” she yelled from the kitchen.

  I hurried back in my room and got it from the top shelf of my closet. I slipped a pair of lounge pants and a tank top on over my swimwear.

  I stopped by the kitchen and told Mom that I was going over to Eric’s house to swim. She smiled and told me to have fun.

  I walked over to his house a little faster than I normally would. I couldn’t wait to see him. I had already fallen so hard for him and I couldn’t imagine ever being without him. He is like the air that I have to have to continue to breathe. I don’t believe that I had found such a wonderful person. He is everything I could ever want in a man.

  As I rounded the fence in his backyard Eric was sitting at the edge of the pool.

  “Hey beautiful.” he said as he jumped up and walked to meet me.

  I quickened my pace so that I could get to him sooner. He immediately threw his arms around me and kissed me. I breathed his scent in, holding it in my lungs. He always smelled so good. It was a perfect mixture of cologne and the natural scent of his body.

  “Did you miss me?” I asked him softly.

  “What would make you think such a thing?” he replied jokingly.

  I laughed at him as we walked to the side of the pool.

  I took my over shirt off and laid it on the patio chair. I was not really paying attention to him as I slipped my shoes and the lounge pants off. Being around him was so natural to me that I had missed the sound of his heart skipping a beat here and there.

  “Are you ready to get in?” I asked as I turned and faced him.

  He was standing there looking at me. The look on his face reminded me of someone that had just been given a brand new car for his or her birthday.

  “What in the world are you staring at?” I asked almost amused. I was oblivious to the fact that he was looking at me that way.

  “You look so amazing.” he said seemingly forcing the words to come out.

  I wasn’t sure whether I was embarrassed or flattered. This was still all new to me. The whole love and attraction thing. Even though it came so easy at times. The feelings of it were somewhat overwhelming at other times.

  Not knowing exactly the right thing to say, I replied with a confident thank you and I smiled.

  He stood there for a moment longer, almost as if he was trying to get his heart back in his chest. I heard him take a deep breath as he walked to the edge of the pool.

  “Do you want to jump in here or use the diving board?” he asked.

  I took a second to look around the pool trying to decide how I was going to make my entry. The diving board was tempting, but the slide at the deep end was better.

  “I think I‘ll use the slide first.” I said as I walked over to it and started climbing up the steps. It was almost as high as a waterpark slide. I reached the top and followed all the twists and turns it made with my eyes. Eric was watching me with excitement.

  “Are you going to go or are you going to stand there all day and think about it?” he called up to me.

  I hadn’t realized how high up the slide was until I was on the top of it. It didn’t look this high from the ground.

  I looked back down at Eric. He was standing there with his arms extended beside him. I couldn’t make myself move. The realization of how far I was off the ground froze my body in fear.

  “Bailey, what's wrong?” his voice filled with concern.

  “I’m just taking my time. Enjoying the view” I yelled back down to him.

  “You’re lying.”

  “Okay. I’m just a little scared of heights. No big deal.”

  “Well, it’s a fine time to say something now. You’re already at the top. Just sit down and slide down. I promise you’ll be alright.” He said trying to reassure me.

  I could feel the fear washing over me, but at the same time a calm feeling came over me. It was coming from Eric. I took a deep breath and sit down at the top of the slide.

  “That's my girl.” I heard him say.

  Something else just wasn’t right. I had a feeling as if I was in danger. Eyes were on me and they didn’t belong to Eric. I looked around, trying to find what was causing my alarm, but we were alone. I guess it was just the fear of being up so high in the air.

  With no other choice, I pushed myself down the slide. I spiraled down it so fast I couldn’t help but scream. Right before I went off the slide and into the water, I saw a dark shadow in the water. However, I couldn’t do anything to stop myself from going in the water. It was too late.

  “Eric!” I screamed just as I went under.

  The shadow was there waiting as I sank deeper under the water. I struggled to swim to the surface, but it was no use. Its force was pulling me closer to it and I was hopeless to stop it. With every inch I drew closer to it.

  I had known that there was something wrong, but I had ignored the feeling that I had and that could very well cost me my life right now. If I make it out of this pool alive, I swear I will never shake a feeling like that off ever again.

  I turned to look for Eric, but I couldn’t see him anywhere in the water.

  “Help me! It is going to drown me!”

  “I can’t get to you! Try to fight it Bailey!”

  Suddenly, I was face to face with the dark figure. I could feel the evil flowing through it and into the water surrounding me. It spoke to me. Being under the water did not seem to hinder the figure’s voice.

  You will not see Queenship my lady. The Dark Union will come for you and your mate. We cannot allow the Light Circle to be united, he said as he reached for my arms.

  I fought as hard as I could to get away from him, but he was too powerful. My lungs were beginning to burn. I needed air and I needed it now. Nevertheless, there was no way I could loosen the figure’s grip. His hold on me was too tight.

  I was going to die right here. I gathered all of what was left of my strength and called to “Eric. I love you Eric.”


  “NO! Pull from your powers Princess!”

  “I can’t. I don’t know how and I’m too weak.”

  I could hear Eric muttering something. It sounded like a prayer, but I couldn’t be sure. The confusion that was taking over my mind was not allowing me to decipher his words.

  I wanted to take a breath so bad it was all I could think about doing. However, I knew when I pass out the first thing I would do was take a deep breath and that would be the end. And I was getting really close to that point.

  My thoughts became whispers and I was drifting dangerously between being conscious and not. With everything I had left in my body, I called for my Queens.

  Please help me! This THING is trying to kill me and I am powerless to stop it. Eric can’t help me. I NEED YOU!

  My lungs were burning and all I wanted to do was take a breath. As soon as the last word traveled through my mind I felt a sting at my throat. Stretching sensations ran all over my neck. I could feel my skin tearing. The burning eased from my lungs. I had a strange feeling that I could breathe, but without using my own lungs.

  Renewed energy filled me with such force that I knew I could defeat my captor.

  Fill him with light, the Queens whispered to me.

  Acting completely out of instinct, I clasped my hands around his arms as he was holding mine. I sent jolts of light through the figure’s body, totally unaware of how I was doing it.

  After several jolts went into his body, he cowered away from me trying to escape. I wasn’t letting go just yet. I had to know why he was after me.

  He begged me to spare him. I knew I wasn’t the type of person to kill another person. Was he really a person? Could he be the same as I am, but just on another side? Again, confusion began to cloud my judgment and I released him.

  I could feel the human part of him in my mind. That was the reason I let him go. He wasn’t pure evil like I had thought only a moment before. There had been good in his heart at some time. That much I was sure of.

  Go back to where you came from. Tell the person that sent you here that I am no easy target as you can see. I mean no harm to anyone, as I expect no harm to come to me. Leave us alone. Do not come back or I will not be able to extend the same courtesy as I have today by letting you leave here.

  Thank you my Queens, I thought as he disappeared from the water.

  Bailey! I could hear Eric scream in my head.

  Eric! I’m ok. But, I really have to get out of this water. Like Right Now! I said back to him as I swam for the surface.

  He met me before I emerged from the water. When my head was above the water, my body gave out. I felt Eric grab me and pull me out of the pool. I still wasn’t taking regular breaths through my mouth or nose.

  I opened my eyes to see Eric examining my neck. He was looking at it with some sort of credence in his eyes. I really couldn’t tell if he was amazed or horrified at my temporary transformation.

  “Are you ok Eric?” I asked him.

  I realized that my voice sounded somewhat funny. He just looked at me with a very confused look on his face.

  “You have gills!” he said with uncertainty.

  “Wow, I was wondering how I was still breathing under water.” I replied with a laugh.

  He let me lay there until I could gather up enough strength to move to one of the lounge chairs beside the pool. With his help, I laid back trying to regain control over my body. It was definitely going to take some time I had soon realized.

  Eric seemed to be having trouble with the fact that he could not get to me in the water. I tried to reassure him that he could not have helped me, but we both knew better.

  The dark figure would not have stood a chance with Eric and I united in the water. I suppose it already knew that seeing that he had managed to do something that would keep Eric away.

  I felt my neck begin to tighten. It hurt a little bit. More like a stinging sensation, but it was very uncomfortable, nonetheless.

  “The gills are going away.” Eric told me.

  “Good, I was hoping I wasn’t going to have to keep them.”

  As soon as I was sure that I would be able to walk Eric helped me inside his house and up to his room.

  Eric’s bedroom was different than I had expected it would be. I had expected him to be messy just like any other teenage boy’s room would be, but his room was the complete opposite. Everything was neat and in order. Best of all, everything was clean. I couldn’t find a bit of dust anywhere.

  There were no posters of pinup girls. Not even one of his favorite bands. That was weird, but I liked it in a way. I had expected something like that to be on his walls.

  I was starting to understand that we were more alike than I had first thought. He didn’t seem to be shy about his room as most people are. He was very confident about almost everything.

  A black computer desk sat in one corner of the room. I could see that he used it quite often. He had a notepad, a cup full of pencils and pens, and several other odd and end things laying around on it. Needless to say, they were all in perfect order.

  I looked around some more without seeming as if I was prying through his things. He had a few action figures on the top shelves of his bookcase. I recognized a couple of them. I think it was some of the characters from the Justice League.

  I moved around the room slowly and commented on various things that I like about it. He seemed to be please that I liked his room.

  “I like yours better.” he said.

  “Why?” I asked.

  “It has a more comfortable feel to it. It feels like home.”

  “Really?” I replied with sarcasm.

  “Yeah. But I would like a dirt hole if you were in it.” he said as he dropped down across his bed.

  I noticed I was getting really tired from all the craziness that happened in the pool. I walked over to the window and looked to see if my mom was still home. Her car was parked in the same place it was when I left. I should probably call her and tell her that I am going to be here for a while, I thought to myself.

  “Can I use your phone? I think I left mine at home.” I asked Eric.

  “Yeah, sure. It’s over there.” he said as he pointed to the computer desk.

  I dialed the number to my house. It rang several times before Mom picked up. “Hello?” she answered sounding like she had been sleeping.

  “Hey, Mom. I think I left my phone at home. I just wanted to check in with you.”

  “Oh, hi sweetie.” Mom replied.

  “We just got out of the pool.”

  “Are you having fun?”

  “Yeah.”

  “I have to leave in a few minutes.”

  “Where are you going?” I asked.

  “I have to go to a meeting at the office. I’m not sure when I‘ll be back.”

  “Ok. We may come back over there in a bit.”

  “Sure. Remember that your Dad is working a double shift today so make plans to go to Eric’s house in the morning or something so he can sleep.” she said.

  “No problem, Mom. I will see you later. I love you. ” I said as I hung up the phone.

  Eric was lying there on his bed looking mind-blowingly gorgeous as usual. I stood there thinking about him in ways that embarrassed me.

  “I can show you if you want me to.” he said with a sly grin on his face.

  My eyes widened in surprise. Sometimes I had a hard time of keeping my thoughts to myself and out of his reach. I had been wondering what he would look like lying there in his boxers. I couldn’t answer him either way. My mouth wouldn’t let me. I wanted to say yes and no at the same time.

  He sensed my confusion when he sat up on the bed. He always has the same look on his face when he probes into my mind.

  “I wondered once what you would look like in your bra and panties. I got to see that earlier today only you were in a swim suit.” he said.

  “I guess you got what you wished for, huh?” I smiled at him.

  “No, not all
of it. You weren’t on my bed.” he said as he stood up.

  “Stop being such a perv.” I said trying to avoid his advances.

  My nerves kicked into overdrive. My hormones were not far behind either and my heart was beating rapidly.

  I took a few steps back until I was leaning against the wall. If I didn’t know any better I would have thought I was looking for a way to escape.

  Eric took off his shirt and tossed it to the floor. He looked at me for about a half of a second then unbuckled his belt. It made a sliding noise as it passed through each of the loops on his shorts.

  My breathing became a little faster as I watched him unbutton his denim shorts. I swallowed hard as he unzipped them and let them fall to his feet. He kicked them to the side and smiled at me.

  I wasn’t sure which thing I wanted to do. Run to the door or run to him. Heat filled my cheeks as he laid back on the bed. He laid there looking at me for a few minutes. When I didn’t speak, he asked “Do I look like you thought I would?”

  I opened my mouth, but I couldn’t make any words come out. I wanted to scream and jump as if I had won the lottery, but I couldn’t do that either. My body was completely frozen in place from his beauty.

  After we got out of the pool earlier, I had put on one of Eric’s t-shirts and a pair of his cotton shorts. I had left my clothes outside by the pool. My struggle with the dark figure had caused them to get soaking wet.

  My mind was blank except for the desire to take his borrowed clothes off and show him the rest of what he wanted to see, but I was so confused. My body was ready. My heart was screaming yes to my mind, but my mind spitting a million reasons as to why I shouldn’t.

  I love him so much. I want to be with him in every way possible. Is now the right time? I was at war with myself about what I should do.

  Eric got up off the bed and walked over to me. He ran his hand over the side of my face and kissed me. Both of his hands moved down to the bottom of the t-shirt and started pulling it up. They only thing that I could do was raise my arms above my head and let him take it off me.

  I’m not sure where the shirt ended up. All I could think about was the fact that he had already slid the shorts down to my feet. I stepped out of them as he led me over to the bed. By that time, I had gathered enough sense that I laid down on my side in the bed.