by A. R. Crebs
Euclid considered the sandstone eyes of the man beside him. “No cheating, Orin.”
“Wow!” Orin scooted closer. “Show them already! It’s amazing!”
“The suspense is killing me!” Dovian joined.
“Okay! Fine!” Karter screamed.
Lita cheered and clapped her hands. I’Lanthe maintained her composure but was indeed intrigued, one eyebrow rising slightly. Dovian smirked and slouched against the pole with his arms folded and ankles crossed. Euclid and Orin leaned forward, waiting.
Karter held a hand over his opposite arm. Moving his palm over his appendage, his body suddenly lit up with light. White etchings danced along his skin, fading to dark marks. He did the same to his other arm and then down his entire chest and stomach.
“You’ve been covering yourself with tattoos?” Euclid asked, confused by this revelation. “But…you’re so….”
“So, what?” Karter asked, crinkling his nose.
“You,” Euclid sighed.
“Bet ya didn’t see that one coming,” Orin lowly whispered to Euclid. He dodged the man’s slapping hand.
“You’ve been busy.” Dovian inspected the young man’s detailed work.
“They’re beautiful,” I’Lanthe gasped.
Lita nudged Karter. “See? I told you they were good.”
“Why do you hide them?” Dovian questioned.
Karter scoffed. “Do you know my parents?”
“You’re a grown ass man; do what you want.” Lita trailed her hand through the water. It cooled as the sun lowered on the horizon.
“What’s the point of having tattoos if you don’t show them off?” Dovian pried.
“I’m just practicing.”
“Practicing?” they all simultaneously spoke.
“Well, you know. I’ve had to remove some and start all over. It’s a tricky thing. And I’m never satisfied. Sometimes I like something for a short while and then try something else.”
“Karter is too modest! They’re amazing!” Lita exclaimed. Karter blushed.
Dovian quickly moved and sat on the opposite side of the dock next to the artist. He eyed the drawings closely. They were beautiful, ornate, and had a distinct style to them.
“Have you practiced on anyone else?” Dovian asked.
“Only a few.”
Lita raised her hand, waving it in the air. Dovian narrowed his eyes at her. “He doesn’t let me keep them though,” the girl whimpered.
“They aren’t good enough, yet,” Karter explained.
“They look wonderful,” Dovian encouraged him.
“Well…I—” Karter paused.
“What is it?” Dovian tilted his head.
“Oh, nothing. I was just getting a bit excited.” Karter ran his hand through his golden, messy locks, laughing nervously.
Dovian waited for an explanation.
Karter sighed. “Ah, well. Being as you seem to like them so much, would you like for me to give you one?”
Dovian’s eyes widened. He had never thought about getting tattoos before, outside of the ones required for his status.
“I, I mean, just for practice! I will remove them afterward! That is if you’d like to try. It doesn’t hurt!” Karter stammered.
Dovian’s mouth quirked upward. Without saying a word, he turned his back to Karter, his hand slapping his shoulder blades on either side of his back apparatus.
“A back tattoo?” Karter smirked. “What do you prefer?”
Dovian shrugged.
“A snake!” Lita shouted. “Snaaake!”
“A flower,” I’Lanthe giggled.
“Something unique! An original design by Karter!” Orin suggested.
“Lower back, not shoulder blades. Give him a proper tramp stamp,” Euclid added.
Lita pointed at the dark-haired man in approval, “HAAAAAAA!”
Dovian shook his head. “Um, not going with that one, thanks.”
“Wings,” Karter mumbled.
“Wings?” Dovian’s lips twisted.
“I always wanted to try anatomically correct wings on someone. You know…the kind that stretches from the shoulder blades, over the shoulders, and down the sides of the arms. A bit more masculine in design.” He ran his hands over Dovian’s shoulders.
Dovian was silent a moment. It didn’t really matter what Karter did, he was going to remove it later anyway.
“Sure. Have at it, Karter.” Dovian sat with his legs folded, his hands resting on his knees.
“With pleasure!”
Karter’s fingers started around the tips of Dovian’s apparatus. It was a light touch with a small crackle of electricity. The markings on Dovian’s skin felt like light scratches and tickles. It wasn’t bad at all. In fact, Dovian felt it a bit relaxing as the young man worked. He closed his eyes, meditating as the others around him gossiped. It didn’t take long before Karter lightly placed his hand atop Dovian’s head, slowly pulling him from meditation.
“Wow! Karter! That looks amazing!” Lita’s sudden exclamation was intrusive.
I’Lanthe rushed to Dovian’s side, a large smile on her face. She examined him, and Dovian suddenly became nervous as her fingers trailed over his skin.
“Does it hurt?” she asked.
Dovian shook his head. “No.”
“It’s lovely,” she whispered.
Dovian eyed the side of his arm. There was a unique detail to each feather drawn. He flexed and moved his arms up and down. The girls gasped and made sounds of approval.
“It looks like he’s flying!” Lita patted Karter’s back. “Great job!”
Dovian tried looking over his shoulder and frowned. “Bad idea putting it on my back, I suppose. I can’t enjoy your work.”
“I got it.” I’Lanthe abruptly stood with her hands stretching out above the water. Her violet eyes flickered with a fine sheen. Taking a deep breath, she sent a wave of vibrations over the lake. Raising one puddle, she commanded the power to stretch the liquid, forming a mirror behind Dovian. She motioned with her other hand and summoned another to shape in front of him. The water reflected the image of Dovian’s back to him.
“Interesting trick,” Dovian eyed the woman from his peripheral.
Euclid and Orin stared at the liquid mirrors in awe.
A pink tinge covered the woman’s face. “I’ve been speaking with the Elders a bit about elemental spell work.”
“Sir Gaius is very adept with elemental work,” Dovian stated.
“He’s a good teacher.”
Dovian was stunned. He hadn’t realized I’Lanthe worked directly with his great-grandfather. That was a rare occasion. Even Dovian rarely got the chance to train with the Elder. Dovian brought his attention to the water before him, eyeing Karter’s handiwork. The art was breathtaking. Flexing his arms again, he watched the illusion of the tattoo.
“Amazing work!”
“You like it?” Karter asked.
Dovian turned toward him. “Love it.”
“Just let me know, and I can remove it. Maybe try something else more to your liking,” Karter suggested.
Dovian held up a hand. Scrutinizing the work again, he shook his head. “I’d like to keep it.”
“K-keep it?!” Karter fumbled for words.
“You have a great skill. Once people find out about this, you’re going to become very busy.” Dovian ran his fingers over the markings. No pain.
“You, you’re sure?” Karter’s mouth hung open.
“Very sure. If you don’t mind me keeping it.”
“Not at all! I’m flattered!” Karter was giddy that Dovian would even accept markings on his body.
Lita protested about Karter not allowing her to keep the tattoos he had previously given her.
“Okay, okay!” Orin stood up. “My turn!”
Karter’s eyes lit up. Orin’s grandfather was covered in tattoos. He could only imagine the designs Orin would desire to have on his body. Dovian sat beside I’Lanthe. Each Sorcēarian took turn
s allowing Karter to practice on their skin. Even I’Lanthe allowed him to decorate her flesh with a small orchid just beside her hip bone above her swimsuit bottom.
As the evening wore on, Dovian and I’Lanthe moved beside a tree to lie upon their picnic blanket. Rays of tangerine flickered through the branches as the sun set. A silver web gleamed between a large root and knothole. I’Lanthe pointed it out. Not long after, a blue butterfly fluttered directly into the silken trap, alerting the creator of the web. Dovian frowned and reached across I’Lanthe to remove the struggling butterfly. The woman quickly slapped his hand.
“No!” she said in a loud whisper.
Dovian gave her a questioning look.
“You can’t,” she said.
“I’m not going to let that disgusting creature kill that butterfly.” He gestured toward the spider.
“It’s beautiful.”
Dovian raised an eyebrow. “Beautiful? That spider? Certainly, is Satan’s creation,” he jested.
“Spiders are helpful. They eat other bugs and benefit us, believe it or not.”
On spindly legs, the spider marched toward its prey. Dovian pointed. “Yes, I see. He’s going to eat that butterfly.”
“Ah, see? There’s the predicament. Do we kill what’s ugly to save that which is beautiful? Or do we let the ugly consume the beauty and allow nature to run its course?”
Dovian eyed her and then the spider which crawled directly beside the winged insect. “Perhaps we save the butterfly and replace it with a moth or….” He ran his fingers through the grass and retrieved a beetle. He held it up for I’Lanthe’s inspection.
“Trade one life with another’s? How is that fair?” she questioned.
Dovian frowned. The spider had caught the butterfly and was in the process of wrapping it up. “None of it is fair.”
“And at what point do we interfere? How do we decide what is wrong and what is right? Who lives? Who dies?” She gently ran her fingers through his hair.
Suddenly realizing that he was still leaning over her to watch the spider’s hunt, Dovian froze. He didn’t move away but locked his intense gaze with hers.
“That is the ultimate question,” he added.
“Beauty, like art, is subjective. That butterfly, to you, looks pretty, and I agree. However, that spider is also beautiful. He is actually a she. And she is hungry and needs to feed her babies.” I’Lanthe pointed toward a nest at one corner of the web. Dovian inwardly cringed. “And her colors are very striking…red and black.” She eyed the man’s haphazard robes. “Even those that are considered deadly can still be beautiful.”
Dovian finally sat back, keeping his gaze anywhere but on I’Lanthe’s face. He watched the spider cover the butterfly, feeling a tug at his heart.
‘And when beautiful things linger far too long in the presence of deadly creations, they too are inevitable of meeting their demise.’ His thoughts worried him.
***
Dovian awoke the next morning to the feeling of a strange presence in his room. He kept his eyes shut, gauging the energy level. After a short moment, his lids opened. A shadowy figured hovered over him. Dovian jolted upright.
“Jesus, Euclid! What makes you think sneaking up on me like that is a wise decision?” Dovian sighed as he rubbed a hand against his bare chest.
The light in Euclid’s eyes fought against the beam of moonlight that seeped from the window. The dark man smiled; his teeth a stripe of white within the darkness.
“I do believe, Dovian, love has made you soft.” Euclid placed a hand on the bedpost. He inspected his friend with strange interest.
“What are you talking about?” Dovian huffed. “I was dreaming, quite peacefully I might add until your ridiculous energy level pulled me awake.”
“So even in your sleep, you can sense me.” Euclid frowned.
“I’m quite accustomed to you. However, your energy tonight feels slightly different. Are you alright?” Dovian closed his window, finding the late-night air a bit too chilly.
“Of course, I’m alright. Couldn’t be better in fact.” Euclid ran his fingers across Dovian’s nightstand. A crooked smile crossed his face. “I get to go back to work.”
“Work?” Dovian questioned. His face suddenly fell into a look of alarm. “You mean the battlefield.”
Euclid nodded.
“Where?” Dovian pushed to the edge of the bed, setting his feet on the floor. “When?”
Euclid lifted his chin, peering down at his friend. “Libya. Extremists are beheading Christians, Jews, and non-believers. They’re being funded by political tyrants.” He paused. “I’m to leave now.”
Dovian made a strange noise. “Right now?”
Euclid held his hand out to the side. “Care to join?”
Dovian pushed to his feet. “I…right this instant?”
Euclid didn’t say anything but narrowed his eyes.
“Uh,” Dovian scoffed. “Yes. I must. I can’t let you go out there alone. But….”
“I’ll give you five minutes. I won’t wait for you any longer, though,” Euclid said in a flat tone.
Dovian ran his hands through his hair, messing it in every direction. How was he going to explain this to I’Lanthe? They were supposed to have lunch the following day, but now he was simply going to run away and go to war once again? This was why Dovian feared to open up to another person. Who knew how long he’d be gone. One thing was for sure, he couldn’t leave without saying goodbye. He at least owed her that much.
Dovian held out a hand. “Wait for me beside the bridge.” He grabbed his robes and armor and packed his sack. “I promise not to take long, but I must see her before I leave.”
Euclid gave one firm nod. “Dovian, you little heartbreaker.”
Dovian scowled at the raven-haired man.
“I honestly didn’t expect you to say yes.” Euclid placed his hands on his hips.
Dovian’s frown softened. “Of course, I’d say yes, Euclid. We’re friends. Always have been. Always will be. If you go out there, I’m going as well. It’s my duty to you and my status.”
A soft smile formed on Euclid’s face. After shaking his head, his expression hardened. “Five minutes. No longer. I’ll meet you at the bridge.”
With that, Euclid slammed his fist against his chest, disappearing.
Dovian finished as quickly as possible, snapping his armor to his coat, tugging on the belts across his chest and waist, securing the staff to his back. As he slung his knapsack over his shoulder and headed for the door, he paused beside his bookshelf. There lay an orchid sitting beside one of his favorite books. He snatched the item and sniffed. It was another one of I’Lanthe’s specialty flowers. He tucked it away inside his coat. Dovian turned toward the door, and then spun once again to face his bed.
“Hector,” Dovian mumbled.
A muffled hiss came from beneath the bed, and his lizard scuttled from the shadows. Dovian exhaled sharply, full of regret. Every time he went to war, it pained him to know he was leaving his scaly child behind.
“Listen to me.” Dovian kneeled. Hector waddled up to him and placed his chin on the man’s bent knee. “I’ve got work to do. I may be gone for a very long time. Please do not be saddened by my leave, but know that I love you. Go to Lita’s quarters. You must live with her while I’m gone.”
At the mention of Lita’s name, Hector lifted his head, his tongue flickering. Hector loved Lita. She spoiled him with jerky and soup. The previous Hector may not have liked Petey in the slightest, but this younger lizard was more accepting of the big clumsy monster.
“I do believe you’ve always liked her more than me anyway,” Dovian grumbled.
“Of course, he does! I don’t leave them for years on end!” Lita sassed from the doorway.
Dovian faced his cousin. She wore her nightgown, an ornate robe over the top. Her lavender hair sprung in all directions. She appeared sleepy, but Dovian could see tears in her eyes.
“Lita,” he began.
>
“You weren’t even going to say goodbye.” The sound of her voice cracking about broke his heart.
“I was going to speak with you.”
Lita ran to him, wrapping her arms around his chest. Dovian returned her hug, lightly kissing the top of her head.
“I promise I won’t be a stranger this time.” His low voice rumbled in his chest against her ear.
“How long?” She sniffed.
“I don’t know the details yet. It was last minute. I will relay the information to you once I know.”
“Please don’t be gone long.” Her voice quaked.
“I’ll do my best. Watch over Hector.”
Lita parted, eyeing the reptile. Hector watched her with wide eyes as if expecting a treat. Lita pouted and glared at Dovian. Then she cooed at the creature.
“Guess who is going to get fat while Dovian is gone!” she beamed.
Hector scampered toward the woman, laying the side of his head against her leg. Slowly, Dovian grabbed her hand and gave it a gentle squeeze.
“I must go, Lita. I still have to….” He paused.
Lita snorted. “Go say goodbye. If you don’t, she’ll personally await your arrival just to murder you.”
Dovian laughed. “I don’t doubt that! She’s become fierce!”
“You have no idea!” Lita said, rolling her eyes.
They both shared a small laugh. Lita gnawed on her lower lip, fighting back her tears.
“Damn it, Dovian. You be careful!” She punched him in the shoulder.
Dovian tugged her into another hug. “I love you, Lita. Don’t ever forget that. Take good care of Hector. I will be back.”
Though Dovian had been to war many times, there was always the risk that he wouldn’t return. Peaceful deaths were rare, and it scared Lita each time the man ran off to fight. Sometimes he seemed too eager to place himself in harm’s way.
“Love you,” she squeaked as she quickly pushed away.
“I’ll speak with you later.” Dovian gave a quick bow.
Lita lifted a hand, giving a small wave as Dovian palmed his tuner, leaving the room.
He made his way to I’Lanthe’s home on the other side of the lake, past a grouping of cathedrals. It was completely ungentlemanly, but the easiest solution was to enter her bedroom from her gardens. As he pulled himself back into the visual plane, Dovian found himself beside her marble fountain. The red and purple orchids were in full bloom, their stems draping toward the garden floor from their potted holders. Opposite of the white stone walls, across from the trimmed bushes and trees, was an open wall supported by several pillars. A soft melody came from nearby. Dovian walked across the green lawn, skipping over the stone path to sneak behind a hedgerow. Then he hid behind a column of marble. The grounds connected to her room. A spell had been bound onto the side of the wall separating her bedroom from the outside, giving her the option to close her room or leave it open to view nature. Most often than not, the room was open at night rather than day.