Something’s Wrong

03/01/2014

Azarus was sitting in her black and purple dressing chair, preparing for bed. She looked at herself in the mirror as she removed the black eyeliner and makeup from her pale white face. After she finished, she stopped for a moment and just stared at herself. She stared at her silver eyes and the way they reflected in the light from the dim purple lamp. She stared at her dark red lips that were once hidden behind her black lipstick. She stared down at the gray tattoo etched along her white shoulder.

Azarus touched the tattoo, rubbing her hands along the wording. It was cold to the touch, like his touch. She stretched her lips to one side as she threw the monochrome facial wipe into the trashcan. She leaned back in the black chair and glanced up at the purple ceiling, letting out a long deep breath hidden away in her chest. She closed her eyes. She couldn't understand her own reasoning. Why is it? She wondered. Why is it that I still think of him? It’s not like I can do anything about it. I can’t change his mind about who he wants to love.

Azarus’ eyes wandered outside her windowpane to the dark red road below. Rain fell ever so gently from the sky, churning the dry dust into red mud similar to the color of bright amber. The dead bunnies on her pajamas shivered from the cold. The weather was a bit unusual for Spring in the Undrworld, more so since the cold and rain seemed to have come from nowhere.

Azarus turned her head around to the purple bedspread behind her, but before she could even make note of the bed’s disorganization, she saw a figure dressed all in black out of the corner of her eye. She turned back toward the mirror. She smiled.

It’s probably just my imagination. Azarus thought. Besides, if he really was here, I’d see him in the mirror.

However, Azarus had forgotten something very important about the man she was referring to. By the time she remembered what it was, it was already too late. She jumped out of her chair. “Reaper?”

Azarus gasped as I placed my hand around the front of her mouth. She tried to scream at first, but all that came out was, “Eeeeeeeeeeerrrrrrrmmmmmmmmmmmppppph.”

I pressed the side of Cha into her neck and she immediately fell unconscious. I smiled. I grabbed and tossed her body onto the bed. I stretched my back and neck. It was a long trip to the swamp and I didn’t want to throw out anything. She was probably light enough, but still.

“Impact,” I heard a voice scream.

I barely had the chance to laugh before I felt my back slam into the wall, but I definitely laughed afterwards. I tried to move my fingertips, but couldn’t. It was her. It had to be.

“Why good morning Ecrion. I hardly even noticed you came home.” I said. My smile retracted as I noticed her expression.

Ecrion crossed her arms as she walked towards me. Her stern eyes hinted that she ignored my joke. “I knew something was wrong with this weather.”

“Actually the weather has nothing to do with me.” I said. “It started raining before I even got to this area of the city.”

“You know I meant the heat.” Ecrion said.

“Oh really, I almost forgot about you Encronian’s sterilized wording.” I said.

Ecrion ignored me. She glanced me over, from head to toe, like a mother looking for scratches on her child’s face, but all she could find on me were old battle scars that never faded away.

I tried to make it unnoticeable, but I looked Ecrion over too. Her hair was turning blue, mostly in the front. Most Humans probably didn't notice, but I did. Before I could even say a word about her aging, she touched the side of my cheek. I tried to pull away, but couldn't.

Ecrion slid her slender fingers off the front of my chin. She laughed as she saw my tormented expression. “So how’s Croatia?” She placed her hands against her blue and white flower dress around where her abs met her hips.

I turned a little bit red. “It’s the same as always, hot, humid, the works.

Ecrion leaned forward. She glared at me, eyes burning into me like plumes of flame. She knew I was lying.

“I… Well, I left awhile ago so I guess I wouldn't know. I moved back into my swamp home.” I said.

Ecrion’s expression remained unchanged. “Oh, are you on vacation, kidnapping young girls from their homes and workplaces for your interviews again?”

I turned to Azarus on the bed and back to Ecrion. “Hey, you know it’s not like that. All I need is a little information.”

“In the month of love?” Ecrion turned, walked a few steps, and turned back around. “You've chosen her this time. If my, analysis, is correct.”

I shifted my eyes down to the ground. Before I could think of anything to say, Ecrion placed her hand on the back of my neck. My neck shot up so that I could take note of Ecrion’s position.

Ecrion looked straight at me with sincere eyes and serious lips. “Fine,” she said, “you want to use her for this month, go ahead. We’ll have our time pretty soon, if I’m correct, which I am, right?”

I felt her grip tighten. “Yes, sometime this year. You know with talk like that you could blow your cover Encronian.”

Ecrion rolled her eyes, walked over to the door, and opened it for me. I could feel the pressure on my body release as she let go of the impact.

I threw Azarus over my shoulder and walked through the door. I flourished my coat as I turned back to Ecrion. “A war is coming you know Furion, you might want to find yourself a new body pretty soon.” I walked over to the stairs as I tried to find the best way down. Just then, I felt a push across my back. The weight tossed me down the flight of steps. I landed with a loud thump.* “What’re you trying to do? Kill me?

I could hear Ecrion laughing from upstairs as she closed her bedroom door.