Dust (Of Dust and Darkness) - By Devon Ashley Page 0,66

there’s no way Finley will be fooled into thinking I’ve had it rough down here. Jack will get into trouble. Finley will force Jack to leave. Then I’ll be completely on my own. He might even send another faerie to guard me – one that won’t be as kind and generous.

I can’t lose Jack. Not now.

Not ever.

I bobble the hot lantern between my hands, which tremble with fear for what I’m about to do.

Don’t think about it, Rosalie! Just do it and everything will be okay.

For Jack…

Before I can give my action a second thought, or scare myself out of doing it, I slam the metal top of the lantern into the side of my head. There’s a brief shot of pain and a burning sensation on my skin, then nothing.

The thin, elongated leaves dance erratically as the wind blows through to the west, making them twist madly back and forth on the long, pliable branches. The breeze tickles the fine hairs on my skin and makes me shiver, though the air is warm and sensuous. Hands press against my back, pushing me forward, and I grip the vines more tightly as I swing forward. Back and forth, back and forth… I kick my legs to increase the speed of my makeshift swing – two vines of the weeping willow tied to a thin stick.

I yelp when my progress yanks to an abrupt halt. For a moment, all of nature quiets in the tree, and the breeze disappears. My swing suddenly twists to the left, more and more and more, until it can’t twist anymore. I brace myself. My swing takes off full-force to the right. I scream playfully, the pressure building within my head, the force of the rotation throwing my balance to the left. I force my head upward and see a feathery swirl of green with bright specks of blue and white sky twinkling down at me.

My scream turns into a burst of giggles one normally hears from an excited pixling. My swing begins to slow, readying itself to reverse directions. I jerk back and forth a few times before coming to a complete stop. It takes a moment for the vertigo to cease within my head.

Hands caress my shoulders and stroke the length of my back. I peek over my shoulder, but all I see is a fluttery blue shimmer. Jack. His touch is magic, and my back begins to tingle everywhere his hands travel. I hardly feel it when his hands splay against my back, giving me another push, setting my swing back into motion. I sigh and drop my head backwards, kicking to speed up my sway. The flexible branches magically twist around my arms to support me. A gorgeous mop of brown waves, and eyes as green as the willow leaves, come into focus. Just as I’m about to swing away, luscious pink lips lean in to kiss my forehead, extending the curve of my smile.

Humming vibrates my throat, my mind filling with song. “Until then, just swing on the willowy tree.” I sway and sway and sway, for as long as he’s willing to reward me with a kiss each time.

I’m still swaying back and forth in a heavenly trance, softly murmuring the song in my head.

No…wait. I’m not the one humming. The sound is deeper, masculine. My eyes flutter, curious to learn the source of the sound. To my disappointment, I’m not swaying in the weeping willow anymore. The sunlight that I thought was peeping through the leaves, sprinkling me with a kaleidoscope effect of lights, is just the flame in the lantern flickering through the wavy glass walls of its prison.

I’m about to moan my opinion of the cruel disillusionment, when I realize my body is still swaying back and forth. But it’s not a willow branch wrapping itself around me, its Jack’s arms, securing me protectively against his body. My cheek is flush against his chest, and my body warm and snug as if cocooned. A heavenly sigh escapes my chest, but neither I nor Jack flinch, and he continues to rock us as he sings,

“When tears and darkness fall

And you can no longer hear my call

Ignore the evil one’s tempting plea

And scurry now to the willowy tree

Wait there you must, until the day

When Mother Nature illuminates your way

I’m afraid it’s the only key

To make the evil tendrils flee

Until then, just swing on the willowy tree”

As he sings, I lift my head to watch the notes vibrate the muscles