Mirage mind

Lan

I'm stuck in a life where I do things I don't want to do. I can't have what I want to have. And I can't seem to break away from that cycle.

No matter how hard I try.

It's like something else has a hold on me.

I pushed forward through the water as I continued my laps.

The life I want. The life I deserve. I'm constantly reaching for it. But it slides like water between my fingers, teasing me.

But you're so great Lan.

You're so wonderful.

You're a star.

Why are you so greedy? Why can't you be satisfied?

I pushed off the wall and swam back.

Why can't I be satisfied?

Why can't I have her?

I gasped, collecting air into my lungs as I held onto the edge of the pool.

I heard clapping in the background and turned to Aquina sitting on the bleachers, clapping for me with a warm smile on her face.

My heart jumped and sank into my stomach. I wiped the water off my face and took off my goggles.

What was she doing here?

I watched as she climbed off the bleachers. She had on a white thin long sleeve turtleneck shirt, her black gloves and dark green cargo pants with back boots. "And that's why you're America's sweetheart. Trying to set another record?" She asked casually as she made her way to me.

"What are you doing here?" I asked her sharply as I took off my swimming cap, lying it on the edge of the pool with the goggles.

Aquina fluttered her eyes and crouched a little ways from the edge of the pool. "Are you avoiding me?"

"No." I replied turning around and swimming to the other side. I could hear her faint steps as she followed me.

"I think you are and I don't know why."

I stopped in the middle of the lane and turned to face her. "I'm not. I'm just busy." I continued swimming.

"You didn't come to the open gallery. I presented my hand piece."

I dove underwater to drown her out as I swam to the other side.

I don't want to think about you. I don't want anything to do with you. You shouldn't want anything to do with me either.

I broke the water surface and looked around at her meeting me at the opposite side of where we started.

"Lan."

"Look Aquina...leave me alone." I told her harshly as I wiped the water off my face.

She frowned and clenched her jaws. Her arms coming across her chest. "Why?"

I swallowed hard as I held her gaze. "Because...."

Because I like you and I can't.

Because you don't like me in that way.

Because I'm fucking your cousin.

Because I get insanely jealous whenever I see you with someone else.

Because you're not mine.

Because you'll never be mine.

"Because." I replied again.

"Because isn't an answer."

"It's the entire answer."

"No it's not."

"What are you doing here?"

"I came to see you." She protested. "You're still swimming every morning at 5 and you're supposed to be resting."

"Don't care about me." I replied angrily as I pushed myself out the pool. "Don't care about what I do." I turned to her as the water dripped down my body. "And I won't care about what you do." I was going to turn back around when I noticed her looking at my body. Her eyes scanning me from my head down to my toes, she shifted on her feet slightly as her gaze went back to my chest and lowered down to my stomach and waist band.

I groaned inwardly. She didn't even have a clue what she was doing?

"Aquina!"

She jumped and immediately lifted her head to meet my gaze. Her smile wavered as she stared at me innocently.

I stopped for a minute. She was effortlessly pretty. I lowered my gaze and sighed. I turned to walk away but felt her silk glove on my arm, holding on to me. I looked back at her hand and then up to her.

My body reacted to the softness of the material with a slight twitch. She had no idea, what that did to me did she? No idea that I would occasionally convince Vera to wear these same exact gloves when we're together.

"Lan..."

I tore my arm away from her hold and turned to her. "You need to be more self aware." I scolded her. "It's these stupid things you do, that'll get you in trouble. People will misunderstand. You might not feel anything, but everybody else does."

Aquina grabbed my arm again. "Stop ignoring me."

"Get off!"

"No!"

"Get--Aquina!"

"No."

I twisted around and grabbed her shoulders tightly. Shaking her slightly. "I'm not playing anymore." I whispered seriously. "I'm not playing anymore." I held her gaze. "Stop."

We were so close. Having her so near. Her elevated breathing. The warmth of her body beneath my fingertips.

"I can't be around you." I whispered, softening my voice at the sadness I saw in her eyes. "I'm not a good person. I'm not a good friend." My hands rubbed her shoulders gently. "I can't control what I feel...so I won't burden you with it." My hands slipped down her arms, wanting as much contact as possible before I let go.

"I lied." She whispered quickly.her eyes wide as she stared up at me.

I frowned.

"Last year...remember the swan sculpture?"

I furrowed my eyebrows, trying to think. I shook my head, confused as to what she was talking about.

"In the studio." She whispered

My mind drifted back to that night.

"You're going to stay the whole time?" Aquina asked excitedly.

I nodded and pulled up a stool next to her. I held up the spray bottle. "I'll spray, you work."

Her smile warmed my heart, as she bit down on her bottom lip. I watched her teeth, lips and tongue, before her face became serious and she proceeded to mold the swan's beak.

We worked like that for a couple minutes in silence. Me spraying where she indicated, her molding, soft music playing in the background. Every second confirmed something I had been toying with after having known her for the past two months.

"You're really beautiful." I whispered.

Her hand stilled on the beak before she turned to me in shock.

I cleared my throat and smiled as I started to gain some sort of invisible courage. "Do you want to go to the movies with me? There's this superhero movie that just came out, and I remember you saying that you liked superheroes." My heart raced as I continued. "I actually already bought the tickets." I admitted as I sprayed her outstretched hand. I wondered what her hand felt like. Even covered in clay, it seemed so soft, elegant. I wanted to feel her hands on me.

This sculpture was lucky.

Aquina rubbed her hand over the head of the swan and avoided eye contact with me. After a couple seconds of her silence, the nerves kicked in at her lack of response.

I looked back at her, and scratched the side of my head. "You don't want to?"

"You're Vera's secret boyfriend-"

"I'm not Vera's anything." I corrected her. "Your cousin likes me, I know. She told me. But I told her I can't date--"

"So why did you just ask me out on a date?" She asked.

"Because you're an exception." I replied. "I still can't technically date yet, but we'll be careful--"

"You could do that with Vera."

I blinked in surprise at her immediate response. "I could, but-"

"Vera likes you very much." Aquina turned to me, speaking rapidly. She spoke as if she was hurt or offended by me asking her out. "She's your best bet."

I stared at her in disbelief and annoyance. "I know she likes me." I replied. "But liking somebody is a two-way street. I'm asking you out on a date and you're pawning me off to your cousin? What you don't like me?"

"No."

Her answer felt like a downpour of ice cold water over me. I blinked as it took a minute for her rejection to make sense.

"Not in the way you think." She replied. "I just want to be your friend. I don't want to date you." She turned back to her sculpture and continued smoothing out the eyes as if she hadn't just ripped my young adult heart into pieces. "I don't want to date anybody."

"Fine, we don't have to date." I whispered, feeling my body heavy.

I'd never been rejected before. And as we fell into silence, the sadness sunk in more. I had been trying to chase somebody who didn't even want me. I'd been dropping hints, very obvious hints. Holding her gloved hand, the brief times she would let me. Hanging out with her when I didn't have practice. Texting her when I thought of her, which was starting to be a lot. Trying to find out more about her. I mean it was weird nobody could touch her skin. Vera said, it was a rare genetic mutation, which didn't hurt her, but anybody else who did. It was as if her skin released a chemical of some sort that poisoned and or affected the other person's nervous system.

Once you got past that, Aquina was everything I wanted in a partner. She was beautiful, she was kind, she was funny, empathetic, playful. She made my heart and my dick throb.

"It's not just because it's you." She broke the silence after a couple minutes. "I don't date because I don't have those feelings."

I softly sprayed the drying clay for her as I turned to her. "What do you mean?"

"You know." She whispered, not looking up from her clay. "Sexual feelings."

I looked her over, ashamed at myself for always being just a little aroused around her constantly. I quickly checked myself, adjusted my shirt and spread my legs.

"At Paula's birthday party last week, I watched you play truth or dare." She continued.

I lowered my gaze, knowing what she was going to say. She was sitting at the booth across from the game, doing a puzzle instead of playing. I was going to join her, but got held back by the laughter, the camaraderie. It was only going to be a few minutes until I got roped into playing truth or dare. I couldn't back out without looking like a little bitch.

"When Vera's friend dared her to kiss you. You seemed to really enjoy it." She stated softly without any, jealousy or accusation in her words.

I sighed and quietly chastised myself. It had been a nice kiss. Vera was a good kisser. But it hadn't meant anything.

"It didn't mean anything." I spoke up quickly. "And I told her that too. I swear, I did. I told her it didn't mean anything."

"Whether it meant anything or not, is not my problem." Aquina replied. "I'm not blaming you, I'm just trying to prove to you, I don't do things like that. I don't want to do things like that. I have no desire to. I'm asexual."

I wanted her. I wanted her after the first three encounters. I wanted her even knowing I couldn't touch her skin. I had already came up with a million and one ways to get around it. I was willing to give it a try....but completely nothing. Nothing? No desire for any of that?

"Asexual?" I whispered back , my voice giving away more of my disappointment than I had intended.

Aquina nodded, focusing on her swan.

"Nothing?" I asked again just to be sure." I sighed. "You don't...you're not attracted to me? You don't feel anything? Not even a little..." my voice trailed off because I could sense my frustration in it.

Aquina shook her head. "I'm sorry." She whispered as she fixed the swan's neck.

I sighed and stared off. No way would I be able to date her and want her this much without doing anything. "Nothing?" I asked again almost desperately.

"Let's be friends Lan. We have a good thing going on." Aquina replied. She turned to me. "I'll be your friend and Vera can be your girlfriend."

I scoffed at her. "I'm not some type of monster. I can hold back on my sexual desires."

She had looked at me skeptically, I remember. And for the next three weeks before training resumed, I was determined to prove it. No porn, no masturbating, no flirting. If she could be asexual. I could too. How hard could it be?

After a week, I was in the pool almost every single time I thought of something sex related. Which ended up being a lot.

The whole world is surrounded by sex. The movies, the commercials, the language. It's almost impossible to ignore. They sell sex to us so readily, we can't help but consume it.

And then came the night of the fashion banquet. Everybody was hot. I mean everybody. A room full of beautiful 20 something fashion majors and models showing off their latest style. I couldn't deny that my eyes lingered on Vera's backless, almost translucent peach dress. It hugged her just write, basically laying out for me, what was to be expected if I took it off.

And then came Aquina. She was late and hurriedly snuck to our table as the show was going on. She had on a long strapless form fitted short sleeve black dress and long white silk gloves. Her exposed neck was simply adorned with a pearl necklace. As I stared at her neck, her shoulders and collarbone, her upper arm I realized this was the most skin, I've seen. Her skin was smooth, shiny with specks of glitter. I wanted to kiss her shoulder. I wanted to inhale the perfume that was teasing my senses. I wanted to press my tongue against the veins connecting to her neck.

Halfway through the show, I was sitting next to Aquina with an uncomfortable erection. Every smile she made my way, every accidental brush of her gloved hand on my arm. I watched her. I memorized her features. The longer I sat next to her, the more guilt arose. I wanted something from her, she wasn't able to give me. She wasn't the problem. I was. I needed to go.

And that's when Vera intercepted me, begging me to go to the after party. I denied her twice. The third time, I couldn't keep fooling myself. My dick had taken over my mind. She was gorgeous and she was all over me. Why hold out for somebody that didn't want me in that way?

We'd barely closed the bathroom door before our lips were passionately against each other, me kissing her with a desperate need as I remembered the shape and fullness of Aquina's matte red lips that evening.

And when she got on her knees, pulling me out of the confinements of my pants, I closed my eyes and moaned in satisfaction.

Fuck this felt good.

"I lied." Aquina whispered bringing both of us back to the present moment.

I sighed and took a step away from her, to give her personal space. The day she rejected me. I nodded. "Yeah, I remember that day."

"You're not going to ask me what I lied about?" She asked curiously as she bent her head to the side as if investigating my face.

"No." I answered and turned around, to walk to the locker room.

"You've never touched me like that!" She called out loudly.

I stopped.

"Like you did two weeks ago at Justin's house party."

I closed my eyes. Not my greatest moment. I was angry, I was jealous, I was horny. All for a woman I couldn't have.

"I liked it."

I turned around to face her angrily. "Aquina, I told you stop. Stop playing around. Stop saying and doing things you don't mean." I warned her, feeling my anger rise again. "Somebody can hurt you. They're going to misunderstand your stupid flirting for more and then god fucking knows what will happen!"

"Well, I could hurt them before they hurt me--""

I nodded in disbelief. "Great. Congratulations. I don't ever have to worry about you." I turned around.

"I never told you to worry about me."

"Good!" I turned back to her.

"Fine!" She responded with a shrug. "You don't have to be such an asshole about it."

"I want to be an asshole about it! I'm gonna be an asshole about it." I replied.

She paused for a minute. "You're not going to ask me what I lied about?"

"I don't fucking care." I responded automatically putting my arms out.

"Yes you do." She took a step closer.

"No, I don't.'

"Yes, you do." Another step brought her half an arms length away.

I chuckled and put my hand down. "Aquina go back to your little corner." I whispered as she took another step towards me. "Cause I don't fucking care about you."

"You're saying the opposite of what you mean." She whispered closing the gap between us, her arms across her chest, brushed against my lower chest.

"I'm saying. Exactly. What I mean." I told her slowly.

We held each other's gaze for a couple seconds without blinking before she spoke again. "So have you learned to truly love Vera or do you still want me?" She whispered.

My heart thrashed as if it wanted to jump out of my chest. My body just now seemed extra aware of her proximity. To her arm brushing against my chest, to her tilted head, looking up at me in curious amusement. To her parted lips, begging almost daring me to kiss her.

"Stop playing with me." I whispered to her as I stared at her lips for a couple more seconds before lifting my eyes to her.

"I don't want to play anymore either." Aquina whispered back. "My family tells me, those are the things I must say." Her hand slowly reached up, her silk fingers tips grazing the side of my face. "Because it prevents accidents, and misunderstandings." She softly pressed her palm against my cheek. "But it's not fair." She whispered as her other hand slowly ran up my left shoulder. "Because I do have those desires too."

My lips parted as I tried to make sense of her words. Which was hard because she was touching me so softly, my cheek automatically leaning into her hand. My lips parted as my anger just as easily evaporated. What hold did this girl have on me?

"I want to be touched, and loved, and held." She whispered,her gloved index finger trailed down my jaw. I closed my eyes to focus on her touch. "I get angry and jealous when she can have things I can't." Her finger slowly passed over my bottom lip. "Why does she get to have everything?"

I opened my eyes at Aquina's emotional whispering.

"And then you started ignoring me." She accused softly, her eyes watering.

"I'm sorry." I whispered automatically reaching out and cupping her face. My hands felt hot, and then in a couple seconds, felt as if I'd placed it on burning coal. I hissed and released her face.

Aquina, blinked back her tears and stepped away from me, lowering her head in embarrassment. "Why did you do that?" She whispered her voice breaking. She touched her cheek and refused to look at me.

I stepped forward and reached out to touch her neck. She froze as we held eye contact. I held on for a couple seconds on to the warmness, the heat, the burn before pulling back, feeling like an electric shock through my hand and straight to my brain. I closed my eyes feeling like someone had just hammered my head.

I heard her gasp and pull back. "Lan."

This was the first time, I have ever touched her. I heard a strange static in my head, feeling a stinging sensation in my left eye. I rubbed it.

"Lan you're bleeding." Aquina whispered urgently.

Feeling less dizzy, I opened my eyes, and straightened up. Feeling something wet, I brought my hand up under my nose and wiped, seeing the blood on my fingertips. I used the back of my hand to wipe off the rest. "It's fine." I whispered.

"Are you okay?"

I turned to look at the genuine fear and concern on her face. It made me smile at how much it showed she cared. And just like that a warm buzz filled my body. As I chuckled. "I'm fine. It hurt like hell, but I'm okay."

She sighed and lowered her head. "Did my speech make you want to touch me?" She asked softly.

I crossed my arms over my chest. "No, no, don't act shy now." I ordered her. "Look up."

When she did automatically, it caused my dick to twitch. "So what are you saying?" I asked her. "Do you love me?"

Her mouth dropped as she looked around the empty pool room before turning to me and stuttering. "Wh-what? I ju-I just, stop, you need to stop avoiding me."

"I'm avoiding you, because I'm going crazy." I replied. "I want you, I've always wanted you. Now I'm in this fucked up twisted situation that I put myself in." My voice rose with emotions. "I can't have you, so I do the next best thing and fuck your cousin. Your cousin is nice, she's beautiful, she's kind, she loves me like I'm a fucking god." I stepped closer to Aquina. "Yet I can't stop thinking about you." I took another step towards her and she took one back as it invaded her personal space. "I can't stop trying to make her you." I paused for a minute to let it sink in for her. These words, these words I've wanted to say for so long, just spilled forth. Without hesitation. Without fear. Like touching her, opened a part of myself that brought forth some unknown courage and confidence.

She's mine.

"So I make up my mind, to stop secretly longing after her cousin, who wants nothing to do with me. Yet...." I pause and lowered my head to her level. "You chase me down. Bring me right back to you." I whispered. "You say everything I've ever wanted to hear from your lips." I tilted my head as my gaze shifted to this full brown lips. "So what are you saying Aquina? Do you love me?"

I waited for her response, refusing to break eye contact even though my left eye felt like it was going to explode. I wanted her answer. I needed her answer.

"How do you know it's love?" She whispered innocently.

My heart stopped for a minute as I felt a strange showering of the most pleasant sensation I've ever felt. Like my insides had shimmered into a thousand bright stars. I smiled and closed the small distance between our lips.

I kissed her firmly. All my needs, longing, desires. All my wishes, dreams, fantasy. All my promises, dreaming, searching, finding---

**

"Olympic gold medalist Lan Lee is reported to once again be in the hospital. We weren't able to gather sufficient information as to what exactly occurred, but we are told he is now in stable conditions and is recovering. This comes just days after he was cleared to return for training after his motorcycle crash 6 months ago. Fans are wondering if this could actually be an attempt on the young medalists life, so as not to have him compete for the upcoming Olympics. Some people are already blaming China, claiming they have the means of infiltrating spies to endanger the life of Lan Lee. Rumors are spreading that the Taiwanese-American is not actually from Taiwan, and instead has broken alliances with his grandfather's country of origin, which people are now speculating could in fact be Chinese and not Taiwanese as we've been led to believe.

**

Island of Atlas

Aqu

I hummed peacefully as I floated on my back. Staring up at the dazzling night sky and smiling. I should not be this happy I know. But I was. For the first time, in a long time, it felt like I understood the feeling the elders talked of.

The feeling that started in your lower belly and spread with flutters throughout your entire being. I smiled as I slowly moved my hands through the stillness of the cooling bioluminescent body of water.

I have always been curious, even when my sister Vykala went on and on about her many close encounters with the young men of the city. I smiled and listened earnestly for the hour I was allowed to be with my siblings.

After that I was pulled back, for my, meditation, my purification, my cleansing of the aura lessons. I would sit in the dome glass structure with Elder KJuka as she showed me the ways of the crystals.

I was the chosen one. I had the mark. The mark of the worthy. Those bestowed with energy from the gods to sing to crystals.

These crystals powered everything in the island. From transportation, to septic systems, to food, to clothing. Everything.

Everybody could work and manipulate crystals. But only the worthy could sing to it. Vibrate the crystals to whatever they needed it to be, in any state, before sending them out. And only the chosen one, could harness the power of the main crystal in the temple at the top of the hill. The crystal given to us by the gods who gave us the land. With that crystal we were told to go forth and create.

So create the people of Atlas did. And once they finished, they looked back at their wonderful creations with pride. They boasted the healthiest and oldest population. The smiled and snubbed their noses at those civilizations still beneath their advanced technology. unrivaled in their limitless resources. Every nation sought to align with them. To gain the knowledge of the crystals. To possess even a fraction of the crystals. Crystals are alive, they grow , they vibrate, they sing. They intensify and project whatever it is you feed to them. That is the power of the crystal. If fractions fell into wrong hands, who knew what calamity could occur.

The Island of Atlas proceeded to remain neutral. Instead closing themselves more from the majority of the world. Fearing the unknown. Choosing to remain with what they knew of the old ways. It was tried, it was true, it was pure.

"Do all princesses bathe by the light of the moon?"

I turned in the water, and lowered my chin, so he couldn't see my smile.

Prince La'oki grinned as he leaned over the edge of the ledge. He was shirtless. His tanned brown skin seemed to shine in the night. Sweat ran down his perfectly sculpted abs. His long hair was plaited into two braids that reached down his back. He was barefoot and wearing only his traditional red wrap around his hip. Prince La'oki had a red phoenix bird tattoo on the side of his neck, opposite the scar over his left eye. The mark of the phoenix he fought at 15. The dying bird had scratched his left eye, but deposited the phoenix heart into him, officially marking Prince La'oki the next phoenix King after his father's phoenix heart fades. He was from an ancient tribe that worshipped the Firebird.

They weren't as well known as the Island of Atlas, nor as rich, or resourceful. Nor did they have the power of the crystal. But they had one thing The Island of Atlas did not. A remarkable army. The Firebirds were a tribe of magnificent warriors. They weren't the biggest, but they were the best.

A couple moons back , the elders of Atlas had gone to the old phoenix king for some warriors, to guard and prevent any attempts at crystal stealing. Thus an interesting relationship began to form between the two nations. Not one of trust and devotion, but of necessity, of fear and dependency.

The Firebirds were respected but they weren't liked. They were a necessity. Growing stronger over time.

I splashed him and he laughed, wiping the water off his face. He sat down at the edge, his feet dangling above the water.

"It is nothing, but an evening swim. Do not be vulgar." I responded.

"Vulgar is far from the word, princess." He whispered.

I splashed him again and swam around as he watched me.

"Come in." I called to him as I turned back happily.

He smiled at me but looked hesitantly in the water.

I giggled and swam over to him. "Firebird, I have taught you to swim." I swam backwards and spun in the water. "Come on."

Prince La'oki sighed. He stood up and pulled off his wrap.

I gasped and turned away in time. My hands, blocked my peripheral view. I hadn't seen anything, I don't think. Just red cloth...just the red cloth and a brief glimpse of-- "Prince La'oki!"

He chuckled. "I thought you already had a peek two suns ago."

"That was an accident!" I blushed, my back still to him. "Why take off your wrap? I am clothed, do you not see?"

Prince La'oki chuckled again. "For somebody who likes water so much, you must have forgotten what a delicious sight, a wet white cloth looks against your skin."

I slowly looked down at the material against my body in the water. You could see the shape of my breast outline perfectly with the hardened nipple. I quickly put my hand over my chest. My heart racing. I looked down to see the crystal around my neck shimmer and vibrate against me. I held it to stop it.

"Are you jumping in or not?"

"The things I do, for you princess."

I turned around to the splash behind me. He sunk and gasped for air coming up. I laughed as I swam to him.

"Relax." I grabbed a floating water lily and swam with it to him.

He wasn't sinking, but he wasn't a graceful sight either.

I pulled the lily to him and he helped support himself on the wide sturdy leaf.

He wiped the water from his face and pushed the wet escaped tendrils out of his face. "Go ahead, I look like a--" he slipped and fell back into the water.

I giggled before diving down for him and pulled him up. I helped him gain support on the leaf once more as he spit out the water and rubbed his nose.

He looked at me, and I couldn't help but laugh out loud at his exasperated expression.

I put my hand over my mouth. "Sorry, sorry, you did well." Cleared my throat and tried to comfort him.I reached out and moved his wet hair gently out of his face. His braids were coming undone.

I could feel his eyes soften and his smile warmed my heart. The crystal around my neck vibrated and shimmered. We both looked down.

I clamped my hand over it in embarrassment, and retreated my other hand from his face. "Do you want to keep practicing?" I asked quickly.

He nodded slowly.

I moved off the leaf and pointed to the rose garden. "Let's swim over to that side, let's see if you remember?" I turned and swam a little before turning back, noticing that he hadn't moved. "Come on firebird." I teased.

Prince La'oki grinned, his damaged eye seemed to glow to me. He put his arms back in the water and swam over. He was holding his breath, I could tell, but he was actually swimming. I beamed proudly. We will work on the breath later. He came up to me and gasped for air, before splashing me and swimming quickly.

I sputtered and laughed as I swam after him. "Hey!"

**

"Is this why the phoenix king brought that absurd proposal?"

"We need them elder. The island is under constant attack--"

"How dare they!" Elder Jacu hissed as she turned to her advisor. "How dare they think themselves worthy of our princesses?"

Advisor Howji bowed his head. "I do not know elder."

"Men and their over inflated ego." Elder KJuka's voice entered the hall before she appeared. She walked towards them, her gown flowing perfectly behind her. "Times are changing, men want to rule now."

"Elder." Advisor Howji bowed respectfully.

Elder KJuka nodded at him briefly before turning to her sister. "But Advisor Howji is right. We need them for the moment, until our warriors can perfect their training. We must appease them."

"But..." Elder Jacu turned to her oldest sister in horror.

Elder KJuka put her hand up and looked over the high beams, to the two people swimming in the temple's cove below. The chosen one held the fate of the country in her hands, the other caused the chosen one's crystal to sing.

"We won't give them Aqu." Elder KJuka nodded firmly

The younger sister smiled in relief. "Exactly she's the chosen one. she cannot be stained. She must remain in the temple."

Kjuka nodded. "We will give them your other daughter."

Jacu's smile dropped.

"Prepare Vykala."

"But...but..." her soft pleas fell on deaf ears as her older sister promptly turned around.

Advisor Howji gave Elder KJuka a swift side eye, before turning back to Elder Jacu. "Should I send a message to the rest of the elders?"

Aqu and Vykala's mother sighed and brushed him off tiredly. "Go...just go."

Advisor Howji bowed deeply and turned, adjusting his purple sash against his dark waist as his bare feet barely made a sound in the pristine halls.

**

"You are getting better." I grinned as we both floated on the water lily. Our wet arms barely brushing as we faced each other.

"If I knew it would satisfy you this much, I would have trained more." Prince La'oki whispered. "I hate water, look what you've done."

I giggled catching his smile. I bit down on my bottom lip and looked up at him. He looked back at me. His long black hair now completely undone , floated.gracefully in the water behind him. His eyes pierced mine as he focused on me.

I held my breath.

He has given me this look before. This look that made my crystal vibrate. This look that brought energy to every part of my body.

I didn't know what was happening but my body held on in anticipation. He supported himself on the leaf and leaned forward. His mouth brushing ever so softly against mine.

I froze. He stayed, his eyes watching me. I slowly touched my lips as my crystal sung to my soul.

Prince La'oki leaned in again, pressing his lips against mine with a bit more firmness. I slowly puckered my lips. Testing. I moved back slightly, feeling breathless. Our eyes met again, and we were once again stuck in time.

Prince La'oki cupped the back of my head and and pushed my face closer. His lips parted as this kiss possessed my mouth. I didn't even know the moan that escaped my lips were mine, until he groaned and deepened the kiss, tilting my head, as his hand trailed to my cheek.

It took a couple more seconds for reality to hit before I pushed on his naked chest. Breaking free from the kiss, only our labored breathing could be heard. The crickets had stopped chirping. The night birds had stopped their song. My panting grew, my crystal twinkled, and I could hear the crystal in the temple started to sing.

"I've sent a proposal for you." Prince La'oki whispered as he swam up to me, closing the distance once more. My lip trembled as I put my hand on his chest again to stop him. "Be my queen." He whispered smiling as he cupped my face and rubbed our noses together.

I pulled back, grabbing my crystal. "I can not." I whispered, my voice cracking. A tear fell down my cheek, betraying my loyalty to my purpose. "I'm so sorry." I turned and swam out to the edge. I rushed out the water.

"Princess..." Prince La'oki whispered urgently. "Aqu...Aqu...don't leave me in the water alone."

I turned and rushed down the path, my white dress clinging to me. The sound of the wet clothes flapping against the wind was nothing compared to the sound of thunder emitting from my heart. I clutched my crystal as it vibrated more into more core. I ran faster, as the feeling traveled from my neck down my heart, rested in my lungs, before exploding through all my extremities. I laughed as I slowed down. I covered my mouth as an overwhelming feeling of glee, washed over me.

I quickly stopped and covered my face with both hands, looking around to see if anybody had heard.

"Quick! There's a crack in the Eye!"

I looked up sharply at the commotion by the temple. Lights were turning on everywhere. I gasped and turned back.

Prince La'oki!

I ran back just in time to see him pull himself, out of the water gasping.

"There's someone over there! Look!"

"Hurry!" I whispered urgently as I grabbed his cloth. He struggled to get up, spitting out water as he took deep breaths. I quickly wrapped his cloth around him, too scared to be nervous about his nakedness like I'd been earlier. "Go...go before someone finds you."

"Is that a yes?" Prince La'oki whispered. "You came back, so is that a yes?"

I grabbed his hand and yanked him out of sight of the rotating lights.

"You'll be my queen?"

"Go before they find you." I turned in surprise, seeing his hand squeeze mine as he ran beside me. I looked down, not realizing that I had grabbed his hand, I had laced our fingers together.

I looked up at Prince La'oki and he smiled. He brought our laced hand up and kissed the back of my hand. His lips were still slightly wet. "The Firebirds know how to love their women." He whispered before he released my hand and reached up to touch my chin. "I'll take care of you princess."

My heart melted, and I became a puddle at his feet. He winked before quickly darting underneath the hedge. He turned to give me a short wave before jumping onto and leaping over the high fence.

I watched him disappear. My hand slowly touching where he'd touched my chin. My index finger slowly rubbed across my bottom lip, remembering the feel of his lips on mine. I felt a wave of heat energy wash over me.

"Something happening to the crystal! Where's Aqu?"