Light It Up

Expectations are interesting. After several of the best psychologists money could buy gave up on him, one finally said something that actually made sense. The prime proper lady sat across from him at her desk and over her coffee cup said quite plainly, “There are things in life you must accept. One of those things is that your expectations aren’t reality.” She’d gone on to say a number of other things as well. About how he couldn’t keep pretending to see things and how this attempt to get his parents to pay him more attention wasn’t a reasonable request. He was twelve years old and too old to play imaginary games. Eric was ‘cured’ no more three months later.

Eric thought of those words when he first gained consciousness that night. He squeezed his eyes shut and told himself. “Expectations are not reality. When I open my eyes I’m going to be home, in my bed and there will be no giant cat and no shining strings, that is reality.” As much as that sounded good in Eric’s head it didn’t quite work. He opened his eyes to immediately be confronted with a pair of yellow-green ones. “Go away.”

“I would but this is my apartment.”

Eric sat up and immediately regretted it. The world span sideways and twisted in new and fun ways.

“Easy there. No more passing out.” Sylis steadied him while he drained the glass of water. “Feel better.”

Eric nodded and scooted back to lean against the headboard of the bed.

“You believe me than?”

Eric shook his head from side to side. “I don’t want to.”

“but-“ Sylis finished.

“-but I can’t explain what I just saw other than a bad relapse from the acid.” Eric opened his eyes again and winced. Everything was too damn bright. All the glowing and shifting hurt. “Fuck.”

“Maybe you should keep your eyes closed for a while. You seem to be having more trouble adjusting to the power boost than I thought.”

“Shut up. Just stop talking.” Eric held up his hand. “Everything that you say and do doesn’t make sense so just stop.” There was a brief silence before Eric opened his eyes again.

Sylis was peeking at Eric from the corner of his eyes, the empty glass in one hand.

“Don’t keep staring at me?”

“Or what? You’ll faint again.”

Eric blushed.

“Listen. I understand that this will all take some time for you to understand. I don’t expect you to just snap into summoner mode and know everything that you’re supposed to know. The sooner we’re bonded the better.”

“What is this bonded shit.”

“Think of it kind of like marriage-“

“-oh no buddy. Hold it right there-“

Sylis rolled his eyes. “Let me finish,“ he sighed. “The difference is that there are five of us that are to be joined. I’m your east. Then there is a west, north, and south. You are the center, our guide, our master.”

“So you’re like human pets.”

Sylis scowled, “no”

“slaves”

“no”

“servants.”

“Jesus. No! We’re companions, protectors, guardians. God you’re an ass.”

“Well you’re not exactly prince charming yourself.”

“I’ll have you know I can be quite charming.” Sylis purred. He leaned in close to Eric, their faces only inches apart. The warm burst of Eric’s breath caught him by surprise.

Stunned by the Sylis’s face moving ever closer, Eric held his breath. Sylis closed his eyes and Eric braced himself for the kiss he knew was going to happen.

In a smooth seductive voice Sylis spoke, “You could use a breath mint.” Sylis waved his hand infront of his face coughing a little smell.

Eric blushed and threw the pillow beside him which Sylis dodged easily. “What the hell. It’s been like a day my breath isn’t that bad.”

“Maybe you should brush more often cause that’s definitely hazardous, man.” Sylis was still laughing. His entire body shook with the effort of his jeering.

“Asshole.” Muttered Eric.

Sylis walked from the room, still laughing.

The movement of pots and pans sounds off in a cacophony of clanging. Quietly, on socked feet Eric padded down the hallway. He tried not to make a sound as he moved from the bedroom down the hallway to the kitchen. Sylis didn’t move when he entered the doorway. He seemed absorbed in the task of watching water boil.

“Missing something?” Sylis asked, staring at Eric from the corner of his eyes.

“No. I was just going to head out.” Eric ran a hand through his hair.

“No you’re not.” Sylis replied in a matter-of-fact tone.

“Listen. I’m grateful for everything you’ve done but I really need to be going now.” Began to back up from the room, squinting with the impending migraine.

“Stop being an ass.” Sylis didn’t look at him as he dumped the ramen into the pot. “You can’t go anywhere until we’ve bonded. You don’t want to pass out somewhere dangerous and you don’t seem to be able to concentrate much.”

Eric blinked, but this time it took a while before he could open his eyes again He could see the bright lights behind his eyelids. Two strong hands on his shoulder steadied him.

“Are you alright?”

The words were too close to his ear for comfort.

“Sit down for a moment.”

One strong arm circled his waist, the other hold his free hand. For a moment he considered moving away from Sylis, but the tenderness in Sylis’s voice combined with the swirling room didn’t give him the chance. “Fuck.” The couch gave way beneath his weight. There was a moment of hesitation before he sank back into it.

“Stay calm for a moment. I’m going to make a call.”

Eric felt the weight on the couch next to him shift and he covered his eyes with his hands.

“Hey, It’s me…. No… Yes… No… He’s having problems with the energy. No…. It doesn’t seem to be getting better… Okay. See you in a few.”

While the conversation made sense in his head none of it seemed to piece together. “Who was that?”

“Someone that’s going to help.”

“Who?” Eric asserted.

“My trainer. She’s coming over to create the bond.”

“What is this bond thing that you keep talking about?” Eric’s own voice was loud enough to make him wince.

“Calm down.” Sylis shook his head. “Every five minutes you’re screaming or yelling or passing out.”

“You would be too if someone just ran into your life and started fucking with you.”

“Actually I believe I was a little more receptive than this.”

Eric starred at him for a moment. Even his skin seemed to glow brighter than usual. “Fuck. This is getting worse.”

“Just close your eyes.”

“I can see it all even with my eyes close.” Eric groaned. “Fuck. What the fucj was that bonding shit about again.”

“We have to wait until my mentor gets here.” Sylis pulled the smaller man up against his chest.

“Fuck. I can’t take this much longer my head is going to explode.” Eric moaned. “Do something.”

“Fine I can set up for the ritual.” Sylis moved to the doorway “Just lay there for a little while. I’ll go grab everything.”

“No. Two of us will work faster than one.” Eric pulled himself up from the couch. “Tell me what to do.”

“Just clear the stuff off that table. I’ll move everything in a minute.” Sylis rushed from the room to gather the supplies.

“Move the shit off the table. Fuck that.” Eric mumbled and shoved the entire table against one wall. Heavy, yes but who gave a shit. He shoved the recliner to one corner as well. It wasn’t until he god to the couch that he collapsed against it.

“Eric, what the hell are you doing? I told you to wait.” Sylis set the things in his arm on the floor. “You’re going to need energy for this.” Sylis shoved the couch back a few feet, grateful for the wood flooring.

“What’s next. Come on. I just want this to stop.” Eric panted, holding his head.

“I told you we can’t do anything else until she gets here.”

“Fuck that. Now. What’s next.”

“I haven’t studied enough to do it on my own.”

“You know how it works. Now let’s get started before my brain turns into a pile of goo.” Eric fell to his knees. “AGH!” his head pounded with his pulse everything was getting too bright, too fast, too much noise. The lights began to buzz and with its own particular tone.

“Okay. Okay.” Sylis comforted. “We can set up. But really that’s as much as I can do. “

Eric smiled weakly. “Thanks.”

Sylis carefully walked a circle surrounding the two of them. Focusing on creating a safe way to contain them he made the barrier complete, hole-less, and a giant bubble like orb to protect them from anything outside. He lit the candle for purity and shuttered as he felt the cleansing air wash over him. With the white candle, he lit the yellow candle, projecting all of his thoughts into it. This was him.

“Are you done yet?” Eric moaned clutching his head. “Where the fuck is this mentor of yours.”

“I don’t know she said that she’d be here.”

“Are you sure that she meant this century.” Eric stabbed. “Damn.”

“Here. You need to light this candle.” Eric stared at him like he was nuts, excepting the purple candle into his hand. “Stop fucking around. How the hell is this supposed to help.”

“Just shut up and light the damn candle.”

Eric looked around for a lighter. “What am I suppose to light it with. My mind.”

“No this you idiot.” Sylis handed him the white candle.

“Fuck. Take this thing back.” Eric handed Sylis back the candles, both lit, rather roughly.

Sylis carefully placed the purple and yellow candles beside eachother. Letting the wax fall between them and mold them into one candle, two flames.

“How much longer do we have to wait. I can’t take this much longer.” Eric said. He was cradling his head while resting on his side.

“I don’t know.”

The two sat in silence. The moments seemed to tick by on the clock in the living room. Sylis amused himself by playing the flame of the white candle. “Eric.”

Silence.

“How’s your head.”

Silence.

Turning his body he looked toward the curled up ball of a boy. “Eric?” His tone sobered. He felt Eric’s neck, still a pulse. “Thank god. Eric.” He pulled the boy to sit up.

“Stop moving so quickly,” the whispered voice winced.

“Come on Eric. You have to keep conscious. I need you to stay awake.” Sylis pulled the boy up so that Eric’s back was flush against his chest. “Come on. Stay up.”

“I’m awake. It just hurts.”

“I don’t think we can wait anymore. I’m just going to do this okay.”

“Thought you couldn’t” Eric ground out.

“I’m not as strong as Maryl is but I can do it.” Sylis reassured. “I think.”

Eric didn’t say anything.

“Guardians of the east I call you. I am Sylis, young priest of the eastern order. Come to me now.” Sylis felt the breeze through the cold windows. They were here. “Guardians of spirit I call you. I am Sylis, young priest of the eastern order, servant to Eric of the Spirit Order. I beg your presences now.” Nothing. “Please. Eric needs you.”

Sylis looked down at the unconscious boy in his arms. “Come on Eric I need you awake right now. I can’t do this without you.”

“What. What do you want.” Eric groaned.

“That’s a good boy. Repeat after me. Guardians of Spirit I call you.”

“Guardians of Spirit I call you.”

“I am Eric of the Spirit Order.” Sylis coaxed, picking up Eric and holding him higher in his arms.

“I am Eric of the… of the…” Eric fumbled the words. His own voice rattled in his head, over and over again.

“Spirit Order.” Sylis helped.

“Spirit Order.” Eric finished.

“I need your presence now.”

“I need… your presence now.” The last words were a whisper on Eric’s lips but the feeling against his skin was warm and comforting, like a soothing blanket.

“Good boy.”Sylis congratulated. “Guardians of the East, Guardians of the Spirit. Come together and bind your faithful servants. Bind you servants Sylis and Eric together as proof of your continued union in this plain.” The wind seemed to pick up.

Drunk on the pain, Eric watched as the bubble around them seemed to burn brighter and brighter. No silly strands in here. No, there was just the warm breeze and he feeling of being full. So much comfort He looked down at the arms supporting him. They were glowing. The yellow thread around his left hand solidified. He looked up to see the strand solidify around Sylis’s neck.

“Sylis. What’s going on?”

“We’re bonding.” Sylis smiled down at him, “It’s okay now.”

The lights came and while they burned brightly, they didn’t hurt as much. Eric could bear to keep his eyes open. The room dulled down. It was just a normal room again. The faint bubble around them shimmered with their combined energies.

“Thank you guardians of the east and guardians of the spirit. Stay if you will and go if you must.” The lights faded again. The shimmering bubble seemed to pop as the light moved away from it. “Stay here for a moment.” Sylis sad above the boy still sitting between his thighs. “Can you sit up?”

Eric nodded and Sylis moved to clear away the white candle. Eric moved to blow out the combined yellow and purple candle.

“Don’t blow that out. We want to make sure it takes.” Sylis helped Eric to his feet. “Come on. You’ll need your rest.”

Eric didn’t have the energy to argue he let the warmth and comfort of the hard body holding him up, take him away. The mattress felt soft against his bare skin. Sylis removed his shirt and pants. Eric didn’t even think to object.

True he easily could have shoved Sylis from the bed. He could have said something to the boy. The strong arm that pulled him against the stronger chest was just too warm to fight against. So for a moment he forgot it was a man holding him. He forgot that it was Sylis’s warm breath at the nape of his neck. He closed his eyes to the unending leather band around his wrist. He closed his eyes to the strands that threatened to bring him back to the unreality of his life. He gave in to the gentle caress of fingers against his hand and let the world slip away.

“Goodnight Eric.”

The whispered words carried him away.