Chronicles of Contessa: Shadows of the Heart

“Lucca…?” the reptile said.

The prince looked about and sat upright, forgetting of his wound he winced when he realized his mistake. Lanzon laughed and smacked Lucca on the back, he stood then as Lucca glared at him.
“You fight well for so young a boy, when you muster the strength look over the horizon… Atmostherea is quite a sight for those who’ve not seen it” he said and went to gather his supplies.
Lucca sighed and stood shakily stepping over the puddle that was once Aternius, and now laid powerlessly in wait. He came to the hill and widened his red eyes in awe.
A sparkling city, old tales would say of how gods that were saddened with life’s cruelty and wept into the sea. Their tears being of pure holiness shined like diamonds and washed into the city polishing the structures until the sparkles of the gods tears. And thus it was born, glowing even by day blinding all who looked, like a star had fallen to earth and remained to glow on for eternity like its brothers.
Into it they went, the light faded slightly like a sunlit window when one drew closer. The city was so very beautiful, hundreds walked the streets without a care, they walked in peace with one another. Even they were brilliantly lighted as though they bathed in the tears of the god’s legend.
Lucca was entranced and forgot the pain in his arm as he gazed on the women of this brilliant township. Lanzon looked at them directly in the eyes, as all eyes did in fact meet his; they had a aristocratic look to them, one that made them feel as though they were better then the dark-clad wonderers that stumbled about before them.
Lucca was being assisted by Lanzon and they stepped into the nearest hospital looking structure, the staff with the snake was an apparent sign and they walked in. Thankfully the lobby area seemed deserted, one woman stood behind a small desk and stood when they entered.
“My… is the boy alright?” she asked with a heart felt tone in her majestic voice.
“The blood has stopped … though we have no more bandages” Lanzon spoke as Lucca breathed heavily.
“Come this way there are clean beds available” she led them into the upper levels and Lucca passed out as he hit the soft sheets.

He heard the sound of metal clinking on plates as he regained himself, and the soft sound of fire, a warm soothing fire that was licking his wound to good health. His eyes opened and he saw another woman sitting near with her eyes closed, her lashes were a black as a cave in the night. The sparkle of glitter from her closed eyelids shimmered as she swayed ever so slightly, her hand was emitting the red flame that he heard earlier. He looked at the wound that was healing rapidly, the stages of healing were swiftly passing and all that was left was a small red mark.
Her chest was moving steadily with her hand movements, her hair was the colour of a Black Knight flower a deep and gorgeous hue. Her robes were soft like petals, Lucca could tell without feeling them. They were like polished marble and hovered just over one another, like they were too pure to adhere to gravity and flew about her like the wood nymph he met in the lake.
But this girl was all the more enticing, her eyes scowled suddenly looked as though she were trying very hard to use this fire and Lucca felt the wound heat slightly and then became like fire. Lucca pulled away slightly and the girl was so flustered she stood up and stepped back in sudden fright. The red fire dissipated and became nothing, as Lucca and this mysterious girl were both breathing heavily in fear.
“I am sorry… I’m sorry” she turned to leave but Lucca spoke quickly,
“No I am sorry… I didn’t mean to startle you”
”I am only an apprentice, it was not my place to try and fully heal the wound” she said.
Lucca looked at the stab from Aternius’s cursed icicle, it was nearly fully recovered.
“Well you precede your abilities then” Lucca said, he turned and let his legs touch the floor. The girl suddenly turned her head to the door and her white face grew very red. Lucca looked at her oddly,
“Is something the matter?” he said
“Sir… my good… um… would… your clothes were taken when you were sleeping” she said stuttering slightly.
Lucca looked down and noticed he was quite naked, he jumped slightly and stood out of the sudden realization. She looked at him but looked swiftly away as he turned to the bed to grab the sheet. Her face grew slightly redder though she smiled slightly, he was slender but toned from his royal training.
“I’m sorry, it was very poor form to… act this way in front of a lady” Lucca said and pulled the sheet around his waist, but it hung low on him and he could see her eyes trail downward.
“I… I’m sorry, the… main healer will be in soon, your friend needs attention” she walked quickly to the door and looked at him once more and smiled and then left.
Lucca raised an eyebrow and dropped the sheet, he saw some fresh clothes on a small chair near the door. White like the young girl who fled, Lucca had never seen the beauty of one like her not even that nymph would look away.
He realized he was losing his main goal, all the trials and tribulations were halting him from getting his power, to be one with the shadow. Now having merely seen this girl was enough to halt his thoughts.
Lucca took the clothes… they were indeed magic he lifted them up and let go, they fluttered about like a leaf in deep water slowly inching toward the floor. Lucca put them on, the white garments extenuated his black hair and intensified his red eyes.
He went in search of his reptile companion, walking out of the room he saw a number of other nurses that looked at him rather swiftly. Apparently they had never seen someone who looked quite like him, they stepped aside as he passed. Lucca walked down to the main level where the reception woman was standing there writing with a small feather pen.
“Hello” Lucca said firmly, the woman looked up and smiled hesitantly.
“Hello… did Sori tend to your wound?” she asked looking to his shoulder.
“Yes I am well, did you see where my friend went?”
“He walked into the city, he said something about action? I couldn’t help him” she said, Lucca sighed.
“I have a feeling I know… where is the closest… entertainment… building?” Lucca said rather embarrassed. The receptionist looked puzzled but Lucca looked at her deeply and she suddenly knew.

Lucca walked down the street, the bright street was illuminated like it sat under a star. All the people of this land looked at him with odd eyes, confused yet entranced and they continued to stare at him after he walked past, Lucca could feel their eyes on his back.
He reached the small door, nothing seedy about this particular place no foul smells or percussion instruments filling the air. Lucca stepped in, the music was soft and calming and all around there were these Atmostherean women wearing… nothing and walking about holding vast plates of various foods Lucca had never seen.

He was slightly aroused at this sight but he cleared his throat and walked onward, sitting in one of the booths of feathered pillows four of these erotic girls were surrounding Lanzon who ate the foods given to him with a smile that went ear to ear on the reptile.
Lucca walked over to him and sat near, Lanzon didn’t even notice as he stroked the skin of his pleasure girls.
“Your beauty is far greater when seen by the naked eye” he said slyly to the girl and she blushed. This girl pulled herself closer to him, her skin covered in a shimmering glitter it appeared that the people in this city had the ability to neglect the pull of the earth and float wherever they desire.
Short of flying it was a most interesting power, a gift from the gods when their tears covered the city in silver and light.
Lucca looked at the lizard somewhat crossly as he continued to be pleasured by these women.
“Lanzon?” he finally said
“My, my they have boys here as well?” Lanzon said and when he opened his eyes saw Lucca there, his smile faded to a rather dull look, “I suppose that would be good news for you young one” Lanzon said rather brazenly. Lucca sighed again when he felt one of the girls nibble his ear as he tried to speak to Lanzon.
“You… what are you doing we… we need to continue onward” Lucca said between pauses of unexpected arousal from this girl.
Lucca turned to meet the girls eye but she was nowhere to be seen, suddenly he looked up and saw her face hovering above his. She was inverted floating above him and kissed him suddenly, Lucca was angry at first but melted into her lips.
“Not even a hard-headed boy like you can resist the lips of a good lady, I think a few nights here would be a good relaxing break from the journey thus far… no magicians with the powers of water here Lucca” he said.
Lucca continued to kiss this girl as she floated down to meet his face, she hooked her legs around his waist as he kissed her. Her eyes were also white, the dark pupil drew him in, for once it was not he who controlled his people with his eyes. She pressed her breasts against his white clothes and Lucca was out of breath.
“Go easy on the boy my angels, he is not so good with such glorious feelings… I plan to come here again when my days are few” he laughed, Lucca noticed now that his reptile friend wasn’t wearing any of the white clothing, he merely had his scaly skin as the girls hovered around him.

After a number of hours in the service of these mystical girls Lucca decided to go back to the hospital to gather his accoutrements.
“Don’t leave” the girls begged him, “never have we seen one with hair so dark, and eyes that make us yours…” they said but Lucca pulled away slowly.
“I am sorry, perhaps I shall return, but I need to go for now” he said they looked sad, one of them kissed him one last time before he left.

Lucca walked back to the hospital, he had an odd thought lingering on his mind. He felt eyes on him, eyes not from anyone on the street. Someone was watching him and had been since he arrived in this city, it was not a formidable aura but rather a uncertain one. Lucca found it difficult to judge after Aternius looked into him, but it was all around him.
Above the city lights the clouds had come overhead, and atop the buildings he could sense a movement, a shadow… one that would play a part in his life for many years to come.