She. (WIP)

She, prologue.

Friday May 13th, 2067.

Zak and Sara lay naked on their bed, the ceiling fan stirring the air gently, sunlight filtering into the room through the net curtains surrounding the bay window that looked out over their garden and down to the stream at the bottom of the yard.

Zak without a c looked straight into Sara with no h’s eyes, her faded raven hair framing her face on the pillow next to his. She seemed distant, peaceful, like she was looking past Zak into the distance. The hair on her arm was raised slightly, small goosebumps appearing on her chest.

"It is close now. I can feel it", said Sara, her voice betraying a hint of anxiety.

Sara let out a sigh, visibly relaxing her wrinkled bosom, and smiled at Zak, their faces no more than six inches apart. She raised her left hand and Zak raised his to meet hers, her hand cool to the touch, Zak’s warm as always. She smiled at Zak, as his eyes drooped a little. They widened open again and he focused on her weathered face, smiling deeply as he took in her deep brown eyes.

"I can’t believe to took so many years, so many lifetimes to meet you, for us to come together to be as one", said Zak, tightening his grip on her hand.

"I wondered at times if you’d ever make it. I’m glad we did. I love you"

" I love you too, Sara"

Zak took Sara’s body in his arms, entangling their legs and feet, pressing his body into hers, her bosom into his chest, grasping her buttock with one hand. Zak placed his head on Sara’s shoulder pressing into her, before pulling back and looking into her eyes. He took her left hand once more interlocking his fingers and said “I’m not letting go.”

As he finished his sentence, a glowing light started shining in Sara’s chest, a thin trail of glowing light pulsing up her arm, a ball forming at the join of their hands.The ball filled Sara with wamth, like a small fire burning in her body. Zak could feel the warmth radiating from her too, but kept his promise, and held on as tight as he could to his soul mate.

"It’s so warm!"

"Don’t let go, Sara"

"I won’t, my love"

A ball of light began forming in Zak’s chest now too, and a trail began leading up his arm. As the trail met their hands the ball grew larger and larger, enveloping the pair until nothing could be seen in the room, only Sara’s naked body, laying next to his in a cloud of brilliant white light.

There was no pain, only warmth, and love, as they took their first step into the afterlife they had sought for so long, together at last.

The Beginning.


She, part 1, chapter 1

1

Aprilis 11, 112

Lugdunum, Gaul



Seraphina looked up from her work for a moment, lifting her head back and sighing heavily. Around her patrons were drinking themselves into a stupor, including several Roman soldiers, who, rumour had it, were moving through the city towards Germania. She wiped the sweat from her brow, the stifled air of the bar almost choking her.

The afternoon crowd were making life difficult for her, breaking glasses and spilling wine, as she tried in vain to keep her father’s tavern looking decent enough for the wealthy merchants that occasionally visited, usually when their caravans were passing through to head further north.

Her arms ached from scrubbing the many tables and her dress smelt of spilled wine, as the glasses clinked and barflies shouted around her. Seraphina was considered unlucky by most of her family, her father not being able to find her a husband despite his station, and many considered her now too old and good for nothing more than helping at the tavern.

Seraphina was almost 20 now, living alone in a small insula above a nearby market. She was quite good looking, and had been pursued by several poorer men at a younger age, but none her father deemed suitable to marry his daughter. Seraphina had long maroon hair that framed her face and rested on her ample bosom, while her impossibly dark brown eyes swallowed the attention of any who looked at her. She was quite good looking but relatively short, her sunken eyes belying wisdom beyond her years.

As she surveyed the scene around her in the dim light of the tavern she spied a young man sitting at a table in the corner, alone, reading a piece of papyrus. He was wearing quite heavy clothing, and several slung bags and satchels, with a hat by his side, and small glasses adorning his face. He was absorbed in his reading; almost oblivious to the goings-on around him as he sipped his drink from a mug. Seraphina knew what his look and clothing meant immediately.

He was a travelling merchant, or part of the party accompanying one. They were very common in Lugdunum. They would come up from the south and use the city as a hub before travelling further north towards Britannia or Germania. They were usually fairly wealthy and would tend to keep a low profile; trying to avoid trouble, before moving on again to their next destination.

He was a handsome young man, perhaps 22, with curly black hair that covered his ears. His face was not thin or fat, but his jaw line was quite strong, and his chin jutted out proudly. He has very clear blue eyes that stood out against his hair. He looked very weary from his travels. She approached his table, eager to learn more about this enigma of a man.