Narcissus Heart

Chapter 2

Apollo's chariot carries the sun back into the sky the next morning. Narcissus lay sleeping in a field of glorious, soft, green grass. His eyes flutter open slowly, awakening.

"A thousand questions flood my mind." He groans to his horse, "My head aches as if the mighty Aries himself had brought his powerful hammer down upon the crown." He puts a hand on his head, turning to Ratia. "All last night, I dreamt of a girl with beauty that would make even Aphrodite jealous. Although, I do wonder..." He pauses, mounting his horse, "What parts were the dream?" Narcissus looks to his mare, as if he were to find some glint of an answer in her eyes. Seeing nothing, he kicks his heels against her sides, "Hya!" They gallop forward.

Narcissus pulls on Ratia's reigns when they appear in front of the woods where they met the young girl and her horse the day before. "Woah, girl." He says softly, "Can this be where that young siren hath smitten my heart?" The mighty beast shakes her head as if saying yes. He slides from his steed, "I think I'll go alone this time, dearest Ratia, please wait here." He pats her nose, turning to the woods before him. He takes a deep breath and approaches the forest.

Once stepping through the bushes, Narcissus hears a faint sound. Curious, he moves forward. The sound gradually grows louder with every few steps he's taken. He recognizes the sound as a young lady's voice. The melancholy tune she sings floats through the forest, coming and going with the breeze. He listens intently, trying to follow it, but it seems to be coming from every direction. Half an hour passes and he's still been searching. "I am never to find her if it keeps on like this." He lands himself beside a tree, massaging his aching feet. Narcissus then looks down... There, on the ground: Ratia's hoof-prints from yesterday! "This will surely lead me to fair Nisi!" He stands quickly, trumping towards where the trail leads.

Coming to a wall of brush, Narcissus shoves his way through as if pushing through a crowd. There, by the same water, sits a maiden with dirty-blonde hair petting a horse that drinks from the pond. He approaches slowly, trying not to frighten her off, for she may not remember him.

"I don't know why you try to come quietly," She speaks, her voice slicing through the silence with such grace, "You fail to do so every time." She makes it seem as if she hasn't noticed him,

"I try not to frighten you."

"Why do you try so?" She asks, her eyes still faced to the waters, her hand still stroking her gentle beast.

"I wish for you to stay," He grins, "If I startled you, you might leave."

"Why do you wish me here?" She turns her head quickly to peer into his face. Those eyes send shivers through him. They pierce into his very soul, seeing everything within him. She can see all of his faults, his darkest corners, he knows it.

"If a gentleman such as myself cannot keep you," He tears his eyes from hers, trying to keep himself under control. "At least he'd like to hold your company."

"Gentleman?" She giggles mockingly, "I'm sure you're no gentleman." She turns his core cold with her laughter. There's something so dark about it, yet it's so gentle and carefree. It sort of reminds him of a wind chime, tinkling with joy as it dances in the winds of a devastating storm.

"Terribly sorry." Narcissus seats himself next to her, "I'm just not used to..."

"To being told that you are inadequate." She finishes for him, "I know who you are."

"You've only met me but a day ago." Narcissus shakes his head, chuckling nervously. "What makes you think you know me so well?"

"It's who I am."

"So you are me?"

"Not quite as you perceive it, but yes, in a way."

"You are a strange one." He stares down at her porcelain hand, gracefully laying on the grass below. It seems to float on top of the grass, for none of the green blades bend under the weight of her fingers. Her hand appears soft and dainty, her fingernails long and beautiful. He longs to touch it and yet, he fears to. She's a gorgeous young lady, but she's powerful in a way that no one can resist. "What if I could change?" He queries, slipping his hand under hers. She jerks her hand to her quickly, caressing it with the other as if it burns to touch him. At that moment, he sees a single emotion in her face, very clearly. Her eyes grow wide, her breathing short, deep, and quick. She tries to keep the rest of her face as composed as possible, but it's easy to see that she's fearful.

"I highly doubt someone as stubborn as you can change." Her breaths fall to a normal pace as she calms herself.

"I would try if it were you wanting me to. What troubles you?"

"You'd never understand if I told you." Nisi slides toward her horse, away from Narcissus.

"Please, won't you say?" He inquires, his eyes filling with honesty. She looks to his face for a moment, contemplating.

"I suppose I could tell you a bit of it." She replies, "To one such as myself, you are among the most dangerous men of your species."

"I most certainly am not." Narcissus gives her a look of puzzlement, "I'm only a loner, not something so wrong as a rapist or murderer."

"I disagree."

"And what do you speak of, a person such as yourself?" He inquires, "I've yet to meet anyone similar to you!"

"I never said I was a person."

This made him ponder, suspicion growing in him. "What are you?"

"I'm afraid you know too much already." She shakes her head, "I must take my leave." She mounts her horse. He rises, turning to depart. Nisi gazes to him, "You would change?"

"For you, I'd do anything."

"It might be nice if you weren't so dangerous." She shrugs, her voice and expression still flat. "Hya!" She shouts, kicking her Eidyllio's sides. The horse rears back, whinnies, and charges forward into the woods. Narcissus sighs, walking back through the forest.

He meets with Ratia, mounting her.

"I think I perhaps have made progress today with the beautiful young woman. Tomorrow, you could distract her horse while I speak with Nisi." Ratia whinnies in agreement, galloping off with a signaling kick.