Chapter Seventeen: Footprints On Her Heart

All Arkain first noticed was blue. Blue, blue, blue. It was all he could see. As he adjusted to the light he noticed his arms were wrapped around someone. Suri was laying on his body with her head on his chest. He tilted his head back and saw the sun.
Arkain
What the hell?
They were in the sky. High above the heights airplanes go. They were centered in the middle clouds floating as Arkain’s wings gently moved up and down. Suri stirred.
Suri
You’re finally awake.
Arkain looked down on her head. Her hair smelled great.
Arkain
I take it you’ve been awake for awhile?
She looked up to his face.
Suri
Yeah, about two hours I’m guessing. 
Arkain held her close. 
Arkain
How did we get up here?
Suri
You flew?
They both let out soft laughs. 
Arkain
The last thing I remember was that Camelot guy saying our time had run out and I knew what he meant, I turned and ran to you as fast as I could, I grabbed your hand and the rest is a blank. 
Suri
Well that clears up a lot.
Arkain
I guess my body for the rest of the time acted on its own. 
Suri
Why here?
Arkain
I think my subconscious mind knows deep in me that I feel safest with the stars, the sky. 
Suri
That makes sense.
Arkain
I’m just glad we’re alive. The others probably think, um that we’re, um- 
Suri
Dead. 
Arkain
Yeah, that was what I was going for. 
Suri
I wonder what’s going on down there. 
Arkain
Yeah. I’m sure things are fine.
Suri
You never know.
Arkain
Right. I think we should head down.
Suri
Can we wait? The sun should be setting soon, I can feel the wind getting cooler, and I just thought we could wait for it.
Arkain
What for? 
Suri
All my life, I’ve always looked at things from the front, the bottom, and the sides. I’ve always wondered what it would be like to see things from atop. When I woke up earlier, I finally knew what it was like. I have seen what you’ll be seeing for the rest of your life. It filled my lungs with a happiness I haven’t felt in so long. I just don’t want to leave here. 
Arkain
I get you. I don’t know though, I just feel like something isn’t right. A feeling in my gut. 
Suri pressed her face against his neck. 
Suri
Can’t you just concentrate on the stars? 
Arkain
They're not out yet.
Suri
You can still feel them I bet, they are still there. 
Arkain looked down on her.
Suri
I just, I’ve been alone for far too long. I thought I’d die before I got to feel what every girl dreams about. 
Arkain knew she meant love.
Arkain
You won’t die before that, I promise.
Suri
I know we met yesterday, but it feels like I’ve known you before. It feels like we met before, and in that first encounter you left footprints on my heart. Prints no one else has been able to fill until we met again, until now. 
Arkain set his head on hers.
Suri
I know I have this power that makes me stronger than most men, and I know I’m not human but I can’t help but be afraid. 
Arkain
Why are you afraid?
Suri
Ever since I can remember, I’ve always had these voids in me. It’s not like I was born into this you know? I still remember vaguely what it was like to be a normal little girl. You’re the first person I’ve known all my life who makes me feel normal.
Arkain
We’re not normal, Suri.
Suri
I know, but you see, we all, whether human or evolved humans, we all share the same emotions and pain. I just don’t want that pain ever again. I don’t want to think about having no one I can relate to again. Knowing we can die at anytime, knowing we’re in war now, it makes me afraid, it worries me. 
Arkain
You don’t have to worry about anything, Suri. It’s alright. 
The tip of Suri’s nose touched Arkain’s chin.
Suri
Promise me, promise me that no matter what, you won’t leave me to the life I had before you walked into me yesterday. 
Arkain
I promise. 
Suri
I trust you.
Arkain
Are you crying?
Suri
No, I promised someone I would never do that. 
Arkain
So it looks like we’re both locked in promises now I guess. 
Suri
Let’s hope we don’t make too many. Now since there are no stars, can you focus on me until they get here?
He nodded.
Arkain
Close your eyes.
He touched her lips with his own.
Gemma
Arkain! 
The darkness was consuming the building and growing.