The Bloodied Phantom [Chapter 8]

In one of my most recent dreams, this ‘mystery man’ told me that my guardian had entered my world. Is it possible that Phantom is whom he was talking about?

All I know is that the conversation we shared was short but oh so sweet. We talked about the significances of our names. It doesn’t sound like an interesting conversation, but when I brought up how my grandmother had named me, it opened up emotions that I didn’t even know still dwelled within me. I cried a tear I hadn’t noticed. He had wiped away that tear with a gentle and reassuring hand.

The most amazing part of our encounter was when he conjured up a purple rose. I remember his exact words as he bestowed upon me the rose, “As have I. I enjoyed it.” I had hesitated at first, but when I looked into those dazzling ruby red eyes I melted and reluctantly accepted it. Zia was even more ecstatic than I was when I told her about Phantom.

It’s been awhile since I even looked in any boys’ direction, ever since my ex, Kyle, had abused me. What he did to me shook me to the core. After that, I swore to myself that I would never let any guy come into my life. Whether it be a relationship or friendship. But that small amount of time that I spent with Phantom made me think otherwise.

I can’t seem to get him off of my mind. Every time I engage myself in helping Zia study my mind trails off to that little sacred moment. That moment where he wiped away my tear, the clouds parted and voices sang ‘Hallelujah’. I had never felt that way about any guy before. Not even with Kyle, with whom I had dated for two years. I love Kyle. I really do. But nothing can ever forgive him for what he did to me.

Time and time again, I’ll sit alone and reminisce about the good times we shared together. About the times when it seemed like nothing could come between us. But that’s the past. I don’t want to relive those memories.

Lying here alone in my room, I let my mind run free. Thinking about what has happened in my life thus far. The good and bad. My surroundings slowly begin to fade into a pool of gray, then black, as I slowly drift off to sleep.

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These questions had been plaguing him ever since he had walked with Raiya. He’d only been in the mortal world for a week. But in that short week, he had learned the customs of mortal folk. The heat wave that greeted him introduced him to the scorching summer weather of Riverview, Maryland. He was a sight for sore eyes. There he was garbed in elaborate robes, and everyone else were either dressed in t-shirts, shorts, capris, and sandals. He had to change his appearance somehow. To blend in and keep from frying to death. While leaning on the trunk of a shaded tree, he noticed a blond-haired skateboarding. Phantom liked his sense of style. Though it was completely different from what he wore in his world.

Phantom stood behind the tree, making no one saw what he was about to do. He went behind the tree garbed in robes but came out dressed in a fitted black and red graffiti t-shirts, baggy black shorts and red and black kicks. He had decided that dressing like a skater boy would be his temporary style. Though he knew it fit his cousins’ personality more so than his own.

He also learned about their currency. Since he had powers that allowed him to conjure up whatever he needed, he knew he could magic up some when necessary.

For the past week, he had staying in a boarding house. A one-roomed apartment, where he paid rent every month. Since he didn’t know how long he would be in the mortal world he paid for eight months in advance.

He lie across his bed with his hands behind his head, staring up towards the ceiling. Thinking about if and when he would see her again.

That short walk they had shared made him anxious to see her again. He had broken the rules when he spoken to her. But ever since that day, he had been debating whether he should go see her again. Then he thought about his father and his own promise to watch over her. If he went to see her again he would not only be defying his father, but his entire kingdom.

He had been keeping a watch over her by looking into his crystal amulet. Nothing out of the ordinary had been happening to her, though she still had those dreams. One thing had changed. The time frame had altered. She now had them every few nights, unlike before when she had them every night.

Though he knew becoming involved with Raiya would be breaking the rules, he still had it set in his mind that he would. He wanted to see her again, in person. He closed his eyes, and was soon drifting off to sleep with thoughts of Raiya on his mind.