Swan Song

Seems like my preferred past time is chasing ghosts... 

The girl woke to find that her body felt heavy. She was surrounded by silk sheets in a room that she recognized to be the guest room of a friend's house. Beside her, someone else stirred. Through the pale moonlight, she saw his sleeping form. So, they had passed out together after all.

She slid her arms around him, bringing herself close enough to press her cheek against his back. She felt his hands close around hers.

"You smell sweet," he murmured, swirling in the tail ends of a dream.

He always was nicest when he was half-asleep.

Out on the balcony, the cover of night was so familiar. The cool air in her lungs flooded her with nostalgia. The air in the crystal city always left her feeling different, made her feel like the world had more to offer.

He lit a cigarette and inhaled deeply. It started to rain. The smoke rose and she watched it evaporate into the grey sky.

"What are you looking for here?" he asked.

The moonlight made his skin glow. She looked up at him, the prince of his own world--no, the king. His blue eyes bore into her, saw right through her.

"Maybe I missed you," she found herself saying.

He flicked his cigarette butt dismissively. "You say that to all the boys."

She wanted to say more, but sighed. There was no use explaining herself to someone who didn't believe in love.

"Do you ever think that there's more to life than parties?"

He shrugged, uninterested in what she had to say. His next words surprised her.

"I should warn you that Lukas is back in town. No doubt word of your return has reached your mother and father."

"I'll be careful."

She closed her eyes, feeling the slight breeze against her skin. This life had so many troubles. She was determined not to let a ghost from her past be one of them.


The sun soon rose behind the thick velvet curtains in the room. She hated how the sunlight was capable of bringing back back memories of her old life. Everyone always told her it wouldn’t matter, that everything would be fine, that her pain would somehow become mitigated with time. Dreams of a life that would never come to fruition told her otherwise. The love she had felt, that happiness—it all seemed far behind her now.

“Wake up.” A stern male voice broke her out of her thoughts.

Calmly, she opened her eyes and sat up. Nero was gone. A young man dressed in fine clothing moved around the room, pulling open the curtains to let the sunlight in.

“I’m awake.” She sighed, rubbing at her temples.

He gazed at her disapprovingly. “I swear, if Nero were not so fond of you, I’d have something to say.”

“Well, it’s a good thing he is, then.”

“I can’t see why,” the man mused. “You’re ordinary.”

“Shut up,” she snapped, tired of his jabs. She pushed dark hair out of her eyes. “Is it time for the meeting already?”

“Soon. Get ready. I’ll escort you downstairs.”

As she rose to make her way to the washroom, he slapped a hand on her shoulder.

“Don’t fuck up,” he said warningly.

She pushed off his hand with a glint in her eyes. “I won’t.”