That night, I lay awake, unable to sleep. Magic’s power still pulsed through my body, and it ached for a release, but I fought the urge. I rolled over and faced the window. It must’ve been at least two in the morning by the way the moon’s light crowded into my room.
I thought of the evening I’d shared with Boaz, wishing I could fully enjoy this fairytale that was beautiful, yet dark. Like the fair maidens in the stories, I, too, had been whisked away to a far off, mystical place. But whisked off to where? The fairytales spoke of far off places as being full of light, with colorful flowers, talking animals and mystical creatures.
There were beautiful flowers, and Hunwald was strange enough that he probably could talk, and Boaz, he couldn’t be more mystical. But my fairytale lacked the light and the constant beauty that should exist, too. Maybe that’s why they’re called fairytales—because something as beautiful as all that just wasn’t possible.
I moved out of bed and welcomed the moonlight by opening the window. The cool wind rushed in and raced around the room, catching and twisting my long gown in its wake. I wrapped my arms around me and closed my eyes. I could still see the faint glow of the moonlight behind my eyelids.
I stayed like this for some time, my front bathed in moonlight, my back immersed in darkness. I only opened my eyes when the faint sound of hooves galloping nearby drew my attention to the window. Not far off, a rider dressed all in black dismounted a horse and walked toward me. My heart skipped a beat.
The rider stopped just below my window and looked up. Boaz’s eyes met mine, and I sucked in air when my magic seemed to shock my entire body. I giggled inwardly. This is what I wanted, to feel this every second of every day. My desire for dark magic’s power snuffed out any thoughts I once had for light and purity. The desire to be different, to be good, was now gone. I simply didn’t care anymore.
I stepped up to the tall window and looked down briefly before I jumped. I used my powers to cushion the thirty-foot fall, and then walked toward Boaz, my chin up and arms at my side. I didn’t care that I wore a revealing black nightgown.
Without saying a word, Boaz held up a dark cloak. I stepped into it. The weight of it seemed to suck the moon’s light away from me.
Boaz lifted the hood over my head and stared back and forth into my eyes, as if searching for something. “Come with me?”
I nodded and accepted his outstretched hand without hesitation.
We walked across the cold earth; the heavy mist parted for us as if on command. Boaz’s black horse was waiting for us at the edge of the forest like a loyal soldier. He stood erect, eyes forward.
Boaz leapt onto the horse’s back and pulled me up easily. My hands slid across his abdomen and locked tightly. Boaz didn’t have to kick the horse to get it go forward; it seemed to move on his own as if sensing Boaz’s thoughts, even knowing what direction to turn. Boaz gripped the horn with one hand, and his other hand he pressed into mine. A strength, intense and powerful, expanded around us, making my muscles tighten and then release. Every last one of them. I moaned from both pleasure and pain.
I threw my head back when an indescribable feeling of invisibility overwhelmed my entire being. It grew inside me like a noxious weed, snuffing out any gentleness, kindness, good thoughts. I let go of Boaz’s waist and stretched out my arms into the night, feeling that at any moment I might be thrown from the horse. I began to chuckle and then laugh. It escaped from deep inside me, from somewhere dark and cold. Boaz didn’t join in my laughter, but I knew from our connection that he was as intoxicated as I was.
Boaz continued to ride the horse hard and fast through the forest, maneuvering the large animal as if it were an extension of him. We rode faster than I thought possible, and I wondered if there was something supernatural about the horse, too, like Hunwald.
While the horse continued to race forward, Boaz, in a move faster than I could see, twisted and turned until he was riding the horse backwards, my legs suddenly wrapped around his waist. He took hold of my shoulders and stared into my eyes, his expression serious. I thought he was going to kiss me, but without warning, he leapt into the air, taking me with him. We seemed to float for a moment before we landed on the ground with me in his arms. I exhaled. The running horse disappeared around a bend and into the darkness.
“Where are we?” I asked. The overgrown woods were thick with vegetation and a thin layer of frost covered the ground.
“Quiet.” He placed a finger to my lips. “Follow me.” He crept through the woods like a panther, stealthy and agile. I tried to move as gracefully as he, but it was impossible. Thankfully, Boaz said nothing about my noisy footsteps.