Of the many regrets Galina had over the course of her long life, perhaps the one that haunted her the most was the moment she left Ishamel behind. It would be many long decades before she knew the man’s name, but his face had been ingrained on her soul. Their conversation would play in her mind as keenly as those from her mortal life and she would always feel the sting of heartbreak and regret each time she thought of him.
But in that moment Galina felt sure of her decision. Sure that she would be able to come back, sure that she could save him, shelter him. It barely occurred to her that it could be any other way, that the events would play out in a much different order.
Rounding the corner, Galina easily slipped into the shadows. The soft soles of her boots barely making a sound, the heavy wool of her skirts hardly rustling as she made her way down one alley and then again, rounding corners and listening to the faint ‘Lina’ on the breeze. Pools of light from businesses open this late at night barely lingered on her form as she slipped through the streets, avoiding the puddles of half melted snow.
The memories that had been pushing on her consciousness since the man appeared consumed her, as if they were moving with her. The scholar’s watchful eyes, the prince’s menacing smile, her brother’s easy laugh, her maker’s exuberant gestures, and the princess’s worried gaze. It was as if they ran with her. Bits of memories flitting through her mind:
’A bee has the wings to fly to another flower, free yourself from this web - this madness. Steal away with me.-’
’... you’ll do as I say. You love me, Galina, there is no other way of life for you. You’ll always come crawling back to me.’
‘They say she won’t make it...isn’t there anything that can be done?’
‘I can save you. But you will have to give up your life. Give up everything you’ve come to know.’
‘Galina - you deserve happiness, perhaps more than anyone I know….’
Had she found happiness in this second chance? This new life that belonged to her now? Had turning her back on the life she’d once held, the one she knew the intricate dances to freed her? Or had it become a prison? A prison with bars that shut her off from everyone she had loved, would love? Perhaps she would have been better to simply let go instead of selfishly clinging to life, hoping that her maker hadn’t spoken the truth, that she would be an exception. But she had reasoned that any life had to be better than the one she had been caught in, that freedom was close - not through death but through this path as well. Was her very existence freedom or a prison of her own making? Her thoughts tumbled through her mind as she rushed through the city.
It started quietly at first, a dull roar that Galina could dismiss amongst the voices and memories that plagued her. But as she got closer to where she had left Mari she could not mistake the sounds. She’d heard roars of this nature, the angry cries of a city focused on an object. “Lina!” She heard, clearly amidst the undeniable sound of a mob.
Risking her safety in the shadows Galina stepped into the shallow light of a streetlight only to see the light of torches dancing over the cobblestones and buildings around them. Mari’s large eyes were wide with a mix of excitement and fear, as if the chaos fueled her. Her sister’s small form, no lager in appearance than a twelve year old, ran toward her, blond hair streaming behind her.
Galina could not tell if Mari had incited the mob, or simply gotten caught into it. But as her sister’s cold hand slipped into her own, she knew there was only one option left to them. To run.
The sisters dashed down streets and alleyways, their lithe forms barely stumbling and or hesitating as they made their way. Each obstacle easily seen by eyes made for the dark. The shadows that had plagued Galina’s mind since the man first appeared vanished as if light shone on them. The memories stilled as the adrenaline rushed through Galina’s veins, the last of her strength after providing the man her blood, pushing any further thought of the past back. No longer did the ghosts haunt her. Only the truth that they had to push on. There was no time to stop, no time to consider. Only the time to run.
Down the streets, the alleyways, past the sleeping houses, and the lit inns. The mob pressing down on them. But with each turn, each new street, safety glimmered. Further they pushed on until darkness plunged around them, the only sounds left their ragged breaths and the sound of their near silent feet on the ground below. Streets turned to grass, fields turned to forest and the only thing Galina could do was think I’ll be back. I’ll be back for you. The words ran through her mind like the pulse of the blood they now shared. For she could not fathom leaving him behind, could not fathom doing as her own maker had done, could not image abandoning him. She would explain to Mari what had happened and then they would double back for him.
But each step away from that alley where she had left him brought with it the finality of a lie that would haunt Galina for centuries to come. A lie to the man she had left behind, a lie to herself. How many times would she lie to herself? Lie that the future could be brighter than the past? How many times would she fall for the same naive belief once spoken by a lover?
Word Count: 1000
![[Image: xKclfq.png]](https://cdnw.nickpic.host/xKclfq.png)
an amazing bee work of art
But in that moment Galina felt sure of her decision. Sure that she would be able to come back, sure that she could save him, shelter him. It barely occurred to her that it could be any other way, that the events would play out in a much different order.
Rounding the corner, Galina easily slipped into the shadows. The soft soles of her boots barely making a sound, the heavy wool of her skirts hardly rustling as she made her way down one alley and then again, rounding corners and listening to the faint ‘Lina’ on the breeze. Pools of light from businesses open this late at night barely lingered on her form as she slipped through the streets, avoiding the puddles of half melted snow.
The memories that had been pushing on her consciousness since the man appeared consumed her, as if they were moving with her. The scholar’s watchful eyes, the prince’s menacing smile, her brother’s easy laugh, her maker’s exuberant gestures, and the princess’s worried gaze. It was as if they ran with her. Bits of memories flitting through her mind:
’A bee has the wings to fly to another flower, free yourself from this web - this madness. Steal away with me.-’
’... you’ll do as I say. You love me, Galina, there is no other way of life for you. You’ll always come crawling back to me.’
‘They say she won’t make it...isn’t there anything that can be done?’
‘I can save you. But you will have to give up your life. Give up everything you’ve come to know.’
‘Galina - you deserve happiness, perhaps more than anyone I know….’
Had she found happiness in this second chance? This new life that belonged to her now? Had turning her back on the life she’d once held, the one she knew the intricate dances to freed her? Or had it become a prison? A prison with bars that shut her off from everyone she had loved, would love? Perhaps she would have been better to simply let go instead of selfishly clinging to life, hoping that her maker hadn’t spoken the truth, that she would be an exception. But she had reasoned that any life had to be better than the one she had been caught in, that freedom was close - not through death but through this path as well. Was her very existence freedom or a prison of her own making? Her thoughts tumbled through her mind as she rushed through the city.
It started quietly at first, a dull roar that Galina could dismiss amongst the voices and memories that plagued her. But as she got closer to where she had left Mari she could not mistake the sounds. She’d heard roars of this nature, the angry cries of a city focused on an object. “Lina!” She heard, clearly amidst the undeniable sound of a mob.
Risking her safety in the shadows Galina stepped into the shallow light of a streetlight only to see the light of torches dancing over the cobblestones and buildings around them. Mari’s large eyes were wide with a mix of excitement and fear, as if the chaos fueled her. Her sister’s small form, no lager in appearance than a twelve year old, ran toward her, blond hair streaming behind her.
Galina could not tell if Mari had incited the mob, or simply gotten caught into it. But as her sister’s cold hand slipped into her own, she knew there was only one option left to them. To run.
The sisters dashed down streets and alleyways, their lithe forms barely stumbling and or hesitating as they made their way. Each obstacle easily seen by eyes made for the dark. The shadows that had plagued Galina’s mind since the man first appeared vanished as if light shone on them. The memories stilled as the adrenaline rushed through Galina’s veins, the last of her strength after providing the man her blood, pushing any further thought of the past back. No longer did the ghosts haunt her. Only the truth that they had to push on. There was no time to stop, no time to consider. Only the time to run.
Down the streets, the alleyways, past the sleeping houses, and the lit inns. The mob pressing down on them. But with each turn, each new street, safety glimmered. Further they pushed on until darkness plunged around them, the only sounds left their ragged breaths and the sound of their near silent feet on the ground below. Streets turned to grass, fields turned to forest and the only thing Galina could do was think I’ll be back. I’ll be back for you. The words ran through her mind like the pulse of the blood they now shared. For she could not fathom leaving him behind, could not fathom doing as her own maker had done, could not image abandoning him. She would explain to Mari what had happened and then they would double back for him.
But each step away from that alley where she had left him brought with it the finality of a lie that would haunt Galina for centuries to come. A lie to the man she had left behind, a lie to herself. How many times would she lie to herself? Lie that the future could be brighter than the past? How many times would she fall for the same naive belief once spoken by a lover?
Word Count: 1000
an amazing bee work of art