• *campanile- a bell tower that isn’t attached to another building
    (BTW: words in bold are in Latin and if you want to know what they mean go to http://www.tranexp.com:2000/Translate/result.shtml, but my descriptions pretty much say what they are.)

    “What would you like to do, madam?” Laurent Theron asked Harper Lee Hoyle as he walked her away from their town and towards the glade nearby. He made it clear what he wanted to do by giving her a wolfish smirk.
    Harper Lee blushed several shades of red before swatting Laurent’s arm. “Laurent, don’t even think about that.”
    Laurent feigned innocence and put his hands to his chest miming that he was hurt. “I was only asking a simple question. You hurt me with your lack of trust, Harp.” He slipped his arm into Harp’s and continued their walk. “But I was serious, what would you like to do.”
    Laurent knew what Harp was going to say before she even said it.
    She smiled at Laurent, a smile he knew all too well. Her blue eyes began to glow with excitement. “Let’s practice,” she said already running out into the glade.
    Laurent sighed and followed her brown hair flowing in the wind. When he reached Harp, she was already removing her cloak and revealing her form-fitting outfit that, in her words, allowed her to move faster. Laurent thought that she wears it because she knows he can’t focus with her wearing something so skin tight.
    Laurent removed his own cloak and walked several yards away from Harp. He turned back to face her and could see the difference within the woman he loved.
    Any other time, Harper Lee was innocent, easily embarrassed, always quick to settle things non-violently and generally a nice person. However as soon as they started practicing, she was a completely different person. She didn’t hold back, wasn’t pulling any punches, had one of the fiercest expressions Laurent has ever seen with an attitude to match it.
    Most of the time, Laurent would veto her request to practice but soon gave in when he realized that it was pushing her away. He doesn’t want to hurt Harp, but he doesn’t want her to leave him either.
    “Remember,” Laurent heard Harp say from across the glade, “don’t hold back because you love me.”
    Laurent cringed a little but nodded his head. How his love knew him so well! It was the only way out of this whole thing, holding back. That way he could fight Harp and not hurt her, but it seems that Harp caught on. Laurent knew now that if he held back, Harp was going to be furious with him, which left him with one choice really. Yet, that didn’t mean he was going to like it.
    The air was suddenly charged with tension from the two staring at each other. Neither of them diverted their vision from the other and their breathing, even across the distance, was in sync.
    Suddenly, Harp’s arm flew out in front of her and she released a blue electric bolt straight at Laurent. Laurent dodged the bolt and threw a fire ball at Harp. Harp, however was on the move long before Laurent shot at her, so his fireball missed his target.
    He looked to his left and barely avoided the wind slice that was aimed at him. So close was Harp’s attack that it cut a few strands of Laurent’s deep brown hair.
    He searched for Harp in the glade and found her kneeling on the floor behind him. He saw her pick up a couple blades of grass and swore under his breath. He heard her say the word he was hoping he wouldn’t hear her say: Abeo.
    The blades of grass in Harp’s hands began to grow and change. They got thicker and larger within her hands and soon were thick green vines. Vines, Laurent thought with a wince at remembered pain, which could be used as whips. Almost on cue, Harp snapped one of the vines creating a cracking sound.
    Before he could do anything, Laurent was forced to run by Harp relentlessly attacking him. He ran and avoided most of her hits but not all of them. Laurent felt a stinging pain on his back and realized that he has been hit. He quickly rolled to his left knowing that Harp would attack him even on the floor. He stood up and placed his hands together in front of his chest.
    “Ventus manuum,” Laurent said.
    Laurent ran towards Harp and her vine whips as wind began to cover his hands starting with his finger tips. He saw Harp flick her wrist and knew that a whip was coming at him. He braced himself for the impact and put one of his hands out cutting the vine-whip before it could hit him.
    He continued to slice up the vines until he was only a yard away from Harp. He could see Harp’s panicked face and hesitated for a second, but that second cost him. Harp dropped her whips and sent an air ball at Laurent’s chest that sent him flying backwards.
    He landed on the ground with a loud thud and gasped as the pain shook through him. Crap, Laurent thought as he tried to get up. He needed some cover and fast before she sent something else like that his way.
    Laurent bent down and quickly scooped up some dirt in his hand.
    “Humus Os,” Laurent said before he blew the dirt in front of his face.
    The dirt grew and blew into the wind until Laurent couldn’t see past his own hand. He smirked to himself and quickly ran away from the scene. His smirk turned into a grimace when he felt her presence nearby.
    “Aer Levo!” Laurent floated into the air, high enough to avoid the sharp rock that was produced from the ground, right where he was last standing.
    Laurent looked down and saw Harp floating up to him. His eyes almost bulged out of his head when he saw that Harp was holding a sword made of wind in her hands. Laurent flew backwards to put more distance between them. He held out his right hand before his face concentrating on his palm.
    “Glacies Mucro,” he said before blowing into his hand. His breath started to solidify into tiny ice crystals, sparkling in the setting sun. The ice crystals started joining together into a huge ice crystal shaped like a sword.
    He held his sword out just in time to defend himself from Harp’s blade. There was a booming crash as the two connected together. However, Laurent was smiling into Harp’s frowning face. One thing that she forgot to take in account was the fact that he was ultimately stronger than she was when it came to brute strength.
    Laurent pushed Harp back and flew to her, with his sword raised high. He struck again, this time hitting Harp’s shoulder and sending her to the ground like a fallen star.
    Laurent took his time getting to the ground knowing that Harp could take a hit or two. When he reached the ground though, he realized that Harp hadn’t risen from the hole she made on impact.
    Laurent ran to the whole, terrified that he might’ve hurt his love in battle.
    “Harp?” He called as he ran into the hole. “Harper?”
    He found her still in the hole, her head lolled to the side. He ran to her side and grabbed her hand in his larger one.
    “Harper! Oh my…Say something!” It was getting harder and harder for Laurent to see as tears clouded his vision. He leaned down to Harp’s face and kissed her lips gently with his. Suddenly, arms encircled around his neck and pulled him in closer.
    Laurent pulled away shocked and looked down only to see Harper smirking seductively up at him, her blue eyes twinkling with mischief.
    “Now where are you going, Mr. Theron?” Harp said with a fake pout.
    Laurent groaned and pulled Harp to his chest in a hug, “You nearly killed me just then, you know that?”
    There was a pause before Harp spoke, her voice a whisper in Laurent’s ears. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you.”
    Laurent pulled away from Harp and stared intently into her face. There were times, much like now, that Harp would act out of character and confuse Laurent. Sometimes she was unusually bold and daring and would do things that even Laurent would frown upon, and he is a thrill seeker. This stunt she pulled puzzled Laurent even further. Did she not blush when he merely smirked at her? Then why did she pull him in closer and grin devilishly when he kissed her?
    Laurent tried to find the answers in her face, searching for anything that seemed amiss with her attitude, but she was back to being the sweet and forgiving woman he fell for. Laurent sighed and rubbed his dark brown eyes with frustration before standing up and pulling Harp up along with him.
    “Come on now,” Laurent said as he went to grab both of their cloaks, “let’s head back to town before it gets too dark.”
    Harp nodded her head in agreement and slipped her arm back through Laurent’s.

    When they arrived back in Northengale, Laurent walked Harp back to her own house where she lived alone, except for her dog Lionel. Laurent said his parting words and kissed Harp until he felt dizzy from excitement. He was pleased to find a dazed Harp when he pulled away.
    Laurent walked to his home near the town’s square whistling happily. He reached his house with record time and opened it only to be tackled to the ground.
    “What the?” Laurent asked dazed.
    “Thought I wouldn’t come back did ya?” said a gruff voice; a voice that Laurent easily recognized and was thrilled to talk to.
    “Brother! Hey, could you get off of me, please?” Laurent said trying to push the heavier man off of him.
    A thunderous laugh boomed into his ear and a huge weight was lifted off of Laurent. Laurent stood up and hugged his older brother with nostalgia; it has been months since he has last seen the older man. Laurent pushed his brother into the house and closed the door behind him.
    “So, Rafael, what brings you down to my humble accommodations,” Laurent said with a smile.
    “You don’t need to be polite with me, Ron,” Rafael said as he picked a cushioned chair to sit on.
    Laurent smiled and sat down in his moderate sized living room across from his brother. “Just wanted to see if the sea has changed you, Raf. It already changed the way you speak.”
    “Aye,” Rafael said with a smile, “but my lady seems fond of my new accent.”
    Laurent nodded lazily and leaned back in his chair. “How is Narwa been lately?”
    Rafael couldn’t help but smile hugely. “Narwa and I are expecting.”
    Laurent grinned before breaking out into a fit of hoots and patting his brother on his sandy colored head. “I think we should celebrate!”
    Laurent got up and went to the adjoining room that was the kitchen with his brother on his heels. He got two cups and quickly said a short spell; soon the cups were filled with strong liquor. Laurent graciously gave one to his brother and they clinked glasses together.
    Laurent drank his entire glass in almost one huge gulp and turned to his brother only to find Rafael staring into his glass.
    “Raf? What’s wrong?” Laurent asked, worried.
    Rafael stared at his cup with a wistful expression. “I taught you that, didn’t I?”
    Laurent stared at his brother, not understanding his incentive in asking his question until Rafael’s sea green eyes stared at him with a sense of longing.
    Laurent lowered his head, ashamed to meet his brother’s gaze. “Sorry.”
    “’S not your fault, it was my decision,” Laurent heard his brother say.
    “I’ll try to restrain from using my powers.”
    Laurent heard Rafael snort and looked up. “What?” he asked.
    “Like hell. If I had my powers and if you were the one that decided to bind your powers, I would still use mine. Like I said,‘s not your fault, ‘s just natural to use what you were born with,” Rafael smiled before sighing deeply, “I did what I had to do so I could be with Narwa, I just regret leaving you by yourself.”
    It was Laurent’s turn to snort. “That’s nothing you should worry about; I can take care of myself. Besides, if I ever do need more protection than what I can provide for myself, which I doubt, then mother and father can help.”
    “Mother and father are gettin’ old; they’re magic isn’t as strong as it used to be. I just wish…” Rafael drifted off looking down at his clenched hands.
    For a moment, Laurent couldn’t say anything. Then he spoke in almost a whisper, “Do you regret ever binding your powers?”
    “Never,” Rafael said looking up. His eyes showed that this was the truth and that he meant it with every fiber of his being. “I knew that fallin’ in love with a normal person would have consequences, but I was ready to face them. I would’ve given ev’ry thing I had to be with Narwa. I only wish that I could help you so you wouldn’t feel so lonely.”
    Laurent scoffed at his brother’s statement. “Lonely? I don’t know what gave you that idea.”
    “Two words: Harper Lee. From your last message you seem to be serious about her, goin’ as far as to say ya’ll marry her. How long have ya known her again?”
    Laurent pouted a little before saying, “About a year.”
    “Mhmm, I didn’t ask Narwa to marry me until three years after I met her and it took her 4 months to give me an answer. Honestly, I think ya’re blinded by love and can’t see things clearly.”
    “I am not blind and it’s different with me and Harp!” Laurent said standing up. “We have a connection and it’s stronger than anything I’ve ever felt before. I would gladly trade my soul for hers in a second. Just because I’m surer of myself than you were about a girl doesn’t mean anything.”
    Laurent tried to slow his breathing when he realized that it was heavy. His brother scrutinized him heavily and stood up with a heavy sigh.
    “I guess there’s no changin’ your mind. Just…don’t rush into things; I don’t want to sound like I’m…imposin’ on ya, but try to keep ya distance from Harper Lee. All I know of her is from your ‘Person-in-a-Box’ and I get a bad vibe from her.”
    Laurent didn’t say it out loud, but sometimes he felt the same way about Harp. He thought of her as a lovely flower and couldn’t be more in love with someone than he was with her, but there were times when he thought that Harp had some agenda. It wasn’t something he liked to think about often because he never wanted to doubt Harp, but Laurent knew that he had to face it. And his intuition told him to heed his brother’s words.
    “Alright, Raf, I’ll slow things down with Harp. I don’t want to worry you now that you have a baby on the way.”
    Rafael grinned and patted his brother enthusiastically on the back. “Aye, I’ll be sure to relax now that I know ya’re taking what I said seriously.” Rafael got up and walked to the front door stopping just before reaching it. “Oh and Ron, if ya ever need anything, remember that I’m here for ya. Just send me a message and I’ll be here as soon as I can. Take care.”
    Rafael waved to his brother and walked out of the door whistling as he went.
    Laurent stood up and went into his room to change. He always enjoyed visits from his brother; he doesn’t see much of him now that he moved to Port Lawrence. However, even without his strong magic, Rafael had the uncanny ability to know when something isn’t quite right. Laurent was truly going to slow things down with Harp because of his brother’s warning and his own instincts.
    When Laurent made it to his bedroom, a glowing orb was bobbing in front of his eyes. He touched it with his fingertips and heard Harp’s voice as if she was in the room with him.
    “Laurent, meet me in the campanile at midnight. There’s going to be a lunar eclipse tonight and I wanted you to see it with me from the best spot. See you soon.”
    Laurent grinned as he imagined Harp sitting in the campanile, an eerie lunar glow surrounding her and the old bell within, as she beckoned him to sit with her. Yes, Laurent thought as he prepared himself to leave, he was going to slow things down with Harp after tonight.

    Laurent looked up in the sky as he walked towards the campanile. The moon was full and shone brightly in the sky, but Laurent knew that the eclipse was coming soon; he had to hurry to get to the campanile quicker.
    Once he reached the tower, he ran to the door that was the entry to the staircase that led to the top. He touched the seemingly rusted lock with his hands and pulled away quickly when it shocked him. Laurent smirked. Of course she would spell the lock, he thought. He touched it once again, this time with a touch of strong magic, and the lock yielded to his power. Laurent smiled and quickly ran up the stone steps to the campanile’s hollowed dome.
    However, as he got closer to the top, an odd sense of dread started to fill him. It felt as if each step Laurent took to the top, the feeling would intensify. Suddenly, when he was at the last step, the feeling vanished as if it was never there.
    He peered into the gloom the moon provided and saw a figure sitting on a blanket in the moon’s radiance.
    Laurent smiled as he walked closer to Harp. He sat down casually on the dome’s floor and pulled Harp in closer. He heard her sigh contently and did the same.
    “The eclipse will start soon, Harp,” Laurent said as he kissed her softly.
    “I know,” she said faintly, “I’m glad you didn’t miss anything. This wouldn’t be…the same without you.”
    Laurent smiled and stroked Harp’s face for a second before Harp gently pushed him away. She walked into the center of the dome and motioned for Laurent to do the same.
    “You get the best view from here.”
    Laurent walked towards the center before he saw something dawn on Harp’s face.
    “Is there something wrong?” he asked when he reached her.
    “No,” Harp said as she smiled at him playfully, “I just have a surprise for you. Stay right here for a second and don’t move.”
    Laurent nodded and Harp took a few steps from him before turning towards him.
    “Watch this,” she said. Harp slammed the palms of her hands on to the floor and a symbol like an H surrounded by a circle lit up underneath Laurent.
    “The Hagalaz rune?” Laurent asked not quite understanding what this meant.
    The Hagalaz rune meant destructive forces of nature and things out of our control. Why would Harp show this to Laurent?
    Laurent looked at Harp confused. “What’s the meaning of this?”
    Harp whispered barely loud enough for Laurent to hear, “Universa Redimio.”
    “What?” Laurent asked, appalled.
    Suddenly, Laurent’s arms were behind his back, his feet had heavy glowing chains on them and he had a lock protruding from his chest. He looked across the room at Harp who held a black key in her hands.
    “Harp, what is the meaning of this?” Laurent asked warily, his brother’s words echoing through his head.
    Harp then went into her robe and took out a scabbard that was holding a small dagger. She pulled out the dagger and the blade was black like obsidian.
    Laurent knew through studies that black blades are only used for dark magic.
    “I’m sorry,” Harp said walking closer to Laurent, the blade gleaming as it came closer.
    Laurent began fighting against the magic chains that held him in place, futilely. He knew that the only way to break a magic bond was by using magic. Yet, when he tried nothing happened. His magic, like his whole body, was locked.
    “Stop fighting it, Laurent!” Harp suddenly screamed. “It will only making things harder for you to live.”
    Then, without any warning, Laurent felt cold just run through his body. His mouth dropped and words tried to come out but no sound was produced. His eyes, which were locked with Harp’s, slid down so he could stare at his chest and the knife now protruding from it. Blood seeped through his clothes and dyed his shirt a maroon color.
    Laurent managed to look up at Harp one last time before succumbing to the cold grip of death.