AKIRA SELENA
Obviously, a dinner at a Rockefeller mansion deserves any and all sacrifices on my part. I am so excited, I can't wait to hear the stories of the new adventures they went on during this time we were away. The worst part will be that I won't have a single good or interesting story to tell. What could I say? That I finally learned how to hunt animals on the first try of my arrow shot? That is so boring that I don't even want to hear myself.
" You're bewitched by them…"
Alfred comments, as if I need his intrusion into my life as well.
" I'm just not an idiot not to see the opportunity that is being friends with the Rockefeller family" I continue walking without looking back as he comes walking like a guard dog, there being a distance of one meter separating our bodies.
Why doesn't he keep quiet? Everything was perfect until now...
"You know the history of our people, in which men like Mr. Rockefeller only wanted our land and what could be in it" He explains the story that I have heard a thousand and one times from my mother.
"I know the story, but the times are different! "
I make my attempt to get him to open his mind to new experiences. I can understand that for older people it is difficult, but by Gods, Alfred is a 24-year-old boy, although his muscular body and brawny air create the illusion that he could be much older. And that the memory of the little boy I saw bathing in the river no longer exists.
"Time is not the problem. It is people and their intentions. Change will never be good when only one side will be the winner. They don't want the good of all, they want the best for themselves. Because it is the suffering of the majority that makes them men with power" He says.
Okay, I have to admit that was too deep to have come out of a head as hollow as his. I am surprised enough to turn around to look him in the face, and even more surprised to see that he has taken off his coat and fastened it around his waist. How can he stand this cold with only a light fabric covering his torso with a very well-meshed abdomen?
Oops! I'm looking at him too much. A minute of distraction that I can't afford to have. Alfred's ego is sufficiently fed by the rest of the girls in town. Besides, I promised Mr. Rockefeller, to be his spokesperson and I will:
"Please don't make it a war. He just needs a chance!"
I ask him staring, then I see the same look of disapproval from my parents or anyone else who hears Mr. Jeremy's name in Skyfall.
He approaches so quickly that a meter becomes centimeters that are preventing our faces from coming together. When did we get so intimate?
"Listen well! I don't need to give Mr. Rockefeller a chance. I know him more than you can imagine. And being on their side, is the worst decision you make in your life. Don't say I didn't warn you. Now get in this damn mansion and have dinner with them as you like. I'll be out here waiting for you and don't make me storm this stupid wall to bring you back! "
He dictates the rules and I confess that having his breath so close makes me feel a little bewildered. His gaze is so intense and wild, so different from when we were younger.
"Wall?"
Is the best I can say
"Look at the castle you want to attend.”
Alfred suggests and my curious eyes follow the direction of his index finger. And he is right. The Rockefeller mansion looks so different from last year.
There are high walls all around, protecting access to the interior, successfully hiding the walls in white tones, the same way a pearl is hidden at the bottom of the ocean. So, I wonder, what else might have changed?
✧✧
" Not her! Let her through! ",
Orders Mister Jeremy, preventing men in black suits from playing me as an unwanted intruder.
" I appreciate that, that's a bit much…”
I refer to the wall and the security guards.
" If you wish to approach the people, won't that make you feel more isolated from everyone?
"Honey, it's just a precaution. There are many wolves in the area and wild animals" He justifies himself, and I don't disagree to some extent.
"The funny thing is, Mr. Jeremy, we live in small houses of stone and straw, no one has ever been attacked by a wolf. Why would you sir be in this huge house?"
" Maybe because you guys grew up here, the wilderness comes natural to you. I, as a city man, prefer to take precautions. At the end of the day, they will always be wild animals and we humans, right?"
" I hope you are wrong, Mister Jeremy. Wolves are sacred to us.”
I unconsciously assume my mother's job as protector of the city's cultural heritage.
" That's good to know. Do you see how important their friendship is to us? I could hurt any of your people with my big city man fear and prejudice. Thank you, Akira."
He thanks me sincerely.
" You're welcome, Mister Jeremy!"
I speak gently.
" Isn't your friend coming in?" he asks as he notices Alfred's figure standing at the gate like a haunting.
" Oh no, he would rather have a spear through his heart" I joke, even though it is the truth.
" I believe it's not the wolves I need to protect myself from."
He joins in on the joke and we both laugh.
" Let's go inside, it's cold out here."
I agree with him, hurrying my steps along with his to the main entrance of the mansion.
A lit fireplace is the first to greet us warmly, next is the sophisticated decoration of polished wood, paintings with colorful landscapes that make me forget the frequent white of winter, comfortable sofas, rugs laid out on the floor that are better than many beds I've slept in my entire life; And, although I've seen it all before, I still manage to be dazzled by every detail.
" Akira!"
Shouts a familiar female voice.
" Lilian?!" I shout back.
We run to each other, exchanging a long, deep hug. Her skin smells so good I believe I am picking a flower and as for mine, well, I can't tell if she feels the same.
" This jacket looks perfect on you!" she compliments.
" I have to agree that it does. Selena was born to be one of us..."
Replies another familiar voice. However, this time male, and I know very well to whom that voice belongs.
Richard...
My hands freeze, my heart races, and for a moment I lose the courage to face him.
By the holy guardians, I wonder how he looks. Would he have changed as much as Alfred? And why am I remembering that idiot when it was Richard complimenting me?
POV ALFRED ... A spear going through my heart? I listened to Akira comment. Not only is she stubborn, she is also sarcastic. I sigh in boredom that I wasn't there to spice up this conversation even more. I would say something like: " Mr. Jeremy wishes to test?" I am amused at the thought. It's a shame that the two of them walk away until they completely disappear from my sight. Soon the gate closes with great intensity. The men in black glare at me after lining up, forming yet another wall to protect the Rockefellers. And guess what, this one is just as easy to breach as the other. However, I don't have to be a wild animal every time. I reach into my coat pocket for a bottle of booze, take small swigs, and it doesn't take long for their teeth and lips to quiver with desire for a bit. " Are you served?" I stretch the bottle towards them.Mister Jeremy won't know. He's in there drinking and eating the best, fuck you guys out here." First, indecision dominates in their gestures and
POV AKIRA Between Alfred and Richard, it's not hard to see their differences. Richard is so sweet and kind, living up to his honey brown eyes and his darker brown locks like a tree trunk where you rest in search of peace. And his kiss proves to be a calm breeze of this so called summer I never knew. He was my first love while my pure and naive heart did not realize the countless obstacles I would have to face because he was a big city boy. Now seeing him in front of me, smiling at me, awakens feelings that I believed were dormant. "May I kiss your hand, Akira?" Someone asks. " Huh?" I'm still dreaming. " If I can kiss your hand. I asked twice." Richard says embarrassed and I come to my senses of what is happening. " My hand? Oh no need. I'm used to being forcibly pulled by Alfred when I throw tantrums." I tell one of my everyday pranks, but everyone remains serious, which makes me blush. Better keep your mouth shut, Akira. " In the big city the men are gentlemen and kiss th
POV Alfred "I don't know Great mother. I think the chosen Alpha will feel a calling in his heart" I reply to the old woman still sitting in front of me. Both she and the old father, are still looking at me with a look of a teacher who expects his student to know the answer to the question. "And what do you feel in your heart?" The old father asks tenderly, so that I dispel my suspicions that it is my vanity that is this voice whispering inside me. " Is it me...?" I don't know if it is a question or an answer. " Of course it's you, hollow head!" Says the older mother, tapping my head lightly. I bet that this "hollow head", she learned from Akira. Only she calls me that. Alpha, Akira, calm down! "Am I Alpha? I mean, am I the chosen warrior? Akira and I, we were made for each other like the roar of a wolf and the moonlight?!" I am elated that I can barely process all this information. " If you don't believe it, how do you expect Akira to believe it?!" The big mother say
POV RICHARD " A wild rival? Comical!" Sacarmo takes over my mood. All that was left of company was my car, and if he could talk, he would be as upset as I am now. We have that in common: being irresistible to women, or at least I thought so. I'd rather bet that Akira Selena isn't smart enough to see what an advantage it is to have me on her side. Or just, she is so amazed at all that I can offer, that she can hardly choose what is best for her. How much effort will I need to make to please her? Isn't it enough that I have to return to this end of the world to woo a poor wretch who should be begging on her knees for my love? I hate Skyfall and everything about that primitive world of Selena. I hope my father is right about the riches that might be in store among those mountains, otherwise it will be a wasted time all the years I have come here and received absolutely nothing but this cold and closed faces of men who possess a foolish pride of who might measure strength with a Ro
POV AKIRA SELENAI admit how skeptical I can be about everything involving Skyfall, but on one thing, if not the last thing, not even the greatest among skeptics would remain indifferent. From living here so much, I know, that only something very magical would make everyone work hard before nine in the morning. Because the day does not go well with skyfallers, and even less so when the sky gives clear signs that today will not offer us its usual gray, but a splendid blue that has changed in such a short time.How did it happen? I wouldn't be able to explain, and frankly, no one is interested when there is so much to do for the party right at dusk. Men, women, old people and children all get together to make the preparations for the big day. In the decoration, many colors are mixed and apparently emotions too. This is how I feel when my gaze has just met Alfred's in the middle of the crowd. His strong arms are carrying tree trunks that will serve as firewood and seats around the bon
POV ALFRED Hours before meeting Akira at the festival preparations… My steps are calm. I don't want to frighten the beautiful bird that is preparing for its flight. I don't want to hit it with an arrow. I am afraid that its blood will stain my luck. So I risk a jump and my fingers pull a feather, in return, he pulls my finger with his big beak. Our encounter turns into a war until I get the perfect feather. The bird flies away and I return to near old dad who is amused by the whole situation. "Wouldn't a letter on a flowery paper be more effective?" I grumble. I am not at all confident in this plan. Because the fact that Akira has shown herself to be more open since she left the Rockefeller mansion doesn't mean that she prefers things like that over her imported jacket she got from Lilian or Christian's stupid letter. "Old father, this might be my last chance. I don't want to waste it..." I confess my longings, and honestly, there is no one better to listen to me than him. "T
POV RICHARDThe sun comes in fiercely through the window, beating down on my face while my eyes are closed and refusing to believe that this is the dawn of day.Oh my! If this is not a dream, what is happening in Skyfall?I have never witnessed such a sunny day, even though it is "summer". I get up in displeasure and go to the window to draw the curtains. My intention is to go back to sleep, but seeing those ridiculous little houses of the Skyfallers decorated with bright colors, I remember that today is the festival. It's been almost two days and not a single sign of Akira. My arrogance is enough to assume that she is waiting for me today with open arms and that this distance between us is just a ploy on her part to match the extremely coy matchmaking girls in the big city. I don't understand the reason for this, because I am not willing to give her any choices. She will be my wife and that will be our happy ending.I close the curtains, ending the depressing spectacle of these w
POV AKIRA SELENA I have left my little home, although my mother's words have not left me. However, the night is festive, and for many of us, the opportune moment to celebrate the best that unites us. The small streets are all lit up and nobody would get lost until the center of the small town, so there is no need for me to get lost in my worries about what may or may not happen tonight. I feel my hands cold and my heart racing. Because today, the festival is not only a celebration. It is also a meeting point and who knows, maybe the possibility of a romance being born in the hearts of the youngsters. Maybe this explains so many colors and the magical aura that involves everyone beyond the fumes escaping from the huge bonfire where some already dance around, others talk and the shy ones use it as a barrier to exchange glances from one end of our "ballroom" to the other where the open sky and the moonlight are our hosts. There is also an exchange of gifts as a show of affection bet