Candles Illuminate the Circle by David Gorena

Candles illuminate the circle, the walls barely visible at the edges of the dim light. In the center a figure, clad in flowing black robes with intricate patterns of swirls and glyphs sketched in a shimmering blue silk, kneels with his head bowed.

“Varium salitus exporium ver corpium…” He chants slowly, his voice barely a whisper.  The candles begin to sputter as a breeze fills the small chamber.  The sound almost drowns out the man’s whisper, “I don’t want to love her anymore.”

The winds grow to a howling whirlwind as the spell continues.  The candles erupt, the flames growing twice as tall as the candles.  The room is enveloped in a faint blue glow, revealing the carefully drawn designs on the ground.

The robed figure stands, and holds his hands out.  On his upturned palms, two ghostly figures begin to dance.   One, the perfect image of the enchanter, dances round with a woman, dressed in a flowing dress, her hair streaming behind her as they twirl across his palms.

“Varium salitus exporium ver corpium,” he continues.  As he chants, the figures glow first blue, then they change to a burning red.  Their feet leave welts on his hands as their passion burns.

“Exporium ver corpium infinalitus salitus!” he screams to raise his voice above the whirlwind engulfing the room.  The candles give off a final brilliant burst before they explode, sending globs of hot wax out to shower the room.  The winds grab books, papers, anything small laying around the room and bring the debris into their vortex.

The figure’s dancing suddenly stops, and the woman’s color fades from red to a deep maroon, and finally to blue while she steps away from the man.  Her figure dissipates.  The image of the enchanter is left there, a burning red scorching the mage’s palm.

“The Gods help me, I still love her…” Tears fill his eyes as he begins the final incantation.  “Exporium corpium, Exporium infinalitus, salitus ver corpium.”

The magic rushes through him, the figure in his hand flashes to a brilliant blue, and crumples, fading to nothing.   The mage clutches at his chest as beams of light flash through him, pulling at him, taking away pieces of him.

He falls to the ground, sick with nausea.  “Please, I don’t want to love her anymore.”

He freezes, gripped by fear. He’s realized his mistake.  The torrent around him continues.  A laugh escapes his mouth.  The wizard clutches at his heart as he falls over, whispering to the Gods as death takes him.

“Of course, now I see your designs.  A love that deep can only be ended by death…”

THE END

© David Gorena 2010

Author Bio

David Gorena is a computer science major in San Antonio, TX. This will be his first published story.