My body feels light, as if I could jump into the air and be carried away by the breeze. I run my hand over my arm, fascinated by the droplets slowly falling on my skin and helping me cool down.

It wasn't this hot a couple minutes ago, and seeing as the clouds above of us are as grey as ever, my raising temperature might have a little to do with the alcohol in my system.

I hardly drink, so I don't know if I should blame Nova for the peer pressure or scream at the universe for putting me in a situation where I need something to numb the pain.

Kwami's friend caresses the guitar strings, making it almost impossible not to nod my head to the gentle melody. Listening to him play, I start to think that music has the power to heal.

"Dance with me, Mora," Nova grabs my arm before I can protest, pulling me away from the ladder of the treehouse and under a dim lantern. "Dance," she slurs.

Letting go of Nova, who doesn't seem bothered at all by my disappearance as she twirls herself in carefree motions, I move closer to one of the four lanterns hanging around us. Raising my hand to it, I smile, loving how it makes my skin shine golden and my hair glitter like fairy dust.

"Mora," Nova whines, and I whip my head back so fast it hurts.

"Hmm." I allow her to pull me to dance once again, and this time, I dance with her.

I don't think about my movements, letting my hips move with the wind and running my hands through my hair.

I spin Nova around and dip her like the couples in all olden day, romance movies do. Surprisingly, I don't drop her, and she laughs as I raise her body to mine.

"I love you." Nova pokes my face.

I can't tell if rain drops are falling down her face, she's crying, or her freckles have just changed colours.

"I...love ya too."

I gasp and jump back when Nova bends over, pouring yellowish liquid into the dirt. Looking up at the sky and letting the rain drop onto my face, I thank the gods; I'm lucky I wasn't a victim to Nova's vomit.

A thud takes my attention away from the Devine figures, and I turn my head to see Nova lying down in the mud and in her vomit. It isn't a pretty sight.

I try to move closer to my friend, but a large hand grabs my wrist and starts pulling me away.

"Nova's..." I yawn. "Nova's dirty."

My attempts to pull away from Luca fail, and he continues pulling me away from my friend and towards a plastic filled with alcohol that lies against the trunk of a tree.

"No, I don't want any more ." I protest, scrunching my face when Luca pulls out a bottle from the plastic bag.

"Just water."

He holds out a bottle to me. I rip off the cap and take a whiff of it, then chug it's content before throwing the bottle onto the floor.

"Thank you." I look up at Luca, pushing away my thoughts of his dreamy eyes and rosy lips. "I'm gonna help Nova."

"Kwami got it."

I turn around quickly, almost falling over but lucky enough to catch myself. My eyes land on my friend, but she's being helped up by Kwami.

He picks her up, not caring about the barf all over her body, and leads her to the ladder. Nova sits on one of the lower steps, trying to smile when Kwami hands her a paper bag and a cloth.

Without taking anything Kwami offers, Nova stands up.

"I'm going to sleep." She nods, awkwardly patting Kwami on the shoulder before starting to make her way up the ladder.

Kwami stands close to her, trying to make sure she doesn't fall over and being there in case she does.

Nova stops moving and turns to me. "You are so pretty, Amora. We're two pretty best friends, you know that?"

I laugh, loving how Nova compliments herself as well.

"Isn't she pretty, Luca?"

Nova, not at all subtlety, winks at me, and I want to evaporate. Not having the powers to do that, I flop onto the ground and rest against a tree.

Nova chuckles as she disappears into the treehouse, so I guess I'll have to kill her later.

I lower my head as Luca takes a seat next to me. He holds an old, green blanket out to me.

"Are you cold?"

I shake my head, not having the energy or courage to say anything. However, Luca, looking at the goosebumps on my arms, decides to wrap the blanket around us.

Seeing as the blanket isn't huge, I shift a little closer to him, and he doesn't seem bothered as he tucks the edge of the blanket between me and the tree.

"You'll get sick if you stay out too long."

Luca moves even closer to me, probably wanting to soak in my warmth. It makes me a little nervous, but I'm not going to be the one to turn down a good cuddle.

"Just a little longer."

I look around me, barely able to see anything but loving the whistle of the wind and the chirping of crickets. For some reason, it makes me feel at peace.

I don't look at him, but I feel him nod. We stay in silence for a while, but I don't mind. For the first time in a long time, I just want to be in a moment; to feel it.

"And you are," he says, pulling my attention away from nature. "Beautiful."

Luca looks into my eyes, and it feels like he sees everything about me. For once, it feels I can really seem him, although I'm sure there's so much I don't know about his life.

I'm not sure what draws me in; his enchanting grey eyes peering just under his messy, blonde curls, the liquor flowing through my veins, the movie-like mood of a rainy night and a warm blanket, or the need of a distraction. Whatever it is, I don't want to fight it.

I lean into Luca, slow enough to give him a chance to pull away if this isn't what he wants. Sure enough, when our lips are an inch apart, he lowers his head.

I look away, feeling more embarrassed than I've ever felt before. However, Luca pulls my face towards his, but when I think he is about to kiss me, he lowers his hand.

"You're also drunk."

My eyes widen, and I shake my head to disagree. "Nah ah."

He chuckles, clearly not believing a word I'm saying. Sure, I might have had a bottle, but I can process everything pretty good. I can walk and talk and dance, so it's fine. I think.

Anyway, I like whatever state I'm in. It's a distraction I need from the scars of the journey and whatever is happening to my body. Hopefully I get this evil out of me before I completely crack, killing myself and releasing an evil into the world.

"What's going on up there?" Luca asks. "In your head."

I laugh, surprised to hear that Luca wants to hear much about me.

"I'm just thinking."

"I can see that."

I turn to Luca, amazed by his curiosity. "Kwami says I'm cracking, and my body will release the evil soon. It's why my mark hurts, and I pass out."

He looks back at me, as if he is trying to figure me out. Luca nods.

"Then we'll get it out." He sounds determined, and I start to think he has enough hope for the both of us.

I smile, happy he is being this optimistic. "You're more of a mystery, though."

"There's not much to know about me."

I roll my eyes, sure this is just one of the things he says to get out of moments like this.

"What do you want to know, Amora?"

"Why don't you have a home?" I gasp and shake my head in disbelief. "I shouldn't have said that. I'm sorry."

I get my apology out before Luca says anything, but the damage is done.

"It's alright." He smiles sadly and lowers his head. "Huh...well..."

"You don't—"

"My family died in the arena. All of them." He glances at his Vessel mark; the reason for so much of our pain. "We asked a friend for a ride to the City of Vessels. Turns out we weren't friends."

Luca chuckles, but I won't even ask why. I just need to steer away from this question and atmosphere.

"Do you have family?" He looks at me.

"Yes! My grandpa." Realising I'm living in the past, I correct my words. "I had a grandpa. He was amazing, and my parents...they were amazing, too. But they got sick when I was a child, so I can't tell you much about them."

Feeling a little awkward from such a depressing conversation, I change the topic. I'm sure Luca will be happy about it.

"Well...what's one thing you always wanted to do?"

He chuckles before looking at the ground, seemingly thinking hard about this. It's surprising, because I figured that most people would say the answer to this in a second.

If I was asked, I'd tell him I want bungee jump or find the end of a rainbow. I want to travel to every country in the world, filling my stomach with its delicacy.

"I don't know," he says. "Maybe travel."

"Of course."

Travelling is very typical of a Vessel, so a part of me expected a different answer from him. It makes sense that we all want to run wild, though.

Feeling satisfied by his answer, I sigh, leaning my head against the tree and looking up at the clouds above us.

The rain pours a little heavier than earlier, and I'm sure the weather won't be as pretty if we stay here much longer.

"Amora?"

I turn to Luca.

"It's getting cold, so I'm sorry, but I might leave you soon."

I smile, happy that he even thought of waiting out here with me.

I pull the blanket off of me and stand up, waiting for Luca to do the same. Kwami's friend, our musician for the night, notices our movement and stands up, finishing the last song for the night.

Heading towards the ladder, I stumble over a branch. Luckily, Luca is there to catch me, and he keeps his arm around my shoulder as we make our way back to the treehouse.

~•~