I blinked for a moment, shaking away my reverie as I slid down to sit on the sofa next to Sienna. Sorry. I told her.
For what, sudden incoherence? She suggested, her right hand fiddling with the silver ring around her left thumb.
I smiled. No. A beat. Well yes. Sudden, unwarranted incoherence.
Why? She inquired, her eyes still on her gorgeous, soft hands.
You just I sighed, and sniggered, rubbing my face in my hands. Its weird but You just reminded me of my Father.
I hope we do not share a startling resemblance. She offered, and turned for the first time to look right at me, her lips curled into a broken smile. 'That would be awkward.'
I looked back at her, taking a few moments to regard her gentle, radiant and alien beauty. No. I said. Youre nothing like my Father. Youre nothing like anyone or anything Ive known before.
Thats a shame. She said, frowning slightly, her green eyes rapidly tracing my face.
Why? I asked, confusion evident in my suddenly soft voice.
Because, she said, after tonight that will no longer be the case. Because youll have known me.
Youre strange. I stated.
Youre not? She quipped.
Not as strange as you. I replied. But Id like to be.
Why is that? She asked, crossing her left leg over her knee, and tilting her body only slightly more toward me. As soon as you adopt what is bizarre to you, it will become boring and repetitive.
But not with you. I told her.
How can you be so sure?
Because Im sure Ive dreamt about you.
Really? Was I naked?
No. I told her. No, not that kind of dreaming. Not a dream when youre asleep. But a dream you come up with. A perfect image in your mind, like what Heaven must be like.
The idea of heaven is the saddest thing in the world, Edmund. She frowned, and looked back down as she slowly rotated the ring around her thumb, the noise of the club and the people around us blunted by my concentration, and the strange chemistry that had welled up between us.
How can Heaven be sad? I asked her. Its paradise.
Yes. She agreed, and looked up, leaning closer into me, her fierce green eyes on mine. A human fantasy. When death comes, life will be perfect. So ironic. If heaven were real, so many of us would have a better life in death. Wed die in order to live.
I paused a long moment. But there is no reason to fear death if theres a heaven. I told her.
She parted her lips a hairsbreadth, and exhaled alcohol scented perfume into my face. Do you fear death, Edmund?
Of course.
Why?
Because I dont believe in heaven. I said, simply. I suddenly realized how close she was to me. I reached up, cautiously, to touch her cheek, but she caught my hand with her own, the cold metal of the ring around her thumb throbbing into the warmth of my palm.
What do you believe in, then? She asked me, pulling my hand back to lay against the leather seat, her head drifting closer towards me. I could feel her breath on my lips.
I I inhaled silently as her mouth closed in on mine. I dont know.
For what, sudden incoherence? She suggested, her right hand fiddling with the silver ring around her left thumb.
I smiled. No. A beat. Well yes. Sudden, unwarranted incoherence.
Why? She inquired, her eyes still on her gorgeous, soft hands.
You just I sighed, and sniggered, rubbing my face in my hands. Its weird but You just reminded me of my Father.
I hope we do not share a startling resemblance. She offered, and turned for the first time to look right at me, her lips curled into a broken smile. 'That would be awkward.'
I looked back at her, taking a few moments to regard her gentle, radiant and alien beauty. No. I said. Youre nothing like my Father. Youre nothing like anyone or anything Ive known before.
Thats a shame. She said, frowning slightly, her green eyes rapidly tracing my face.
Why? I asked, confusion evident in my suddenly soft voice.
Because, she said, after tonight that will no longer be the case. Because youll have known me.
Youre strange. I stated.
Youre not? She quipped.
Not as strange as you. I replied. But Id like to be.
Why is that? She asked, crossing her left leg over her knee, and tilting her body only slightly more toward me. As soon as you adopt what is bizarre to you, it will become boring and repetitive.
But not with you. I told her.
How can you be so sure?
Because Im sure Ive dreamt about you.
Really? Was I naked?
No. I told her. No, not that kind of dreaming. Not a dream when youre asleep. But a dream you come up with. A perfect image in your mind, like what Heaven must be like.
The idea of heaven is the saddest thing in the world, Edmund. She frowned, and looked back down as she slowly rotated the ring around her thumb, the noise of the club and the people around us blunted by my concentration, and the strange chemistry that had welled up between us.
How can Heaven be sad? I asked her. Its paradise.
Yes. She agreed, and looked up, leaning closer into me, her fierce green eyes on mine. A human fantasy. When death comes, life will be perfect. So ironic. If heaven were real, so many of us would have a better life in death. Wed die in order to live.
I paused a long moment. But there is no reason to fear death if theres a heaven. I told her.
She parted her lips a hairsbreadth, and exhaled alcohol scented perfume into my face. Do you fear death, Edmund?
Of course.
Why?
Because I dont believe in heaven. I said, simply. I suddenly realized how close she was to me. I reached up, cautiously, to touch her cheek, but she caught my hand with her own, the cold metal of the ring around her thumb throbbing into the warmth of my palm.
What do you believe in, then? She asked me, pulling my hand back to lay against the leather seat, her head drifting closer towards me. I could feel her breath on my lips.
I I inhaled silently as her mouth closed in on mine. I dont know.