"That his tears burned my cheeks and his heart moved in mine."

- Dylan Thomas, "Poem in October"

*****

Soundtrack of the chapter: Winterspell by Two Steps From Hell ( Play it! It's the song Cady and Jasper danced to ;))

Media: Casper artwork by me! ( You can read the exact scene in this chapter!)

*****

Chapter Twenty Seven: The Beltane Ball ( Part II)

A part of Cady wanted to squeal out loud, while the other part of her wanted to hide. "Jasper," she said. "I thought you don't dance. You know, I can't, either."

His eyes shone, like tourmaline caught in moonlight. "Only for you."

He grasped Cady's waist with right hand and gently laced his fingers through her left. His sudden movements caught Cady off guard, her breath leaving her in one go. Whenever she floundered, or stepped on his polished shoes with her bare feet, he didn't seem to mind. Slowly but steadily, he guided her to the music, which had begun to pick up in tempo. Their feet twinkled in and out, sweeping across the grass, tracing patterns in the air.

The braids behind Cady's head flew loose. Jasper suddenly placed both of his hands on her waist and lifted her into the air. She gasped, almost panicking until he put her back down. Without giving her time to recover, Jasper whisked her off into another dance.

The song grew faster and faster: sweet notes wrung out by rosined bows on strings and the staccatos of the piano keys. Cady danced with Jasper. It was a rather spontaneous dance, their bodies moving as one, advancing with the music. Unlike Eli, Jasper didn't jar the dance from a bad leg. He twirled her, and she laughed. Faster and faster, they danced until the music coalesced and stopped, ending in a sonorous beat. Jasper's face was only inches away from hers. So close, she could feel his warm breath on her. He smiled.

"You're pretty good for someone new."

Cady grinned back. "Only because I have a good dance partner."

Jasper released Cady, who took in a deep breath, still lightheaded from all the dancing. He put a hand on her face, his fingers moving from the hanging beads of her headdress and slid down her chin, lifting it up as if he could get a better view of her. She stared back at Jasper with a fiery passion. She wanted him to see her, all her good and all her flaws. She wanted to see him too, to see all the raw emotions that so rarely seeped out from the cracks of his cold façade.

"Hey, have you ever been to the Celestial Towns?" he implored after his hands had left her.

She shook her head. She had never ventured further than the Hall of Spirits. The whole of Esvanira and its unusual inhabitants still remained a mystery to her. Realization suddenly dawned on her that she had been cooped up in the world of Starlets for too long, without any knowledge of the outside world—the Stelliums, the Detriments, even the Decanates. A hunger for adventure burned within her. For too long, her freedom was limited to only the Halls. Cady wanted to break free.

Jasper took her hand. "I figured, since you came from the New World. There is a nearby Celestial Town called Eris. I'll take you there."

Cady jerked her chin toward the Hall of Spirits. Eli...

There was no sign of him. It had been over an hour since she had come out of the Hall, waiting for him. He would be more than outraged to find out that she had slipped out to the Celestial Towns without his permission, with Jasper nonetheless. But the thought of the towns were tempting. Her wilder side was crying, pleading to be set free, away from the strongholds of the Hall and its oppressive tyrant.

She squeezed Jasper's hand. "Let's go."

Jasper's smile was blinding. His gaze dropped down to Cady's bare feet, coated with grass and dirt. "Where are your shoes?" Cady pointed to a pair of glittering objects by the fountain. "I took them off, they hurt my toes."

"Good riddance, I don't understand how women tolerate those confining things." He stooped down and undid his shoes, kicked them aside and removed his socks. "If you're going barefooted, so am I."

Cady had to admit that he looked ridiculous in a handsome suit but without shoes. Jasper frowned. "You think it's weird? I can put them back on."

She caught his arm. "No, no, it isn't. Let's go!"

He laughed; a charming sound which reminded her of the peals of bells. Soon, as they tore through the gates which Jasper commanded that they open with a flash of his Master Physician belt, Cady felt relieved that she left her heels behind. It was easier to run down the pebbled lanes. Jasper never left Cady's. He slowed down at times so she could catch up. Her lungs burned for more oxygen, and her muscles soon started to scream due to her lack of exercise, but she plodded on, feeling the cool breeze in the air and the silent rustle of her dress against her ankles.

They came across a set of crossroads, one pointing east and the other, west. In the middle, stood an old wooden sign, discolored from the wear of time. To the signboard directing them to the right, "Eris" was etched upon it while the other led to Arya's Arch.

"Tired?" Jasper nudged her. "We could take a short break." She shook her head, thrilled to be out in the open again. She missed the kiss of the air on her face, and the rush of energy coursing through her. The tall trees by the sides cast long and dark shadows, making Cady feel at peace.

Eris climbed to sight as they went up a small hill. It reminded Cady of Havoc Haven, the way the multicolored lights blinked at her, a thousand eyes in the distance. Houses stood in all kinds of angles, some in neat rows, others seemed to be stacked in an area at random. Lanterns hung from zig-zagging lines across the entire town, each one brilliantly lit. The taste of festive was in the air, brought by the throng of people merry-making in the streets, celebrating their bountiful harvest and rich lands. People in white and gold costumes milled about, balancing large hats laden with heavy fruits and feathers, which Jasper explained to her it was a symbol of abundance during Beltane. Traders cried out their wares in all corners of the streets, many waving colorful trinkets at the passing Starlets. Loud music, unlike the songs performed by the musicians back at the Hall of Spirits, played by street musicians overlapped the haggles of customers and sellers.

As Cady drew nearer to the stalls, the spicy aroma of baking meat hit her. She couldn't take in the entire spread of joy and celebration before her. It was nothing like she had ever seen. Her mouth watered at the sight of the sweetmeats displayed in the stalls. Cady reminded herself that she hadn't any money, so ogling was enough.

Without even blinking, Jasper plunged into the crows and brought two chicken breasts skewed on sticks. He offered one to Cady. "No," she refused, pushing it back. "I can't just take your money."

He gave a stern a look, something that her dad would have done if Cady tried to turn down anything. Jasper took her hand and placed the stick firmly in her palms and closed her fingers around it. "Eat it."

Deciding not to argue anymore, she took a huge bite from it. A peppery flavor exploded in her mouth and oil trickled down her mouth. She moaned from the taste of it, her stomach rumbling. She hadn't eaten anything since the afternoon, and she hardly had a chance to even sample the cakes at the Ballroom. Jasper chuckled and drew out a clean handkerchief from his pocket. Cady gawked at him. No guy she ever knew carried a tissue around them, let alone a handkerchief.

To her horrified surprise, Jasper dabbed the sides of her mouth with the handkerchief and handed it to her, amused.

"You eat like a child," he mused.

"I do not," she huffed. "I'm just hungry."

Jasper only laughed again and took her free hand in his. They slipped through the crowd of people, ducking as a dancer's magnificent fruit and feather head came loose and almost squashed them. She giggled, plucking a bunch of grapes from the hat and tossing them to Jasper. He caught them and popped three into his mouth. Still munching on the chicken breast, they strolled through the stalls, admiring the wares sold by the traders. According to Jasper, many rolled their wagons from the Hall of All, where most goods and manufactured and spells bottled. Glass beads and painted wood came from the east, where the Detriments live, as well as porcelain and silicone.

"This is a statue of the Atoun God, worshipped by the Balyeans. But we don't ever trade with the Baelyeans," he said, jerking his head at a wooden sculpture. It didn't really look like a sculpture, but rather just a lump of polished wood. She picked it up, examining it, feeling the weight against her palm. "Why?" she asked. He took the statue out of her hands and placed it back onto the shelf, just as the owner came scuttling over, trying to tempt them into buying his handicrafts.

"They're radical creatures, bent to destroy us Starlets. The irony is that they were once Starlets. But their Affinities were lost in a very old war, thousands of years ago. They were cast out to the place you call the New World. A handful remained, and those exiled Starlets sailed out to the Savage Seas and built a new home on a piece of undiscovered land."

Cady tossed the stick of the chicken into a nearby trash can. "How can you lose your Affinity? I thought you were born with them."

"It was a dispute between two brothers, both keen on winning the hand of a lady. Their argument somehow broke into a full scale war and the elder brother found a way to drain the Affinity of a Starlet. He eventually became obsessed with it. But his body can only contain so much Celestial Energy, so the younger brother striked. Using the vast amount of energy, he split the world into two: the New World and Esvanira. He became the Arch, the only gateway between the two worlds."

"But it's just myths, ancient theories on how Baelyer came to be." He waved his hand in the air, moving on to the next stall selling a large array of beautiful vases.

The stall owner emerged from his seat, a wide smile plastered on his wide, puffy face. His fisherman hat stood lopsided on his head, almost slipping down if not for the taut cord tied under his chin.

"Ey there, handsome lad and lovely lady! Come look at the best antique vases in Esvanira!"

Cady's feet moved toward them, attracted by the peculiar patterns painted on the vases and bottles. Jasper grudgingly went with her, probably because the man called him a handsome lad. She scanned the top most shelves. A little gold bottle caught her eye, no bigger than both of her thumbs added together. She stood on tiptoes and took it down, running a curious finger over the smooth surface, moving over the bumps where little rhinestones ringed the mouth and the bottom. Something seemed to ripple on the other side of the bottle, at the exact opposite of the fat ruby crusted on the front—an image, but Cady couldn't see it clearly. One second, it was a lion, and the next, a dragon.

"This is beautiful!" she said. "Did you make this?"

The man guffawed, a good sound coming deep from his belly. "Me? No! I found this washed up on the shores of the Savage Seas. It's missing the stopper, tis a pity. Could've sold for more than ten Suns if tis whole."

Jasper leaned in, jerking the bottle out of Cady's hands. His eyes widened for the fraction of a second before his impassive expressions settled back in. "I'll buy this."

The man sat back on a small stool and waggled four fingers in his face. "Seven Suns, no lower, kiddo."

Jasper snorted and drew out his purse. He pressed seven fat gold coins onto the man's pudgy palm. He held them up to his Celeslight lamp and bit one, making sure that they were authentic. "They're real, save the bother," he said, drawing Cady aside. The man grunted, popping the coins into a leather pouch hanging by his waist.

"Anything else catch your fancy, lovely lady?" He gestured at his stall. "Perhaps this old man can offer you a little varnish bottle carved from coral?"

Jasper grabbed Cady's wrist and pulled her away from the man before she could politely refuse. "Jasper," she gasped. "What's wrong?"

He didn't reply her. Instead, he led her out of the throng of people, leaving behind the scented and smoky air, and the cries of hagglers. They approached the edge of a forest, full of thin, scraggly trees with long branches, thinning out as the ends pointed to the sky. Jasper released Cady and drew out the bottle from his robes.

"Cady, listen to me," he breathed, his voice low. "I want you to keep this." He pressed the little bottle onto her palm, closing her fingers around it. "There will come a time where you will be testified. When that happens, present this bottle."

She scrunched up her eyebrows. "Jasper, what are you talking about?"

Jasper's mouth twitched, but no words came out.

Cady tugged his sleeve. "Jasper, stop it."

He placed his hands on Cady's waist, drawing her close, their noses almost touching. "Cady, just trust me, okay?"

His words send a shiver down her spine. Trust was a very powerful word. Ever since her coming to Esvanira, she found herself betrayed, scorned, hurt by the people she trusted. Isadora Tucana flashed by her mind, followed by Firaun and little Felix. She had poured out her entire heart to the former High Priestess of the Hall of Games, only to be rewarded by the death of her friend. Her faith in others was pushed to its limits, so much she had closed her heart to many.

But Jasper, he had opened a door in her heart, entering when she was at her weakest. He had lifted her from the chasm of her nightmares, coaxed her when she was scared and most of all, he made her feel whole again.

She nodded. Jasper brushed a thread of beads from her forehead and leaned forward, resting his lips on her warm skin. Cady closed her eyes, feeling his soft lips on her crown. Her hands slid around his waist, hugging him tight, just as Jasper threw his around her neck, both crashing somewhere between want and need.

His lips slid down to hers. He tasted like salt and sugar. Cady gasped. That brief moment was all Jasper needed. He slid his tongue into her mouth, exploring it. She clawed at his back, trying to push him closer. Fire, there was fire everywhere, setting her ablaze as Jasper suddenly pushed her forward, gently. Both landed in a pile of leaves on the forest floor. His hands tangled themselves in her hair, pulling away the headdress. Cady wrapped her legs around him, feeling him bulge against her.

After a while, Jasper broke the kiss. Cady moaned in protest, pulling him back again. She needed him, all of him. She wanted to touch him, to feel him, all of him.

"Patience, my dear," he said, his eyes twinkling.

"Oh, shut up." She pulled him in for another intense kiss. She didn't care if her dress were dirtied by the earth or the fact that there were twigs in her hair. All she cared was how much she wanted Jasper. Her fingers found clothes, barring her from Jasper's skin. She growled in frustration, working furiously at the buttons.

Her hands found warm skin. She stared at them, admiring the toned, lean muscles. "That's really unfair, you know," he said, a wide smile plastered on his face. "What's unfair?" she asked, annoyed that Jasper had stopped her.

He gestured at Cady, whose face went aflame. "Oh," she said.

Jasper sat up. She wanted to melt on the spot. His hair was wild, like wild horses galloping down a wide terrain. His eyes blazed brighter than any star she knew. His shirt was open all the way down the waist, a couple buttons missing where she had tugged them off with a force that surprised even her.

He shook his head, reaching out for her hand. "You don't have to." His eyes landed on Cady's face, running over it with more intensity than usual. He stroked her hair, letting her soft hair run through his fingers. Deep down, she wanted to. She wanted to take him inside her, to rock him until both screamed with pleasure. But she was scared. She had never done this before, what if...it hurt?

His eyes suddenly hardened. "Cady, where's the bottle?"

"Uhh..." She looked around, seized by sudden alarm. She must have dropped it somewhere during the kissing. Leaves and dirt sifted through her fingers, but no sign of the golden bottle. Her heart hammered in her chest...what would Jasper do if it was lost? The urgency in his voice still rang in her ears.

There was a small clink and a sigh of relief. Jasper crawled over and handed Cady the bottle. This time, firmer. "Keep it safe. You're going to need it."

She wanted to ask why, but there was something about Jasper's expression that made her hesitate. Since she had no pockets, she held on tight to it, as though her life depended on it.

Jasper glanced at the jolly noises coming from outside. Fireworks crackled, lighting up the dark skies with a profusion of colors and sparks. Together, they watched the wondrous display of fireworks. Cady huddled closer to Jasper, resting her head in the nook of his neck. He stroked her hair with gentle fingers. She laughed: a sound full of mirth. Jasper smiled, nuzzling her neck. She wished this moment would last forever, caught in time for the rest of eternity. Here, with Jasper, she would be free from Raphine's oppression, the hiding, her denial of her own identity.

She wondered what it would be like to be a free person, where she wouldn't be condemned for being born a Walker. There were almost no one she could believe in, to confide her deepest secrets, all but Josh, Zoroth and Jasper.

All those were nothing but wistful thinking, gone the wink of an eye, just like the fireworks. Jasper helped Cady to her feet, gathering her headdress and brushing the leaves off her dress. Cady buttoned up his shirt, feeling a twinge of regret as the toned skin vanished behind the white cloth. Hand in hand, they walked past the crowd and all the way back to the Hall of Spirits.

The lights in the main Hall had died down, as did the music and feasting. Ribbons of the festive cheer still remained in the air, kept alive by the winking fireflies. Jasper twirled Cady, who did a pirouette on the spot. Laughing, she fell into his arms where he pulled her in for another quick kiss.

She wanted it to last longer, but Jasper pulled away, teasing her hair with a finger. "Get some sleep, Cady. I'll see you in the morning."

Cady grumbled, but untangled herself from Jasper nonetheless. "Goodnight," she said. "Sleep tight."

He smiled. "You too, milady."

She turned on her heel and headed back to her dorm. When she reached the great doors, she whipped her head back. Jasper was still standing there, a black shadow against the trees, his hair whipping in the wind. She blew him a kiss and closed the door.

******

A/N

This is the moment we have all been waiting for! Finally, they kissed! *cues fireworks and lots of confetti*

I think the kiss marks Casper as its official ship! But that aside, something dark is brewing, I think you can already sense it by Jasper's reaction in Eris. More theories? ;D

The THoG fanfic and fanart contest ends TOMORROW. Make sure you submit your entries ASAP!

ps: I might revert back to the one week update, I'm moving too fast with the updates and there is only 13 chapters left! 

Chocolate Frogs, 

Stef