In Purgatory

Kairo felt like he was drifting endlessly in one constant motion. He wondered if what he was experiencing was the same as being spaced – but without the painful death.

The palace guards had sealed him in a blue-meteorite coffin within a holding cell after he surrendered to them. A spell had sent him into an illusion of space. Time seemed to stop, and he lost control of his body. Yet, his mind remained intact, allowing him a lot of thinking time. Inadvertently, thoughts about Earth surfaced, but some of his memories were vague details of his old life.

"What was my bedroom like?" The question circled his mind like it was trying to rebuild the clarity to his memories.

He felt relief when he recalled his ancient Chinese style bed, baroque closet and lamp, and all his other historical looking furniture. Nostalgia stirred within his heart when the face of his father appeared, leaving his room with the packaging mess.

Jolts of electricity flared up around his head, bringing sharp pains to his temples; overwhelming pressure pushed at the top of head as he tried to recall more of Earth. 

The face of his father overlapped with Jan's and blurred into a distorted mess. He had a similar feeling to when he had traveled through his closet vortex, like a restriction had been placed on him at that time. It would explain the constant shattering and reassembling he had been experiencing.

When he decided to let the memories fade into obscurity, the pain eased into a soothing warmth, and he could think again. 

Another face in his memories appeared, which brought him comfort and peace. His mind roamed to relive memories with the person most precious to him.

Genie had been there for him the moment Jan had led him out of the cell. And his initial kindness of giving him boots for his trial, helping him understand and cope during his training, protecting him from Shadow Cabal attempts, protecting him through the political games Yanmu played with Lyon. Genie was his rock, which kept him both surviving and wanting to live in this world.

One of his treasured memories was the time Genie had asked if he was homesick when they were standing on the docks. He was back then, until he saw Genie's smile, which made him feel that everything was going to be alright.

Feelings of intense yearning to be with Genie momentarily overwhelmed his emotions. If he had control over his body, he would've been trembling with desire. But was it truly what he felt for him? Could the yearning be more than being his anchor to his strange world.

"Lady Bluesteed has been there for me too." His mind touched upon the centurion woman's kind and beautiful image. Yet his heart didn't yearn for her with the same wanting to be by Genie's side, which felt natural, exciting, breathtaking and enjoyable.

If Genie wasn't in his life... a painful sadness permeated his space with an uncomfortable and horrible sensation. He brushed this scenario aside: it wasn't an option he was willing to take.

"I want to be by his side. These feelings I have for him, I don't want to let go."

Deep within, he knew he was becoming aware of Genie being someone more to him, beyond platonic or even soulmates. They shared a connection, which appeared to transcend time and space as wielders of cosmic power. With their powers they were able to cross spiritual and magical barriers to connect at a soul level. Their bond was more than physical, they were soul mates on a cosmic scale.

But what are we truly to each other?

He recalled Nik-guard calling them lovers. At the time, he felt embarrassed, but it wasn't because he was uncomfortable with the idea. In truth, he felt timid. Yet, he wasn't sure if what he felt for Genie could be called love. The word felt too small for what they shared.

Maybe because the conditions for romance differed from planet to planet. Being on Lux expanded his perspective toward gender and species intermingling. His moral system had undergone a substantial re-evaluation.

Experiencing life through the alien lens, made him appreciate the unique Earth values. Being a Palace House Wizard elicited a side of himself he would've never known in his old life. 

Never in a million years would magic be his reality on Earth, nor would he have had the ability to wield cosmic power. So, it was impossible to stay true to old societal norms and values without his perceptions being modified.

So, Genie is to me...

Pain struck the top of his head again. This time it was more acute and excruciating, like a knife pressing down on his skull and wanting to split it open. But before the pain became too much, it stopped.

This coffin, what is it again?

Shockingly an answer came to him when white light poured into his vision, like it wanted to scorch his face. But the moment was fleeting and his physical vision returned.

"Rise and shine princess." A stranger sniggered as he looked down on Kairo.

Kairo gulped when he saw deeply etched scars on a scruffy and brutish face. On the man's check was the Crud Pirates tattoo. "Crud pirates."

"Our boss wanna have fun with you."

Kairo struggled to break free of the rough handling of his body, but he had been lying in a Purgatory Cell coffin for so long that his muscles had weakened to the feeling of jelly. He cursed when a sack went over his body and he was knocked out cold by some sleeping powder in the lining.

His body was carried out of the palace's prison cell, while the guards were too busy fighting against other pirates and palace rebels.