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lyrical trance & dark mythic/transgressive fiction by lilimist

the butterfly vow by lilimist

 

A romantic creation myth about a butterfly who wakes up from her cocoon too late and a star who falls to earth to save her.

{ first written & released by Vixen Phillips in 2004 }

“It is love which is untrue,” she hissed with malice, “although now, I suppose, you shall just have to die wondering.”

However, the butterfly intended to do no such thing. Could her love have lied to her — and if so, why? Could that warmth in sharing, songs and embraces — and kisses — have been no more than mere illusion? Her determination to discover these answers alone gave her all the strength needed to cut free her bindings; one thread of which lashed their weaver herself, blinding her in one eye, her howls of pain and outrage echoing through the undergrowth as the butterfly soared up high into the trees.

On and on she flew, until the star glimmered beneath her, and hesitation only now held her back as she gazed down in love upon him. “No,” she whispered, shaking her head, “I have seen your heart for what it is. You gave me the song, and the lily. But with all the rains that have fallen in these long hours since my birthing, you should not be alone at all, else the entire sky would be lonely. I will ask of you your secrets, but make no demands. I have learnt well not from the spider, but the lovely flower who nourished me. We will see which is the most important truth, and with hope I may return at the very least to my singing, though all my songs would seem to mean so little now, were it not for you and our sharing.”

So saying, and somewhat confused in mind but not in heart, the butterfly let herself fall like a feather, down towards the rosebush and her beloved awaiting.

✿ ✿ ✿

Relief soft-flooded the essence of the star as his own love once more settled down beside him, for — though she had been gone no more than hours few — it was yet the longest and only time she had not been in his sight since the moment of her creation. Smiling, he met her with a warm embrace, though she withheld her kisses from him, and in a breath of admiration he said, “My darling, how gladdened I am that you found the lily, for now my little maid appears to my loving eyes like one of my own kin glowing!”

However, stifling a sob, the butterfly turned away from him, though not so hastily he failed to miss a great sadness filling her very being.

And then, in no more than a whisper, she asked of him, “My brother, the butterfly, and his golden princess, the daffodil — and their love… Was it the truth, do you think?”

The star smiled again, bravely now, as her sorrow and question both troubled him, but carefully he hid all concern from his voice as he gave her his answer wholeheartedly. “Oh, yes, my little rainbow, truer than truth, as true as our own love, I promise you.”

And the butterfly sniffed as a tear fled each eye, and as the star embraced her, daring to ask what distressed her mind, she said, “I met not only the lily today, but also — and alas — the spider. Had I not escaped with my life, she may have crushed and drained me away to nothing.”

To even think of this as a possibility sent a shudder through the star’s soul, yet he held her even closer, to reassure them both. “But my butterfly is free. My own beautiful princess is always free.”

“Free for what good or purpose, I wonder?” she said sadly, and now, in confusion, he at last let go his hold on her. “I wish so to believe in such truths as you have shown and gifted to me, and, if you swear it is so in this newest moment, never again will I make it my will to question or disbelieve.

“But,” she continued now, in such a low tone the star had to edge even closer to hear what she said to him, “the spider said that stars do not fall to earth in the rains at all, rather they do so for reasons of impurity.”

The Butterfly Vow by lilimist   Page 12 of 16   writing

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