Sissy Pantelis

Rainbow Thief

Art by Josephine Wall

 

 

Colors are not allowed on the world I come from. My kin is known as “the Clouds” and we are Shadow warriors. We play with light and darkness as fast as possible, in whatever way we like, provided we manage to create those combinations of patterns that allow to better fight and defeat the Shadows. Colors would divert our attention from our aim and make us less efficient, our Masters say. Only a few of us, chosen by the Masters, were allowed to use colors to improve their technique of combat. Colors were kept in a Secret Chamber where only the Masters had access.

 

Even though very young, I was selected as light-provider – this is something like a cup-bearer – to the Masters. I believe that they chose me because of my gracious dance; they were probably preparing me to be among those few privileged to handle colors.

 

Having access to the Masters private quarters, and in the Council Hall, I saw the Rainbow during a secret gathering. Maybe this was a test for me – or was it just an accident? The only thing I know is that on that day, I lost my mind… The colors had on me the effect of drugs or wine on the human mind. Dazzled, I could not take my eyes off of the Rainbow. How unfair to forbid us the access to such beauty! I could not take the anger out of my heart.

 

Next thing I remember is me holding bits of rainbow and spreading them around so that everybody could have a fair share of colors. The rainbow had an amazing effect on the Clouds. Soon everybody was dancing wrapped in colors, weaving luminous hues into splendid patterns or flying into a phantasmagoria of sparkles that flickered like mad in various color shades.

 

When the Masters arrived, the frenzy was at its pic. Most of the Masters went around, trying to re-establish order. Two of them took me to their quarters. “You have no idea of what you have done. There are good reasons why we keep colors under control. You broke important balances; you brought chaos in our world and we are not sure how long it will take to have things under control – if we ever manage to bring back harmony to this place.” I did not say a word while they scolded me.

 

They imprisoned me in a giant diamond and condemned me to wander in the Darkness for Eternity.

Confined in the narrow space, I could not dance. I saw stars collapsing; worlds of unspeakable beauty reduced to dust before they sunk into Stygian tenebrosity. Bright nebulas appeared in my way only to vanish almost immediately as I had no right to be anywhere near light or colors. I watched powerless, destruction in all its gloomy splendor ravaging everything on its way.

 

With time, I trained my mind to capture some light. The best moment to do this was while worlds exploded and gave off huge amounts of brightness. Playing with patterns of light and shade, I was soon able to enlarge the space of my confinement; I was more comfortable, yet there was not enough room to dance.

 

Suddenly the diamond started shaking. Until then, it had floated in the darkness, its speed slow, almost imperceptible. Now the diamond moved at a huge speed, as though attracted by a magnet. What was going on? Even in my world, diamonds are not attracted by magnets. The speed increased and lost my balance. Physics were not of much help. Scared and powerless, I closed my eyes and waited for the crash…

 

The diamond’s speed was smoothly reduced then it stopped moving. Reluctantly, I opened my eyes…

 

I found myself in a world of dancing colors!  Shifting shapes in various hues mingled into dazzling, amorphous visions, out of which came new splendid forms.

 

So beautiful was this sight that for a while, I forgot that I was a prisoner. After wandering in darkness for so long, this glorious tumult of light and colors was an unexpected wonder for me.

 

For a while, I thought that I was back in my world; that the Clouds had learned to handle colors so skillfully that there was no longer a reason to forbid their use. On closer observation, I saw that the colored shapes were floating free in the air. This shape-shifting of the hues was definitely not in the way clouds made patterns. As I was getting used to the swift color changes, my attention was drawn to something else…

 

Darkness. A core of obscurity cast its ugly shadows on this frenzied rainbow. I sensed its presence and when I focused, I could see it clearly.

 

Slowly, I moved the diamond towards the colors, and with great caution, I started creating patterns into shades of blue.

 

I was doing a good job; I carefully added a few tints of violet to the blue.

 

I was going to blast the loathsome darkness into oblivion.

 

*

 

The graffiti was amazing! Tiny blue creatures with palmed limbs spread huge, gossamer wings wide open and rose to the sky. The further they flew above the sea, the clearer the blue hue of the creatures.

Somehow, the graffiti appeared life-like, with the creatures seeming to fly out of the wall to reach the heavens.

 

Absorbed in her work the street artist kept drawing, without paying heed to the silent crowd gathered around her and gaping at her artwork with awe. “How beautiful,” whispered a small child. “What are the flying blue things?”   

      

Before the mom had the time to silence the child, the artist paused for a while. Her gaze was lost far away. “They are Color Warriors, little one. There is a lot of darkness in the world…Sadness. Bitterness. Hatred.

Lost souls wandering in twisted paths. Fearsome winged giants searching for their long-forgotten dreams in the wrong places. The Color Warriors fight Darkness in all its loathsome forms. I was sinking into despair when they appeared in my dreams and gave me the force to move toward the light. They can probably help others too!”

 

The young artist gave the child a smile, then grasped her brush and resumed her work. Under her gentle touch, the blue creatures metamorphosed into an army of bright-colored butterflies that fluttered behind a breathtakingly beautiful fairy. Wrapped in ethereal veils that floated around her like wings, she danced gracefully toward a magnificent Rainbow-Sun.

 

I think I understand better now. Colors are not forbidden in this world…and yet its inhabitants live in darkness and cannot appreciate beauty. Somebody weaves colors to make them feel better, but this is not an easy task.

 

Somehow, I am connected to the entity that tries to give joy to this wretched species. Our love of colors probably brought us so close. I won’t leave her. For the first time since long, I don’t feel lonely. I start weaving new patterns in red and orange hues, and the color-weaver of this world adds her skills to mine.

 

Our patterns mesh into a color whirlwind so mighty that my diamond prison bursts in pieces. I dance, wrapped in ethereal veils, while unknown shapes take me to a rainbow resplendent as the Sun.

artist.

 

 

Sissy Pantelis writes from Greece. Illustrator Josephine Wall’s website is here - http://www.josephinewall.co.uk/