BYZANTIUM- EMERGED.

Eleanor sat facing the sea with her back to the hut. It had been hours and each second she became more impatient, more stressed and more worried. She feared for Frank's mortality. He said he was prepared to die but she could not be certain that his words were of truth. Only those prepared to die would find immortal life. Frank was weak and she was not sure he would survive the change, for she did not understand how it worked. Eleanor prayed that it would all be over soon and that Frank would emerge, new, like herself, but over the years had lost faith in such beliefs as hope for she had lived in a world where light did not exist. Now she had a light: Frank, and she could not bare to lose him.

The crash of waves from the waterfall became heavier and she turned her head towards it, finding the water to be a blood red colour. Suddenly she was aware of a presence and to her relief Frank was stood staring at her from the edge of the hut. The pair were silent, eyes locked on one another, and slowly Eleanor stumbled across the rocks towards him, never moving her eyes from his. She stopped a step away from Frank so that she was not touching him but she could still feel his breath on her face. Frank could do nothing but stare at the beauty in front of him and Eleanor tried to say something, but her lips would not move.

A gust of wind flew across the island and blew some of Eleanor's hair over her eyes. Frank lifted his hand and tucked the hair behind her ear, before moving his hand down to her waist and pulling her towards him. She did not recline but instead moved willingly and wrapped her arms around his waist and buried her face into his chest, like a small child. Each clung to the other, unable to let go. They provided each other with comfort and their hold spoke words that everything was going to be okay: Frank was no longer ill, and never would be again. Nothing could separate them now. Together in their embrace, they sat down on the rocks and watched the sun go down.

"What happens now?" Frank whispered.

"I do not know..."

But Eleanor did know. She knew that they could not stay there, it was too dangerous and she knew they would both be killed if discovered. "... but we can not stay here."

"Because of the brotherhood?" Frank asked, understanding.

"Yes."

Frank nodded. He knew the dangers his new life brought him and was more than willing to face them so long as he was with Eleanor.

"What will you tell your family?" Eleanor solemnly questioned.

"I don't know. I would go back… say goodbye. Don't know what I'd tell them. Mum would never let me go… notice something was different…." Frank mumbled on, hurt by the thought of leaving his family behind.

It fell silent and the last of the light disappeared behind the blue sea.

"I am sorry" Eleanor whispered. She was scared that giving the map to Frank had been the wrong choice, but she saw no other way he could have lived. Eleanor now felt an immense guilt wash through her.

"Don't be. You've saved me. Given me life, and something worth living for…" At that, Frank leaned over and kissed Eleanor softly on the lips. She felt herself fill with happiness and suddenly she could focus on nothing but the boy in front of her who now owned her heart. She kissed him back and felt his warm lips on hers, tingling her senses.

"Thank you" he smiled.

Eleanor shook her head, "Thank you" she responded.

"For what?"

"For showing me that there is such thing as love."

Once again she buried her head into his chest and Frank became overwhelmed with emotion. "I love you..." he soothed her, "and always will."

-End-