In the earliest of the days that came after, Diego found solace in the garden.
Surrounded by birdsong, in the warmth of the sun, he would vanish into the safe, comforting world of a treasured book, and for a time, he could no longer be himself.
When the dreams came, he returned to the garden to walk its length by moonlight until the calm assurances of reason returned and he knew that the dead could speak no more.
It was here, to these long shadows of the failing light that he had fled, clinging to the threads of his sanity, when Luis had first appeared in the graveyard.
Among the roses, his father had first proposed to his mother, and here-in this small, precious corner of his life-was Diego's last bastion.
Those days were past now for Luis lived still, and each night, he stood beside Diego in the garden, guiding his hand to the small treasure that was his daily gift.
In his mortal life, Luis had longed for such, small, fine things and Diego knew now that it was because he has always been denied them.
I wanted to be loved. Now, I never will be.
Luis's dark glove protected his own hand from the thorns he thrust into Diego's naked palm. His eyes, darkened with malice, echoed the indigo of the sky and the cold moonlight spun his flaxen hair into silvery threads. Even now, ever dark, ever twisted and cruel, Luis Ramone was still beautiful.
Diego. I know.
Tender, soothing petals cooled the bitter searing of his flesh. As always, and ever, and ever would be, the silken hair caressed the scalding heat of Diego's tears, and the softly spoken words stilled the troubled pounding of his breast.
It was here, in the moonlit shadows of the garden, that Diego had first known his love's kiss.
You took all I ever had, and all I was ever going to be.
Dark, trailing measures of his life's blood fell in droplets amongst the stones and leaves as the thorns thrust ever deeper.
I can see into your mind and into your heart.
Velvet touch caressed and lifted his chin. The pale eyes shimmered, brimming with unfallen tears.
Here, in his favorite place in all the world, Diego's bastion fell, and his last fight was lost.
"I love you and I always will."