Jade gasped. "Look!"
They all saw it, and Mary-Lynnette felt her heart jump violently.
A bolt of light was streaking across the darkness in the northeast. Not a little wimpy shooting star – a brilliant green meteor that crossed half of the sky, showering sparks.
It was right above Ash's path, as if lighting his way.
A late Perseid.
The last of the summer meteors.
However, it somehow seemed like a blessing.
"Quick, quick, wish," Mark was telling Jade eagerly. "A wish on that star you gotta get."
Mary-Lynnette glanced at his excited face, at the way his eyes shone with excitement. Beside him, Jade was clapping, her own eyes, wide with delight. I am so glad that you are happy, Mary-Lynnette thought.
My wish for you at least came true.
So maybe now I can wish for myself. I wish... I wish...
Ash turned around and smiled at her.
"See you next year," he said. "With slain dragon!"
He started down the weed-strewn path to the road. For a moment, in the deep violet twilight, he did look to Mary-Lynnette like a knight walking off on a quest. A knight-errant with shining blond hair and no weapons, going off into a very dark and dangerous wilderness. Then he turned around and walked backward, waving, which of course ruined the effect.
Everyone except Mary-Lynnette shouted goodbyes. Mary-Lynnette could feel them around her, her brother and her three blood-sisters, all radiating warmth and support.
Playful Jade.
Fierce Kestrel.
Wise and gentle Rowan.
And Mark, who wasn't sullen and solitary anymore. Tiggy wound himself around Jade's ankles, purring amiably.
In that moment it dawned on Mary-Lynnette, a year was a long time, she would have a whole year to herself, it suddenly made her feel alone.
Then, something inside of her snapped, she wasn't sure if it was her emotions or something to do with the soul mate principal, before she knew it she said quite clearly and strongly.
"No." Everyone stared at her, Ash kept walking down the path, his back turned to them all now. "He is not leaving me." She stated quite loudly, fierce, it even made Kestrel stare at her.
Mary-Lynnette took a step away from the house, then two, then three; she hastily walked down the steps and ran after Ash.
"She can't go after him." Rowan murmured. Kestrel was already right behind Mary-Lynnette; she reached out and grabbed both of Mary-Lynnette's arms, pulling her backwards. Mary-Lynnette snarled. She elbowed Kestrel in the ribs, punched her in the nose and wrapped her leg around Kestrel's before pushing her. Kestrel fell to the ground, groaning in pain. Mary-Lynnette ran towards Ash, there was only fifty more metres or so separating them.
"Mare!" yelled Mark, Mary-Lynnette ignored him; she couldn't let Ash walk out on her. Jade and Rowan were helping Kestrel up, they all stared at Mary-Lynnette's retreating form.
"Mary-Lynnette, you have to let him leave." Shouted Jade
"Mary-Lynnette, it's the only way that you can be together." Shouted Rowan
"Mary-Lynette, get your sorry ass back over here right now!" Kestrel yelled her tone was angry.
Ash stopped his pace and turned around; he took in the scene in front of him. Mary-Lynnette jumped in his arms, holding on for dear life.
"Stay." She pleaded with him and he knew that the only way to make her let go so it would be safe for all of them, was to hurt her.
"No." He stated firmly, he wouldn't be changing his mind anytime soon.
"No?"
"You heard me, Mary-Lynnette, no." He said even though it killed him to deny her, after everything they had been through in such a short time. His three sisters were by Mary-Lynnette's side in an instant after he spoke the word no for the final time.
"Ash, we can find way, I know we can." She tried.
"I don't want you." Every word he spoke was a lie but Mary-Lynnette didn't know, she began to believe his words.
"Ash, don't do this to me, to us."
"There is no us." His vicious voice cut through the air as if it were a knife, a little harsher than he meant. Mary-Lynnette's eyes turned glassy.
Take care of her, Rowan. I love her so much and I don't think I know just what I'd do if something happened to her. Ash communicated with Rowan.
Ash, don't do this. You're going to kill her, if you loved her, you would at least tell her no considerately. Rowan retorted.
"Stay out of danger." Ash said softly as he turned back around and left.
Mary-Lynnette's legs seemed to give way, then she let the tears fall uncontrollably. The three sisters and Mark all tried comforting her but that was the wrong move. "Get away from me." She sobbed, the love of her life, he soul mate, had just walked out on her. There was no point in denying how much it hurt and how much she wanted him, needed him. But apparently that wasn't what he wanted as his hurtful words had echoed in her mind. "I don't want you." and "There is no us."
AN: Well that was a pretty crap ending I know. Review? Pretty please. The next chapter will be better! x