A/N: So…this is the end. Again, this story is dedicated in love to my friend A Soulless Poet. A real life vampire! I hope this ending meets your expectations, love, I really do!
And a special heartfelt thanks to my shawty and dealer, Kon13, who inspired me throughout this entire story. Thank you for your help, inspiration, and loving support of this story. I am more grateful and indebted to you than words can express.
And last, but not least in importance, thank you to all of my supporters and reviewers:
Qwerty (guest reviewer)
Fandom Angst
KhaalidaNyx
Ruler of All Unicorns (Princess Unicorn123)
xXLollipopsxlovexmeXx
Critique Creep
And to those who supported me in silence on the sidelines. All of you are more awesome than you know, and have my heartfelt thanks.
So…without further ado, I humbly present the final chapter of "Love Like Death."
"Merciful death. How you love your precious guilt."
-Lestat "Interview with the Vampire"
She was so still. Breathe. He wanted her to breathe. Move. Live. He stood beside himself, willing her into being. Stunned in horrified shock at what he had witnessed…trapped inside the stillness of her.
In the span of a single breath…a heartbeat…he watched with renewed horror as her body began to twitch and writhe in agony on the floor. Yet…he did nothing. His body never registering the screams of his mind. The screams of torment. Rage. Hatred. Agony. Despair. All of them lingering just beneath the surface. The concrete statue of his face.
Through empty eyes he watched as her body became still once more. It was done. He had failed her. Again. Failed in protecting and guarding her life. And now… Through his weakness he had lost her soul. And still…he did nothing. It was done.
Haru was the first to respond, silently brushing past him to crouch next to the lifeless form. A shell of the light that he had been drawn to. A light never to shine again. Ever. A light so spectacularly smothered out by his beloved creator. Extinguished and cruelly gifted back to him as something else. Something darker. Defiled. Another soulless monster... like him. Just like him. And he had been too weak against his lover to prevent it.
Yuki stared from the prison of his immobile body as the lifeless figure wretched itself from the ground and into the arms of his companion. Even through his revulsion he was unable to look away, taking in the fruition of his gravest sin. Still…he did nothing.
Tohru's delicate form trembled against Haru's chest as he wrapped his arms around her protectively. Emotions of confusion and anguish washed over her face as she fixed her teary gaze on his calm features.
"What happened to me?" She whimpered through her tears as Haru's expression remained calm and stoic in his silence. "What am I?" The whispered question lingered in the air, wrapping itself around Yuki like a noose to hang him.
The expression on his siren's face shifted between confusion, fear, and rage as she pushed herself from Haru's embrace. Her body curled in on itself as she shook uncontrollably on the floor. Rocking herself on her knees for comfort, she wept…and…they watched. Watched in silent testimony to the truth as understanding flickered on her face.
Through her wailing and rocking, she began to drag her nails along the translucent skin of her arms. Her body heaved in on itself as her nails continued to scrape along her flesh. Harder. Deeper. Violent as they began to break skin, drawing blood from deep wounds that were healed over and viciously reopened again. Azure eyes slowly absorbed the immediate regeneration of her self-inflicted wounds with a sense of alarm too vast to be held in as a sharp, piercing shriek split the deafening silence.
"WHAT AM I?" The pained screech ripped itself from her lips as she began to violently claw at herself, wounds healing and reopening as her nails ravaged her skin.
"YUKI!" The harsh voice of his companion lifted above the screams of his siren. "SHE NEEDS YOU!" These words stirred and awoken him to the unfolding horror as he finally moved himself, quickly drifting to Haru's side to comfort his siren.
With the grace and passion of a desperate lover Yuki pulled her into himself, halting the self-destruction to her body. He felt her struggle against him and only held her more tightly, refusing to let go. He knew what she was now. He knew… She was his guilt. The vessel of his damnation. The perfect embodiment of his sin. His atrocities made flesh. And how he loved her. Wholly and completely.
Squeezing his eyes shut against the tears threatening to break free, Yuki began to hum a gentle lullaby in her ear to ease her distress. One he had often sang to his child when she refused to sleep. And as the melodic tones came soft and soothing, he could feel her become helpless in his hold.
Gathering her in his arms, Yuki lifted her from the ground bridal style. An unsettling wave of numbness washed over him with the weight of her in his arms. As he began to leave the dance hall, he could feel the inquisitive gazes of the others…standing in silence to receive the newest member of their family. As he passed the silent statues of his family, Yuki glimpsed the face of his beloved creator. Akito watched him as he passed by in silence, Shigure peering over his shoulder as he wrapped himself around Akito, the two taking in the spectacle together. Yuki simply moved quietly past them, holding Tohru tighter to himself. Shielding her. Protecting her.
He could feel Haru following behind them as he continued to move through the halls in quiet contemplation. Of her fate. His fate. Their fate. He would bind her to himself…his precious guilt. His gift. The embodiment of everything he hated. How he would hold her up in adoration. Hold her close and cherish her. She was now the burden of his sin, and he would carry her…in love.
The End
I was a heavy heart to carry.
My beloved was weighed down.
My arms around his neck.
My fingers laced to crown.
I was a heavy heart to carry.
My feet dragged across the ground.
And he took me to the river,
Where he slowly let me drown.
My love has concrete feet.
My love's an iron ball.
Wrapped around your ankles,
Over the waterfall.
I'm so heavy.
Heavy.
Heavy in your arms.
I'm so heavy.
Heavy.
Heavy in your arms.
And is it worth the wait,
All this killing time?
Are you strong enough to stand,
Protecting both your heart and mine?
Who is the betrayer?
Who's the killer in the crowd?
The one who creeps in corridors,
And doesn't make a sound.
My love has concrete feet.
My love's an iron ball.
Wrapped around your ankles,
Over the waterfall.
My love has concrete feet.
My love's an iron ball.
Wrapped around your ankles,
Over the waterfall.
I'm so heavy.
Heavy.
Heavy in your arms.
I'm so heavy…
Heavy.
Heavy.
..heavy…
So heavy in your arms.
This will be my last confession.
'I love you' never felt like any blessing.
Ohhhh…
Whispering like it's a secret.
Only to condemn the one who hears it,
With a heavy heart.
Whoa-oh!
..heavy…
Heavy!
Heavy!
..heavy…
I'm so heavy in your arms!
I'm so heavy…
Heavy!
Heavy!
…heavy…
I'm so heavy in your arms!
I'm so heavy…
Heavy!
Heavy!
…heavy…
I'm so heavy in your arms!
I'm so heavy…
Heavy!
Heavy!
…heavy…
I'm so heavy in your arms!
I was a heavy heart to carry!
My beloved was weighed down!
My arms around his neck!
My fingers laced to crown!
I was a heavy heart to carry!
But he never let me down!
When he had me in his arms,
My feet never touched the ground!
I'm so heavy…
Whoa-oh…
Heavy in your arms.
Heavy…
I'm so heavy in your arms…
A/N: Lyrics featured in this final chapter are from the song "Heavy In Your Arms" by Florence+The Machine.
