Part 7:
" Next," Beast commanded and Scott walked to him. Beast smiled evilly to him. Scott had often forbid him or stopped him in his experiments, or torture as Scott called it. Nice to have a chance, even a small one, for a little retaliation. Scott pulled his sleaze up and Beast was supposed to take a small tissue sample. Instead he cut a rather deep cut in Scott's arm and when it drew blood he cut off a larger piece than was necessary of Scott' s muscular biceps. Scott said nothing and left to stand off to one side.
" How disappointing," Beast mumbled. He had hoped to get just a little flicker of pain from Scott.
" Next."
" Cut me too deeply and I'll cut you open," Betsy promised and Beast took a small tissue sample from her and she walked to stand next to Scott.
" Women," Beast mumbled.
" When will you have the results on my men?" Scott asked Beast.
" In three hours."
" I'll come for them in two," Scott said and went out followed by Betsy.
Part 8:
" You have my results?" Scott asked as he entered Beast's "laboratory" with Betsy.
" Yes," Beast answered but the sick smile on his face made Scott unease.
" Well? I can't wait all day!" Scott said impatiently.
" Out of your army of 5000 men who survived your battle; 200 was infected. One prelate was infected…"
" Who?" Scott demanded to know. He prayed it wasn't Alex.
" Prelate Simmerson."
Scott relaxed.
" Go on," Scott ordered.
" Then only one more was infected. Your bodyguard!" A smile curved Beast's lips, as the distress on Scott's face wasn't to miss.
" Betsy? Betsy…is going to die?" Scott asked shocked.
" Correction; 'Betsy is already dead. Her body is falling apart as we speak. In a matter of hours she'll be dead. After great pain, of course," Beast added satisfied.
" You filthy son of a….," Scott began enraged and grabbed Beast around the neck, hurling him against the wall. He slammed his head repeatedly against the wall and then hit him in the face. Finally he let Beast fall unconscious to the floor. Standing there, in a room filled with death, he felt like crying; something he hadn't done for as long as he could remember.
" It's alright, Scott. Really," Betsy said softly and was to put her hand in his but drew back.
" No, it's not alright. You're going to die. I wouldn't accept it. I wouldn't. There have to be some other way," Scott insisted but Betsy shook her head.
" I have accepted this. Why can't you?"
" Because….because I care…..because…..I love you," Scott admitted softly and Betsy nodded, tears in the corner of her eyes. " I'm…so sorry. For everything. For not saying how I feel….before it is too late." Again Betsy reached for him but drew back.
" It is never too late, Scott. Never."
Scott smiled sadly and without further ado swept her up into his arms and began carrying her away from the pens. The illness worked fast and Betsy was beginning to feel her body fall apart. She had known the moment the arrow hit her that there was something wrong but hadn't wanted to admit it. Now there was no turning back.
Scott carried her to his chamber and locked the door.
" Scott, please. You need to leave me. Kill me now. I could infect you," Betsy whispered as Scott laid her on the couch in the livingroom. The big window gave her a view over the battle torn city and Scott saw the sadness in her eyes. He reached over and with a control he created an artificial environment. When Betsy looked out the window now, she saw an English countryside in all its glory. It was stunningly beautiful and reminded her of home.
" I will never leave you," Scott vowed and before she could draw back he claimed her lips with his. He deepened the kiss before drawing back.
" Scott! I might have infected you with that kiss. Why did you do that?" Betsy asked softly as she stroked his hair. There was no reason to hold back now. Either he was infected like she was or he wasn't.
" Because for the first time in my life I know what love is. I saw it, in your eyes, in your courage and in your spirit," Scott whispered and she could hear tears in his voice.
" I love you, Scott. I always have and I always will," Betsy said softly and Scott kissed her again. Seeing her body tense with the pain of her illness Scott went to the bathroom to get a bottle. He pulled the content into a glass.
" Here," Scott said and held it out for Betsy to drink.
" What…is it?" Betsy asked brokenly. Her strength was leaving her and her body was breaking down.
" It's a tranquilliser. It'll help with the pain," Scott said and Betsy drank. In this time and age medicine and especially against pain was rare. Humans and low breeds' pain was of no consequence while the Elite was expected to be able to handle any pain. They were after all; the strongest.
" Come, my love," Scott whispered softly and lifted her up from the sofa and sat down again so he could have her on his lap; in his arms. She nestled against his chest and he laid a protective arm around her body. For a while they lay in silence, enjoying each other's nearness.
" I….wish…..things….had been different. I wish…..we had admitted our love sooner. I wish….I was your wife," Betsy mumbled hoarsely.
" I wish the same," Scott said and pulled her close. Then he said;
" Betsy; I love you with all my heart. I pledge to you my life, my soul and my love. Forever. Will you be my wife?" Betsy smiled strained.
" I will. I will," Betsy said. " Then I pledge to you my love forever for it is all I can give you."
" It's all I'm asking," Scott said softly and kissed her on the lips.
" My husband?" Betsy asked a little later, her pain-clouded but drugged mind liking the sound of those words.
" Yes, my wife?" Scott whispered softly.
" Let us not watch the world end together. Let us watch the stars instead for they are internal," she whispered, her strength almost gone. Scott reached over and with the control made a heaven of sparkling stars appear on the ceiling, covering the room with their silver light. It had been many years since the stars had been visible in real life.
" There are stars. For you."
" Talk…to me, Scott. Tell me….about our life….together. Where….are….we?" Betsy asked, tears falling down her checks as the end drew near. She had so wished for a life with him, now the only life they'll ever have together….was in dreams.
" We are in England, my love. Where else? You look as beautiful as ever, in a sweet summer dress. The children run around us. We sit outside and it is beautiful and so peaceful. We hear birdsong as we unpack our picnic. Birdsong….," Scott looked down at Betsy and saw that her eyes had stiffen in an unnatural position. Tears fell from his eyes. "…birdsong and starsong…for you, my love. Only for you."
Scott bent down and kissed Betsy's still warm lips, his tears falling on her still face. For Scott the world ended in that moment as he held his love's still body close to his heart and didn't feel her heart beat with his. His world ended…..and dissolved into nothingness.
TBC
