Chapter 37

Kurtis felt his knees hit the floor as a pain pulsated within his side. The rusted sword fell from his grasp, his hands grabbing at the source, feeling the dampness of blood upon his clothing.

He watched with regret as Mariana slowly walked toward him, a look of triumph in Lara's eyes. She placed her foot upon the iron clasp and kicked it back toward him.

"So that's your weakness," Mariana began, staring at Kurtis as he assisted himself to his knees. She slowly ran his hair through Lara's fingers, "your father."

Kurtis looked up toward her, toward the once brown eyes now red with satanic fire.

Her movements stopped, and she stared. "You would've killed me." her voice continued, with slight surprise. "You would've killed her."

"Never." The words spat lightly through his bloodied lips.

"On the contrary." She returned. "You did attack me." She paused, and leveled her face to his own. "It's not as hard as you thought it would be, is it?" she stared at him with a serious face through Lara's emotions. "You know what must be done." she paused, returning to her full height. "You must survive no matter the cost."

Kurtis helplessly watched as Mariana directed his hand toward the vacant blade.

"Pick it up." she demanded with subtlety, continuing her agonizing game. "Lara Croft is of no impor-"

"Kill me." Kurtis cut her off. "That's what you want, and you've tortured me enough." He stopped with unbearable sadness. "Lara's gone."

"So true." she stated, again with the playful tone.

"Kill Me!" Kurtis shouted, rage filling his voice. He felt the pain in his side slightly fade as another began to burn in his shoulder.

"Do you want to save your world!" Mariana shouted, no longer with gaiety but impatience. "The fate of this miserable planet lies in your survival." She lifted the dark blade to his throat. "I will kill you. Won't you defend yourself?"

Kurtis stared with the silence of rejecting her request as the anger took Mariana. She lowered the sword with disbelief.

"Not even for the sake of billions of innocent lives!"

"What's the point of living." Kurtis broke in, forgetting his silence. The new burning pain slightly took the breathe from his words. "Those innocent lives have never done anything for me." he stopped, hate and sadness in his eyes at the image of Lara standing before him. "And the only thing I wanted you've taken from me."

Again the mocking smile came. "Mmm, I'm so sorry." Mariana stated with fake guilt as she gently pressed Lara's foot upon Kurtis's chest. "But like most living things, I care more about myself than some pathetic human," She paused, slight jealousy filling her voice. "or than idiotic feeling you call love." Mariana spat the words with contempt. She forced her foot forward with emphatic strength, which sent Kurtis to the ground. She lifted the sword and stared upon his bloodied figure. "You are pathetic."

The coldness of the floor and the flaring of his shoulder numbed his wounded side. Kurtis felt a sudden pressure throughout his waist as Lara's body sat upon him.

He sighed with grief as he saw her in the intimate position, memories returning of his love for her, and of their night together. He slammed his head backward and into the floor as he saw Mariana smiling with the graceful curve of Lara's lips and the delicate stare of her eyes. He wanted to scream with the torment of not being able to hold her, and tell her the truth of how he felt toward her.

He gritted his teeth with anger toward himself for not protecting her. He watched with mental disgust as Mariana brought Lara's face toward his own.

"Is this familiar?" she asked with torturing words . "Is this the way she pressed her body against you in the motel?"

Kurtis tried to remain still as Lara's soft skin brushed against his body. Her legs spread wider as she thrust herself into his hips. Lara's teeth caressed her bottom lip as if pleasure ran throughout her body. Kurtis remembered the playful habit and almost forgot about the current situation. He stared at her eyes and came back to reality, there flamed color brightening as she smiled.

"Did she kiss you like this?"

Kurtis fought back tears as the delicate lips caressed his own, bringing memories of the woman he knew. He forced his lips to remain motionless, not wanting to please Mariana, though in his mind, he was depriving Lara.

"I think you really love her." Mariana spoke as she backed away. Slight sorrow entered her voice. "Never thought I'd see you cry over something so pointless."

Kurtis watched with faint hope as Mariana stared at him through Lara's eyes. He could sense sadness and slight guilt in her expression.

His hope was ended as the expression changed. He looked upon his death as Lara's hand clenched Mariana's blade.

"Last chance." she stated, tempting him to strike one last time. She lifted the blade at his silence and pointed it toward his weary flesh.

Kurtis was still, and ready for his fate.

Mariana forced the weapon down; the tip of the iron greedily waiting to reunite it's taste for blood.

The blade was slightly deflected as it neared his chest.

Kurtis cried out in turmoil as the metal entered his upper left arm, momentarily pinning it to the floor. He felt the pain fade as his shoulder continued to flare with anger, growing stronger as he screamed.

His suffering returned however, as the iron was ripped back through his arm.

Mariana stared at the dim light flowing from her victim's shoulder. "You think that pathetic brand can stop me?" She delivered the words with a questioning smile. "No matter how angry you get, it won't be enough" She stared at the tattoo, now glowing bright with fire. "Here's to your lineage."

Screams burst again from dying lungs as the blade sliced through new flesh and was ripped away once more.

Kurtis gripped his shoulder as the light faded back into the ancient marking, the brand now split apart along with the base of his stabbed flesh.

"Next time there won't be a scream!" Mariana shouted, again lifting the blade. Her fist were clenched tightly with anger and triumph.

Kurtis raised his bloodied figure, ready to receive the blackened blade. He lowered his arms to his side, only to feel the cold clasp of the rusted sword lying beside him.

Mariana smiled reluctantly as she stared at her fate, and her life's goal. Lara's eyes were upon him for the last time. "Goodbye" she quietly spoke through clenched teeth.

Kurtis felt sweat build upon his hand as he gripped the iron sword. His life had come to its end.

Mariana thrust Lara's arms down, and led the blade toward Kurtis's heart.