Chapter 7: October

Evanescence

(Lyrics edited by slight deletion)

I can't run anymore,
I fall before you,
Here I am,
I have nothing left,
Though I've tried to forget,
You're all that I am,
Take me home,
I'm through fighting it.
Broken,
Lifeless,
I give up,
You're my only strength,
Without you,
I can't go on,
Anymore,
Ever again.

Kyra lay next to Riddick, her head resting on his bare shoulder and her fingers pressed against his heart; marveling in its slow, steady rhythm. His soft breathing told her that he was asleep as she lay there admiring his deadly beauty; every muscle and the way they felt beneath her hands. She felt complete in his embrace; safe and loved. She had spent her life wanting to become like Riddick, now she wanted nothing more then to be herself and let him be her everything. The years of pain and struggle seemed to fall away from her as they lay there together.

My only hope,
My only peace,
My only joy,
My only strength,
My only power,
My only life,
My only love.

Her thoughts swirled in her drowsy mind: After all this time, after all she had done to survive, lying here next to her was life. All she had to do was touch him and she had everything she ever needed or wanted. To be like him had been her hope as a child, now her hope was embodied before her. All her life she had searched for peace, and now she had it in his slow steady breaths. Never before had she felt joy, but now it filled her as she thought of his smile and the way his eyes had looked at the sight of her before him in the darkness. Always she had pretended to be strong like the infamous Riddick, but now her façade had fallen away as he became all the strength she would ever need. Kyra had fought her entire existence to live, but she had come to realize that she had given up her life to simply survive. Now Riddick and his love hallowed her existence and made it a life. The love that she had always given to this man filled her and a smile graced her face as a tear slid from her drowsy eye.

I can't run anymore,
I give myself to you,
I'm sorry,
I'm sorry,
In all my bitterness,
I ignored,
All that's real and true,
All I need is you,
When night falls on me,
I'll not close my eyes,
I'm too alive,
And you're too strong,
I can't lie anymore,
I fall down before you,
I'm sorry,
I'm sorry.

Riddick stirred as his eyes opened and met Kyra's as they watched his sleeping face. He pulled her closer to him gently and wrapped his other arm around her, causing her to lie half on his chest. All was silent in the night; the only sound coming from the native wildlife going about their nightly routines. Pressed together, they felt the warmth of the other and the cool breeze caressing their bare skin.

Dark, deadly hands moved slowly as Riddick traced feather light touches along Kyra's smooth back, along her waist and down the curve of her hips; sending shivers up her spine.

My only hope,
My only peace,
My only joy,
My only strength,
My only power,
My only life,
My only love.

In his arms lay the woman he had spent years thinking about and dreaming about at night. Ever since he was a child he had relied on only himself against all others. Now he realized that was no longer true; he drew his strength from the woman laying next to him. In her lay his hope of a future; of peace from the constant running and ducking from those who would take his freedom for a quick buck. Kyra was the only thing in the universe who brought him joy, and with her by his side he was filled with it. Her very presence gave him strength to do what must be done, whatever that would be. He held the power to deal death, and yet the small sounds she had made to his touch filled him with a sense of amazing power; the power to give her life. The heart of the man who had never loved, now beat because of it.

Constantly ignoring,
The pain consuming me,
But this time it's cut too deep,
I'll never stray again.

Their kisses grew deeper as the horizon began to turn pink. Warbling songs of birds filled the early morning air. Hands began to roam once again as they gave themselves over to their love:

Each others all.

My only hope,
My only peace,
My only joy,
My only strength,
My only power,
My only life,
My only love.