Author's Note: Hey look, it actually got finished. That's a first. Well, everybody's finally caught up now. Sorry about the crummy order in which this got uploaded. I'll try not to start things from the middle and work backwards, it really messes everything up. Anyways, this is the edited version of the end that some people already saw. As always, any suggestions are more than welcome. I really came here to see if my writing was worth all the time. I just failed a Calculus quiz because of this. Please let me know if the transitions are too sudden, working backwards makes things difficult. So, I guess that's it. Thanks for your time, and signing out. You all just want me to shut up anyways.

3. Last Light

He bore down on her like a wave, halberd in his hands rising slowly with measured strength, no effort wasted. His bright eyes were fixated on her, the only other thing still standing in this barren field. He doesn't know me, she realized with a shudder. Those eyes, they aren't his. He's gone. She thought about running, but her feet wouldn't move. Even now I'm stuck in front of you. She grasped the rapier in her hand tighter; he had to be in there somewhere.

"Antonio, it's over," she called out, her voice carried shakily by the wind. I can't even convince myself. He halted in front of her, only a few feet away, axe blade shining over his shoulder. Her breath caught in her throat. She raised a hand slowly, fingers reaching out to him. "You don't have to fight anymore." They stood for a second as Lovina waited, fighting the urge to run towards him. He tilted his head to one side, eyes narrowing. They still held no warmth. Lovina started with a gasp as the blade whipped by her, close enough to sever some of her dangling curls. For a second she didn't know what to do, the whole world narrowed down to those feverish green eyes, that swinging blade, a flashing red smile as it cut through the air.

"Antonio," she cried out, dodging another backhanded swing of his axe. She heard the rush of air whistle by her head as she ducked and darted, the thin rapier in her hand almost forgotten. What good would it do anyways against something like that? And she could never use it, she realized, never against him. She could feel her knees buckling under her as she hastily dodged backwards across the bloody field, trying to evade bodies out of the corner of her eye.

"Please Antonio, it's me." Her voice was barely a squeak, lost to the sky as she stumbled over a limp arm. She dropped to a knee just in time to miss another swing. He walked forward slowly, in measured paces, shoulders rolling with each swing like the gait of a panther. He had his head down and eyes pointed upwards, bright green shards set alight in his dark hair. Lovina scrambled backwards over bodies, trying not to look down at the glazed eyes and open mouths, flies already dancing a grotesque waltz across their cold skin. Antonio stepped confidently over the bodies, pressing arms and heads into the blood-drenched mud with the heel of his boot. He stared down at her and she froze, like a stalked deer, every muscle in her body clenched. That's not him, those eyes aren't his. He leaned in closer, raising the axe above his head.

"Please Antonio. It's me," she cried again, though even she couldn't understand the words coming from her mouth. He can't even see me, she realized. I just have to make him realize who he is. He just needs to remember. With an unknown burst of strength, Lovina pushed off of the ground, grasping the rapier tighter in her left hand. The axe head sank into the muck behind her as she darted forwards, slashing out wildly with her blade. It caught Antonio across the cheek, only a passing glance, before she fell away out of range. He prized his axe out of the ground with a squelch and sent the muck flying with a flick of the handle. Blood wept down his face in a long jagged line. Lovina watched, unable to move, gasping for ragged breath, as his tongue darted out, smearing blood across his mouth. A slow smile spread across his face, like a cut ripping over stretched skin. His eyes were feverish in bruised sockets. A manic laugh ripped from his throat, barely even human. He brought the axe blade over his head again, but sent the butt end slamming into her chest. She felt herself collapse, too tired to try and run. Her body folded in on itself, slamming into the ankle-deep mud.

She was met by a sharp boot to her chest sending her sprawling onto her back, her rapier trampled into the mud. She was gasping for each breath, tasting the iron tang of blood at the back of her throat, fighting to keep her vision straight. A hand grasped her collar in iron fingers, twisting it about her neck as it dragged her to her feet. Suddenly she was staring into his eyes again, terrifyingly bright behind a mask of blood and sweat. I just have to find him in there somewhere. His mouth was set in a victorious snarl as he lifted her with one hand to eye-height, her feet dangling a few inches from the ground. Lovina clawed halfheartedly at his red coat, fingers catching on the brass buttons, but slipping harmlessly off. Her mouth opened and closed, but nothing was coming out. Her collar wrapped tight enough about her neck to draw blood, bright red against her pale skin. With his other hand, Antonio pressed the eight inch spike of his halberd to her chest. Lovina's heart raced, but she smiled, managing to swallow a meager breath of air. Somehow her hand found its way to his face, brushing away the hair that was matted down with blood and sweat. She wrapped her fingers in his hair, tethering herself to him.

"Ti amo," she whispered with her exhale, tears streaking her cheeks. Forgive me, Antonio.

With a final exertion of strength, she pressed herself to his face, feeling the sharp pain of the spike biting into her breast. She could taste blood on his lips, though whether it was his or hers she couldn't tell. Her tongue found its way into his mouth and she felt his whole body slacken. The feral pleasure left his eyes, replaced by terrified shock. His grip about her neck released and she fell away from his face.

"Lovina?" he gasped, after their lips parted. He dropped to his knees, held up only by one hand around his halberd. She was gasping for breath on the ground, chest heaving like a fallen bird, one arm outstretched. A finger of blood crept from her mouth down the side of her face. "Lovina," he screamed louder. He lifted her head with a shaking hand, throwing the bloody halberd to the ground, and pressed her to his chest. "Oh God, Lovina. What have I done?" Leaning against him, she pressed one hand against her chest, blood already welling up on her fingertips, and wrapped the other about his neck. She rested her head against the crook of his neck, the little curl on the top of her head raising goosebumps as it brushed his cheek. "It's all my fault. I was supposed to keep you safe. What have I done? What have I done?" He brushed a stray hair from the side of her face and she leaned back to look at him. A small smile played at the corners of her mouth, her olive eyes rimmed in bright tears.

"Stop saying that, you idiot." She caught his hand with hers, and held it there, pressed to her face.

"I just wanted to protect you when I should have just left. I just wanted to be stronger, so you'd never have to cry again. But all I ever do is make you cry harder." He brushed tears lightly from her cheek with the back of his hand, only succeeding in smearing blood across her face. He pulled his hand away. "Everything I do just hurts you more."

"No, Antonio." She wrapped her hand around his, relaxing the balled fist and lacing her fingers through his. Her hand was still so small. "You set me free. After Rome left, I couldn't feel anything at all. You taught me how to cry, and how to laugh. You taught me to live again." The smile broke out on her face. The hand she had pressed to her chest brushed at his face, leaving behind weeping red lines.

"Why are you smiling? How can you smile now, Lovina, after all I've done to you?"

"You've taken my heart Antonio. You've kept it safe and tried to mend its wings. You taught me to fly. Now you need to set me free. You need to let go. You saved me from the darkness of night, and now it's my turn. You don't have to fight anymore. Ti amo. Ti amerò per sempre." The hand cupping his face drifted slowly back to her lap, leaving behind the brush of phantom fingers. Her eyes closed, shutting out the glow of warm green.

Antonio leaned forward, folding both of her hands in his own. Before, his whole body had been shaking, but now he was calm. Around him the world was silent; the only things watching were glassy eyes and carrion crows. The setting sun threw the world into sharp red focus. He leaned forward, kissing her closed eyes, her parted mouth, but all he could taste was the salt of blood and tears.