Companion to Levitas
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Darkness protected them, hiding his weakness and his sin. When she stood before him, even with the hunger he found himself incapable of resisting. The blade clattered loudly, signaling his surrender.
He flung himself forward and took hold of her, crushing his lips to hers. Lying on his back now with his arm around her shoulders, he struggled with himself. She was one of the damned now, what they had done was immoral. They were an abomination to humanity everywhere, but he could not help when he looked down to her sleeping form but to think it felt like his so it must be his.
He traced the punctures in his chest from where she had bit him during their passion, changed and starving. It hurt…at first. She only took some, disgusted at what she was doing. Disgust, she had shown disgust. That was a human feeling, but how long would she keep those now that she was the dark. How long before instinct would compel her to slaughter and feed to survive, how long before he lost her to the void?
She stirred under his arm, shifting her head and continued to sleep.
He realized that the sun was peeking over the horizon, soon it would be day. He slid out of bed as he made to close all the curtains to the chamber, determined to keep out the daylight. The candles still lit kept the room faintly bright, he turned and saw her sitting up with the blankets drawn up. The look in her eyes said it all: what now?
He sighed, rubbing the back of his neck before lying back on the bed. She lay over him, brushing his hair with her hand. He did not know, she did not know. No doubt she was bothered with her new condition as was he. Perhaps he was more bothered than she was, but to her she still felt like herself. She reviled the taste of his blood, despite the pounding in her head fading away after sating the thirst. He sat up on his elbows and kissed her for the hundredth time that night.
"I will make this work," his voice pierced the silence.
She smiled, cupping his cheek while tears streamed down hers.
"No, you won't,"
"I will, I swear it on the house of Matthias!"
"You mustn't say such things Troy,"
"You are still you! You still know who you are!" he growled as he forced his way out from under her.
He paced beside the bed a few moments in anger because inside he knew she was right. How long could he keep her like this before someone noticed? What if she were to become maddened like Antony, and run rampant? He would rather remember as she was than a crazed monster.
She rose up off the bed coming to stand behind him, encircling her arms around Troy. She knew what she wanted, and yes she was frightened of it but she would prefer it over eternity as a demon. Her presence was his only comfort in this moment.
"Then you want to die?"
The question hung in the air for moments. Eventually came her weak reply.
"…yes,"
He turned to face her, his eyes staring deep into hers.
"Don't leave me," he begged.
"Then you damn me," she answered.
He began to cry again as he rested his forehead against hers. No matter how he tried, she would not budge from her decision. Helena was final.
"I want to see the sun one last time with you," she whispered in his ear.
"Yes my beloved," he nodded.
He could have choked on those words.
They held hands as they approached the curtain together and he opened it. The sun was higher now, in moments its light would take her from him and he would be left alone. Troy held her close. Fearful of what was to come.
As the colors on the horizon began to change, he could hear her gasp. As he looked upon her he saw her flesh begin to smoke. Her eyes lined with tears as she gazed into his. Troy knew then this would be their last moment as he closed his eyes and leaned down to kiss her.
Slowly he felt her fade away as he felt the heat from the morning rays rise, and when he opened his eyes again traces of ash marked his skin. The rest gathered at his feet and so that was all that remained of his Helena.
He sat down on the cold stone, silent tears streaming down his face.