Once outside Sage pushed the man away from her, looking slightly predatory.

"How dare you?!" she exclaimed punching his jaw, then putting herself in a fighting position, admonishing the man, warning him that another punch may be coming.

Her husband just stood there, in shock, it seemed, suddenly looking devitalized.

Sage continued.

"Do you really think hurting him will force me to love you? I will only hate you more!"

"Let me guess. If one should expect kindness then they should give it," spoke the man gently touching his cheek looking slightly ignominious, as if he had realized his disgrace.

"But I cannot do such a thing, for you have shown me no mercy," spoke Jim as he pulled the woman closer, now appearing amicable.

Suddenly the sound of chains was heard from inside Edward's tent.

"You will not touch him," said the woman darkly.

"Of course my lady."

Jim pulled his wife close kissing her chastely on her hand, then moving to lips.

His tongue flicked across her lips, as he stroked her hair, starting to gently nibble on her lip.

A nip as he pulled away, drawing blood.

A small wound.

Then he began walking towards the tent knowing the woman would follow.

Inside she could see Edward in his chains again, the same position as if they were doing a performance.

But…

He only wore a lone strip of withered fabric that cradled his hips.

Edward had looked at her as she walked in but as soon as their gazes met he had looked away.

Thankfully the door was open.

The woman ran inside immediately, noticing that Don and Conner had disappeared and only Jim stood nearby, looking as apathetic as ever.

She found herself placing her hands onto her loves face, making him look at her.

Then she heard her captor's footsteps on the steel floor.



She turned facing her enemy, standing in front of Edward wrapping her arms around him from behind.

"You will not hurt him."

"Of course, my love," said Jim moving closer.

Sage didn't notice the knife until Jim was only a few feet away.

Gently he extended his hand out to her as if offering the knife to her.

Cautiously the woman moved away from Edward and grasped the handle to the knife.

But it was a trick of course.

Jim had moved behind her at lightning speed and enclosed the hand that held the knife in his own, and her other arm was twisted behind her back painfully.

"Bastard," spat the woman as she tried to struggle away.

It was useless.

"I shall not touch him or hurt him my dearest, as promised," spoke Jim slyly.

"you'll pay for this."

Jim laughed making his wife step forward and press the knife into her love's neck.

Edward who had been looking down, looked up immediately.

His eyes showed a sense of betrayal, at least until he noticed Jim.

"Coward," was all he said, making Jim force Sage to press the knife harder into his neck.

She couldn't move or else she could really hurt Edward.

"Wouldn't it be such a lovely memory, such a poetic moment; Sage, you killing the man you love with your own hands, while being held by your husband."

Sage felt her elbow jut back suddenly hitting Jim's ribs.

She could hear his grunt of pain but in response he made her hand move to Edward's shoulder and cut down all the way across his chest down to his exposed hip, making her love scream out in pain.

His body jerked, the fabric loosened exposing him fully.

But in his pain, Sage heard him whisper,

"I forgive you."

She was crying now, Jim loosening his grip on her hand.



The knife clattering to the ground.

Shaking she moved back, but her captor's bloody hand approached and smeared blood across her face.

Edward's blood.

The scent was overpowering.

"It's your entire fault; because of your love for this freak."

Jim left the cage then and before he disappeared from the tent he said,

"I'll be back home, so join me in a little while."

Now sobbing Sage backed against the bars of the cage, able to taste his blood in her mouth.

"What have I done?"

Out of the corner of her eye she saw Erik who as soon as he saw her and Edward ran over and freed Edward from the scarecrow position and then undid the chains.

Looking at Sage he said,

"I'll have what you need in a few hours, I swear. I just wish I could do it myself."

And with that he left, leaving the couple alone.

Edward pulled himself over to her, saying it wasn't her fault.

Once he was close enough Sage clutched to him, apologizing fervently, tears pouring.

Edward carefully wrapped his arms around her, rocking her back and forth, kissing her head, his blood soaking into her white shirt.

"I could have killed you."

She loved him.

But in part of his mind, Edward thought himself unworthy.

For in his private Hades, he had learned just how much of a despairing monster he was.

Though his feelings proved a supposed humanity he was only a demon, a freak who lived half a life, never changing.

A beast, claws included.

And the cage in which he performed was all that saved the crowd from him; the chains which bound him were all that saved him from humanity.



A point proven by how she always shrunk from him, even though she held him every night.

It seemed that as they clung to each other, they were only children, lost and lonely in this world of hate and lies.

What he knew most of all was that the masses came to glorify his suffering, agony and existence,

For he was in reality, alone in this world,

But he was her support as well,

Her saint, clad in linen,

A fallen angel,

And black swan.

It seemed his destiny to suffer in silence,

So that he may lessen the pain of the woman he loved so dearly.

Cccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccc

I promise this is the last chapter that Jim leaves breathing.

Yes, he dies next chapter….I had to bring you all to the ultimate hatred of him, just in case you forgot,lol, and considering the reviews I've gotten, you haven't.

So, any prediction of how Sage is going to kill him exactly, according to the info I have given in this story.

How much blood should there be?

Will Edward have a hand in his death?