I did not have a plan; I ran into the night with no idea where to go, just this sinking feeling of the end. Elara was out there being hunted, and I had to doā¦ something!
The cold air hit my face as I ran; the late-night winter streets were strangely quiet, with nothing but the sound of traffic and distant trams running along tracks. Yet through the distant noise and city smells, there was iron in the air. Iron? No. Metallic?
My Beast turned; it recognised it: blood. But not normal blood, no; it had something else to it, a kind of pull that it could follow. I seemed insane running through near-empty streets, following my nose like some starving dog.
It was getting stronger; I ran like I was possessed, darting through streets and roads without taking a single breath. Then I saw her, slumped down an alley wall, her deep red blood marking the concrete below her like a shadow. I slowly dropped to my knees, scared to even touch her. Elaraās dress was tattered, her face bare and scattered with blood. I did not have a heartbeat, yet it was all I could hear when my hand slowly reached out to her.
I blinked, and her hand had grasped mine, tightly, almost bone-breaking, before her eyes cleared to see me. She loosened her grip, that moment of instinctual fear melting away, but I could feel the act Elara was playing; she didn't want to worry me.
āElara-ā I choked her name barely above a whisper before she cut in.
āYou shouldnāt have to see me like this,ā Elara sighed, her hand gently caressing mine.
The shock of seeing her like this was wearing, and soon, overwhelming guilt and sadness were bubbling up. My throat began to clamp, and I felt those red tears begin to pool in the corners of my eyes.
āI-I should haveā¦ I didnāt mean-ā More words I could barely get out; I felt powerless as my gaze dropped to the floor. It was always hard for me to look at Elara, yet like this, it felt even more so.
āHazel dear,ā Elara soothed, her hand gently pulling Hazel closer. āThis is not your fault, and I would not have you feel responsible.ā
I felt her arms wrap around my sobbing frame weakly. āIt canāt be like thisā¦ I-I have to do something. I canāt just let this happen, please.ā My face dared still not look up to hers; even in this state, she was royalty to my peasant eyes.
āHazelā¦ā Elaraās voice softened, and at that moment, it was all I could hear. Her hand was cold as it gently nudged my chin so that she could see me. Red tears stained my face as I looked at her. āIf Iām going to meet my final death, I would want it to be by you.ā A glint shone in her eyes, as she tilted her head to show her neck.
What was she asking? Did I know? Did I want it? Was it wrong? Those thoughts rushed through my head for but a second, before I sank my fangs into her neck. It felt perverse; even after everything we did together, this felt dirtier than any sin I had committed by her words.
The form before me began to turn to dust, taking away Elara on the wind. I stood, legs weak, but feeling no sense of pain despite the distance I ran. I stumbled, steps were now shorter, on flat shoes I was not used to; my hand leaned against a stone wall to steady myself as I walked down the empty alley. My hand then felt glass, and I turned. A cold black window gently cast my reflection back at me and all I could see was Hazelās tear-stained face-
I drank, almost sick of the copper taste in my mouth, but I persisted; further and further I went, taking everything she had because she had told me too. Elara wanted it, so I wanted itā¦ and maybe, that's all I ever wanted.
And my eyes looking back.
