Red Run Cold:
(written up quickly, needed some angst)
Ember and Sebastian had always been the same-fiery passion and cold anger. Emotionally intense. Dangerous, especially together. Ember’s emotions were reflected in her abilities, lightning flashing in her eyes whenever she got angry, hairs sticking out of her tightly plaited braid. Sebastian’s was quieter, slowly building like a volcano. Both lethal in their own way.
Lightning cracked in the sky over the black lake as the pair faced each other off, the cold air biting Sebastian’s cheeks as they stood exposed on the icy surface. He wiped blood from his lip, tasting the irony tang mixed with the frozen water that was falling from the sky. She stood out like a stark contrast against the white night, tears sizzling on her cheeks. He could only scoff at the display. Why was she crying when he was the one in pain- betrayed?
Sebastian thought he had known her. She had been by his side since day one, helping him. He had believed in her- believed that she could bring light into his life and save his sister. Now she was standing against him because he had done dark magic once again. Why couldn’t she forgive like before?
“Why’d you give up on me huh? Am I too much for you now? I thought you loved me Ember!”
Ember ducked as he fired a curse at her. He looked so different from the boy she’d fallen for. His eyes were dark and hollow, no longer sparkling with joy. She’d given him so many chances. He’d made so many promises. But he never kept them. She couldn’t let this go on- not when Ominis lay injured in the hospital wing from dark magic once again. And far worse.
Sebastian was unrecognizable now.
She thought their love would be enough to keep the darkness away- the fire, the passion, the light. But their love had grown cold. His love had grown cold.
She deflected his spells as she tried to get closer, to immobilize him without hurting him. She was too powerful right now, her emotions making her magic unstable. She’d never forgive herself if he got hurt.
“Seb I do love you-“ she tried to protest.
“No you don’t!”
Sebastian’s words hurt more than any curse she’d suffered. Worse than crucio.
“No you don’t.”
Was everything she’d done not been enough?
Ember froze mid- step at his words, her wand trembling in her hand as he raised his again. The storm around them responded to her emotions making the wind roar, lightning flashing behind her.
The space between them was still wide, but the space between their hearts stretched wider. It was a growing gap that was as fragile as cracking ice.
Sebastian raised his wand, jaw clenched in determination. But his hand was shaking.
“Don’t make me do this,” he shouted his voice barely audible over the wind. “Don’t make me hurt you.”
“You already did,” she whispered.
Many times.
Then a hollow creaking sound came from underneath her feet making her look down.
The ice.
Before she could react it shattered sending her plummeting into the frozen depths. The world turned white then black as the water closed around her. Her scream turned into bubbles as she sank into her worst nightmare, drowning.
—
The cold was numbing, her magic fizzing out of her.
Her happiest moments flashed before her eyes. She was there again. Not under a frozen lake but under a star filled sky.
Sebastian’s hand in hers, fireflies sparkling in the grass. The scent of old books, and warm earth. “Promise me something?” she whispered resting her head on his shoulder.
“Anything sweet heart.”
“That not matter how hard it gets you’ll stay in the light.”
He kissed her forehead softly, brown eyes sincere. “I promise. You’re my light, and I’ll never leave you.”
—-
Her lungs screamed but she stopped fighting. Was it really worth it? He no longer cared. He was no longer someone she could believe in.
The longer she was there she found the cold wasn’t so painful. It was quiet….peaceful. Unlike her life had been.
So she closed her eyes and let go.
—
Sebastian stood motionless, his wand still raised. The storm had suddenly died and it was calm.
She was gone. But where? She couldn’t just vanish.
“Ember?” he called breathlessly. No answer.
He hurried towards where he last saw her where there was now a gaping black hole in the ice. Peering into the water he caught a glimpse of red amid the darkness.
His breath hitched. And something broke inside him, something real. A heart that had been forgotten.
“No, no, no, no-“
He dropped to his knees and plunged his arms into the frigid water, fingers stretching to reach her.
“EMBER!”
———-
Pale skin, no pulse, red blood gone cold.
Warm tears on flesh that would never feel it.
He once told her if he lost her he’d lose everything.
“Then don’t lose me.”
He had.
