Forbidden

E I G H T

Her mind was blank, empty with darkness. She had multiple daggers and a sword all hidden under her light flowing dress. She knocked on Rowan's door. Moments later she heard heavy footsteps before the door opened. Her heart broke for him, she could tell he was in pieces, which made her heart shatter at the thought of killing him. His black hair was ruffled, his face was stained with tears, his eyes bloodshot and his lips were trembling.

"I just wanted to check up on you," she began. "Are you okay?" she asked, but immediately regretted it. She thought to herself " Why did you ask that? Of course he wasn't okay, his mother had just died, and it was all my fault!" she scolded herself.

Astoria could tell that Rowan was holding back tears that were trying to burst out. He shook his head, as he walked closer to her and hugged her, his face buried in the crook of her neck, his arms were wrapped tightly around her waist, clinging to her, as if his life depended on it, as if she would leave him, like Lilith did.

"It's okay," she cooed, hugging him back, she stroked his hair trying to calm him down, he sobbed into her arms. She moved into his room, closing the door behind her, as they both sat down on the edge of his bed. His room was a mess; broken lamps, books scattered everywhere, clothes and papers in every direction, broken cups and plates smashed to the floor. It was worse than she had expected.

"It's okay," she hushed. "She's in a better place now, she's no longer suffering," she said trying her best no to let her voice crack as she took the dagger beneath her sleeve and raised it above his head, "I'm so sorry," she whispered, squeezing her eyes shut until black and white spots appeared as she brought the knife down to his back, stabbing his heart, a tear rolled down her cheek, he gasped, but he didn't let go of her and so didn't she. She wanted his last moment knowing that someone was there for him, even though she was the one that had killed him. No one should die feeling empty and alone. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry," she kept repeating, as tears streamed down her cheek, he pulled away leaning back against the posters of the wooden bed for balance, wanting to see her one last time, "I'm sorry," she sobbed, he brushed back a strand of her hair with his bloody hands, and smiled at her, they both knew how this was going to end for Rowan, "Please say I'm sorry to her," she didn't feel like she was worthy of saying Lilith's name, but even though she didn't say it, Rowan knew exactly who she was talking about, "And that I will never forget her, like a mother's love I will never get to experience again. She was a wonderful mother. She didn't deserve the ending that she had." he nodded weakly as his smile faded from his face,

"And to you, you would have made a great King to these wonderful people, and if we ever had gotten married I would be so lucky to have a person like you by my side. I had never felt such joy in my life, thank you for these few months, I will never forget you Rowan Archon, the warrior king. I'm so sorry," she sobbed, her lips quivering.

"I will never forget you, Astoria Addena-Morgan, the best fighter of Tartarus," she forced a laugh through her sob, "You would have made a brilliant queen, and an even better mother. Like it or not I thought you were the most annoying girl I have ever encountered, who knew we would have ended up like this." he chuckled, before saying " My heart no longer my own, my thoughts and dreams only filled with you, the girl I loathed. She drives me crazy but somehow I keep going back to her. She looked at the stars as it reflected in her beautiful sapphire eyes, the moon and stars shined brighter than ever, or maybe it had always shone that bright, but she was the one to lead me out of the darkness." he spoke as if she was a third person, as if she wasn't there, but he stared deeply into her eyes, savouring every last minute he has left with her, his hand cupped her cheek using the pad of his thumbs to wipe the tears running down her face,

"I'm sorry," she sobbed,

"I forgive you," he smiled as his hand dropped to his leg, "Until we meet again, my love," was his last words,

She watched as the lights in his eyes danced to the beautiful symphony of his life, one last time, before greeting his everlasting end like an old friend, taking his last breath, along with his soul.