elegance | victoria sutherland

EPILOGUE

the sickening crack of a frozen neck echoed within the forest. the blonde girl screamed, she knew it was coming, but she was too slow.

i was too slow.

she made her way to the clearing, ignoring the immense pain on her own neck. there she saw, what her nightmares always consisted of.

the cracked head of her beloved, she laid there, slowly burning from the flames. the killer had thrown a lighter on the body, careless of their actions. the fire engulfed her body, growing bigger with every added fuel.

the witch fell to her knees, holding her own cracking neck. tears escaped her violet eyes, adding red to her own signature colour palette.

she couldn't save her. she couldn't even say goodbye. at least this could be the death of her, the guilt would slowly kill her anyways - immortality doesn't sound too great when you think about it.

a malicious laugh came from the killer, she couldn't bear look up to them, not after what they had done. she was too weak, her neck almost fully cracked - the figure who stood before her only watched longingly.

another set of footsteps came to their side, both not breathing, both not living.

"dear, what have you done?"

dear, that's what she called her. one of the only ones to truly love her. why couldn't she have a happy ending like everyone else?

"what you've always wanted."

these people knew her? the blonde could only scream, her magic was gone, she was too weak, she wanted them to feel her pain.

"look at her."

the witch didn't care how horrible her appearance was, she knew she looked ugly, defenceless, weak. all of which she refused after leaving them, but some things must come to an end, no matter how good they are.

"you've always wished for this."

"but maybe i regret it."

"it's too late now."

pondering silence of voices filled the meadow, the only sound of flames haunting the broken woman.

"sequoia," the feminine voice called out, it sounded so familiar, but nothing came to mind. "sequoia look at me, please."

she didn't want to, no, she couldn't. her neck wouldn't move, it was nearly broken, she just wished it would hurry up.

"i believe you'd want this."

the silver bracelet was thrown in the girl's lap, a taunting move performed by the boy. she clutched it in her hand, only for it to slip through her shaking fingers.

"no, no, no!"

"let's just go, bella."

this is what got the blonde to look up, finding it impossible that they'd come back for her, after all these years. she gazed at edward, hatred filling her body. how could he get to do something like this? they hadn't bothered them for years, centuries, but they finally got what they've always wanted.

a happy ending.

why must they ruin someone else's?

"i hate you, i hate you both, why have you done this to me?" the weak one managed to protest.

she felt two cold hands on each side of her head.

"i'm sorry sister, the least i can do is speed up the process."

and with that, the second sickening crack of the day was emitted. there laid sequoia swan's beheaded body, similar to her love's just a few minutes ago.

"let's go now bella, the deed has been done."

-

the whiteness of the room burned sequoia's eyes as if hundreds of bright lights were directly in front of her eyes. she saw a figure ahead of her, blocking out some of the light.

as if the afterlife couldn't get any more stereotypical.

"my sweet sequoia," it was an unfamiliar voice to the woman, but she didn't feel threatened.

they walked closer, each step growing the anxiousness in her chest.

were they really this far away?

shut up, you're dead, stop making stupid remarks.

the two sides of her emotions fought with each other on the best way to handle the situation. as the figure grew closer, their features became prominent.

she looked exactly like sequoia, could almost be mistaken for a twin. although, her eyes were more on the pink side, probably one of the only differences separating the two.

"i'm sorry this had to happen this way."

their eyes met, and at that exact moment, sequoia realised who the woman was.

"mother?"

"yes, i'm so proud of you my dear daughter," her smile was welcoming, motherly, she would've been the sweetest parent. "you weren't put in the best of situations, but you got through it. you achieved what none of the elders ever could."

sequoia couldn't help but pull her mother in a hug. she always wanted a parent who actually cared for her, who didn't use her as a replacement. "i can't believe this, why did it have to end this way?"

vespera held her sobbing daughter and couldn't help but feel guilty. "it had to happen, we just didn't think it would be those two."

"why? why so early? why do they get to live a happy life with each other?"

"we were imbalances to the supernatural world sequoia," the mother started, pulling her daughter away from her embrace.

"what do you mean?"

"vampires and werewolves are natural enemies, they balance each other out, they're opposites, unlike us. we prefer vampires, it's always been like that, which makes an unfair playing field to the wolves. our magic is more powerful than both combined, so fights were always won by us."

"so you made me like women so i can't have kids?"

vespera chuckled softly, looking into sequoia's eyes, "it was the best way, otherwise, we'd have to kill your male mate before having children. this way you could spend longer with her."

"where is she? is she here? i want to see her."

the older one waved her hand, a white portal appearing in front of them.

more white? i seriously can't escape this goddamn colour, it's hurting my eyes at this point.

"go on," vespera slightly pushed her daughter in the direction of the portal, "she's waiting."

"will i see you again?"

without a response, sequoia was pushed fully into the portal, whizzing objects flew past her. after a few minutes, she landed on her butt, in another white room.

"sequoia!"

the witch turned around, seeing victoria run into her arms.

"i was so worried you would have to stay," she rested her chin on top of sequoia's head, brushing a hand through her light hair. "you're hair, it's white now."

the younger one huffed, "is that because i'm a scary ghost now? or because everything i've seen since i've gotten here is white."

the redhead only held her tighter, to which they stayed like that for what felt like forever. the little jump sequoia's heart does every time she sees the woman would never go away. she would always be happy to see her, no matter how bad of a mood she was in. she was so utterly in love with victoria, and she didn't care.

the two women pulled apart, the taller one's hands cupping the other's face. violet met burgundy, blonde met red, and a smile met a smirk.

"you, are my swan, my soulmate, my girlfriend. you showed me your grace, purity, and elegance, and for that, i love you."

"i love you too."

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