a gorgeous white by Heather_anare

234: A pitiful reunion

"Moulin!"

The warning was delayed. Moulin turned only to face a dagger rapidly aiming towards his throat. He could not dodge in time. His body had become sluggish and was impossible for him to evade it fast.

However, he felt an invisible force yank him to the side.

Splash!

He fell into the pool of blood and corpses. Red splattering on his exquisite face.

It was brief. Too faint to be heard, but Moulin could hear it loud and clear.

The sound of a blade stabbing flesh. The sound of blood spewing.

A sharp groan.

A thud.

Moulin feared it all. He lifted his body, turned his head, and stopped. There, his eyes met his dear mother's bleeding stomach. Blood streaming down her abdomen. She had already fallen, a dagger imbedded deeply in her gut. With a paling face, her breath stuttered. The hilt of the blade protruded from her stomach. The blade ruthlessly imbedded in her abdomen. However, although wounded, she mustered the last of her strength and instantly sent down sharp billows of wind to crush the half-dead red robed man. He perished in an instant.

"M-Mother!" Moulin cried out. He scrambled his way towards her, nearly stumbling on a corpse, but he didn't care. Blood soaked his knees down his his toes.

Without hesitation, he held onto her sagging body. Fear seemed to thunder inside his chest. His hand trembled in fright. For the first time, his mind was blank. He didn't know to do. Panic surged in his blood.

"D-Don't... touch me..." She breathes out, feeling more blood spilling down from her stomach. "You will be infe-"

"I don't care!" Moulin shouted as he held her hand. This time his mind cleared, and he knew that if he wanted to make his mother stay in this world, he needed to move quickly. He ripped off a strip of the blankets and pressed down on her wound. His hands were still shaking. Eyes watering, and he didn't bother to hide it anymore. "Y-You'll be alright. It's okay. You will be fine." His voice was shaking. Desperation layered his silver eyes, and Lady Maxiel's heart ached even more. She already knew she was too weak to recover.

"I-I will find father. You will be okay... Y-You will be-"

"Moulin..."

A delicate hand palmed his cheek.

Moulin stopped. A tear fell down from his eyes, a desperate cry threatened to escape his mouth.

Her eyes softened. It was the gaze she always used to comfort Moulin. But Moulin didn't want to look at it. He found it heart-wrenching. Painful.

She smiled. It looked sweet, but he knows it is the last that she will give him. She cooed him gently. A comforting hum to ease her son's sorrow. She could not promise him anything, for it will only hurt him even more. With moist eyes, she could only pray... pray to keep her family safe...

Tomorrow, she will watch over him... and the day after that... and the day after...

Until...

"Don't say anything... "Moulin shook his head as he spoke brokenly. "Please don't... You can't..."

"Moulin..." Her voice slowly softens. Her eyes slowly drooping. "B-Be safe... let your mother... rest... for a while..."

"Please..." Moulin begged with a broken heart. It felt as though a knife had carved out his heart and ruthlessly stabbed it a thousand times. "Please..."

His arms held her tight. Nothing mattered anymore. He would give everything to bring her peace. She had already suffered enough. No more... She didn't deserve this...