Seeing Red

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter 18

          I woke up in someone’s arms. I sighed and cuddled closer

“Zevvran” I mumbled. Then I paused. The person didn’t smell like Zevvran. I sat up and looked at the man and realised it was Kamen. I pushed him off the bed.

“Kamen! What are you doing here? Where is Zevvran?” I asked he looked up at me and I saw dark circles and tears stains on his face “what happened to you?” I asked in a confused voice. I saw a tear roll out of his eye and he whispered in a coarse voice

“Don’t you remember?”

“Remember what? I-” I gasped and doubled over, shaking my head, trying to stop the memories before they came.

“No!” I whimpered, falling to the floor. I pulled out his soul stone and held it between my fingers. The once golden stone was now black and dull. I whimpered and felt strong arms go around my shoulders, stroking my hair and whispering soft words of comfort. I went limp in the strong arms and felt nothing but those arms as the tears rolled down my face. More hands joined in and held me to them, a blond angel and a kind demon were holding hands and whispering things to me, while a woman with the wings of a hawk sang quietly as she was cradled to a man of dark beauty. The wind seemed to be stroking my face and the grass seemed to cuddle me as I sat in the dirt. I closed my eyes and we all sat there for what felt like hours, mourning the best friend any of us ever had, and when I opened my eyes they were all still there, as we lay in a pile together I made a mental painting. These were the best friends I ever had.

          When it was mid-day I stood up and wiped away my tears. They looked at me with empty eyes and blood-stained faces.

“Anyone else?” I asked quietly. They shook their heads and I sighed with relief. They watched me carefully and I grabbed Zevvrans golden cloak, the one he wore when he proposed to me the first time. I tied it around my shoulders and combed my fingers through my long dirty blond hair. I tied it on top of my head, where it tumbled down, giving me the option of a covered face. I turned back to my friends

“I want to see him” I said. Amarie and Levon shared a look

“Are you sure?” Amarie asked

“We don’t want you to experience anything traumatizing” Levon said. I shook my head

“I need to see him” I said. They nodded and surrounded me, preparing to take me to the body of my love. I noticed Kamen was standing in the back and I held my hand out to him. He looked at it in wonder and took it, this time it wasn’t Zevvran offering his hand, and I knew that the last time he held out his hand was the very last time. Now I was holding my hand out to someone who needed it like I did, and for the first time, Kamen took my hand.

          As we walked to Zevvran, people approached me, placing flowers in my hair, and praying for me. They touched my robes as I walked past and they fell to their knees. I heard a woman singing the old song that I used to sing to people who were mourning, and the whole city joined hands, singing to me as I walked up to Zevvrans body. The sky was covered in clouds, but there was a ray of light shining down on him. I smiled as I saw his face and kissed his eyes gently

“Some promises can’t be kept my love” I whispered. A single tear fell from my cheeks to his, and the rain poured, washing his face clean of the blood. I nodded at a peasant with a torch and he lit the pyre on fire, then I stepped back and joined hands with the people, watching the flames consume my love, trying to imprint his eyes into my mind. When there were only ashes left I bottled them and took them to spread them on the ocean of Sarathis, where the waves would spread them apart and sink them into the very place he promised to take me. They left me alone for the ceremony, and I stood by myself in front of the calm waves, listening to the sound of my heart, trying to hear someone whom I will never hear again. I sighed and looked up at the orange sky.