Nameless Ghoul

Oblivion

Itzal lay back and closed his eyes as a strange peace washed over him. This could be it, he thought. In just a few short moments, it might all finally be over.

No more soul-crushing guilt over the sins he’d committed. Over the lives he’d stolen for Santos.

No more pain at the hands of a man, no, a monster, he despised with every fibre of his being.

No more fear that his newfound friends, his family, because that’s what they could be, would suffer for his past.

He smiled faintly, thinking of Santos’ confusion when he realised his pet had slipped the leash and gotten himself killed. There’d be no fear in the preacher, of course. Just a rage so vast it might threaten to burn the world down. His prize stolen, his master plan undone.

Itzal hoped it would hurt. He wished it with all of his heart.

Because once Santos was gone, everyone he’d come to care about would be safe. That thought alone brought him peace.

He caught the scent of Shay nearby and opened his eyes again. The old ghoul looked down at him with a gaze full of quiet kindness.

“Are you sure you’re ready for this, child?” he asked gently.

Itzal smiled as contentment washed over him. He was more than ready. The only thing he regretted was that his last moments with Sunshine had been chaos and fear. He hoped, more than anything, that he’d get to say goodbye to her as himself. That she’d even want to see him one last time.

“Yes,” he said softly. “I’m ready to be free.”

His strength was fading. Fighting Santos off, even with the wards around him, was draining everything he had left. Especially in his bleeding and broken state. The gash on the back of his head still wept blood, matting in his hair and scenting the air.

A bone deep cold settled into his bones.

Secondo and the witches approached.

Raised voices echoed through the chapel doors. Itzal turned his head, but the world still blurred in and out of focus. He relied instead on scent and sound.

Omega. Alpha.

Sunshine.

He could hear her heartbeat, frantic like a panicked bird. Alpha was trying, and failing, to hold her back.

Shay and Secondo let her pass, and she rushed to Itzal’s side. Her scent was salty tears and sorrow. His heart quieted at her nearness. His soul exhaled now that she was with him again.

He offered a silent prayer to the Dark Lord.

Please let her be safe, if this goes wrong. Let her live a happy life without me.

“Leave her be,” Secondo said to the ghouls.

Alpha tried again to reach for her, arguing, but he gave up with a defeated snarl, storming out of the chapel, cursing at anyone in his path. Omega stayed behind, silent and steady.

Itzal felt soft fingers in his hair. Sunshine bent down and kissed his forehead.

“I’m sorry,” he rasped, his voice cracked and raw.

He was shaking now, his teeth chattering. He was so fucking cold.

“No. Don’t say sorry,” she whispered. “That wasn’t you. You warned me. I got away. I’m safe.”

A tear slid from the corner of his eye. Sunshine caught it with her fingertip and gripped his hand tightly.

“If I don’t come back,” Itzal said, “know that you made me happy. These last few days… they were everything to me. You are everything. It was all worth it, just for that.”

She closed her eyes and sobbed, tears spilling freely.

“It’s time,” Shay said gently. “Midnight approaches. We begin now. Thirteen hours from now, Papa will attempt to bring your soul back.”

Sunshine nodded and moved to the head of the altar. Secondo stood beside Itzal, his expression solemn but calm.

“We’ll do everything we can to bring you back,” he promised. “Whatever it takes. Are you ready?”

Itzal nodded. The shooting pain in his skull no longer mattered. Sunshine’s fingers were in his hair, and that was enough.

He didn’t flinch as Secondo sliced open his left wrist, and Shay did the same to his right. He didn’t look down. He kept his eyes on her.

They placed his hands over two large glass jars. His blood flowed freely, dark and vital, and Itzal laughed to himself, wondering if this would finally be the last time the cold could ever touch him.

Sunshine leaned in close, her lips brushing his ear.

“You fight to get back to me, Itzal,” she whispered fiercely. “I will never forgive you if you leave me here alone.”

His vision blurred. A high-pitched hum sounded in his ears, distant and growing louder.

Somewhere beyond, Omega murmured to her, comforting.

“I’ll stand vigil with you,” he said. “Until Papa brings him back, okay?”

Itzal was grateful to him. At least she wouldn’t be alone.

He never heard her reply, though. The hum grew louder still, and consciousness slipped away from him. The world gradually faded to a soft, quiet grey.

The blurry image of Sunshine’s beautiful face was the last thing Itzal saw before he succumbed to oblivion.