The Whispers of Shadows - A&A One Shots

spiraling - pt 2

***
Thoughts of suicide, harmful language.

The light had fallen to a violet twilight, the air chilled against bare skin. Aurora kept a grip on the smooth fabric of her skirt, bare feet aching over rocks. Her aim was home, but she found herself on the edge of the Sidra. Her burning feet sizzled as she stepped into where the water held no current.

Her anger and sorrow woke the flames beneath her skin, everything aching. The current was much stronger than she had expected. Boulders and fallen trees inched downstream with every pull of the water. With a near sob, Aurora dropped down. The water soaked the fabric of her dress, small laps of water splashing onto the bodice as the fabric of her skirt floated and waved.

Would the water extinguish the flame inside? Could she join the current and become one with the force of nature? Aurora chewed on her bottom lip, lifting one knee to drape her arms over. The skirt grew heavy from the water and her heel slipped continuously on the moss coated rocks. One hand danced along the surface until the water no longer burned from its chill.

"Planning on drowning yourself?"

Aurora expected him at one point. It was a surprise to hear him so early, yet she did not jump at the sound of his voice. Still, Aurora did not look over her shoulder to see her mate looking on the bank above her.

"Would it be so wrong?" Her voice was hollow. Azriel scoffed, kicking at a rock and sending it skipping across the rush of water. Aurora watched the stone make its final attempt at success, a foot from the other side of the river, before sinking below.

"Fuck you, Aurora. Honestly, do you think I want to hear about your death wish?"

Her teeth clamped together, eyes falling closed as she wiped her cheek against her shoulder. Of course he was angry, and it was in his nature to be so harsh. Azriel never claimed to be so gentle, yet she had witnessed it often over their years together. Selfishly, she ached for those moments now.

"If you don't wish to hear me, why follow me?" Aurora had tried to make her voice sound as hard as his, but it came out as empty and hopeless as she felt. Boots crunched dirt and sand as Azriel drew closer. She didn't dare look up when those boots stepped into the water beside her.

"Because I know you're reckless enough to send yourself beneath the surface. As frustrated as I am with you, I don't wish to find my mate drowned miles downstream from here. Just stand up, let's go home," Azriel spoke, ending his words in a plea. Aurora shook her head before leaning her chin on the drenched fabric over her knee and skimming her fingertips along the water.

Azriel sighed and it was the final sound for a long while. Aurora wondered if she could throw herself into the current just to spite him before he'd catch her. Lowering her hand into the water, she grazed the moss and mud of the bottom. It squished between her fingers before dissipating.

"Am I truly that worthless to you? Are we that worthless?" Azriel finally muttered, shifting on his feet. Aurora's hand paused underwater. She watched the sediment cloud the water before lifting her head. Her gaze climbed up his body until it reached his face. The darkness consumed him- Azriel consumed the darkness. He emanated dusk and shadows, which curled along his jaw and wings.

"No," she responded in a whisper. She could hardly hear herself over the rush of the water. Azriel's jaw ticked and he crouched, still towering above her head.

"Why bring yourself to this? Why even contemplate drowning yourself?"

She averted her gaze, watching as the current reached for the leather of his boots. "I don't know."