The Scars Run So Deep

A Grave Mistake

I fell to my knees, pulling Lucas' body to me - my hands were soaked in blood, his blood this couldn't be happening I was all alone with Alexander and today I was going to die. I honestly thought I would be free from all of this, well it wasn't the way I had planned to be set free but I had to hope that Alexander would be at least kind enough to end my life quickly. I looked up into the eyes of the man I had loved for so long and I didn't know this man any more he was a complete stranger. The man lying across me with a bullet through his chest was indeed the man I loved, I knew it once and for all.

"Elena, Elena you've been hiding from me and for what? To tell these men stories, to tell them lies and deceive them. Look what your lies have done, there are men dead throughout this house and it's all your fault, the man in your arms Lucas North - he gave up his life for you, the fool. This is why I never let you be involved in my life, you are a useless woman; I don't know why I bothered marrying you, you couldn't even give me children. It will be a blessing for the both of us when you're dead you know that, and don't think that being my wife means you'll die quietly - you disgraced me I plan to spend my time making you hurt before I put a bullet through your head."

Alexander dragged me by my hair from the safety that was Lucas, and thrown onto the bed, the look in his face was that of a madman, his fist flew back as he punched my face over and over again. I heard the bones in my face splinter the pain I felt was awful but I would not give in to it, would not see the fear I felt be shown to him. I had to honour the promise I'd made to Lucas a week or so ago, that I would always fight back from everything and not give in. It was as if Lucas had known what was going to happen, that the promise he'd made me so many weeks ago meant that I'd lose him. I had so much I wanted to tell him and now, he was gone. My hands were up pushing the evil sadistic man above me as I fought back, I had to keep going - I had to survive this to tell the truth of what happened tonight. I had to tell Harry how Lucas had fought for me, how he'd died for me, my mind was everywhere as the blows reined down on me, God where was Harry and back up I had hit the alarm in every room when Jasper had told me too and that seemed to be hours ago now.

I saw the gun in Alexander's hand, his eyes cold and void of emotion, felt the cold metal against my temple and prayed to every God I could name - I didn't want to die, not now - not like this. I felt a blow to the side of my face, the trickle of blood running down my face and darkness enveloped me as my eyes shut. The last sounds I heard were of feet thundering through my once peaceful house, a voice I'd recognised above all others; Dimitri Levendis calling out for Lucas and as my eyes closed, I knew that Lucas would never reply again...

Beth' POV.

Elena Dimitrov was taken by hospital as soon as her husband was detained and removed from the small property in Matfield, Kent. We found her in the main room with her husband about to assault her unconscious body and there on the floor was Lucas North, my heart broke as the medics swarmed around him but in my heart I knew we'd lost the man I called my mentor as well as my friend. This couldn't be happening, was it only yesterday that we had all been together laughing and joking about the future - about picnics and boat trips together along the Thames. Lucas had laughed as Elena had declared him to be a romantic who had read Blake to her by firelight, he's wanted to keep that side of his personality hidden but we all knew there was more to Lucas North than the man he had been in work with us. Now though, Lucas was gone.

I was watching the paramedics perform CPR on him, whilst being careful of where the bullet had entered his body, he had an incredibly weak pulse but it was there. The look on the paramedic nearest to me confirmed my fear though, things were not looking good for Lucas - even if he made it to the hospital, he would need surgery to remove the bullet from his chest. Harry instructed me to go the Edward VII hospital to be with Elena who was now no doubt being guarded, not that that had worked here... how many people had been killed to get to this woman? How many people who I knew by face but whose names I had dismissed as unimportant, I felt like I had betrayed each and everyone by being alive and yet, I hadn't even been here to defend and fight with them all. This had to be a nightmare I was going to wake up from, I wasn't going to be here in this house that wreaked of death but in my bed with Dimitri holding me tight, and we would see Lucas and Elena at some point and all would be fine.