beyond the veil

chapter 30

As Dorian returned to Neon's side, his hands stained with blood and his eyes haunted by the darkness he had unleashed, he looked at her with a desperate hope shining in his eyes. "Is she awake yet?" he asked, his voice trembling with uncertainty, his innocence like that of a child clinging to a fleeting dream.

Neon's heart shattered at the sight of Dorian's pain, his fear of losing her palpable in the air. She wrapped her arms around him tightly, holding him close as if to shield him from the world's cruelty. "I don't want to lose you, Dorian," she whispered, her voice choked with emotion. "And it's alright, alright. Nothing's going to hurt you anymore."

Dorian buried his face in Neon's shoulder, his body shaking with the weight of his grief and guilt. Tears streamed down his cheeks as he finally allowed himself to let go, to release all the pent-up emotions he had been holding inside. "I'm so sorry," he whispered, his voice muffled against her skin. "I didn't want... I didn't mean..."

Neon held him tighter, her own tears mingling with his as they embraced in their shared sorrow. "Shh It's okay, you did nothing wrong," she murmured, her words a soothing balm to his wounded soul. "We'll get through this together. I love you, Dorian, no matter what."

As they stood together at the funeral, surrounded by the weight of their collective grief, Neon felt the heaviness of loss settle over her like a suffocating blanket. On one side stood her beloved brother Rowan, his once vibrant spirit now dulled by the pain of losing his wife and child. On the other side stood Dorian, his stoic facade crumbling under the weight of his own sorrow, his eyes haunted by the memory of his beloved daughter Skye.

Neon tried to be strong for them both, to offer them comfort and solace in their darkest hour. But inside, she was crumbling, her heart shattered into a million pieces by the enormity of their loss. She felt as though she were drowning in a sea of grief, unable to find solid ground amidst the waves of sorrow that threatened to engulf her.

And then there was Yato, their young son, his tears a poignant reminder of the innocence lost in the wake of tragedy. He clung to Neon, his small frame trembling with grief as he mourned the loss of his beloved sister. Neon held him close, her own tears mingling with his as they shared their pain in silent solidarity.

As they laid their loved ones to rest, Neon felt a sense of profound emptiness wash over her, a void left behind by the absence of those they had lost. But amidst the darkness, she clung to the flicker of hope that burned within her heart, a beacon of light in the midst of despair.

Neon noticed the shift in Dorian's behavior as he began to distance himself, burying himself in his work with a relentless determination. She watched from a distance, her heart heavy with concern as she saw the weight of his grief etched into every line of his face.

"Dorian," she called out softly, her voice tinged with worry as she approached him in his study. "You've been working non-stop. Please, you need to rest."

Dorian glanced up from his desk, his eyes weary and bloodshot from hours spent poring over documents and strategies. "I can't rest, Neon," he replied, his voice strained with exhaustion. "Not when there's so much to do."

Neon reached out to him, her hand hovering over his shoulder as she searched his eyes for any sign of the man she loved. "But you can't keep pushing yourself like this," she pleaded. "You need to take care of yourself."

Dorian sighed heavily, running a hand through his hair as he struggled to find the words to explain his actions. "I don't know how to deal with this, Neon," he admitted, his voice barely above a whisper. "I feel like I've failed as a husband and a father. I couldn't protect Skye, and now I can't even bear to look at you without feeling the weight of that failure."

Neon's heart ached at his words, her own grief mirrored in his eyes. "You haven't failed, Dorian," she insisted, her voice filled with conviction. "We're in this together, remember? I'll always be here for you, no matter what."

Dorian nodded, his shoulders slumping in defeat as he allowed himself to lean into Neon's comforting embrace. "I'm sorry, Neon," he whispered, his voice choked with emotion. "I just... I don't know how to move forward from this."

Neon held him close, her arms a sanctuary against the storm of their shared grief. "We'll figure it out together," she promised, pressing a gentle kiss to his forehead. "We'll get through this, one step at a time."

Neon approached Dorian with a heavy heart, her mind filled with concern for her brother Rowan. "Dorian," she began softly, "I want to go visit Rowan. He's alone, and I'm worried about him."

Dorian's response was not what she expected. Instead of his usual reassurance, he simply nodded tersely. "Fine, you can go," he replied, his voice devoid of its usual warmth.

Neon felt a pang of hurt at his coldness, her eyes searching his for any sign of the man she loved. "Dorian, please," she implored, reaching out to touch his arm. "Don't ignore me like this."

His response cut deep, his words striking a painful chord within her. "I wouldn't have to if you had taken care of Skye," he said, his voice tinged with bitterness.

Neon's heart clenched at his words, the weight of his accusation heavy upon her shoulders. She struggled to find a response, her throat constricted with emotion. After a moment, she simply nodded, unable to form the words to argue.

Seeing the hurt in Neon's eyes, Dorian's resolve wavered, and he reached out to her, his hand trembling as he cupped her cheek. "I'm sorry, Neon," he whispered, his voice thick with regret. "I didn't mean to hurt you."

Neon met his gaze, her own eyes filled with pain and longing. "I know," she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper. "I know you are hurting and have no other way to ease the pain."

With a heavy heart, Neon turned away, her thoughts consumed by the distance that had grown between them. She knew she needed to visit Rowan, but the ache of Dorian's coldness lingered, a painful reminder of the rift that had formed between them.

As Neon was preparing  to visit infernia , her heart heavy with the weight of Dorian's distant demeanor, she couldn't shake the feeling of loneliness that enveloped her. Tears pricked at the corners of her eyes, threatening to spill over as she grappled with the realization that love could bring such profound pain.

"Mother ," a voice called out, pulling her from her thoughts. She turned to see Yato, her son, standing before her with concern etched into his features. "Are you okay?"

She forced a small smile, attempting to hide the turmoil within her. "I'm fine, Yato," she replied, her voice tinged with sadness. "Just a little tired, that's all."

Yato studied her for a moment, his gaze filled with understanding beyond his years. "You miss Dad, don't you?" he asked softly.

Neon's smile faltered, and she nodded, unable to hide her feelings from her perceptive son. "Yes, I do," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. "But sometimes, love brings pain along with it."

Yato reached out and took her hand in his, offering her a reassuring squeeze. "Dad loves you, Mom," he said earnestly. "I'm sure he's just hurting too."

Neon's heart swelled with love for her son, grateful for his comforting words. "Thank you, Yato," she said, her voice choked with emotion. "You're wise beyond your years."