Some time in the 1800
The weather was horrible. It hadn't been this cold in forever, she thought. As though she normally went outside during the winter. The season was more pleasant from the inside of the castle. It had been a while since she played in the snow.
She had been running for the last half-hour. Her breathing was nervous and frantic. The streets she knew well had been long past, and she swirled around and around for a safe place to hide for a time. But, by some doing, no single shop or pub was opened. Someones doing...
It had to be that devil's doing.
The girl never had to work a day in her existence. And here she was; running with all her might, in her heavy gown, in the heavy snow. Life truly could not be worse than this, she repeated to herself over, and over again. In all honesty, she found the outcome of dying in the snow preferable to what would happen if he caught her. She'd much rather catch hypothermia.
The ball tonight had been her younger sister's debutante party. The governor, their father had spared no expense. It had almost been as grand as hers was last year. So of course she wore the gold, bogus gown to celebrate her sister's entrance into society. If she had known what would have become of tonight she would have fled in the thickest winter coats and boots at dawn.
As she turned over at the last street, she noticed the woods. That, she recognized, because that was where it all started. The season she met him.
She ran into those woods, holding her dress as high up as she could manage. The streets she didn't but the woods she could navigate like the back of her hand. The snow was not as deep in the woods so she no longer had to lift her dress. They were making it so much easier for her to run. She stopped when she came across a pond.
It was frozen over, but the memories of it from spring came flooding in and giving her warmth. That warmth was costing her everything now and would surely consume her in a fire. She wished she could take back those warm memories, and stay back in the mansion as her father requested.
Tears flowed down her cheeks without a sob. There was no way she could escape him. She always tried, but it never worked that way. He always found her and showed up when he willed. She smiled as she wondered how she thought she could escape in the first place. Her mother had been right when she called her stupid.
" Reminiscing?" an all too familiar voice said.
Her gut wrenched as a warm wind swept her face. She knew who it was" You." was all she managed, with her back facing him.
His chuckle echoed as he moved behind her. " That was not an answer."
He brushed his hand across her collarbone so slowly. His touch sends shudders down her spine for all the wrong reasons. He was here to end her life, yet all she could think of was how warm his hands were against her skin.
" Just do it already." the girl whispered. She felt that warm wind again.
The hand slides to the nape of her neck and stays there. She hadn't seen his face yet, but she could tell he was smiling. As he usually does, enjoying the worst of things.
" Were you crying? You really shouldn't. It will only make this worse on me." He said, in a tone that made him seem emotional. " It's not like I truly want to harm you. I haven't got a choice."
A sad smile sweeps across her face. " You make it sound like I'm the one in the wrong. All I did was love you."
" Well, If you say it like that, I sound like the one in the wrong." With his strong arms, he makes her turn over to him. " I loved you too."
What a load of horse shit. She says to herself
He places the gentlest kiss on her forehead, and then on her nose and lips. The girl couldn't help but sob this time. This was the very last kiss she would get. How ironic. Her first and last kiss would come from her first and last love. The universe surely was cruel. The real irony was the fact that her so-called love would be the one to end her stupid life.
He gazes at her with a menacing smile. " Any last wishes," he asked.
She sniffled. " You wouldn't be so kind."
" I never jest about a wish." he softly replies. He glides his hands down to the base of her hips. " Gold suits you darling." He added.
She held her breath and smiled at the compliment. Her face went sour again. His words were meaningless now. Yet like a fool, she clung to his soft gentle whispers.
" Make my death meaningless to all that would care. I don't want to be remembered and cause my family pain. In fact...make it as though I never lived." She said to him, putting up a bold front. " Even to you."
He stopped smiling. The look on his face turned to glum. " How selfless. Quite typical of you." He takes a huge breath, " Wish granted."
" Thank you, Dynos."
" Anything for you...Mary-Ann
Snap!
Her neck was more fragile than he had thought. For a moment he wished he hadn't done that. What if she was in pain? He brushed it off, telling himself it was only for a second. He always had a way of making the worst of actions mean nothing. It was the only way he could carry on.
Her lifeless body lay on the iced pond like a doll. He stood over her for several seconds, gazing upon her innocent beauty. He did not believe her gown to suit her looks, it was clear whose idea it was to wear the mess. Except for the gold part, It did suit her and he meant it.
Turning away when he realized he was shedding tears. He forced a laugh. "Let this be the last time." He remarked as the warm breeze swept him away.
