The Disciples: Book 1: The Birth of Valor

Chapter 12: Intoxicated on Death

        Mason woke up earlier than the rest of them. He had started packing before the sun had even broke the horizon. He looked over and saw Amaranth sleeping. She looked harmless.
          He had packed everything up before any of the others were awake and he started to put out the fire.
          He heard footsteps behind him and already knew exactly who it was.
           Long, slender finger slid through his blonde hair, gently pulling at it teasingly.
          "I thought I told you to go to sleep." A soft, morning voice whispered.
         "I did. Just not for long." He replied as he slid off his jacket, setting it down.
         She sighed, "Its not even daylight yet. Go back to sleep."
        She sighed again and softly smacked him in the back of the head, "Fine. But... If you ever change your mind, I do get a little cold at night." She smiled, still groggy and bit her tongue at him.
         "I may take up on that offer. Maybe sometime." He told her. He watched her lay back down and continued what he was doing.

         When daylight came, they began to walk again.
          Ash was still asleep so Deus was carrying on her back. 
         She eventually woke back up and walked with them as well.
        They made their was to the small city of Isca. They stayed there until nightfall and rented a place to stay for a week. They needed to straighten their plans and decide their next move.
        Agito had suggested Dahkim, a small city to the northwest of where they currently were. The group had decided in that, it was their best plan.
        They talked over the plan, making adjustments as needed, and decided to stay in Isca for a week and then be off.

Mason leaned forward in his elbows and blinking heavily, trying to stay awake.
"So we need to stock up on supplies as soon as possi-" He was interrupted by someone.
Amaranth spoke, "I think we all need to have fun for a night. I mean it may be our last chance for a while." Mischief came across her face in the form of a smile.
Mason sighed but they agreed since it could be their last chance.

Within the hour, Amaranth came back with so many alcoholic beverages that the house smelled like a brewery.
She smiled a little, "Let's get this going then."
The first one to drink anything was Ash, she sipped a bit from a battle then poured some in a cup and downed it, laughing.
She hiccuped, "God that was so sweet." She giggled.

By nightfall everyone, except Mason, was falling over and slurring their words.
Ash and Deus were making out and they both fell onto the cough and didn't even try to come up for air. Agito was doubling over, laughing at them. Amaranth was hiccuping and laughing at herself. That laugh, it seemed so real this time. It sounded different, less cold. Full of life.
She drank another cup and laughed. She noticed Mason watching her. She half walked, half stumbled over to him and locked her arms around his waist. She started kissing his neck and red flushed her cheeks as she laughed.
He tilted his head away as she tried to kiss his cheek. She frowned and pouted, tracing circles across his chest with her icy fingers.
"Oh come on blondie. Why don't we just play a little." She whined to him, "We both know you want me. And maybe...maybe... I want you too.. Maybe even more than you want me."
"You're perfectly right. I do want you, more than anything. But not like this." He said, looking into her eyes.
She frowned, "The only reason I wanted to be this way, falling on the floor drunk, is to show you how I really feel. I'm too stolid when I'm-" She was interrupted by a hiccup, "when I'm sober." A tear escaped from her eye and her blood red orbs made contact with his blue ones.
She meant it. Every single word. She was in love with him.
Amaranth sat in his lap facing him and ran her fingers through his hair. She slowly moved closer to him and ran her lips along his cheek.
"Mason..." She muttered softly. She pressed her lips against his and put all of her passion for him into that one moment.
He didn't kiss back. He had his reasons, and it killed him not to. He just couldn't, not when she was like this.
She pulled away and looked at him. She sniffled a bit and tears started out of her eyes.
She sniffled and tears streamed down her cheeks, "Wh-why..." She got up and started backing away and ran to the bathroom, locking the door.
She sat in the shower, hugging her knees and cried like a small child again.
She bawled for hours, coughing on her tears. This was the first time she's cried in years. She couldn't stop crying. She had finally poured out her heart to him, and he blew her off.
She cried herself to sleep, sitting on the shower floor.

Mason sat quietly. Deus, Ash, and Agito had all passed out. Tears welled in the corners of his eyes. He had wanted to kiss her back. He just couldn't. He could never take take advantage of an intoxicated woman. No matter if she wanted him to or not.
He stood and went to the bathroom door, the crying had stopped and he knocked on the door. No answer. He picked the lock open with one of Ash's bobby pins and opened the door.
        pThe sight broke his heart. The reaper had been crying over him for hours. Tears stained her face and her beautiful white hair was a mess.
         He sighed and gathered her up in her arms and carried her to the single bedroom and laid her down. He covered her with his jacket and leaned down and kissed her forehead. She whimpered and he started to walk off, back into the main room.
         "M-Mason... Please s-stay." He heard a soft voice ask.
         He sat beside the intoxicated beauty, sliding his hand under the jacket and gently rubbing her back. His other hand sat on the bed until long fingers intwined with his own.
        He stayed awake watching her.
        She murmured somethings and he listened closely.
         "I... Love you... Mason.." She said in her deep sleep, gripping his hand tightly.
        "I love you too... Amaranth." He said quietly, a small tear slipping from his eye.