Karin: The Demon Sleeping Within

Chapter 18: "I'm Sorry."

Was it better to be disconnected from the world and to forget who I was? Or, was it better to feel the settle changes in the wind, to hear the birds chirping in glee, to see the nature blooming around me? To take notice in it, to engage?

If you would ask me now, my answer would be... it would-

Snow fell from the sky, covering the surface below; cloaking the trees and plants.

I stood there on top of a frosty hill, looking down at the town as flakes of snow continued to fall, some bouncing off my coat and highlighting my long wavy hair with white specks.

Lost in thought, I hadn't noticed the sound of footsteps behind me, until a hand slid into mine. Intertwining our fingers, Satania smiled at me, her thumb gently brushing over my knuckles.

"I want to keep your mind off things," She asserted. She then continued with, "I know you are worried and have your doubts."

I nodded as she lead me towards a big tree. Sitting down, her back against the trunk, she patted next to her, gesturing for me to join her.

Now sitting, I felt the muscles in my body relaxing, tension being released. I let out a sigh as my hand squeezed hers.

"Karin," She shifted her body in order to face me and rested her free hand over our joined ones. "You haven't been yourself lately. You've been distant... sad. You have every right to feel this way. I just want you to know you can talk to me. I'd like for you to feel like you can speak to me whenever something's troubling you. I want you to know that." She lifted her hand and ran her fingers through my hair as she gazed into my eyes, searchingly. "You've been through a lot."

"You have too," I acknowledged.

"Yes, but nothing compared to you." Her fingers still entangled in my hair, she leaned closer to me and rested her forehead on mine. Resting my eyes, I could feel her breath on my lips and my chin. Her other hand released mine and joined her other, nestling in my hair. "I hate seeing you in such a state."

I sighed, in her grasp. Believe me, so do I.

"I feel as though I am drowning. I feel like I'm constantly gasping for breath as water surrounds me and swallows me whole." She noticed my shivering and pulled me closer, her nose brushing mine.

"You are not alone, my love."

Smiling weakly, I captured her lips with mine, tasting the familiar cherry of her kiss, a heat flourishing and building through me. It was soft- sweet. It was gentle, though still filled with a lot of passion.

"Hey, Satania; Karin? You up there?" Gabriel's voice echoed through the air, the shuffling of snow following.

Breaking away, I smiled, my smile not quite reaching my eyes, though, for a moment, it did.

"I love you," I breathed.

Satania smiled, showing her teeth. "And, I love you."

Acknowledging Gabriel, we walked with him back towards Leone's house, which was just a few blocks away and, after a few hours of failed attempts of experiments and potions, we settled in, playing a serious of games: Chess, Monopoly; Sorry.

Before long, it was nightfall, and everyone was winding down.

I had come to terms with a decision.

I was battling with this thought for a while now, but my mind was made up. I couldn't sit around and put others in danger as they would try to save me. And, in turn, they were putting their own lives in danger.

The answer was right before all of us the entire time. The only solution.

The queen couldn't be stopped unless... she would die. Unless, we died together.