by West, Sinden
There was nothing left of them now but ash, and by morning that ash would be spread across the countryside until nothing more remained.
However, there was one of the living in my valley of death. Caleb was on his knees in front of the pyre with his head bowed as if in prayer. His head jerked up as he sensed my arrival.
“It’s only me.”
He got to his feet. “You live.” In the darkness, I couldn’t tell if his eyes held a haunted and tormented look.
I gave a small laugh. “Not really. Blood no longer pumps around my body and my heart no longer beats. I have no hunger and don’t feel the cold, yet I do feel love. That must count for something.”
Caleb gave a small nod. “You love him then, the Circle leader?”
“I always did,” I said simply.
Another nod but this time he stayed silent.
I raised my head. “I killed your father. I thought that you should know. I burned him and he screamed terribly.”
“I know. I can sense him. His spirit had gone into the land. You should be careful. Murdered witches carry curses against those who wronged them.”
I shrugged. “I’ve carried curses for most of my life. What’s one more?”
“I have something for you.” He swung his backpack from his shoulder and reached into it. I recognized it instantly even with just the light of moon. It was the box that had been given to me by Lake.
I took it, running my hand over the wood lovingly. “Thank you. This means a lot to me.”
He leaned in a gently kissed me on the cheek. “Good bye, Ivy. Take care.”
“You too, Caleb.”
He began to walk away, then stopped and quickly swung back to face me. “Is this really what you want? A life with one of them? They kill and they destroy. There’s nothing healthy about them.”
“You’re telling me nothing new,” I said quietly.
He shook his head at me. “Then come with me, come away from here. We can start our lives fresh somewhere new, far away from magic and family curses.” He held out his hand toward me. I looked at it and felt my own hand twitch, but kept it at my side.
“It’s my fate to be with him. I can feel it in my bones.”
His forehead creased. “What if you become like them?”
I swallowed and managed to smile sadly. “I’ve already done…bad things. I murdered an old woman. I beat her to death, and I killed your father and his friends. I burned them alive without mercy.”
He kept his hand out stretched for a few moments longer before slowly letting it drop back to his side. He caught my eyes one last time before turning away. I stood there and watched as he walked away and disappeared into the darkness. And then I made my way back to Lake, walking up the stone steps and holding my little box. Silently, I walked through the doors, leaving them open behind me for the chill of the night no longer touched my skin. Lake stirred as I slid in beside him.
“Where have you been, I missed you,” he murmured, reaching for me and pulling me close. I may not have felt the cold of nature, but I certainly felt his warmth. I rested my head against his chest and listened to the beat of his heart. There was good in that heart. I knew that it was there, and perhaps the beat of that heart would overcome the decay of mine.
Together, we could have all the power that we wanted.
I kissed him softly. “Good night, my love.”
“Good night, my queen,” he whispered back.
The End
Other Works by Sinden West
Non-Paranormal
Scars Series
Scars
Memory
Shy
This Darkest Man
Vicious
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