Songs for this Chapter: Hero by David Kushner, The Scientist by Coldplay

Avaren;

The moment her limp body settles in my arms, my heart shatters.

Completely.

....Because it passes a message I am not willing... and never will be willing to accept.

Her blood soaks through my clothes. Hot in some places, and cold in others.

There’s much of it, and it’s appalling. No one should lose so much blood.

Holding her feels wet, and clammy... and wrong...

My breathing loses its rhythm instantly as my fingers press lightly into her delicate skin.

Calisí is not supposed to feel like this in my arms. She... she feels like she’s here but somehow faraway...

I tighten my hold on her body as panic starts clawing through my chest like an animal trying to escape.

"You can’t be here!" Selthia says sharply somewhere beside me, but I barely hear her.

My fingers tremble against Calisí’s face as I push damp strands of hair away from her skin.

"Calisí," I whisper as I shake her gently. But still, I get no response.

Her mana flickers weakly against mine. It’s tiny... Fragile. Like a dying candle.

Fear sinks its fangs into my spine as I feel her fade further away with every passing second.

I turn around and rip another portal open.

The second it forms, I step through it with her in my arms. Racing to the only place I know there might be hope.

The covenstead.

It erupts into chaos the moment I arrive. Witches and warlocks start shouting immediately.

I hear footsteps, gasps. Someone even drops something made of glass, as they see who I’m carrying. But none of that matters.

"L-Lord Avaren—" Some tries to get in my way, but I have no time for that.

"MOVE." I roar in a tone that shouldn’t belong to any man. The entire chamber shakes violently as my mana explodes outward, and everyone scrambles out of my path immediately.

I keep walking. Fast and desperate as I race against time.

Calisí’s blood keeps dripping down my arms, and the feeling nauseates me more than my mind can process.

I keep feeling her loose blood. I can feel the warm trails against my skin.

...Every drop feels like a countdown.

"Is she alive?"

"Who did this to her??"

"What happened to her?!"

"Why is there dark magic inside the wounds!?"

The panic in the covenstead grows louder and louder, but none of it matters.

Nothing matters except her.

I kick the doors to my private chamber open so hard they slam against the walls and cry in protest.

I make to carry Calisí straight to the bed, but my legs and heart give up halfway, and I crumble to the ground in fear that is so raw and destructive.

Panic crushes my ribs tighter as I sit fully on the floor, still holding her against me.

Her head falls limply against my chest, and all I can hear is my heart pounding wickedly in my ears.

"Calisí," I whisper like a plea... a desperate, terrified prayer, and once again, I get no answer.

I cradle her face carefully... gently. Like one would hold something they’re terrified of breaking.

Oh, light! She feels so fragile. So still. This... This isn’t what... This isn’t what my Calisí feels like!!

"Say something..." I sniffle as I cup her cheeks, but she just flops in my arms as I move her.

No response.

"Calisí," I call again, and still nothing.

My heart and chest collapse in on themselves, as a terrified shiver runs through me.

No no no no no.

I shake her slightly. Then harder.

"What did you do?" I demand, with my voice cracking violently.

"What did you DO!?" I scream, and still nothing.

I can feel her blood everywhere. On my hands, my clothes, myy neck... The metallic scent has flooded my senses so much that I feel sick from it.

"You can’t die." The whisper leaves me before I realise I’m speaking aloud.

"You can’t. You can’t die..." I crack as my breathing turns ragged.

I can sense a crowd gathered at my door.

The ominity and solemn aura their exuding doesn’t help matters. It’s almost like they’ve accepted something I can’t and are already grieving.

"She’s not dead!" I ark with my mana crackling, and a few of them jerk back in fright.

I pull her closer to myself—One hand gripping the back of her head while the other clutches her waist desperately.

"You can’t do this to me," I beg, and my voice breaks completely.

The mana around the room starts distorting violently with my emotions, and I shut my eyes as more tears escape me.

The walls crack, the furniture trembles... But I cannot stop.

I shut my eyes tighter as it feels like my heart wishes to fall out of my chest.

"Calisí," I choke out as more tears spill down my face. "Please," I beg, and again.

Nothing.

Nothing!

Nothing...

I press frantic kisses against her forehead, her cheeks, her hands. Gods... Her hands are getting cold.

The realisation of what’s happening hits me so hard my mind goes blank for a second.

"No, please," I beg as my tears fall harder.

Please. Please. Please!!!

I shake her again. Harder this time.

"SAY SOMETHING, CALISI!"

My scream tears through the room, and mana detonates outward violently.

The windows shatter, and outside the chamber, people scream in panic as the entire covenstead trembles beneath my power.

But I can hardly pay mind to it, because she still isn’t moving.

"Please," I whisper brokenly now. "Please don’t leave me."

My entire body shakes violently as memories and emotions crash into me.

"You promised..." I whisper hoarsely as grief consumes the entirety of my existence.

Pain floods my veins like a cursed darkness waking to consume every light I’ve ever known.

"You promised we’d stay together." I sniffle as I bury my face in her hair.

"I need you." I cry as my grip on her tightens.

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