Author: Simone, Posted: Tue Sep 29, 2020 3:44 PM, Post Subject: Until the Morning Light [p/r]

Was it everything she thought it was?

Not really.

As it turned out her soul was being judged on a lot more things than she originally thought it would be. “What do you mean I’m going with you?” Simone was flabbergasted, to say the least when Angela was the one who greeted her.

“Oh please, we don’t punish those who had no choice, Simone.” Angela rolled her eyes. She was sure that if she just dropped the girl into the Soul-Stream that Simone wouldn’t have clue where she was at all. “You are going to be given a choice. You can move on to the eternal or you can be reincarnated.”

Simone’s mouth dropped, “Are you fucking kidding me? All of that. ALL OF THIS!”

“No one asked you to kill yourself to save Lewis. You did that. He did it by not telling you how he felt.”

“No, no, no.” Simone wagged her finger. “That was me. That was me manipulating his feelings.” She was desperate but she was finding that she couldn’t panic.

“Lie to yourselves all you want. You two idiots set yourselves up for this,” Angela sighed a bit. “Someone is waiting for you though. He’s been waiting a while.”

Simone tilted her head. What was done was done but had she just damned Lewis? Again she brought misery but this time because she lacked the communication. She transversed the threshold from the soul-stream and made it to the in-between.

On a log sat a young man just the way she had remembered him when he pulled her from the dungeon. She came over and plopped next to him. Her eyes looked up at him, “Why are you waiting for me?”

“Had faith that you would be stubborn and end it,” Edwin gave her a smirk and Simone frowned at first before smiling. “What will you do now?”

“Isn’t it obvious?” Simone crossed her arms. “Wait for that stubborn ass of a husband of mine.”

Edwin laughed a bit and patted her on the back. “If he is anything like you… He’ll come.”

Simone tilted her head, “Are you staying until I’m gone?”

“I did make a promise.” That alone made Simone smile.

“You’re an idiot.”

Author: Dusk, Posted: Tue Sep 29, 2020 3:20 PM, Post Subject: Until the Morning Light [p/r]

You can do it, huh? Her total faith in him was astounding. The incredible Lewis… There it was again. That feeling in the pit of his stomach, back with a vengeance. This time, though, it brought more, a burning pain that was rushing through him. This was so much to handle all at once, and he knew one way to end it. The only way.

The sun was rising across the horizon. Sitting there, he pulled the bone dagger out of its sheath, bringing it to her neck. Not once did he remove the hand that was holding hers. “Simone…I love you too.” His hand twitched, but the slash never came.

Why are you hesitating? The dagger was drawing the slightest bit of blood from her neck, the red hued blade hissing with flames as each droplet touched it. He could feel everything about her, the full resonance of her emotions. Tears welled up in his eyes. Just fucking do it already! he screamed at himself.

But he couldn’t…

Ever so lovingly, Simone took her free hand, and placed it on Lewis’ where he held the dagger. Tears were already flowing down her face, “Lewis…thank you.”

Lewis’ eyes grew wide as she forced his hand to cut deep. But there was so little pain this time. The assassin immediately tightened his grip on her, letting loose the tears he was trying to hard to hold back. He could feel the life draining from her, and pulled her into his lap, cradling her.

“Be free…” he whispered through clenched teeth. “And with that…my contract is fulfilled…”

Author: Simone, Posted: Tue Sep 29, 2020 3:01 PM, Post Subject: Until the Morning Light [p/r]

Her eyes were filled with a bit of worry. “You’ll be able to do it. You are the great Lewis you can do anything.” She wasn’t even being funny. Simone had a lot of faith in her husband and it showed in the way he had saved her. “I wouldn’t have asked you to marry me had I not thought of you like that.” Not that they had much of a choice, Leilah’s pout was too powerful.

She held his hands and her grip got a lot tighter once she too realized how much time was left. Simone brought up his hand to her lips and she kissed it tenderly. It was just like their first night back from Angela’s. She kissed each of his fingers and pressed his hand to her face once she was done. He was surprisingly warm to her.

Taking a deep breath she watched the sky with him. They didn’t have a lot to say maybe because there was too much to say and not enough time at this point. Anything they had left would have to be left unsaid and that did hurt her but she was scared she would change her mind. Lewis was better off going this route, that was what she thought. She was far too damaged and she was actually tired. She wasn’t as tired as she used to be though and it surprised her.

She could see the colors shifting in the skies. It was almost time now, just a few more minutes. “Lewis?” She tilted her head to him. She wasn’t sure how he wanted to kill her but she would leave it up to him. “I love you.” She kissed his cheek.

Just a few more minutes…

She saw the sun. “It’s time.”

Author: Dusk, Posted: Tue Sep 29, 2020 2:53 PM, Post Subject: Until the Morning Light [p/r]

The assassin was surprised that Simone had noticed his lack of attention to the skies, but when she asked her question Lewis took a moment to answer. “Yes. I’ll probably focus on Lord Raith’s tasks, and get back to tracking that bastard Marcov…” Just the thought of that slimy creature of a person made Lewis scowl. The man would die once Lewis managed to track him down.

“But work brings up a sour mood,” he said, once more returning his gaze to the sky. They laid in silence for a time longer, and it wasn’t until he heard creatures rattling around him that he realized just how much time had passed. Only a few hours left… Time was racing by them, and despite his outward appearance, Lewis’ heart was following suit.

But why? Why would this matter at all? Soon he would be rid of her, and he could go back to his life, and go back to his own emotions.

So why…?

Author: Simone, Posted: Tue Sep 29, 2020 2:41 PM, Post Subject: Until the Morning Light [p/r]

When he squeezed she returned it and snuggled her head as close as she could. She didn’t look up at him because this was equally hard for her. This was dumb and for some reason, she was continuing with it because as she had always been… She was being stubborn.

When he flopped she laughed a bit as she turned her body and laid on him with her chest to his. “A drink?” She tilted her head and smirked a bit. “Apple ale? Sounds sweet and seems unlike you.” She thought it was cute but not even she knew why he liked it. She took her fingers and brushed his hair back tucking it behind his ear.

“You haven’t been watching the stars since we got here,” she spoke slowly at him. “I’m not a star Lewis.” She teased gently before kissing him. “Not even close.” At least in her mind but if she could have seen how he saw her she might have changed her mind on a lot of things.

She snuggled close to him and turned herself just enough to watch the sky now. “Are you going to go back to just working all the time after I’m gone?” This idle talk hurt but she didn’t want to sit there in silence. “You’ve gotten pretty good about etiquette… I’m really impressed.” It seemed like they were doing nothing but time was going too fast. That made everything she said bittersweet.

Author: Dusk, Posted: Tue Sep 29, 2020 2:33 PM, Post Subject: Until the Morning Light [p/r]

“The stars are pretty,” he said. But his eyes were anywhere but, instead looking down at Simone as he held her. In several hours, he wouldn’t be able to do this anymore. But why do I even care? I could be doing anything else right now. Work. Training. So why… Lewis closed his eyes, and squeezed her again.

Time seemed to pass at an alarming rate. The moons rose high into the sky, shining light on their little enclosure. Lewis flopped back, pulling Simone with him so that they could gaze idly into the sky. “Did I…tell you about my…” He paused. Idle conversation like this was dumb. But Simone seemed interested, so he finished.

“Did I tell you I found a drink I like? Dae probably won’t leave me alone once he finds out…but it’s apple ale. It tastes-” Like you “-good.” Lewis wondered if she would know why he liked it so much. It’s just the taste. There’s not a reason… But then why did he think it was important to tell her? Some twisted little secret?

“The stars….they really are pretty…”

Author: Simone, Posted: Tue Sep 29, 2020 2:19 PM, Post Subject: Until the Morning Light [p/r]

Simone blinked at him a bit as he said her name. She could hear the pain and it tore her apart. She was doing this for the right reasons, right? There was a labored breath as she pushed herself against him and snuggled her head against his neck. “Come on now, the great assassin Lewis never leaves his targets alive right?”

It was a joke at this point but it wasn’t a funny one. She took his arms and drew them around her. Her eyes looked up at the stars and she chuckled. “If we had met under any other circumstances you wouldn’t have even given me a second look~” She teased him and there was a loving look in her eyes. “Every day that I wake up with you… I feel relieved and happy because I know that… I won’t be in pain anymore.” So why do I still insist on leaving?

She had convinced herself that she still had to go pay that fey lord back but the words of Raith settled in. He had changed his path when he met his beloved. She drew a sharp breath. She could change her mind but then Lewis would be stuck with her. He told them she would only be there for a short while. Her existence with him was predestined to be short… Wasn’t it?

“The stars are sure pretty tonight…”

Author: Dusk, Posted: Tue Sep 29, 2020 2:13 PM, Post Subject: Until the Morning Light [p/r]

“Ready,” Lewis replied as he squeezed her hand gently. Silence fell for a moment as the sky got darker. Stars slowly began to spark to life above them, leaving the two staring at the sky in reverence for a few moments. Between Orme and Jayou, neither of them really had the chance to just gaze at the night sky in all its splendor.

“Simone…” Lewis started, but his voice cracked. The silence was almost oppressive, and the tension was something that could almost be cut with one of his daggers. “I…can’t explain to you how much….” How much what…that this hurts? You aren’t feeling this. It’s still just a feedback from when you were inside her mind… Lewis was trying to convince himself that he was still the emotionally stunted boy who was kicked out of the thieves guild.

Author: Simone, Posted: Tue Sep 29, 2020 1:18 PM, Post Subject: Until the Morning Light [p/r]

Simone had a basket with some food and a blanket. They had slept during the day so they could stay up during the night. It wasn’t entirely unheard of but it was new for Simone. Her hair was done nice and she even wore one of her nicer dresses. If she was going to go out, at least she would give Lewis something nice to look at.

When he said the last night she felt a lump in her throat but she pushed it away. She was doing this was entirely selfish reasons but Lewis was keeping his word for her. “Yeah…” Her voice was soft. Soon she put the basket down and she pulled out the blanket.

“Yeah! This one is super soft so I figured it would be nice to sit on together.” She smiled at him and gave him an edge so they could lay it out. Flopping down on the blanket she pat the spot behind her. Once he sat down she was almost in his lap so she could see the spot easily enough.

Her fingers intertwined with him and tilted her head so she could see his face. “Are you ready?” You’ll be free soon.

Author: Dusk, Posted: Tue Sep 29, 2020 1:12 PM, Post Subject: Until the Morning Light [p/r]

The sun was beginning to set as they neared the clearing that had been decided upon. It had been quite a decision to make, but in the end they chose this place in the Virens due to the low chance of being found, and it reminded both Lewis and Simone of the place where the guide had been sacrificed in the dream world. The assassin had taken low amounts of gear this time around, only two daggers and his bow. He had chosen to go with a lighter attire, a short sleeve coat and shorter pants, with white trimming on the edges, and a hood in case he needed to hide his appearance.

“We’re here,” he said as he set down his bag and bow against a tree. “When the sun rises, it’ll come from that direction. The clearing will make it easy to see.” He pointed, and then looked at Simone. “I take it…you’re ready then? For the last night?” For some reason he was feeling a buzzing in his chest, one of the more annoying emotions that had been linked to him, but he had no idea what the feeling meant or how to deal with it.

“Did you bring the blankets?”