Saer ceased the torment to hear his sibling’s answer.
Errshek shuffled back another quivering step.
“I’m sorry,” he whispered.With eyes too wide and steam wafting off his body, Envy surrounded himself in the flames theDaemoenicaevoked to travel back to the Hells from Earth.
“No!”Saer lunged.
But Errshek had already gone, only a smoking, charred circle left behind.
Alone.
Without Neyu.
Leaving him with far off thunder and his own ragged breathing.
He collapsed to the ground where he and his beloved had stood.Eyes stinging as he blinked, he sifted trembling fingers through Neyu’s ashes.
Rain began to fall, cleansing remnants of her ashes from his hair, his face, his body.The dust turned to grainy rivulets that sank into the charred grass at his knees.
She’s gone.
His perfect fit.His match.His love.His everything.
His Neyu.
Gone.
It echoed in his mind, raking against his skull—the finality of the word crushed all air from his lungs.
Gone.Gone.Gone.
Saer lifted a palm and pushed it against his sternum.Why did his ribs feel ripped open, his insides drenching the ground—yet he remained whole?Strength unimaginable flowed through him, but the cavern within his chest gaped.Empty.Like when they were separated, but worse.More.Merciless.
Forever.
This is what he’d feel like forever.It didn’t matter that he’d saved his kin.
Because Neyu wasgoneforever.
Tangential, unforgiving thoughts tore through him.He’d refused to say goodbye to her.Would he regret that decision?
Did he already?
That was the last time he’d hold her.Already, the memory of the press of her body against his faded.
He shoved his palm harder against his chest, like he could replicate it.
The last time he’d smell her.
Lavender.And roses.
His nostrils flared, but filled with the scent of smoke, ashes, and rain.
The last time he’d hear her.
Her laugh, her teases, her ‘dearests’ were gone.
Gone.Gone.Gone.
