Then there are footsteps. I spot Ares walking across the lawn and enter the mansion; a few people leave and enter, some taking food, some bringing things. Then I see Jayce walk towards the house. He pauses, glancing at me, and I cast asilencing spell as I look at him.
“Listen to him, Jayce. If he’s saying something is going on, then don’t ignore it.”
Jayce doesn’t respond before he turns and walks inside.
But even as I wait, Theo doesn’t come, so I get up, forcing my weak legs to move.
Goddess, who would have thought one barrier would take so much out of a person, and it’s not even as strong as it was before it was destroyed…
I walk to where the sounds had come from, and soon I’ve gone around the mansion gardens, dragging myself further towards the tree line. Where are you, Theo?
Five minutes later, I reach a small open area within the trees. It’s at the edge of the woods and clearly a place kids come to play, as there are a few benches lining the edge of the clearing.
I see him leaning against a tree, lighting the cigarette that sits loosely between those perfect lips, his blue hair falling in his eyes. He’s changed into clean clothes, now wearing black pants, a white shirt and a black leather jacket. It’s his usual style, but the way his hair isn’t styled, the lack of chains, those are the signs that he isn’t his usual self.
“Hey…” I say, walking towards him, doing my best to walk as normally as possible, not wanting my legs to buckle beneath me.
He stills, his heart skipping a beat before he looks up at me just as he takes a drag on his cigarette, the butt glowing brightly in the darkness.
“Hey,” he answers, before he looks away. “You’ve been busy; shouldn’t you be resting?”
I stop a few feet away from him and see him studying my face. “Those markings… Why are they still there?”
I touch my face, knowing he means the ones around my eyes, but I didn’t realise they were still visible. It’s most likely because I drew too much power… “They’ll fade,” I say simply.
There’s a deep silence before he pushes away from the tree and turns his back on me. That one move hurts, and I know he’s hurting, too.
“Great, then go get some rest; it’s late.”
He’s hurting, and he won’t let anyone see that. He’s about to walk off when I push myself forward, stumbling very ungracefully, but still managing to wrap my arms around his waist. His scent hits me, and I hold him as tight as possible, my heart pounding.
“Please… don’t push me away. Not tonight,” I say quietly. I may be drained, but there’s still strength in me, and with it, I hold on to him.
He doesn’t move, and neither do I.
The silence between us stretches into eternity. The wind rustles in the trees, the distant shouts of those still clearing up and working late into the night, faint yet loud in our stillness.
Until he places a hand on my arm. “It’s all over, Blondie… It’s all fucking over.”
The Final Goodbye
Heaven
“This wasn’t supposed to happen. Ma… she… why her? Hades couldn’t bring her back. I tried… and I failed.”
“You didn’t fail, you tried. You can’t blame yourself for that,” I answer, relieved he’s talking.
I don’t move, maybe it’s easier for him to talk if we aren’t face-to-face, and he needs to talk right now. I cast a spell, so no one accidentally hears us, and he sighs, running light circles on the back of my hand with his finger.
“This is the life we live. It’s fucking shit. You’re better off staying away from me from here on out, Heaven. Listen, I got to go.”
“Excuse me, you don’t get to decide to just walk off when I came all the way here to find you,” I declare. Mustering up as much energy as I can, I let go of him, about to step around to face him, when he turns towards me instead.
“You still got it in you to argue with me?” He cocks abrow.
“I’ll always have it in me to argue with you,” I retort, crossing my arms. “I’m not staying away from you; that ship has sailed long ago. If you want me to give in, fine, I admit defeat. You win. I’ll be the first to confess-”
“Don’t! Don’t go there. Look, there’s no future for us. I’m not the guy who gets to blur lines. I’m the guy who draws them in blood and knows better than to cross them. The guy who ruins everything good without meaning to, and because of that very reason, I don’t want you caught up in my shit.”
