She was still there. Inside. Trapped in her own mind.
"The first time I saw you, my heart lodged inside my throat, telling me we were finally where we were supposed to be. Telling me we have finally found the other half of our soul. We found you." Her eyes filled with tears, letting them spill over as her teeth bit into her lower lip. "The first time you touched me I thought I would die, because nothing has ever felt as good as your hand in mine," I continued, uncaring where this led. If it was my demise or just being able to free her from Hera.
"I c-can't," Kaira sobbed, her voice crystalizing, telling me she was still there. She was still fighting.
"Yes, you can." I tightened my hold on her, pressing my forehead to hers. "The first time you kissed me, I finally understood what love meant. I finally understood why humans went to wars just to be with the one they loved. Why they dared to go against the wishes of the Gods, because I knew I would never want to be alive if you weren't by my side."
My lips landed on her forehead next, while my mind played every single scene, every single touch, everything we ever were and everything we could've been.
"You told me once that stars weren't just objects in the night sky, but the souls of loved ones watching over those that were left behind. So each night, for over five millennia, I looked at the sky, pretending you were somewhere up there, watching over me, waiting for the day we would be united."
"Please." She trembled, her hands landing on my chest. "Please get away from here. Please, Hades."
But I wouldn't leave her. I would never leave her, no matter what.
"I begged the Fates and the forces that existed beyond my power to just let me see you one more time. To let me hold you even if it is the last thing I would ever do." I looked into her eyes, seeing the woman that was made for me. Seeing her soul mending itself.
She would be okay without me. Our bond was strong, but it was still incomplete, frayed at the edges and drowning in the darkness and decay that existed in my own soul.
"And the Fates listened, Kaira. They listened when I thought there was no more hope. They fucking listened when I was ready to just disappear and let the darkness consume me, pulling me completely away from you." Our noses touched, her lips just a breath away from mine. "You're one of the strongest people I know. Fight her!"
Kaira closed her eyes, her entire body going lax and making me relax for the first time since I came to the meadow. But I shouldn't have relaxed. I should've known this wouldn't have the perfect ending I was hoping for.
Kaira's eyes flew open, filled with Hera's darkness and a wicked smile on her lips. "That's very touching, Hades," she mocked. "But not enough!"
Her hand disappeared between us and before I could move or block her, the dagger pushed through my chest, piercing through flesh and right into my heart. Pain pierced through my body with vengeance as a painful roar tore from Kaira's chest, bleeding into every pore of my body.
My back slammed into the trunk of the tree from the force of the pain, of despair, because I knew this was it. This was where I ended.
"No!" She fell toward me, her hands clutching the handle of the dagger that wouldn't move. I knew it wouldn't; that wasits power. The power to spread the poison of death through an Ancient's body. The power to destroy us from the inside out. "No, no, please," Kaira begged. "I'll save you. I'll?—"
"Kaira," I croaked, feeling blood slowly fill my mouth, mixed with the sweet taste of poison dripping from the blade inside my body. "Stop."
Her hands ran over my body, over my shoulders, wrapping around my neck gently, while she cried for me. Her eyes were clear now, no longer burdened with Hera's malice, but she was still there. Still in the background.
"Please," she begged, wrapping her hand around the handle of the dagger. "Please, don't go. Don't go without me. Please."
But I couldn't stay. Not anymore.
"I'm sorry, Kore," I mumbled, pulling her to me, holding my hand behind her neck. "I'm sorry for the pain."
"No!" She shook her head, looking up at me with tearstained eyes. "I'm sorry. I wasn't strong enough. Please," she broke, her body shaking.
"You were always the most important person to me," I whispered as my power drained. "You were always the one for me, Kaira. It doesn't matter which life you've lived. It doesn't matter if you believe me or not, but you were made for me, and I was made for you."
"I know!" she cried, her free hand wrapping around my neck. "I believe you. And I…" She gulped, looking at me with eyes that could bring men to their knees. With eyes filled with memories and love and all the other things I had craved all these years. "I remember you. I remember you, Hades. I remember your eyes. Please." Her eyebrows drew together, her own despair filling the air. "I can't do this without you."
"You can," I murmured. "You're stronger than you think. You were born for this."
"I can call Elandra," she said, her eyes shining with a hope that had no place being here right now. "She would know what to do. I can take you to them. Tell me how to teleport. Tell me how to?—"
"No." I stopped her rambling. "You already know it's too late, darling."
Her jaw tightened, her face scrunching up as if she was finally coming to the realization herself. As if the truth was finally slamming into her with full force. My fingers trembled as strength started leaving my body.
"Don't cry for me, Kaira," I said, bringing our faces closer. "Don't mourn me. I am not a man worthy of mourning."
"No." She broke, her tears falling like waterfalls down her cheeks.
