Devils Roses 05 - Death

take their lives.
    He looks normal, smug but normal.
    He smirks at Aleks, "Aleksander, my son. It's been too long. You never visit."
    Aleks stands tall, "I need to say something to you."
    His father grins stupidly.
    Aleks steps into his face. "I forgive you for ruining my life. For making it so I was cursed alongside you. For destroying everything I held dear. For shaming me and making everyone think I hurt that woman. I forgive you for being weak and pathetic. May the gods take a small measure of pity on you. The small measure you never gave anyone else. Any of those girls." He grabs his arms and plants a kiss on his father's cheek.
    The man's face turns bright red. "You always were a weak pathetic little shit." He growls and twitches. He makes a movement toward Aleks, but Dorian is there in a flash. He grins, "I would like to say fuck you, you asshole wanker. You never were the father you should have been to my brother there and you have never deserved a son as remarkable as he is." He pulls back and punches him in the face. The man's head snaps back. He comes back with ferocity, but Dorian has already winked away. The man snarls and twitches as the monster tries to get out. He looks the way they all do, when I kill them.
    My palms are burning with the need.
    Aleks grabs my hand and an amazing thing happens. I suck from him. I remember the way it was on the beach. The way he fed me back then. He bends down while I suck from him and kisses my cheek. His father's face breaks into a grin that’s full of contempt. "I don’t believe you introduced me to your lady friend Aleks."
    "I never will father."
    Marcus grumbles, "On with it then Henry. Get your revenge."
    Aleks squeezes harder, "If I disappear with him, I need you to know I have loved you with all of my heart for a very long time. I have loved you everyway possible. As a girl, as a Rose, as a lover and friend."
My heart stops beating, I'm sure it has. I never realized that with the death of his father he could go too.
    I turn to face him, squeezing his hands, "I don’t remember loving you but I know I do. I know I have."
    He nods. We ignore the huge hands reaching for his father and the bright white light of the magic neither of us has ever seen before. We stare at each other. I hold my breath. His father screams, painfully. The room swirls suddenly, with the electrically charged air and voices, girl's voices. Tears stream down Aleks's cheeks. He grips me harder. He closes his eyes. The voices become whispers. Gratitude and kind words.
    They swirl above us in a storm like a tornado. The paintings, drapes and lamps tremble with the movement. My hair is sucked up inside of it, but my eyes never leave his face. I'm terrified he will be gone and I will never have the chance to fall in love with him again.
    The air becomes completely still. It stops so suddenly, I almost feel an impact from it.
    Aleks's hands grip mine. He opens his eyes one at a time. The intense light, that never seemed real, is gone but the icy blue color remains. I squeeze his fingers. He smiles a crooked grin making my heart beat start again. I sigh and let him envelope me. Dorian rips him from my arms and hugs him.
    Marcus rolls his eyes, "The women are free."
    I glance over at Henry. He stands perfectly still. A transparent woman is before him. She kneels and offers her hand. He takes the ghostly white hand in his, "Stand niece." Henry whispers.
    Marcus looks confused.
    Aleks looks sick.
    The girl's head lifts. She looks toward Aleks and smiles, "I forgive you." She whispers.
    He bows his head, "I'm so sorry." His deep voice is a whisper as well.
    The girl turns back to Henry, "Let them all rest uncle."
    Henry nods once and she is gone, but the blue ghosts that look just like Ophelia are there. They look the way she did.
    Dorian nods, "Ophelia's body will be brought to the Necromancer when it's all worked out. Aimee is about to go there. Oliver is there already. It's being done. Be ready. You can't go near the dark witches but when the necromancer raises her, you will need to release your power upon her before she uses her dark magic."
    They nod their heads and are gone again.
    I lean in and look at Hanna. She has her eyes closed still.
    Aleks sighs and looks around, "This is what it feels like to live. The forlorn feelings that weighed me down are gone."
    Marcus crosses his arms, "Time to go. I'm certain you can have this conversation elsewhere."
    Aleks laughs, "You're such an arse