Page 108 of Into The Light

“Dammit!” Annella shouted. “Lothaire, we’re running out of time. He’s dying... we need to do this. Now.”

“We have no choice. It’s time. We need to change him,” Lothaire agreed. His eyes settled onto mine and I could see the regret hanging heavy in them. “We did everything we could, Aiden. I’m so sorry.”

“You could have stopped this,” Thorne growled at Catrain.

Emilia sobbed and traced her fingers down my face.

“It not my decision,” Catrain answered. “Liùsaidh has spoken.” The roughness in her voice softened, and for a moment I thought I heard remorse.

“Do it, Lothaire. Do it now,” Thorne said. His words trailed off at the end, and I could hear the defeat in his voice. “Aiden... hang in there. Don’t you dare leave us. You’d better come back after we change you.”

I could feel my hope slipping and with it my will to live. Emilia fought her tears and I knew they weren’t just about the risk of losing me... they were about loss of her humanity when she followed me into the darkness. No matter what, she lost. She either lost me if I didn’t survive the transition, or she lost her life as a human. All I ever wanted was to give her everything, and instead I’d be taking everything away. I couldn’t bear the thought of being the one to destroy her.

With a groan I willed my body to move. It felt like fire ripping through my skin, but I fought through it and struggled to my knees, turning to see the woman who wouldn’t give Emilia the life she deserved. Pale eyes so light they looked translucent stared through me. Weathered skin hung from her gaunt frame and grey hair twisted into knots on top of her head. Worn and faded tattoos covered her face, an array of colors and shapes that only intensified her appearance.

“Please,” I begged, crawling toward where she sat in an oversized chair made of sticks and branches. “Don’t force me to change back. If I change, she will change. Please don’t take her life away. I love her. Please.”

Her eyes raked over me and then moved to Emilia. Though she didn’t speak my language she seemed to understand my meaning. Catrain whispered in her ear and both sets of eyes settled back on me and then moved in sync back to Emilia.

Liùsaidh crooked a finger to Emilia to come forward. She responded and knelt by my side. Our fingers tangled together, and we looked up to Liùsaidh as one. Those ancient eyes bore through us and I could feel her tearing through my soul, searching and drawing from me. A transcendent power washed over me and for a second the pain subsided. I inhaled a sharp breath and relished the moment before it crashed back down over me and refilled every inch of my body. I collapsed on the ground.

“Aiden!” Emilia screamed and her face was over me. “Please!” she looked up with tear-filled eyes to the woman sitting above us. “Save him! Someone save him!”

Lothaire appeared above me before I could blink an eye. “I’m sorry brother,” he said, and bit his wrist. The blood oozed from the wound and he lowered it to my mouth. I used all my strength to grab his hand and stop its descent. “Wait,” I whispered.

I moved my gaze up to meet Emilia’s. “I love you. More than anything.”

“I love you, too,” she cried.

“I would choose this... and you every time. Over and over and over again I would choose you. You gave me the happiest days of my life. And I want you to know that you saved me, Emilia. You saved me from a life in the dark and I don’t want you to give everything up for me. I love you too much to take away the things that you love.”

“Aiden, it’s not your decision. I’m changing with you. All you need to do is survive and I’ll be there waiting for you. You and me... for eternity.”

Tears burned behind my eyes. I swallowed hard. “No, Emilia. You deserve it all. And you deserve a happy life... a human life. I would rather see you happy without me, then live this dark life with me. I need to let you go.”

“Well I won’t let you go,” she sobbed. “You don’t get a say. You go; I go.”

Her lips collided with mine and I felt all the joy, love, and life she brought me explode around me. I savored her touch, her taste, and the feeling of her love washing over me. Giving up my darkness had all been worth it for her love, even if it was just for a fraction of my life. Even if it meant I died tonight. But I couldn’t ask her to sacrifice everything for me.

Our lips drifted apart, and I reached up and touched her face. “I love you, Emilia.” I turned to Lothaire. “No matter what happens, I need you to promise me something.”

“Anything, brother.” He grabbed my hand.

“You’ll leave her a human and compel her to forget me. To forget everything.”

“What!” Emilia shrieked. “No!”

“Please, Lothaire. Make her forget me. Make sure she’s safe and protected and never wants for a thing. See to it she lives a long, happy human life.”

His lips pressed together, and I saw the tears building behind his eyes as he started nodding. “You have my word, brother.”

“No!” Emilia sobbed. “You can’t! I won’t let you! I love you, Aiden!”

“I love you more than anything in the world, Emilia. Enough to let you go.”

She collapsed at my side and pressed her head into my chest. I slid an arm around her back and pressed my lips to her head.

Annella and Thorne stepped to my side, and I gave them both a pained smile. “It’s time.”