A Final Refrain (Scarlet)

[Linx]

The wind howled around him, the storm heavy, rain pounding down in sheets as he sat there, a guitar in his hands, his feet dangling over the killing drop of the cliff, the dark icy depths of the water far below. Even for a vampire, this would be extremely dangerous. His fingers strummed across the strings, the sound lost to the wind, his clothes soaked through, his silver hair hung limp and ragged around his head. His normally bright eyes were dull with pain, fatigue, and carelessness. Why was he alive? Why didn't he just end it finally? He'd lost everything, every last damn thing that had ever mattered to him. His life, his friends, his family, his love. He could have weathered it all, as long as Scarlet was there with him, someone to be with and lean on. But no, ever she had left him, again. He'd been broken beyond repair, and he no longer wanted to live. Out of all this misery, only one good thing came: his mind was completely unreadable now. Broken beyond repair, twisted and scarred, no coherent thoughts filtered through for anyone to read, a perfect defense, but the price was too great.

He was soaked to the bone, his clothing torn and shredded, but he ignored it all. It fit his mood. He knew he was alone, out here in a barren landscape even the humans didn't occupy. Dawn hours away, he ignored it all, and played what he sincerely believed to be his final refrain. His fingers moved over the strings, his ears barely discerning it as he tuned it, before drawing a pick from the depths of a tattered pocket, launching into his song, the slow tune rolling out to surround him, the last comfort he'd ever know.

"That place in my mind, is that space that you call mine. That place in my mind, is that space that you call mine." He begins slowly, his voice low, his eyes squeezed shut. "Where have I been, all this time? Lost enslaved, fatal decline. I've been waiting for this to unfold, but, the pieces are only as good as the whole." He continues on, fighting hard to keep his voice in control. "Severed myself, from my whole life. Cut out the only thing that was right. What if I never saw you again? I'd die right next to you, in the end." His voice drops lower, the pain and sadness seeping into it, "That place in my mind, is that space that you call mine. That place in my mind, is that space that you call mine." he opens his eyes, tears mingling with his words and the rain, rolling down his cheek slowly. "I won't let you, walk away, without hearing what I have to say. Without hearing what I have to say. Without hearing what I have to say..." he finishes quietly, the slow melody fading off into the howling winds, and he rises slowly, staring across the face of oblivion, perched on the edge of the cliff, wondering whether he should end his pain once and for all.

[scarletcross]

Scarlet wore a heavy cloak, the rain somehow making its way though it. She was soaked as she walked, her heart sinking lower with every step. She didnt know what to expect when she talked to Linx, she didnt know how he would react. Okay, well maybe she had an idea she just hoped that it wouldnt be that one. What scared her was that she didnt want to lose him altogether. Scarlet couldnt handle it. The storm around her raged, and she had the power to stop it, just refused. She pulled her hood down and let the rain soak her hair and wet her face. Scarlet didnt even bother to run, she was in no hurry to do what she was going to do.

Scarlet found Linx eventually, standing on the edge of a cliff. She walked up behind him, silent without even trying. Her hand grabbed his softly, turning him to her as she hugged him gently. There was no reason why she couldnt hug him. "Linx..." She breathed, his scent closing in around her, making her heart flutter. Scarlet still had strong feelings for Linx, she always would. Oddly enough she wanted him to hug her tight, say it was okay and that he would still be by her side in times of need. "Linx... Darling..." She'd always call him that. "I love you... i do, and nothing about that will change.... dont hate me, dont resent me...." her voice cracked. "Please dont leave my life forever...." Scarlet stepped back from the edge, bringing him with her. "I will always be here for you... if you call i'll drop what im doing and come to you." She promised. "You dont have to believe me, you really have to reason to, i dont blame you..... but i will." Scarlet was shaking, the rain falling harder, like her tears.

[Linx]

Linx was despondent as he was enwrapped and turned around. He didn't respond to her touch, her scent, nothing. He was dead, his body just didn't know it yet. "Let me go Scarlet, you have already." he says softly, not even bringing his arms up to hold her. "It's obvious you don't want me. But...I'm not angry at you, I never could be. I guess you could say I'm...resigned. I knew it was too good to be true, no one has ever wanted me in my life, why should someone start now. I could only hope, but even that ended in ruin." he continues quietly, his eyes shut, the tears having ended, a final one rolling down his cheek. "I left your life the moment of the crash, though neither of us knew it. I wanted to be the one you fell in love with, but it didn't work. You found someone else. You found Shadows, since he was finally willing to give himself to you." he says, laughing hollowly. "Yeah, he cares about you. He can take care of you like I can't. I'm no good, not for anything." he says, shaking his head, not bothering to remove her arms from him.

"Did you know he has a mercenary out on me? Apparently he wants me dead. Go figure, huh?" he says with another sad laugh, rain soaking him through, his body turning purple from the cold. He only had a pair of torn jeans really, his t-shirt was left in tatters miles ago. "Go Scarlet, go be happy with the on you truly love, there's nothing left here but the shell of a man, no, not even that, just a shell of the kid you thought you could distract yourself with." He says softly, ever fiber of his being screaming at him to hold her, to never let her go, to take her as his once more. But he couldn't. He was weak, physically and mentally. He'd lost to Shadows already, and he could never win against anyone now, he had no desire to live. "You know, I even offered to keep working for him, since we have no relationship anymore. He just hired a killer instead, great answer huh?" he shakes his head again, staring at the horizon, knowing dawn was on it's way. He still had a few hours though, to decide how his life was to end. The fall to the unforgiving rocks and the icy depths? Or would he burn slowly, as he was doomed to for eternity? He neither knew nor cared anymore.

He sighs once, gently lifting her face to his, "I love you Scarlet, despite everything that has happened, despite all the broken promises and the pain, i still love you. I've never regretted sacrificing everything to be with you, until now. Not because of the way my life is about to end, but because of the pain I've caused you. It would have been best if we had never met, that day in the school. " he says, dropping his hand away from her chin, looking away, a few tears rolling down. He was ignoring the weather now, it meant nothing to him. Why should a dieing man complain? "Go home Scarlet, go back to the one you truly love, let him protect you. You have no reason to stay here." he says softly, the guitar slipping from his fingers, falling off the edge, to break upon the rocks below. He gently pries himself from her grasp, turning about to face the cliff, unbuckling his sword belt. He holds it up before him, reading the inscription on each blade. "I'm sorry guys, I couldn't cut it, but I'll see you soon." he whispers, casting his weapons off the edge, watching them sink into the water below. He turns back to her, smiling sadly. "Go on, you don't have to be here for some dumb kid offing himself." he says quietly, closing his eyes, preparing himself for his final fall. "I've lost everything that ever meant anything to me, the only things worth living for. I even lost the woman I loved and planned to marry, all because I'm no good at anything." he says to himself, talking as though she weren't here. "I was happier than I'd ever been, for the first time in my life, and now, I've fallen so far. I've only one more fall to go." he whispers softly, taking a deep breath, steadying himself for the inevitable pain to come, before the blackness of death that would overtake him. He opens his eyes once more, looking at her, smiling sadly, "Oh, yeah, I forgot to tell you. I had a home for us, once we'd finally got married. I shared it with a family member that was still alive. His name is Vincent, our home was in Europe. He gave it to me as a gift, for us to live in together, since it was our family home. It's there, if you want to use it. Vincent will take care of you, if you ever need anything." he says with a sad laugh, turning to the edge, peering into the dark depths far below. "I guess I finally get to meet Blaise in person, it'll be nice, I guess. Well, I guess I won't. He'll be in heaven, won't he? Me, I'm doomed to an eternity in hell, I know it. But maybe, I'll get the chance to meet him, before my sentence." he says with a whispy smile taking another deep breath.

[scarletcross]

Scarlet couldnt stand herself right now, She would sooner leap off the cliff than let him. It was obviously his plan. A long fall, a hard crash, and instant death. Thats what he wanted. Her heart thudded painfully and blood blubbled up her throat, but she swallowed it back down. Scarlets heart was tearing itself apart. This hurt her so much, but he thought she didnt care. If only he was able to touch her mind once more, feel the undying pain, the guilt, the still passionate love for him... maybe he would change his mind. His words whistled in her ear just like the storm around them, but it took much longer for her to realize what he was saying. "I wont let go Linx... I wont." She gulped, her voice cracking and studdering. "Dont speak of Shadows.... i dont want to hear his name right now...." Scarlet sobbed softly. She was trying so hard to get her emotions under control, but really, how could she when someone she loved so dearly was ready to step off the edge of a cliff? "I wish you wouldnt think so lowly of yourself Linx.... you've come such a far way... and you really could be something... yet you want to let it all go...? Over some silly girl like me...?" Her eyes were gray, forget about feelings, she was in far too much pain. Scarlets heart throbbed again, the tear growing larger.

The words that came out of her mouth made her growl low in her chest. "Linx you know i wont let anyone touch you, no matter if its Shadows doing or not. I still care for you, i will protect you with my life as i will for all my loved ones..." Her eyes looked to him with fire, but it was smothered soon after. The pain he was in was thick in the air, weather he knew it or not. Her head rested back against his chest, listening to his steady heart, tears running silently down her face. "I wont go Linx... I wont go until i know you are okay... Shadows can wait, friends before lovers. Friends stick around forever, lovers come and go...." she choked on the blood that finally forced itself into her mouth. Scarlet turned and spit it to the ground, hoping he hadnt seen. His words struck deep, her heart sinking lower with each word. "You think... that... that i used you as a distraction....?" Only god could discribe that pain that struck her then. She stared off, until he lifted her face. "Dispite what i've done, dispite your lack of trust in me.... could you possibly believe.... that i love you too...?" Scarlet forced out, her voice hoarse. Then he said those few hurtful words that just made her want to die.... It would have been best if we had never met "How could you say that....?" Scarlet asked, her voice dripping with excruciating pain.

Her arms wrapped around him tighter, her body shaking like a leaf. "I wont leave you here Linx." She groaped for him when his arms pried her away, a cry crawling up her throat and echoing into the wind. "Linx dont!" Scarlet sobbed, the guitar crashing, the swords making a distant splash down below. She was paralyzed then, her eyes wide with fear. What could she do? She wanted to stop him, but he would find another way, wouldnt he? If he jumped now she was going after him. Scarlet wasnt about to live without one of the most amazing people in her world, and she wouldnt be able to live with the guilt. Her head swam, but her body filled with warmth. Scarlet knew why, her eyes looked up, and the fog of mist she knew so well formed around her. Brother.... help him... she asked him softly. "You can talk to him now..." Scarlet whispered breathlessly as a handsome figure formed infront of Linx, hovering outover the edge, huge blackened wings beating. Linx, my brother.... why? Why are you doing this...? The deep voice echoed as saphire eyes gazed at the silver haired boy on the edge. Dont do this... Just because you think this is the solution doesnt mean it is.... look at the girl behind you... He gestured to Scarlet who was standing there, gripping Linx's old dog tags tight in her hands. She was holding on so tightly, they cut into her palms. Scarlet was sobbing uncontrolably, her body shaking as though an earthquake had hit it. Though she could not get her mouth to form words her eyes screamed for Linx not to jump, for him to stay.

What happened to your promise brother....? Blaise's voice asked as his form still hovered there. You said you would protect her forever, you would care for her for me.... are you going to hurt her by doing this? Are you going to jump off and hope she doesnt follow behind when you know damn well that she will...? Linx.... His voice softened. That girl cares for you more than you know.... She will always be there for you.... and dispite who she is with or what happens, she need someone to always be there.... Blaise glided over to the cliff and landed silently, His wings disappearing in smoke. He took Linx's arm and pulled him away. Wont you keep your promise...? His glowing eyes were soft, his grip on Linx's arm just the same. Scarlet was standing by, that was until her knees gave out and she fell to the ground. She stared at the blood oozing from her palm, the dog tags digging only deeper. Her flat gray eyes drifted to the ring she still wore, a soft sob coming from her. That was the only thing she seemed to know how to do. Her body was numb with pain and could only do nessicary things.

[Linx]

He twitches involuntarily at the touch on his arm. "I know Blaise." he says softly. "But what good are promises in a world such as this? You ask me to hold a promise from a life time ago, for someone who has kept none to me herself? Are you truly so cruel Blaise?" he asks sadly, the scent of her blood, the sight of her on the ground tearing at his heart. He remembered his promise, but could he keep it? He was weak, she didn't want him, no one did, why was she making this harder for him? "Let go Blaise." he says softly, shrugging off the hand that held him, dropping to the ground his feet dangling over the drop, his face dropped into his hands, a sigh sweeping through his body. "Friends before lovers huh? Is that why you chose Shadows?" he asks bitterly. "Maybe I should have just stayed your friend then, maybe I wouldn't have to deal with this." he says with a sigh.

"You asked, if I could believe that you still love me?" he asks quietly, his voice sad still. "The honest answer is, I don't know. You say you love me, but your actions betray you. You say you love me, that you'd never cheat on me again, and you run off to be with Shadows? Why, tell me why in the hell I should believe you." he says sadly, his voice still low, no anger in it at all. "I want to believe that, I want to believe that we can be together, like I wanted when I proposed but...I don't think I can. You have no idea of the pain I feel Scarlet. I can't be with you, as much as I truly want you. It's obvious I can't keep you, you will run off to Shadows if he demands it, no matter what. If he offers himself to you again, you'll throw your thoughts for me aside, and take his offer. Even if you didn't, I can't be with you because of him. He won't share you with me, I saw it in your thoughts." he says quietly, not turning around. "Blaise, I want to be with her, you know that I do, but how can I? All I do is set myself up to be hurt. I've given everything up for her, and I've lost it all, why should I do it again? I'll only be hurt..." he continues quietly, pain tearing into and dripping from his words.

He moves his hands enough to look down into the waters below, calculating on how fast he could move from the edge, getting a good leap to avoid capture. He sighs, deciding to post-pone his death, even if for just a few hours. He'd give her this time to convince him otherwise, or else the sun would take him, and he'd be nothing but ashes on the wind. He leans back onto the muddy soil, his feet braced on the edge keeping him from sliding off and plummeting to his probably death below. The mud seeped into his pants and hair, coating his bare chest, but he ignored it. The wind and rain pounded down on him, but he didn't blink. "Scarlet, I'll give you this chance to convince me to stay. I'll not kill myself until you've had your say, that I promise, and that promise I can keep. Blaise, I can't keep my promise to protect her, I can't protect or care for her, not like the man she gave me up for, I've tried, and you know that I have, and would love nothing more than the power to free her from that tyrant called Shadows and protect her for my eternity. You know I love her, you alone can know everything I've given up for her, and you alone can know the depths of my pain. I am not your brother, nor shall I ever be I think, as much as I'd wish to be. I've tried, and none can ask more of me than that. Thank you for reminding me of my promise, I shall give it some thought." he says softly, staring into the sky, the lost love of his eternity not five feet from his head.

[scarletcross]

"Cruel? I am nothing of the sort Linx. You know that she means well, but she does wander off the path from time to time. Regrettably, i wasnt there as much as i wanted to be, as much as i needed to be so she didnt learn right from wrong very well. Scarlet truely tries to do the right thing, and really does. She just makes more mistakes than most people." Blaise moved his deep blue eyes over to the pile on the ground that happened to be Scarlet. he looked upon her fondly, as he always had, but regret and guilt was clear in his eyes. It seemed he was still feeling sorry about dying. When Linx pulled away from him, he looked over to watch the white haired boy walk back over to the edge. Scarlet stared fericely at Blaise, her tears screaming for him to stop Linx, for Blaise to help her because she knew she couldnt do anything on her own. Her slate colored eyes looked back to Linx, her body feeling as though she had fallen from the cliff herself when he said such hurtful words. Scarlet couldnt blame her though. She really, really messed up. i mean EPICLY messed up. Linx still bid her to explain why on earth he shouldnt jump.

Scarlet tried desprately to get her mouth to work. She willed her vocal cords to move, her lips to form words. When she did get something out, i was only Linx's name, and it was marred terribly. It was a crackle like groan, and she just shook her head, giving up on the vocals. Her mind reached out and touched his, hoping that he could still hear her. Scarlet went on for a good thrity minutes, her eyes locked on him as her heart and mind was spilled into his. Mean while Blaise sat beside her, his hands gently prying hers open and taking the dog tags. Even when Linx spoke to him, Blaise only shook his head. "Brother, i cannot tell you any better than she can..." Blaise's voice rang with sorrow. He hated to see two people so dearly in love be hurt so terribly. "But, dispite of what you say, you are my brother." His voice was firm, distinct. Scarlet reached out and touched Linx's soft hair, staining it with the blood on her hands. She wanted to stroke his face, but her hands were far too bloody. While she did this, Blaise slipped the tags back around her neck, having wiped them off on his shirt. "S...Stay...." Scarlet forced, her voice no longer smooth or sweet. "P...P...Plea....Please..."

[Linx]

Linx sighs, shutting his eyes, the rain pounding down on him, the very cold seeping into his bones, though he didn't tremble. He felt oddly comforted by her hand stroking his hair, and the blood didn't bother him, blood already staining his pants. He sighs once, sitting up, turning to face her, his dark eyes, the windows to his broken mind and soul staring at her long and hard. The wind howled around them, and he was sure to die of frostbite if this kept up, but he ignored it, focusing on Scarlet. After a long while, he opened his mouth to speak, and his words would become the deciding factor for his future. He was throwing everything left in him on was last roll of the die, taking one last gamble. Either he'd win big, or fall hard, he could only hope, that if there was truly any justice or karma in the universe, that his final gamble would pay off, would work in his favour for once.

"Scarlet, enough crying. It doesn't suit you, and I don't like it." he starts softly, his hands taking hers, uncaring of the blood that covered his hands, he held her hands to his face, placing her fingers against the skin. "This is what has happened to me since your decision." he says softly. Beneath his soft expressions, the only thing that lay under his skin was tension. His muscles were always tensed, filled with pain and sorrow. He holds her hands to his face, not angry in the least. "Because of that, I've had nothing but pain and sorrow every moment since then. But you say you love me? The tell me now, and tell me truly, who is it that you want to be with? If you truly want to be with me, then tell me, or tell me that it is indeed Shadows you wish to be with. That is all I want to know Scarlet. If ever you've truly loved me, then answer, and answer truthfully, please. I want to know." he says softly, his hands still holding hers. He wasn't going to let her go, this might be the final time that he'd ever feel the soft caress of her fingers.

He kept his mind and expression blank, not wanting to influence her in anyway. "Scarlet, your answer will not affect how I feel about you, or what's going to happen. I just want to know, and then I'll tell you my choice, wether or not I shall live, or die. This question has nothing to do with it, I merely wish to know." he says softly, not wanting her to be afraid to answer. He wanted her to know that his decision had been made, and nothing she could say now could change it. It would emerge in varying forms, but the outcome would be ultimately the same, regardless of her answer. He waits patiently, holding her hands against him, smiling at her softly, waiting to hear her answer, waiting to reveal his own answer to her in time. "Tell me what it is that you truly want Scarlet, I promise, this will in no way affect my decision." he says sfotly, turning his face enough to kiss her bloodied palm, ignoring the blood that smeared across his cheek, refusing to drink the blood from her palm. He would not take anything of hers, body, mind or blood, unless it was given wholly and willingly to him. "You know that I love you Scarlet, I swear this won't affect what is to come, please, jsut answer my question, and be honest to yourself, and to me." he says softly, fading into silence, awaiting the answer that he both feared and hoped for. He could only hope now, that there was a measure of justice and karma in the world.

[scarletcross]

Blaise slowly dismissed himself but not before kissing the top of Scarlet's head. He patted Linx's shoulder and stepped off the edge, disappearing in a shimmering fog. When he was gone, Scarlet felt alone again, a peice of her missing that not even linx could fill. It was a terrible thing to think, but he already knew that. When Linx touched her hands she flinched, the cuts were deep and sore from the cold. When the cuts were pressed to his cheeks Scarlet hissed at the pain, but rubbed his soft face with her thumbs. It was a simple answer he was asking for, and she knew her answer. Linx was mumbling on and on, her body moving closer to him slowly. His skin was so dark, he was slowly freezing. None the less she leaned forward and pressed against him. her lips crushed down upon his with such fire that he would probably warm Linx instantly.

"I.... I love you...." she choked out and then reached into his mind, apologizing for not being able to say much. Softly, she took away her hands from his, and then took off her cloak. Scarlet then wrapped it around Linx's purple body, it was warm from her body heat. "Linx... you.... you are amazing....... I love you...." Scarlet coughed then, turning her head to the side and let the blood splatter the stone, she would talk better now. Her little form crawled into his lap, wrapping her arms around him and snuggling. "I love you.... I love you..." She whispered over and over, her eyes still gray, and her body close to his. "Dont leave..... I'll be good..." She stopped talking then, her lips too cold and numb to move anymore.

[Linx]

Linx watched her for a moment longer, his eyes dark and serious, before the first grin in many weeks split his face. He kisses her fervently, with all the love and affection he felt. He stands, holding her easily in his arms, setting her on the ground. He holds her tightly against him, his body trembling from happiness, but there was still the loose end to tie up. He holds her at arms length, praying to god his acting wasn't great enough to fool her. His look was sad as he watched her, his voice sad as well. "I love you Scarlet, and as I promised, this doesn't affect my decision. I love you, but as long as I'm alive, we can never truly be together." he says softly, kissing her again, holding her tightly against him, wanting nothing more than to remain with her, to never let her go, but unfourtanetly, a rendezvouz with death awaited him. She had given him what he needed to be on his way however, and he could go in peace.

"Remember Scarlet, I'll always love, and I'm never going to stop loving you." he says, stepping back from her, to the edge of the cliff. "I'll see you again, I promise." he says with a sad smile, leaning back from the edge, falling over. He kicked off from the edge of the cliff, hurling himself out as far as he could go, the air screaming past his ears, his expression happy and serene. 'Remember Scarlet, I'm always going to love you, and when the time comes, that you need solace, find my uncle, he'll help you.' he mentally imparts to her, and the location of the home in Europe. "Good bye my love." he whispers softly, his hand reachin for her, her face the last thing he saw, before he smashed on the rocks below, the sound of his own bones snapping filling his ears, before the dark depths claimed him, and the currents dragged him under.