Page 2 of His Atonement

The man had sheltered my target, provided work and refuge, meager meals and a roof over her head. He kept her safe for a while, but not without a price. The darkness in him was growing, taking root and beginning to bloom as he watched her in secret. Sick fantasies that began to fester under the surface and would have surely been carried out had I not borrowed him this night.

Once I did, and once I saw the extent of his intentions, I decided his soul would belong to me.

He served his purpose, happily agreed to my whispered terms as long as it meant he would get what he wanted in the end.

He wanted to cause harm, to take her innocence by force and torment her afterward, make her a slave to his every disgusting desire.

The man did not realize that his dark nature would also be his undoing. He did not realize that his intent to harm her would only achieve my purpose before sealing his fate.

His tainted soul is mine now.

Mine for the rest of time.

My eyes flick to the other; the delicate, fragile creature that looks as though she is sleeping peacefully in the clouds, the sea of red a scarlet halo circling her tiny body.

If only she knew what she was.

If only her love had found her first.

If only I were different and hadn't allowed my own selfish desires to cloud my judgement, my purpose, my entire reason for existing.

I crouch on my haunches, and lift a shaking hand then push the raven blue hair from her face.

So peaceful.

So serene.

A rare and beautiful gem that I long to treasure, to keep with me always despite the way I do not deserve her.

"I am so sorry, my gem,” I whisper into the night. "So deeply sorry for what my selfishness has brought upon your pretty head."

Never once have I apologized for my actions, nor have I felt remorse and grief so deeply that I fear it will remain permanent.

A small price to pay because now she is free.

I have fulfilled my end of the bargain despite the pain it has caused me, and now... now my gem can be free until she returns to find her love and finally live the life they deserve.

I lean down, and with a soft kiss to her forehead, grip the hilt of the dagger and pull it from her chest. I slip it free from the purest of hearts and drop it in the red-stained snow.

The last thing I can do for her now, the only way I have left to try to make this right is give my gem a proper burial. I will return her to the earth as I did for those who loved us most so that they may be together until she comes back to this plane in order to find her love, to live her life as those who loved us most intended.

Just as I move to pick her up, to hold my gem in my arms one final time, the hair on the back of my neck stands on end, and my skin prickles with the familiar disgusted feeling that sickens me to my core.

"Leave her.” The words hissed and echoed from the two-toned voice that makes my stomach churn. "Leave her where she lies."

I do not stand, do not show him the respect he thinks he deserves, just glance over my shoulder to acknowledge his most unwelcome presence.

"My punishment has been fulfilled,” I growl. "I have kept my end of the bargain, carried out your demand, and shall continue with my work once I return her body to the earth."

"You shall do no such thing,” he hisses. "The deal has changed."

Anger, unbridled and hot, surges through my veins as I jolt to my feet to spin and face the bastard behind me. "It cannot be changed! We made a deal, sealed it in blood, and I have kept my part of it. Now you must keep yours!"

His silver eyes dance with glee as a twisted grin splits his face. "The deal was for you to sever the bond forged out of selfish desire, to pay for what you have created by taking it away."

"Which I did!" I motion to my gem—to the sister of my unused heart—lifeless on the ground. "Do you not see? See her without breath? See her blood as it drains from her body?!"

"Oh, I see.” He laughs. "I see all, Ueltorrhzan, which is why the deal has changed."