Sailor Moon Fan Fiction ❯ Guardian of Love: The Origins ❯ The Kiss of Death ( Chapter 17 )

Guardian of Love

The Origins

Chapter 17 - The Kiss of Death

By Angel Love

Author's Notes: Hmm… well, just to let you all know, I'm evil. I nearly got smacked with a frying pan by the real Rose for this chapter although she had known it was coming.

Warnings: Death and angst!

Standard disclaimers apply. I don't own Sailor Moon, the Greek Gods or any of the various characters that I have used to fashion them after. However, the Guardians are mine... mine! Mine I say! *laughing manically and squeezing the Guardians until they are blue in the face*

It was about two months later, two years in Earth time, that I awoke in the morning just feeling that something was wrong. I wasn't sure what it was but it was an unsettled sense within me. I brushed it aside though and went about with my usual busy schedule that I had been pulling since Rose had been on Earth. I had only been able to visit her once or twice.

She was positively glowing with happiness. She and Allen had begun their search for their first child and it was looking like Rose was getting very excited by the prospect of being a mother. As I looked up and saw Trista coming towards me, I smiled to myself. Yes, motherhood was something that was incredible and rewarding, even if you are raising a child that isn't your own.

Trista smiled at me and nodded her head as she passed. I knew that she was as busy as I was and we would try to talk a little later. We were going to try to look in another part of the Earth about perhaps finding the right place and time to revive the senshi.

However as Trista walked past me I felt a wave of uneasiness from her, the same uneasiness that I had felt when I had woken up. Something was wrong, seriously wrong. I knew asking Trista about it was probably not going to get anywhere. If she knew something was possibly happening in the time line, she was not allowed to intervene unless she was specifically asked by a Guardian or one of the Gods. It was the price of having the powers that she had.

I finished what I was doing and quickly moved down to the training area. I wanted to talk to Rose. Perhaps she could tell me what I was feeling. I saw Vega training alone, his whip cracking with power. I quietly watched him the way that he moved, the way he seemed to get the energy around him stirring as if it were one with him. It was quite amazing to watch, almost like each move of his body was like a musical note.

I was so into watching the way the sparks of his whip were lighting up the air around him that I failed to notice at first that he had stopped and was stretching out. He looked up and raised an eyebrow at me when I continued to stare at him. "Did you intend on training again today, Angel? Or are you just observing?"

I felt my cheeks burn a little and I smiled sheepishly. "I am sorry, Vega. I just enjoy watching you do that. I've never seen anyone be able to manipulate the air around them like you do, well, except Rose, but that is her power." I quickly shut my mouth when I realized that I was rambling.

He chuckled softly, amused by me. "There are times that I forget that you are still very innocent sometimes. However, I am glad that you enjoyed that." He rolled up his whip and tilted his head a little as he came over to me. "Obviously you did not come in here to watch me though. What did you need?"

I colored a little more and shook my head. "You are right, I didn't. I was looking for Rosely. I thought that she was going to be training right now. Have you seen her?"

Vega put his whip onto his back and nodded. "Yes, she told me this morning that she was going to go see your sister about something. She didn't tell me what though. I thought that she would have taken you with her since she does not really know her way around your planet all that well."

I frowned a little. "Why would she go see Rose and not come to talk to Trista or myself? She is the one that said we were supposed to handle all of Rose's Guardian business."

He frowned a little as well, clearly seeing my point. "I am not sure. Perhaps she merely wanted to go see her to see how things were going down there." He shrugged a little. "She should be back by the end of the day today if you want to ask her yourself."

I shook my head slowly. "No, if she wanted me to know then she would have told me." I looked up at him. "Well, since I guess I can't talk to her that means I have to talk to her second in command."

Vega smirked just a little and crossed his arms over his chest. "You know very well that is me. I am all ears, beautiful." His eyes slid down over me and then winked.

I blushed and giggled, used to the way he seemed to like to tease me. "I wanted to ask Rosely if I could go see Rose today. I have finished with all that I had to do for a little while."

He looked at me thoughtfully for a long moment before he smiled. "I do not see anything wrong with that. You have been working very hard and you haven't had much chance to see her. You can stay there for about a fortnight of Earth's time before you have to come back here to take up your duties once more."

I smiled gratefully at him and threw my arms around him, giving him a quick hug and a kiss before I hurried for the door so that I could find Chesna to help me change into a dress. I paused at the door and glanced back at Vega. "Do you want to come with me, Vega?" I asked. "You can play my escort even as I show you around to a few things we didn't get to see the last time you were there."

Vega smiled and shook his head. "I am honored that you asked but regretfully I cannot take you up on that offer, Angel. Since Rosely is not here and you are leaving as well, I need to stay to keep my sister in order. She has a tendency to want to play jokes on the Gods when she thinks that she can get away with it." He chuckled as I giggled softly. "Plus someone in charge should be here in case something happens and we are needed."

I nodded and shrugged a little. "Okay, next time then will you come with me?"

He smiled and nodded, coming over towards me. He opened the door for me and smiled down at me. "Consider it a date. Have a good time visiting with your twin."

I smiled at him and hurried down the hall and went down to Chesna's quarters. She quickly agreed to help me get ready to see Rose. For some reason she seemed to really like helping me get dressed for somewhere, as if I were a real life doll to her.

She took great delight into helping me into the ruffled chemise and then the four boned hoop slip, giggling at me when I grumbled about never being able to sit normally in these things. We then shifted on the underskirt of the dress, which was made of satin and had an exquisite decorative front panel of gold metallic flower brocade. The overskirt and the bodice went on next; they were made of emerald velvet, lacing closed through eyelets in front under the bodice. Both were decorated with metallic gold trim and beading. As I shifted each in just the right place I could see that the skirt had a bit of a train and I would need to be careful where I walked.

She was lacing the emerald sleeves through their eyelets when Aphrodite entered my quarters. As always there seemed to be light emanating from her and her smile spoke of sunshine. She was still the most beautiful person, celestial being, that I had ever laid eyes on. "Hello Aphrodite," I greeted softly.

She smiled softly, nodding to Chesna, who could not verbally greet her since she had one of the lacings in her mouth. She took in my outfit and smiled softly. "I see you are going to see your sister today. Are you going to be gone long?"

I shook my head and held out my other arm for Chesna to put that sleeve on. "No, Vega granted me a fortnight to be down on Earth. I still have things that I must do here, especially with the senshi still being held in the timeline waiting for us to find their place once more."

She giggled a little and shook her head. "You have become too much about your business. It is almost as if you and Rose have traded places. You should be enjoying your life, Angel. Why do you not find someone to keep your companionship?"

I blushed and sent Chesna a `hush' look because she started to snicker at me. "I do not need companionship, Aphrodite. I have everything I need right now. I have Eros, Hades and Vega to keep me company when I become bored." I glanced at Chesna when she sniffed at me and I giggled. "I cannot forget that I have Chesna and Brenna as well as Trista. My life is not empty, Aphrodite. I know when it is my turn to love someone, it will be that one. I can wait until then."

Something crossed over Aphrodite's face, a look that was a cross between understanding and knowingness. She smiled at me and nodded before she turned me around and looked at my outfit and then eyed the attifet head piece that was supposed to complete the outfit by adorning my head and frowned. "That won't do at all." She pulled out a beautiful piece of jewelry that had two gold hair clips. She stepped close to me and gently threaded them into my hair so that the gold chain came down on my forehead, ending in a crystal like pendant that had her marking on it. She stepped back and glanced at Chesna.

Chesna beamed brightly and clapped her hands a little. "Oh, Angel, you look so pretty. I wish I had the time to go with you." She glanced at the sundial in my room and wrinkled her nose before she quickly kissed my cheek. "As it is, I am already late. I am supposed to be in the training room already. Brenna and I are supposed to be working on adding a little bit more magic to her arrows as she shoots them. Tell me how everything went when you come back and say hello to Rose for me." Then she was hurrying out the door.

Aphrodite and I looked at each other before we both giggled. Chesna always seemed to be a bundle of energy. She smiled softly at me. "You do look beautiful. Have you told Eros that you are leaving? He would be upset if you did not."

I groaned a little. I had been hoping to go without letting everyone know that I was. I knew that Eros was down visiting Hades and would not be returning until about an hour later. I frowned a little. "I will leave him a note. I do not want to wait all day for him in case he and Hades get too wrapped up. It will only waste the time Vega gave to me."

She nodded her approval and waited for me to quickly write the note and then seal it. I handed it to her and watched her leave so she could put it in Eros' rooms. I pulled on an emerald green twill cape and covered my head just in case someone saw my use of magic when I arrived on Earth, I did not want them to be able to identify me.

I then pulled my staff from where it had been resting quietly waiting for my command and waved it in a circle, calling forth the Gates. I felt another wave of uneasiness just before I stepped through the Gates and entered Earth.

I was in luck. I arrived in the middle of the kitchens and it was empty save for Aurora. She gave a slightly startled sound until I uncovered my head. She giggled a little when she recognized me. "Oh, Miss Angel, you startled me. This is the first time that I have ever witnessed the way you come."

I smiled softly at her. "I am sorry that I startled you. I could not give a fair warning though because I was not sure if anyone was in here. Might Allen and Rose be here?"

She smiled and shook her head. "Lord Allen is not. He took his horse out for some exercise this morning and has not yet returned. Lady Rose however is out in the gardens."

I smiled a thank you and started to head to the gardens and then turned to look at Aurora. "Aurora, is she out there with someone? Her name would be Rosely?"

She shook her head. "No, Master Marcus took Miss Rosely to the market." She smiled at me a little conspiratorially. "He seemed to be a little taken with the lady."

My eyebrows went up in surprise and I giggled. I nodded a goodbye to her and continued on to where the gardens were. Perhaps the reason Rosely had come was not to talk to Rose but to see Marcus. I found the concept of her getting involved with him a little amusing. I was still giggling as I lifted up my skirts and walked along the path towards where I knew Rose's favorite spot was in her gardens.

She was indeed sitting there on her bench before the fountains. She turned and smiled at me as I came into her view. "I had a feeling that you were going to be coming today." She shifted over on her bench so that I could carefully sit next to her.

I looked her over as I did so. Her black hair had been put into ringlets and pinned close to her head underneath her bonnet. Her ivory/silver underskirt was spread out on the bench, covered by a two-toned bodice matching the underskirt before it met the main body and overskirt which was done in beautiful purple and silver velvet. She had a silver belt coming around the waist and then trailing down in what I found most interesting, instead of just her own signia, Allen's house symbol was present underneath it.

I settled finally and made a soft sound. I could feel the uneasiness even more so now and I knew that Rose knew exactly why I was here. I could see the worry in her eyes and I gently took her hand in mine and squeezed it, a little surprised when she squeezed mine back tightly. "Do you want to tell me what's wrong?" I asked softly.

She sighed softly and stared ahead of her. "I'm afraid. I'm afraid if I tell you that it will come true."

I gently squeezed her hand again, watching her. "You saw something in the thread of time?" She nodded and I sighed softly. "That would explain why I felt such an uneasy feeling from Trista today." I looked at Rose and gently wiped the tear from her cheek. I suddenly realized that it had something to do with Allen. He was the only thing that seemed to affect her this much. My eyes softened and I gently wrapped my arms around her. "I can't promise that it won't happen but it is only a possibility, Rose. You once told me that nothing is set in stone until it has come to pass."

Rose nodded and struggled to give me a weak smile before she rested her head on my shoulder. Together we waited out there in the garden, both hoping for Allen's safe return for more than an hour. I suddenly felt a wave of pain within me and as I gasped I saw Rose look at me with a horrified look on her face. She knew I felt something terrible happen. We heard hooves coming up the path and we both picked up our skirts and ran towards them.

One of the groomers came running up as well, grabbing Allen's horse, a beautiful white Arabian stallion. He had returned but without his rider. I quickly wrapped my arms around Rose as she began to cry, ordering the handler to quickly mount up a few people to go search for Allen and to be careful when they brought him back. Aurora, who had come running when the house began to turn chaotic, gently helped me get Rose inside the house.

Marcus arrived with Rosely just about the same time as the posse of searchers returned with Allen. He rushed over and helped take him inside and settle him in bed. In all of the commotion, Trista had arrived and began to comfort Rose, keeping her from throwing herself onto Allen's unconscious body. Marcus sent for the doctor but us Guardians knew that there was nothing to be done. We could feel Hades as if he were standing right there next to us.

My heart felt like it was ripping out of my chest when the doctor confirmed that Allen would not live through the night. He was bleeding internally from the fall that he had taken as well as the horse landing on his body. He was weak and he would not regain consciousness unless it was a small miracle, even then we were warned that it would be very brief.

I watched Rose clutch Allen's hand in her own, pleading with him to live for her, that they did not have enough time. The tears streaked down her pretty face as she sobbed uncontrollably while Trista and I silently observed. I closed my eyes and knew that I could not let things happen like this. I had to do something. This was what I was supposed to protect wasn't it?

I glanced at Trista to find her watching me silently. She reached over and gently wiped a tear from my cheek, her crimson eyes soft. "Go on, I will send for you if something happens."

I nodded, giving her a grateful smile. "I will be back as quickly as I can be." I kissed her cheek and slipped from the room just to find Marcus and Rosely standing vigilant at the door.

She narrowed her eyes at me and stopped me when I tried to go down the hall, her gloved hand closing around my arm. "Where do you think you are going? Your sister needs you here. It is your duty to stay here with her."

I shook my head and gently removed my arm from her grasp. "My duty is to do everything that I can to save him."

Marcus blinked a little in confusion. "What can you do that the doctor hasn't already tried? I know you do not have healing powers that can save him. Rosely already told me that when I asked."

I sighed softly and looked at him with large sad eyes. "No, Marcus, we cannot do anything to save him but I think I know someone who can." When I saw hope light up in his eyes, I quickly put my hand on his shoulder and squeezed it softly. "I am not sure, so please do not get your hopes up. I need to ask him."

Rosely crossed her satin covered arms over the red and black stripped bodice of her dress and gave me an almost malicious smile. "How do you not know that he didn't do this?"

I blinked in surprise at Rosely. "Why would he do something like this? I admit that he doesn't always do things that I like but he is no where near the horrible being that some make him out to be."

Rosely merely lifted an eyebrow at the look on my face. "Can you not think of a reason? To get her back of course."

I stared at her for a long moment before I shook my head, unable to comprehend why she would even consider anyone doing something as horrible as that to another person. "He would never do that. He wants to see her happy. He loves her and I will not sit here to listen to you talk like this about him. I suggest you do not say these things anywhere he could hear you either."

I heard her mutter as I walked away something about my loyalty was going to be the end of me. I was upset with her to say the least but my mind was too busy worrying about my sister and her dying husband to really think about the cruel things that Rosely had said about Hades. I made sure I was alone before I pulled my staff out and spoke the words that would open the Gates to the Underworld.

I stepped through them and for the first time the dank atmosphere around me seemed to match my mood. I gently patted one of Cerberus' heads before I continued on. Hades knew that I was coming to him however because he met me half way, his violet eyes shining with sadness. "Angel… I already know what you are going to ask and I cannot give it to you."

I couldn't stop myself from grabbing his hands, looking up at him with my pleading face. "Please, Hades, I know you have the power over this. He's dying! Part of her will die with him. She's my twin; I cannot allow her this kind of pain."

He shook his head sadly at me, allowing me to hold onto him. "I cannot, Angel. I have already tried to think of a way that I could and it is not worth what would have to be done."

This time I grabbed his black cloak in my desperation for him to do something. "Whatever the risk is, I will take it. Please, Hades, tell me what needs to be done."

He looked at me for a long moment before he said quietly, "I cannot return him his life without taking one."

I stared at him for a long moment before I turned away. I knew exactly what he was saying. I knew the price that would have to be paid. I could feel his eyes on me as I stared over at Cerberus, who wagged his tail at me. I saw Eros come in and gently pet the three headed beast as he went by, his emerald eyes looking at me in concern since he was not aware of why I was there to see Hades. I finally looked back at Hades. "Then take mine."

Hades' mouth dropped open in shock. It had been an answer that he had not been expecting from me. His eyes turned a little sadder and he shook his head. "I cannot. You are immortal. I cannot take an immortal life and trade it for a mortal's. The balance would be too much off and chaos would take place."

I frowned a little and nodded my head, looking into his violet eyes. "Then take my powers away, Hades." His mouth dropped open in shock once more but I continued on, even as I could see the Fates shifting from the shadows behind him and feel Eros stop in shock just behind me at my words. "If you take my powers, I become mortal. Once I become mortal you can trade my life for his."

Hades looked at me for a long moment and shook his head again. "I cannot, Angel. You are needed too much."

Tears began to spill down my cheeks and I shook my head, refusing to give up. I had to save Allen. I had to do this for his and Rose's love. I had to. I pulled out my quartz and put it in Hades' hand. "Please, Hades… grant me this."

Hades looked as if his heart were breaking as he looked down at me. I could hear Eros hit his knees behind me, his wings making a soft fluttering noise. I felt terrible at causing him pain but I had to do this for Rose. Again though Hades denied me and gently put my quartz back into my own hand and closed it. "I cannot," he whispered."

More tears erupted from me and I doubled up my fists and hit him in the chest several times, but I really could not see him anymore since the tears and anger blinded my vision. "Why? Damn you, Hades, you can do this! Why can't you? Why?"

He gently wrapped his arms around me and pulled him up against me. I could feel his soft soothing hands running along the velvet on my back. He let me cry great big heavy sobs until I finally quieted down. Even then he did not say anything, he just held me to him, comforting me, knowing that I needed it. I had failed my sister when she needed me the most.

"There is another way," Clotho finally said, causing me to jump and Hades to sooth my back softly.

He turned his head to look at the Fates and spoke softly. "How is there another way that would not result in her life? I will not risk her."

Lachesis spoke softly as she came over, her mother-like tone for once seeming to sooth me a little. Perhaps I was just getting used to the Fates though. "A life will be lost tonight but it will not be hers. The thread has already been spun and chosen. However that life can be born again."

I blinked a little as her eyes looked deep into mine before I finally saw what she had been trying to say to me. "Like the senshi, I could send him to be reborn with them." I frowned a little. "But without the power of the Silver Crystal that would be difficult and I could not keep track of him."

Atropos gave me a slightly withered look. "We are not worthless, child. We can bind him to your senshi. All we need from you is a little of your power and an oath."

I felt Eros' hand on my shoulder and I glanced up at him. I could see the warning for me to take caution in his eyes but this was my one chance to help my sister. I was going to do it. "My power is to do with as you see fit if that is what you need, however, what is the oath?"

Atropos smiled a slightly sinister smile. "You may not tell a soul of what you have done. Only Sailor Pluto will know because she is the one guarding the Gates of Time."

I closed my eyes slowly and released a breath. Allen would still die tonight. Rose's heart would still be ripped out. She would find him again in the future but I could not tell her that. She would still loose part of her heart tonight; a part that I knew may never come back either way. "Perhaps it would be better if she did not know she would meet him again. It may ease the ache a little but it would not take away the hurt that this has caused." I finally looked up at the Fates. "I agree, only those here and Trista will know of what I will do. Now tell me, what must I do to ensure this?"

"You must get him to agree to the Kiss of Death," Clotho said quietly.

I blinked slowly. "The Kiss of Death? I do not even know what that is. He is not supposed to even regain consciousness. How would I get him to agree?"

"He will awaken so he can say his goodbyes to his bride. The time is not long from now," Atropos said as her eyes went a little distant, as if she were actually seeing the line of his life.

"At that time you must get him alone and agree to this. The Kiss of Death is when someone takes your soul through your mouth. Very few can do it. You will only be able to do it because we have given you the power to do it this once," Clotho

I bit my lip, feeling more and more uncomfortable about this the more we talked about it. "So I have to kiss him?" The Fates nodded and I closed my eyes. If Rose knew I was going to kiss her man she would kill me, much less that I was taking his soul with this kiss. I knew without asking that essentially I would be delivering the final blow. "After I kiss him, what do I do?"

Hades spoke softly, although from the slightly strained tightness of his voice I could tell that he was not liking this either. "You must transfer his soul to me. I will be able to do the rest." When I started to ask him what he would do, he put a finger to my lips and shook his head. "It is better that you do not ask any more questions, Angel. What you are going to do is hard enough. Once you have performed this, he will have one or two minutes left before his life completely leaves his body. I suggest you get Rose back in there so she can be with him for that."

Eros spoke softly. "Before you agree to this, Tenshi, think about what it is that you are doing. The guilt you felt about your father will be nothing like the guilt you will feel after this."

I looked up into his emerald eyes and sighed softly. "If I do not do this the guilt will be even greater." I looked at the Fates again. "I will do it."

Lachesis nodded her head and pressed her hands to either side of my temples and I felt a weight so great seem to engulf me I nearly collapsed but Eros quickly caught me and held me up until I could get my breathing back. When I finally opened my eyes she looked at me. "Your time to hold that is limited. You must go back and do this quickly. Remember your oath, no one must be told but Allen."

I nodded, still feeling very winded with this strange dark energy moving through my body. I did not have to ask Hades to open the portal for me because he did it automatically. He caught my hand before I went through and looked into my eyes. "I will come as soon as you kiss him." I nodded and started to turn away but he held me back again, whispering, "Thank you for your faith in me when it came to Sailor Celestial."

I smiled at him and kissed his cheek. "That is what friends are for, Hades." Then I went through the portal. I quickly walked through the halls and found Marcus and Rosely still waiting on the outside of the door.

He jumped up and moved quickly towards me, grasping my hands. "Did your friend agree, Angel? Is he going to save my brother's life?"

I sighed softly and gently caressed Marcus' face. "I am sorry, Marcus, but he could not." When he looked stricken by the news I gently hugged him and whispered, "Do not worry, little one, he will be well cared for and he will always know that you love him." He hugged me back for a moment before I gently pulled myself from his grasp.

I barely glanced at Rosely who was regarding me thoughtfully. She started to stop me but I just gave her a look to leave me alone and she stepped back, a slightly startled look on her face. I entered the room to find that Rose was now sitting next to Allen's bedside, holding his hand and telling him in a soft voice all about the life they would have if he came back to her.

My heart constricted painfully in my chest and I could not even console myself with the knowledge that they could have it again, because I knew her pain right now was very real and she would never know he was not going to be gone forever. I looked over at Trista, who was sitting in the shadows of the room silently.

She stood up and came over to me. She looked into my eyes for a moment before she gasped softly, my eyes were no longer the warm friendly hazel as they normally were, they were black, blacker than Rose's, the color of death. "You didn't?" I just looked back at her, unable to answer her. She sighed and shook her head before she looked at Rose. "I will take her outside to give you the time you need and then bring her back."

I nodded my thanks and looked down at my hands, feeling the weight of what I was about to do.

Trista brushed my hair back before she moved over to Rose and gently put her arm around her. "Rose, let's go outside for a moment. You need some fresh air so you can rest your voice."

Rose shook her head, not wanting to leave her husband. "No, I'm fine. I don't want him to be alone..." Her voice cracked a little as she said the words, unable though to complete the thought.

Trista however knew how important it was to get Rose out of the room and she shook her head. "Angel will be here with him, Rose. He will not be alone and she will make sure you can see him if he wakes up."

I could have smacked Trista when Rose looked at me with her eyes so pleading. "Do you promise?"

I felt my heart ripping out more as I whispered, "I promise you will get to talk to him, Rose. Now go take a break. I will not leave him."

She nodded and reluctantly allowed Trista to lead her from the room. I took a deep breath and moved over to the bed, not sure what I was supposed to do. I followed my instincts though and sat down where Rose had been sitting and gently took Allen's hand in my own, speaking softly, "Allen, it is Angel. Rose is taking a break but I hope you do not mind my company for a moment. I have something important to discuss with you, but I need for you to wake up for me."

As if my words had called him to his consciousness, his eyes slowly opened and he blinked slowly at me, pain in his gaze. "An-gel?"

I nodded and gently patted his hand. "Yes, it is me. Do you know what is happening?" I asked softly.

Allen nodded, wincing a little in pain. "I'm dying."

Tears entered my eyes and I nodded my head again. "I cannot stop it, Allen, but I can give you another chance at life, another chance to meet Rose and build a life with her again."

For the first time, his eyes showed hope. "I can… be with… her again?"

I put a finger to his lips and spoke softly. "Yes, you can but you have to listen to me. We do not have much time." When he nodded, I continued. "Rose cannot know of what I have done. You cannot tell her that you will be reborn or even that you will see her again." My eyes teared again when he looked at me in horror. "I know, it is not something I wish to make you promise either, but those are the rules given to me. They have to be followed."

He finally nodded his head. "Will I remember her? Will I remember all of this?"

I blinked slowly. I didn't know how to answer this. I bit my lip and sighed, deciding to just give him the truth. "I do not know, Allen. I suppose if you do not then you have the luxury of falling all over for her again instead of waiting for us to find you. If you do then we do not have to tell you all over again who we are."

He looked at me thoughtfully before he smiled a little painfully. "Either way, I will be with her again." He smiled at me a little more when I nodded. "What do I have to do?"

I colored a little and didn't quite look at him as I responded. "I have to give you what is called the Kiss of Death. I will take your soul and transfer it to Hades. He will take care of the rest. You will then have only about a minute or two before your body perishes completely to say goodbye to Rose."

After a moment of silence I slowly looked at him to find him smirking at me a little. "You have to kiss me?"

I gave him a look. "It isn't like I want to. You are my sister's husband."

He sighed and nodded and I could tell that he was feeling a little guilty about that as well. Finally he spoke through clenched teeth. "If we are going to do this then let's do it. I want Rose to remember me as a strong man that loved her until I can see her again."

Two tears slipped down my cheeks as I looked at him. I felt him weakly squeeze my hand before he reached up and brushed the tears away. "I will miss you, Allen. Thank you for allowing me to do this."

He smiled back at me as I gently wiped the sweat from his brow. "Thank you for giving me another chance at life."

I shook my head a little and felt the color rise up in my cheeks. I cleared my throat a little and he raised his eyebrows. Finally I sighed and decided to just do it and get it over with. I leaned over so I could just press my lips against his, however as soon as our lips connected, we both felt a powerful surge of magic as I slowly took his soul inside myself, leaving him with only enough to last to say goodbye. I pulled back, gasping a little to find that he was very pale and looking very tired. He gave me a weak smile, letting me know he did not regret it and I nodded back to him.

I felt a gentle hand on my shoulder and I looked up to see Hades standing there. He helped me to my feet and kept me steady when I nearly fell over with the weight that was now pressing down on me with Allen's soul. He gave me a smile and tipped my chin up as he wrapped his arms around me supportively. "You did wonderful," he whispered just before he kissed me.

It was not just a press of the lips as I had done with Allen but a full kiss. He took his time, being gentle as he eased the weight from my body, holding me against him so that I would not collapse from the overload on my body. I felt a small stirring within me as he slowly released me and set me on my feet, looking at me with his violet eyes filled with concern. "Are you alright?"

I nodded slowly. "I feel a little dizzy and light headed." I glanced at Allen, who was wincing in pain, his eyes tightly closed, before looking at Hades again. "You can worry about me later though. Right now I have something that I need to do."

He nodded and then faded into the shadows. I turned and quickly moved to the door despite my aching head and the urge to fall flat on my face. I saw Rose pacing outside and quickly motioned to her. "Rose, he is awake and asking for you."

Rose quickly hurried into the room and I stayed long enough to see her settle on the side of the bed, gathering him in her arms as he caressed her face. I closed the door and leaned on it, closing my eyes against the pain I could feel inside and the pain I could feel around me.

I knew Trista was watching me quietly but I did not look up at her even as she gently took my hand in her own and stood with me at the door. It seemed like an eternity went by before we heard Rose's cry of misery and we knew that Allen had past away. I opened my eyes to see Marcus slowly drop his head. I kissed his forehead and held him tight for a moment before I gave him gently over to Trista to comfort.

I looked up at Aurora, who was the only other one in the hallway with us and spoke softly. "Tell the others that the Lord of the manor has past away." She nodded, tears on her pretty face as she walked away.

I turned then and made my way into the room. Rose was clutching his body, sobbing harshly and begging him to come back. I gently gathered her in my arms and we sunk to the floor together. I ran my fingers through her hair like she had done to me as children, tears on my own face as I held her through the night, feeling as if my heart was ripping apart. I couldn't offer her any words of comfort because for once I didn't know any. I just held her and let her cry, vowing to myself that the next time they were together, she would not have to go through this again.

To be continued...

Author's notes:

A fortnight is a period of two weeks.