The Approaching Darkness |Open

[Vexxus]

(Taken from/continued from A New Face(In Tamasha Village thread))

The great black beast landed in a forest clearing; then retreated into the original, small female frame. A blank expression covered her demeanor, as she fell to her knees. She slowly crumbled towards the earth, falling numbly, face-down on the cold ground. Breath came in gasps, and sobs slowly escaped from the aching chest of one who hadn't cried in too long.

Alone....Now I remember why. Loss. Sadness....The only thing I'm afraid of....The only thing I cannot avoid...The passing of anything that becomes dear to me. Sooner or later, they're all gone. All of them....

She lifted herself until she returned to her knees, looked up at the moon that had once brought enchantment, and let out a bestial cry.

[deraj]

The titanic form flew ahead of him into the forest. Deraj saw it disappear beneath the tree line. He had intended to make it deep into the forest before he died so he could sort everything out. He wasn’t sure how everything would work again once his body died. Nothing could happen and he would merely rest in peace in the wilderness or he could become a walking terror with no control over his power.

He had just left Vexxus on less than ideal terms but running into her was unavoidable now. He might not even make it to where she landed before his body began to shut down but he his best bet was to go in that direction.

He had begun to look back on those events that had unfolded just earlier that night. He felt ashamed for being weak. To be weak is miserable. He stumbled on. It grew harder to breathe.

It was then that he heard the sound of sadness. A great bestial cry echoed across the hills. He thought of Vexxus, beautiful Vexxusaria. He did not know if it was she who suffered but the thought of something so full of the love of life in pain was unbearable. He then considered the brashness of his own actions, his pride. It wasn’t worth this. He forgave her in that moment. He knew that he needed to ask forgiveness. He knew that he could not rest until he saw her again. With his strength renewed he quickened his step.

Further down the dusty road, he came upon the scene of a horrible accident. A carriage lay on the ground and in front of it lay its team of horses. The driver was nowhere to be seen. Blood was everwhere. The clawmarks told of some great beast that had nearly ripped some of the horses apart. He assumed the others merely died of fright. He leant down to touch one. Still warm. This might be easier than I had hoped. This is the working of Fate.

He raised his arms heavenward and with words that were beyond words, commanded the beasts to rise. They leapt up with such force that they brought the buggy up with them. He smiled as he climbed into the drivers seat and took off down the road and into the forest.

[Vexxus]

This..... She gazed at her hands through colorless eyes. ....is not how anyone should live. Her hands fell limply to her sides, and she returned her eyes to the moon. Oh, accursed sky....blackness which exists in all dimensions....how I wish you would allow me to join you. Either way, I'll be standing by watching others live...

Suddenly, the sound of hoof-beats falling upon the ground came upon her ears. She did not move.
Valiant night, do your worst. Steal my soul; kill my spirit.

The sound grew louder; and as it did, color returned to Vexxus' eyes, and she stood, waiting for it to reach her. When it approached, it came behind her.

[deraj]

It did not take long for Deraj to find her. He saw her standing, looking up at the moon. She did not move upon his approach. He could not make out her face. He did not see her suffering. He hopped down from the carriage motioned for the horses to stay and walked up to where she stood. The horses were silent. It was as if the only sound in the world now was the clink of his armor. From still behind her, he bowed his crowned head and knelt on one knee. There was a pause as he held back all of the things he longed to say but could not.

Finally he managed to say, “Forgive me, Vexxusaria.”

[Vexxus]

The horses stopped, and as the being dismounted, the clink of armor could be heard as he approached.
“Forgive me, Vexxusaria.”

Her eyes widened, as she recognized the voice. It was the last voice on earth she expected to hear. She began to tremble, as she opened her mouth, but nothing came from it. She closed it again, and swallowed. Was it her imagination? Had she fallen asleep?

Vexxus turned partially, so she couldn't quite see him, but her peripheral vision revealed a kneeling form.

"...Deraj?"

[deraj]

"...Deraj?"

He could not tell if she questioned his presence or was merely acknowledging it. He respectfully waited to see if she would continue. When he felt that she would not, he spoke again.

“I come to ask your forgiveness. I was proud. My actions were not warranted. I heard the sound of weeping. I did not know if it was you but … I thought of you then. One as lovely as you should not be made to suffer. I could not bear the thought that I had brought about such misery. I knew that I could not rest until I found you again and made amends as well as I could. “

[Vexxus]

Deraj....She thought. He came back. To apologize?...to me? He's dying...and he came to apologize to me... She faced him. For once she saw the toll the years had taken on Deraj, as he was virtually nothing but the absolute necessities of a human shell of a body.

"I..." She felt as though she could collapse and die right there; and not bear this life any more. She knew her face would tell him that it was her he had indeed heard.

"There's nothing to forgive; you have done nothing wrong." Through a shaky voice, and eyes blurred from lingering tears, she still looked at him in disbelief. Ashamed at how she felt she must appear, she looked at the ground where she was once facing.

[deraj]

There was a pause between when he finished and she turned to face him. At first she merely looked at him and he realized that ever since he had fallen from the tower, he no longer had enough power to maintain that glam which made him appear youthful. He felt naked again before her gaze and in perhaps in a truer sense, he was. For once in his life though, he was not ashamed of this. All his sins were laid bare before her.

She made to speak and stopped. He knew then that it was her that was weeping. He had come seeking absolution. In those final hours, he had learnt from her what he had failed to learn over his already extended lifetime.

"There's nothing to forgive; you have done nothing wrong."

At first he wanted to protest but realized that doing so would only be another act of pride. It would only serve to bring more suffering to Vexxus. She looked away from him in shame. He had known the depths shame only moments before. He rose and went to embrace her.

[Vexxus]

As Deraj moved towards Vexxus, she could hear his armor clinking once again. She was torn between worlds; whether to become attached, and ripped away once again, or to turn cold and numb to the outside world. She longed for the courage to flee, but as he embraced her, the hunger for life swept over her once again.

He was not as he appeared when she had seen him before, but Vexxus no longer cared about appearances. Tears fell freely as she returned his embrace.

"I'm sorry," She managed to choke out two words. More came after a pause, "I've lost....everyone, anyone I've ever become fond of, and it's..." She shut her eyes tightly. ...happening again... Thoughts replaced words, and Vexxus knew she was essentially completely vulnerable, and in a strangers' arms. Potentially, this was the most dangerous situation she'd ever encountered.

[deraj]

"I'm sorry,"

It was if that Deraj could see it all. The mysteries of the cosmos were revealed unto him and it was her that had to show it to him.

“I've lost....everyone, anyone I've ever become fond of, and it's..."

He suddenly felt protective of her. He knew that he would do anything for this woman. This was something he must do. There was no other option. He gently lifted her head with his gauntleted hand, smiled, and said in a whisper, “I’ll never leave you.”

[Vexxus]

She felt the touch of cool metal from his armored hand under her chin. “I’ll never leave you.” His voice was full of promise; and in that moment Vexxus knew that if he were able, he would indeed keep that promise.

Vexxusaria stared, unwaivering, into the eyes that, it seemed so long ago, had drawn her attention first in the crowds. She knew he had no idea how much this statement meant to Vexxus, but she also knew something else he did not.

"That's...impossible." The tears continued to roll down her cheeks. "Literally, impossible. I'm...."

Along with this new affection for one who, only hours ago, was a stranger, frustration rose within Vexxus. She frowned and set her jaw firmly.

[deraj]

Deraj could see in her eyes that she knew that he meant every word but there was a hesitation. Why does she not allow this? Why does she shun companionship? I who could give her the world. He did not understand. He wiped her tears with his cloak.

"That's...impossible."

This should be a happy moment. Why does she weep?

"Literally, impossible. I'm...."


She frowned. Her face could have been cut from those ancient stones that lay about the glade. He feared then that she would push him away. He knew that if she told him to leave, he would. Perhaps it was his old code of conduct. Perhaps when you exert your will over that which is long enough, a kind of magic began to work on you.

His voice remained calm as he tried to comfort her. “Why is it so impossible? After tonight I will have countless years with which I must endure. I will be free from pain, death, disease… What is eternity without” His next word surprised even him, “…love?”

He then considered what he would become. He did not blame her if she was disgusted with the thought of keeping a soulless undead corpse as a companion. However, he did not let his thoughts betray his voice or his expression. Deraj knew he could manage even this as life left him.

[Vexxus]

His touch was gentle and considerate as he wiped away her tears.

“Why is it so impossible? After tonight I will have countless years with which I must endure. I will be free from pain, death, disease… What is eternity without”.....“…love?”

Love...She knew love once; but ever since had been avoidant of the concept. Loss.......If only the eternity he spoke of was truly forever as I know it....Free from pain, death, disease?....

What did he mean? She knew she had to tell him of her natural attribute; of her immortality.

"I'm...immortal." She looked for hesitation in his eyes. "I cannot die, unless actual harm causes it. I do not age, or fall ill, therefore I cannot die of either. Others..." Do not last as long....fade....even die, any of those would define it. She didn't state any of the latter, but Deraj knew what she would have said.

"...I sought other methods to extend my life" She remembered what he had said when he told her about himself at first. Suddenly what he had not been saying directly; hit her full on. He's... She looked at his decaying face; and at once understood. Why didn't I realize this before...? He was indeed dying, but it was going to be a permanent state; which he would continue in. An undead.

The concept of losing someone because the lost their life had been all Vexxus knew...Now she considered that of the companionship of someone who had lost their life. He would never die, because he was already dead. In her mind, she knew this would automatically put her in a category most would not like to be in; but it was everything she wanted. Someone, at last, whom she did not have to withhold emotion and connection from. At once, with a sigh, she all but collapsed.

Her whole demeanor went from one of someone who had lost everything; to one who couldn't believe how much they had just acquired.

[deraj]

She explained her own immortality to Deraj. This confused him. I don’t see the problem.

"I cannot die, unless actual harm causes it. I do not age, or fall ill, therefore I cannot die of either. Others..."

He did not know how to read her myriad expressions. She went from the pits of despair to the ecstasy of divine revelation. He could feel her relax in his arms. He had put her through a lot on this night. He made motion to his team of horses and gave a laugh.

“Your carriage awaits, my lady. Is this enough to convince you? I am master of Death. I will not pass into the hereafter. If you come with me and if you so desire, you too may escape the consequences if great harm comes to your body.” He eagerly awaited her response.

[Vexxus]

When Deraj motioned towards the carriage, Vexxus suddenly took notice of the state of one of the horses. Great gashes in its' side told Vexxus that this was a display of what she assumed was only a fraction of his power.

She smiled, and wiped away the tears of joy that more recently fell.

"So, what now? We spend eternity riding in a carriage pulled by undead horses?" She chuckled.