A cozy little room in the second floor of a bridge cottage, favourable aroma of candle lights illuminating the surround, there wafts a warm golden atmosphere around.
A clear vase of white lilies and red roses, losing and loving. The sweet and delicate fragrance of roses conquering the strong scent of lilies.
Neva freshened up, posed on a vintage stool faces a victorian vanity mirror as she combs her hair. She finds her clear, fragile features reflecting on the looking glass. Her eyes bare, abyss of thoughts pulling her in deep, blinding the present.
"Angel come on, you need to sleep." Rhett lay on the soft bed, his head propped up on his left arm, he pats the bed gesturing her to lay with him; eager to cuddle Neva.
He creases his brows at Neva's failed response.
Aimlessly she runs the wooden comb through her hair—her mind elsewhere.
Climbing out the bed he caresses her shoulders, flinching her out her trance.
"Let's go sleep Angel." He repeats himself, lightly kissing her cheek.
Neva placing the comb on the surface of the vanity—she turns around to face him.
"You should leave." She starts off, looking down at her fingers.
"What?" He responds, the grim tone in her voice leading his heart to tighten.
She stays still, her brows creased, wandering through her heart—picking and throwing, carefully choosing words to speak.
"We should separate our paths." She gently voices her thoughts, looking up—longingly searching his eyes for the turning emotions.
Neva's form stiffens: his intense glare frightening her, the warmth in his orbs vanishing.
He stands up straight, towering over her. "I don't understand."
Neva firmly looks at him. "I said; you and I should not be together."
"You're tired. Go to sleep." Rhett interrupts, looking away—hiding his pained expression.
She just needs some rest.
"Don't you see? You'll only be in misery with me." She argues, skillfully burying the agony caused by her own assumption.
"I don't care." He flatly says.
"You do realise? There's only a tragic end written with me." She's twisting his words, causing him to frown and finally settle on her indifferent ones.
"No. I did not mean that." He bends down, anxiously cupping her face.
"We'll be fine Neva. I'll protect you."
"You don't get it Rhett!" She shoves his hands away and stands up.
"This—" Neva looks down her hands.
"I don't know what do with all this blood." She says, painful tears gushing out of her terrified eyes.
Rhett softens his eyes, he ceases her trembling hands—instantly bringing her into his tight embrace.
Neva's sobbing intensifies, her body shaking—her clutch on his shirt in a numbing fist, her knuckles whitening.
"I'll wash them away." Cradling her head, he assuringly kisses her crown.
It will all pass, this darkened nights will pass.
"I–I saw you almost being killed Rhett!" She chokes out.
In no circumstances she can ever put him through that again. She guessed; she knew the danger his work could probably weigh.
She made peace with the fact that his profession will not harm their relationship. Even, given the hazard, that perhaps she might even never see him again.
Now, the reason death crawls upon him; it was her. And it's killing her.
"But I'm here. I'm fine and alive Angel. You have to believe in me." He softly declares.
Neva shakes her head. Of course she believes him. But he was just a human after all... There's only so much he can take.
"This madness will never stop. I won't survive losing you." She clarifies, her muffled, broken voice barely discernible.
"You will never lose me." A knot forms in his heart, her agony causing his heart strings to come apart.
"No—" A sob breaks out her lips, frustrated, hating the fact that the intention behind her words does not get to him.
"I killed all of them Rhett."
"No, you did not." He firmly states, tightening his hold on her.
"Noah's dead! All of them are—" She whimpers.
"Noah's in a better place." He murmers.
"I'm cursed." She starts panicking.
"Neva, look at me." He says, cupping her face, searching her bleak, colourless eyes.
Neva shakes her head, and sobs.
"Don't touch me!" She yells, harshly pushing him away.
He frowns deeply as she backs away, arms around herself, clenching her flesh, so frightened and fragile, then she rubs roughly to peel away her skin.
This dirt body is caging her, it's disgusting her. She cries kneeling down, rubbing off her skin.
Rhett ceases her hands making her still, then she realised he's now holding her. "You are not cursed Neva. You were never at fault for their monstrosity."
Making her look at him, he wipes off her tears with his thumb.
Neva shakes her head, not giving into his assurance.
"Just do me a favour Rhett, within the dawn—take the boat and go." She says, connecting her orbs to his hurt ones.
"Is it that easy for you to give me up? Well I can't leave you, and even you cannot force me away." His low, dominating tone makes it clear.
"Why don't you get it? You'll be safe away from me." She stands upright and back away, wiping her eyes and nose.
She stops crying.
He stands up too, chuckling bitterly. "Where will I go without you?"
"Anywhere. The world is big." Her reddened eyes bores into him.
"Exactly, the world is big. They can't find us. We'll leave to a further place tomorrow alright?"
"You'll be killed if you're around me!" She exclaims.
"If I leave, what will you do?" Rhett suddenly inquires, wanting to know her ambitious plans.
"They want me. If they come again; they can take me." Neva swallows tightly.
"You're being ridiculous." He scoffs, angered at her absurd consideration.
"It wouldn't have happened—if they had taken me." She mumbles to herself.
Her emotions overwhelming, she's losing herself.
"Don't ever say that again Neva." He warns her, nearing closer to her again.
With shuffling steps, she walks back—until the back of her knees touches the edge of the bed—halting her.
He tries to hold her hands, but harshly shaking her head she avoids his reach.
"No—!"
"Neva—"
"Spare me and leave!" She cuts him off.
"I cannot. I love you." He declares, his voice ruptured.
"Then I will." She blindly steps away—aiming for the door.
He grasps her wrist, swiftly pushing her—falling on the bed.
He hovers above her, caging her in between his arms.
"Let go of me!" She struggles to force away his large form.
He clasps, and clenches her hands on either side of the bed.
He lay over her, breathing in her neck.
"Enough Neva! You're hurting me."
Closing her eyes, silently she weeps, his crumbling voice weakening her.
She slowly gives in to his warmth, staying—leaning in.
Her arms eventually stops tussling, he seperates their clasped hands. Sneaking around her waist—he causes her back to curve up. His hands on her back holding her hard to him, they lay close.
.
.
.
"I'll be dead without you. I don't wish to live with a broken heart." He murmers, his eyes shut tight. It had been almost an hour since they just lay silenty in each other's embrace.
She wraps her arms around him. Her eyes agaping, just to close again—a thin see through liquid dropping.
"You won't be at peace with me." She utters softly.
"There's You and I. Above any tragedy or miracles. For me; peace is us." He verses, having her closed lids to clinch—a whispery sob escaping her attached lips.
Neither of them could be tranquiled with the absence of their other piece. Hushed, salty tears cascades down her orbs. She realises; he's all she needs and her all he needs.
"Let's get married." She confesses.
Rhett gasps a little.
He raises his head in disbelief, his widened eyes meeting hers. He sighs, a small smile playing on his lips, feathering a shallow one on her own lips.
"Let's get married. I only need this love and you." He phrases.
A foolish saccharine smile radiating on his lips has Neva's eyes lost in adoration.