"Why?" The blood spurted out of her mouth as she choked on its warmth. Her once powerful frame heaved in its collapsed form.

Her lover smirked, appearing almost devilishly in the red glow of the magic circle that had sealed her powers in the first place. "You've lived for 500 years and still don't know 'why'?" He mocked.

Maria grit her teeth, powerless and heartbroken. "I loved you. I gave you power and my soul. How could you do this?"

Carlos seemed to think for a moment, casually puffing away at a cigar. "You know, there was a time I loved you. But now look at me? I've grown old and you're still as beautiful as the day I first laid eyes on you." He almost snarled the last sentence.

"But it's been 100 years. That's the best I could do." Tears blurred her vision but she could still see the anger on his aged face. His face was now aged, but not beyond the look of a healthy 60 year old. Carlos had lived well over 100 years; this should have been enough for someone of meager status like him.

He mindlessly tossed the smoking cigar at her, "And that's why I needed you, amor. The other half of your soul is mine now too."

She drew in a harsh breath at the realization of what he truly wanted. "I gave you everything, you ungrateful fuck!" Now she knew this was never love. Humans were so selfish.

Carlos shook his head in disapproval, approaching the defenseless mage. "Now, now. No more ugly words, dear."

He jerked his head in the direction of his accomplice. "Do it. Now."

Wordlessly, the hidden person further enhanced the magic circle and now Maria felt as if her body was boiling, burning from the inside out. The searing pain she felt in her chest was almost indistinguishable from the heartbreak of her beloved betraying her. 

She screamed in agony, blood now trickling out of her eyes. 

"Do you like it?" His voice was a nasty sickly-sweet tone. "I had to craft this spell just for you. And of course, me. Only one of us can live forever and it just so happens that I deserve it more."

He crouched down, grabbing her spoiled face and admired her wretched look. The once proud mage was disheveled. Her luscious black hair matted and scraggly with her once perfect hazelnut skin marred with bruises. Her lips, cracked and bleeding, were still so tempting to him.

The pain had stopped temporarily and Maria still would not allow herself to faint. She looked into his eyes defiantly as he grabbed her jaw forcefully. "You'll still be mine even after you die. You know that, right? You death will be an accident, and I, a grieving widow, who you passed on all your knowledge and power to."

She struggled in his rough hands but Carlos held fast. His words filled her with disgust, and even though she knew how this would end, she wouldn't give him the satisfaction.

"I knew you wouldn't let me see you struggle so much. You were always so stubborn. But now look at you." He stood up, dissatisfied at her lame reaction.

Wiping his hands clean, he yelled, "Finish her!"

Soon her body was on fire again, but this time the pain didn't stop. Maria no longer had control over her physical body.

"I'll kill you! I'll kill you!" The pain turned to anger as her body engulfed in flames.

The heat around her heart grew and grew, her magic rapidly draining from her spirit. "As long as my soul may persist, I will never forget this betrayal. I'll kill you with all I have left."

And with this last utterance Maria's vision fell to blackness and all sensation ceased.