Lost and Bound

I could hear the blood curdling screams through the snow capped evergreen trees. My heart beat anxiously hard against my chest. I thought it might burst through my rib cage, leaving my body lying there dead while it alone went to find her. I had to find my Genevieve. I should have never left her alone. At that moment, I waited no longer. Hot blood pulsed adrenaline through my veins as I pushed through the dark forest. I kept thinking I had to get to her, to save her. I ran to the point where my legs could no longer support my body and then some. I couldn’t stop and I didn’t, not till she was in view. I came to a clearing. There she was, tied to a post. Her wrists were torn up and raw from the struggle and fight to possible freedom. Head hung low with her long raven hair reaching towards the ground, she didn’t see me. Her white dress now tinted red, brushed the ground gentler than the whip that had ripped her skin. The blood splattered knife fell, clattering to the cold stone ground, “NO!!” I watch with disbelieving eyes as the love of my life crumbles to the ground like a discarded rag doll. I ran to her, but a sinister beast intercepted me. “Don’t you dare touch her, you revolting half breed.” The creature’s voice was followed by a blast of energy that knocked me to the ground, forcing air from my lungs. The thing emerged from its hiding spot among the snow covered evergreen trees and I saw him, for the first time in 10 years. His teeth, sharp like wolf fangs, moon white hair only a few shades lighter than his skin, and his eyes were pools of black tar that had replaced the once emerald green. He had developed from the scrawny, blonde, childish boy I had grown up with, to a tall, thundering creature of darkness. He never was a man, nor would he ever be. He had become what he most despised, a monster. “Lucian,” The name gave an unnatural taste to the tongue, but it was all I could muster. Wheezing, I keeled over onto my knees, “Give the girl to me.” “What makes you think I would do that?” His laugh sounded as if clouds of smoke suffocated him from the inside out, “She was tainted by you, a vile Nephalem who never deserved to live in the first place. I am sacrificing her body to cleanse her soul and atone for the sinful acts she has committed against God.” I coughed hard, wiping the blood from my chin, “Enough with these games, Lucian. I’ll say this one more time and you will comply,” I stood slowly, a little wobbly, but I manage, “Give her to me.” He stood, arms folded, “What will you do if I don’t? You never were strong enough to defeat me. What makes you think you are ready to die?” My knees buckled and I refused to move, “I would do anything. I am not afraid of putting my life on the line for her...and you know that all too well, don’t you?” I egged him on silently, daring him to move.  “Never much fun, were you Ezra? Fine,” reaching down to her body only to grab her and throw her across the snow closer to me. He smiled cold and heartless. “You can have her. I have no need of a body anyway. Have fun cuddling with a corpse.” Lucian walked over to me, pulling me up by my hair to meet his gaze. He looked dead into my eyes with rage and a promise. His voice was low and spiteful, “Just know that her soul with be reborn into a new body and when that day comes, I will be there...and she will love me.” With that he drops me and disappeared back into the shadows from whence he came. I stumbled across the snow mounds to her side, “Genevieve,” Her pale face turned to view mine. “I’m so sorry. I should have been there to protect you. This is all my fault.” My head hung low in shame. “Shhh,” her icy hand brushed my cheek, resting softly against it, her touch attempted to be reassuring. “Hey, listen to me.” Boiling tears fell to her skin. “You’re gonna make it through this, okay? Everything is going to be alright.” A delicately woeful smile crept across her lips, “Ezra…” Her hand left my cheek as she left me. “Genevieve? Genevieve!!” I pull her limp body to me, holding her tight, crying out, cursing God for taking her away, “Bring her back!! You hear me, you bastard?! Bring her back!!” I sobbed hard into her neck until there was nothing left. I whispered in the ear of my lost love, “You can’t leave me. You just can’t,” my voice weak and broken, “Please, come back to me.” After a few minutes, I ran my fingers through her soft raven hair. Her face looked to me, eyes empty. I took one last long look at them. I saw my reflection in her silver eyes. They no longer glowed as they did one before and in that moment, my heart tore two ways. She was gone and I was alone. I gently slide my hand over her eyes, closing them. Taking a deep, uneasy breath, I picked her up by her back and knees then walked to the river. I placed her at the root of her willow tree, letting the graceful giant wrap its arms around her, taking her soul to the light. I took the necklace from around her throat. Clasping the chain around my neck, I slid my fingers down the chain and rubbed the small, crystal teardrop pendant that resided around her delicate neck, but now settled around my own. My very last memory of Genevieve will rest over my heart until she comes to claim it once more.