The Void: Azalea's Purpose

The Kiss

Raf 

My daughters' mate, Gabriel, and I raced to reach her. I hoped against hope nothing would happen to her. ‘What is this feeling? I feel... empty.’ I heard Gabriel think. No. It has her. I knew he was feeling what she felt because of the mating bond. He would always be able to tell when she is in danger, even if he didn’t know what it meant. “We have to hurry, she is in danger,” I told him as we reached the door to the Coven House. He gave me a confused look, but didn’t question me as he lead us to the Elders room.  

When we walked in Azalea was staring at the pictures depicting The Great Darkness. I looked at her, trying to focus on her thoughts, but there was nothing for me to read off her. She stood in the room, but she wasn’t here with us. I tried to think of a way to save her, but I could feel the void pulling her in.  

I looked to Gabriel, hoping his bond to her could pull her back from the void, “Gabriel, kiss her.” He looked at me confused and unsure of doing this in front of her father. “There is no time Gabriel, kiss her now!” 

Gabriel 

“Kiss her now!” her father said to me as I tried to process his demand. I felt uneasy doing this to her for the first time, being as we had barely said two words to each other. Yes, I felt an overwhelming love for her but this felt like an intrusion. But the desperation on her father’s face convinced me to put the chivalry aside and do as he asked. I walked over to her and leaned in, just glad to be near her, as I gently placed my lips upon hers.  

Azalea 

I can’t feel anything. I can’t feel anything at all. I couldn’t even feel panic, though I knew that I should. All that I felt was the casing of goo around me, holding me in this place of darkness. All I was capable of feeling was the goo against my skin. I couldn’t cry, or feel fear. It was just an emptiness I had never experienced before and all I wanted was to end. This can’t be it. I can’t end like this.  

Just as the thought crossed my mind, I felt a shock starting in my lips. It was like being shocked back to life. My body started to warm and I watched as the goo receded. The monster was on the other side of the goo, staring at me, unmoving. I watched as it slowly pulled away and crinkled down in what seemed like pain. What could possibly be causing it to feel pain, or anything at all? 

I closed my eyes and breathed until I was once again back in reality. Gabriel’s lips were on mine and now that I was back, I could feel everything it was doing to me. I felt my body light up and I became hungry for more. As if my life depended on it, I put my hands in his hair and pulled him further into the kiss. I needed him more than anything at this moment. I just needed to feel something and this kiss was bringing everything back. It was as though every nerve was being shocked back to life and it was only us, only this kiss. His lips felt like velvet rubbing against mine, and as I pushed more into him, he let his tongue slip in as I parted my lips for him. I could have kissed him forever but the more he kissed me the more I was able to feel until I felt eyes on us. I pulled away from him to see my father looking awkwardly to the side.  

I reluctantly pulled myself away from Gabriel and went to my father for a hug. He embraced me and as he did, he whispered, “Trust no one.”