Chapter 552: Crimson Chrysanthemums-II

Music recommendation: Dragonspine Snow— Jordy Chandra.

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Elise had the confidence she would never kill Ian under any circumstances. She believed in it as there was never the reason for her to kill the person whom she loves with all her soul and her entire being. 

Yet now, she realized what does it mean by fate.

When one path had been predetermined by fate, no one could go against it.

Such as now where her hand was thrust in between Ian's flesh.

Tears continue to dribble down her eyes. The rim of her eyes stung painfully when another batch of tears rolled out from her blue eyes. While she could endure the pain, it felt more stinging as the pain told her that this was not her dream and rather was the reality.

"Shush," Ian continued to coax her. "It is fine. I am sure this is nothing my injuries will heal slowly but nothing should happen to me."

"No," Elise shook her head as she held her breaths and tears altogether. "Don't lie to me Ian. You are not alright." Elise knew because she could feel how his body growing colder in seconds. His heart that was near her hand also dimmed as it tried its hard to beat.

Ian stared back at his, his red eyes were brimming with gentleness even as he knew that his time was slowly coming for him. "You caught me," he smiled, chuckling as if they were still on the bed in the morning, sharing their words and chuckling over small jokes that he often made.

But unlike those mornings, Elise was full of tears. Her heart was so much in pain that her breaths were difficult to inhale. She looked at him, stared at him, letting her tears loosely dribbled over her cheeks. 

"I can't live without you," Elise confessed, her words stuttering and she sounded broken that also pained Ian to hear. "I can't... I can't do this without your presence besides me."

Ian pulled her head and rested her chin on his shoulders. He was one who never cried but slowly he could feel his chest held a different pain apart from his injuries. This separation was something they have heard people talking about many times but they denied it as they knew it was impossible.

Ian couldn't die as he had his curse while Elise would never kill him. But this two warrants exhausted itself from working today as circumstances had proven them wrong.

He pulled her deeply so Elise won't have to suffer the image of killing him every night like he once did when he saw his mother burned to death.

"I am aware," Ian whispered. "I can't live without you either, Elise. Listen to me and close your eyes."

Elise cried again and she shook her head because she could feel death coming toward him. 

"Elise," Ian cooed her to follow his instructions. With a sob, Elise did what he wished and closed her blue eyes. "Good girl," he rubbed her head. "Before anything I want you to remember this. Don't do anything reckless anymore. If I will never be able to come to you again, I wish that you would take care of yourself better. Think of yourself before others because you matters the most to me. At night, please sleep well. If there is a nightmare following you, just remember me because I will always be there to defeat all your nightmares and turn it into the most beautiful dream you will ever had."

Elise bite down to her lips to stop her sobbing mess. She could not hold herself back.

"Don't bite your lips, my silly wife," Ian chuckled as if nothing had happened. His hand went through her red hair, "Remember this in your head. What happened today is never your fault it was not anyone's carelessness. Not anyone's weakness that caused this as well. There are just events that bound to happen and it has never been your fault."

The blood that flowed from the cavity in his chest dripped to the white Chrysanthemums that lies underneath them, coloring the pure snowy petals into a deep crimson color. The blood that once was black had turned red, proving that Ian had turned as a human along the way without their notice.

"What should I do without you?" Elise asked him. "I can't... you know I can't."

"I won't ever leave you," Ian convinced her. "I will be always there for you. You might not be able to see me again but I will always be with you."

"You are a liar," Elise whispered, unable to control her cries she buried her face to his shoulders. "You promised me you won't leave me."

A look of pain passed by Ian's eyes and he squeezed his eyes, shaking his head to suppress what he felt and slowly trying to go back to his calm manner.

"I know," Ian accepted her words as he knew the sorrow that was squeezing her inside out. "My wife, you have to know how happy I was to be united with you. Our wedding day had been the day where I feel I am the most happy man in this world. And you were the one who made that happen. Don't wait for me, don't search for me, you can leave me in your memories. I will always watch you with a smile."

Elise didn't know how much time they had left to be together. But she didn't want him to leave with her being in tears. Although she didn't managed to stop her tears, Elise said, "I love you."

Ian's eyes widened not in surprise that she had said the words but because how much it agonizes him now that she had to say this words in their separation.

"Ian, I love you. You are the only man I will love for my entire life. My only sun."

Ian chuckled faintly and pulled back to show her a delighted smile, "I'm happy... Elise, I'm happy..." Elise couldn't hear his following words as his lips had fell mum.

She could feel his heart that was against her hand had stopped beating. Her breaths she held escaped in quivers as she felt him leaving the world.

The blood moon finally faded away, the sky brightened up but Elise's sky had been shattered in blood.

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A/N: This is not The end. I repeat, this is not the end. Don't forget to vote if you would like more chapters ^^