Watchers - IC [Closed]

[Luminesa]

"...That's actually a couple of things, not just one thing...Hmmm..." Ichiru put a finger on his chin and thought for a moment. "...If it was genetics...are your parents also the same way?" he asked.

Kiri faltered. She hadn't been expecting that. She turned herself slightly away from the others, an uncomfortable atmosphere settling upon the room.

"I..",She said in a shaky voice.

"I don't have any parents... I was raised in an orphanage in Russia until Quartz found me."

She turned herself back to Ichiru, her eyes slightly simmering, then said in a slightly happier tone.

"Quartz and Everton are my parents now. They've done a lot for me."

She raised her skirt slightly showing her legs, she reached down and gently stroked her thigh. Hundreds-no, thousands of golden runes, glowed in a rippling fashion across her legs, a terrific display of lights.

"Quartz gave me more than I could ever ask for... He gave me the ability to walk on my own."

She took a breath, her eyes illuminated by the warmth of the runes below her and continued.

"Everton taught me how to walk and taught me how to fight for myself. These are things that I will never forget."

She stroked her thigh once more and the brilliant lights disappeared one by one.

Ichiru looked at the runes, impressed. He then nodded and smiled. "...I understand...I do not have any parents myself...I was adopted before I could even remember anything...I am sorry if the question was a bit...too personal. I supposed I simply was too curious for my own good," he apologized, blushing slightly.

[True Refuge]

Ichiru looked at the runes, impressed. He then nodded and smiled. "...I understand...I do not have any parents myself...I was adopted before I could even remember anything...I am sorry if the question was a bit...too personal. I supposed I simply was too curious for my own good," he apologized, blushing slightly.

From his position near the counter, Everton muttered derisively under his breath, "Everyone's got a sob story," thinking back to Charlotte's explosion and his own story, which for the purposes of the now-dismal mood, he kept his mouth shut about. He smiled at the sight of Quartz's fine work upon Kiri, it was actually the first time he'd seen that collection of his runesmithing. The Rune Master had always talked about in vague terms about the extraordinary effort that he had put into each and every one. To finally see just a glimpse into the past of meeting Kiri for the first time was beautiful. Such a fragile young soul back then, moping around while Quartz worked at his usual slow pace.

He raised his own hands to his eyes and mused over the runes that he had asked from Quartz in selfish times, ones that Ernst only begrudgingly did. The owner of Ernst's Magical Items and Trinkets didn't like wasting his time on such petty tasks. He returned his hands to his sides, and continued sipping his coffee. There wasn't much he could say in this conversation, after all. Better to stay silent.

[Sindrya]

Kiri faltered. She hadn't been expecting that. She turned herself slightly away from the others, an uncomfortable atmosphere settling upon the room.

"I..",She said in a shaky voice.

"I don't have any parents... I was raised in an orphanage in Russia until Quartz found me."

She turned herself back to Ichiru, her eyes slightly simmering, then said in a slightly happier tone.

"Quartz and Everton are my parents now. They've done a lot for me."

She raised her skirt slightly showing her legs, she reached down and gently stroked her thigh. Hundreds-no, thousands of golden runes, glowed in a rippling fashion across her legs, a terrific display of lights.

"Quartz gave me more than I could ever ask for... He gave me the ability to walk on my own."

She took a breath, her eyes illuminated by the warmth of the runes below her and continued.

"Everton taught me how to walk and taught me how to fight for myself. These are things that I will never forget."

She stroked her thigh once more and the brilliant lights disappeared one by one.

Ichiru looked at the runes, impressed. He then nodded and smiled. "...I understand...I do not have any parents myself...I was adopted before I could even remember anything...I am sorry if the question was a bit...too personal. I supposed I simply was too curious for my own good," he apologized, blushing slightly.

"My, Ichiru-san, I didn't know that you were a lolicon."

Out of nowhere, Walter appeared behind the immortal, grinning as he saw what he just needed to see. He didn't mean anything of the words that he had just said, of course. He was just kidding.

He had just came back from the convention a few minutes ago, when he was thrown out of the portal at the library. Seeing there's nobody around, he tiptoed his way, utilizing everything he knew about Splinter Cell, to find that everyone was huddling around the chibi Watcher apprentice. He had wanted to announce his arrival with the most obnoxious way possible, but decided to do it "SURPRISE MOTHERFUCKER"-style.

So there he was.

[Luminesa]

Ichiru looked at the runes, impressed. He then nodded and smiled. "...I understand...I do not have any parents myself...I was adopted before I could even remember anything...I am sorry if the question was a bit...too personal. I supposed I simply was too curious for my own good," he apologized, blushing slightly.

"My, Ichiru-san, I didn't know that you were a lolicon."

Out of nowhere, Walter appeared behind the immortal, grinning as he saw what he just needed to see. He didn't mean anything of the words that he had just said, of course. He was just kidding.

He had just came back from the convention a few minutes ago, when he was thrown out of the portal at the library. Seeing there's nobody around, he tiptoed his way, utilizing everything he knew about Splinter Cell, to find that everyone was huddling around the chibi Watcher apprentice. He had wanted to announce his arrival with the most obnoxious way possible, but decided to do it "SURPRISE MOTHERFUCKER"-style.

So there he was.

Ichiru stood and stared at Walter, not surprised to see he had returned and a bit taken-aback by the term. "A-Ah...No, I was simply speaking to her...Ahhh...I'm sorry..." He averted his eyes a little and blushed again. "I'm terrible at talking directly to people, I suppose...I always blush like this when I speak to people..." he muttered.

[Sindrya]

"My, Ichiru-san, I didn't know that you were a lolicon."

Out of nowhere, Walter appeared behind the immortal, grinning as he saw what he just needed to see. He didn't mean anything of the words that he had just said, of course. He was just kidding.

He had just came back from the convention a few minutes ago, when he was thrown out of the portal at the library. Seeing there's nobody around, he tiptoed his way, utilizing everything he knew about Splinter Cell, to find that everyone was huddling around the chibi Watcher apprentice. He had wanted to announce his arrival with the most obnoxious way possible, but decided to do it "SURPRISE MOTHERFUCKER"-style.

So there he was.

Ichiru stood and stared at Walter, not surprised to see he had returned and a bit taken-aback by the term. "A-Ah...No, I was simply speaking to her...Ahhh...I'm sorry..." He averted his eyes a little and blushed again. "I'm terrible at talking directly to people, I suppose...I always blush like this when I speak to people..." he muttered.

Walter laughed lightly. He put a hand on Ichiru's shoulder, before saying, "'Twas just a jest, Ichiru-san."

He took a breath. Facing everyone, he asked, "So what did I miss? I assume you guys didn't just sit there and wait for me to return, however nice that would be for me."

His grin returned on his face.

[Luminesa]

Ichiru stood and stared at Walter, not surprised to see he had returned and a bit taken-aback by the term. "A-Ah...No, I was simply speaking to her...Ahhh...I'm sorry..." He averted his eyes a little and blushed again. "I'm terrible at talking directly to people, I suppose...I always blush like this when I speak to people..." he muttered.

Walter laughed lightly. He put a hand on Ichiru's shoulder, before saying, "'Twas just a jest, Ichiru-san."

He took a breath. Facing everyone, he asked, "So what did I miss? I assume you guys didn't just sit there and wait for me to return, however nice that would be for me."

His grin returned on his face.

Ichiru smiled at him over his shoulder, and answered, "Ah, nothing much. We've just all been talking. I suppose we're still all waiting for Matthew to greet us...or I am, anyway...How was your convention?"

[Sindrya]

Walter laughed lightly. He put a hand on Ichiru's shoulder, before saying, "'Twas just a jest, Ichiru-san."

He took a breath. Facing everyone, he asked, "So what did I miss? I assume you guys didn't just sit there and wait for me to return, however nice that would be for me."

His grin returned on his face.

Ichiru smiled at him over his shoulder, and answered, "Ah, nothing much. We've just all been talking. I suppose we're still all waiting for Matthew to greet us...or I am, anyway...How was your convention?"

Walter shrugged. "'Twas pretty good. I met someone who aside of being an enthusiast of Supernaturals, was also know the true knowledge about them, not the usual fictitious tale that kept being fed to the teen audience nowadays." He grimaced upon uttering the last part. "Where would you find a vampire that sparkles in broad daylight, after all?!", he complained. "I mean, seriously, sparkling?! My mother could write something better than that and she's six feet under!"

He shook his head vigorously. "It always irks me whenever someone feed lies about Supernatural creatures. Djinns that possess weapons and gave their master a grand strength boost through transformation, or Lucifer depicted through Draco-in-leather-pants portrayal. Ridiculous."

It seemed almost childish how he, an adult, and a Watcher too, fumed about "false information" concerning Supernaturals. "And they took me for a cosplayer of a-a... a Reaper! I never knew the Reaper - that's right, the, because there's only one Reaper I know - dresses like this! I should talk to Azrael some time."

[Charlia]

Merlin

Merlin looked at Charlotte, she was scared, which was good. Not because he likes to see people shake in fear, but when people are scared they generally are more aware and will react faster, not to mention it keeps you alive. Going into a fight scared is arguably a good thing.

Merlin subconsciously let his hand slide into Charlotte's, as he looked onward.

Charlotte's face reddened slightly, but she started walking, leading him to a place she remembered every night, a place that appeared in every nightmare.

She remembered it so well.

Too well.

Memories were her curse, it seemed. She could never forget the horrible things she'd been put through.

And when she saw a silhouette in one of the windows, when their eyes locked and she felt the familiar terror filling her mind, at first she thought it was just a memory.

It wasn't.

[Faal Lot Himdah]

Merlin

Merlin stood with Charlotte and saw the figure, letting go of her hand as magic started to gather in his hands.

"Charlotte, remember, I am here for you. I will do everything in my power to both help and protect you with this step." Merlin stated as the silhouette disappeared from the window.

[Charlia]

Merlin

Merlin stood with Charlotte and saw the figure, letting go of her hand as magic started to gather in his hands.

"Charlotte, remember, I am here for you. I will do everything in my power to both help and protect you with this step." Merlin stated as the silhouette disappeared from the window.

"I remember," she said quietly.

Then the door opened.

"I knew you'd come back in the end. Just like you know you can't ever get away from me... Because you belong to me."

No. No, I don't.

Why can't I say it? SAY IT!

"I... I don't belong to anyone," she said weakly. "Especially not to you."

"We both know that's not true..."

[Faal Lot Himdah]

Merlin

Merlin stepped up, "Excuse me, but I do believe that after many years of seeing how human society works when they take the idea of owning someone, society built on the ownership of others always collapses. A human being can not be owned. Charlotte speaks the truth. She doesn't belong to anyone."

He held his hands at the ready, "Are you going to try and argue against the course of history, human nature and moral values?"

[Charlia]

Merlin

Merlin stepped up, "Excuse me, but I do believe that after many years of seeing how human society works when they take the idea of owning someone, society built on the ownership of others always collapses. A human being can not be owned. Charlotte speaks the truth. She doesn't belong to anyone."

He held his hands at the ready, "Are you going to try and argue against the course of history, human nature and moral values?"

"Oh, is that so?"

Shudders ran through Charlotte's body as the man laughed.

"Look at her. See how she reacts to even the smallest thing I do or say? I may not legally own her, but I control her. Her mind, her body... everything. It all belongs to me. Not even you would argue with that," he said softly, turning to Charlotte. "Isn't that right?"

She was shivering, not from cold, but from fear. "No. No, it's not true," she insisted, but it was obvious that she was having a hard time believing her own words. "You're lying. You don't own me... you can't..."

"Then why," he said roughly, wrapping an arm around her and pulling her close, "did you become what you are? Oh, don't deny it. You know what you are. Inside, you've always known. You just don't want to believe it." He ran a hand through her hair, and she recoiled in disgust.

"Don't touch me," she muttered. "Don't..."

"...What are you going to do about it?" he replied in a soft voice. "You need to remember your place. In your mind, you've elevated yourself to such lofty heights, but we both know the truth... you're just a pathetic little whore. And you always will be."

The hateful name cut deep. After years of such words, she should perhaps have been desensitized, but they still hurt. They still hurt so much.

For so long, I wanted to die... And now... I'm here... and so is he...

Ready and willing to grant my wish.

Pushing too hard for too long... facing the madness of too many masks... bearing the brunt of too much violence... too much pain... Already burned down and out from every angle... battered, bruised, and scarred from a thousand cuts and blows... staggering on unsteady bones and living through vertigo for years now... everything too dark and cold, even on the brightest summer day... too much punishment, overwhelming odds... bleeding... racing for death my whole life... all strength stretched and sapped, washed in weakness... mired in a slow-motion panic of helplessness... and through it all, no sleep, no rest, even when movement itself was impossible... nothing but the mind's desperate surge to get off the floor and strike back. Even when every uphill effort is wasted and futile...

"You are already broken."

Reality itself smashed and splintered like the death of an impossible dream... awakening again and again to nothing but agony, relentless and repeated... and then the crowning horror of shattered souls... spilling madness into the long, dark nights of hopeless horror. Pain and nothing more, chipping away at whatever was left, wearing me down toward nothing and nowhere. Vertigo, whirling out of control, time distorted, images flashing, then and now a confused blur, every shock and concussion the same... each devastating and all adding up onto one long plunge into hell... nightmarish... never-ending... garish and bizarre... insanity too stark to suffer or surmount. Michael from the beginning, and Michael now, at the end. No... can't give in, not now, no matter how hurt... can't let him win... can't surrender to the blessed relief of ending it all. Gave my all long ago... and what's left isn't enough... not when I've already taken more damage than anyone can endure... all in a losing cause. And now... feel so horrible... want to die...

[Faal Lot Himdah]

Merlin

BAM

Merlin's fist found itself a nice soft spot right in the side of a certain person. Enhanced with magic, the punch easily sent him towards a wall. Merlin's eyes where full of a rage worse than that of a demons, pure human rage.

"You seem to forget that there is another person here, who will not stand by quietly...." Merlin snarled

[Charlia]

Merlin

BAM

Merlin's fist found itself a nice soft spot right in the side of a certain person. Enhanced with magic, the punch easily sent him towards a wall. Merlin's eyes where full of a rage worse than that of a demons, pure human rage.

"You seem to forget that there is another person here, who will not stand by quietly...." Merlin snarled

Charlotte's eyes were closed tightly, but now they opened, and she smiled weakly, gratefully.

Then they widened in absolute horror as she saw something awful.

Michael, dazed, pushing himself away from the wall, and pointing a gun in Merlin's direction.

"I don't care whether you live or die," he said, trying to remain calm, "so either you get out of here, now, and leave this business between me and the girl, the way it should be, just the two of us as it always has been... or I kill you."

She didn't know how it happened. She was stunned.

No. He can't die.

She found herself on her knees, tears streaming from her eyes.

"No, Michael, please, don't hurt him! Please, you don't have to hurt him. It's not about him... It's not him you want..." She choked on her words. "It's me. And you can have me, just... just let him go, please... do whatever you want with me, but don't hurt him!" She knew what she had just promised. She knew what she would suffer.

But if it keeps Merlin safe... I can survive being used again, I can survive it forever if it keeps him safe.

[Luminesa]

Ichiru smiled at him over his shoulder, and answered, "Ah, nothing much. We've just all been talking. I suppose we're still all waiting for Matthew to greet us...or I am, anyway...How was your convention?"

Walter shrugged. "'Twas pretty good. I met someone who aside of being an enthusiast of Supernaturals, was also know the true knowledge about them, not the usual fictitious tale that kept being fed to the teen audience nowadays." He grimaced upon uttering the last part. "Where would you find a vampire that sparkles in broad daylight, after all?!", he complained. "I mean, seriously, sparkling?! My mother could write something better than that and she's six feet under!"

He shook his head vigorously. "It always irks me whenever someone feed lies about Supernatural creatures. Djinns that possess weapons and gave their master a grand strength boost through transformation, or Lucifer depicted through Draco-in-leather-pants portrayal. Ridiculous."

It seemed almost childish how he, an adult, and a Watcher too, fumed about "false information" concerning Supernaturals. "And they took me for a cosplayer of a-a... a Reaper! I never knew the Reaper - that's right, the, because there's only one Reaper I know - dresses like this! I should talk to Azrael some time."

Ichiru laughed a little, but then his expression became meditative as he thought of Walter's description. "...People are meant to rise toward the supernatural. All people are spiritual at heart...but it is hard, I suppose, for many these days to rise toward things so immaterial...God, Angels, spirits...We often, then, have a tendency to try and bring them toward ourselves...though some things we should not want to bring upon ourselves..." he explained, quietly, "vampires and demons being a couple of them..."

[Faal Lot Himdah]

Merlin

"It's ok Charlotte. I have a trick up my sleeve." Merlin said quietly as he started to walk towards Michael, "Sorry, but I made a promise. And I am bound to keep them. As long as I live, you will not harm her. As long as this heart beats and the blood is flowing, she is protected."

He opened a hand, and tried to call on magic to shield him. He stopped suddenly, and then the shot was heard.

BANG

Merlin fell to the ground, barely alive. Blood coming from his mouth, and around the bullet hole. The blood started to redden his clothes as he tried to figure out what happened.

[Charlia]

Merlin

"It's ok Charlotte. I have a trick up my sleeve." Merlin said quietly as he started to walk towards Michael, "Sorry, but I made a promise. And I am bound to keep them. As long as I live, you will not harm her. As long as this heart beats and the blood is flowing, she is protected."

He opened a hand, and tried to call on magic to shield him. He stopped suddenly, and then the shot was heard.

BANG

Merlin fell to the ground, barely alive. Blood coming from his mouth, and around the bullet hole. The blood started to redden his clothes as he tried to figure out what happened.

"Merlin? Merlin?!" she cried out. His eyes were unfocused. There was a warm liquid seeping through his shirt.

"...r-run..." he whispered.

Michael.

She was crying. She tore herself away from Merlin and did as he said--she ran.

Panic flooded through her as she found herself outside the door to the house. She only had a few seconds until Michael caught up, and she knew her way around in the house. But Michael knew it better--he would surely trap her inside.

But where else could she run?

What if he found her, and then--

"Hello Charlotte."

He grabbed her arm. She screamed, and slipped through his grasp, dashing inside.

"You can run, but you can't hide..."

How cliche.

Wait, am I really thinking about this?! Right now?! Oh, that's great.

Pausing in a moment of stupidity, she looked back, but he wasn't there.

He knocked her to the ground, and then she felt his lips pressing roughly against hers. He was kissing her, his hand slipping under her dress, resting briefly on her stomach, feeling her terrified breaths... Her skin crawled. She wanted him to stop touching her. She was scared, and that was what gave her power. She pushed him off her, and ran into another room, ducking down and hiding behind a chair.

The door opened a few moments later.

"You know, it isn't safe for a girl to walk alone by herself," he said mockingly. "Anything could happen to her..."

His footsteps echoed closer and closer, and she crawled away quietly, trying to avoid his view.

"Why don't you come out?" he asked. "We can... get to know each other again. It's been so long... Who knows? You might even enjoy it..." Then his eyes found her.

Her heart raced, pumped by the adrenaline flooding her system. She wanted to scream.

"W-why are you doing this? Y-you were supposed to t-take care of me..."

He rolled his eyes.

"Because I want to, and because I can. Do I need any more of a reason?"

With no time to lose, she ran, and he followed closely behind.

There was only one place left for her to go.

Racing up the dark stairwell, she didn't look back. She slammed the door to his bedroom behind her, slumping against it and panting.

Then the knob started turning, and he began to force the door open. There was nothing she could do but watch in terror.

"You know, you're really getting on my nerves, you little whore. And that hardly ever happens," he snarled.

"Y-you can stop this right now, Michael," she stammered, "you don't have to do this!"

He laughed. "Your naivete is astounding. Honestly, I thought you'd have learned by now... The end justifies the means, for me, as long as I get what I want... and I want you."

Chills ran up her spine. She couldn't comprehend the amount of evil he stated in just a few sentences. Her mind raced to figure out a way to escape. He would be in the room in a few seconds, she hardly had any time. But she was trapped, the only way out was the door and...

Her eyes darted to the window.

She unlocked it, pushing it open.

No, it was too high for anyone to climb down, they would surely fall. But she could fly!

He kicked the door open.

His eyes went to the window first. He walked over, looking outside, trying to spot the silhouette that would tell him she had flown away.

She crawled out from behind the bed.

"I won't let you touch me again."

She scrambled to her feet and lunged forwards.

The force of her hands knocked him through the open window, and he fell. Gravity did the rest, pulling his body down to earth as she watched in both awe and horror.

For a split second, their eyes met, and she smiled the way he used to smile at her, on every terrible night when he pinned her to the ground and used her so callously.

The surprise was clear on his face as he realized she'd beaten him at his own game.

Then his body hit the ground with a sickening crack.

She covered her eyes, disgusted at the sight of his death. Several bones were actually poking through his skin, and there was blood pooling around him.

He was definitely dead.

She had won.

All she could hear was the sound of her own breathing, and the howl of the cold wind.

She stared down at her hands in shock as she realized...

She'd committed murder...

Then she remembered.

"Merlin!"

She ran back to where he lay. How could she have left him?! What if he... She shivered at the thought.

Then she saw him.

"No--n-no--" She dropped to her knees beside him. He lay still, the blood already having dried into the ground. Could he be--

His eyes fluttered open, and he turned to look at her.

"...?"

"Merlin, you're going to be okay. Stay with me, okay? Stay with me!" Her hands were shaking. Every second that passed only made him lose more blood. She was sobbing. "...please... no... you can't die..."

[Faal Lot Himdah]

Merlin

"Charlotte...." Merlin said weakly as he touched her hand and smiled, "Have you overcome your past?"

[Charlia]

Merlin

"Charlotte...." Merlin said weakly as he touched her hand and smiled, "Have you overcome your past?"

"He's dead, Merlin," she replied softly, trying to keep composure. "I... I killed him. Please, you can't... you can't die... not now... not ever... People need you, Merlin... I need you... Please... don't go..." She tried to stop the bleeding, but she was no doctor. Unable to face the grim reality, she desperately continued trying to do whatever she could to save him. She couldn't let him die.

"Don't leave me," she cried urgently as she worked. "I... I love you... More than anything... I love you more than life... I'd do anything to keep you safe, please, isn't there anything... anything I can do... anything at all..."

[Faal Lot Himdah]

Merlin

"Let a dead man die." Merlin responded as he touched Charlotte's check, "Charlotte.... Stop.... It's to late.... I can feel my life slipping away... Don't guilt me into trying to stop the unstoppable force..... A person never truly dies.... Their soul lives on... Catholics in Heaven, Hell or Purgatory.... Or if you're Hindu or Buddhist.... Reborn or you escape the cycle of rebirth..." He coughed, "What I am saying is..... I will be safe.... And I will be with you..."

He closed his eyes, not quite dead, but on the ledge.

[Charlia]

Merlin

"Let a dead man die." Merlin responded as he touched Charlotte's check, "Charlotte.... Stop.... It's to late.... I can feel my life slipping away... Don't guilt me into trying to stop the unstoppable force..... A person never truly dies.... Their soul lives on... Catholics in Heaven, Hell or Purgatory.... Or if you're Hindu or Buddhist.... Reborn or you escape the cycle of rebirth..." He coughed, "What I am saying is..... I will be safe.... And I will be with you..."

He closed his eyes, not quite dead, but on the ledge.

"...Merlin..." she said quietly, unwilling to believe it. "Merlin... please talk to me... don't..."

His eyes were closed. He looked so peaceful... He didn't even really look dead, just... asleep.

When it registered with her, her heart broke.

"No. No... Merlin, c-come on, wake up, y-you're scaring me..."

He didn't respond.

"Merlin, please, please..."

She cradled his head in her arms, sobbing. Her body was numbing itself for all the pain that would hit her in a few moments.

"Merlin, this i-isn't funny anymore, w-wake up..."

Everything shattered.

"No... No..." she sobbed bitterly. "I'm sorry! Merlin, I'm so sorry! It's all my fault... If you hadn't been here, none of this would have happened... I'm sorry! I never--I never meant for you to get hurt--please... stop being dead... Merlin, please..."

Her voice quieted to a whisper.

"Please come back."

[Sindrya]

Walter shrugged. "'Twas pretty good. I met someone who aside of being an enthusiast of Supernaturals, was also know the true knowledge about them, not the usual fictitious tale that kept being fed to the teen audience nowadays." He grimaced upon uttering the last part. "Where would you find a vampire that sparkles in broad daylight, after all?!", he complained. "I mean, seriously, sparkling?! My mother could write something better than that and she's six feet under!"

He shook his head vigorously. "It always irks me whenever someone feed lies about Supernatural creatures. Djinns that possess weapons and gave their master a grand strength boost through transformation, or Lucifer depicted through Draco-in-leather-pants portrayal. Ridiculous."

It seemed almost childish how he, an adult, and a Watcher too, fumed about "false information" concerning Supernaturals. "And they took me for a cosplayer of a-a... a Reaper! I never knew the Reaper - that's right, the, because there's only one Reaper I know - dresses like this! I should talk to Azrael some time."

Ichiru laughed a little, but then his expression became meditative as he thought of Walter's description. "...People are meant to rise toward the supernatural. All people are spiritual at heart...but it is hard, I suppose, for many these days to rise toward things so immaterial...God, Angels, spirits...We often, then, have a tendency to try and bring them toward ourselves...though some things we should not want to bring upon ourselves..." he explained, quietly, "vampires and demons being a couple of them..."

"Still, I found it irksome for people to...", Walter shook his head silently, no longer continuing his rants.

"Well, enough of my rants.", he said, tapping his cane lightly on the ground. "I take it Master Matthew hadn't returned?"

He glanced at the direction of the young Watcher apprentice. Hm. Maybe I need to steal some more blueprints from Quartz later. Who knew, he might have a design for a growth spurt spray.

[Faal Lot Himdah]

Merlin

Merlin suddenly opened his eyes and kissed Charlotte. It was a fair length, not to long, but not to short. Once he was done he went back to resting.

"It's not your fault. I will have died protecting you. Heaven will no longer hunt you, and the only human that can cause you harm is gone. Demons won't dare try and touch you. You are free." Merlin smiled, "So... How about you let me die?"

He didn't give her time to respond before he stopped breathing.

[Luminesa]

Ichiru laughed a little, but then his expression became meditative as he thought of Walter's description. "...People are meant to rise toward the supernatural. All people are spiritual at heart...but it is hard, I suppose, for many these days to rise toward things so immaterial...God, Angels, spirits...We often, then, have a tendency to try and bring them toward ourselves...though some things we should not want to bring upon ourselves..." he explained, quietly, "vampires and demons being a couple of them..."

"Still, I found it irksome for people to...", Walter shook his head silently, no longer continuing his rants.

"Well, enough of my rants.", he said, tapping his cane lightly on the ground. "I take it Master Matthew hadn't returned?"

He glanced at the direction of the young Watcher apprentice. Hm. Maybe I need to steal some more blueprints from Quartz later. Who knew, he might have a design for a growth spurt spray.

"No, he hasn't. I believe he is still with that goddess we met earlier?...Yes, I believe so. And Seren as well, I think...But anyway, you do not have to worry about ranting to us. I talk a bit too much myself, I suppose," Ichiru replied, looking around.

I really do need to get acquainted with Matthew...after all, I do not believe we have stopped to talk even once...I certainly hope he is alright... he thought, slightly troubled.

[Charlia]

Merlin

Merlin suddenly opened his eyes and kissed Charlotte. It was a fair length, not to long, but not to short. Once he was done he went back to resting.

"It's not your fault. I will have died protecting you. Heaven will no longer hunt you, and the only human that can cause you harm is gone. Demons won't dare try and touch you. You are free." Merlin smiled, "So... How about you let me die?"

He didn't give her time to respond before he stopped breathing.

She was struck dumb by the kiss.

It wasn't something she'd ever felt before.

She'd been conditioned to believe that kisses were cold, rough, and unloving. That was all she'd ever known.

What Merlin had done...

It didn't make her feel afraid, or sad, or ashamed. It made her feel... loved.

And then he was simply... gone.

Her heart felt like it was going to stop beating. Her eyes were terrifyingly dry. She just sat there, still holding Merlin's body, pressing his hand against her face, trying to be strong.

She felt so miserable.

She had been so happy. And then it was all torn away in the blink of an eye.

Michael's finger had moved half an inch, and the joy she had found was... gone.

She couldn't believe he was gone. She wanted to die.

Why wasn't it me? It should have been me.

I told him not to come... I told him it would be dangerous...

And now he's gone...

The fact that his killer had been killed brought her no satisfaction. The fact that she had avenged her pain and Merlin's death brought her no happiness.

She was purely and utterly without joy. Without hope.

She was... even... angry.

She stared up at the sky and found herself shouting, rage and despair filling her voice.

"Why did You let this happen?! How could You let someone like Michael... just murder someone like Merlin, whose only crime was being kind?! Whose only crime was standing by me?! If You had to take someone's life, why wasn't it mine? The world... It doesn't need me... But it needs Merlin! People need him! And You let him die!"

She bowed her head, holding his body closer, trying to find some small comfort... But she couldn't. All she could find was despair.

Everything I touch burns.

Oh, Merlin...

I'm sorry... I'm so, so sorry...

...Merlin...

She began to speak quietly, hoping that wherever he was, he could hear her.

"Merlin, I know you asked me to just let you die. But I just have one last thing to say to you, and I hope you can hear me... wherever you are. I already said this, but... I love you. My life being the way it is, I'm not even sure what that means... Several things, I guess. At first I just admired your spirit. After someone like Michael, who only cared about me because... well, you know... meeting someone like you, someone who didn't look at me for my appearance but for who I am inside... it was like... like healing ointment for my wounded soul. I know that sounds ridiculous, but... it's true. And you think about defending those who can't defend themselves. I saw for myself how much you care about others. I witnessed your fierce loyalty to those who depend on you for survival. You're a leader, a champion. And somehow you managed to believe in the impossible, that my worthless, damaged and broken body could somehow hold a priceless soul... You risked your life again and again. You allowed yourself to be imprisoned, you walked straight into the gates of Heaven and were willing to battle the angels themselves, you stood before a demon in human's guise... for what? For someone else. Always for someone else. And now..."

She would have wept again, had she been able to.

"Merlin, love like yours is so rare. I wanted to love like you do. I wanted to show you the same kind of love, to return it with all my heart." Her voice cracked. "But now... now you're gone... and I guess all that's left to say is... thank you for what you did for me... and I love you... and I'll see you when my journey on this lonely earth comes to an end..."

The world tilted, and blurred as she quietly, mercifully, blacked out, still holding Merlin tightly.

The blackness overtook her, and she knew nothing more.