Editing Tears of a Fallen Crown:Characters:Mirage:History (section)

==Chapter 4:  A Ghost and a Conscience==


“NO!  CALEB!”  She screamed, knowing her emotions were back now, at least temporarily.  She felt tears suddenly pouring down her cheeks and a sickening fear settling in her belly.  


Samira knew what she would find in the room before she got there.  Caleb had done what he said he would do.  There was an elaborate dagger sticking out of his stomach, and he was staring blankly at the ceiling.  The fey noble, Miana, was licking the blood off the corners of his mouth, as though trying to steal the last bit of warmth from him, before throwing him roughly down upon seeing Samira in the doorway.  She grinned sickly – but her expression changed from cruel joy to horrific fear in an instant as she gazed at the mark on Samira’s forehead.  


“WAIT!”  She screamed, backing away from Caleb’s body swiftly.  She almost reached for the dagger still in his stomach, but upon seeing Samira’s eyes narrow as she did so, she seemed to think better of it and desperately fumbled for words, “I didn’t…he killed himself…I was only going to-”


Before she could say another word, Samira was on her, slicing with the sword until Miana was barely recognizable in form.  It was as though someone else was doing the attacking; she both loved and hated it at the same time.  Revenge felt better than she imagined it could, and yet it now felt pointless as well.  She felt her pulse racing with the thrill of the kill, but at the cost of Caleb’s life, the revenge still didn’t satisfy her thirst.  


She collapsed in exhaustion next to Caleb’s body, Miana’s blood all over her hands.  She cradled him in her arms and wept for what felt like an eternity.  She didn’t know if it was just the blood’s effect on her, but she could feel all of her emotions at once, and all of them seemed to bring more pain.  


“I’m so sorry, Caleb.”  She moaned, “I wish I could’ve told you how I felt about you before you died.  I LOVE YOU!”  She kissed his now cold lips, but that seemed to make it worse.


Suddenly, just when she thought she had no hope, she heard a soft and familiar voice whisper in her ear, “I love you too.”


Caleb’s ghost had been there the entire time, with his arms around her, and yet she hadn’t even noticed him.  He smiled and said slowly, “I know you tried to save me and its okay.  I really am better off this way than becoming what she was going to make me.  I’m afraid she did rob me a few emotions though.”


Samira felt the effect of the blood wearing off, but she still couldn’t help but to be relieved.  “Caleb,” She said in barely a whisper, “I’m afraid I’m not the same person you loved before.  I’ve changed too.  The fey stole most of my heart away.  All of the ideals I used to have are gone.  I’ll understand if you don’t want to be with me anymore.  I…I’ve done so many horrible things and these powers I have are dark.”


He smiled and said, “I don’t care what you’ve become, as long as you don’t care what I’ve become.  Besides, I sort of bonded myself to you, so I can be here as long as you’ll have me.”  


“Really?  But what if I become some sort of monster?”  Samira was already scared of herself, and it carried over a bit in her voice.


Caleb laughed and said, “Then I shall have to become your conscience.”  


The effects of the blood wore off, but her attachment to Caleb, thankfully, did not.