His mouth went dry but it didn't matter, if he could say something it would changenothing.
Some sighs finally escaped from the deep of his throat and then it became louder until it turned into blaring. And then it grew into an agony, a hideous torture. A stinging rain fell from his eyes on the girl's hair as he pulled her closer, shattering on the floor. He held her the same way the child holds the dearest thing to their heart and swears to never let it go. He held her with such an intensity as someone could hold only the most important soul in their life. As if it matters…As if it could cross out the fact that he killed her. He took her soul. Her heart. He absolutely destroyed everything in her. His body burned in throes while she was colder than a winter night.
The stars faded as the sunrise finally spread its color over the sky. Andthiswas much more terrible – the touch of the sun seemed like heaven to him right now.
The blood on her neck, at her shoulders, her blood smudged all over his lips, everything burned red.What has he done?
Instead of her heartbeat – absolute silence. It echoed from the walls right into his mind. A burning pain. All that remained. After a minute. After two…And after one more it didn't leave him as well. His head fell onto hers, his chin burying in her hair; it still smelled like violets. His brows knitted one more time.
His curse was not his mask after all. This was much more painful. Out of all losses. Out of all centuries. Such an empty hole inside his chest.
The hoarse sigh left his mouth. His gaze raised to the hourglass on the table across the room. His eyes flashed in the darkness – a spark of determination, not hope. Hope was too weak with what he was about to do. If it will not work he–No. There was noif.
He stood up and strode to the hourglass with blue sand. If it was truly magical, it would fix everything. Not him, of course. After all, it turned out, he wasremediless.
He broke the glass the same way he was determined to break time. If the legend was right the grains of this sand will turn him back to the moment of his biggest regret. If the legend was right the grains of this sand will get her back. Back tohim.
He sat once again beside the girl, pressing her to his chest. Her still body was becoming colder with every second. His hand squeezed a pile of magic dust tingling his skin.
“We'll meet again, Little Witch,” he whispered, pressing a gentle kiss to her nape and closing his eyes. If fate will be kind enough to her…to him – he'll see her in a second. Just a short moment of time. Like nothing happened.
Chapter 40
ONE MORE CHANCE
Awhite crystalline flake flurried before Violette's eyes.
“Dante, are you coming?” she called.
The vampire turned his head. And there she was – standing near the grotto. Violette.Alive. And if her friendly face and soft smile was not evidence of it then her calm heartbeat, which he could hear from miles away, was. He took a deep breath and closed his eyes for a second – he didn't have another chance to save her, he had to do everything to prevent her death.
Dante came closer. The smile still danced on Violette’s lips, her brows raised with curiosity. Then her forehead slightly creased, something was off – the way he looked at her, the way his brows pulled down.
“Is something wrong?” she gently asked, her head tilted to the side, noticing something strange in his eyes she'd never seen before, but he didn't give her time to think about it. Before she could see the pain in his eyes it darkened, and his face sharpened.
“No…I was thinking,” he said hoarsely, “you shouldn't come with me.”
“What? Why?” Her brows knitted, the smile waned weaker, taking it as one of his tricks.
“You better leave.” His voice was cold like falling snow.
Violette’s smile slowly faded away.
“What do you mean? What happened?”
“You fulfilled your part of the deal and you have the cure – you are free to go. There is no need to accompany me,” he said soullessly.
“Are you joking right now?” She tried to pull a smile back. “I don't think it's funny…but if you think so–”
“I'm being serious. I don't want you here,” he pressed firmly.
“What? Dante, I don't understand you…What happened? I thought–”
He cut her off, “Thought what?” His voice became much more cruel and sharper, piercing under her skin as a dagger, slowly going deeper and deeper to reach the most sensitive part of her heart.
“Don't be that rude,” she frowned. “I don't understand why you're acting like this…” A confusion crept under her skin.
“And what did you expect me to act like? I'm not a hero of your little stories and can't follow your fantasies.”
