I procrastinated finishing this drawing for like 4 days because it hurt so much to look at lmao.

Alastor's POV

With each word the priest chanted, I felt a bit of myself chip away. A bit of my soul...whatever is left of it, anyway.

My eyes opened, and I looked straight forward at Rosaline. My flower...

I never should have made her a part of my mess. All of this, everything that's happening is a consequence of my actions.

All of my mistakes...

Have led me right here.

In that moment I realized...I truly deserve this. I have been killing the one woman I could say with confidence I am completely in love with. I lied to Rosaline...I lied to Aria...

I'm a liar. I'm a serial killer. I was foolish to believe I deserve anything other than...darkness.

Once I'm dead...dead for good...that will grant her the freedom she deserves. I kept a small smile on my face.

"By the power of God!" The priest started in English, and my eyebrows raised slightly. My heart beat just a little bit faster and I braced myself.

I'm scared...

"I condemn you back to hell."

My eyes shut tightly, and I heard the shot before I felt it. I was expecting my world to cease, I was expecting to feel the pain.

But all that seemed to happen was a sharp gasp. I opened my eyes, looking at Jake. He was still restraining my right arm, but there was a look of pure horror on his face.

"Aria!" He let out, sounding distraught. No...

I looked back in front of me just in time to see her crumple to the floor.

She just took a bullet for me...even after learning what I've been doing to her.

I felt a sudden burst of energy as panic struck through my heart. A growl tore through my throat and Rosaline's eyes widened.

"That was my last bullet..." she breathed out, and terror filled her wide eyes as she looked at me. In one swift motion, I threw the priest from my arm. He hit the stair banister and there was a sick crack before his body fell to the floor, motionless.

There's one imbecile down.

I snarled, turning to Jake, and his eyes widened. I could practically feel the fear rolling off of him and my smile widened as I raised my hand and extended my claws.

There was a gasp and a cry, and I froze. I glanced over at Eliot, and he was fully sobbing.

He let her go...

He didn't have to do that. He knew there was no saving her...he knew she made her own choice...

He's already losing two friends today...

My eyes went back to Jake. My look that had softened quickly hardened and I growled. Instead of ripping him to pieces, I backhanded him.

He hit the wall and slumped to the floor. I would have loved to shred him...but knocking him out will have to suffice.

I looked to Eliot and his eyes widened in terror as he took a step back. My eyes shifted to Aria, then, and quickly I went towards her.

Without those damn Holy bullets, Rosaline was defenseless. She was standing a few feet away, just watching and trembling.

I'm not focused on anything except Aria...

My Aria...

Gently, I picked her up. She had been hit in the stomach, and it was bleeding profusely.

She's not going to last much longer...

I want to be alone...with her.

So I took us to the only place I knew they wouldn't find us. The world around me faded and reformed into the attic.

I sat on my knees, just holding Aria close to me. I could feel the lump forming in my throat and my eyes burned as I fought away the tears.

Her skin was pale, and her breathing was shallow. She coughed, and her eyes barely opened before training onto me.

She smiled weakly, blood coating her teeth.

"Hey..." she said, her voice sounding strained. She wheezed softly and then coughed again.

I shook my head and brushed her hair back, "I never should have lied to you..." I said, my voice trembling, "I am so sorry..."

She hummed and blinked slowly, her weak smile remaining.

"I probably would h-have done the same thing..." she said. Her breathing was labored and I could tell she was in a lot of pain.

My chest hurt as I remembered the curse. The curse that Rosaline put onto Aria. At the time, it didn't exactly bother me...I thought I'd be gone.

But I'll still be here...

She won't remember me.

"Aria..." I started and her eyes shifted to me, "why would you do that...it would have been much easier on you to just let me die, but...I..." I shook my head and bit my lip.

She chuckled, and then coughed. Blood seeped from her mouth, and she smiled a bit wider.

"You dumbass..." she wheezed softly, "I couldn't just let you die..." she opened her eyes a bit more. I stared into those pools of caramel and honey.

Heaven.

"Alastor..." she said, and I squeezed her hand.

"Yes...?" I responded, and I watched her eyes fill with tears.

"I love you, too," she choked out, and I felt my heart shatter.

Her lip trembled heavily and the tears fell off her face in large droplets.

"I'm scared..." she said, and quickly I felt the need to ease her nerves.

"Darling, there's nothing to be afraid of," I said softly with a smile, "please, don't be frightened...I will find you..."

"But I-I won't...I won't know you anymore," she sobbed softly, "it's not fair..." she whimpered and I shook my head.

"Shhh...shh...it's ok. A curse can be broken, my love..." I reassured her, but deep down I know.

As soon as she goes down to hell, she will wander off. Into the streets...into the inferno I call home.

Cold...scared...and alone.

It will tear her to pieces.

She wasn't made for hell, that's the main reason I didn't want her to go. With me, she'd have been safe...

Tears burned my eyes, but I needed to keep myself together for her.

She looked up at me, her body feeling light in my arms. Tears streaked her face, and I gently wiped them away.

"No more tears..." I whispered, "let me see that pretty smile..." I requested, gently brushing my fingers across her cheek. With the strength she had left, she gave me a little smile.

"There it is...now...give me a hug, honey," I said, and pulled her up into my chest, wrapping my arms around her upper back.

I should have done this a long time ago...

She weakly wrapped her arms around me, and tears finally brimmed in my eyes now that I was out of her sight.

I tightened my hold on her.

I'll make the pain go away...I just need one more minute.

"I'll meet you down there...ok?" I said, my voice trembling just slightly. She wheezed quietly and hugged me a bit tighter.

"Promise?" She uttered, her voice sounding weak and tiny.

Just one more lie...to ease her nerves.

"Promise..." I replied, and squeezed her lovingly, burying my nose into her hair.

"I love you..." I said quickly before tightening my hold on her fatally. I felt her back give in with a sickening crack, and then her entire body went limp in my arms.

There was a moment where all I could do was cradle her. Her head rested against my shoulder and I could feel my body trembling.

Tears were flowing from my eyes and I tried to tune into her heartbeat. Just one last time...

But all I received was silence.

"No..." I choked out, realization setting in. A sob escapade me and I just hugged her, rocking back and forth.

"No, no, no..." I sobbed into her shoulder. I clutched her body as heavy, broken cries left my throat.

"My peu d'amour, I'm so sorry!" I exclaimed, lamenting her death deeply.

It wasn't meant to be like this...

Her giggle, her smile, her smell, her jokes...her teasing nature, and the way she walks...everything about her flooded through my head at the sudden realization that I may never again get any of it.

Suddenly, I felt as if I took our time for granted. I was selfish until the end...if I had just taken her when she asked me to, none of this would have happened.

I pulled her away from me gently, and looked down at her peaceful face as I cradled her in my arms

Blood leaked from her mouth and nose, dried tears staining her cheeks. If I didn't know any better...I'd think she was simply just sleeping.

My chest heaved with sobs as a heavy grief weighed down on my heart.

I brought her closer to me and kissed her lips. Every ounce of me believed she would kiss me back. She would wake up and this would all be a bad dream, and we could go out into town...

Up to the lookout.

I could watch her get into mischief with Eliot...or even just get into mischief by herself.

But she didn't. She stayed deathly still...limp against my hold. Why does this feel so familiar...

My forehead laid against hers, and I sniffled as I held back more tears. Then I opened my eyes, and felt the ice begin to set back into my heart.

Using one arm to hold her, I placed my other hand against the wooden attic floor. My expression fell blank, my cheeks feeling hot from crying.

Heat erupted from my palm and I looked around. All of my belongings...

They can all go burn.

No one will ever discover this place again. No one will ever step foot in my house again. None will ever compare to her, and nor will I allow them to even try.

Fire crawled from my hand, across the dry wood. It caught easily, and quickly.

The wound in my chest had finally begun to heal. I stood up, holding my love close to me, cradling her in my arms.

I teleported back down into the hallway beneath the attic. I could hear shouting coming from the foyer where they tried to kill me.

Slowly I walked out, and at the sound of my steps all the voices quieted. All eyes were on me as I entered the front hallway.

Rosaline had once again become a small, frail old woman. The spell she cast to make herself younger seems to have worn off. Jake had her back against a wall.

Eliot was trying to pull him away from her. The priest was dead, I had killed him in my rage.

I'm not fucking sorry about it.

I wore my signature smile as I slowly walked towards them. Jake turned to me, and his eyes fell on the body in my arms.

His jaw tensed and he clenched his fists. His eyes shifted back up to me, brimming with tears. The soft click of my shoes came to a stop as I stood directly in front of him.

He looked up at me, not saying a single word. Silently, I handed Aria to him. He took her, cradling her just as I was.

His eyes trained down as he tilted his head down to look at her. For a moment that hard exterior he wears cracked and his lip trembled.

Quickly he shut his eyes, tears falling from his lashes as he restored his expression and looked back to me.

"Take care of her." I said.

"I always have." He replied coldly, and took a step back. My eyes shifted to Eliot and he had one hand over his mouth. His eyes were bloodshot and he had tears free falling down his cheeks.

I brushed past Jake and walked over to Eliot. His eyes tore away from Jake and up to me. I stopped in front of him and he was trembling heavily.

The old woman against the wall didn't dare speak or move.

I lifted my hand and he flinched, shutting his eyes tightly. When I laid it onto his head, gently ruffling out his blond curls, he opened his eyes.

His expression relaxed slightly and he looked up at me.

"Goodbye, kid," I said softly. Then I turned to Rosaline.

"I'm sorry...I should have been there for you." I said to her, and she stared back at me. Seeing her covered in wrinkles didn't stray the fact that I knew from the day I met her that she was familiar to me.

I wish I could've realized sooner...

Because now all I see is that terrified little girl.

With that I turned and headed to the middle of the foyer. The house creaked just before the floor above us gave way slightly, smoke pooling out.

Quickly, Jake gathered Rosaline and Eliot, ushering them past me towards the door.

I watched as my house began to fall around me. Fire quickly spread down the stairs. I looked over and saw the memory of her teetering over the railing before I caught her.

My smile lessened into a soft grin.

"I'll find you, my love..." I uttered, watching the staircase collapse, taking the memory with it.

The entire house groaned, the old wood beginning to splinter and pop. The fire consumed me, but as a demon I didn't feel a thing.

I prepared to return to hell, knowing I would have a long time of searching ahead of me.

I will find her. Whether she remembers me...or if she doesn't.

"Wait for me."

**

Haunted: Alastor x OC

By: Whatevers_whatev