A loud thud resonated in the library as Emrys slammed a book atop a pile of the ones he'd read. He sat swamped in dust and papers filled with endless ink.

The more blood he drank, the easier learning became and the fonder of reading he got.

With Adaliah disappearing for long lapses of time, he had nothing else to do anyway. When she was present, she made sure to feed him, teach him, and walk with him around the castle.

Emrys appreciated every moment they spent together. Though, it frustrated him that she was keeping him at arm's length. She was the reason he held on to his second chance at life after all.

However, he gave her time, waiting for her to come to him on her own. 

With a heavy sigh, he skimmed through a new book that spoke of flowers and their types. He flipped the pages, only pausing to read the information scribbled beside pictures of every red flower. When he saw her eyes in their petals, he huffed and slammed the book shut.

Emrys decided to reread one of his favorites. He was engrossed in history and presumed that his interest stemmed from having not learned much in his first life and then missing a whole century while buried in a cave.

For instance, and this was what he found most intriguing, the history of Dragons. They were the first rulers of Ducriedan. They were huge, majestic, and lethal creatures. Emrys was fascinated as he feasted on what little pictures the book had.

They reigned over lands for thousands of years and resided in the mountains of Ducriedan that were so high they pierced the skies and were swallowed in endless mist.

However, a millennia ago, they stopped existing. They perished with the climax of civil wars. Nothing was known about what truly took place except that Asgorath, their goddess and ruler, had disappeared with them and everyone simply assumed that the mighty creatures have gone extinct.

Then, the lands of Ducreidan were soon fought over, first by creatures of magic while humans were busy replenishing and rebuilding. However, it didn't take long for them to join the wars.

Witchcraft peaked during that period so much that it entailed the interference of Hecate herself. Though, oddly enough, nothing else was mentioned in the books regarding that.

Bloodshed after bloodshed and the lands were split into the kingdoms that exist right now – Hothington, Ostrines, Petrein, and Vuscye.

All four of them stretched wide and had no common borders...except one land that connected them all. One that was left unclaimed, neutral grounds belonging to neither of the kingdoms surrounding it.

Uthain.

However, that didn't prevent tension from arising, especially from Hothington which had been undergoing civil unrest for a while now and rumors have spread about a new king rising to reign soon.

Emrys tapped his chin, assuming that the fresh information scribbled in the book was Adaliah's doing. Otherwise, how could it be up to date?

His gaze flickered to the silver cover of an empty book that was supposed to contain information about Lycans but remained empty before a yawn disturbed the looming silence. He stretched and stood up. When he turned around, Adaliah was standing in the doorway.

He blinked in surprise. 

She stood immobile, her figure swathed in darkness, and her eyes dull.  

"Walk with me, Emrys."

Alerted by the flatness of her tone when she spoke, he approached her with measured steps and offered his elbow where her hand slipped. 

Then, they departed.

 Both walked in utter silence. Light steps echoed in the halls and down the stairs. Silver shied away from the windows and the flames shrunk in size as they passed.

Emrys put his other hand atop hers and guided them out to the gardens for some fresh air.

The barrenness of the lands and the scattered debris of the crumbled walls didn't alleviate the mood. However, the chilly breeze ruffled their raven strands and teased their faces.

Her gaze followed his feet as he kicked pebbles that covered their paths, the childish action tugging at her heart. Adaliah steered them deeper into the gardens and they walked until they reached a dilapidated fountain. 

With a quiet sigh, she stepped away from him and closer to the ruins before them. Emrys watched her fingers flicker until red mist covered her hands, swirled, spread, and enveloped the fountain.

Then, piece by piece, the rubble rose high and returned to its place. In a few heartbeats, the fountain was back in a pristine state, as if it was never broken. With a snap of her fingers, water burbled as it flowed out, cascading in slow, hypnotic streams.

Adaliah watched the shimmering surface, lost in the thoughts plaguing her mind.

Her name slipped out of his mouth in a soft murmur. She hummed in response, still not looking his way. Emrys stepped closer to her, their shoulders almost touching.

He called again.

Balling her fists, she bit down on her lip. Tears almost welled up in her eyes but she fought them back. "You know, Emrys," her voice wavered, "Death is not the greatest loss in life. The greatest loss is what dies inside us while we live," her eyes met his, "and my will to live died a long, long time ago."

His fingers reached for her hand beside him, slipping through hers. He said nothing. Tonight, he was going to listen.

"I cannot die." Her gaze followed the rippling water. "You asked me who I am before, do you remember?" He nodded. "Well," she inhaled deeply. "I am Adaliah, the harbinger of death, the queen of darkness," her voice shook, "the destroyer of everything and anything good."

Tension gripped his limbs and his grip tightened.

"I am not only the princess but also the goddess of the dark side of the moon. No matter how much I wish or try...I cannot die." She cleared her throat and straightened her back. When she spoke again, her voice was firmer. "I cannot die."

Emrys clasped her shoulders and gently turned her toward him. His eyes bore into hers. "I don't care who you are, Adaliah. You're my savior, my companion, my mentor...and I can't fathom this life without you."

Her lips wobbled. Her heart stuttered.

"Are you not afraid of me, Emrys?"

"No. Never." His hands cupped her face, fingers like feathers grazing her skin. "I have seen you before. In my dreams. Every night, every time I closed my eyes, you were there. Breathtaking, captivating, ethereal. Yet, scarlet tears always hung to your lashes."

Her shaky breaths pierced his chest, harder than Veles did. His scar throbbed.

"You always looked sad to me, Adaliah. Lonely. I simply wished to hold your hand...hug you. I wanted to comfort you. So, no, I'm not afraid of you. I can never be. I have been waiting for you since the moment I opened my eyes." He pressed his forehead to hers. "A goddess, a princess, a peasant, or death itself, I don't care. To me, you're simply Adaliah. My Adaliah."

The tears she's been holding back finally slithered down, burning in their descent. Quickly, her hands covered her face as her body trembled with quiet sobs. He held her tight and secure against his chest, his fingers combing through her hair and rubbing down her back as he murmured in her ear.

She had been too wrapped up in her isolophilia that her mind had no choice but to conjure dark thoughts that slowly swallowed her whole until she believed them true.

Because,and both of them knew, that it wasn't death that she sought but rather life.

Adaliah simply wished to live.

Word count: 1289.

Total word count: 19249.

MEANING OF THE WORDS USED:

Isolophilia is a strong affection for solitude, being alone.