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Description
Burning Vengeance
Written by: Ashen Ravenwing

Abyss stood against the wall, arms folded lightly across his chest as he looked out the hospital window onto the rainy world. The storm had rolled in an hour or so earlier and had picked up strength. He glanced over at hearing a rustle beside him, blinking softly at Simles’ young daughter Veps who was busy listening to music on her headphones and drawing on a few scraps of paper they’d managed to round up to keep her preoccupied. His spliced eyes then flickered towards the other two females in the room, Simle and Semema. Hauk’s daughter still sat beside him, tenderly holding his hand while Simle sat in the seat Abyss had been in earlier. He felt she needed the seat more then him. It had been a few hours since their arrival, and the night was dragging on… It was already past midnight and Hauk had yet to stir from his unconscious slumber. The silence made the hybrid edgy and he shifted his weight to the other leg, looking back out the window into a world so dark and cold and washed out, that it was the perfect reflection of his innermost self. He was to blame… It was his fault that Hauk had come to the wedding in the first place… His fault that the dragonelf had stood up for him… His fault that he had decided to go to the club that night and that Hauk was lying in this hospital now, only half alive… because of him. Damn Hauk’s stubborn pride… Damn him for being such a good friend when Abyss was so unworthy of him. And damn himself for yet again not being able to protect the one he loved the most.

The hybrid lightly slammed his fist against the windowpane, breaking the silence as the two older females looked at him in surprise. Abyssinian dipped his head in apology, looking at Hauk as if afraid he’d disturbed him after he’d promised the doctor he wouldn’t. The hospital was being extremely kind, letting them all stay for one night just in case Hauk woke up. Abyss stared intently at his beloved, not caring what Simle thought about his feelings for the dragonelf… Tuning out the anger he could feel coming off Semema. He could feel that, despite herself, she blamed him for what had happened. Abyss didn’t judge her for it though. He felt he was the one to blame as well. Not so much for what had happened, but for not being there to prevent it. Then again, Alec and his boys must have been waiting for him to leave his mate alone… Like true predators; waiting for the moment of absolute weakness before going in for the kill. It infuriated him. It was then that he made his decision. He’d be damned if he just stood there and did nothing… Not this time.

“Simle, Semema… I have something I have to do. Watch over him until I get back ok? Call me on my cell if anything changes.”

The older dragonelf nodded softly, her brows furrowing at why Abyss would suddenly depart. Semema watched the hybrid carefully as he jotted his number down on the dry erase board and walked to the side of the bed Simle was on to lovingly brush back Hauk’s bangs. Abyss’ eyes held sad warmth and she could tell he wanted to kiss him, but wouldn’t dare. The young females ears perked at hearing the larger male whisper to her father, ‘Please don’t hold against me what it is I have to do…’ She turned in her seat, watching him grab his coat and head out the door into the storm. Semema frowned and whispered to herself.

“…Be careful out there Abyss… Don’t loose yourself in the darkness…”

At Abyssinian’s Private Loft…

Abyss shook the rain from his head, looking around his dark living room. He headed to the kitchen and pulled out an old address book, flipping through it until his eyes found the name he was looking for. …Alec… His lips pulled back in a silent snarl of malice as he ripped the address from the book and shoved it in his pocket. He walked back into his bedroom, opening up the drawer on his nightstand and gazing down at the polished black barrel that lay nestled in the darkness. He closed his eyes as his paw ran in a delicate caress across the firearm, letting out a shuddering sigh as his gaze flickered to the small shrine on his dresser. Diana’s beautiful lilac eyes stared into him, always watching him, always whispering to him. He shivered and picked up the gun, bringing it to the shrine and setting it down in front of his wife’s photo. He lit the two teacup candles on either side and placed his paws on the dresser, bowing his head and trembling as he prayed aloud.

“…Forgive me Di… I’ve tried so hard to hold back… for you. I know you never liked my violent side, but I love him, you know I do. Give me your blessing babe, please… I beg you. Give me the strength to do what it is I know I have to… I have suffered too long, and I am finally finding happiness again. I know it’s because you’ve let me, so please… Diana please… Don’t think any less of me for this… I do it for you, as much as I do it for Lysander… and Hauk. My love binds me to you all… and I will do what it takes to ensure I can at least protect him. I-I’m so sorry I couldn’t protect you though!”

He bowed his head more, feeling the tears slip down his cheeks, anguish over taking him. He laughed harshly, looking back at the portrait of his beautiful wife through his tears.

“I-it’s no wonder he teases me so much… I’m such an emotional baby. I know you would have agreed Di… You’re both so much alike… I see so much of you in Hauk… Maybe that’s what made me fall in love again. He opened up my heart without even trying, just as you did when we first met… Do you remember Diana?”

Abyss smiled tenderly, lifting a paw to caress the photo. A cool breeze blew in through the curtains, making the flames flicker then burn steady again, the shifting light causing the polished gun shimmer. Abyssinian sighed, nodding softly.

“Thank you my love… I promise not to put this gift to shame. I’ll avenge you my dearest… but first… I have to take care of the one I still can… I won’t loose him Di… I promise.”

With that, Abyss turned, tucking the gun into the same pocket the address was in and he blew out the candles, heading back out into the wet night.

Alec’s House, 1 a.m. …

The house was dark and quiet, as is typical of a setting wrapped in the comforts of slumber. Abyssinian, though large, moved with the silence and grace of a shadow. He passed the living room and made his way back into the bedroom he knew he’d find Alec and Katlyn in. As he stood in the doorway, staring at their sleeping forms, he almost felt a pang of envy. Why could they be so happy when he could not? Why was it, he wondered as he stepped to Alec’s side of the bed, that this cowardly, deceitful bastard was allowed to sleep peacefully wrapped in the arms of his lover? Why was he allowed all that Abyss was not?

The hybrid grit his teeth, fangs bared as he hopped onto the bed, crouching over his sleeping cousin in-law. He set his eyes as he lifted a paw to smack him awake hard. Alec woke with a start and yelled at seeing Abyss over him, eyes ominous and wings spread like a perched demon over its prey. He gagged as Abyss slammed his paw down against his throat, digging his sharp claws in and choking off his air supply enough so that he couldn’t scream. Katlyn stirred and blinked awake, gasping as she pulled away from the murderous looking hybrid. She drew in a deep breath, ready to scream when Abyss suddenly drew his gun and pressed it hard between Alec’s startled eyes. The larger male cast a sidelong glance and shook his head slightly.

“Not a word out of you, bitch… Or your pretty hubby’s brains are going to make quite a mess all over your white silk linens… Got it?”

Katlyn whimpered, her trembling paw lifting to her mouth and tears in her eyes, but she nodded, staying silent.

Abyss hated that look… Diana had given it to him the night he’d come home after permanently disabling the male that had attempted to rape her earlier that night. She’d always been against violence, despite harm that may have come to her. Abyss had lost it tho, his uncle, Kharl having to restrain him before he’d decapitated to fiendish male.

He looked back at Alec, seeing the terrified feline staring up at him in horror. Abyssinian couldn’t hide the cruel, satisfied grin that slid over his lips. It had been a long time since he’d let out this side of him. The part of him his ‘father’ had loved the most… Abyss the deadly… He was created originally to be a homicidal weapon… so why fight what was in his nature, right?

“Oh… If you could see your face right now Alec. Tell me, did Hauk look as horrified when you and your boys tag teamed him last night? Or did he have more dignity in his pride and stand tall, fight back, even smile at your threats? I think he did… I think that’s why you hit him so hard in the face… Hah… you’re such a bloody coward Alec. First to go after Hauk to get to me instead of just coming for your real target… And then to bring help too, cause you can’t fight him on your own. Gods… You’re pathetic, you spoiled brat.”

He loosened up on Alec’s throat so he could breathe but he pressed the barrel harder against his brow to silently warn him not to talk. Alec panted, but stayed rigid, staring up at the hybrid.

“How dare you, you slime… How dare you TOUCH Hauk! Just because he injured your pride as much as your arm, that gives you no right to nearly kill him! I should just pull this trigger right now!”

Abyss tightened his grip, letting out a vicious hiss of spite and both Alec and Katlyn let out a soft cry of fear. He tilted his head to the side, leaning in close to his estranged cousin so that they were nearly nose to nose.

“I never killed Diana you prick… My father did… Murdered her in cold blood to send a message to me… Just as you tried to do to Hauk… I hold you in the same light as him, and believe me when I say… I will KILL him, Alec. I’m not so much better then him that I’d rise above murder if I felt the situation called for it. ANGEL took my first love from me… and you had the balls to try and take my second…Heh… I never pinned you as one for a death wish…”

Alec swallowed hard, his lip trembling in mortal fear.

“You want so badly for your actions to be justified. You wanted to hurt me, devastate my soul rather then my body. You know Hauk is my weakness and that I would be crushed should I lose him. You knew that by taking his spark away, you could kill him without being a murderer… You want so passionately for me to be the murderer in your mind, so that you can prove to all that you were right about me...”

Abyss swung the gun to the side, pointing the deadly weapon right at Katlyn, making her cry. He refused to look at her, keeping his eyes pinned venomously on the tiger below him.

“Well? How about it Alec? Shall your pretty wife be the martyr for your cause? Do you want to know what it feels like, from my point of view? To lose something so precious to you that you’d rather die yourself then face life alone, without them? C’mon Alec… Tell me again I’m to blame for all your spite so I have a reason to give this trigger a good squeeze…”

“A-Alec…I’m s-scared…”

Katlyn sobbed quietly, tears streaming down her soft, stripped cheeks as she huddled trembling under the gaze of the pistol. Alec shivered, looking between his lover and Abyss. His good paw lifted non- threateningly. Abyss could feel his own paw shaking slightly with the intensity. He stared at Alec, growling and silently begging him to say something that would justify his need for bloody vengeance, but praying that he wouldn’t. Despite his bloodlust, Abyss didn’t want to be proven as the very thing Alec accused him of being.

“P-please Abyss… D-don’t hurt her… Shoot me, if you feel it’ll make up f-for what I did… J-jus… Don’t hurt Katlyn, please.”

Abyssinian grit his teeth so hard his jaw throbbed in pain. He withdrew the gun, pointing it back at Alec, half tempted to take him up on his offer to shoot him. He wanted to… Wanted is own sweet burning vengeance… but a voice whispered to him and he let out an angst-filled groan of frustration, turning and rolling off the bed. He stood and turned, walking to the bedroom door as the two stunned felines huddled together, watching him.

“Feel lucky that Diana still cares for you Alec… It’s her will that’s letting you live, not mine. And as for Hauk… Touch him again, and I swear to god Alec…”

“N-no… I wouldn’t. We’ve made our peace…”

“Tsh… hardly. I know you still blame me, and that you want vengeance for Diana. But any more ‘messages’ you plan to deliver… any next ‘steps’ you plan to take better be given to ME, personally… Or all the angels of heaven won’t be able to shield you from my wrath… this was MY warning, cuz.”

Abyss growled and turned, walking out and leaving the two lovers to them selves. It wasn’t until he had closed the door behind him that he heard Katlyn finally let out a scream of withheld fear.

Back At The Hospital…

Semema looked up as the hybrid stepped back into the room. Her slender eyebrows knit slightly and she opened her mouth to say something, but Simle spoke up first.

“Did you get done what you needed to Abyss?”

“…Aye… Any change?”

“No, he stirred for a moment, but then, nothing. But, the doctor says him moving on his own, even small movements are a good sign that he’s recovering.”

Abyss let out a relieved breath and nodded. He glanced at Veps who had curled up into a slumbering ball at the desk.

“Has she been sleeping long?”

Simle turned and ran a gentle hand through her daughter’s hair.

“For a while; I should get her home though. A hospital is no place to sleep…”

The hybrid nodded.

“Go home Simle, get some rest. You look like you need it. Semema or I will call if anything changes… ok?”

The elegant fem nodded softly, scooping up her daughter and gathering her things.

“Ok, you two try to get some rest tho too… You hear me?”

Her voice was soft, but stern, underlined with her concern. Both Abyss and Semema nodded softly, all knowing they wouldn’t sleep, but trying to reassure each other. Simle sighed, leaning over to kiss Hauk’s forehead before heading out. Abyss slumped down in the chair; eyes drooped wearily as he stared intently at his love. Semema watched him carefully before finally finding her words in a soft whisper.

“Do you take care of them, the ones that hurt my dad?”

Abyss stayed silent for a moment, his eyes almost fogging with thought before he gently nodded.

“Aye… No one will hurt your dad again… I promise you, with my life I promise you.”

“… You really love him, don’t you?”

“More then life itself…”

Abyss shifted his gaze to the young fem, a total serious expression on his face. Semema blinked at how clear the hybrids eyes had become as he stared at her, at how he had answered without hesitation. She blinked softly, watching him before looking down at her father.

“It’s impossible you know… He’ll never return that love. He can’t even fully love Simle. What makes you think he’d ever love you?”

“I don’t… And I have no high hopes about it either… I know he’ll never truly love me as profoundly as I love him, but I’m ok with that.”

Semema bristled, tears pricking her eyes as she glared at Abyss.

“Then why?! Why bother to love someone who’ll never love you? Why put yourself through the heartache every single day?! I don’t get it!”

The hybrid sighed softly, shifting his gaze back to Hauk, his head resting wearily on one paw as he watched his friend.

“Because… He’s my light in the darkness… and I’m blind in a cold world without him. His smile is my sun, and his laughter is my heat… I love him for just being with me… in my life. You don’t need to understand Semema… You’re still very young, and love to you is a much more concrete idea. For me, it’s just him. He’s all I see, all the breath and hear and taste… he saturates my senses everyday, every moment… even now. I can see him laying there; I can smell his scent, taste metallic in my mouth from all the blood from earlier. Hauk is as much a part of me as my own body. He is the world I live and breathe… And I’d have it no other way. Without him, I’m an empty shell… I don’t care if he doesn’t love me, so long as he’ll have me by his side, I’ll stay there… Forever…”

Semema felt a tear trail down her cheek as she looked back at her father.

“… You’re such a complex fool Abyssinian…”

Abyss smiled at that.

“I know…”

After a silent hour shared between them, he stood, stretching a bit.

“I think I’ll head back to the apartment.”

The young dragonelf blinked up in surprise.

“Don’t you want to stay with him?”

“Of course… But, I think what he needs most right now, is someone who can give him strength, and… I’m ashamed to say I have no more left to give right now…”

“Abyss…”

“Stay with your father Sem… He needs you right now, more then he needs me. I should go back and clean up the apartment anyway, for when he comes home… right?”

The hybrid gave a soft smile and winked. Semema sighed, knowing that Abyss was looking on the bright side by making their home clean for Hauk’s return and nodded. She tentatively stepped towards him and wrapped him in a soft hug, giving him a chaste kiss on the cheek. Abyss smiled tenderly and pulled away, caressing her soft hair. She had the same spark as her father; he could see it in her bright, determined eyes. It made his heart warm a bit.

“Call me… for anything… ok?”

She nodded and Abyss turned, walking out the door after taking one last glance at his friend and whispering an encouraging ‘Be strong m’luv…’

At The House…

Abyss busied himself, cleaning up the bathroom. It was a tough job, blood not being one of the easiest things to clean. And despite him using bleach, it still stained the tiles slightly. He grit his teeth and went into the kitchen, grabbing the rug off the floor and bringing it into the bathroom to cover the faint stain. He stood, staring hard at the mirror and the words written across it in Hauk’s blood. He felt himself tremble and hunched over, retching as the whole nights events finally got the best of him. He clung with stiff arms to the sink for a few moments after his stomach had stopped emptying its contents and groaned softly. Running hot water to clean out the sink, Abyss ran his paws under the tap and lifted one to smear across the scrawled threat, glaring intensely at his own reflection.

Never again would anyone threaten the ones he loved… He staked his life on it… as well as the life of anyone who dared to hurt Hauk ever again… That was his vow.

Description
Burning Vengeance
Written by: Ashen Ravenwing

Abyss stood against the wall, arms folded lightly across his chest as he looked out the hospital window onto the rainy world. The storm had rolled in an hour or so earlier and had picked up strength. He glanced over at hearing a rustle beside him, blinking softly at Simles’ young daughter Veps who was busy listening to music on her headphones and drawing on a few scraps of paper they’d managed to round up to keep her preoccupied. His spliced eyes then flickered towards the other two females in the room, Simle and Semema. Hauk’s daughter still sat beside him, tenderly holding his hand while Simle sat in the seat Abyss had been in earlier. He felt she needed the seat more then him. It had been a few hours since their arrival, and the night was dragging on… It was already past midnight and Hauk had yet to stir from his unconscious slumber. The silence made the hybrid edgy and he shifted his weight to the other leg, looking back out the window into a world so dark and cold and washed out, that it was the perfect reflection of his innermost self. He was to blame… It was his fault that Hauk had come to the wedding in the first place… His fault that the dragonelf had stood up for him… His fault that he had decided to go to the club that night and that Hauk was lying in this hospital now, only half alive… because of him. Damn Hauk’s stubborn pride… Damn him for being such a good friend when Abyss was so unworthy of him. And damn himself for yet again not being able to protect the one he loved the most.

The hybrid lightly slammed his fist against the windowpane, breaking the silence as the two older females looked at him in surprise. Abyssinian dipped his head in apology, looking at Hauk as if afraid he’d disturbed him after he’d promised the doctor he wouldn’t. The hospital was being extremely kind, letting them all stay for one night just in case Hauk woke up. Abyss stared intently at his beloved, not caring what Simle thought about his feelings for the dragonelf… Tuning out the anger he could feel coming off Semema. He could feel that, despite herself, she blamed him for what had happened. Abyss didn’t judge her for it though. He felt he was the one to blame as well. Not so much for what had happened, but for not being there to prevent it. Then again, Alec and his boys must have been waiting for him to leave his mate alone… Like true predators; waiting for the moment of absolute weakness before going in for the kill. It infuriated him. It was then that he made his decision. He’d be damned if he just stood there and did nothing… Not this time.

“Simle, Semema… I have something I have to do. Watch over him until I get back ok? Call me on my cell if anything changes.”

The older dragonelf nodded softly, her brows furrowing at why Abyss would suddenly depart. Semema watched the hybrid carefully as he jotted his number down on the dry erase board and walked to the side of the bed Simle was on to lovingly brush back Hauk’s bangs. Abyss’ eyes held sad warmth and she could tell he wanted to kiss him, but wouldn’t dare. The young females ears perked at hearing the larger male whisper to her father, ‘Please don’t hold against me what it is I have to do…’ She turned in her seat, watching him grab his coat and head out the door into the storm. Semema frowned and whispered to herself.

“…Be careful out there Abyss… Don’t loose yourself in the darkness…”

At Abyssinian’s Private Loft…

Abyss shook the rain from his head, looking around his dark living room. He headed to the kitchen and pulled out an old address book, flipping through it until his eyes found the name he was looking for. …Alec… His lips pulled back in a silent snarl of malice as he ripped the address from the book and shoved it in his pocket. He walked back into his bedroom, opening up the drawer on his nightstand and gazing down at the polished black barrel that lay nestled in the darkness. He closed his eyes as his paw ran in a delicate caress across the firearm, letting out a shuddering sigh as his gaze flickered to the small shrine on his dresser. Diana’s beautiful lilac eyes stared into him, always watching him, always whispering to him. He shivered and picked up the gun, bringing it to the shrine and setting it down in front of his wife’s photo. He lit the two teacup candles on either side and placed his paws on the dresser, bowing his head and trembling as he prayed aloud.

“…Forgive me Di… I’ve tried so hard to hold back… for you. I know you never liked my violent side, but I love him, you know I do. Give me your blessing babe, please… I beg you. Give me the strength to do what it is I know I have to… I have suffered too long, and I am finally finding happiness again. I know it’s because you’ve let me, so please… Diana please… Don’t think any less of me for this… I do it for you, as much as I do it for Lysander… and Hauk. My love binds me to you all… and I will do what it takes to ensure I can at least protect him. I-I’m so sorry I couldn’t protect you though!”

He bowed his head more, feeling the tears slip down his cheeks, anguish over taking him. He laughed harshly, looking back at the portrait of his beautiful wife through his tears.

“I-it’s no wonder he teases me so much… I’m such an emotional baby. I know you would have agreed Di… You’re both so much alike… I see so much of you in Hauk… Maybe that’s what made me fall in love again. He opened up my heart without even trying, just as you did when we first met… Do you remember Diana?”

Abyss smiled tenderly, lifting a paw to caress the photo. A cool breeze blew in through the curtains, making the flames flicker then burn steady again, the shifting light causing the polished gun shimmer. Abyssinian sighed, nodding softly.

“Thank you my love… I promise not to put this gift to shame. I’ll avenge you my dearest… but first… I have to take care of the one I still can… I won’t loose him Di… I promise.”

With that, Abyss turned, tucking the gun into the same pocket the address was in and he blew out the candles, heading back out into the wet night.

Alec’s House, 1 a.m. …

The house was dark and quiet, as is typical of a setting wrapped in the comforts of slumber. Abyssinian, though large, moved with the silence and grace of a shadow. He passed the living room and made his way back into the bedroom he knew he’d find Alec and Katlyn in. As he stood in the doorway, staring at their sleeping forms, he almost felt a pang of envy. Why could they be so happy when he could not? Why was it, he wondered as he stepped to Alec’s side of the bed, that this cowardly, deceitful bastard was allowed to sleep peacefully wrapped in the arms of his lover? Why was he allowed all that Abyss was not?

The hybrid grit his teeth, fangs bared as he hopped onto the bed, crouching over his sleeping cousin in-law. He set his eyes as he lifted a paw to smack him awake hard. Alec woke with a start and yelled at seeing Abyss over him, eyes ominous and wings spread like a perched demon over its prey. He gagged as Abyss slammed his paw down against his throat, digging his sharp claws in and choking off his air supply enough so that he couldn’t scream. Katlyn stirred and blinked awake, gasping as she pulled away from the murderous looking hybrid. She drew in a deep breath, ready to scream when Abyss suddenly drew his gun and pressed it hard between Alec’s startled eyes. The larger male cast a sidelong glance and shook his head slightly.

“Not a word out of you, bitch… Or your pretty hubby’s brains are going to make quite a mess all over your white silk linens… Got it?”

Katlyn whimpered, her trembling paw lifting to her mouth and tears in her eyes, but she nodded, staying silent.

Abyss hated that look… Diana had given it to him the night he’d come home after permanently disabling the male that had attempted to rape her earlier that night. She’d always been against violence, despite harm that may have come to her. Abyss had lost it tho, his uncle, Kharl having to restrain him before he’d decapitated to fiendish male.

He looked back at Alec, seeing the terrified feline staring up at him in horror. Abyssinian couldn’t hide the cruel, satisfied grin that slid over his lips. It had been a long time since he’d let out this side of him. The part of him his ‘father’ had loved the most… Abyss the deadly… He was created originally to be a homicidal weapon… so why fight what was in his nature, right?

“Oh… If you could see your face right now Alec. Tell me, did Hauk look as horrified when you and your boys tag teamed him last night? Or did he have more dignity in his pride and stand tall, fight back, even smile at your threats? I think he did… I think that’s why you hit him so hard in the face… Hah… you’re such a bloody coward Alec. First to go after Hauk to get to me instead of just coming for your real target… And then to bring help too, cause you can’t fight him on your own. Gods… You’re pathetic, you spoiled brat.”

He loosened up on Alec’s throat so he could breathe but he pressed the barrel harder against his brow to silently warn him not to talk. Alec panted, but stayed rigid, staring up at the hybrid.

“How dare you, you slime… How dare you TOUCH Hauk! Just because he injured your pride as much as your arm, that gives you no right to nearly kill him! I should just pull this trigger right now!”

Abyss tightened his grip, letting out a vicious hiss of spite and both Alec and Katlyn let out a soft cry of fear. He tilted his head to the side, leaning in close to his estranged cousin so that they were nearly nose to nose.

“I never killed Diana you prick… My father did… Murdered her in cold blood to send a message to me… Just as you tried to do to Hauk… I hold you in the same light as him, and believe me when I say… I will KILL him, Alec. I’m not so much better then him that I’d rise above murder if I felt the situation called for it. ANGEL took my first love from me… and you had the balls to try and take my second…Heh… I never pinned you as one for a death wish…”

Alec swallowed hard, his lip trembling in mortal fear.

“You want so badly for your actions to be justified. You wanted to hurt me, devastate my soul rather then my body. You know Hauk is my weakness and that I would be crushed should I lose him. You knew that by taking his spark away, you could kill him without being a murderer… You want so passionately for me to be the murderer in your mind, so that you can prove to all that you were right about me...”

Abyss swung the gun to the side, pointing the deadly weapon right at Katlyn, making her cry. He refused to look at her, keeping his eyes pinned venomously on the tiger below him.

“Well? How about it Alec? Shall your pretty wife be the martyr for your cause? Do you want to know what it feels like, from my point of view? To lose something so precious to you that you’d rather die yourself then face life alone, without them? C’mon Alec… Tell me again I’m to blame for all your spite so I have a reason to give this trigger a good squeeze…”

“A-Alec…I’m s-scared…”

Katlyn sobbed quietly, tears streaming down her soft, stripped cheeks as she huddled trembling under the gaze of the pistol. Alec shivered, looking between his lover and Abyss. His good paw lifted non- threateningly. Abyss could feel his own paw shaking slightly with the intensity. He stared at Alec, growling and silently begging him to say something that would justify his need for bloody vengeance, but praying that he wouldn’t. Despite his bloodlust, Abyss didn’t want to be proven as the very thing Alec accused him of being.

“P-please Abyss… D-don’t hurt her… Shoot me, if you feel it’ll make up f-for what I did… J-jus… Don’t hurt Katlyn, please.”

Abyssinian grit his teeth so hard his jaw throbbed in pain. He withdrew the gun, pointing it back at Alec, half tempted to take him up on his offer to shoot him. He wanted to… Wanted is own sweet burning vengeance… but a voice whispered to him and he let out an angst-filled groan of frustration, turning and rolling off the bed. He stood and turned, walking to the bedroom door as the two stunned felines huddled together, watching him.

“Feel lucky that Diana still cares for you Alec… It’s her will that’s letting you live, not mine. And as for Hauk… Touch him again, and I swear to god Alec…”

“N-no… I wouldn’t. We’ve made our peace…”

“Tsh… hardly. I know you still blame me, and that you want vengeance for Diana. But any more ‘messages’ you plan to deliver… any next ‘steps’ you plan to take better be given to ME, personally… Or all the angels of heaven won’t be able to shield you from my wrath… this was MY warning, cuz.”

Abyss growled and turned, walking out and leaving the two lovers to them selves. It wasn’t until he had closed the door behind him that he heard Katlyn finally let out a scream of withheld fear.

Back At The Hospital…

Semema looked up as the hybrid stepped back into the room. Her slender eyebrows knit slightly and she opened her mouth to say something, but Simle spoke up first.

“Did you get done what you needed to Abyss?”

“…Aye… Any change?”

“No, he stirred for a moment, but then, nothing. But, the doctor says him moving on his own, even small movements are a good sign that he’s recovering.”

Abyss let out a relieved breath and nodded. He glanced at Veps who had curled up into a slumbering ball at the desk.

“Has she been sleeping long?”

Simle turned and ran a gentle hand through her daughter’s hair.

“For a while; I should get her home though. A hospital is no place to sleep…”

The hybrid nodded.

“Go home Simle, get some rest. You look like you need it. Semema or I will call if anything changes… ok?”

The elegant fem nodded softly, scooping up her daughter and gathering her things.

“Ok, you two try to get some rest tho too… You hear me?”

Her voice was soft, but stern, underlined with her concern. Both Abyss and Semema nodded softly, all knowing they wouldn’t sleep, but trying to reassure each other. Simle sighed, leaning over to kiss Hauk’s forehead before heading out. Abyss slumped down in the chair; eyes drooped wearily as he stared intently at his love. Semema watched him carefully before finally finding her words in a soft whisper.

“Do you take care of them, the ones that hurt my dad?”

Abyss stayed silent for a moment, his eyes almost fogging with thought before he gently nodded.

“Aye… No one will hurt your dad again… I promise you, with my life I promise you.”

“… You really love him, don’t you?”

“More then life itself…”

Abyss shifted his gaze to the young fem, a total serious expression on his face. Semema blinked at how clear the hybrids eyes had become as he stared at her, at how he had answered without hesitation. She blinked softly, watching him before looking down at her father.

“It’s impossible you know… He’ll never return that love. He can’t even fully love Simle. What makes you think he’d ever love you?”

“I don’t… And I have no high hopes about it either… I know he’ll never truly love me as profoundly as I love him, but I’m ok with that.”

Semema bristled, tears pricking her eyes as she glared at Abyss.

“Then why?! Why bother to love someone who’ll never love you? Why put yourself through the heartache every single day?! I don’t get it!”

The hybrid sighed softly, shifting his gaze back to Hauk, his head resting wearily on one paw as he watched his friend.

“Because… He’s my light in the darkness… and I’m blind in a cold world without him. His smile is my sun, and his laughter is my heat… I love him for just being with me… in my life. You don’t need to understand Semema… You’re still very young, and love to you is a much more concrete idea. For me, it’s just him. He’s all I see, all the breath and hear and taste… he saturates my senses everyday, every moment… even now. I can see him laying there; I can smell his scent, taste metallic in my mouth from all the blood from earlier. Hauk is as much a part of me as my own body. He is the world I live and breathe… And I’d have it no other way. Without him, I’m an empty shell… I don’t care if he doesn’t love me, so long as he’ll have me by his side, I’ll stay there… Forever…”

Semema felt a tear trail down her cheek as she looked back at her father.

“… You’re such a complex fool Abyssinian…”

Abyss smiled at that.

“I know…”

After a silent hour shared between them, he stood, stretching a bit.

“I think I’ll head back to the apartment.”

The young dragonelf blinked up in surprise.

“Don’t you want to stay with him?”

“Of course… But, I think what he needs most right now, is someone who can give him strength, and… I’m ashamed to say I have no more left to give right now…”

“Abyss…”

“Stay with your father Sem… He needs you right now, more then he needs me. I should go back and clean up the apartment anyway, for when he comes home… right?”

The hybrid gave a soft smile and winked. Semema sighed, knowing that Abyss was looking on the bright side by making their home clean for Hauk’s return and nodded. She tentatively stepped towards him and wrapped him in a soft hug, giving him a chaste kiss on the cheek. Abyss smiled tenderly and pulled away, caressing her soft hair. She had the same spark as her father; he could see it in her bright, determined eyes. It made his heart warm a bit.

“Call me… for anything… ok?”

She nodded and Abyss turned, walking out the door after taking one last glance at his friend and whispering an encouraging ‘Be strong m’luv…’

At The House…

Abyss busied himself, cleaning up the bathroom. It was a tough job, blood not being one of the easiest things to clean. And despite him using bleach, it still stained the tiles slightly. He grit his teeth and went into the kitchen, grabbing the rug off the floor and bringing it into the bathroom to cover the faint stain. He stood, staring hard at the mirror and the words written across it in Hauk’s blood. He felt himself tremble and hunched over, retching as the whole nights events finally got the best of him. He clung with stiff arms to the sink for a few moments after his stomach had stopped emptying its contents and groaned softly. Running hot water to clean out the sink, Abyss ran his paws under the tap and lifted one to smear across the scrawled threat, glaring intensely at his own reflection.

Never again would anyone threaten the ones he loved… He staked his life on it… as well as the life of anyone who dared to hurt Hauk ever again… That was his vow.