Conclusion: Revelation

(art by Sui Yumeshima)

A month has passed and I am still waiting for her to come to me. I dare not leave my chambers in case  I miss her. I do not care for food or drink...or sleep. I have become a ghost of my former self, I feel I have lost everything and yet I feel nothing.

It is late in the afternoon and I am lost in thoughts and memories in front of the fire and I know that I am not alone anymore, there is someone behind me, staring at me so I turn around.

"Cl...." the word dies in my mouth as soon as my eyes fall on his face.

"Richard" I exhaled, "Is it really you? You are alive like she said..."

I ran to him with arms open wide and I locked my lips on his cheeks..

"My dear...dear love." I said " You are so cold...please come closer to the fire; we have so much to say.."

I felt his fingers running through my hair sending cold shivers down my spine, he said nothing until we both heard the door opening and Clainia stepped inside the room.

She looked different, cold and pale almost dead. She looked at me and Richard who opened his embrace to let her in too.

"What is this? What's going on?" I took a step and looked at them both.
"Show her!" he commanded never leaving me out of his sight. "SHOW HER!" he shouted.

Clania took a small knife out of her small pocket of her dress and made a deep cut across her wrist.
Blood trickled onto the floor and I saw her slither towards me.
"Drink" she said "Drink fast, and discover the truth"
She took my head in her hands and I saw the blood running over her elbow, its smell filled me with pain and fear, I tried to pull away but she held me fast.
"You have done this before" she said with clenched teeth, "Drink and let the blood speak"

"FINISH THIS NOW!" he ordered impatiently.

Hatred, anger and despair took over me. I wanted this to end, I wanted to understand and so I sealed the open wrist with my tongue.

Her blood filled my head, it drowned me.

 I heard her voice coming from her blood and her words painted pictures in front of my eyes, she showed me the truth.    
  (click and scroll down for the English version)

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                  (painting by Caravaggio)

"And so it is done...at last....just like I wanted.."

Richard was lying on my large bed, hands behind his head, enjoying his view.

"Come my brides...join me"

Our heads turned towards him and holding hands we climbed the bed, Clainia on his left and I on his right.

"I was right, wasn't I?" he said looking at Clainia but this time he was the one doing all the talking.

Clainia placed her head on top of his and sealed his mouth with hers in a passionate kiss while I reached for one of the two old swords  decorating the wall above the bed.

Richard moaned with pleasure and pulled Clainia's dress down her shoulders.

"I am ready" I announced softly and Clainia pulled back.

Together we forced the blade on his neck. Four hands and a mighty will separated Richard from his head which was cast straight into the fire.
Clainia stabbed him at the heart and tore it out making sure that he will remain dead for all eternity.

And thus release came for the both of us at last.