Hearts and Blades

Context & Warning: This is based on an idea for the story I have been writing. So some things will make no sense at all. But hopefully things will make enough sense for it to be enjoyable even for people who know nothing about the book.

For my friends who have been reading what I have written so far, sorry for the spoilers. (Even though some of this isn't fully accurate)

I fell in love with him the first time we saw each other. I never told him. I didn't want to. I had no idea how he'd react.

He was different to say the least. A little unscrewed even. I've caught him multiple times talking to inanimate objects. His favorite were trees. He had named one Lilly. The way he would hug that tree every time he saw it.

I was so blind to what he really was. I mean I should've put the pieces together. The signs were as plain as day - he lived in the worst part of the world, where creatures who were seemingly made from nightmares lurked in every corner. His dog wasn't right either. It was too large, with unnatural yellow eyes. - But I couldn't put him with it. He didn't fit in that category.

But I guess I was just trapped in his spell. I should’ve known what he was… I had always been cautioned about his kind. I even learned how to identify them to a certain point. The way their eyes have that tint of black to them, the poor luck that follows them, and the way they are drawn to the dark. But he was different. Yes, he showed all the signs… But he was… Almost human. Yeah, he was a little dull, but that's what made him so much better. It even made him more believable.

He wasn’t slick and cunning like his kind was always described as. No. He was clumsy, foolish, yet he always bounced back. He lacked the confidence of his kind. He accepted insults and agreed with most. He never thought of himself as special.

Yet he was.

He was special to me. That sweet smile on his face. The way he would hug trees and even his dog, even though the dog looked like it would rip anyone apart if they got too close. He was crazy. Just like me.

I let myself be blind to his true self for a long time. When I finally found out, it was far too late.

***

We were at my dad’s friend's house, eating dinner. That night I knew something was off about him. He kept his head down, blankly staring at the food in front of him. He was deathly silent and wouldn’t even speak to us when we talked directly to him.

At first I thought it was just because his dog went missing. Then I began to realize it was something more. I tried to ask him what was bugging him, but he stayed quiet.

I let him be till after dinner. Then I walked up to him again.

“Dude, what’s bothering you so much?” I asked, “You’re never like this.”

He didn’t look at me as he softly said. “We need to talk… Alone.”

“I don’t think my dad wi-” I started.

“Your dad agrees with nothing.” He grunted. “I just want to talk, nothing else…”

I didn’t know if I fully believed him. Even though I knew he was a man of his word. “Can I tell my dad?”

He gave me brief eye contact, then just walked away. I went back over to my dad and his friend who were talking about politics as normal. They paused when I waked up to them.

“Hey, I’m gonna go talk with Oscar. He seems bugged by something.”

“Please do…” My dad’s friend muttered, “He seems like a deadman walking today.”

My dad eyed me suspiciously, “Be careful. I don’t trust that man… He’s… He just isn’t right.”

His friend looked at him, “Oh c’mon now, just because you're not the biggest fan of him means nothing. He seems like an honest man.”

“I trust him.” I added.

My dad still seemed unconvinced, “Fine. But if he hurts you in any way, shape or form, I’ll kill him.”

I nodded and went off to find out where he wandered off to. I found him pacing in the basement, softly talking to himself with an almost angry but desperate voice. I walked up to him and he instantly stopped.

“What’s up bud?” I asked softly.

He looked at me, “Somethings wrong.”

“I know.” I replied, “It shows all over your face.”

"I don't know how to explain it though..." He whispered.

"Try your best love."

"I... Umm... " He bowed his head, "You shouldn’t be near me..."

"What do you mean..."

"I'm dangerous."

"Is this about the innocent?" I asked.

"Which one?" He asked roughly, "There's been like ten!"

"Any of them..."

"It's about everything,, Holly! Did you forget what happened when we first met?"

I shivered at the thought, but softly replied with, "You've changed..."

"Have I?" He asked, "Are you blind to how everyone else treats me?"

I looked away from him. My dad's friend and I are the only ones who've shown him kindness.

"Don't listen to them... They don't know what they're talking about..."

"Or maybe you don't." He whispered.

"I've seen who you really are..."

"No... You haven't. If you really saw who I was, what I was, you wouldn’t have come near me again." He turned his back to me.

A heavy silence followed. I decided I'd give him some time and went to leave, but he moved in front of me. That was the first time I realized the dark tint in his deep purple eyes. Then he quickly turned his gaze away from me.

"I’m sorry for this, Holly.” He whispered, “I love you. I really do…”

I don't know how, but I knew we were no longer talking about him and his mistakes. This was something else.

“What are you talking about?” I asked nervously.

He snarled and pulled something out of his ear and threw it across the room, tears now streaming down his face. He shakingly reached to his belt and removed a dagger. He looked up at me, a mix of fear, anger and sorrow now showing in his face.

“Oscar?” I asked, backing away.

“I’m so, so sorry for this, Holly.” He whispered, shakingly walking closer, “Please don’t cry for help. Please don’t alert anyone.”

“Oscar? What are you doing?” I asked, panic slowly growing in my voice. I loved him, but I knew how dangerous he really was. His power made him ten times more powerful than any normal human. And having him advance on me with a weapon was one of the scariest things I’ve experienced.

He didn’t respond to me, but he continued to approach me. I continued to keep a distance between us. I was so focused on him, that I hadn’t realized that he had cornered me until my back hit the wall. I frantically looked around, but I couldn’t find an escape.

“Why, Oscar?” I whimpered as he stopped just a few inches away from me. I could feel his warm, almost comforting breath on me. “I thought you loved me!”

He looked down at the dagger in his hands, “I do. But…” He paused, “I have to do this. I’m sorry… For everything.”

“I’m sorry I saved you from my father.” I snarled, as sudden rage filled my bones.

He looked up at me, “I’m sorry you met me, Holly. You were such a kind person to me. You saw past my abilities. Past the prophecies that said I’d destroy the world. I wanted to be the man you saw. The one who was sweet and didn’t hate the world. I’m sorry you wasted your life on a creature of darkness.” He raised the dagger and I squeezed my eyes close, preparing for the pain. But none came. I slowly peeled my eyes open to see him plunge the dagger into his own chest. It was a certain fatal blow. I lunged forward and caught him as he fell backwards.

“You idiot!” I hissed, “Why’d ya do that!?”

He looked up at me as his hand fell away from the handle which was now the only thing of the knife you could see. The rest of the blade was stuck in his chest, shedding his precious crimson blood.

“Answer me!” I yelled, tears now streaming down my cheeks like a river.

“I…” He rasped, “I couldn’t kill you… But they told me they’d kill my dog and you all in front of me if I didn’t. Then they promised that I’d meet a similar fate years later.” He paused long enough for me to think he might have expired, but then he slowly continued, “I did the one thing I could live with… Or die with I guess… I had to stop them from using me. If that means ending my life. I’m fine with that. This is the best way to go.” He smiled at me.

“Who told you to do this?” I asked, trying to supress my rage.

His head lolled to the side and he weakly nodded his head in the direction he had thrown whatever was in his ear, “Find my earpiece. Tell them I’m dead. You killed me. They’ll ask for proof. Listen to them, no matter what.”

“That doesn’t answer my question, you idiot!”

“I can’t answer that question, darlin.” He rasped, weakly kissing my hand. “Take care of Lilly for me.” He closed his eyes, putting his hand on mine.

“You can’t do this to me.” I whimpered. “Please Oscar.” I shook him, but his head lolled to the side, showing no signs of life. “Please Oscar, open your eyes.”

I set him on the ground, feeling for a pulse. But no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t find one. I eventually gave up and just buried my face in his chest, crying as harder than I ever thought possible.