pacific northwest

“Where will you run to, girl?” the shadow growled as it snapped at her heels. Her hurried pace faltered as her breath caught in her throat.

Taking to the treacherous rock path that led down the mountain was a stupid idea, but she had no other option and as the murky red of the sky deepened into crimson she knew her time was running low. So down the jagged path she ran as the stones sliced at her legs and hands until it poured forth into the labyrinthine garden that she knew was so close to her way out.

The white roses dripped with blood and she had no time to think on how ridiculous her brother truly was as the shadows let out a hellish howl that signaled her doom if she dallied too long. Around the weaving turns of the labyrinth she went until she saw the portal that would lead her back to her own world and safely away from the hell he’d made for himself.

She was nearly there when he appeared there before her, sharp teeth showing in a calm smile while he stalled her escape to give his shadows time to surround her. An involuntary yelp left her throat and gave way to a snarl as she was cornered and massively outnumbered. 

“Dearest sister, why must you run?” he chuckled lowly, his tone condescending. “I thought you liked it here.”

“Only a sadistic bastard like you would like a cold and unforgiving hell like this.” she spat and backed up only to be met with the growls of the crouching hoard of shadows at her back.

“I told you all of this within a year of our meeting and yet you still tried to love me. You tried to save me and it was an admirable attempt, I will give you that much. Ultimately you have failed, I’m afraid.” he shrugged and stepped towards her with that smile still sitting upon his smug face.

“All my love,” she said lowly as she backed away, swatting his hand from her arm. “All this time and nothing? Why?”

“Because love can’t save a demon. I told you this long ago.” He gripped her arm tightly and bodily dragged her to the portal that had linked their worlds together at one point. Through the cold wave of the watery barrier he dragged her and held her just over the edge of the rock cliff that led to the endless void that surrounded them.

“If you ever loved me,” she gasped and stared back into his eyes, unwavering. “You won’t do this.”

“I did, sister. I swear I did, but I’m afraid things change.” he sighed and let her fall.

She screamed his name as she fell into nothingness and in that single moment she hated him more than she ever had. With her eyes clamped shut she realized the air around her had warmed just before she landed roughly among the fields of her familiar world. She curled into a ball as the tears took over for awhile at the loss of someone she’d cared for for so long.

When she stood again she was met with the worried faces of the Gods and spirits she knew well. “What can we do?” one of them asked her gently.

“Wall off the portal. It’s useless now.” she sighed and returned to her home where she burned all the reminders he had ever left. The memories stayed, unfortunately, but  only because she couldn’t bring herself to destroy them too. 

“I’m too weak,” she told one of the Gods as she watched the flames. “I care too much and get hurt so easily.”

“You are anything but weak.” He told her and cupped her shoulder. “Love is not weakness. You tried because you thought he was worth something and you were wrong. It happens. You did the right thing.”

That must be why it hurts so bad. She thought to herself and dropped the last thing he’d left into the fire and watched it burn to ashes.