The Kiss Of Death

Poisoned? He was fine just a minute ago! This doesn't make any sense!

Suddenly, Weimin slowly walks out of the crowd as he says, "I knew he wouldn't pass up this opportunity to snatch you away." The guards surround us and even though Bolin is struggling to remain conscious, he still holds me tight, trying to protect me.

Weimin's words trigger my memories as I softly say, "The sweet water... the sweet tea..." Weimin looks down at us with an eerie calm and says, "That's right. I've been giving you an antidote for the last day and a half."

Antidote? That wasn't poison? Weimin walks over and stops right before us. He lifts his hand, reaching for my lips. Bolin's hand shoots out and grabs Weimin's wrist, keeping him from touching me as Weimin's smile grows, and says, "Her lipstick is smeared."

Weimin jerks his hand free, causing Bolin and I to stumble. My heart sinks in horror as I reach up to my lips with a shaky hand. I start rubbing it as if I'm trying to take my lips off, but it didn't stop the angry tears from falling down my face.

Bolin reaches out and grabs my hand, stopping me. He slowly brings my hand up to his black lips and gently kisses them before looking up at me and saying, "None of this is your fault. I underestimated him, it's my fault."

His voice was weak, and he sounded winded. His hands and his lips were ice cold! I poisoned him! Me! I knew I was missing something, but I was so excited about seeing him again, I pushed it away. My negligence.... killed him.

Bolin's body slumps to the side! I cry out as I try to hold him up but he's too heavy. I keep his head from hitting the ground and lightly lower him with tears streaming down my face. My voice shakes as I repeatedly say, "No, no, no, it's okay, you're okay. I can fix this..."

Bolin's eyes try to focus on me as his black lips give me a faint but familiar smirk. He softly says, "It's okay, I promise." I shake my head, swallowing hard past the lump in my throat. I reach out and quickly wipe my tears as I turn and look up at Weimin.

He watches us both silently without any emotions. I reach my hand out and say, "Give me the antidote and I will do whatever you want. Please!" He squats down in front of me, his eyes looking me over as he says, "You'll do whatever I want when he's gone as well. His death is long overdue. Now, enough of this. I will take you back to your room."

Even as he's dying, Bolin holds my other hand with determination. My chin trembles as I slowly close my outstretched hand. I tighten it into a fist as I raise my voice and say, "If he dies, you all will die."

The people around us nervously giggle, stepping back in fear as the guards move in closer. "Are you threatening the King!?" A man off to the side yells out with a puffed-out chest. I slowly turn and glare at the King as I say, "Give me the antidote and let us go or I will destroy this world and everything in it, starting with you."

When the King hears my words and sees the look in my eyes, he feels his heart tighten in fear, but he pushes it to the side and raises a hand as he says, "Kill the man and bring the woman back to Weimin's estate." He didn't like the woman, but he had already promised her to Weimin.

I turn, hugging Bolin close as I whisper, "I'm so sorry... I'm so very sorry." As the guards move in close, I turn to glare at them. As the first guard tries to grab me, I reach out and punch him in the nose. I hear a crunch as blood flies.

He curses, stumbling back while holding his face. My hand and wrist hurt just from a single punch, but I refuse to back down. Bolin's grip loosens and when I look back down at him, I see his eyes closing. My heart shudders as I lean over and say, "Bolin! Stay with me, please. Keep your eyes open."

I see him struggling with everything he has but when I see him gasping for his last breath, I hold mine. Suddenly, he stops and everything around me fades away. I slowly lift my shaking hand as I lightly touch the side of his ridiculously handsome face.

Even with black lips and a pale complexion, he was downright breathtaking. He looked as if he was just sleeping... His skin was so cold... I cup the side of his face as tears blur my vision. I slowly lean down and as soon as my lips lightly touch his, I'm ripped away.

Screaming and yelling can be heard as I fight against the hands that were pulling me away from Bolin. Anger, hatred, and an unholy amount of rage burn through me as I fight with everything in me but I'm not strong enough.

I scream with everything in me, "ABELL!!!" My voice is raw with emotion as it echoes through the entire building. Suddenly, my back burns, unlike anything I've ever felt! It starts at my lower back, stretching and crawling up until it reaches my shoulders.

The hands that were holding me instantly drop me, crying out in pain as they hold their hands close to their chest. I remain sitting on the ground, hunched over, holding myself up by my arms. My hair had fallen and was now covering my face as I stare at the floor. My rage unlocks something deep within me as I look up with golden glowing eyes. Weimin yells out, "Stop her! Knock her out if you have to!"

Suddenly, a strong golden light burst from me as an enormous dark figure materializes out of nowhere! Abell's large black body steps over me in a protective stance and lets out a mighty roar! The roar shakes the entire building!

Screams of fear can be heard as things fall and the walls threaten to cave in. The King remains sitting on his throne, frozen in shock and fear! He studders, "It's, it's, it's a dragon! A real dragon!" Everyone steps back in fear and awe as they look up at Abell.

Even though this building was huge, she could barely fit! When the burning stops, I look down and tap into the ley lines. Magic floods into me at lightning speeds causing golden trails of light to seep out of me.

When I feel my strength return, I look back up and glare at the guards surrounding Bolin. They flinch back but drawl their swords at me, refusing to back down. I slowly push myself up, ignoring everyone and everything as I start walking back toward Bolin.

The guards rush at me but as soon as their blades try to touch me, they break into a million pieces, shattering like lights within a kaleidoscope. People gasp in shock but before the guards could recover their shock, Abell leans forward and eats them!!

Screams of pure terror break out as people realize they can't leave. I've sealed the entire building. Tonight, they will all pay for Bolin's death. As I reach Bolin, I slowly lower myself. I reach out, lightly pushing a piece of hair back with tears burning in my eyes.

I want to bring him back, to try my hand at necromancy but I know that it's wrong. I can't bring the dead back, it wouldn't be him, not really. His body would continue to decay as his soul became weaker and weaker. I would not do something so horrible to someone I...

To someone I love.