A Frequency Of Me And You

The scent of blood is heavy and cloying as I slowly regain consciousness, my head throbbing dully while there is an unsettling ache in my chest. There had been a blast, a trap of some sort, as we had approached the final Qliphoth root and all I can recall is something heavy barreling into me, throwing me clear of the immediate vicinity. That fool, I think bitterly as I stretch out my senses and search for my twin's presence. A faint frown curls my lips as I am met with nothing and then dread unfurls in my gut when I realize that the blood I'm smelling belongs to my brother. No, no, no, no, no… And just underneath the thick smell of blood is a scent that is far more worrying, one that has fear and panic clawing at my chest as I struggle to open my eyes and sit up. The scent of charred flesh and hair becomes noticeable as I draw in a deep breath.

My every muscle protests as I finally sit up, my body cries out for rest, but I ignore it all and cast my gaze around for the source of my brother's blood. I find it, my throat closing up and my stomach churning at the sight of what is barely a corpse lying in a pool of blood at the center of a deep crater. I am at the very edge, where I had been thrown, overlooking what I know to be… Something warm and wet gathers at the corners of my eyes as I stare at what little is left of my brother, my twin, my mate.

Numbness permeates my body as I all but crawl down to where my brother's remains are in a pool of blood that is far too deep. Little more than a head and half a torso, both of his arms missing past his elbows and severe burns covering the entirety of what is left of his backside. It was far too much for him to recover from, his healing ability having merely prolonged his suffering while he bled out. How long had I been out for? How long had he clung to life before passing? His heart no longer beats. What little skin remains has already begun to cool. All I can think of as I pull what is left of him onto my lap is how alone he must have felt in those final moments. How frightened he must have been.

Crystalline droplets splatter on his ashen cheeks and for a few seconds, I am startled by their appearance before I realize that they're my tears. Thick red smears across his cheeks as I hastily try to wipe them dry only to be left staring at the congealing blood now marring his skin with wide eyes. It feels like something cracks and then shatters as a sob tears its way past my lips and I start crying harder while I cradle him to my chest.

"Hey, Verge…"

My legs go numb.

"I know I've gotten insanely lucky in the past but this is something one or both of us might not come back from."

My throat feels like it is filled with crushed glass.

"If something does get me and you survive…"

My eyes are hot and their lids heavy.

"Could ya make sure there isn't anything left for the demons to get?"

My body shakes uncontrollably for a moment, my stomach twisting and lurching at the very idea.

"Promise me, okay?"

"I promise."