[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/t3kp4zp.png[/img][/center]

When it ended, there was nothing but a baptism of blood, accompanied by the scrap metal rain.

Nothing remained of the monster that lurked within the crypt, nothing but errant flesh, dying off as silver consumed it. The last rusted petals fell upon the desecrated earth and dissolved into nothingness, leaving only the sanguine Knight of Rose, foul blood covering every inch of her body. She faced the sky, eyes closed, as her sword, for once, was silent.

It was over. It was dead.

[i]She was dead.[/i]

And like this, Amaryllis found it harder and harder to pretend. It was tiring. The weight of the world was heavy, and every time, it seemed as if what she did wasn’t enough. They always slipped through her fingers like sand, the lives of those she’d sought to protect. What was the point of talking about the future? What was the point of sparing her to begin with? What was the point of all this, and of none of this? She was never late, but she never stuck the landing. She was never weak, but she never was enough.

Always confident till the end, only to be left with irreconcilable regrets.

[color=778899][i]Your wish is my command.[/i][/color]

And then, the connection was cut. The clover vanished. Their bond was no more.

…

The Sword scraped against her back, reminding her that there was someone else nearing and, with a slight narrowing of her eyes, the Knight of Rose turned to face them. The Seraph bearing the Star Bow, her own countenance unsatisfied too with the turn of events. Regina escaped, didn’t she? Another burden then. So many burdens, like stones placed onto her stomach, as she sank and sank and sank…

Amaryllis wiped her bloodied hand on her equally bloodied shorts, before shaking the offered hand. [color=778899]“Amaryllis Evenings,”[/color] she returned, only a trace of pretense remaining, [color=778899]“She’s dead, you know? Annabelle.”[/color] Her voice caught in her throat. Murderous rage wrestled with inexplicable grief. [color=778899]“I don’t like it. We always save the world, but my hands never reach the one that called out for help to begin with.”[/color]

A bitter, pained smile creased her features.

[color=778899]“I won’t ever like this.”[/color]

There was a sense of finality there, as she cleaned her Silverlight until the surface became mirrored once more. Nodding once more at Alicia, who had already headed off to deal with the newcomers, Amaryllis glanced casually towards the maid, wondering whether to behead her immediately, just out of spite. The scent, distorted as it was, remained a constant. Soth, one way or the other, still ended up getting what they wanted. Annabelle, on the other hand, had nothing now, all her dreams and hopes and wishes and desires dying with her final efforts.

Amaryllis’s right hand trembled at this injustice. The rage exponentiated. It'd only take an instant.

But even though her Sword may lust eternally for blood, the Knight of Rose remained pitifully lenient. If an eternity of servitude could grant this monster absolution, then she will let Beacon do as they desired. She took a sharp breath, and walked out of the crypt, dipping down to graze the cats that flowed in. Sammy was easy enough to find, the only one that didn’t belong. The one that had to bear witness to all this.

Kneeling down beside her, Amaryllis nodded slightly in Aurelio’s direction, before putting her full attention on the younger girl. Every part of her felt like scattering into bits, but if it was just a mask, she could put it on just fine. [color=778899]“Hey there, Super Sleuth,”[/color] Amaryllis smiled, brushing her tears away with her thumb, only to leave bloody streaks behind, [color=778899]“It’s been a rough day, huh? Can you tell me what’s got you feeling so down?”[/color]

And then, impulsively, she hugged Sammy.

Disgusting.

She hated how weak she was. 

[color=778899]"I'm sorry. I'll do all that I can to make things better."[/color]
[@Flamelord][@BrokenPromise]