kiss of death

Pain.

That was the only thing Morana Yin could comprehend. But the physical pain was nothing compared to the betrayal that seethed within her, a betrayal that cut deeper than the dagger that had pierced her heart.

The night hung heavy over the isolated dock. The only sounds that pierced the stillness were the distant echoes of crashing waves and the pitter-patter of raindrops against the wooden planks beneath. The air was heavy with the scent of salt mingled with the scent of blood...her blood.

The icy rain mingled with her tears, stinging her wounds and washing away the life that was slowly ebbing from her body. Her fingers were stained crimson, the blood seeping through the gap, staining the fabric of the dress that clung to her body.

How had it come to this?

Her eyes remained locked on the man before her, the one she thought she knew, the same man she had fallen in love with.

The eyes that once held warmth and love now bore the icy indifference of a stranger. The face that had whispered sweet nothings into her ear was now a mask of betrayal, and the very lips that had planted kisses along the curve of her body were now stained with the bitter taste of deceit.

"W...why?" she rasped, blood bubbling on her lips.

"Why, my love?" he replied, his voice laced with cruel amusement. "Because you were foolish enough to trust me." 

Morana tried to find the voice, to respond, but each breath was a struggle.

Memories flooded her mind, memories of stolen kisses and whispered promises, memories that now felt like nothing more than cruel illusions. She had given him everything, her heart, her trust, her very soul, only to be repaid with betrayal and pain.

How could she have made this mistake?

How could she, who ruled the darkness her whole life have fallen into such a trap?

She had always been careful. She had been so certain, so assured in her ability to determine friend from foe. 

"Did you really think someone could love you?" he taunted. "A creature of darkness like yourself?"

His words stung more than the blade. Morana had spent years building walls around her heart, only to let this man breach them all. She'd shared secrets, vulnerabilities, things she'd never dared speak aloud before.

And he had used it all against her.

Rage burned within her, and she launched herself at him. But her movements were weak, her strength sapped by the poison coursing through her veins. He easily sidestepped, watching with cold amusement as she crumpled to the rain-slicked dock.

The impact drove the dagger deeper. A fresh wave of agony washed over her, stealing what little breath remained in her lungs. She lay there, gasping, each inhale a struggle against the blood pooling in her chest.

The dock creaked beneath his feet as he knelt beside her, twirling the bloodied dagger between his fingers – the very dagger that had been in her family for generations. The one she had given him as a symbol of her trust, her love. He traced the blade across her cheek, leaving a trail of blood. "I must admit, you were a worthy opponent. But in the end, your weakness was all too human."

Morana's world narrowed to his face, to the cruel twist of his lips, revealing a darkness within him that she had never imagined lurking beneath the surface.

No, she always knew of the darkness that resided inside him, she just never imagined that one day, it would turn against her.

Morana's eyes flickered with a dangerous gleam. Her blood-stained lips curled into a twisted smile and a low, raspy laugh escaped her throat

"Hide well, my love," she rasped, her voice barely above a whisper. "Hide your lies, hide your treachery. And pray – oh, pray to the god you've never believed in – that the House of Death never finds out you've betrayed the one they worship."

For a moment, a flicker of fear danced across his eyes. It was brief, almost imperceptible and it was gone as quickly as it appeared, replaced by his usual arrogant confidence.

"The House of Death will fall without their goddess, and I'll be long gone before they even realize what's happened."

"Are you so sure about that, Alistair?" Morana mocked him. Her laugh grew stronger, tinged with a manic edge. "You've opened the gates of hell, and you don't even realize it."

Suddenly, he grabbed her chin, forcing her to meet his gaze. His grip tightened, fingers digging painfully into her jaw as he yanked her closer, their faces mere inches apart. 

"You speak of hell as if it's a place I should fear," he sneered, his voice dripping with condescension. "But I've walked through its flames, Morana. I've danced with its demons, and they bowed to me."

He leaned in closer, his lips slightly grazing hers. It was an intimate gesture that had once ignited passion within her, but now, it felt like the kiss of death.

"May you rest in peace, my love," he whispered against her lips.

Then his hands moved to her shoulders, and with a sudden, violent shove, he sent Morana careening over the edge of the dock and into the icy waters below.

The sky flashed with lightning as the water enveloped her, swallowing her screams. Her lungs burned with the desperate need for air, her limbs heavy and unresponsive against the relentless pull of the water. The saltwater stung her wounds and the crimson blood dispersed into the inky darkness.

She could no longer fight.

With a final, shuddering breath, Morana closed her eyes. As darkness enveloped her, one last, agonizing truth pierced her fading consciousness:

She had given him everything.

He had taken it all.