Posted: August 2004
Title: Dark Heart
Author: Estella Greenleaf

*****

Darkness...the gentle stroke of a loving hand upon his brow...the soft murmur of his Prince's voice...things that first registered in his mind as consciousness returned. His eyes flickered open, the vision of an angel consuming his view. Never had he dared dream of waking in his beloved's arms; if he were to die now, he would have no regrets. But Orlando's warmth was not his to savor; with a heavy heart, Sir Viggo moved, pulling away to face his Prince.

Under the crimson moon, he saw an abysmal sadness that had no place in his Prince's molten amber orbs. He knew his strength was nothing next to the might of the beast, but he would protect his beloved all the same. "Fear not, my Prince, I will not let the vampire harm you."

Silvery tears spilled upon delicate cheeks, a sight that broke the knight's heart. He knew not the reason for the tears, but he would give his life to staunch the flow. Of its own will, his hand moved, cupping his Prince's jaw, wiping away the streaks with gentle caresses of his thumbs. He had no right to touch Orlando so, he knew it in his mind, but his heart would not listen; it wished to be free to love his Prince, if only for one moment before he met his end.

Orlando leaned into his touch and sighed his name. His heart's desire only a breath away... for all his principles, Sir Viggo could deny himself this one last chance to fulfill his life-long dream, to know the sweetness of his Prince's rosy lips. Stormy gray eyes holding glistening coco orbs, he closed the distance between them.

Silken, warm and sweet, the brush of Orlando's lips against his own, a surreal sensation that surpassed even his nightly fantasies. Then came the passion that he had not anticipated; his sweet Prince claiming his lips hungrily, years of bridled desires poured into one long awaited kiss. He responded with fervor, worshiping his beloved with his lips and tongue, cradling Orlando tight against him.

All too soon, the need for breath forced them apart. When the knight moved to claim his Prince's lips again, the youth pulled away. "We can't. I am pledged to Karl now", a shaky whisper that shattered his perfect dream.

He had waited too long; the love they had for each other no longer mattered; he had missed his chance. A lump rose in his throat, but he forced it down. He would be strong for his beloved. He held Orlando's grief-stricken face in his calloused hands. Bringing their foreheads together, he pledged, "You will be in my heart always."

Tears flowed anew down his Prince's cheeks. With soft brushes of his lips, he kissed them away. "No more despair," he comforted his beloved with a gentle smile. Eyes locked with Orlando's glittering pools of amber, Sir Viggo brought his Prince's slender hand to his lips for a final kiss. A bittersweet smile graced his beloved's delicate features; finally, they understood each other. Fate had kept them apart in this life, but love would bring them together again in the next.

*****

The night was still; the silvery lake glistened under the crimson moon, a natural mirror deep inside the forest. He sat upon the rocky shore, gazing upon his reflection one last time.

He looked as he had centuries ago, no different from the day the Hunter walked out of his life. All evidence of his abstinence and suffering carefully erased; he would not have his beloved suspect a trick. Karl must never know the depth of his love.

A solitary tear crept down his cheek, cold against his heated skin. He had fed well tonight, the blood of four strapping bandits coursing in his veins; he would not face the Hunter without the scent of fresh slaughter clinging to his immaculate form. He had chosen his fate, to become a 'heartless' vampire, a menace to humankind; he would play his part best as he could till the end.

A crooning of an owl broke the tranquil stillness, a warning of one child of the night to another. His time had come. A resolute hand wiped away the lonely tear. There would be an eternity to grieve once he joined the forgotten souls adrift among the stars.

*****

The Hunter's hand tightened upon the hilt of his sword as his prey stood. Languid, graceful like a panther, the vampire stretched. A voice he had not heard in centuries, a low seductive voice he thought he would never hear again purred his name, "Hello, Karl."

His former lover turned; he had forgotten how mesmerizing David was. One look into those timeless sapphire eyes, his resolve threatened to crumble to dust. Nothing had changed; for all the time that had passed, the vampire tempted him still.

"Why?" a choked whisper, a question to the cruel fates that had brought them to this moment.

A bitter laugh chilled the Hunter's bones; all the pain he had caused his former lover ringing clearly in the blood curdling sound. "We are what we are, Karl."

A dark blade materialized in the vampire's hand. Their conversation was over. The Hunter closed his eyes and muttered a silent prayer, for forgiveness for the choice he had made that had led him to this path, for strength to follow it till the end.

"Let us dance", words so soft that the Hunter had to strain to hear, the signal to begin their duel.

What followed was a graceful dance of death, each movement precise, yet fluid, a seamless tango set to the steady beats of their hearts. The once-lovers were matched in every way, each step, each swing of the sword, perfectly executed, perfectly countered. Thrust, parry, spin and slash, their blades met and parted, neither able to deliver its deadly kiss.

In the end, it was a small stone that granted Karl his victory. A slight slip of his opponent's foot, the difference between life and death. He looked upon the fallen vampire with misted eyes; one final thrust through the heart, he would put the past to rest. He raised his sword; he would not falter now.

"Karl..." a faint plea that stilled his hand. Memories of loving kisses and warm embraces flooded
his mind, so strong, so poignant that made his every fiber tremor. His knees buckled; his sword fell from his limp grasp.

The Hunter knew then that he had loved the vampire despite himself, knew that he would grief for David always. He could not add another regret to the many sins he had already committed out of foolish pride; he could not bring this duel to its proper end.

"Forgive me" a silent chant issued from quivering lips as a trembling hand stroke his former lover's brow. The vampire was dying; his skin was cold as ice; his pulse had all but faded away.

Eyes closed, the Hunter kissed David farewell; tender and loving was this parting kiss, the way things were before he chose duty over love, before his stubbornness broke both their hearts. For a long moment, he remained beside his dying lover and wept, mourning what could have been.

When all his tears were spent, Karl rose to his feet. Wiping away the moist streaks upon his face, he made ready to face his sweet beloved Prince. A part of his heart would died with David this night; this he knew for certain; but he also knew life must go on. It was time to leave the past behind and start anew with his mortal lover by his side. Perhaps in time, his love for young Orlando would heal his bleeding heart.

*****

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