Gods, not another love story!

*Themes of self-harm and other dark themes ahead, if those are unsavory for you please skip ahead*

“Here it is, this is the location where she’s been hiding. Once I find her, I make her pay for her crimes.”

The man was a hunter for the inquisition, he was in pursuit of a vampire who had been wrecking havoc. The trail of blood left by this monster was deep crimson, the mere thought of her actions would cause any man to vomit. The hunter steeled himself, his rage igniting his path ahead. He planned to put this devil through hell for every man, woman, and child she slaughtered. He’s met her on the battlefield before, rather he’s seen her, and now he finally plans to meet her face to face. Thanks to his comrades, a death mark was placed on her, and thanks to the reaper’s compass it’s connected to, he’s successfully located her.

“So this is where she’s been hiding, within our lands no less. This arrogant bitch will rue the day.”

He walked up to her door, and began pounding on it like a made man.

“Crimson Thorn! I know you’re in there! Come out right now!”

There was no response, his pounding only got louder and his voice along with it.

“Whore of the night, come down here this-”

“Go Away!”

A shrill voice echoed from inside, the hunter’s mouth warped into a sinister grin. His target was there, justice would be enacted. He continued to knock and swear at the woman hiding inside.

“Come out this instant, you bloody harlot! I’ll flay you and turn you into a coat! You’re gonna suffer for every life you’ve taken!”

“...”

The other side of the cracking door grew silent, then something peculiar happened. The hunter heard sniffles from inside.

“...*Sniff* Please, just leave me. Let me finish this myself.”

The hunter stopped in his tracks, ‘finish this herself’? What was this woman thinking? As he wondered that, a loud thud could be heard from upstairs.

“Dammit! I’m too weak, I can’t do it, I’m scared!”

The hunter backed away from the door, stunned by the sense of urgency in the vampire’s voice. Soon he heard footsteps rushing down a set of stairs, and the door he beat to damn near splinters burst off the hinges. There she stood, a woman with white blond hair and puffy pink eyes. The hunter was taken aback for a moment, after all this woman was soaking wet and wrapped in a thin sheet. Not to mention, this woman was his target, she was the crimson thorn. He was unable to speak, but then the woman grabbed his hand and pulled it closer to her.

“Wh-What the hell are you doing!?!”

“...You said you wanted to kill me right, then do it. Kill me right now.”

The hunter’s eyes narrowed as he took in her words, the crimson thorn wanted to die. He thought she was mocking him, until he looked into her eyes. They were afraid, afraid but serious. It wasn’t a matter of trickery anymore, so the hunter had to know. He asked her why her game was.

“Why are you doing this? What's the point?”

“What else would the point be, I want to die. I-I’m tired of people being hurt because of me!”

She pulled his hand closer to her chest, she placed it under the sheet covering her body. He was shocked to feel what was there, it was a wooden stake. It was properly consecrated to, he could tell by the burn marks on her hands. He could feel his pulse rise seeing the sincerity she had, then the woman spoke in a shaky voice.

“I tried so hard, I’ve tried countless times. I was so scared, I couldn’t do it. I…I would sleep that night and pray tomorrow I’d go back to normal. Instead I’d wake up covered in blood, surrounded by dead. I’m tired of that disgusting smell, I’m tired of hurting people, and most of all I’m tired of hating myself!”

She pushes the stake in his hand deeper, the hunter could feel the blood seeping out her chest. The hunter tried to steel himself, he tried to fulfill the duty he came to do. However, he couldn’t steady his breathing, he knew this wasn’t right. Soon he felt something warm fall on his arm, he looked up to see her in tears.

“Finally, this will all end. I’m sorry momma, I don’t think I’ll be able to meet you on the other side.”

The woman closed her eyes as if to pray, it was like she was pleading for a quick death. The hunters couldn’t take it anymore, he ripped the stake from her flesh. The woman’s face paled as he rejected her wishes, the man then slapped her. It wasn’t out of anger, he didn’t know what emotion it was, or why he said his next words.

“You idiot, don’t be so quick to throw your life away! You feel regret for your actions, then li-”

She slapped him, hard and solid. The hunter felt his jaw vibrate, and the woman stared at him in tears.

“Y-you bastard, You’re A Bastard! You promised you’d kill me! Don’t be a coward, do it. Finish me! Please, just kill me! I-I’m too weak to do this alone…”

The woman held her face and wept in despair. The sheet covering her body fell, and the hunter’s face twisted in horror. Her body was covered in scars and injuries, some most likely from battle and others from previous attempts. This woman begged for death, yet carried constant proof that she survived, at that moment the hunter didn’t see a monster anymore. He saw a woman left alone in the dark, he picked up her sheet and covered her body. The woman hesitated, as the hunter opened his mouth.

“I’ll never leave your side, I’ll keep watching you for the rest of your life. If you kill again, I’ll kill you, so please never ask for such a thing again.”

The woman blushed at the hunter’s sincerity, and accepted his terms. The hunter began to move away, hoping to get back to his inn before it rained. Instead, the woman hugged him from behind. He was shocked by this, he almost thought it was a surprise attack. Instead, fate had other plans.

“It’s dark out, and the wolves around these parts will surely devour you. So, please stay the night here with me.”

The hunter was speechless, the woman’s arms trembling around him.

“Please, I want to stay true to your words. So please watch me closely, I’ll even make dinner for you. I have fresh meat in the pantry, I lack wine so hopefully milk or fruit juice will do.”

“...That sounds delightful.”

The man turned around and walked inside with the woman, through the same door she broke down.

****

“And then some time down the line, you were born! Our precious angel!”

My mother proclaimed proudly as her and my father finished their story, although it gets cornier every time I hear it. Speaking of which…

“Mom, Dad, why did you guys tell me your love story again?”

My mother looked up at my father, being held in his arms in a bridal carry. They smiled at me and asked me a genuine question.

““When Can we expect to see our first grandchild?””

….These two lovebirds-

“You Two Are Insane!”