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Description
Samaiel slowly opened his eyes. It had been a long, restless night, and he was still exhausted. He sat in his bed for a moment, waiting for his eyes to adjust to the light. He got up, dressed in his embroidered tunic and his ivory-colored greatcoat, and began to root through his things. His room was filled with paintings of a beautiful maiden in immaculate clothing. He easily found what he was looking for. It was a calendar, and the current date was marked with a furiously scrawled X. He picked it up, hands trembling. He felt tears gathering in his eyes, flowing slowly down the length of his smooth, pale face, finally getting caught within his long black hair.
Today’s the day, he thought. I must see her... one more time.
He solemnly walked the streets of the small village he called home. It was a small, yet elegant place, with marble buildings and hoses designed with many arches and towers. The rising sun reflected off the shining surfaces, creating a warm, red glow. A small lake could be seen from here, on the very outskirts of town. This was where they had agreed to meet. It was still very early in the morning, but he had decided to go and wait for her as soon as he awoke. If there was anything in the world worth his patience, it was this.
The lake was small, yet glorious. Its clear waters reflected the orange of the sun, and it looked to Samaiel as though the water was a radiant gem of the greatest beauty. There beside the lake stood an old willow tree, with a small wooden swing hung carefully from its extended bough. She stood leaning against the tree, already waiting for Samaiel to appear.
As he regarded the girl from the painting’s elegant form, he felt a warm glow expand within his bosom. She had long ebony hair, in which she wore a clover circlet. She was wearing a beautiful gown of the highest quality, laced with silver and adorned with gems. Her pale skin and her beautiful eyes seemed to give off a light all their own.
“You look beautiful as always, Anemonae,” he said quietly.
She looked up and offered a warm yet sad smile. “So do you.”
They stepped forward, embracing each other. The warmth of her body, her perfume’s elegant fragrance, and the heat of her breath against his chest all converged into the purest of emotions, the feelings they’d had for each other since their childhood. They stood holding one another for a long time.
Anemonae sat facing the lake on the swing. “Hey, Samaiel,” she said, looking up at him with a smile.
“Yes?”
“Could you… push me?”
Samaiel laughed softly, and positioned himself behind the swing, pushing it gently, watching her glide back and forth over the beautiful waters. He was enthralled by her grace, the way her hair flowed as though she were underwater, despite her childlike appearance on the swing. As the sun rose from beneath the clear waters of the lake which held his most cherished memories, wrapping her in a radiant glow, Samaiel swore she looked like an angel ascending to the heavens.
“Today’s our last day, isn’t it?” she asked softly. Her head rested against his shoulder. Samaiel turned to look at her, softly stroking her hair. “I… suppose it is.” He felt a heavy emptiness in his heart as he regarded her, memories racing through his head. “You are the patriarch’s daughter, after all… I am but a simple mercenary. We both knew the day would come when you would be married to a noble man like Mercucio…
“But you’re not just a mercenary!” she cried defiantly. “Everyone knows you’re the greatest swordsman in the country! You’ve protected our village for years!” Her voice cracked and dropped to a near whisper. “If anyone deserves to marry me, it’s you, and only you…” she placed her face in her hands and began to cry.
Looking at the sun, Samaiel could see that the hour of Anemonae and Mercucio’s ceremony was close at hand. He stood up somberly and offered her his hand. “It’s time for you to get ready, Anemonae.” Taking his hand, she slowly rose to her feet. He could see tears dancing amidst the beauty of her pale blue eyes. Hand in hand, the pair began their voyage back to the village in silence.
After walking for some time, they arrived at the patriarch’s mansion, Anemonae’s home. As Samaiel turned to say goodbye, he was interrupted by Anemonae thowing herself into his arms. “Samaiel… let’s just leave. You could take me with you… on one of your journeys…” Her voice was high pitched and desperate. “We could be together all the time, and we wouldn’t ever have to worry about… about…”
Samaiel shook his head sadly. “If we simply left, I would become a fugitive. The patriarch would issue a warrant for my execution, and if you were with me, you would be in danger of being killed by bounty hunters. I would never forgive myself if I let that happen to you.”
Anemonae tightened her grip. “But… Samaiel…” Her words were choked with tears. “Then… Please come inside, while we still have some time. I have one more favor I have to ask of you…”
Led by her hand, Samaiel allowed Anemonae to bring him into the mansion. It was the largest house he’d ever been in. The walls were adorned with various paintings of Anemonae’s ancestors. She led him up a spiral staircase, at the end of which stood a large wooden door. “Please come inside, Samaiel,” she whispered. He had never been inside her room before. It was nearly the size of his cottage.
Anemonae set out a large ring of candles, lighting them with her signature speed and grace. Their aroma brought memories back to Samaiel: she had always made him these special scented candles when he was recovering from sickness or injury after returning from his travels.
“Samaiel…” Anemonae’s gaze seemed to flow throughout his body, into the very recesses of his soul. “I’ve never shared my bed with a man before. Starting today, I’m going to be obligated to bear Mercucio’s children…” She spoke softly, abhorring the idea. She took a quick glance outside and locked the door. “Before that happens… I… I…” She shyly began unbuttoning her gown.
“I want my first time to be with you.”
Samaiel had always known she was beautiful, but in this light, seeing her unbridled form before him, he could scarcely believe such an immaculate being could exist. In this moment, as he looked into the eyes which held the purest love for him, it seemed that the world was created only for them.
“Alright, Anemonae,” he said, slowly removing his tunic, “I accept you.
The two lovers lost themselves in each other’s euphoric embrace. The softness of Anemonae’s skin, the feel of Samaiel’s lips against hers, a salty kiss, seasoned by their tears. The feeling of each other’s bodies against their own felt more natural and real than anything they had ever experienced before. Lost within their tender feelings of love and of sorrow, they did not hear the Rosa’s footsteps approaching, nor did they notice the gaze of the curious maid, observing their act through the keyhole.

Samaiel left Anemonae’s room through an open window, and climbed down the side of the mansion. It was beginning to get dark, and Anemonae had to prepare for her ceremony. He took one last longing look at her window, and then turned to his shack, only to find the end of a spear pointed in his face.
“Where do you think you’re going?” He was surrounded by armored guards on horseback. He instinctively reached for his sword, only to realize that he had left it in his cottage. “Damn,” he muttered under his breath. He leapt quickly, kicking one of the guards off of his horse, positioning himself onto the terrified beast. “Fly!” He gave the horse a sharp kick in the sides and fled the scene, the guards in hot pursuit.
He rode swiftly, fleeing into the surrounding woods. He felt a burning pain in his shoulder. Archers were posted in the trees, ambushing him. The burning arrow he had been hit by had set his tunic aflame, and his panicking horse threw him to the ground, running off into the forest. “Damn it all!” he shouted, his situation dire. He was quickly surrounded once more.
“You thought you could escape unarmed? Hmph. Samaiel Baedilithe, we’ll see you dead for this.”
The guards quickly bound and gagged him. Tying a rope around his feet, they attached it to the back of a horse’s saddle, dragging him back to town.

“Samaiel Baedilithe!” a fat man shouted at him from below the gallows. “You have been found guilty of treason of the highest degree!” The charges were false, but the patriarch had complete influence over the entire village. “The punishment for this is death!”
A large, masked man with an enormous halberd approached. “Due to the nature of your crime, you shall have your heart cut out from your chest, and you will then be left to bleed until dead. Do you have any last words?” Samaiel looked to the highest ring of the coliseum in which he now stood, to see the newly-wed couple staring down at him, the beautiful bride who stood with tears in her eyes. He forced a smile. “I love you endlessly and with all my being, Anemonae!”
As the blade pierced his chest, and as his still-beating heart fell to the ground, he flashed her the most beautiful smile his face had ever shown.

Samaiel floated in a dark, featureless abyss. Before him stood a dark figure, camouflaged against the infinite blackness of this place. What could be seen, however, was the massive eye which rested on the figure’s chest. “Who are you?” Samaiel asked. The figure didn’t answer his question. Instead, it approached him, black tendrils with tiny hands holding his face, examining it. Finally, the figure spoke.
“That just wasn’t fair now, was it, Samaiel?” The voice was deep, seeming to whisper and shout at the same time.
“So, is this death?” Samaiel spoke evenly, without fear. He had steeled himself for this moment for his entire life: it came with the business.
The figure shook its head. “You have died, but I have come to give you… an alternative.” A faint smile appeared on the face of the creature. “I can bring you back to the world of the… living, if you so desire. I can reunite you with your… darling Anemonae, if you’ll agree to the terms of my… contract.”
“And what do you expect in exchange for this?” Samaiel asked suspiciously.
The figure shook its head again. “What I want out of you, Samaiel Baedilithe, you will eventually accomplish of your own… free will. I have no need to ask you for anything. My offer is to allow you to walk the earth once more, as the embodiment of… death… to be the opposing force to… life. You are the only one whose soul is strong enough to fulfill this… request. It will be your… duty to take the souls of those who dwell in the world of the living. In this way, you will be able to… live on for eternity.”
“And I will be able to live as I choose? Will I be able to live the life I left behind?”
“Your freedom will be… absolute.”
“Very well, then. I accept the conditions of your contract.” As he spoke these words, Samaiel could feel himself slipping, being pulled upwards, and being brought into a blinding light.

He rose from the ground, and felt his chest. The hole where his heart ha been cut out had been filled by and enormous eye, which pulsed as though it were a beating heart. From this eye, he could see the walking souls of every criminal who had been executed in this place. Disturbed, he closed they eye, covering it with his torn and tattered tunic. His only thought was of Anemonae as he slowly made his way to the mansion of the patriarch.
He reached the building, huddled under his torn, ragged greatcoat. If anyone saw his face, surely chaos would break out amidst the village. As he lifted his hand to knock on the door, he noticed a carriage being drawn toward the lake of his childhood. He glided silently after it.
The carriage stopped in front of the willow, where the swing the two of them had so cherished hung so delicately. He saw Anemonae step down from the carriage, and felt the same elation within his breast as he did every time he saw her. As he approached her, he noticed a sword at her hip. He had never seen nor envisioned Anemonae carrying a sword. She drew it slowly, wading into the lake.
As Samaiel stepped out from behind the carriage, his eyes widened at what he saw. Anemonae was holding the blade of the sword to her neck. Throwing off his coat, he dashed toward her, shouting. “Anemonae! Anemonae!!” Hearing his voice, she quickly whirled around.

Too quickly.

The sword pressed against the delicate flesh of her neck as she moved, making a vicious cut from which a fountain of blood poured. Samaiel ran as fast as he could into the water, catching her in his arms as she fell. “S-Samaiel…” She struggled to speak. “How…?”
“No! Anemonae, don’t speak! We… we have to get you medical attention immediately!”
She slowly shook her head. “I’m sorry, Samaiel… I’m so sorry…” She began to shiver. “I’m just… so happy I could see your face one more time…”
“Anemonae…” Samaiel could feel his tears streaming down his face, falling from his jaw onto her soft cheeks. “I promise you, Anemonae… I will find you in the next life. Then… we can do everything we always dreamed of, together. Anemonae…”
Her pale, adoring eyes met with his, and she smiled warmly up at him. “I love you so much, Samaiel.”
“And I you, Anemonae.”
She reached up and touched his face with her warm, tender hand. “You’re… cold…” Slowly, her hand fell, and her eyes rolled into the back of her head.
Samaiel’s vision was so clouded in tears that he could no longer distinguish her figure. It was all he could do to call out her name, screaming it at the top of his lungs, the loudest, most beastly noise he had ever made.

Samaiel walked Anemonae’s body as far into the lake as he could. He held her to his breast, kissing her one last time. I promise you, Anemonae… I’ll find you. With his final promise to her, he watched as the person he’d loved since his earliest days sank to the bottom of the lake, which now and forever would truly hold his most precious memories.
He walked back to shore and picked up her sword. At his touch, it almost seemed to come to life, as though it had a pulse. Looking at the blade, it seemed to transform slightly, indistinct features clouded by the reality of the weapon, as though it were the embryo of an unborn life form. As he thought this, he felt something leaving him, although he could not pinpoint what it was. He recalled his reflection in the lake. His skin was as pale as white as ashes left from a long dead fire, and his har had become as white as snow. I must have been dead for longer than I thought… He opened his tunic and examined the eye on his chest, which returned his gaze.
So I am now the embodiment of death… He stared into the clear, beautiful waters of the lake. Then, with this eye, I will find her reincarnation. I swear it. He laughed softly to himself.

Let’s start with the Patriarch…

Description
Samaiel slowly opened his eyes. It had been a long, restless night, and he was still exhausted. He sat in his bed for a moment, waiting for his eyes to adjust to the light. He got up, dressed in his embroidered tunic and his ivory-colored greatcoat, and began to root through his things. His room was filled with paintings of a beautiful maiden in immaculate clothing. He easily found what he was looking for. It was a calendar, and the current date was marked with a furiously scrawled X. He picked it up, hands trembling. He felt tears gathering in his eyes, flowing slowly down the length of his smooth, pale face, finally getting caught within his long black hair.
Today’s the day, he thought. I must see her... one more time.
He solemnly walked the streets of the small village he called home. It was a small, yet elegant place, with marble buildings and hoses designed with many arches and towers. The rising sun reflected off the shining surfaces, creating a warm, red glow. A small lake could be seen from here, on the very outskirts of town. This was where they had agreed to meet. It was still very early in the morning, but he had decided to go and wait for her as soon as he awoke. If there was anything in the world worth his patience, it was this.
The lake was small, yet glorious. Its clear waters reflected the orange of the sun, and it looked to Samaiel as though the water was a radiant gem of the greatest beauty. There beside the lake stood an old willow tree, with a small wooden swing hung carefully from its extended bough. She stood leaning against the tree, already waiting for Samaiel to appear.
As he regarded the girl from the painting’s elegant form, he felt a warm glow expand within his bosom. She had long ebony hair, in which she wore a clover circlet. She was wearing a beautiful gown of the highest quality, laced with silver and adorned with gems. Her pale skin and her beautiful eyes seemed to give off a light all their own.
“You look beautiful as always, Anemonae,” he said quietly.
She looked up and offered a warm yet sad smile. “So do you.”
They stepped forward, embracing each other. The warmth of her body, her perfume’s elegant fragrance, and the heat of her breath against his chest all converged into the purest of emotions, the feelings they’d had for each other since their childhood. They stood holding one another for a long time.
Anemonae sat facing the lake on the swing. “Hey, Samaiel,” she said, looking up at him with a smile.
“Yes?”
“Could you… push me?”
Samaiel laughed softly, and positioned himself behind the swing, pushing it gently, watching her glide back and forth over the beautiful waters. He was enthralled by her grace, the way her hair flowed as though she were underwater, despite her childlike appearance on the swing. As the sun rose from beneath the clear waters of the lake which held his most cherished memories, wrapping her in a radiant glow, Samaiel swore she looked like an angel ascending to the heavens.
“Today’s our last day, isn’t it?” she asked softly. Her head rested against his shoulder. Samaiel turned to look at her, softly stroking her hair. “I… suppose it is.” He felt a heavy emptiness in his heart as he regarded her, memories racing through his head. “You are the patriarch’s daughter, after all… I am but a simple mercenary. We both knew the day would come when you would be married to a noble man like Mercucio…
“But you’re not just a mercenary!” she cried defiantly. “Everyone knows you’re the greatest swordsman in the country! You’ve protected our village for years!” Her voice cracked and dropped to a near whisper. “If anyone deserves to marry me, it’s you, and only you…” she placed her face in her hands and began to cry.
Looking at the sun, Samaiel could see that the hour of Anemonae and Mercucio’s ceremony was close at hand. He stood up somberly and offered her his hand. “It’s time for you to get ready, Anemonae.” Taking his hand, she slowly rose to her feet. He could see tears dancing amidst the beauty of her pale blue eyes. Hand in hand, the pair began their voyage back to the village in silence.
After walking for some time, they arrived at the patriarch’s mansion, Anemonae’s home. As Samaiel turned to say goodbye, he was interrupted by Anemonae thowing herself into his arms. “Samaiel… let’s just leave. You could take me with you… on one of your journeys…” Her voice was high pitched and desperate. “We could be together all the time, and we wouldn’t ever have to worry about… about…”
Samaiel shook his head sadly. “If we simply left, I would become a fugitive. The patriarch would issue a warrant for my execution, and if you were with me, you would be in danger of being killed by bounty hunters. I would never forgive myself if I let that happen to you.”
Anemonae tightened her grip. “But… Samaiel…” Her words were choked with tears. “Then… Please come inside, while we still have some time. I have one more favor I have to ask of you…”
Led by her hand, Samaiel allowed Anemonae to bring him into the mansion. It was the largest house he’d ever been in. The walls were adorned with various paintings of Anemonae’s ancestors. She led him up a spiral staircase, at the end of which stood a large wooden door. “Please come inside, Samaiel,” she whispered. He had never been inside her room before. It was nearly the size of his cottage.
Anemonae set out a large ring of candles, lighting them with her signature speed and grace. Their aroma brought memories back to Samaiel: she had always made him these special scented candles when he was recovering from sickness or injury after returning from his travels.
“Samaiel…” Anemonae’s gaze seemed to flow throughout his body, into the very recesses of his soul. “I’ve never shared my bed with a man before. Starting today, I’m going to be obligated to bear Mercucio’s children…” She spoke softly, abhorring the idea. She took a quick glance outside and locked the door. “Before that happens… I… I…” She shyly began unbuttoning her gown.
“I want my first time to be with you.”
Samaiel had always known she was beautiful, but in this light, seeing her unbridled form before him, he could scarcely believe such an immaculate being could exist. In this moment, as he looked into the eyes which held the purest love for him, it seemed that the world was created only for them.
“Alright, Anemonae,” he said, slowly removing his tunic, “I accept you.
The two lovers lost themselves in each other’s euphoric embrace. The softness of Anemonae’s skin, the feel of Samaiel’s lips against hers, a salty kiss, seasoned by their tears. The feeling of each other’s bodies against their own felt more natural and real than anything they had ever experienced before. Lost within their tender feelings of love and of sorrow, they did not hear the Rosa’s footsteps approaching, nor did they notice the gaze of the curious maid, observing their act through the keyhole.

Samaiel left Anemonae’s room through an open window, and climbed down the side of the mansion. It was beginning to get dark, and Anemonae had to prepare for her ceremony. He took one last longing look at her window, and then turned to his shack, only to find the end of a spear pointed in his face.
“Where do you think you’re going?” He was surrounded by armored guards on horseback. He instinctively reached for his sword, only to realize that he had left it in his cottage. “Damn,” he muttered under his breath. He leapt quickly, kicking one of the guards off of his horse, positioning himself onto the terrified beast. “Fly!” He gave the horse a sharp kick in the sides and fled the scene, the guards in hot pursuit.
He rode swiftly, fleeing into the surrounding woods. He felt a burning pain in his shoulder. Archers were posted in the trees, ambushing him. The burning arrow he had been hit by had set his tunic aflame, and his panicking horse threw him to the ground, running off into the forest. “Damn it all!” he shouted, his situation dire. He was quickly surrounded once more.
“You thought you could escape unarmed? Hmph. Samaiel Baedilithe, we’ll see you dead for this.”
The guards quickly bound and gagged him. Tying a rope around his feet, they attached it to the back of a horse’s saddle, dragging him back to town.

“Samaiel Baedilithe!” a fat man shouted at him from below the gallows. “You have been found guilty of treason of the highest degree!” The charges were false, but the patriarch had complete influence over the entire village. “The punishment for this is death!”
A large, masked man with an enormous halberd approached. “Due to the nature of your crime, you shall have your heart cut out from your chest, and you will then be left to bleed until dead. Do you have any last words?” Samaiel looked to the highest ring of the coliseum in which he now stood, to see the newly-wed couple staring down at him, the beautiful bride who stood with tears in her eyes. He forced a smile. “I love you endlessly and with all my being, Anemonae!”
As the blade pierced his chest, and as his still-beating heart fell to the ground, he flashed her the most beautiful smile his face had ever shown.

Samaiel floated in a dark, featureless abyss. Before him stood a dark figure, camouflaged against the infinite blackness of this place. What could be seen, however, was the massive eye which rested on the figure’s chest. “Who are you?” Samaiel asked. The figure didn’t answer his question. Instead, it approached him, black tendrils with tiny hands holding his face, examining it. Finally, the figure spoke.
“That just wasn’t fair now, was it, Samaiel?” The voice was deep, seeming to whisper and shout at the same time.
“So, is this death?” Samaiel spoke evenly, without fear. He had steeled himself for this moment for his entire life: it came with the business.
The figure shook its head. “You have died, but I have come to give you… an alternative.” A faint smile appeared on the face of the creature. “I can bring you back to the world of the… living, if you so desire. I can reunite you with your… darling Anemonae, if you’ll agree to the terms of my… contract.”
“And what do you expect in exchange for this?” Samaiel asked suspiciously.
The figure shook its head again. “What I want out of you, Samaiel Baedilithe, you will eventually accomplish of your own… free will. I have no need to ask you for anything. My offer is to allow you to walk the earth once more, as the embodiment of… death… to be the opposing force to… life. You are the only one whose soul is strong enough to fulfill this… request. It will be your… duty to take the souls of those who dwell in the world of the living. In this way, you will be able to… live on for eternity.”
“And I will be able to live as I choose? Will I be able to live the life I left behind?”
“Your freedom will be… absolute.”
“Very well, then. I accept the conditions of your contract.” As he spoke these words, Samaiel could feel himself slipping, being pulled upwards, and being brought into a blinding light.

He rose from the ground, and felt his chest. The hole where his heart ha been cut out had been filled by and enormous eye, which pulsed as though it were a beating heart. From this eye, he could see the walking souls of every criminal who had been executed in this place. Disturbed, he closed they eye, covering it with his torn and tattered tunic. His only thought was of Anemonae as he slowly made his way to the mansion of the patriarch.
He reached the building, huddled under his torn, ragged greatcoat. If anyone saw his face, surely chaos would break out amidst the village. As he lifted his hand to knock on the door, he noticed a carriage being drawn toward the lake of his childhood. He glided silently after it.
The carriage stopped in front of the willow, where the swing the two of them had so cherished hung so delicately. He saw Anemonae step down from the carriage, and felt the same elation within his breast as he did every time he saw her. As he approached her, he noticed a sword at her hip. He had never seen nor envisioned Anemonae carrying a sword. She drew it slowly, wading into the lake.
As Samaiel stepped out from behind the carriage, his eyes widened at what he saw. Anemonae was holding the blade of the sword to her neck. Throwing off his coat, he dashed toward her, shouting. “Anemonae! Anemonae!!” Hearing his voice, she quickly whirled around.

Too quickly.

The sword pressed against the delicate flesh of her neck as she moved, making a vicious cut from which a fountain of blood poured. Samaiel ran as fast as he could into the water, catching her in his arms as she fell. “S-Samaiel…” She struggled to speak. “How…?”
“No! Anemonae, don’t speak! We… we have to get you medical attention immediately!”
She slowly shook her head. “I’m sorry, Samaiel… I’m so sorry…” She began to shiver. “I’m just… so happy I could see your face one more time…”
“Anemonae…” Samaiel could feel his tears streaming down his face, falling from his jaw onto her soft cheeks. “I promise you, Anemonae… I will find you in the next life. Then… we can do everything we always dreamed of, together. Anemonae…”
Her pale, adoring eyes met with his, and she smiled warmly up at him. “I love you so much, Samaiel.”
“And I you, Anemonae.”
She reached up and touched his face with her warm, tender hand. “You’re… cold…” Slowly, her hand fell, and her eyes rolled into the back of her head.
Samaiel’s vision was so clouded in tears that he could no longer distinguish her figure. It was all he could do to call out her name, screaming it at the top of his lungs, the loudest, most beastly noise he had ever made.

Samaiel walked Anemonae’s body as far into the lake as he could. He held her to his breast, kissing her one last time. I promise you, Anemonae… I’ll find you. With his final promise to her, he watched as the person he’d loved since his earliest days sank to the bottom of the lake, which now and forever would truly hold his most precious memories.
He walked back to shore and picked up her sword. At his touch, it almost seemed to come to life, as though it had a pulse. Looking at the blade, it seemed to transform slightly, indistinct features clouded by the reality of the weapon, as though it were the embryo of an unborn life form. As he thought this, he felt something leaving him, although he could not pinpoint what it was. He recalled his reflection in the lake. His skin was as pale as white as ashes left from a long dead fire, and his har had become as white as snow. I must have been dead for longer than I thought… He opened his tunic and examined the eye on his chest, which returned his gaze.
So I am now the embodiment of death… He stared into the clear, beautiful waters of the lake. Then, with this eye, I will find her reincarnation. I swear it. He laughed softly to himself.

Let’s start with the Patriarch…