Chapter Text
“Be wary of who you give your heart to.”
The witch’s face drops. His hands fall to his sides and the ceramic bowl shatters into pieces below his boots. Intricate designs turn to dust in seconds.
The dagger in Locien’s hand flashes towards the other’s heart without warning.
A quick phrase splits from Louis' lips and Locien is thrown backwards, crashing into one of the marble pillars of the room. Ice blue eyes look up in shook, radiating with the confusion. The error only takes a second to register in Louis' mind.
“Locien?” Louis’ voice wavers.
“I thought you wanted this,” the elf’s voice echoes in his head. But he was going to kill me! Louis bites his lip, wringing his skinny hands as he shuffles a few steps towards his lover. It was a part of the spell. How could I think such a thing?
But that flash. He saw it for only a second before he reacted so terribly. Hatred, greed, lust, but no love; the starvation that can only be filled by power.
“I am so sorry, you scared me. I was not expecting it,” Louis' voice fills with worry as he finally takes the last steps to help Locien up. He goes to pull Locien to his feet, but the elf pulls Louis down to kneel beside him on the ground.
“Your hair looks lovely in the morning light you know,” he mutters, raising a hand to brush back a strand. Louis sighs, leaning his forehead onto the armor clad shoulder. “I understand you are terrified right now, but no one has ever held as much power as you. This is all that is left, and then you will return to live forever by my side.”
“Forever,” Louis muses, “could never be long enough to spend with you.” Silence strays throughout the open chamber. Locien pulls Louis forward, pressing a kiss to his lips. There’s a force behind it - not the thrilling and passionate kind, more rough and uncaring. Not until today did Locien ever kiss him without a tenderness. Louis shakes this thought from his head. Locien loves him, and even though they may not be soulmates, he knows what he feels is true. He is excited for our future, living together for the rest of eternity is a big thing.
Locien wraps his arms around Louis, one hand still clutching the dagger. “It is okay. I am ready,” Louis grows uncomfortable as Locien moves a hand between them. The tip of the dagger digs into Louis' chest.
“I love you, darling.
“I lo-” Louis' voice cuts off with a sharp gasp, his eyes flicker wildly and his muscles go stiff. He tries to swallow the lump in his throat in effort to finish the words, but it remains. A few more spluttered gasps leave as he feels his robes growing soaked with his own lifeblood. Locien pulls his hand backwards and Louis groans as the dagger is removed, further injuring his chest.
He slouches against the elf for support as darkness begins to paint his vision. Locien simply keeps his arms around the witch, not offering any words to comfort his dying love. Louis' attempted reply remains in his throat as his eyes finally flutter close and his breathing slows. Sharp pain previously in his chest fades away, dragging him with it, into oblivion.
Locien drops him to the ground. The elf can’t keep his grin off of his face as he reaches into the witch’s chest. His fist encloses around the heart, and he pulls it out.
He doesn’t bother with the blood spilling from his “lover’s” chest as he takes the bright heart to a table. With no hesitation he begins binding Louis' heart. Louis is the most powerful witch Locien has ever known, it would be a shame if he didn’t take the power so easily available by the false promise of love.
He channels the power from the heart, more than he had foreseen, and feels it begin to rush into his own body. Of course the witch still has magic capabilities, but he will be weak for days. Even then it will take ages if he can even return to his previous strength. Locien moves to Louis, ensuring he will continue to live without his heart - at least until the nigrum spreads throughout all of the witch’s veins.
Louis wakes long after Locien is done. The sky is dark, and from inside he can hear crickets chirping from outside. The river outside the window rushes peacefully.
“Locien?” Louis tries, sitting up. His chest burns and his body aches from lying on the hard floor.
Locien does nothing but clear his throat. He waits for Louis' eyes to adjust in the dark and finally see him.
Louis' eyes begin to water as he stands himself up, pain shooting into his chest as if he’s being stabbed again and again and again . “Locien? Are you going to help me?” Louis tries, desperate for a reply from the elf. The witch falls to his knees, his hands covering the open wound on his chest. Blood seeps out, adding to the liquid having already stained his clothes. “Have you put my heart back in? Why did you not close my chest?”
Locien stands and approaches Louis. “My boy, do not mistake me for someone else.”
Louis feels as if he’s sinking into the floor. A sob heaves out of his chest as he looks up to Locien. “What are you talking about?”
“You are perhaps the strongest witch I have ever known - at least you were - but did you realize just how easy it is to manipulate you? It is saddening, really.” Louis screams in pain once Locien throws his heart onto the floor. It illuminates the room as it rolls towards him. “You trust too easy, you are now weak and without a heart.”
“I will take my heart and leave you.” Louis' lip shakes as he tries his best to counter the elf.
“You cannot leave me. I have control over your power, when I like I will drain your energy from your body and use it to my benefit. You will be left without an ounce of power. You can try and fight me now, but you will surely die from too much exertion, only to come back to life more weak than before.” Locien grabs Louis' heart from the floor, keeping it out of reach of the other.
As the elf moves, Louis heaves himself off of the ground and stumbles to the window. Without looking back, he jumps out and splashes into the river below. A wave of defeat floods over him, and he blacks out as his body is carried down the river.
Locien laughs, knowing the other won't make it far.