Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

With a dull sound, his body fell to the ground. Dust whirled up from the antique carpet and laid itself onto his designer suit. Shit, His masters managed to catch him. He’d never thought they would come close to his secrets, yet here he was, his body ageing rapidly. His secret… he’d always had secrets, even as a mortal.
His mortal life had been as dangerous as his immortal one. Of all secrets, he had never thought that an affair would kill him. Stupid. The immortal had broken his own rules. For most of his long life, he told himself that Love was forbidden for him.

"John! Oh my god, – John!”

Doctor John Dee opened his eyes and glanced into slate grey eyes. His vision has already gotten terrible.
“You have to stay calm”, the voice – a female voice – pleaded. “Please stay! John!”
Dee wanted to reply he would try to stay, but he knew that was dying at this very moment. The face of the woman – a pretty, fine-boned face – moved away a few inches. Tears streamed down her face.
"Virginia..." he whispered his breaths short. The end was coming and there were many things he wanted to confess. A long list, yet the only one he could think of was about her. She should know.
Virginia Dare shushed him, as she desperately tried to think of a way to save his life. “Don’t talk! Save your powers.”
But the doctor let out a ragged cough. His end was near, he could feel death approaching. "You know I’ve never been very sentimental about anything…” there was a small break in which he gasped for air; her hand found his. “I've always loved you, and made the terrible mistake...of breaking your heart..."

"It doesn't matter, John. Just promise me you'll live, okay?”
A small smile appeared on his dry lips. "I'm dying… Dare..."
“I don’t want this to be the end”, Virginia admitted. The woman's tears fell onto the man's wrinkled face, which by now was almost unrecognizable, while his body started to crumble. "I love you too..." she whispered, hoping he would still hear it before he closed his eyes.

What was left by the feared immortal Doctor John Dee was a pile of dust in an expensive suit am a weeping Virginia Dare crying in despair.
The only person she truly had ever loved had died from a tiny touch by his elders.

Chapter Text

Choking, the alchemist slumped to the ground.
This was how he was going to die, at the hands of non-other than Doctor John Dee. His eyes were blurred, as he tried to catch his breath, which seemed impossible. Whatever magic Dee had used, what powder he had used, it made breathing harder. It felt like someone was choking him with bare hands. All above, he had not thought he would die without his wife by his side. Well, he had thought about this outcome serval times but never took it for it that it might become a true event.

From a distance, he heard screaming. It sounded strangely familiar and yet, he was not able to figure out who or what was screaming. Maybe it was Dee’s victory scream, who knew it?

Yet in the next moment his wife, also affected by old age, stumbled next to him. It was she who had shouted. Old French, the language of their youth. Her Breton accent bled through the French. She shouted his name serval times, before a “Don’t you dare to die here!” left her mouth. It cost her a great afford to turn him onto his side, patting his back violently, as this would help clear his throat. And to his and her surprise, he spat out a silvery-bronze-coloured substance.

"Perry..." the alchemist croaked, as he tried to look at his wife. She was as beautiful as always. Even with the tiny wrinkles that started to form towards the of the month. Her glance was beyond worried, as he felt his muscles grow stiff.
"You are going to survive, okay? You will get over this!”
Nick reached up with his left hand and gently tried to pat her cheek. “You are so strong… so…”
She caught his hand.
“Nicholas, you will get over it,” she repeated herself, using his full name as if it was a threat.
“We both…know that…I'm going to die…” his voice was barely a whisper, as he spat another batch of the substance.
“I will personally kick your ass if you die now, Nicholas!" hissed Perry, as she fought back the tears. How could she live without him? Helpless she tried to help him get the substance from his throat, as words slurred from him.
“… ’m not afraid of you kicking my ass right now….” His breath slowed.
"Nick!" Perry’s voice was packed with panic, and it was usual for her.
“… Listen, Pere…nelle. I have always loved you; you were… my whole world. I did…everything… only... for… you…”
A loud cry swapped from her lips, as his chest stopped rising and falling.
"I've always loved you too Nicholas Flamel..." she whispered, observing terrified as his eyes lost their shine.

Chapter Text

With a heavy sigh, Aoife of the Shadows sank to the ground, bleeding profusely. Her right shoulder ached painfully. Was that how she was going to die? Killed by a chimera? Dying without any honour? What a shame, she thought, killed by a beast. Trying to recall the fight, she blinked at the stone formation on the cave ceiling. Of course, she had been on the winning side for most of the fight until a faraway roar and a familiar scream caught her attention. Angrily she had reached for her second sword but it had got stuck in the case. But that second it took her to yank out the sword, the beast had bitten off her right arm, and its sour drool started to rot away her bones.

Someone approached her quickly, sand swirling around her face as the person stopped beside her, and dropped to their knees. Their hands started to clench around her wound. Aoife hissed at the touch.
“Aoife!” The person shouted into her ear as if her ear had been bitten off.
“Perfect timing, Niten…” Aoife tried to joke, smiling through the pain. “…as usual.”
‘You’re not going to die”, Niten says before he kisses her briefly, “You’re one of the Shadow twins. You two don’t die that quickly! Just hold on a little longer!”
But Aoife of the Shadows knew her time was coming to an end. She could sense the coldness approaching her. And yet, death was taking its sweet time to get her.
“It will happen, Niten. We know it will.” Her voice was low and she tried to read his mind but couldn’t. Why couldn’t she?
“Oh no! YOU are not going to die today! Not under my watch!” He particularly emphasised you. Niten hadn’t thought that this day would come so soon, as they hadn’t been married long and already, he was losing her. Tears started to swell up in his eyes and he cursed in his mother tongue, which made her smile again, revealing her sharp teeth.
“I've lost so much already...”, she started, words being difficult to get together by now, “but losing you is the tip of the iceberg…” Aoife groaned as a cold breeze brushed over her body. Was this death arriving? “...I love you. I love you through the entirety of the shadow realms and back, do you know that?”
Tears ran down her husband’s cheeks as he nodded. Gently, he heaved her into his lap, not caring about his amour getting blood-soaked. “I love you too, Effy.”

They sat there in silence until Aoife suddenly let out her war cry, startling Niten, as her eyes snapped wild open in shock while her lips formed in silent words. Alarmed, Niten tried to read her lips, but couldn’t make out her final words…