9 Layers

[Clairvoiance]

"I can bring her back. She isn't dead....I can bring her to you..." She thought hesitantly and then bit her lip in hopes to digest her next words better, "but I can't stay."


Aria put her hand over Karlisles, " let me find Fayte. He will banish me back and I can get Mia. I know I can get them to let her go."

 

[Kitsune]

"I'm coming with you."


Karlisle clung to her hand and drew her in closer for a hug.


"but not before you stay a moment longer."

 

[Clairvoiance]

A moment longer....


She felt his hand grasp hers and felt herself being drawn towards him with a steady pull. Her arms wrapped around his waist, head pressed tight to his chest as she embraced him in respect of the period of time she had been away from him.

 

[Kitsune]

This moment should last an eternity—


this respite from the languishing uncertainty that lie in their futures. There in that white room, all was safe, all was secure and as it should be... once before, an age ago.


All of his world and life held tightly in his arms, within her heart.


Oh... how he cared. How he missed her in his long solemn days alone, unattended to and alone.


The smooth touch of her fingers tracing the outline of his body at night while they slept–


the sweet and exotic smell of her skin, her hair, everything, as she lay her head nearer his chest...


all the memories of drowning himself in that smell, being claimed, being conquered by it!


And her lips... how peacefully she would surprise him with kisses to brighten his long days. With gentle and soft remembrances, how often those perfect lips would love him and be loved in return. His signature had he left many times upon them, and how many more had she left her mark on his. And what deep joy would they find upon saying hello in their own secret ways in the dark-


oh how long had he missed this, missed her, everything about her.


He grew solemn at the memories of the nights having to learn how to sleep alone once more, only to be plagued with paralyzing nightmares and shame night after night. And the thoughts of how she was also too alone without him. This transcendent love often found him alone, pacing in the dark hours of the nights, talking to her as if she could hear him. Holding her while he slept, as if the empty air were a lie. His grief and sorrow ran deep and tickled into every crevice of his existence, to the roots of his very soul.


How deeply he was in love with her—


How deeply he yearned for her more and more—


And how quickly would she yet again be gone, torn from his side.


Away from his gentle strong arms. From his calm, constant protection. From his humble respect.


Passion-filled, hopeful and strong- he clung to her as if he had never known what it meant to breathe, as if he had found wells of life... she was his, and he was hers.


Completely.


He remembered what it meant to give of himself to her, to serve her with his love, to love only her and to cherish every single second of their time together. Especially when they were fighting. He remembered his vows to her— to have and to hold, through sickness and health, through times of strife and peace, to be a harbor of love and guidance unto her, to walk with her and fill her with encouragement, even after death and destruction have brought their wanton desolations. He remembered how thoroughly he loved loving her for every single second of every single day for ever.


He lifted her head from his chest and matched his eyes with hers, gazing into them more deeply than he ever had before. Like stars, her eyes gleamed and shined with grace and love back to his own. He leaned in and let his nose touch hers, and rested his forehead towards her own...

 

[Clairvoiance]

Aria felt the tenderness of his skin, the longing in his breathe, the hope in his glance....it gave her some sort of sensation she hadn't dared remember.


Her forehead resting to his, she closed her eyes in a gentle sigh, fingers tracing the sides of his face and sorting them in her memory. He was real. All this was real, and she was here with him now.


And soon she would have to go.


At the thought of parting with him, her hands clung tight to the back of his neck while she pressed her forehead deeper into his.

 

[Kitsune]

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At this signaling Karlisle saw it— there hidden in the corner of her mouth, their kiss. He reached down and gave himself to her.


The memories, the places, the sounds, the tastes, all came rushing back in an instant. Their first. Their wedding. Their honeymoon. Their last.


And now... this.

 

[Clairvoiance]

Aria has always heard it put that time stopped in moments like these. However cliche, it was exactly how it felt. Everything froze around them, and goosebumbs scattered over her arms and legs with an anticipation she barely knew was there. Her heart throbbed as their lips touched and everything suddenly made sense in an instant. A perfect, stunning instant.

 

[Kitsune]

Blissful and prefect. Nothing else mattered for a moment- they were each others once more, and it truly was perfect. Hearts throbbing and minds still all at once, they let their lips dance a moment longer. This was theirs, their secret place, and here they kept each other safe. Always.


Suddenly without notice, Asia's necklace began to glow. Brighter and brighter.

 

[Clairvoiance]

The necklace almost burned against her pale skin, as aria broke the kiss in shock. She reered her head back, letting the pendant glow.


"W-what....is it doing?"

 

[Kitsune]

Karlisle staggered back. His body went rigid and his arms out outstretched from his side. His eyes slowly shut and his head fell slowly. Suddenly his body was being lifted off the ground. His shut eyes began glowing brighter- matching the shine and hue of the necklace. Brighter and brighter. His mouth slowly opened ever so slightly and from it came a shining vapor— gently it floated down into Aria's necklace.


Karlisle's eyes dimmed perfectly in time with the silver jewelry around his wife's neck. His body fell carefully down to the floor.


A startling, dazzling clear crystal appeared in one of the three knots in her necklace.

 

[Clairvoiance]

Aria didn't dare move as all this happened, but as soon as he landed back to the ground, she went to him and knelt. Her hands went to his face and she lifted his head into her lap. "Karlisle! Karlisle what happened?" The necklaces shine went down.

 

[Kitsune]

Karlisle fell to his knees slowly with Aria by his side. He raised his arm to her shoulder and with a sharp suddenness, his eyes shot open. Blazing blue, cold, yet comforting and loving all the same. He stare through her—


"I saw— your necklace... Its me. That diamond... it's part of my soul!"

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There in the top loop of the necklace, a shimmering and bright diamond sat, perfectly cut in every angle. It was the most dazzling and stunning gemstone either of them had ever seen. It caught every beam of light within its facets.​

 

[Clairvoiance]

Aria blinked, then looked down to the diamond at the center of the silver pendant hanging around her neck. "Your soul....is here?" She touched her chest, close to the pendant and looking slowly up to meet his blue eyed gaze. "But....h-how?"


 
Aria blinked, then looked down to the diamond at the center of the silver pendant hanging around her neck. "Your soul....is here?" She touched her chest, close to the pendant and looking slowly up to meet his blue eyed gaze. "But....h-how?"

 

[Kitsune]

"That necklace belongs to you. I gave it to you on our anniversary..." Karlisle reached out his fingers and touched the shining stone. A chill ran through his spine.


"This one— this one is for protection." At his touch too, a a bright beam emerged and encompassed her and him both together. "I don't know why this happened, I only know what i saw just now in a vision." He looked around at the orb of light they were sitting in. Like stars dancing in the night sky, it was bright, but not to them. To them it was barely noticeable. He laughed to himself, "So you know how in fairy tales and disney movies they talk about that true loves kiss?"

 

[Clairvoiance]

True loves kiss...


"Of course...." Aria stuttered. She shook her head "who knew a demon could have true love"

 

[Kitsune]

"There is still a part of you that is untouched, otherwise you wouldn't be able to remember what you do now."


He let out a sigh and continued to touch the necklace in wonder.


"The love we have should not be this now transcendent– but it is." He looked into her eyes and smiled gently. "I love you. I would die for you to protect you if given the chance. This diamond," he broke and looked back at the diamond, "...is that remnant of my soul put into physical form. There is power in it, and it belongs to you now. Wherever you go, there it now goes with you. It will keep you safe from all danger."

 

[Clairvoiance]

All danger was hard to believe but beautiful to hear.


Aria nodded, but took his hand in hers and with a swift kiss to his forehead, stood up to her feet.


"I have to go Karlisle."


Her stomach felt full of butterflies and she shuddered at the thought of going out to venture the world she had to. But it was time. Time to find fayte. Find her daughter and bring her back. Maybe even find a way she could stay here....

 

[Kitsune]

"Aria." He said quietly for her to hear.


"There is a downside."

 

[Clairvoiance]

She stopped. Her head turned back to him


"A downside?"

 

[Kitsune]

He rose to his feet slowly.


"I have three other gifts to give you."


He rose to his full height now, standing true and strong for her.


"You can only kiss me three more times before this is over, love."


He let the words sink in..

 

[Clairvoiance]

She stared at him in disbelief. How was that possible? Three times? But they had just four d each other again...


She couldn't say anything. She waited for him to continue

 

[Kitsune]

"Each time we kiss, I give you a part of my soul— each one different, each one with its own abilities which will then belong to you."


He walked towards her. "It is nothing you take from me— I don't understand why now, but please understand me when i say that each piece that i give to you, I must give to you, and it do it freely of my own choice."


He wrapped his arms around her.


"What was the prophecy you mentioned...."

 

[Clairvoiance]

"9 demons are selected to kill their assigned clairvoyants....." She hesitated to go further but knew she had to "I was assigned to you. That means if I kill you I become a god.....and if I don't...." She realized she hadn't thought this far yet u til now. "If I don't kill you, I am pulled down a rank from where I am. I will be owned by another demon. I become their property. The rules indicate the demon who kills my assigned demon, if I fail to do so, then..." She hesitated again, " owns me."

 

[Kitsune]

"Am I understood then...?" he tightly held her to his chest. "You have to kill me. Not yet, but eventually. Soon."


He bent his head down to kiss her hair.


"On our third kiss, I will be gone, and what is left will go straight to the center of this"


He held the pendant in his palm for them both to look at.


"Each time we do this, you will become stronger."

 

[Clairvoiance]

How could she do that? There was no way.


"I'm not going to kill you. It's not going to happen." She denied, backing away from him slowly. Her head shook and arms crossed, turning her back to him as if that would help any, "Then you'll never see your daughter or me again."