Ella stayed up with her all night.
A woman in her old age had stories as bountiful as the stars in the sky.
And her wisdom made her capable of powerful descriptions, made possible by the right choice of words to excite the imagination into action.
In this one night, fun stories that made both women laugh in joy were told, and stories that touched even the storyteller to tears were told.
Stories of past love and stories of past pain
The saying was Misery loves company.
Who better to understand the pain and loneliness of an outrageously long life than a person who had lived an unbearable one and was now awaiting the swift judgment of death?
Ella could understand Ciri's Pain, and Ciri could understand Ella's.
Ciri was already Fifty. The only reason she looked so young was because of the equivalent exchange with the Nether creature.
She was giving Life for power, and that power brought back her youth. Although only temporarily.
However, it was enough for her to feel good during her last hours.
By morning, the last parts of the Bloodline spell were almost complete.
This spell was to be ended with Ciri's death, as the nether creature fed on her flesh after the service had been provided.
It was a worthy equivalent of an exchange.
A life for power.
Then again, such is the manner of most deals of this caliber.
Slowly, the Nether Creature leaned from the roof.
It was time for it to collect the payment for its service.
Ciri looked at Ella, "It's time!"
Ella nodded. "Yes, it is."
"I... I wish I had met you under different circumstances. I really would have loved to be your friend. No! Maybe even a lover. I would... Treat you better than all that trash." Ciri muttered lowly.
However, those words touched Ella deeply.
She herself could not believe it at this time, and in this very moment, the one thing she did not want to do was lose Ciri.
She had been in relationships. She got hurt in some ways, and in others, she hurt others.
For some reason, she did not understand; that base of understanding at a fundamental level was just not there.
She just never clicked with any of them, and this only resulted in heartbreak and pain.
She might have had an incredible long life span because of her origins, but that did not mean that she was not flesh and bones.
Since the beginning of time, this has been both a blessing and a curse of human nature.
The search for understanding in another person that could mirror one's energy, complete the missing spaces, and encourage one's strength
Such zeal did not make a person weak or vulnerable. Although it did present such a feeling, it only brought about a different kind of strength.
And for the first time throughout their meeting, Ella found her fingers entangled in Ciri's.
This feeling sparked a kind of chain reaction in her heart, and once more, as both women faced one another, tears watered down their cheeks.
Their fingers tightened in each other's embrace.
The feeling of each other gave them a warmth that neither had ever felt in the harsh, cold world they had both faced.
Ciri's eyes traced down to Ella's lips. "You know, I have never kissed before," she whispered softly, as if in fear that the Nether creature or the zombies would hear. "I always knew what it felt like."
As much as she displayed restraint, Ciri could not hold back. Her throat involuntarily swallowed from the mental anticipation of beholding Ella's lush lips that stared at her, only a few inches out of reach.
Surprisingly, this was similarly true for Ella.
At this point, she did not know what it was.
It felt primal, but at the same time, it felt pure and natural, and from the depths of her soul, it felt like it was meant to be.
Even though she was the embodiment of Holy power, Ciri was filled with Negative magic.
So why not?
Ella's fingers traced Ciri's skin all the way to her cheeks.
"I don't want to lose you." Those words were a surprise to her as they escaped her lips.
About two seconds passed, and both women had their eyes seemingly staring at the other's soul.
Those two seconds might as well have been two hours, and then Ciri replied.
"Me too! I don't want to lose you."
And that was all it took.
Ella no longer needed a confirmation.
Those words were more than enough.
She instantly stood to her feet and made up her mind on what to do.
Her bow appeared once more, and she applied tension to its string as an arrow filled with holy power appeared.
This Arrow was far stronger, brighter, and bigger than the other one she had pointed at Ciri.
The Nether Creature suddenly felt the threat, and it Screeched at Ella as it rushed for her.
But Ella also released the venom of her arrow.
*DUM!*
It was a straight, defining shot that not only killed the nether creature but also removed the entire house, blasting it open and revealing the golden rays of early morning sunshine as it slowly and steadily rose in the East.
Ella leaned in, removing the shackles and cuffs that held her to the ground with brute strength.
"What... What are you doing? That was a Nether creature. Its herd will not let you go for this. They will hunt you until..."
"Say it again!" Ella interrupted her.
"Huh!"
"Say it again!"
Ciri understood what Ella meant.
Slowly, she stood to her feet, her movement a bit stiff.
But she finally managed to do it.
Ella was at least a head taller than her.
"I don't want to lose you!"
"From now on, those are the only words I want to hear. Not 'I Love you', or any of that. Just this."
Ciri nodded, and Ella stepped close, leaning into Ciri as she took her lips in hers...
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