Noir

**NOIR**

Driven by my desperate longing for Lyra, I found myself deep within the dense jungle. The towering trees loomed overhead, their leaves rustling in the hot, humid air. Thorny vines snaked their way through the undergrowth, reaching out like menacing claws. Every step I took, vegetation crunched and cracked beneath my feet, a symphony of destruction.

As I pushed further into the heart of this inner hell, a wave of overwhelming emotions washed over me. The need to possess Lyra consumed my every thought, fueling my determination. The chaos around me mirrored the turmoil within my own soul.

Finally, my frenzied pace began to slow, and I came to a sudden halt. Raising my head, I stared upwards, my face contorted in anguish. A primal scream erupted from deep within me, echoing through the jungle. The sound reverberated, causing birds to take flight from their nests and nocturnal creatures to scurry away, sensing danger in their midst.

But my presence in this forest was not driven by hunger or survival. It was the intense desire for Lyra that brought me here. Seeing her step into the gardens had ignited a fire within me, a burning need that I struggled to contain. I had believed that delivering her to Noir would be the solution, but I had been gravely mistaken.

Relinquishing her to the safety and teachings of her family was not what my body craved. Every instinct screamed against my decision, and I clutched at my head, battling the darkness that threatened to consume me. It would have been so easy to take what was rightfully mine, but I couldn't succumb to that temptation. I had to leave. I could no longer stay in this place.

With my resolve firm, I turned away from the jungle's depths and began the journey back to my brothers. The time had come to reveal the truth to them, to share the burden that weighed heavily on my soul.

As I emerged from within the trees, Eton and Thorin stood awaiting me.

Drawing up next to them, I hissed, "We need to talk!"

**ETON**

I glared at Noir, my anger simmering, my eyes fixated on him. *The bastard*! My fists clenched, ready to strike. I had always suspected he was hiding something from Thorin and me, but I never imagined it would be this.

In an instant, I pounced on him, my knuckles connecting with his flesh, my teeth sinking into his skin.

He tried to defend himself, but my fury was overpowering. The sound of flesh tearing echoed in the air as we crashed onto the ground, rolling in the dirt. The metallic scent of blood mingled with the earthy smell of leaves and twigs. Thorin's alarmed cry pierced through the chaos, "Eton, stop!" But it was too late. The beast inside me had taken control, and I could no longer rein it in. My sole focus was on exacting revenge from Noir. Our savage fury fueled the violence.

Finally, Thorin managed to pry me off Noir, pinning me down forcefully. "Enough!" he growled. "You're not thinking clearly!"

Noir, his clothes torn and stained with blood, struggled to catch his breath. "Your anger is justified. I had no right to keep that from you all these years."

Thorin snorted, then angrily lashed out, "Damn right you didn't!"

The remnants of anger still coursed through me as I locked eyes with Noir. Raising a hand, I wiped the blood from my mouth. Staring at the crimson stains on my fingers, I sneered, "Blood means little, huh, brother?" "I know it's difficult for both of you to comprehend," Noir replied, his voice strained, "but I had hoped to spare you. I meant no harm."

"Harm? *Harm*?" I roared.

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Thorin's gaze bore into me, his own anger mirroring mine towards Noir. "Eton, please..."

Slowly, Noir rose to his feet, his movements deliberate. "I understand your anger. But we must set it aside for now. There is a more urgent matter we need to discuss."

I regarded him warily, the sting of betrayal still fresh. "What could possibly be more important than this?" I growled.

"Lyra," Noir said softly, his voice tinged with urgency. "I can't stay here," Noir continued, his words heavy with sorrow. "I can't be around her. You must protect her, keep her safe."

As he spoke, the weight of his emotions filled the air, pressing down on me like a leaden cloak.

Taking a deep breath, Noir's eyes locked with mine, their intensity piercing through my confusion. "I don't know what's going to happen," he admitted. "But I do know that by never claiming her, I will become a monster equal to the likes of what I will become if I do only difference is, I will not be able to raise the other elders."

As I processed Noir's words, my anger began to dissipate, replaced by a growing sense of despair. The air felt thick with an unspoken goodbye. "We will never see you again?" I whispered, my voice barely audible in the somber silence. Noir shook his head, his gaze filled with a mixture of regret and determination. "Pray that you don't," he replied, his words hanging in the air like a haunting melody. **NOIR**

My inner guidance, a gentle whisper in my mind, directed me towards Lyra.

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With each step, my heart grew heavier, knowing that I had to leave her.

As I approached her, I could see her standing by the fountain.. The faint scent of her perfume filled the air, a sweet and familiar fragrance.

With a sigh escaping my lips, I uttered her name, and watched as she turned slowly towards me, her eyes filled with knowledge of why I was there.

She shook her head, silently pleading for me to stay.

In that moment, I couldn't resist the urge any longer. I reached out, my hands gently cradling her face, tilting it upwards. Our lips met, a bittersweet kiss. It was a memory I had to hold onto, until my last breath.

As I pulled away, I felt my world shatter. I mustered the strength to push myself away from her, and with a lump in my throat, I managed to say, "Eton and Thorin will stay with you for a while longer..." The sentence hung in the air, unfinished, and without looking back, I turned and walked out the door, leaving everything behind.

**LYRA**

I stood staring after Noir. The silence hung heavy in the air, broken only by the sound of my own shallow breaths. I knew, deep down, that this was meant to bring me a sense of closure, a feeling of safety. But instead, an overwhelming pain consumed me, like a weight on my chest that refused to lift.

Slowly, I sank down to my knees, the dampness of the ground seeping through the fabric of my pants. Tears welled up in my eyes, blurring my vision as they streamed down my cheeks. It was in this moment that I realized I had done nothing. I had stood there, motionless, as the man I loved walked away from me, out of my life.

The sobs that escaped my lips seemed to echo in the emptiness around me, each one a painful reminder of my loss. Yet, even amidst the heartbreak, a strengthening of something else stirred within me. Uncertainty lay before me, a future stretched out like an open road. When I resurfaced, I would embrace the journey that awaited.