"Never say never," Isaak murmured quietly as he stepped out of the concealing shadow of what remained of a nearby arch. He gazed down at the roses, at the blood and ashes, savoring the funereal air. And then he shook his head. "Such a pity," he said. "All this beauty gone to waste..."
She straightened, flicked a stray lock of hair back from her face, leaving a smudge of blood bright and unnoticed across her cheek, irritation in her dark gaze. "What are you doing here?" She didn't have to be civil anymore. Certainly not to him. Perhaps especially not.
He gave her a faintly reproachful frown and shook his head, then drew a handkerchief from his pocket and, with all the gentle care of a painter removing an error while trying not to smudge his masterpiece, he wiped the blood from her cheek.
"I've come to pay my respects," he explained, as if it ought to be obvious.
She flinched away, though the touch was almost too light to even feel. "I was not aware that you were possessed of such an emotion as respect." She sniffed, taking a half-step back. "And I would have thought you would rejoice to see Rome destroyed." And then she twisted her lips into a bitter smile in name only. "But I suppose your joy is dimmed somewhat as you don't reap any reward from her fall."
Standing in the corner much like the apparition was Kate. She said nothing for a long while. It saddened her to see the beautiful gardens now twisted and grotesque. Many years had passed since she was able to experience the blossoms herself but, she loved them all the same. Her home away from home was now a pile of ashes for her dearest friend in life to mourn. "Lady Caterina."
To say that she was startled would be a gross understatement. She is shocked, horrified, amazed, shaken by turns. "Kate..." she breathed. Her best friend, made a ghost twice over. Surely she was being deceived by her senses yet again.
The Iron Maiden was geniunely surprised to be seen. Her body had to have died in all this horror. Was her conscious still alive from some trick of William's? It was impossible for her to know for sure. She had no connection to her body to check against. Cautiously she answered. "You shouldn't be here. It's bad for your health."
Well, apparently her hallucination was going to indulge her in a conversation. Wonderful. Perhaps she would be allowed that last communication with her dearest friend after all. She gave the ghost(?) a shadow of her former smile, devoid of any actual amusement. "My health is at such a state that I doubt anything can be said to worsen it, Kate. There only remains to be seen how many days I have left, and what the manner of my death shall be." Her tone was rather resigned.
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"I've come to pay my respects," he explained, as if it ought to be obvious.
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