Chapter 74: Mates Are Stupid

A silent person, Carrick focused on the job ahead and very rarely opened up. His silent presence was assuring. "I will never forget you Carrick," she said warmly and stroked his forehead. 

She couldn't help noticing that her skin tingled upon contact. As if on instinct, she took her finger to his nose, traced its sharp edge and felt as if something was resisting her pull. She gasped. Her eyes became wide open. Curious and encouraged to see what it was that resisted her pull, she forced her finger to draw out in a straight line in front of the nose. 

Everyone around her fell silent when saw a tiny trail of red colored powdery particles coming out, which fell on his cheeks. Anastasia's breath became shallow. How could she do this? She was drawing out the poison from him. Hoping that it would recur, she took her hand to his forehead and trailed his nose again. More poison came out and dropped on his face. 

Carrick's body stopped convulsing. Moments later he opened his eyes slightly. His gaze went to her. "Anastasia… you can save me?" His breath was still ragged. 

"You know I will try," she said, placing a hand over his. His body was slowly becoming cold. 

All of a sudden a howl pierced the field and she looked up. Guarhal had managed to bring Darla back and Kaizan was pulling Aidan. Darla roared and somehow freed herself to go back to Aidan, but when Guarhal stopped her, she attacked him. 

"I'll go there and help them!" said Tadgh. He got up and rushed to Darla. 

Anastasia continued to do what she was doing. She repeated the motion a number of times and every time more powder would come out. 

"Why did Carrick go there?" Ileus said through his clenched jaw knowing fully well why he went there. But that question came out more as frustration.

Anastasia could feel his helplessness and nervousness. It was so evident that she wanted to soothe him. 

"He had gone to save Darla and Aidan, but—" Zlu choked. 

Anastasia continued in her efforts as Carrick now stared at her with unblinking eyes. His body had gone colder. The tension on his face was gone. "You are a brave girl Anastasia," he said. "When I saw you for the first time, I thought you would be a burden." Blood came out of his nose along with the red poison. 

"Don't hurt him," Zlu said, feeling as if he was about to faint. He held Carrick in his arms and rested his face on his thigh. "I am so sorry Carrick," he said. "I am so sorry." 

Carrick's chest rose heavily and then he exhaled slowly. "Zlu, mate, I think you are the only person I ever loved." He coughed blood. 

Anastasia's eyes hurt so bad that vision became hazy. How could she take away his pain? "Let me help him, please?" she pleaded with Zlu, as surprise raked her. Carrick was Zlu's lover? She stifled another whimper. 

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Carrick looked at her and a slow smile settled on him. "After I am gone, don't let him take his life. Mates are stupid, you know." 

Zlu's quivered as a sob left him.

Anastasia focused on taking the poison out but as she moved her hand on his nose and out in the air, more blood came out. Carrick coughed. 

"Leave him!" Zlu shouted as he smacked her hand away. "Don't hurt him, please!" He started sobbing, his shoulders shuddering with every sob. 

Ileus held her shoulders and grasped her tightly. "He has gone too far, Ana. Let him be," he whispered. 

Carrick looked at Zlu and said, "Ever since I joined Mozia, I only knew you, Zlu. I always looked up to you." He laughed as tears streamed out of his eyes. 

"I know…" Zlu held him tightly. "You were a bad influence on me." 

Carrick laughed weakly. "No, I was your anchor…" his eyes went up to see Zlu. "Kiss me goodb…" 

Zlu bent down immediately to kiss his lips. When he lifted, Carrick's eyes had gone glassy and his hands became limp. They fell to his sides.

"Carrick!" Zlu let out a loud sob. "You can't do that!" He grasped his face and closed it tightly against his chest. He shook him as if he would wake up miraculously. When that didn't happen, he looked up at the sky and bellowed. "Nooooo!" 

Anastasia hid herself in Ileus. She hoped she could take him out from there. She failed… again. He wrapped his arms around her tightly. Everything became blurred after that. She heard heavy footfalls of others closing in. 

"Shit!" Guarhal's words came out like venom. "I told Kaizan to not take this route! But he insisted." He punched a tree beside him and the wood splintered in the impact. "That arrogant prick!" He was breathing heavily.

Anastasia didn't remove her face from his chest. She didn't want to show her face to them. She was responsible for his death. Her resolution to leave them as soon as they reached Óraid, steeled. She would leave them and would find a way to reach Iona. Her presence had always caused people to die. She was cursed—cursed to be deprived of love of all those who helped her, who loved her. And she was feeling for Ileus, falling for him. She would never go far. Thinking that, she pulled away from him and after giving one last look at Carrick, she walked to her tent, each step like a burden. On her way she noticed that they had tied Darla and Aidan. 

She wanted to burn the red blooms. The tent was her solace. She climbed, scrambled to a corner and huddled with her knees up against her chest. "This shall pass too…" she murmured, as Zlu's painful sobs pierced her ears. She closed them but Carrick's face flashed across her mind. Ghosts of the past returned. 

"I told you not to go via Vergine Falls! You didn't listen to me!" Zlu shouted at Kaizan. He was now crying loudly. 

"Let him go Zlu," Ileus said. "He deserves to be buried with respect." 

"Damn you!" Zlu said in a weak voice. "Bury me too!" 

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