Thick, hot steam ruffled the thin curtain hanging around the antique claw foot tub. Boiling hot water flowed from the shower head onto the lonely huddled figure in the corner of the basin.

Etain curled herself tighter into a ball, as she let the water pour over her already scorched skin. She wanted it to just wash away her skin and muscle and take her out of the miserable existence that she had suddenly been thrust into.

She felt as if her entire purpose for being had just been dropped from beneath her, like a rug swept from beneath her feet. Everything that morning had been clear and now she felt lost in the dark.

Large, hot tears flowed down her already chapped cheeks. She replayed in her mind, the awful news that had greeted her just an hour before. She remembered how her brain had hazed over in a black fog.

Aidan. Her Aidan was gone. She had just spoken to him the night before. They had talked for hours, about nothing. She felt the deep emptiness of his absence. She missed him already.

What exactly had befallen him was a mystery to professionals and his loved ones all the same. It was as if he was performing some kind of vanishing act. He had just disappeared.

The light in the room dimmed visibly, but Etain was oblivious to the light change. Her eyes were closed, picturing on the back of her eyelids, the best friend that she had just lost. In her mind he was grinning at her, his blue eyes, shining as they always did when he had plans that he shouldn’t have had. She could see every flame red hair on his head and she choked again, almost vomiting into the tub.

They had been inseperable her and Aidan. She had lived for him and he for her. Their friendship envied by all they came in contact with. It was pure. The love between them completely unconditional. A true friendship.

Etain winced, and bit her lip as a cool ripple of air, slid across the blisters that had formed on her back. She didn’t care. Let her skin blister and peel. Let it wash down the drain and take her with it. She didn’t want to feel this pain anymore. She didn’t want her heart to bleed any longer.

She brought her knees up to her chest and rested her head on the hot skin. The pain on her back was so intense she could have screamed, but she bit it back. The physical pain she was putting herself in was nothing compared to the emotional turmoil that she had had no choice in.

She shivered as the chill deepened and was suddenly struck with a feeling of deep foreboding. Something wasn’t right about all of this. From Aidan’s disappearance, to her deep depression and now this sudden cold; she could feel that it was all connected, but she also knew that there was something not right about it.

Her head shot up as the curtain around her was thrust back, nearly ripped off the rod. Strong arms swiftly caught her up, pulling her from the burning stream and wrapping her in a large towel, causing her to cry out in pain as the fabric hit the blisters on her skin. The air rippled around her as they made their way to her bed.

Her eyes were blurred as the intruder cradled her in his arms, rocking her back and forth and chanting softly. She could make out a dark shape holding her but nothing more. The soft voice penetrated her body and the pain shooting through her soon lessoned then gradually disappeared all together.

“What are you trying to do to yourself ‘Tian?” The soft voice caused her heart to skip a beat. She knew that voice. It brought warmth to her insides.

“Aidan?” Her eyes began to clear as the strong, chiseled face filled her view. A lump formed in her throat and she nearly chocked on it. “But you….you’re….” She couldn’t finish the sentence. She couldn’t bear to say the word that would take him out of her life forever.

He pulled her close, taking her scent into his every pore. “What were you trying to do to yourself 'Tain,” he repeated, his voice severe and full of reprimand.

“Trying not to feel,” she whispered. “I’ve lost you. I’ve lost you.”

He could hear the note of hysteria gathering in her voice. “Shh,” he whispered into her hair, continuing to rock her gently back and forth. He pulled the towel away from the ugly red blisters forming on her back. “I’m here now. Everything is going to be ok. Breathe baby. Breathe.”

She fought to control the hysterical sobs that threatened to control her. “You are supposed to be…” Again she could not bring herself to form the word that stuck in her throat. He wasn’t supposed to be here now, holding her tenderly.

He ignored her and laid her gently on her stomach, baring her burnt back to his scrutinizing gaze. He growled softly and bit his lip to keep back the tears that threatened to spill over. Her creamy skin, so like silk was now various shades of red, large welts boiling on the surface.

He pulled a small bottle of salve from his pocket, and lovingly began to apply it to the hideous red boils. She jumped as the cold gel hit her skin, relaxing under his administering hands.

“They said there was so much blood,” she told him, fighting back the urge to roll over and throw her arms around his neck.

He grunted in acknowledgement. “I know.”

She looked back over her shoulder, watching him apply more of the salve to her skin. "What happened Aidan? How are you still with me?”

He cupped her face in his hands. “I am always with you Etain.” He kissed her lips. Not the kiss of a friend, but of something so much more. Etain felt her world spin out of control. She felt as if she were falling into oblivion with the only thing keeping her from slipping away, was Aidan’s lips pressed to hers.

She could feel her lips tingling from the contact with his as he pulled away. She stared up at him, her face full of shock, his full of hunger.

“I’m sorry,” he apologized, pulling the towel over her bare back and setting the jar of salve on the table next to her bed. “It will help with the pain,” he said softly, the sadness in his voice wound itself around her heart, squeezing it till it hurt. He stood and turned to leave.

“Wait.” She sat up quickly, ignoring the pain that shot through her body. He was leaving her again. She could feel it in every cell of her body. He was leaving and this time he wouldn’t be coming back. “Don’t leave me Aidan.”

He cleared his throat and turned to gaze into her panicked face. She could see the sadness in his eyes. The heart wrenching void in his soul. “I just came to say goodbye.”

Etain stood, holding the towel tight over the front of her. His eyes scanned her lovingly, and then he turned away, caught between keeping control of himself and not wanting her to see how much it was hurting him.

“Goodbye? Why? I don’t understand. Aidan…” She placed her palm flat on his back, a sudden yearning to wrap him in her arms, taking control of everything she was. “What happened Aidan? Please? Talk to me like you used to. Tell me what is going on.”

His deep sad eyes pulled at her heart as he stared at her without blinking. “It is a long story and you need rest.”

She placed her hand on his forearm. “I will not be able to rest if you leave Aidan.” Her voice pleaded with him to stay.

He knew he should leave. He knew he should run before exposing her any further to the evil that he had become. But his body would not budge. He could not bear to take one step further from the creature before him. Everything about her he loved. He had always loved…and never known how to tell her.

He nodded in defeat and sat down on the edge of the bed again as she found a loose robe and wrapped it around her body.

His eyes drank her in hungrily, wanting to pull her close and hold her tight. He could hear her heart beating rhythmically in her chest. The blood pumping in her veins. He took a deep breath trying to steady himself. He had a sudden urge to throw her down next to him on the bed and claim her as his own for eternity.

He bit down on his lip, drawing a small drop of blood. He tried hard to keep control of himself. She stared as he licked the red drop from his lips, suddenly sensing that she was in danger.

Aidan had changed… drastically. There was a new found power clinging to him. It frightened her, but at the same time she knew he would not harm her. She wrapped herself tighter in the robe, trying to keep the fabric from rubbing her raw skin.

She sat next to him and laid her head on his shoulder, an old habit. He put his arm around her and pulled her into the protection of his broad shoulders. Her heart beat hard, her body tingling from his touch.

You have no idea what I have become Etain, Aidan’s voice caressed her mind, a soft seducing touch.

She sat up startled. “How did you do that?” Her voice was fearful. She knew that this came with his new power and it scared her.

I told you. You have no idea my love.

“Stop doing that,” she told him, pushing him away. “Stay out of my head.” Her heart was pounding wildly, as her brain caught onto the last words he had whispered. My love

.“I am sorry Etain,” he said softly, staring at the floor. “I did not mean to invade your privacy. I just want you to understand that I am not the same person I used to be.”

Etain stared at him, blue eyes wide as her brain tried to process everything that had happened, since he had pulled her from the tub. The soft material of her robe rubbed against her raw flesh, inflaming the blisters.

She stared into the deep endless depths of his blue eyes, shadowed with sorrow and pain. She cupped his chin in her hands, his thick bristles, tickling her palms as she shook her head slowly.

“You are the same person you used to be. You are the same Aidan, with the same caring, loving nature. You are the same Aidan that has been there for so many years. The man who has been my rock and my strength. The same man I have always leaned on for support and trusted with my life.”

She couldn’t help herself. She wanted to taste his lips again. She wanted them pressed against hers, in a kiss that took her breath away. She wanted the warmth and the heat. She wanted the love that she could feel in his kiss.

Leaning forward, Etain heard Aidan’s sharp intake of breath as she pressed her lips to the beckoning warmth of his. The taste of his lips, sent her head reeling, lost in the delight of his kiss and his touch as he pulled her close in his arms.

She couldn’t believe the infinitely tender way he held her, as if he was afraid that she might break if he held her too tight. Her lips parted for his and he slid his tongue along their fullness into the sweet heat of her mouth.

When he finally pulled back, she felt a sudden emptiness, wanting him to kiss her again. “Aidan…”

He pressed a finger to her still swollen lips. “I love you Etain. I have always loved you.”

Not what she expected, she stared at him in shock. And yet, she was not surprised by his revelation. In fact, it made perfect sense to her. Everything did. It was like the final piece of the puzzle falling into place.

“Aidan…”

He read everything in her face. The rush of realization. The acceptance. You don’t know what you are getting yourself into my love. You will not like what I have become.

“I want to be part of your life again Aidan. Please,” she begged. She clutched his hands hard. She wanted to make him understand all he meant to her.

“Etain…”

“My Aidan. My fire. Please.”

His heart melted as she pleaded with him to share himself with her. She was asking him to share everything with her. Even the things that he himself couldn’t face.

There is no life to share with you Etain. I am not alive as you are. There was such a hollow, sad tone to his voice, even in her mind.

She stared at him, still unsure of how he was able to communicate with her in her mind. She wanted to know how he did it. She wished she could do it too.

You can do it my love. Just concentrate and speak to me.

Etain shook her head. “No, I can’t. How could I?”

Do you really want to know baby? Do you? Etain nodded. I had not planned on telling you. I wanted you to decide for yourself. To love me on your own.

“Love for you, is one thing that I have always had an abundance of.”

Not that love. Etain. You are my soulmate. My twin flame. My other half. We are meant to be together. I have known for a long time and now I am only more sure.

“How? How can you be sure?”

Because, my love for you has followed me beyond death.

Etain swallowed hard. She took a deep breath and formed words in her mind, desperately wanting to be able to communicate with him on such an intimate level. What do you mean beyond death?

Aidan smiled, pride filling his eyes. She had always amazed him with her ability to catch onto anything in the blink of an eye. She was like a chameleon, adapting to any situation for survival. She could deal with anything. Except losing him.

He owed it to her to be completely honest with her. I am no longer alive baby. He shared with her his fight for his survival, his death and his rebirth. Holding her tight, he mentally prepared for her revulsion and the moment when she would push away from him.

Instead she moved closer, reversing their roles to hold him. He opened his eyes and looked down at the face that had been his life for so long. Tears threatened to spill past her long black lashes.

My poor Aidan. How could I not be there for you?

Do not blame yourself baby. You did nothing wrong.

She buried her face in his chest. I am here for you now Aidan. Let me be there for you always. Share it with me. All of it. Share with me eternity.

Aidan clutched her close, his arms circling around her protectively. How sweet her words were. How wonderful the fantasy, but he would not let what he had become taint her beauty and heart.

I can’t do that Etain. You do not know what you are asking.

“You are wrong Aidan. You showed me. You told me. I know exactly what I am asking. I want to spend eternity with you. Let me. Let me love you, longer then anyone has had the chance to love another person. Let me carry you. Let me love you.”

Aidan stared at her. “Are you sure Etain?”

She nodded and pushed the mass of blond hair away from her neck, exposing the soft skin to him. “Love me for eternity Aidan. And in return let me love you. Let us prove that there is love beyond death.”

Aidan stared at the woman he had loved for so long. Her eyes said it all. She knew what she was getting into. She knew what it entailed. She wanted to be with him for eternity.

Her blue eyes pleaded with him. They pleaded with him to ensure they would never be apart. Aidan nodded, then slowly and tenderly bent to drink.