What You Have To Do
By – CelticVampire

*What ravidges of spirit conjured this temptress’ rage? Created you a monster broken by the rules of love…*

“I’m sorry,” came the raspy voice from the broken and bleeding body that lie on the bloodstained floor. She drew one last ragged breath, her body shuddered and then she was gone. Wolves and leopards began howling. Cries of anguish came from several vampires and wererats. A low, guttural growl came from one human and mere moments later, bullets sprayed through the room. The sound of silver striking flesh, the sound of teeth tearing into bone and then it was over. Silence filled the room once more; but it was a brief silence. Guns clattered to the ground and the grieving began once more in earnest.

*And fate has led you through it, you do what you have to do…*

Edward dropped to his knees between Jason and Nathaniel, tears on his bruised and bloody face. He reached out and his hand found hers and held it tightly. She was gone; his Anita was gone and he had not been able to save her. He bent forward, his forehead brushing her hand as he did so. Next to him, on his right, Jason’s body was racked with sobs. The young werewolf’s clothing was torn into shreds and blood stained the shirt he wore. Jason leaned against Edward, totally unaware he was doing so as he wept. Edward looked up at the younger man just as Richard, who was kneeling across Anita’s body, reached for Jason. Jason’s hand clutched Anita’s shoulder tightly and he cringed away from his Ulfric. Edward glared at Richard and growled softly at the werewolf king.
“Let him grieve, Richard.” Richard turned amber eyes towards Edward snarled at him. His face, like Edwards, was bloodstained and bruised. It had been a rough night, filled with torture, fighting, and too much death. Richard had had enough.
“He is mine to command, Edward.”
“He was Anita’s to protect,” Edward answered quietly as he lay a hand on Jason’s back. “Now, he’s mine.” Richard’s eyes widened for a moment then he nodded once and slid back across Anita’s lifeless body. Micah lie on his side near Anita, his body bumped up against the Ulfric’s knees. Richard’s hand was on his back as Micah reached out to touch Anita’s arm, tears streaming from his yellow-green eyes.
“We must tell Jean-Claude,” he whispered in a broken voice. Like the rest that remained, he was also bruised and broken in many places. Edward looked past Micah and Richard to the lifeless body of the redheaded vampire and sighed heavily.
“I think he already knows.”

*And I have the sense to recognize that I don’t know how to let you go…*

Asher ran through the hall of the Circus towards Jean-Claude’s rooms. He was dressed in black silk pajama bottoms, his chest bare, his hair flowing around him, his bare feet striking the floor as he ran. He threw open the door to Jean-Claude’s room only to find the Master of the City on the floor, convulsing, blood flowing from his mouth.
“Merde,” Asher whispered as he entered the room and walked over to Jean-Claude, dropping to his knees beside his lover, his blue eyes worriedly taking in the situation. He pulled Jean-Claude into his lap as the convulsions began to slow. He wiped the blood from the younger man’s mouth as Jean-Claude opened his red-rimmed eyes.
“She is dead, Asher. Ma petit…” Asher’s eyes widened and his hold tightened.
“No,” he whispered softly. “Anita… ma chere…” Jean-Claude choked back tears as he looked up at his friend.
“It is not all, Mon chardonerette. We have lost Damian as well. The moment ma petit ceased to breath, Damian’s life force, that which animated him and kept him alive, was gone.” Asher hugged Jean-Claude to him as they both wept. The door opened once more and Asher turned at the sound of footsteps to find Raphael, the wererats’ King, standing in the doorway. He was dressed in black jeans, white t-shirt, and leather boots. He’d been at the Circus recovering from wounds sustained during an earlier fight with members of the Council. Raphael’s gaze flickered over Jean-Claude then met Asher’s gaze full force.
“Tell me, Asher,” he demanded quietly. Asher swallowed hard as tears broke free from his blue eyes.
“She is dead, Raphael.” Raphael staggered backwards, his back hitting the wall, then slid down to the floor. He dropped his head onto his knees and began to weep softly.

*Every moment marked with apparitions of your soul. I’m ever swiftly moving trying to escape this desire. The yearning to be near you; I’ll do what I have to do…*

Edward was the first to stand, albeit slowly. Richard helped Micah to his feet as Merle slowly approached and took the arm of his Nimir-Raj. Zane moved from the doorway and approached Jason but the younger man would not be moved from Anita’s side. Zane looked to Edward for help, but all Edward could do was shake his head. Nathaniel crawled across the floor to Damian’s lifeless body and more tears fell down his beautiful yet bruised face. Edward watched all of this then turned ice blue eyes on Micah and Richard, angry inside that he was the one left to take care of all those in this room. Everyone else was or would shortly begin to fall apart.
“Take the wolves and the leopards to the Circus for now. Keep them safe. Send me Asher and leave me Jason and Gregory. We’ll clean up then bring the – bodies – back for burial.” He’d choked on the word ‘bodies’ and for a moment he lost his balance. Richard quickly reached out and grabbed his arm to steady him. Without a second thought, he pulled Edward to him, close enough to whisper against his ear.
“Can you do this alone?” Edward looked up at the Ulfric and for the first time appreciated the werewolf’s ability to separate himself from the situation when necessary.
“I owe it to her,” he answered. Richard nodded silently and stepped back, releasing Edward slowly. A moment more of silence passed then Richard turned away to leave. Jamil and Shang-Da followed him. Behind them, Micah and Merle walked past the bodies of those who had not survived this final fight against the Council: Noah, Valentina, Bernardo, Elizabeth, Claudia and Louie.
Zane moved to Nathaniel’s side and helped him to walk out of the warehouse. Stephen glanced at his brother Gregory then turned and followed the rest of the group outside. Gregory, Edward and Jason were the only ones left in the room. Jason remained where he was, curled up against Anita’s side, weeping, mumbling inaudible words. Edward moved Damian’s body to the other side of Anita. Gregory approached him and whispered to him.
“Her death claimed the life of her vampire servant, Edward. It may claim Jason as well.” Edward glanced at the young werewolf then looked back at Gregory and nodded slowly.
“I know.”

*And I have the sense to recognize that I don’t know how to let you go…*

Half an hour later, Asher and Raphael entered the warehouse. The only bodies that remained inside were those who were being returned to the Circus for burial. Edward and Gregory had managed to cover all the bodies except for Anita’s. Jason had lost it when they’d tried to do so; they’d left her uncovered for the time being. Asher and Raphael moved slowly through to room towards Edward and Gregory.
“Everyone made it back to the Circus in one piece?” Edward asked quietly.
“Oui,” Asher replied. “Cherry had to sedate Nathaniel. Once he walked into his room and realized Anita would never again be there, he began tearing up the room and trying to harm himself. Micah is being watched carefully by Merle and I left Richard with Jean.” Edward nodded and looked over at Raphael slowly.
“She described you so perfectly you can only be the local rat king.” Raphael nodded.
“And you must be Death.”
“I thought I was,” Edward’s reply came quietly. He turned and knelt next to Jason. “Jason, we need to take her back to the Circus now. I want you to go with Gregory.”
“I can’t leave her,” he sobbed. “She needs me.” Asher moved quietly towards Jason. He reached down, drawing the younger man up and into his arms.
“We need you, Mon ami. You have done all you can for Anita right now. Please, go with Gregory. We will see you soon.” Jason reluctantly allowed Gregory to lead him away. Edward stood slowly and looked between Asher and Raphael.
“What do we do now?” Raphael sighed softly and looked at Asher.
“We release them,” he answered.

*Glowing embers, burning hot and burning slow…*

Two nights later, funeral pyres had been built in the woods near the wolves’ lupanar. Anita’s body lay on one pyre with Damian’s body. Another pyre held the bodies of Noah and Elizabeth. A third pyre had been built for Claudia and Louie. Bernardo’s remains had been returned to Santa Fe for burial. Valentina’s remains had been sent back to Europe with the remains of the Council members who had been killed during the fight. It was a warning from Jean-Claude, Richard, Micah, Raphael and Edward; Come to St. Louis again and there will no longer be a Council for anyone to fear.
A large crowd of vampires and lycanthropes surrounded the funeral pyres. Raphael was dressed in black linen pants, black silk shirt and leather boots. His hair was tied back at his neck. In his left hand he held a lit torch. He stood next to the pyre that held the bodies of Claudia and Louie. To his left and right stood two of his enforcers, Eric and Bobby Lee. Micah, dressed in black linen pants, emerald green silk shirt and black boots, stood between Merle and Zane. He, too, held a lit torch and stood closest to the pyre holding the remains of Elizabeth and Noah. Richard, dressed in black pants, midnight blue silk shirt and leather boots, stood between Jamil and Jean-Claude. Shang-da stood behind him. On the other side of Jean-Claude, who was dressed in black pants, white silk shirt and black silk vest, stood Asher. He was dressed in black silk pants, dark gold silk shirt and leather boots. It was the first time anyone had seen Asher with his hair pulled back and tied at the nape of this neck. He, like Micah and Raphael, held a lit torch. Next to Asher, dressed in all black like Raphael, stood Edward.
After a few moments of silence, Asher, Micah and Raphael approached their respective pyres and lit them with their torches. Edward’s eyes scanned the crowed then he turned to Jean-Claude.
“Where’s Jason?” Jean-Claude’s eyes widened and he turned from Edward to Richard. Richard, having heard the question, closed his eyes for a moment then opened them and looked at Jean and Edward.
“I can’t feel him.”

*Deep within I’m shaken by the violence of existing for only you. I know I can’t be with you; I’ll do what I have to do…*

Jason stood on the roof of Guilty Pleasures and saw the first light of the flames from the funeral pyres. Tears streamed down his face as he bowed his head. He was dressed in black pants, crimson silk shirt and leather boots. In his left hand he clutched a silver cross and chain. In his right hand he held Anita’s Browning.
“I’m sorry,” her whispered into the night as he raised the gun to his head and closed his eyes one last time.

*And I have the sense to recognize that I don’t know how to let you go.*

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