Scarlet Alternate Ending
Scarlet was not alone. Kole had doubted she would be. At their arrival on her balcony, she had raised an eyebrow and a finger and closed the door. Kole had collapsed on the floor, Chase lowering himself down next to him.
They heard Scarlet finish up with whatever leviathan that was moaning and moving on her bed. It sickened Kole. Usually, he would have a quip or two to say about it, but in his current state he barely had the energy to remain sitting.
When Scarlet did appear, dark robe loosely tied at her waist and hair pulled into a messy bun, she scowled and swore at the sight of them. Incense wafted to Kole, enveloping him in a false sense of safety. He was not safe. Not yet. Maybe never. Nightmares followed him, monsters chased him. The …show more content…
Had he been struck by a poisoned blade? Had the cold rain shattered his senses? He surely felt shattered. And beaten. Oh, he felt a hell of a lot worse than beaten. Hope had left him. He had not realised it before, but he had clung to it. Craved it. How had he allowed himself to be duped by something as deceptive, as intangible, as hope?
Sitting in Scarlet’s large armchair in front of the roaring fire, Kole felt cold. He burned with ice. Burnt with fury and hatred. Rancor. How had he let it get this far? How had he fallen so low? Rufus would be laughing at him. Pointing fingers and grinning like the sun at the moon. How could the moon ever think to shine as bright? How had he ever hoped …show more content…
“I strike no justice. When I strike it will be with fury and revenge. Justice is beyond my grasp.”
“Fine. Not justice. Can you not attempt to stay alive at least. What’s the point of getting yourself killed in all of this? Are you going to abandon your family for revenge? To appease your anger? Hannah needs you breathing, Kole. You’re all she has left and abandoning her now is going to solve nothing.”
“I am trying to protect her.”
“Then think!” Chase’s yell cut through Kole like a blade. He stared, startled, at his friend who glared at him. “You want to keep them from harm, then think. Don’t just storm into battle and kick at a hornet’s nest. They are your burden, Kole, your responsibility and if you do not start thinking with your head and not your fist, you’re going to find yourself with nothing to fight for.”
Kole clenched his jaw until his teeth ached. Chase was right, of course, he was right. He was always right. Even as kids Chase had always been the stars to Kole’s ship. He guided him, kept him on track. No matter how much Kole wanted to bash Chase’s face in, he listened. He dropped his face into his hands, careful not to touch his new bruises.
“I was so close, Chase. I almost had him.”
“I
They heard Scarlet finish up with whatever leviathan that was moaning and moving on her bed. It sickened Kole. Usually, he would have a quip or two to say about it, but in his current state he barely had the energy to remain sitting.
When Scarlet did appear, dark robe loosely tied at her waist and hair pulled into a messy bun, she scowled and swore at the sight of them. Incense wafted to Kole, enveloping him in a false sense of safety. He was not safe. Not yet. Maybe never. Nightmares followed him, monsters chased him. The …show more content…
Had he been struck by a poisoned blade? Had the cold rain shattered his senses? He surely felt shattered. And beaten. Oh, he felt a hell of a lot worse than beaten. Hope had left him. He had not realised it before, but he had clung to it. Craved it. How had he allowed himself to be duped by something as deceptive, as intangible, as hope?
Sitting in Scarlet’s large armchair in front of the roaring fire, Kole felt cold. He burned with ice. Burnt with fury and hatred. Rancor. How had he let it get this far? How had he fallen so low? Rufus would be laughing at him. Pointing fingers and grinning like the sun at the moon. How could the moon ever think to shine as bright? How had he ever hoped …show more content…
“I strike no justice. When I strike it will be with fury and revenge. Justice is beyond my grasp.”
“Fine. Not justice. Can you not attempt to stay alive at least. What’s the point of getting yourself killed in all of this? Are you going to abandon your family for revenge? To appease your anger? Hannah needs you breathing, Kole. You’re all she has left and abandoning her now is going to solve nothing.”
“I am trying to protect her.”
“Then think!” Chase’s yell cut through Kole like a blade. He stared, startled, at his friend who glared at him. “You want to keep them from harm, then think. Don’t just storm into battle and kick at a hornet’s nest. They are your burden, Kole, your responsibility and if you do not start thinking with your head and not your fist, you’re going to find yourself with nothing to fight for.”
Kole clenched his jaw until his teeth ached. Chase was right, of course, he was right. He was always right. Even as kids Chase had always been the stars to Kole’s ship. He guided him, kept him on track. No matter how much Kole wanted to bash Chase’s face in, he listened. He dropped his face into his hands, careful not to touch his new bruises.
“I was so close, Chase. I almost had him.”
“I