The Carnival Before The Storm {Sastre}

[madison]

I Still Hear Your Voice When You Sleep Next To Me
I Still Feel Your Touch In My Dreams
Forgive Me My Weaknesses
But I Don’t Know Why
Without You It’s Hard To Survive
Cause Every Time We Touch I Get This Feeling
And Every Time We Kiss I Swear I Could Fly
Can’t You Feel My Heart Beat Fast
I Want This To Last
I Need You By My Side


With those words, Madison couldn't help but smile, a new blush rising to her cheeks. "I love you too."

Madison couldn't help but laugh at Sastre's admitted fear. The kiss on her cheek had been warm and tender, and she wonder how she went so long without. She wondered how she ever thought that Steven had loved her, when his kisses had never felt this good. Even when it came to intimacy, Steven had only wanted for himself.

Sastre always took her thoughts, her cares, her worries and so much more into consideration. Madison did the same with him. It worried her that he hunted it. He spoke of retirement, of ending all of this, but she wondered if it would ever come to pass. She would never ask him to choose. She would never ask him to stop. That would be like asking her to stop being a doctor.

It's what they did.

Madison knew that hunting meant so much to Sastre. Sometimes it was hard to compete with that. Other times she felt selfish for thinking that way. It wasn't her place to ask him to stay. Not when he was doing important things.

They approached the carousel and Madison handed over two tickets. She pushed all dark thoughts from her mind and pulled Sastre up on the ride. Looking around, she smiled when she saw a green horse with a gold pole. Feeling light on her feet, Madison scampered over, and eased herself, sidesaddle onto the horse and looked back at Sastre.

"Well don't just stand there. Pick one." She gave him a bright smile.

[Florian Raniari]

Looking around, Sastre spotted a fairly manly-looking horse not far from Madison's.

Climbing onto it, he had to admit that he felt just a little bit foolish. One glance at Madison, though, and all of that was tossed aside. She was practically beaming as the ride started, the tinny, classical music blaring out from the speakers as the carousel began to spin, the gaudily painted horses moving up and down.

He had to admit that there was something strangely relaxing about it, something that just seemed to make all the troubles and concerns he had drift away. Of course, how much of that was because of the carousel and how much was due to just being out somewhere with Madison was up for debate.

Not for the first time in recent weeks, Sastre was struck by the nearly overwhelming urge to just stop hunting altogether. He knew it wasn't possible yet, but the desire was still there nonetheless. Once Darian was taken care of, and once he was able to find a successor, then Sastre would finally call it quits, but not before then.

In the meantime, he'd just enjoy every second he could steal away with Madison, and do his damnedest to make sure he came home alive after every hunt...