Atlanta - Darkness Before Dawn

[madison]

When Madison saw Sastre enter the room her heart skipped a beat. Justin had calmed her enough so that she was no longer crying. It was either that or the doctor was going to sedate her. Madison hadn't wanted that. Sastre or Brennan would show up, she knew they would. They would tell her that Lily was all right, that Darian and Steven were both dead and that this nightmare was over.

Justin stayed at her side, just being the protective and comforting presence of an older brother. She dozed in and out lightly until that familiar face was suddenly in her room. Her chest loosened considerably, and if she could have, Madison would have rushed into his arms.

As it were he only sat beside her on the other side of the bed away from Justin and took her hand. He refused to meet her gaze, and though this simple gesture should have been enough to suffice, Madison wondered why he didn't kiss her. Why wouldn't he even look at her? Was he angry with her? Or maybe with himself?

Madison realized it was probably the latter. Sastre was blaming himself for what had happened. Swallowing thickly she smiled at him, and squeezed his hand.

"I'm going to be okay, Sastre."

Justin made a sound that was not approving of Sastre being here and Madison turned her gaze towards her brother. She didn't have the energy to fight. When she was well, when they all were, they could argue about this, but not right now.

"Give us a minute, Justin." At the look of reproach on his face, Madison squeezed his hand as well. "Please. It'll be okay, and I don't have the energy to fight."

Justin worked his jaw for a moment, the stress evident in the muscles, before standing up and kissing her forehead. "I'll be right outside."

Madison waited until Justin left and then she turned to look the man she loved. "Talk to me, Sastre." She took her hand from his and brushed his cheek lightly with her fingertips. "Please."

[Florian Raniari]

Sastre still couldn't bring himself to meet her eyes as he rubbed his face wearily with his broken hand.

"I am so sorry, Madison. For this. For everything." He sighed, shaking his head. "It's because of me, all of it. Darian's been out to get me all these years because of something I did to him. Because I murdered the vampires who had taken him in, turned him, and become his new family..." He swallowed again, finding it harder and harder to speak, both due to the condition of his neck and throat, and the emotions that he was keeping a hard rein on. "I killed all of them, even his mate, because of what they were... I drove him to this. I turned him into this... this thing he's become."

Finally he raised his eyes to meet Madison's, the heavy, dark shadow of pain behind them no longer hidden.

"Everyone he's ever hurt, or killed... That's on me now."

He fell silent again, lowering his eyes once more as he pondered wow to tell her what had happened after the battle, how Darian had used Lily as a hostage against them, and how he'd escaped at the end. Darian was still out there, free to plot and scheme, and no doubt continue his endless cycle of torment and murder. Seeing no way to soften the blow, Sastre simply laid it all out for her.

"Everyone's alright, Madison. Brennan, Lexi, Bastian, they all made it through this alright... But Darian escaped," he said quietly. "He's hidden Lily away somewhere, and he used her life as an insurance policy to make sure I spared him. He's given me two months to find her, and if I don't rescue her in that amount of time, then he'll order the men guarding her to kill her." Feeling the guilt, sorrow, and anger welling up inside of him, he pressed on. "I'm the only one who can do it, Madison. Darian said if anyone helped me, he'd have Lily killed. I have to go... But I have to know that you're alright, and that it's alright with you..."

He let go of her hand and stood up, pacing slowly beside her bed, ignoring the shooting pain in his leg that caused every other step to be a dragging limp. He knew what he'd told her before, that after this mess with Darian was resolved he'd do everything he could to give up the life of a hunter, and to settle down with her. But how could he do that knowing that Lily was out there, that she needed him? How could he chose between the two most important people in his life?

"Please, Madison," he pleaded, finally stopping and looking at her. "Just tell me its okay..."

[madison]

Sastre paced. Madison watched and listened. She wished he had his arms around her, that he was holding her tight, but as much as Madison had hoped this was over, she realized it wasn't. Not by a long shot. Lily was still out there and only God knew what Darian was doing to her.

Looking away, Madison closed her eyes, tears slipped silently down her cheeks. Sastre was leaving again. He was asking her permission. Not that he needed it, not that Madison would ever consider saying no. Lily was his daughter. She was in trouble. Of course he had to go. He needed to do whatever he could to help his daughter.

Her tears were for both of them, for the fact that this wasn't over, and for the fact that Sastre blamed himself in all of this. Taking a deep shuddering breath, Madison looked over at him.

"This wasn't your fault," She told him softly. "These deaths, my injuries, they aren't on your head. They're on Darian's. He'll pay for them some day." Madison gave Sastre a reassuring smile. "Today though, you have to go and find your daughter. Find Lily, and bring her home. I'll be waiting when you both get back."

Madison knew how Sastre felt about promises, but she had to hear him say it. She held out a hand to him. "Please, just...promise me that you are coming back. I need to hear you say that."

[Florian Raniari]

Madison's request hit him like a punch to the gut.

He didn't make promises. He never had. He knew better. In this line of work, there was no telling what tomorrow would bring, and while breaking promises might not be a big deal to others, to Sastre it was something unthinkable. What Madison was asking him... how could he promise to return without knowing if he'd even live through this? How could he lie to her like that? At the same time, though, Sastre knew that if he did make it through these next couple months, then he'd do everything in his power to return to her.

He loved her, and he couldn't imagine life without her.

Keeping his emotions firmly locked down, Sastre limped over to sit by her bed once more and reaching out to lightly stroke her hair.

"Madison... All I can promise you is that I will do everything in my power to come back to you... But we both know there are no guarantees in this life." He paused, reveling in the feeling of her soft hair beneath his finger tips. Leaning in, he gave her a soft, gentle kiss, holding her as best he could without hurting her. Finally he pulled away, locking eyes with her.

"God willing, I'll be back in two months. We'll be back. Be safe while I'm gone, and stay close to Justin and Brennan. Darian is still out there, and may decide my absence is too good an opportunity to pass up." Stealing another kiss before he was forced to tear himself away from her, Sastre stood and headed for the door. "I love you, Madison. And I'll be back with Lily as soon as possible."

With that, he strode out into the hallway, passing Justin with a slight nod of farewell before limping back to the elevators and heading out on his way. Somewhere out there, Lily was waiting for him, and he'd be damned if Darian was going to take away another person that he loved.

((Finished.))