She fled into the night, ignoring his shouting after her, pleading with her to stop. She knew he would chase her, the foul creature that he was! Kicking off her shoes, she ran in only her stockings through the streets, uncaring for those who might see her.

It would not matter for long.

All she needed was a bridge, and one was not far away. Made of cut stone, she climbed onto the railing that overlooked the Seine. How many times had he taken her for a stroll along its shores, speaking of the beauty of the world and the mystery of her missing memories?

All the while, he was a monster. A wraith. A demon.

“Marguerite!”

She turned to see him, standing some twenty feet away, stretching a hand out for her.

Panic and grief consumed his features. He would not reach her in time.

She jumped.

“No!”

For a moment, there was only the sensation of falling. And then…water. Warm at the surface but growing slowly colder as she descended quickly into its depths. She did not try to swim. She let it embrace her, let it weigh down the layers and layers of her heavy dress until she could not have escaped if she wished to.

And when it pressed into her mouth and forced the air from her lungs, she surrendered, praying with all her might that death might be too far for him to reach her.

She prayed that death might protect her.

Tags: Kathryn Ann Kingsley Memento Mori Fantasy
Source: readsnovelonline.net