“You must think me a grotesque animal.” I could make out the glow of his eyes beneath his cowl. His voice set my skin humming, though I feared the creature concealed inside his cassock.
“I don’t know what to think.” Stepping closer, I held out my hand, as if to touch his chest, only for him to recoil.
“I was weak, perhaps even a little mad, but I have held tight to what little humanity I could.” He kept his hands tucked inside his long sleeves, hiding every trace of himself from me.
“I believe you, and I want to help.” I stepped toward him again. “Just tell me what I can do.”
He told me of his pledge. Of how he was doomed to an eternity of subjugation for a moment of eminence, realizing too late his mistake. Now, he found a way to reclaim his soul, but he needed me to lead him to his destruction.
The black shroud of night had just begun to lift when he made his way through the ironbound doors of the monastery’s inner gate.
As we entered the vestibule, he wrapped his arm fearfully around my shoulder. I kept an image in my mind of how he once was. If I focused on his horned visage, my courage would fail. Only my love for him kept me sane.
The priest met us at the altar, making the sign of the cross when he finally saw the creature I championed.
An acolyte escorted me from the sanctuary. I knew a battle was looming. When that the final victory was wrought, my love’s spirit would be free, but I would lose him forever to death.
Thin spiral notebook 
What a sacrifice! Of course I’m dying to know their back story. Very powerful piece. Great voice and pacing.
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There’s so much story in their history that this piece hints about. (Of course, I’d love to know it :)) I like the struggle and tension in this as she decides to help free him even though it means she loses him forever. Such a selfless thing to do.
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Beautifully written-a tragic love story!Love is not always possessing but sometimes demands a sacrifice and to free the soul of a loved one,your protagonist was ready to risk her lover’s death-that’s supreme sacrifice!The characters are so strongly etched that one can almost see them-amazing work Tara:-)
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Great details and tension. I could really feel the narrator’s emotional turmoil.
Why the italics?
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Thankt you! I italicized that particular line to highlight one of the writing prompts. It was the book quote for the “Master Class.”
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Tragic and romantic and intense. On the one hand, it’s a perfectly satisfying read as it is. On the other, I would love to read more! I’m dying to know exactly what happened and how he ended up the way he is. Great job.
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Fantastic job incorporating both prompts. It reminded me a bit of Rosemary’s Baby. Great atmosphere and well-executed tragic end.
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Excellent write! Great tension throughout, and it feels very atmospheric.
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You might not have necessarily lost him. You could meet again in the underworld.
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