Crimson Claire

Content Warning: derogatory words, depiction of a homicide, intercourse, and mental ilness.

[Reader's discretion advised]

Art by @papriaki on X.

    She was—quite frankly—embraced in scarlet; glimmering and serene under the dim light. It was like she barely breathing at all; was she?

    Such pretty damsel in distress, one might say. And it's true for the gentleman that were present in the room—the one and only gentleman. “Menacingly beautiful,” he murmured. But, oh no! No, no! He shouldn't have said that, no! She—it—was his own missus!

    What has he done...?

    He leaned in, observing her like a hawk. Her eyes were started out; unlike her usual calm demeanor at all—it's definitely strange, but let's move on. Her lips—oh yeah, her lips. It was alluring, very alluring. She always had this pale, greyish tint on her lips when she was alive; and who will predict that she looked way more alive now when she's on her demise with the bloodstained lips gaping open?

    No, Eli, no.

    “My Love?” He called, his voice were hoarse and the insides of his neck were aching, very much. He cleared his dry throat, once again calling the—was it crimson or was it scarlet?—shrouded lady. But it was to no avail, she's dead dead. No, she must be kidding him. What could a little puncture to her neck could do to her? It's definitely a not harmful kind of thing, right?

    Right?

    He'd gotten mad. No, he's loony. Foolish. It has the same meaning—just phrased differently. Yes, he'd gotten mad. Had he committed a homicide, to his own lover? That's a delirious fellow right there—he's delirious! "My Love!" he cried; how saddening. It must be because of that mare—that mare killed her. It was not him! It was her!

    “You are not going anywhere, Elias, not until we're done talking about this.”

    “I'm not going to talk about anything. I've got nothing to say.”

    She frowned.

    “You know, I'm sorry.”

    “You're always sorry for everything, right? Sorry for that gentleman, too, that you're unfortunately already engaged to me, and not him.”

    They both fell silent.

    “Listen, Claire–”

    “You don't have to forgive me.”

    He turned around. “What do you mean?”

    “I know you're hurt.” She paused. “I... I just don't want to disturb you anymore. I'm sorry, I know I did you wrong—awfully so. You can... walk away. You can leave me.”

    He wavered.

    “Just that?” His tone was sharp. She raised her head. “Am I not worth that much of your life that you'd just let me walk away and not wanting to beg for me to stay? Are you telling me to leave, right now?”

    She didn't answer. And then her chest rose and fell, multiple times. She furrowed her brows—her lips twitched. “I figured I was too... despicable for you, Elias. You're too... you're too wonderful for me—too good.”

    “But that does not matter, quite so.” He continued, his words bleak and low, “I love you, Claire....” His voice was restrained.

    “And I deserve none of it, Elias.”

    It was that mare. She cheated; that mare is a sham! She made his blood boil, she's the one that ought to be blamed! She sent him into that never-ending madness!

    Oh, but Claire—her body was lying dead, cold and unmoving. It was around daybreak, it was around daybreak that they argued. The sun must've already up in the sky—but Eli can't see it. He can't see it, he only saw red—the scarlet tint of his lover's body! But she was too bonny... too bonny to be left untouched. Claire...

    The cloth of her gown was too thin—Eli could tear it with no work. She was indeed beautiful. He stood there, still—a train of thought crashed into his head. Just for how long had he waited to see her? Eli grinned—wide; his teeth depicted one to so a sly fox had. He was now walking on thin ice with the blasphemy he's about to do.

    ...

‎    But wasn't the ice already broken the moment she was done for?

    No, he wasn't walking on thin ice no more; he flew. He's freed of all guilt and remorse.

    She was already rigid and cold—but her body was still welcoming. Oh, she felt good, she tasted good! Eli moaned. But then a thought crossed his mind the moment the gusto—of him enjoying the mare—or Claire's body—vigorously surged into his bloodstream.

    She was not a lass anymore! No, no, listen! That gentleman she cheated with... had tasted her multiple times, when her body was warm!

    Eli brusquely chuckled. No, that man does not know the true feeling of heaven... not one bit, no... but Eli—he surely did! In fact, he was just snickered his life off doing it with the mare in scarlet—or was it already crimson?

    Oh, dear, that mare—that Claire! Damsel in distress indeed!