"Have sex with me!" The words echoed in Newton’s mind. He had not seen that coming. He parted his lips to say something but nothing came. To Zed, he looked sexy that way, as if inviting him for a kiss. He supported his bony body with the chair forcing his bones up. Emaciated would be an understatement of what he had gone through. Still, Newton didn’t understand why he would do such a thing.

"You are mad! Stark mad I say!" Fired Newton.

"Don’t you like me?" Zed asked. His skin hugged his bones sagging on one side. His eyes had sunk deep in his flesh to only leave the silvery glow illuminating, but not as vibrant as before.

"Why are you doing this to yourself?" Newton asked instead. "You could die!"

So he still cared? Zed knew it! There was a part of him that signalled genuine concern for him, yet another one distanced him like a plague. He drew in a long breath, looking at Newton with tired eyes.

"My purpose in this world has been accomplished. I don’t see any meaning to live again." His eyes were laced with sadness yet a glint of peace and longing could be felt in his voice. Living for such a long time must have been tiring.

"Can’t you do anything else? Find another purpose to live. Get out, mix with people. I’m sure Isadora would save you a spot in the palace."

"I had a purpose!" He thundered. "You were my purpose! But since you..." He trailed off leaving Newton puzzled. So all this was because of him? Damn it! He should have known better. Still, he didn’t share the same opinion as Zed. Yes, he liked him, but his heart belonged to someone else. It was like a calling... Coming here was not a good idea. Maybe Zed would have lived a little longer but what had he done? He didn’t want Zed to die but he could do nothing to stop him if he wanted to.

"I’m sorry! I can’t be yours!"

"But why?" Asked Zed with a pained expression. And coupled with his sullen looks, he demanded all sympathy there was in the world.

Newton bit the corner of his lips. "I thought I was into men at first but now I found I was wrong."

"Is it about her? Do you love her?"

"I do like her but she has nothing to do with my decision," he said, surprising both himself and Zed.

"If there’s one final thing you can do to help me, it is to lie with me," he stood his ground. "I just want to have a taste of you before I die."

"I’m sorry but I can’t offer that."

"Then I’m sorry I can’t help as well." Zed answered in the same manner. He sat on his seat and gulped the contents of the bottle.

Newton stood in the same place for a fleeting seconds hoping Zed would change his mind but the guy continued drinking his beer as if no one was in the room in the first place. He had made his decision, and it was final! Dejected, Newton left the place.

"Argh!" Zed smashed the bottle on the ground. All this time he had been hoping to see Newton and when he finally did, he was flat rejected. He not only loved the bastard, he craved for his body, simply obsessed by him. He held his dirty hair pulling it damn hard that it hurt. Still, the pain could not be compared to what he was feeling in his heart.

He spotted a knife on the table, an idea popping in his mind. If Newton truly cared, he’d come back, right? He crawled to the table and held the knife in his hand, an evil smile curved on his bony face.

But what if he never came back? What if he died thinking Newton loved him when he had clearly showed his lack of interest in him? Whose fault would it be? The pain of losing him was unbearable so he was better of dead. He didn’t have a purpose anymore, and if this was what fate had in store for him, so be it. The edge of the blade glided with his flesh ripping a vein open. Blood oozed from the cut instantly surrounding him in a pool. He leaned against a shelf, a bitter smile curved on his face. Just like all his predecessors, he’d die after completing his mission. Unfortunately, he would be the last of his kind!

Everything started to fade out slowly in front of his eyes. The room he once knew appeared distant and in funny shapes that made him laugh, a shrieked laugh that didn’t leave his lips. Was this life fading in front of him? A smile lit his face the nth time. He didn’t have any regrets or worries anymore. The boring life would finally come to an end.

"Zed?" He had someone call him in what could be termed as a background echo. Trying to open his heavy eyelids, he saw a figure of what looked like a knight running towards him and crouching low.

"What the fuck did you do?"

"You came for me," he managed to say. And before the blurry figure could utter a word, Zed blacked out.

When Newton had earlier left the cave, the guilt was eating him whole. He knew Zed was fasting because of him and not having accomplished his purpose as he claimed. Still, that might have played a crucial part in the whole drama. And the way he had left him, he feared he’d do something stupid.

Still, Zed was the only one who could help Roselyn. Newton was confused. What if he gave him what he wanted to only have Zed kill himself later. He didn’t want to be the cause of his death yet. Zed deserved to be happy, but he had to understand he was not the right person for him.

For a moment, he stood at the entrance of the cave with conflicted thoughts. In the end, he decided to go back and help Zed find a purpose in life. That was the only way he could help him stay alive. But what he met was a dying Zed, seated in a pool of his own blood with eyes devoid of any emotions! He had decided to end his life!