Music Recommendation: Naked Body- Kim Min Ji
The waves could be heard hitting the shore, moving forward before being dragged back into the sea. The only people seen near it were James, who now lay dead on the forest ground, and Vincent, who stood staring at the spot where Eve had been standing a few minutes ago.
His hand turned into a fist, the same one which had tried to grab Eve before she had disappeared in front of his eyes. His eyes quickly looked around the place, his breath heavy, and he called,
"EVE!"
But she wasn't there anymore, leaving no trace behind her.
A wave of raging anger started to course through Vincent's veins, and he made his way towards the beginning of the waves and shouted, "Eve! Come back!" But all he received was the continuous sound of waves, and he ran his fingers through his hair in pure frustration.
The last time Eve's previous self Marina had used the dagger on herself, she had died in his arms, and he had held her body close to him. It was why he wasn't worried about it until now. But this time, it wasn't even Marina's turn but Nerissa, who had to die with the dagger. The last dagger.
"Anchor! We need to fucking talk," Vincent shouted at the sea, and he began to walk against the water that pulled and pushed him.
Vincent had lost his mother and his sister Marceline for her behaviour, and he didn't want to lose Eve. He had made sure to protect and keep an eye on her so that no harm could occur, but he had failed. The thought itself disappointed him gravely, and his eyes turned redder.
"EVE!" Vincent didn't lie when he told Eve earlier that he would follow her to the ends of the world. He would cross the world beyond this just to bring her back to his side.
He had seen and dreamed of their future together. To have a life of peace and joy, with the love he didn't believe he was fated to have. He wasn't going to let her go when he had tasted what life was with her.
"EVE!!" Vincent shouted louder than before, hoping her soul was around just like Anchor's and they could use the vial. If not her, at least Anchor so he could know how to bring Eve back.
The water level of the sea increased as Vincent continued to walk forward, from the level below his knees, the water reached up until his chest and then his neck. He didn't pay attention to the salt that entered his mouth or his eyes, leaving a slight burn. And after a minute, the pureblooded vampire was completely submerged in the water.
Far away from the sea and in the forest, the men who had earlier fought the rogue werewolves and corrupted vampires finally made their way through the place where the trees were burnt. They looked tired, with blood smeared on their bodies, while a few were injured and were resting in the same spot where they had initially fought.
One of the men ordered, "Where is the lantern? Bring it forward!"
It was because the forest was dark, and the golden moon had started to lose its lustre and had begun to turn into its usual pale white. With the lanterns burning brightly, the men at the front looked around, and one of them said,
"The earlier fire we noticed has been exhausted. Look at the trees," he said, pointing to the black trees, which appeared charred. Even though burnt, the smell of the fire had disappeared, and it smelt like fresh seawater. "Where is Mr. Moriarty?"
"I don't see or hear them. Do you think they went to the other side of the forest?" Asked another man, who looked ahead of them.
"Half of you go forward, and the other half, let us scout in here," said the main person leading the group. The men, who went forward, reached the cave and caught sight of the broken cage, potion, and vials, along with the dead priest. While the other men finally found James on the ground.
"James Sullivan is in here!" One man shouted on finding the body on the ground, and he bent down to check his pulse. He turned and said, "He has no pulse. He's dead!"
"Where is Mr. Moriarty? Do you think he's dead too?" Asked another man there. The search continued, and on not finding them, the men there decided, "Let us take James Sullivan with the man found in the cave with the proof of what was being done. We need to report the missing people here."
With that, the men left the forest, not knowing Vincent was in the sea now.
Vincent didn't give up, knowing it was now or never. He continued to swim in the sea, frantically trying to find Eve with the hope that she was still there. But even for a pureblooded vampire, the sea's currents were strong this night as it continuously pushed him back and brought him back to the shore after several minutes.
Vincent now sat on his knees, his clothes wet and his hair dripping the salt water down his face and neck. The waves continued to reach where he sat before leaving once again as if taunting him, and he stared at the water.
He pushed his hand, standing up and not ready to give up. He would continue to look for her, no matter how long it would take. It was when his feet touched the water one more time, did he heard someone speak not too far but standing in the same line,
"You won't find her there, Vincent," the voice was smooth and soft.
When he turned to look at who had spoken, his eyes fell on a woman who stared at the sea with a longing expression. Her black hair was tied at the front, then let down before resting on one of her shoulders. Her body wasn't solid, but he noticed it was transparent, similar to when Anchor and Eve had disappeared. A ghost.
"Who are you?" Vincent asked the woman, who turned to look at him and met his eyes.
"I think you already know…" the woman replied, her green eyes staring into his eyes.
"Nerhys," Vincent uttered the name and watched the woman offer him a slight smile that didn't stay on her lips for more than two seconds. "Where is Eve?"
"She's somewhere safe. Back to where she belongs even though not in the state I would like her to be," Nerhys replied, her eyes lowering and looking back at sea. She said,
"You must be wondering what happened. The way she disappeared, where you didn't have the opportunity to have a goodbye." She pursed her lips for a moment and then said, "It was Nerissa who decided to leave and be home. The one she wanted to return to for many years. Because Marina and Nerissa decided to join their souls earlier, Marina… or Eve, she was forced to leave the land along with her sister, and return to where she truly belongs."
