Eve and Vincent walked quietly through the rows and columns of the graves that were placed in Woodlock's cemetery. The cemetery keeper was nowhere in sight, while most of the people of the town had returned to their houses as it was the middle of the night.
"Can we not do it tomorrow?" Eve asked him, watching Vincent sway the shovel back and forth in excitement as he walked in front of her. It felt like somehow, they always gravitated around the graves.
"What's the fun in doing it tomorrow, when we can witness the look of shock on people when they see a dead man back to life," Vincent responded to her, turning to look at her over his shoulder with a grin on his face.
In one way, Eve agreed to open Noah Sullivan's grave because she didn't want the townspeople to spread the word about her or Vincent associating themselves with witches. She truly wondered how every townsfolk would react to seeing an alive Noah. When they finally reached the grave, Vincent used his strength to lift and push the gravestone away before he started to dig in the mud. He remarked,
"Doesn't this bring back wonderful memories, darling? You, me and the shovel with graves around us."
Eve smiled at Vincent's words, because the same words in the past she would have glared at him. She said, "It is still one of the most memorable days of my life thanks to you, my crazy husband."
"All yours," Vincent sweet-talked Eve and once he was done digging the ground until the coffin was found, he pulled it open.
Eve noticed Noah's face had shrivelled. It was obvious by his appearance that he was dead, and she asked him, "Is this how he is...is supposed to..."
Eve could smell the pungent smell wafting from Noah's dead and decaying body.
"Supposed to look?" Vincent asked her, and his eyes narrowed. "Looks like Patton is going to get fired for not fixing the pipe in the right grave. That idiot," he muttered. "Here, give me your hand," he offered his hand towards Eve, and she placed it in his, before climbing down into the dug space. He said, "Now it is yours to use, Eve. Careful with every word you speak after you open the vial."
Eve nodded, taking a deep breath as if to prepare herself as she doubted she could breath well once she sat close to the body. She then opened the lid of the vial for the very first time.
Carefully, she made her way to Noah's head. She brought the vial towards his lips and said,
"This vial is now a red potion, and once it touches the dead person's lips and enters the mouth, it will immediately bring back the person to life. His heart will beat and he will hold memories."
Eve had mentioned the colour only to make sure that the vial worked, and when she did see the colourless liquid turn red, she poured it quickly into Noah's mouth.
Just as the vial was supposed to act, Eve noticed Noah's face starting to fix itself and bringing the colour to his face that he had lost since his death. Even his chest that had been wounded, started to heal itself, restoring his body the way it was. It took only a few seconds before Noah opened his yellow eyes and gasped.
"AH!"
"Welcome back to hell, Duke Noah," Vincent remarked, and helped Eve stand up.
Noah looked confused and he noticed Eve and Vincent standing above him. He asked, "What happened? Where is James?!" He quickly stood up, but he almost lost his balance.
"Careful, Noah. I don't think you should move so quickly," Eve advised him.
"Wow to fill him with everything, that's going to be something," Vincent clicked his tongue and he said to Eve, "How about we go back to the Moriarty mansion. I need to check on our family."
Eve turned to look at Noah and said, "I would like it for you to come with us."
Vincent then informed Noah, "James or Erasmus is dead. Your parents have been taken to the dungeon for questioning, because James kidnapped Eve. But as you see, all is well now. Also, it would be better to have you changed into fresh clothes."
Noah's eyes slightly widened and as he was only back from being dead, it took him a moment before he nodded to Eve's words.
Once Noah changed his clothes in Sullivan's mansion, the carriage was arranged, and the three of them travelled to Skellington. When they arrived at the Moriarty mansion, Alfie ran towards the front entrance and he looked ecstatic to see his master and Lady Genevieve unharmed. But with them was the Duke of Woodlock. Wait... wasn't he dead?! The butler asked himself.
"Great, you are here, Alfie. Prepare a good meal, and send the carriage to call my father back from the Council. Also have you heard anything from Holy Oak?" Vincent turned to look at Eve and Noah, who didn't enter the mansion as they stood facing each other.
Outside the mansion, Eve didn't know how to bring up the subject and she asked him, "How are you feeling now? The vial was supposed to heal you."
"I feel healed, thank you for doing it for me, Genevieve," Noah thanked her, and he said, "I think--"
"You m --" Eve apologised when they began at the same time, "I apologise, you were saying."
Without a word, Noah offered Eve a deep bow without raising his head and apologised, "Forgive me. If I had been brave and stood on the right side, you wouldn't have gone through what you did the last few years. I am guilty for my lack of actions, and not telling you the truth when I knew...But believe me when I say that it was never my intention to hurt you."
When Eve was captured, and in the cave, she tried to understand why Noah had never told her. She realised there were moments during their friendship, when it looked like Noah wanted to tell her something, but then he would smile and talk about something else. And it took her kind heart to forgive him.
"I know. Please raise your head, Noah," Eve said to him and once he did, she met his guilty eyes and said, "It wasn't your fault. It was our circumstances... and you never brought me harm. You have always been a dear friend of mine, and you will always be. What has happened is now in the past and everything is well now. I am sorry that you had to carry that secret with you for so long... it must have been hard on you. I think you can call me Eve now."
The Duke of Woodlock was a subtle man, and he had drawn the line between them by calling her by her full name even though they had been friends.
Noah stared at Eve, the guilt that he had been carrying slowly trying to escape from him, and his heart felt heavy. Not because of his feelings for her, but because of her forgiveness. He smiled at her and said,
"You are the kindest person I have ever come across, Eve. I will forever be indebted to your kindness."
"Aunt Aubrey says it's not good to hold debts between friends. It ruins friendships," Eve replied with a cheerful smile and then added, "But if you still insist, there is something I could use your help with."
"Anything," Noah replied.
Eve then said, "There are these dried petals that need to be fixed together."
"I will see what I can do," Noah agreed to help her. "Where are they?"
"They are in Meadow..." Eve's voice trailed, happy to be back home.
From inside the mansion, Vincent watched Noah and Eve continue to converse. He realised how Eve never knew about Noah's feelings for her. But at the same time, the air was different today. It was because Noah didn't hold the look of longing that the pureblooded vampire had always noticed in the werewolf's eyes.
Vincent wondered if it was because a part of Erasmus's essence that was residing in Noah was in some way attached to Nerissa, who was present in Eve before. Or if it was simply that Noah had finally released his feelings for Eve.
**
Author's Note: Readers who want to take a peek at the new book, you will find it on patreon application or website.
