Book One : The Prophecy : XVIII : Downfall

XVIII

Downfall

Tis better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all…

Alfred Lord Tennyson.

Eveline pushed Theodore’s heavy weight off her body and swung her legs over the stone table as giant columns of grey rock fell around the angels and demons. A great roll of thunder shook the ground beneath her as she scanned the area for a weapon.

“Eveline I need to get you out of here now!” Theodore roared as flashes of white light and red light filled his vision. All about them as the abbey crumbled were angels and demons, all of whom were now heavily involved in fighting one another. Eveline turned to face her white washed husband, her eyes burning with anger.

“Not without Galean!” she said with a voice so cemented with determination that her husband looked dumfounded. Theodore gazed at her with blinking eyes, she seemed taller and more profound than ever and he in turn felt smaller and less profound. Her simple gown of ivory fell to her bare feet and her wild auburn hair played about her long body as though they it were made up of fiery embers. “Please Theodore, you must set aside your bad opinion of him and help me!” Eveline pleaded as she bent to pick up a discarded dagger.

“Celestine, leave now!” came the all omnipotent voice of Michael as he lifted the still body of Gabriel up into his arms. “Do as Theodore bids and leave at once, you are not safe here any longer.”

“I cannot let Lagmar kill Galean!” Eveline said as she raised the dagger before her, her golden eyes ablaze and bright. Beneath her gown she felt the coldness of a necklace and looked down, drawing back the material at her chest slightly. With widened eyes she caught a glimpse of the golden star and let out a strange breathe. As she placed a finger over the star she felt a strong hand grasp her wrist.

“Were leaving now like Michael has ordered!” Theodore said loudly, forcing her to follow his steps as he weaved them in between the fighting angels and demons.

“No!” Eveline begged of him. “No please Theodore, please don’t allow him to die!” Eveline felt her feet burn as Theodore dragged her away from the fractured alter towards the side door.

“Galean’s business with Lagmar is not our own,” Theodore said darkly as he turned and caught her frightened gaze. “Michael is right, if you stay here another minute longer then none of us will walk away from this fight unscathed.”

“Cael please!” Eveline said quickly, her toes curling against the marbled floor, slowing them both down. Theodore turned his head with a shake and once more guided her towards the side entrance. “I said no!” Eveline cried out so loudly that the walls of the falling abbey shook as another great streak of lightening violated the night sky. With a strength she had never before felt within her, she unclasped her hand from Theodore and swung the hilt of her dagger, the metal meeting her husband’s face. Without a sound, Theodore fell to the ground unconscious, his sword of light falling beside him. Eveline felt her body shake with disgust as blood began to flow from her husband’s ear. “Forgive me,” she whispered with trembling lips, bending down to retrieve his sword. Behind her she could hear the footsteps of a shadow racing towards her. With renewed focus she spun about and stood up, wielding both a sword of light and dagger. A shadow, whose face was as beautiful as the morning star positioned himself, a smile upon his lips as he challenged her with a look. Eveline closed her eyes briefly.

“Always remember where to place your weight when lunging at an enemy,” Galean instructed Eveline, placing a hand upon her stomach. “Bend forward just a little to give your legs strength and to shield your upper body from attack.” Eveline did as she was instructed and bent forward a little, her eyes glaring into Jophiels whose own gaze was riddled with merriment. “Now clasp your knives like this, see?” Eveline turned her gaze to Galean and watched as he took a knife and held it firmly at the hilt, his arm slightly bent in front of him.

“I see,” Eveline replied with a nod, her own hands clutching the hilts of her own knives.

“Remember, your foot work counts for everything,” Galean said as he stepped away from Eveline, giving both his friends space. “It takes most proficient men and women years to perfect their foot work. You don’t have years, your time is limited, so heed my words.”

“I am no match for my foes,” Eveline said loudly, her eyes on Jophiel. Beneath her she maneuvered her feet into position, feeling the strength in her muscles and calves.

“You don’t just possess the power to wield a knife Eveline, you possess magic,” Galean replied calmly. “Soon you will be able to wield both and then you will be equal to any foe.”

“Ready?” Jophiel asked with a sarcastic yawn, her lips curling into a playful smile. Without speaking, Eveline bent her back lower and spun her body about, hurling into Jophiel with force.

“That’s it!” Galean applauded as both women tried to out manoeuvre one another.

Eveline opened her eyes and looked into her opponent’s deadly red gaze and lunged at him before he could respond. She pushed her body into the centre of his own and forced his body against the grey stoned wall. As she moulded his body to the church she felt his foot connect with her shin and cried out, stepping away from the shadow quickly. As she recoiled slightly, re balancing herself once more she felt something about her throat and began to choke.

“Shadows have gifts,” Galean’s voice whispered through the inner turmoil. “Gifts that prey on their opponent’s weaknesses. Make sure to keep this in mind but do not forget that you have gifts as well, use them when needs be.”

Eveline felt her feet lift from the marble ground as the force about her throat tightened. Her head began to feel dazed and strange, her vision becoming distorted as the sound of her heartbeat filled her eardrums so much so that it pained her. As her head fell backwards and she gasped for air she felt something hot and pure rise up within her, spreading across her body, reaching the tips of her fingers and toes. She closed her eyes and found focus.

“How can I summon the magic within me in times of need?” she asked Jophiel.

“Search for it,” Jophiel replied lightly placing a hand on her friend’s heart and looking deeply into her eyes. “Know that it is within you, waiting on you to call it forward.”

“I have never before been in control of my powers, they have always been in control of me.”

“You are their master, if you call out to them they will answer.”

“What do I do?”

“Imagine what it is you would like to summon,” Jophiel said. “If you wish to choke an opponent simply imagine yourself doing so and it will happen. It is like moving any part of your physical body, your mind is so in tune with your body that it needs no words of commands it simple acts on behalf of your wishes. That same theory applies to those possessed of magical abilities. At first when you are unaware of it, it is your emotions that command your abilities. But when controlled and understood, it does not just answer to your emotions it answers to you.”

Eveline opened her eyes and raised her right hand, her fingers curling about as though they were tightly wounded about the shadows throat. At once she felt herself fall from the air, her body crashing to the ground. Still she keep her mind focused and her hand steady, rising to her feet before the now choking shadow. As she rose, she lifted her hand into the air, summoning the shadows body to do the same. Slowly like a predator encircling its prey she came before the shadow, whose eyes began to bulge in an unpleasant way. There were no words that came from her mouth as she curled her fingers into the palm of her hand even tighter. She simply glared upon into his now swollen face and quickly without another thought cracked his neck.

“How can I kill a shadow?”

“You can kill the physical body that a shadow commands easily, but it is much harder to kill the spirit of that shadow,” Galean answered with a curious gaze as they both sat before an open fire sipping on tea, Belle playing with Wordsworth close by. “The spirits of angels and shadows are not easily broken. Only the blade of our swords can truly maim our enemy.”

“How?”

“Thousands of years ago a great angel named Nacramin found a rare form of silver beneath a lake,” Galean said as he set his cup down and folded his legs. “The silver was rare due to the materials within it. Nacramin and a dozen other angels at that time were looking for ways in which to kill a spiritual being for good. Only God has the ability to kill a spirit but God cannot fight a war against Lagar and his legions alone so for many year and so angels had to search for an answer.”

“And this rare silver was it?” Eveline asked with raised brows, her bare feet folded beneath her skirt, snug and warm beneath her legs.

“Yes,” Galean smiled kindly. “Nacramin and his followers quarried the silver and created blades for those of the angels that were a part of the heavenly legions.”

“Was their enough silver?”

“At the beginning yes, but as with any resource the silver began to run out and so the amount of blades produced decreased as the population of Heaven increased greatly,” Galean said with glazed eyes. “Earthly folklore and religions have developed ideas about how one can kill a demon, either using water, salt or indeed silver. But it is only the blade of an angel that can truly slay a spiritual shadow, and they become rarer with each generation of guardians.”

“What will happen if there are too little blades left?”

“We have enough to serve us for a good while yet,” Galean said with hope. “And who knows, if Nacramin made such a discovery then there is still hope that another may be made. Our universe is made up of thousands of solar systems all filled with treasures yet to be discovered. Our answer is out their patiently awaiting to be discovered.”

 “It is intriguing that your God being the God of all the universe should not know its every finer detail.”

“The Gods that man envision are all seeing and all knowing, imagine if they were to be enlightened, to know that our God does not bare the same image,” Galean whispered thoughtfully. “Do not mistake me, Heiden’s knowledge of the universe is far greater than any other being, but if he was all knowing and indeed bore the image of perfection that man has painted then we would not find ourselves in this mess would we?”

“I would question him greatly if he could see and know all things in the past and in the future,” Eveline replied with an understanding gaze. “Somehow I would understand him better if he were not so perfect, despite my theory verging on the insane and illogical. He is nearer to perfection than we, but does not fully embody perfection and so is liable to flaws and that in my eyes makes him perfect. But I doubt many would even contemplate such a thought or entertain such an assertation that their God could be flawed.”

“It allows all beings to connect with their ruler, to understand his mind better,” Galean said as he watched Eveline’s facial expressions change as her thoughts deepened. “And it allows God to understand his people in a way that say the Christian God could not because he keeps himself separate.” Eveline smoothed her skirts lightly, musing on her friends words. With grace she bent forward and lifted her cup of china tea.

 “So, how can demons kill angels?” Eveline enquired eagerly, sipping her luke warm tea.

“Ah as to that, it is widely believed that only God can kill angels,” Galean said with a frown. “But that is not entirely true.”

“How so?”

“It is true that God is immortal to a point,” Galean said as he sat forward and gazed into the fire. “The only thing that can kill God is God himself.”

“Is that possible?” Eveline asked with a confused expression.

“It sounds absurd and so I thought it was when I first came to know of it,” Galean smiled weakly. “When I was a young man I thought it must have been incredible to be blessed with immortality, never having to die and always being the ruler. But then I was placed under the guardianship of Gabriel and he educated me on the subject of Gods immorality.”

“Yes?”

“It is not always such a blessing to be immortal,” Galean began and he clasped his hands together and nestled them upon his knees. “It would take me years to regal to you the history of God and Heaven. But it has been a long held tradition that whatever God is on the throne only stays on the throne for a certain period of time. After that said period of time and comforted by the knowledge that he has an heir, he will kill himself.”

“But why? Surely that is suicide?” Eveline asked with a disturbed glare.

“At first I thought so too but then Gabriel educated me on the pros and cons of living so long. Of course there are a great many positives to being immortal of that there is no denying, however it has been often regarded that after a specific time on the throne the present God begins to lose power.” Galean saw the shadow cross Eveline’s confused face. “I don’t mean the powers he was born with, I mean the power he has over his subjects. It was for that reason that Lagar and his brother betrayed their God and waged a great war upon Heaven, breaking up the universe and casting an infinite shadow across time.”

“Lagar has a brother?” Eveline whispered quietly as Wordsworth barked playfully from the corner.

“Yes, his name was Aedon, star of the morning. You will know him better as Lucifer.”

“But I thought Lucifer was Satan and vice versa?” Eveline asked, her body shivering.

“Religion has moulded them together I suppose,” Galean shrugged.

“Does he live still?”

“Yes, he rules over a smaller kingdom to the east of the universe,” Galean answered darkly. “It’s called Dacais, a kingdom made up of deserters.”

“And is this Aedon as cruel and malicious as his brother?”

“At first yes, but he separated himself from Lagar and took with him his own legion of shadows, retreating to the far corner of the universe, inhabiting a small planet about the size of earth. He and his people keep themselves to themselves, much to the disgust of his brother.”

“So he is not a threat to Heiden?”

“He will always be a threat, but in comparison to his brother, no,” Galean shook his head. “For now he poses no threat, his time is taken up with his own kingdom. He was once much loved by his God, Hedan who is Heiden’s great grandfather.”

“So what happened after the war?”

“Hedan realised that his people preferred his son, Hesdon. He was young, powerful and a great commander. He invigorated the tired and unsettled in way that his father could not any longer,” Galean explained carefully so that Eveline would understand. “He understood that his powers alone where not enough to keep those within his kingdom settled and content. They yearned for new blood and so, his wife already dead long before him, he killed himself with his own sword of light, called uthadrel which means belonging to God. It had not been the first time God has killed themselves, but the reason behind it differed. It is a known custom that the reigning God will end his life after a certain time. It differed this time because Hedan had hoped to curb the ritual, wanting to rule for an even greater period of time.”

“But how is that linked to killing an angel?” Eveline quipped as she freed her feet from beneath her, both being bathed in pins and needles.

“Lagar under disguise found the tomb of Hedan and from it took the sword Uthadrel for his own,” Galean said with a sigh. “He took apart the blade and had one of his shadows wield swords, each with a slight fragment of the great sword. When these swords had been crafted he laced them with fire. A shadows sword has the ability to in a want for better words absorb the light of an angel which is their very being, destroying it completely.”

“Would such a sword not work on shadows?”

“No for their hearts are blackened and without light.”

The physical body of the demon fell to the ground with a loud crash. Quickly Eveline found Theodore’s sword of light and stabbed the lifeless body. As she withdrew the sword she watched on in curiosity as the body began to dissipate into embers. Turning quickly she looked over at her husband and felt her heart thud with shame. Wiping her brow with her sleeve she began to move away, running towards the nave of the church, now split in half. She could see Michael and the newly awakened Gabriel hard at work, slaying the many shadows that had infiltrated the abbey. With their eyes focused elsewhere and the cost clear, Eveline jumped up onto the first row of pews and with determination began to carefully jump over the next row and the next, making her way down the nave towards the archway, once adorned with great doors, that now lay splayed and broken upon a mass of debris.

*

Lagmar dragged Galean down the steps of the abbey and out onto the street, now filled with shadows. Lightning and thunder cursed the night sky as the shadows cried out in happiness to see the lifeless form upon the stone steps, blood dripping down his forehead. Lagmar let go of Galean and walked away from him to stand before his servants. He stood tall, dressed in black leathered armour, his long white hair plated down his back. With a swift movement he unclasped his great black cloak from his shoulders and threw it to the wet ground as great droplets of rain smashed against his leather armour. From the crowd of shadows came forth Belem and Nathaniel, both clad in similar attire.

“What of the girl?” Belem hissed loudly as he came to stand before Lagmar.

“She is awake!” Lagmar announced loudly, a great cry of victory heralding from the mass of shadows.

“Shall I bring her forth?” Belem asked, his head tilted and his eyes bright. Lagmar lifted his nose to the black sky above and closed his eyes. Belem watched as he sniffed the air about him carefully. When he opened his eyes his lips curled into a smile.

“No need friend, she will soon come to us,” he turned his eyes to the abbey. “Call the master, I have a gift for him.”

Galean coughed as he awoke from his state of unconsciousness, rolling onto his side and clasping his stomach tightly, the pain of Theodore’s sword dismantling his body with a pain like nothing he had ever felt before. As he rolled his body from side to side he felt the large droplets of water fall onto his bloodied face and opened his eyes. Above him a great streak of lightening illuminated the sky followed closely by another great roll of thunder. Galean, biting down on his lips lifted his body from the ground and focused his eyes on the great beast of Lagmar, who stood away from him, a great blazing sword of fire in one hand. Galean scanned his body for his knife and upon finding it, brought himself to his feet, his body shivering with pain and fever. Above them great black ravens flew, circling about himself and Lagmar enlivened by the prospect of death.

“There is no escape now angel,” Lagmar exclaimed loudly as he walked towards Galean. “Come meet your death.” Galean closed his eyes as a wave of nausea swept over him. He looked up from the rain soaked ground and found himself being lifted high into the air, his body hovering as blood dripped from his leg. Lagmar looked up at the angel and scoffed, suddenly throwing the angel to the ground roughly, his cry piercing the air about him. Galean felt his knife fall out of his hand as he cried out in agony, his body broken and bent. He knew this night would be his last, knew that he had been beaten before the fight had even begun. He had been betrayed by his friend and ally and now had been passed over to his greatest adversary, without the strength in which to defend himself.

“Where is Eveline this morning?” Galean asked a content Estelle who was attending to an orchid by the window.

“She is outside playing with Belle and Wordsworth,” Estelle replied warmly, casting her eyes over at the handsome man, gentle and kind. Galean arose from his chair, bringing his china cup of coffee with him to the great bay windows. Outside he saw the figures of Belle and Eveline, both of them playing with a gleeful Wordsworth, throwing small sticks about the small garden. Estelle watched the young man as he smiled gently at the scene before him, sipping on his coffee. “She seems much improved today don’t you think?”

“Yes, she is quite radiant,” Galean observed with a kind eye. Estelle had been quite obvious to the growing friendship between her daughter and the young angel and though wary of it, at times she saw the trueness of what lay between them and though she saw the pain in her son’s eyes she could not find it within her to hate Galean. He was a good man and he did not purposefully intend on attracting her daughter’s attention, he was wise and moral and for this she respected him. He had saved her daughter from the gasps of death twice and could not be moved to dislike him however much it pained Theodore.

“Wordsworth came to us you know,” Estelle said aloud as she finished attending to her orchid.

“Really? How?” Galean asked, turning his gaze towards the kindly woman.

“When she was a young child a great storm swept across Keswick, causing great floods and terrible damage,” Estelle explained as she came to him. “She had been outside roaming the fields close to the lake and had found herself swept up in the water.” Galean’s eyes widened with horror at such a thought. “Myself and Theodore had been out searching for her everywhere as great flashes of lightening erupted across the hills and skies, striking down trees and putting the fear of God into all living things. When we eventually found her she was washed up on the shore in the folds of a great wolfhound, holding onto him for dear life. When eventually she told us of what had happened she explained to us that the dog had come from nowhere, jumping into the stormy waters and saving her. From that day onwards, he stayed with us, always by her side, a loyal comrade if even I knew one.”

“How did he come by his name?” Galean asked curiously as he refocused his gaze upon the great dog, bounding about the garden playfully.

“Eveline loves Wordsworth and so named him after the poet,” Estelle smiled with memory. “He has been her constant companion ever since, dedicated to her as he was that day.”

“He is greatly loved,” Galean mused as Belle caught his gaze and ran up to the window, waving up at him frantically. Eveline followed quickly, picking the child up in her arms so that she could plant a hand upon the glass. Galean placed his own left hand upon the child’s and smiled down into her face, a fleeting image of his own daughter filling his memory. Eveline then lowered the child down onto the grass where she ran off again with Wordsworth. Estelle walked away, sensing the moment was not for her. As she walked towards the centre of the great room she looked back over her shoulder and found that Eveline had also raised her hand to the window, Galean once again placing his own hand over hers. Catching her mother’s stare, Eveline blushed crimson and quickly lowered her hand, walking away from the bay windows.

“Get up!” Lagmar ordered Galean as his focus came back to him, the vision of Eveline fading. A strong kick forced him to find his feet once more. “I won’t fight a weakling, not after so many years of anticipation for this very moment. Take up your knife and fight me boy!” Galean searched the ground for his knife and upon finding it took it into his hand and readied himself for Lagmar’s onslaught which would surely finish him.

“Galean!” a feminine voice cried out from behind. Galean turned quickly with terrified eyes as Eveline, clad in a simple gown and baring a sword of light ran out from the entrance of the crumbling abbey, running down to him with a determined face, her thick curls following as the heavy rain soaked her pale skin.

“Eveline go back into the abbey!” Galean cried out pathetically, his right hand clutching his side as blood poured out of him. Eveline came to stand before him and looked down at his wounded body.

“Who did this to you?” she said with urgent eyes, placing her free hand over his own bloodied hand.

“It does not matter,” Galean whispered painfully, his head and neck stained with blood.

“I will not leave you here to die,” Eveline said loudly as she turned her gaze away from Galean, locking eyes with Lagmar.

“If death shall come forth this night, then it will be your own creature of the dark!” she exclaimed coming to stand before Galean, shielding him protectively from Lagmar who looked at Eveline with curiosity.

“Death shall come forth, but it shall not seek me out,” Lagmar answered with a laugh as Belem came to his side quickly, whispering something into his ear. A smile reached the demons eyes, a smile that dismantled Eveline’s courage at once.

“Eveline please, you must return to Theodore!” Galean begged. Eveline shook her head and did not turn her gaze to him.

“No! You shall not leave me do you understand?”

“If I die this night, then let it be so that you can live,” Galean whimpered as he placed his free hand upon her back. “I came here knowing that I could face certain death.”

“Then why did you come?” Eveline cried out as the dark clouds above her began to separate.

“To see you,” Galean whispered softly, grabbing her roughly and turning her away from him. “Go Eveline! Do not let my death be in vain.” Eveline shook her head again, her movements of determined will stopping as she caught a glimpse of something weaving its way through the crowd of entertained shadows. Galean followed her gaze. “No..,” he breathed out heavily as the slithering form of Nagtium emerged from the crowd, closely followed by Lagar.

“I am not afraid,” Eveline said, placing a hand upon Galean’s sleeve. “I am enlightened.”

Without waiting for an answer Eveline charged forward with her sword raised high in the air. A great clash sounded out as light met with fire. Galean stumbled forward trying to separate Eveline from Lagmar as they fought viciously before the silent and amused Lagar, who stood patiently observing the scene, Nagtium now sitting upon his shoulders.

“She is mine!” Lagar hissed loudly to Lagmar, who had now thrown Eveline to the ground. Lagmar looked away from Eveline and nodded to his master, walking away from Eveline as she rose to her feet once more, finding Theodore’s sword. Lagmar lunged at Galean who struck the demon with his knife, wounding the shadows face. Lagmar let out a loud cry as he clutched his wounded face. Eveline seeing a chance for attack ran towards the demon, suddenly stopping with such a force that she was winded. She could not move forward, separated from Galean by an invisible wall. She turned to face Lagar, whose gloved right hand was raised in her direction. With urgency she closed her eyes and called forth her powers, raising her own free hand and directing it in Lagar’s direction. Opening her eyes she felt the heat of her power run down her arm and out through her fingertips. The invisible power hit Lagar with no reaction. Eveline blinked twice not quite understanding how he could withstand her magic. As if hearing her thoughts, Lagar spoke aloud. “You cannot move me girl, I am greater and more powerful than you shall ever be.” Eveline began to tremble as a dozen or so shadows made for her. Turning she tried to move but found her feet cemented to the ground. As fear gripped her she felt her head turn and her gaze fell upon Galean and Lagmar who were now both entwined in each other, fire and metal enveloping them both. A tear fell from her eye as she watched Galean fall to the ground before Lagmar.

“Galean!” she cried out as his body slumped upon the ground lifeless before the invigorated Lagmar who turned to his master with raised arms, his bloodied face filled with glee.

“He is dead!” he exclaimed loudly a great cry of victory ringing out from the shadows.

“No!” Eveline mumbled in disbelief. As she felt her body weaken she saw a great light from the abbey entrance. The great and terrifying archangel Michael ran out of the building, followed closely by Gabriel, Theodore and a great mass of fellow guardians. At once the invisible wall that had kept her from aiding Galean had faded and she fell onto her knees, her sword falling unceremoniously from her hand. She turned her gaze to Lagar and watched as he disappeared before Michael. Never had she seen such a terrifying angel before as she watched Michael strike down shadow after shadow with a growl so fierce it shook Eveline. With her hands plastered to the stone ground, Eveline forced herself up, drenched and disorientated. As she stood, she found Theodores gaze and held it for a moment before stumbling across the stones to Galean’s body which lay in a puddle of blood and water.

“Eveline no!” Gabriel cried out as he came to her and forced her away from Galean. “Go! Get out of here now!”

“I cannot leave him!” Eveline vowed as her husband came to her.

“He is gone Eveline,” Theodore whispered clearly, taking one of her hands and forcing her to step away. Without a word she felt her body fold itself into Theodore’s embrace. Glancing over the curve of his shoulder she watched on as Gabriel enfolded Galean into his wings and disappeared before her. Eveline felt herself crumble into her husband’s embrace as a wave of grief and sickness took a hold of her.

*

“Here drink this,” Theodore ordered the quiet Eveline as he sat beside her. Eveline looked up from the ground and without smiling took the small cup of tea and began to sip it. The residents of Bath were in a daze as to how their most prided church had fallen to ruins and as Theodore and Eveline sat upon the platform of the train station they listened on to passengers shocked conversations. There had been no time for Eveline to simply digest all that had happened during the night as she was forced to leave the abbey grounds as quickly as possible by Michael. Together Theodore and Eveline returned to the ghost riddled house of Mary that had been cleared and cleaned by the guardians during the last week. When they had entered the house at first, Eveline had found her feet unable to move as the memories of that night began to rain down on her like the heavy droplets of rain that had battered her skin. With Theodores silent help, she was seated in the day room where she waited for Theodore to pack up their belongings. It had not taken her husband long to return to her.

“Find some clothes and put them on,” Theodore whispered sensitively to Eveline. Still quiet and slightly dazed Eveline nodded and with a pale face opened her leather suitcase. “I shall go out for a few minutes whilst you dress.” When the door of the room softly clicked, Eveline stood up and slowly pulled off her drenched and dirtied gown, letting it fall into a bundle about her bare feet. She cared not that she stood naked close to the bay windows as she rummaged through her clothes. In fact she felt nothing, all of the determination, hope and courage had all but gone with Galean in that briefest of moments. She had awoken from her sleep already grief stricken by the events of the previous week, but any of the remaining remnants of strength had simply been exterminated, leaving her empty and without emotion. Her bones felt weak, her heart heavy and her body drained of energy. Silent tears fell from her eyes as she dressed herself, memories of the moments spent within the day room flooding her mind. When she eventually dressed herself she heard a knock on the door. Theodore now too re dressed entered with a sombre face. He came before her and laid a gentle hand over her own shaking hand.

“Let me,” he soothed, lifting her hand away from her shoe and tending to her feet himself.

“Where is Wordsworth?” Eveline whispered through tears as her husband tied her laces.

“I don’t know,” Theodore replied gently, lifting his eyes to her own. Eveline not quite able to look at him turned her gaze away. “There has been no sign of him since…, since…”

“Since I slaughtered everyone?” Eveline said coldly without blinking. Theodore stopped tying her laces and froze.

“Eveline…, don’t say such things.”

“Why, it is true is it not?” Eveline whispered plainly, her eyes glazed and unmoving. Theodore gazed up at his altered wife and let out a sigh, now was not the time for truth telling. Instead he simply returned to her shoe without answering. “Why are you helping me? I killed Jophiel and your friends?”

“I am your husband,” Theodore said. “And you didn’t kill anyone.” Eveline’s body stilled at her husband’s words. The room fell to silence once more as Theodore placed her left foot into her shoe and tied her laces. When her shoe had been tied he took out a small comb from his pocket and came to sit beside her. Clasping both her hands together tightly upon her lap she trembled slightly as he began to brush her partially dried and unwashed hair.

Theodore kept his eyes on Eveline as their train came into sight, a great mass of steam enveloping it. About them the platform was filled with a range of people, many of them women and children. Eveline kept her face shielded with a felt hat and when she had finished sipping her tea, she placed the cup and saucer down on the ground.

“Where are we going?” she asked Theodore, keeping her gaze averted, letting it settle upon a small child who was huddled close to her mother. The child’s blue eyes found her own and she smiled at Eveline, a slight frown forming upon her brow.

“Home,” Theodore replied as the train finally reached the platform and stopped.

“And then?”

“We don’t need to make any rash decisions right now,” Theodore said kindly as a great wave of passengers disembarked from the train and weaved their way in and out of the crowd of awaiting passengers. “Let us simply go home.”

“It feels wrong to go home without her,” Eveline whispered as a tear fell upon her cheek, her gaze still upon the small blonde hair girl. “Everything feels wrong now.”

“Eveline we will get through this, okay?” Theodore asked her urgently, placing a hand upon her own clasped hands.

“How can you be so kind to me?”

“I have told you why,” Theodore murmured as he placed his fingers upon her chin and lifted her golden gaze to his own blue. “Because I am your husband and friend and right now you are all I have.”

“I arrived here with all the hope of spring in my blood,” Eveline groaned as a loud whistle rang out. “Now I leave with the ice of winter in my heart.”

“Spring will come again and the ice will melt away,” Theodore whispered tenderly.

“Spring is no more.”

Theodore felt her hands tremble beneath his own and tightened his grasp.

“I cannot return to my world,” Eveline whispered so quietly Theodore had to strain his ear. As the words transcended upon him, he felt a smile upon his lips. “I am not what they need. I am not worthy of a crown, nor am I worthy to sit upon two thrones.”

“Eveline…”

“Can we not just return to our normal lives? As husband and wife?” Eveline asked with pleading eyes.

“I’m afraid our lives will never be normal again,” Theodore answered as he rose to his feet, bringing Eveline with him. Eveline stood before him, her head bent. “Look at me Eveline.”

“I can’t, I can’t look into your eyes,” Eveline cried, her words laced with sorrow. Theodore, his hand still upon her chin, lifted her face to him.

“They will never stop haunting you.”

“I know.”

“Are you sure you do not wish to return to your people?”

“Do you want me too?” Eveline asked breathlessly, her eyes searching his own for an answer.

“I will follow you wherever you choose to go.”

“This is my world and my home is with you,” Eveline lied to herself, seeing the pleasure in her husband’s eyes as she spoke. All that she had loved had died and with Galean. A soft breeze swept about her as Theodore smiled weakly. “If you still want me.”

“Always,” Theodore tried to say with convincing eyes. Eveline saw the flicker of doubt pass in her husband’s eyes and sighed deeply. He would never forgive her and they in turn would never be the same again. All of their precious memories had faded into a distant memory, never to arise again. “Come it is time we leave.” Theodore picked up their suitcases and together they walked to the first class carriages. “Let’s go home.” Eveline stopped for a moment and let her eyes run over the station and Bath before turning and following her husband into the carriage, closing the door firmly behind her.

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