Book One : The Prophecy : XX : Betrayal

XX

Betrayal

30^th March 1941

Love is whatever you can still betray. Betrayal can only happen if you love…

John le Carre.

Eveline sat down upon the piano seat and laid her fingers upon the keys. As she sat in silence she let her mind rewind to that morning in which she awoke to the sound of Galean’s playing and felt a slight smile upon her lips. As her eyes circulated the room she found them resting upon a smiling Belle and a contented Estelle who stood near to the door looking on. A pain, deep and primal hit her square in the heart as it usually did if a memory resurfaced and she lifted her fingers away from the keys, waiting until the pain abated. It had been several weeks since Mary’s moving into the house and with her presence Eveline had slowly found her strength. No her suicidal dreams had no abated and still she cried through the night as terrors and horrors filled her soul. But Mary ever determined tended to her pains and sufferings like a mother and with her kindness came warmth, a warmth that slowly and surely filled Eveline day by day. The problems within her marriage however had not settled and she and Theodore led a separate life most days, only coming together at meal times and on some occasions sitting together before the fire in silence.

They had discussed the option of returning to Unas with Theodore’s view of the return altered and set. Eveline had wondered if Galean’s passing had contributed to her husband’s change of view but instead of asking him she merely kept herself quiet and alone, spending most of her days in the library simply sitting and staring out the window. Her face was not as gaunt as it had been and it was thanks to Mary that Eveline’s physical self had strengthened greatly much to her displeasure. Spring had come and Eveline ever grave with its display of beauty found herself ever more pained if it were possible by the blossoming of the trees and the growing of the spring grass that flourished over the fields and hills. With the spring came the bountiful birds and creatures, flying north from their winter territories and settling once again within Keswick. Every day was a struggle and she was frustrated with her lack of pleasure and lack of care because there were times in which she tried to fight off the depression but she failed miserably in her attempts to overcome it and she was ever aware of her husband’s frustration with her. It did not help matters much that the reverend seemed set in his ways that they must leave soon, it only exasperated the anxiety that seemed to drive her every minute. She had come to understand one true thing about grief and depression, it was all consuming and it never played fair on the mind.

“Why don’t you play something?” a familiar voice asked. Eveline did not turn to her husband but merely shaked her head slowly. “Why not? You are a beautiful pianist and the house has been quiet without your music.”

“It would seem almost unforgiving to fill the house with music considering all that has passed,” Eveline said with a soft voice. She turned her golden eyes to her husband and saw for the first time in many weeks a softness, a gaze she knew and loved well.

“It would seem even more un natural for the house not to be filled with music, mother loved you’re playing so well,” Theodore said with kindness as he came to stand before her, placing a hand upon her shoulder and feeling her muscles tense. “Why don’t you try and if it is too much then you can stop, I won’t press you further.”

“What shall I play?” Eveline asked with wide eyes. Theodore smiled down at her.

“Clair de lune?” he replied before gently kissing her forehead, causing Eveline to reel with surprise at his soft touch. “You play it beautifully.”

“Alright,” Eveline whispered turning herself round fully and placing her fingers upon the ivory keys once more, taking in a deep breathe. Theodore now placed both hands upon her shoulders gently as she began to play, her heart strings rigid and sore. As she played she felt hot tears sting her eyes, the beauty and sadness of the music acting as a soundtrack to all her memories that seemed to unleash themselves as she played on.

Outside Matthew stopped walking and held onto the cottage gate as the music filled the spring air about him. He could hear her pain in the music, hear her misunderstanding of life and most of all he could hear the love within her the love that had been the root of such pain. To his right a small robin sat patiently upon the brick wall as though also listening to the music as it rolled over the countryside, touching all that it passed. Matthew let his eyes close for just a moment until the music stopped and the robin chirped in delight. As he opened his eyes he spied the robin and gave him a knowing look before entering the cottage garden and locking the gate behind him. Before he rapped on the door it swung open and Mary beamed up into his face.

“Ah reverend at last, come in,” Mary said with delight, beckoning the minister to come it. As he entered the house he placed his tweed hat upon the table and turned to Mary.

“How is she today?”

“She is playing the piano isn’t that something?” Mary replied with a glorious expression of joy on her face. Matthew a little perplexed at such a welcome simply groaned before being shown into the morning room but as the minister sat down they both stopped moving as a low cry rang out from the music room. Mary’s beaming face suddenly darkened as she looked down at Matthew. “I shall go to her at once.” Matthew waited patiently until the door opened and Theodore entered with a forced smile upon his lips.

“Good morning,” he exclaimed coming to sit opposite the minister.

“Is she alright?”

“The music was a little off setting,” Theodore smiled weakly as he clasped his hands upon his knees. “She will settle in a bit I assure you.”

“She is despite her current mood, improving wouldn’t you say?” Matthew asked, his eyes a little distressed causing Theodore to become suspicious.

“Yes,” Theodore frowned. “Is something amiss reverend?”

“I have had two pieces of news today, the first assuring and the second unsettling,” Matthew replied gravely, bringing forth two letters from his jacket pocket and handing them over to Theodore who took them within his hands and opened the first. Matthew watched on in rigid silence as Theodore read the letter, his hand seizing instantly as the information infiltrated his mind.

“How?” he asked darkly his eyes glued to the letter.

“Gabriel brought him back to his father in Meer,” Matthew replied with a frown. “I thought this news would please you slightly?”

“I thought he had died,” Theodore said, lifting his blue gaze and meeting Matthew’s. “You are sure he is alive?”

“Barely, my source does not think he will last the week his injuries are too serious,” Matthew replied solemnly, folding his legs beneath him.

“Eveline must not hear of this do you understand?” Theodore said harshly, his voice cold and his eyes dark.

“Will she not be glad to know that he lives?” Matthew asked with a confused expression. “I am aware she had been greatly pained by the notion that he had indeed passed away, this may ease her suffering slightly and improve her mood? It may even give her the encouragement to return to her world knowing he may yet live.”

“How certain was your source that Galean would not live out the week?” Theodore asked absentmindedly.

“Quite certain, but there is still hope,” Matthew smiled quickly unable to register his friends response. “This brings you comfort I am sure to know that he lives?”

“Of course it does,” Theodore lied to the minister. “But I think it best to keep this piece of news from Eveline for now, it wouldn’t do her any good in getting her hopes up if he is likely to pass away in mere days.”

“If you are certain,” Matthew replied calmly. Without another word, Theodore flung the letter into the fire before opening the next, much to Matthew’s shock. Theodore opened the next letter and read it quietly.

“This cannot be true,” Theodore whispered frantically the letter falling away from his hand, landing upon the rug beneath his feet gently. Matthew leaned forward and picked up the letter.

“Five of the high masonic council were murdered last night,” Matthew said with graveness, his brown eyes dull and pained. “They were among some of my closest of friends.”

“How?”

“The knights have been sighted in London by some of our spies you will know them well, George Berkeley and Anna Whilde?”

“Yes I was their mentor at one point long ago,” Theodore replied, getting up onto his feet and pacing the morning room. “Why did they attack the council?”

“Information I believe,” Matthew said with a sigh. “As to where Eveline is.”

“And they know?” Theodore stopped in his tracks and turned to the minister whose back was bent.

“They would have to be stupid not to know that this could be one of several places in which she would return, if not the most prominent,” Matthew replied with an anxious look. “It is not that that bothers me as such, it is whether or not they have been informed as the where she is going.”

“But you have kept such information to yourself yes?” Theodore asked quickly, his pacing quickening as the situation became clearer.

“Not entirely no, I had spoken of it with my superior a few weeks ago after I had received my orders from Heiden himself,” Matthew replied slowly. “Of course then I had no idea that these knights had been resurrected. If I had had any notion that they were hunting Eveline I would not have passed along such a message.”

“What do we do? They will be on their way as we speak,” Theodore said as he ran his fingers through his hair and closed his eyes in torment.

“I have spent the whole night trying to come up with a plan,” Matthew said quickly as he also got to his feet and walked to the window, casting his eyes out across the expanse, seeing some of his masonic friends nearby. “We have no time, we need to leave and soon.”

“Eveline isn’t ready yet,” Theodore replied with earnest eyes. “She doesn’t even know that she being hunted by these…knights.”

“Then maybe we should tell her,” Matthew said turning his eyes to Theodore. Theodore held his gaze for a moment before nodding his head.

“She may not take this well at all.”

“Even so she must know.”

Theodore let his head fall backwards, everything had changed in the last fifteen minutes. His plans to return with Eveline to Unas had been torn in half with the news of Galean’s survival. He could not risk the prophecy taking effect, he had to do something to stop Eveline from returning, anything to stop them from finding one another.

“Theodore?”

Theodore looked up at Matthew and smiled weakly.

“I will go and get her now,” he said, his voice distant.

*

“Drink this,” Mary said, giving to Eveline a small glass of water. Eveline took the glass and drank the water obediently.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to cry,” Eveline apologised quietly as she wiped her eyes.

“No need to apologise,” Mary smiled warmly as she took the glass from Eveline and brought it to the sink. “You play beautifully.”

“Thank you.”

Eveline bent her head down into the palms of her hand and sighed before the kitchen door opened and Theodore entered.

“Eveline?”

“Yes?” Eveline looked up from her hands and met her husband’s anguished gaze. “What has happened?” she asked quickly.

“There is something that the reverend and I wish to speak with you about,” Theodore replied kindly, holding out his hand to the confused Eveline.

“Right now?” Eveline enquired cautiously.

“If you please,” Theodore said with an assuring smile. Eveline looked over at Mary who urged her on with kind eyes.

“I will be right here if you need me,” Mary said under her breathe as Eveline clasped her husband’s hand and got to her feet, following him out of the room and into the morning room. Across the room stood the reverend, his hands behind his back and his face expressionless as she came to sit down.

“Theodore what is it?” she asked her husband, gazing up into his face.

“There is something we must share with you, something we have been harbouring these past weeks as you have been recovering,” Theodore said, taking the seat opposite her and clasping her hands within his own.

“Yes?” Eveline asked, her eyes now upon the minister who came to stand before the fire.

“Of course you know that you are in danger wherever you go,” Matthew said with a slight smile.

“Yes I know,” Eveline said suspiciously. “Why? has he come for me again?” Eveline asked with wide eyes, the horror of such a notion filling her body with dread and anxiety.

“No, Lagar has not come,” Theodore assured her with a smile and gentle touch of his fingers against the palms of her hands.

“But there are those who work for him that have been searching for you since your disappearance from Bath,” Matthew explained calmly.

“Shadows?”

“They are not known as shadows,” Theodore said with an anxious gaze. Eveline frowned as she tried to digest the information.

“What are they then?” she probed quickly, her blood beginning to turn to ice.

“They are known as the four knights, simple in title but in truth they are anything but simple,” Matthew said with a sigh, his left hand upon his brow. “They are stronger, older and more powerful than any shadow, so powerful Lagar himself had to kill them in order to control their power.”

“So they are dead?” Eveline asked with innocent eyes.

“No, they have been resurrected from the dead as they were before,” Matthew said with caution seeing the despair in her face.

“How can that be? Surely no one had the power to resurrect those who are dead?”

“Unfortunately Lagar does,” Matthew said with tight lips. “All great arch angels are blessed with incredible gifts, among the many that he possesses, the gift of giving life to someone who is dead is his deadliest.”

“And these knights, what do they do?” Eveline enquired, her skin sickly and cold under Theodore’s touch.

“They have names if you wish to know them,” Matthew replied lightly, seeing the confusion in her eyes.

“If I am to run from them, I would rather know who I am running from,” Eveline replied coldly.

“Adragon, Zazel, Nacromos and Belzamon are their names,” Matthew declared quietly, his words a mere whisper. Eveline sat back as the names pierced her like ice. Even their names put the fear of God into her heart, so merciless and so cold they were.

“And their powers?” Eveline asked calmly, her eyes now falling to Theodore who was looking at her with intent.

“Adragon is known as the knight of fear; Zazel the knight of wrath; Nacramos the knight of lust and Belzamon the knight of greed,” Matthew replied, turning from the fire and looking down into her pale face.

“They sound rather like the seven princes of hell don’t you think?” Eveline smiled weakly.

“Even the seven princes of hell seem kinder than the knights of hell are,” Theodore whispered darkly. “Even Lagar found them too powerful which leads me to feel confused as to why he has suddenly brought them to life again, surely that is a great risk?”

“Indeed it is,” Matthew agreed with a nod. “But he will unleash all manner of creatures to hunt Celestine down, he will do whatever it takes to ensure she does not return to her people and world. If you,” he turned his gaze to Eveline, serious and deep. “Are crowned and blessed with the powers of Heiden, on top of the powers you already possess, you will be equal to Lagar and your half-brother. If you are crowned Queen you will have the power to bring down a whole army. The four knights will be like flies to you. Lagar will not allow that to happen, he will do anything to stop you from entering that garden and becoming Queen.”

“And they know I am here in Keswick?” Eveline said with a quiver of her lip.

“Yes, they were informed last night of your location.”

“How do they travel?” Theodore asked the minister.

“They will be bound to human form and so can only travel in the way that a human can,” Matthew said quickly.

“That gives us two days at least?” Eveline mused thoughtfully, her eyes upon the hearth to where a shrivelled letter lay.

“Yes, two or at the very best three,” Theodore added as Eveline got to her feet, coming to stand alongside the minister.

“I am not strong enough to go on another journey,” Eveline argued lightly as she pushed the letter into the fire without a glance and walked away to the window. “I am not ready either.”

“Eveline there are other options,” Theodore added quickly to the surprise of Matthew who sent him a confused look. Theodore looked away as he came to Eveline and wrapped an arm about him. “If you do not wish to return to Unas then there are other options. Other places we can hide.” Eveline turned and looked up into her husband’s face.

“I thought you wanted me to return to Unas? You have been pushing me for weeks to consider it? Why the sudden change?”

“You cannot stay here, they will find you wherever you go,” Matthew insisted, his vice laced with frustration and anger at Theodores suggestion. “To stay here would be suicide, you know this?”

“Eveline is not strong enough to return to her world yet,” Theodore announced turning on the minister. “We can find somewhere else to seek shelter until she feels stronger.”

“Eveline is this what you want?” Matthew asked the young woman, his eyes pleading. Eveline looked at the minister before looking once more into the face of Theodore, his eyes also pleading. With a sigh she placed a hand upon Theodores.

“Do you think it best that I wait?”

“Yes, for now.”

Matthew rushed forward to the couple.

“You cannot be serious? Can you?”

“I am not ruling out returning to Unas minister, but as I have already said, I am not yet strong enough for such a journey, it would be futile for me to return now.”

“But where will you go?” Matthew asked as he stood back, unable to understand Theodore and his sudden change of attitude.

“Scotland is far enough away to keep these knights off our tracks until such a time as Eveline is ready to travel south to Anglesey,” Theodore exclaimed as he wound his arm about Eveline’s waist.

“Scotland?” Eveline and Matthew replied in unison.

“Why not? It is far and vast and it will take these knights months to seek us out in the highlands,” Theodore replied steadily, his voice and gaze unwavering.

“But so far?” Eveline whispered into her husband’s ear. “Can we not simply journey to wales instead?”

“These knights may know you are bound for Anglesey so no, it would be silly to try and find shelter in Wales,” Theodore replied kindly, his grasp at her waist tightening ever so slightly.

“Are you truly serious about this?” Matthew asked again, still shattered by the turn of events.

“My husband is wise minister, he is also an angel, he would not warn me against returning unless he had his doubts,” Eveline smiled weakly, still unsure about her husband’s sudden growing affection for her, a little dazed by his kindness and touch. “I have great faith in his wisdom.”

“But your grandfather instructed me to take you to Anglesey,” Matthew argued quietly as Mary’s footsteps could be heard.

“I know but he promised me that he would stand by whatever decision I made, even if it displeased him,” Eveline said again with a small smile upon her cold lips. All of a sudden Theodore dropped his arm from her waist and walked away as though repulsed.

“She has made up her mind Matthew,” Theodore said with a sombre face, his eyes betraying his straight lips. Matthew looked up into Cael’s eyes and frowned, wondering what it was that had changed him so.

“When I am ready to travel to Wales I shall write to you immediately,” Eveline added as she came once again to the fire, looking down into its embers and finding the letter once more shrivelling into ash. As she looked down at the parchment she could make out four words. He is alive, barely. Eveline froze and found the sounds of her husband and the minister fading as she watched the words turn to embers before her.

“Eveline?”

Eveline turned her gaze from the fire and met the stares of Theodore and Matthew who were embroiled in a heated exchange.

“I need to lie down,” she whispered vaguely.

“Eveline are you alright?” Theodore asked as he came to her suddenly with anxious eyes.

“I am fine truly,” she lied as Theodore took hold of her hand. “I think I shall go upstairs for an hour and rest my eyes.”

“I shall get Mary,” Matthew exclaimed suddenly.

“Thank you,” Eveline whispered as Theodore helped her to sit down. Upon his knees he looked up into her face, searching her eyes for any clues. “Really Theodore I am fine, you worry too much.”

“I have too my love,” Theodore declared, kissing her lips lightly for the first time since their return. Eveline blinked her eyes as her husband’s lips brushed her own. “You are all that I have.”

“I know,” Eveline whispered with glazed eyes as Theodore kissed her once more a little more urgently this time.

“You are my best friend, remember that when you are afraid that I do not love you,” Theodore smiled kindly, enfolding her in a gentle hug.

“I will remember,” Eveline smiled weakly as she wrapped her arms about her husband, closing her eyes briefly at their exchange. He was her husband she cried out within and he had purposefully kept the news of Galean from her because he was afraid of losing her to him once more. Without another word Mary entered the room and quickly came to her side.

“Ah Mary, Eveline is feeling a little tired,” Theodore announced with a smile as he stood away from Eveline and let Mary handle matters.

“Come I will help you upstairs pet,” Mary cooed, taking Eveline by the hand and helping her up.

Matthew and Theodore watched as Mary and Eveline ascended the stairs. When they had both disappeared upstairs Matthew turned to Theodore.

“What are you playing at?” he asked outright.

“My wife is not ready to leave yet,” Theodore said with a shrug.

“But you were so certain of her returning, why the sudden change?”

“I must respect her wishes,” Theodore lied to the minister. “And if that means staying here a little longer then so be it.”

“You are putting her life on the line, you know this?”

“I do,” Theodore said with certainty as he showed the minister to the door. “Eveline’s life has always been my priority, her security, her health all of it. I will protect her and keep her from harm this I assure you.”

“I am not certain that you will be able to protect her from these knights Cael, no matter your honourable intentions.”

“You must have faith in me reverend,” Theodore said with a gentle smile as he opened the door for the minister who placed his hat upon his head.

“I don’t believe I have any other option, do you?” Matthew replied curtly, turning on his heels without another word and walking down the garden path, stopping for a moment to look up at Eveline’s window. She stood their staring down at him with serious eyes. Matthew blinked before he turned away and opened the gate.

*

Eveline lay in silence as darkness shrouded her room, her delicate fingers stroking the jewel that lay upon her heart. Under her pillow lay her new bible, tucked safely beneath her head where she could feel the slight outline of its shape. The window rattled as the rain began to fall like small daggers, cutting at the glass ever so carefully. Restless she rose from her bed and swung her feet over the edge. Searching she found a blanket and wrapped it about her shoulders, placing her feet upon the wooden ground and walking cautiously to the window. She stood looking out into the dark filled night, mist gathering about the hills and rain falling heavily, drenching the newly sown grass and filling the bountiful lake.

“You’re awake,” a gentle voice called out from behind. Eveline saw her husband’s reflection in the window pane.

“The night brings with it terrible terrors,” Eveline said without moving. “Such that I dare not to close my eyes least I wake up and find myself prey to one of my many enemies.”

“You do not have to face those terrors alone,” Theodore said with warmth as he came to stand behind her, placing his hands upon her shoulders. “I am here.”

“I know,” Eveline whispered, her head falling back against his chest. “You have always been here even when I was not.”

“I understand that we have changed of late,” Theodore said with a sigh as his fingers sought Eveline’s throat, gently stroking her cold skin. “But we are still the same man and wife that married that day, aren’t we?”

“Are we? Are we truly?” Eveline replied, her chest rising and falling gently as Theodores fingers traced the outline of her ears.

“I believe we are, you still love me?”

“I will always love you Theodore.”

“Even knowing what you know about me?”

“You have my best intentions at heart and you are a good man,” Eveline whispered faintly, her eyes stinging. “Can you love me for who I truly am?”

“I always did,” Theodore smiled into her hair.

“You would never stand in my way would you?”

“Why would you think that?” Theodore asked, his fingers freezing.

“We have never spoken of the future, not properly, not until now,” Eveline said with courage sensing her husband’s stillness. “I have never asked you how you feel about maybe becoming my King if I were to claim my crown and throne.”

“I would be your equal would I not?” Theodore whispered carefully.

“In my eyes you would, you always have been…but.”

“But?” Theodore re iterated darkly.

“Many may not see you as my equal giving my position,” Eveline said softly, raising a hand and letting it rest upon her husband’s gently. “Many believe in the prophecy, believe that it is another who should stand at my side as my true equal.”

“He is dead and with him the prophecy too,” Theodore said through gritted teeth. Eveline closed her eyes painfully and turned her head away from him. “Your heart does not belong to him, it belongs to me. You vowed to be my wife remember?”

“I remember,” Eveline said with feeling. “If I were to decide that I should return to Unas with haste, would you mind?”

“It is as you said, you are not ready,” Theodore said with sternness. “We can wait a little longer until you are strong enough to make the journey through time and space.”

“You are right,” Eveline smiled, turning her body around so that she faced him. She knew that she had this one chance to find out if her husband was truly one her side. “I will wait a little longer.”

“You scared me there for a moment,” Theodore smiled, a hefty sigh leaving his body as Eveline entwined her arms about his neck. She felt his muscles tighten under her and searched his eyes for any glimmer of repulsion. Theodore looked down into her golden gaze, serious and intent. “You should return to bed now, you need your sleep.”

“Will you stay with me?” Eveline asked quietly, her heart thudding beneath her jewel.

“It is alright Eveline we don’t need to rush things just yet, you are still recovering,” Theodore said kindly as the moonlight streamed in through the window.

“Please,” Eveline begged with gentle urgency. “I need you.”

“Alright,” Theodore conceded. “I shall join you in a minute when I am dressed.”

“Okay,” Eveline whispered, her arms falling from her husband’s neck. She watched him leave her room before quickly darting back to her bed and grabbing her bible, placing it in the drawer of her bedside table. Her heart raced with fear and anticipation, she was taking a risk a risk that would truly unmask her husband’s true intentions. She felt wicked and cruel as she lay in her bed shaking. She needed to know if he truly loved her as he once did before the veil of time fell away from him and his true being came back to life, the Cael that had already given his heart to another. If he did not retract from her then she would gladly stay at his side even if Galean lived. If he indeed retracted from her touch then she knew what should follow.

After several moments of fear Theodore re-entered her room and quietly closed the door behind him. Eveline lay in wait, her golden eyes ablaze in the dark as he quietly entered her bed, his body shuffling against her own. Theodore when comfortable turned to his wife and gazed into her eyes, his heart pounding with a mixture of pleasure and grief as the memory of Jophiel emblazoned his mind. A hand touched his heart and he shivered under the touch.

“I am truly sorry for all that has befallen you,” Eveline whispered with tear filled eyes. “I am sorry for the loss of Jophiel, I know that you both shared a love before our own.”

“You knew?” Theodore whispered, his eyes wide with shock.

“I bare no jealousy, only shame that I have taken her from you so cruelly,” Eveline said with a guilt ridden heart.

“I married you out of love not duty,” Theodore said clearly, his own hands finding her body and settling upon her waist.

“I know,” Eveline said with gentleness. “All this drama and attention has been on me and for that too I am sorry.”

“You cannot help the drama that follows you, it is inevitable.”

“No matter, I have been so wrapped up in myself I have been neglectful in my duties as your wife.”

“You are not only to blame Eveline, I too have been monstrous to be around,” Theodore smiled as he carefully lifted the hem of her nightdress, his fingers burning her skin. “Can you forgive me?”

“There is nothing to forgive, you have not lied nor betrayed me,” Eveline said carefully, feeling his fingers upon her thighs and shaking. “You are my husband and I trust you.”

“Then let us say no more tonight,” Theodore murmured in her ear as he skilfully raised her nightdress to her waist whilst touching her lips softly. Eveline trembled lightly as the realisation of what would occur suddenly hit her. Theodore too felt something inside him stop as his mind bombarded him with disturbing images of his wife kissing Galean and himself kissing Jophiel.

“Theodore?” Eveline whispered gently, feeling her husband’s body stiffen, his eyes glazed.

“Sorry,” Theodore apologised quickly, leaning away from Eveline and turning on his back. Eveline watched Theodore as he battled with his inner self, his bare chest rising and falling quickly.

“It is too soon,” Eveline muttered, resting her head upon his chest. “Sleep.” Theodore lifted his right arm and wound it about Eveline’s body, his hand resting upon her chest. For a while they simply lay, their breathes easing and their bodies relaxing. It had been a bad idea from the beginning Eveline realised as she held onto Theodore with shame in her heart. Of course he was pained by the loss of Jophiel, she too was pained with the loss of Galean. It was rationale that he keep the information on Galean a secret from her, he was driven my insecurity and jealousy and she had given him cause to feel both. As she listened to his heart beat she closed her eyes, letting his hand rest over her heart. But as she lay within his hold she felt his fingers clasp at her jewel.

“What is this?” Theodore asked gently, his fingers stroking the yellow jewel.

“Only a necklace, it is nothing of consequence,” Eveline lied as her husband unwound his arm from her and brought himself up upon his elbow to get a closer look. Eveline lay under his gaze as he brought the yellow starred diamond forth and held it up in the moonlight.

“Who gave you this?” Theodore asked quietly, his blue eyes vivid.

“It was a gift from mother for Christmas,” Eveline lied. Theodore twirled the jewel in his hand, knowing the necklace well. Anger surged through him as he looked down into his wife’s guilty stare. Eveline looked up into his face, her lips trembling.

“You never were a very good liar Eveline,” Theodore sneered, rolling out of bed with a growl. “I know very well who that jewel belongs too. Why did he give it to you?”

“He gave it to me as a parting gift,” Eveline cried out, following her husband from the room, her bare feet running after his own as he carelessly descended the stairs.

“Along with a kiss too?” Theodore yelled out as Eveline entered the morning room. Theodore placed his white knuckled hands upon the mantle and closed his eyes, the muscles in his back flexing with anger.

“What do you mean?” Eveline whispered fearfully.

“I saw the pair of you in the park that night,” Theodore muttered darkly. “I saw you kiss.”

“Theodore…I…I”

“Don’t try to calm me with your words Eveline!”

Eveline ran to her husband and laid her hands upon his back.

“I was not in my right mind Theodore,” she lied pitifully.

“I should have killed him, should have dug my blade into his pathetic body deeper,” Theodore cursed aloud. Eveline froze as his words filled the darkened room.

“What do you mean deeper?” she whispered coldly. Eveline’s hands fell from his back as she stood away from him. Theodore turned on her with angry eyes.

“I should have finished him myself!”

“What do you mean?” Eveline shouted venomously, her voice so cold it struck Theodore in the heart. “He had been stabbed with a blade before he was dragged from the abbey, was it you?”

“Eveline please,” Theodore begged suddenly fearful before his frightening wife, who stood tall and terrifying before him. “I was driven by jealousy, you must believe me I did not mean to harm him only to wound him.”

“You tried to murder your friend because he kissed me?” Eveline cried out as she edged closer to Theodore.

“You are my wife Eveline! Mine!” Theodore yelled back with force. “Was it so wrong that I became jealous of your friendship with him? So wrong that I felt hatred towards him when all the universe believes you both bound to one another?”

“This from a man, a husband who betrayed me too?” Eveline cried as she struck her husband on the chest. “You think because I was possessed and poisoned I did not see the looks between you and Jophiel? That I did not know of the love you both shared?”

“That was before I married you Eveline,” Theodore begged as he tried to restrain her. Eveline felt herself weaken as she crumbled into Theodore’s arms.

“What has become of us?” she whispered weakly into his chest.

“I don’t know,” Theodore cried into her hair as he wrapped his arms about her. “All of it is a mess.”

“Why would you murder your friend?”

“It was not my intent,” Theodore lied through gritted teeth. “Can you blame me for feeling insecure?”

“I could never have forgiven you for killing such a good man,” Eveline said with feeling. “No matter your jealousy or my stupid actions. He left because of his growing feelings for me, left because he respected you, because he would never in his wildest of dreams have seen me stoop so low as to break my oath to you.”

“But he kissed you,” Theodore whispered into her hair.

“At my request,” Eveline said in return her eyes shut. “Just as you kissed Jophiel on your way home from Oxford.”

“But…” Theodore stuttered.

“She couldn’t keep it to herself for fear of betraying me,” Eveline whispered softly. “And I couldn’t find it within me to be angry with you both, for it was my fault for separating you. I was in no position to judge.”

“Why did you not say something?” Theodore asked with raised brows as he lifted Eveline up into his arms and settling himself down into one of the leather seats, Eveline upon his knees. Eveline looked down into his face.

“How could I? It is because of me that all of this has happened, because of me that you have lost Jophiel. I couldn’t feel anger towards you, only myself.”

“I’m sorry,” Theodore whispered with tear stained eyes.

“You speak truth when you say you would not have killed Galean?” Eveline studied him closely as he struggled to form words.

“No, I felt white rage at his arrogance in returning to see you at the abbey,” Theodore said plainly, his eyes honest.

“I understand,” Eveline said with furrowed brows. “We are both to blame.”

“Can you ever forgive me?”

“Can you forgive me for forcing you to feel such hatred and pushing you to such a point in which you would use violence against your own kind?”

“I am a passionate man,” Theodore said with a sigh. “My flaws are long engrained within me.”

“You would tell me if Galean lived, wouldn’t you?” Eveline enquired with stern eyes, holding her husband’s face in the palms of her hands.

“I would,” Theodore lied. Eveline held his gaze before sitting away from him.

“There is nothing to forgive,” she said quietly getting to her feet.

“We can start anew?” Theodore asked with hopeful eyes. Eveline turned from the stairs and faced him.

“Are you willing to start anew? To follow me to Unas?”

“I am,” Theodore whispered.

“Then yes, we can start anew,” Eveline said sombrely, turning on her heels and ascending the stairs, keeping her eyes forward.




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