Her expression softened. “But you didn’t know.”
“It’s no excuse.”
She smiled at him tenderly. “I thought you were disgusted how I lived.”
“No. Far from that. I lived in a cave close to the cemetery for a lot longer than you’ve been down here. I spent many years in the shadows before the Great Revelation, when everyone started accepting us monsters for who we were.”
Flo tapped her chin. “I do remember a cave.”
Sven smiled. He was glad she remembered it. Maybe there was hope yet for the curse to break. “That’s good, because that’s where we first met.”
“Oh? Can you tell me about that moment?”
“I can.”
It was an easy moment to relive because he never forgot it himself. It was a core memory burned into his brain. Every night when he closed his eyes, he thought of that moment. The way she approached him without fear and how she talked to him like he was a human and not a cursed ghoul. Her golden hair so fashionable, her green eyes sparkled like emeralds, her pouty full lips painted a perfect red. She was always so put together. So elegant, and she was never fearful of him.
Only kind.
“You were in the cemetery visiting your mother’s grave, like you often did, when you saw me. I tried to hide from norms and from you, because I didn’t want to scare you off. You were so beautiful and so devoted to your mother’s memory. I found it touching that you called out to me, and when I came out of the shadows, you didn’t scream or run away. You spoke to me, and ithad been a long time since anyone, besides my brother Magnus, had really talked to me.”
Flo smiled, her eyes lighting up. “I’m glad I did. I can’t imagine your loneliness.”
He cocked an eyebrow, glancing around. “You can’t?”
She laughed softly. “Very well. I guess I can.”
“I’m sorry, though, that all these years you were here and you couldn’t speak to anyone. That must’ve been difficult.”
She shrugged with indifference. “It was, but I guess like you were watching me in the cemetery, I was here watching you and I don’t even know why I was. Just that I would get angry if any other woman spoke with you. I disliked Mercedes at first, even though she could see me and she was someone I could finally communicate with.”
Sven chuckled. “So you were the jealous restless spirit then?”
“I suppose so, but I don’t know why. I just…watching you and protecting you calmed me.” She glanced down sheepishly, tucking back a strand of her golden-blonde hair.
What he wouldn’t give to take her in his arms again.
To never let her go.
Even if they had to stay this way for all eternity, even if the curse would never be broken for either one of them, he didn’t care. Flo was back in his life and he was going to make sure that she was taken care of. Even if she didn’t want him or remember him in the end, it didn’t matter, because he remembered enough for the both of them.
“Hello?” A call echoed out down the stone hallway.
Sven recognized it immediately. It was the Sullivans, his eager and paranormal obsessed guests.
“Is anyone down there?”
Flo gasped. “Oh no. I can’t…I don’t want them to find me.”
Without asking why, Sven pulled the lever, and the stone wall shut.
“Did you hear that?” Mr. Sullivan asked.
“Should we go find out?” Mrs. Sullivan responded. “A thud, like a door.”
“I think so,” Mr. Sullivan said firmly.
Flo was shaking and moaning a bit. Her face buried in her hands.
