Page 30 of Where the Light No Longer Follows

Silene did not wish to blink. Too scared it might all be just a dream, merely a dream. “All of them are different in every realm.”

“Tell me your favourite.”

She took a moment even though she knew them by heart, contemplating if she wanted to tell him such a precious secret. “Have my heart wounded, sick or scarred. In your hands not stolen or gifted but surrendered. Became a half when it met yours, so in the eyes of Gods let it become whole again,” she said, dropping her gaze from his and blinking in at her surroundings. “I think that’s how it goes.”

The flower he held to her face brushed the skin down her neck, and down her chest that rose faster and faster each passing second. The petals pressed between her breasts, right where her heart was pulsing hard enough to make her feel faint. “No one,” he said in an almost whisper, “no one deserves that heart. I forbid you to offer it to anyone.”

She was sure each pulse jumped over the other, every beat erratic as she stared up at him. “No one would have it even if I gave it to them for free.”

“Smart little creatures humans are. To know of their worth. But wretched, for what they don’t deserve, they have sought to ruin.”

With some convincing, he’d managed to bring her to sit at a cafe, her veil pulled back this time as she sat on the other side of the small table, standing stiffly and turning away flustered when people would send glances her way. With her hands folded on top of the table, she looked like a painting stolen from a gallery, one painted with such craft that there was no eye who could admire her properly.

A server lowered a teacup in front of her and then another before me. “Congratulations to the both of you!” the girl said.

Silene opened her mouth to speak but the server was gone.

“Drink your tea, Silene,” he said, hiding his smile behind his teacup, trying not to gloat too much at the fact that whoever was looking at them thought of her as his—as his bride.

She grabbed a spoon, clutching it tightly in her hand and looking like she was contemplating throwing it at him.

“Put the spoon down, my ruin. You can do more damage without it should you wish to. Your words can bruise me better.”

A flush stained her cheeks and ears, and she lowered her head, her hand closing around the teacup as she smiled down at it. Silene’s eyes roamed around the cafe when she brought the cup to her lips and blew on the steam before taking a sip. “Never understood why people sit around like this. I guess it is nice having your tea made for you.” She blinked at him when a long string of silence followed. “You haven’t said a single word. Why did you even bring me here?”

“To stare at you and show you off.”

Her lips parted, and she made to speak several times. He wondered why she was always looking for words in his presence.

“You’re so beautiful, Silene. I wanted someone to think you’re mine. Anyone. Even if only briefly.”

Her hands let go of the teacup, returning to her lap, almost surrendered.

The server stopped at their table, a camera in her hand. “Could I take a picture of you?” She pointed to the wall where about a thousand other pictures of people drinking tea and coffee were plastered against. “For our wall. We’ve never had a bride come here. Let alone one that looks like you.” The girl made a sound of awe as she studied Silene. “We would love to have you on our wall.”

Silene shot him a panicked look, and when he nodded just once to assure her that all would be fine, she turned to the server, a careful smile upon her lips as she quietly said, “Of course.”

Silene straightened her shoulder when the server lifted the camera to her face. Just as the flash snapped, her hazel eyes turned to him, silver lining them.

If she had not stolen enough of his breaths today, Gabriel stood there robbed of his very last one.

“Thank you!” the server chirped, waving over her shoulder at them.

“I’d like to go back,” she said, standing, not looking at him anymore, not even a glance as they made their way to the boat that took her away from him every time. Not even a goodbye.

Sat at the edge of his bed, long past midnight, he stared at the new frame in his hand, running a finger down the picture he’d trapped in it, the most precious thing he now owned. First thing after he’d dropped her back to Asphodel, he’d returned to the cafe and asked for the photo. He could not even make himself look away ever since.

Sat there in her white dress, staring away from the camera, staring at him, the saddest yet happiest he’d ever seen her be.

“My taunting eidolon, my lovely apparition, my beautiful phantom,” he murmured as a wet drop fell against the glass frame. “How many more nights must I mourn you?”

Seven o' Clock

Azriel stood across Lethe River, arms crossed over his chest and eyes narrowed on Gabriel who lifted a hand and waved his fingers at him, wearing the biggest grin he could muster. A grin he was finding hard to hide after his letter this morning.

Wear something pretty for me.

Only if you wear something pretty for me, she’d said back.