novelDead grounds
| ← Ch.68 | Ch.70 → |
"Aren't we supposed to be searching someone right now than climb a tree?"
I was climbing a giant tree now as Luke had taken me away from our guests wanting some time alone with me.
"He isn't here anymore, Lillian. Your father, Alos was here when we started with our wedding vows but I couldn't feel his presence after I came to ask you for a dance, " Luke explained as he gave me his hand to grab on to.
The tree was wide in girth with its thick branches. Dry muddy roots were visible from the ground as I sat adjusting myself on the branch next to Luke.
The night was cold as I rubbed my hands together for some heat and a second later Luke had draped his coat around me to keep me warm. I saw my parents talking with one family while Julie's twin Paul chased her with a cactus in his hand. Most of the guests had taken their leave while there were few of them who still hadn't left and were busy conversing with the other guests.
"Will he come back again?" I asked him softly as I turned to look at him.
"Not today but maybe tomorrow. There's plenty of time for that, " Luke was looking straight at the forest we had just left a few moments ago, "I can't exactly pinpoint who he was posing to be before he vanished. The cat and mouse chase have been going on for too long now, its time to end it, " he murmured.
"How are we going to do that?" I asked him and he nudged his face at my group of friends sitting at the table, "Marc? I don't think he knows how to sniff a wandering soul. He's like a new chick in this world."
"Which makes it much easier, Lillian. Marc is in his early stage of the crossbreed cycle and there are a bunch of followers who are trying to get to him. Once they find him, they'll do the job of polishing his instincts, " he said looking at Marc who was showing his claws.
Instead of finding out a way to stop the crossbreed blood invade his body he was showcasing its features like a magic trick.
"It's not safe for him. I can't drag him into the mess, " I said shaking my head in disagreement.
"He's already part of it, you can't change the life course at times. Either way the crossbreeds will find him, " he deadpanned and turned his body to face me. I looked down at my folded hands and sighed, "Everything will be fine, darling after all you have your devilishly handsome husband sitting right next to you, " he said with a grin and making me blush at it. He had picked the words from my vows.
He brought his hand forward to raise my chin gently so that he could look into my eyes with his green ones, "I have been waiting to kiss you again, Lillian, " he whispered as he leaned in towards me. Just when I felt his lips ghost over mine we heard Julie's voice,
"Lilly and Luke, sitting on a tree K. I. S. S. I. N. G, " Julie sang at the top of her lungs attracting unwanted attention at us.
"Talk about timing, " Luke pulled back to send a small glare towards his niece who now had her back facing us, least bothered at what she had done.
Later we got down to get our pictures taken with our families. I had taken the photographers camera and was going through the pictures when I stopped at one particular photo. It was a picture that was taken when Luke and I were on the tree. I was wearing his coat and his hands were holding its lapels as we looked at each other.
It would be a lie if I said Ace's words didn't bother me when he spoke about Luke as though he couldn't be trusted. But the picture in front of me brought a soft smile on my face. Words weren't needed to describe us because the picture spoke volumes. It was a small intimate moment we had shared with each other that was captured through the plain lens.
"I hope you pardon my intrusion on this one ma'am. It's not every day you find the groom and the bride sitting on the tree, " the photographer said scratching the back of his head nervously and I nodded my head in agreement.
"Could you delete this once you frame it and send it to me? I would like to be the only one to have a copy of this one, " I said giving the camera back to him.
"Of course!" he quickly obliged before hurrying over to another side to take pictures.
I was ready to take a leap of faith just for him and I also knew that if ever turned his back at me I would still forgive him. That's when I realized I was falling for him.
My eyes searched for Luke across the hall and saw him talking to his mother though his eyes were already trained on me. A small tint of red touched my cheeks as our eyes connected. I walked towards him and raised the front of my gown to avoid tripping as I moved.
"You know the offer still stands, " I heard Luke say to his mother, Heather.
"I'll pass this time, Lucian, " she smiled looking at me, "I'll go see off the guests now. Excuse me, " she said going to talk to a group of guests.
Once all the guests had left including my parents leaving only Luke's and Elvis' family with Jamien and my friends. All of us wishing a goodnight headed to our rooms to get a late goodnight sleep. Luke and I had reached the top floor when we heard a scream outside, making us stop. At first, I took it as my mind was hallucinating as it wasn't a loud one but a faint scream but soon another scream followed,
"Ahhhh!!" and we ran out quickly to see what had occurred.
"What happened?" Canrart asked us who had Elvis next to him when we met them outside the palace. Two servants came hurriedly towards us.
"M-master there are three dead bodies lying near the c-cemetery, " one of the servants stuttered as he looked back at the direction he had come.
"What were you expecting to find in the cemetery? Alive people dancing in their graves?" Canrart asked sarcastically earning an elbow to his ribs from Elvis.
"The ceremony has been over a few hours ago and so has the cleaning. What were you doing loitering around?" the witch king interrogated them as Luke pulled my hand to go along with him towards the cemetery.
"Two of the servants had gone to give a final check on the grounds and hadn't returned therefore another one went in search of them but didn't return either. When my wife and I went to check we heard a scream, " the servant explained nervously.
Reaching the cemetery four bodies were found lying on the ground. Two men and women. I covered my nose feeling a pungent smell drift in the wind. By now Jamien and the others had come to see what was going on.
"We heard scre-Holy cow dead bodies!" Gwen said scrunching her nose as she brought both her hands to cover her nose.
"You said three servants had left the palace but why are there four bodies here?" Elvis questioned but Luke was the one to reply.
"Because only three of them are our servants and the fourth one is yours, " he said turning the last body so that we could look at its face.
"Oh my God, " I whispered looking at the persons face.
"Emma..." Elvis said the dead girls name as a deep frown took place on his face.
It had been a week since she was dead and was buried in her hometown in the witch-kingdom. I had seen her body bury with my own eyes as I said her goodbye but how... how did she end up here?
| ← Ch. 68 | Ch. 70 → |