When the sun had set the next night, Seraphina awoke to an enormous hungry pain in her stomach and a dreaded sense of having left something behind. Flashbacks of the previous evening came flooding into her memory at such an alarming rate that it made her breath catch in her throat. That is when she realized where she was- in the bowels of a ship sailing to London.
On top of that, darkness completely surrounded her. She felt confined and enclosed by the bed she lay in. It was no ordinary bed by any means. Walls surrounded the soft, pillowy cushion that she rested upon. Above her was equally as black, so pitch black that she could not see even a shadow. As she drew her hands towards the dark abyss she felt the smooth creases of stained wood.
Where am I? Am I dead? Were her initial thoughts as she came to the conclusion that her body currently rested in a stale Oak coffin. Wanting nothing more than to scream for help, Seraphina’s actions were halted when she was easily able to lift the coffin lid upwards.
Pushing the board to the ground, Seraphina set up and investigated her surroundings. Four identical coffins laid beside hers.
“I must be dead,” Seraphina whispered under her breath.
“Alas, my little pretty, you are not dead by any means,” said a recognizable voice from the shadows.
“Tavorian,” she called out to him. “I am remembering now.”
Politely, Tavorian took Seraphina’s hand helping her step out of her coffin as she gathered her dress skirts firmly in the other hand.
“These are what we sleep in when we travel. There’s no better way to block out the light,” Tavorian explained noticing that Seraphina was gazing uncomfortably at the black box beneath her.
“These things matter not, Tavorian,” Seraphina replied suddenly remembering what she left behind. “What of my sister? You promised . . .”
“Let us eat first.”
“NO! I must see her at once! Why are you delaying the inevitable? I know she is dead. There’s no way she survived-” Seraphina could not continue.
“I can not let you see her just yet. Trust me, my love,” Tavorian coerced her with his deep penetrating eyes.
Seraphina had learned to trust him up until this point so she would wait a little longer, but her patience was beginning to dwindle. She did not understand what was going on and why they would not let her see her sister’s body.
Despite her worry, Seraphina agreed to feed. Tavorian fetched an innocent crewman of the ship for her to feast upon just as Zacarius and Isekheul awoke. They were quiet, but something told Seraphina that they were eager to get back to London, their home. They had been away for quite a long time she realized, and knew that if she were in their place she’d feel the same way.
It would only be a matter of weeks maybe even days before she’d be pining for the plantation inn again. The land her family worked so hard to keep was behind them now. Miles and miles away from their massive vessel that sailed into the night, crashing between the waves. The ironic thing was that she wasn’t as distraught as she thought she’d be, but the longing for her grandfather’s home land would always be there.
Seraphina tip-toed up the steps onto the deck where the salty sea breeze blew around her. Laying her hands atop the railing of the boat, she gazed out into the black sea. The stars and moon above were her only light, but even their glittering glow wasn’t enough to illuminate the inhabitants of the endless ocean below.
Her skin began to prickle as delicate hands wrapped themselves around her waist. It was Tavorian, looming behind her, laying gentle kisses up and down her neck. She knew that this is where she wanted to be, in his arms forever. The only negative aspect left in her heart was the immense feeling of guilt for having lost her sister.
“Come my little pretty,” Tavorian whispered into her ear. “It is time.”
Without question, Seraphina followed Tavorian back down to where the coffins lie, in the musty blackness of the ship. On the way, Tavorian lit a candle that flickered with the whisps of sea wind that snuck up behind them. In the pit of Seraphina’s stomach, that feeling of dread began to rip at her core.
Isekheul and Zacarius were waiting for them patiently. They stood next to the fifth coffin where Seraphina knew her sister’s body must reside. She hoped for the best, but knew the worst was all she would be granted.
“Open it,” Tavorian told Zacarius. “She is ready.”
Seraphina looked at him then wondering if she truly was ready to see the outcome of Darion’s violent actions.
Slowly, Zacarius lifted the lid to reveal a pale corpse that was Persephone. In death she was equally as beautiful with her golden locks and fair complexion. Despite the fact that there was a gash that slid from ear to ear underneath her chin, Persephone was gorgeous even in death. Tears immediately began to brim at the corners of Seraphina’s eyes and uncontrollable they fell as she got down on her knees.
Uttering curses and prayers all at the same time, Seraphina felt the dark power rise to the surface. She saw Darion’s face in her mind and the hatred that he caused was the only feeling left in her body. She was numb to the world now.
“I’m so sorry, my dear sister,” Seraphina cried taking the girls lifeless hand into hers. She began stroking the icy skin, remembering all of the times past. The summers on the plantation and working with their grandfather to renovate the inn. With her dreams and uncanny intuition she always knew that this day would come, but she had no idea how soon and how devastating it would be.
A stirring within the coffin broke Seraphina’s thoughts and she shuffled back away from her sister’s body. The movement came from Persephone herself. A twitch of the wrist, then a wrinkle of the nose followed by the fluttering of her eyelids.
“Sera-” came Persephone’s voice next, cracked and dry from death.
Seraphina grasped her chest knowing that if her heart was actually still beating she would’ve surely died of a heart attack.
“I thought she was dead!” Seraphina exclaimed looking up at the brothers who just stood there with silent smiles plastered to their faces.
“What are you talking about?” Persephone added, her confused and groggy expression turning to one of worry.
Seraphina helped her sister sit up in the coffin noticing that hers was filled with dirt instead of layers of fabric.
“She was dead,” Zacarius explained. “Until I made her undead.”
“Please, someone tell me what is going on?!” Persephone pleaded. “And why am I laying on dirt in a coffin?”
“Shhh, my love,” Seraphina patted her back and then looked up at Tavorian. “Why didn’t you tell me about this?”
“Because it was the only way to save her and you were in no sort of mind to be bothered with such details,” Tavorian replied sternly.
Seraphina wanted more than anything to argue, but she knew that he was right. She had gone on a killing rampage and slaughtered Darion after watching him kill her last remaining relative. She would not have approved this if she would’ve known, but now there was no turning back.
Pulling Persephone close to her, cradling the young girl to her boson, Seraphina tried to explain to her everything that had happened while the brothers stood near by. There were emotions so raw that the two of sisters were practically sobbing by the end of it.
“So, now we are to go to London with our makers, and start a brand new life.”
Persephone nodded, taking the news of their leaving the inn and the only thing they had ever known as home, rather well. It would be a difficult transition for everyone, but the brothers welcomed them with more than open arms.
Zacarius took Persephone away to show her how to be a child of the night and once Seraphina saw them embrace, placing kisses all over each other’s skin, she felt that sense of guilt and dread disappear. Now she was relieved. It was over, but their second lives had just begun. Of course there were would be more bumps along the way, but nothing that the five of them couldn’t handle. Her sister had returned and they would both be allowed to live with their lovers for all eternity. Just like one, big joyous family. A new journey was just beyond the horizon and Seraphina realized that she was finally content.