Page 120 of Ever After

“It makes a great deal of sense,” Branok says. “I have been thinking a lot about Richard, and as much as I didn’t see who he was in life, I think I know him now in death. He wore the garb of a priest like a costume worn by a child on All Hallow’s Eve. He enjoyed the costume, but it was the wickedness beneath the false sanctity that ruled him. Keeping the diary here on the grounds of this beautiful house owned by an aristocratic family he could never get truly close to, and using its power to keep Xander and me apart, are petty cruelties he likely enjoys and relishes.”

“He sounds a real charmer.”

He looks at me. “Oh, he could be greatly charming, but his charm had no foundation. So, yes, the idea that the book is here could be right. Equally, we could be wrong, and it might be buried with him.”

“We are not pursuing that option unless it’s a last resort,” Levi says firmly. “I am not digging up another fucking grave the night after I did the first one.”

“Everyone says to get back on the horse that throws you,” I offer.

“Not helping,” he snaps.

I adopt a pious tone. “You’re very hard to please, Levi. Should you have warned me about this before you put a ring on me?”

“No.” He ignores my snort and tells us, “We try this. If it doesn’t work, then and only then, will I consent to enter another graveyard illegally and start digging it up.”

“Deal,” I say promptly.

Branok hesitates. “Digging Richard up might be the easier option. We know he is buried in a church near Lostwithiel, and I can be there for that. I checked last night while you were asleep.” He looks beyond the gates to the hall. “Here I am of no use to you, and I fear you will be in danger.” He runs his hand through his hair, knocking away the ribbon on his ponytail. It immediately returns to the way it was. “I have that sense of forgetting something. Something important.”

“From that week?” He nods and I feel uneasiness stir. “Maybe it’ll come back to you.”

“Let us hope it does so in time.”

“Well, it’s always nice to have hopes and dreams.”

Levi pulls out his bag from the boot. It holds the spade and various other things he’s deemed fit for a spot of moonlit breaking, entering, and digging. He shoulders it and starts to walk up the road. “Let’s get on with it,” he shouts back to us.

“Did I mention how much I love your go-getting spirit, darling?” I call.

“No, and don’t bother stating it now.”

Branok chuckles and then holds up a hand and calls, “Wait.”

Levi pauses, looking back.

“Not through the main gate,” Branok says. “I know a shortcut that will bring you out nearer the sculpture garden. It will allow me to stay close to you, as the main wall of the property runs behind the garden.”

“Through the woods?” I say slowly.

“Aye. I know you had a bad experience in them, but there will be no problem tonight. I am with you.”

I exchange glances with Levi, and he hesitates before finally nodding.

“Okay,” I say and fall into step with Branok. We climb the fence, jump down, and once again, we’re in the motherfucking stupid woods where we had that horrible eerie chase. I draw closer to Levi, and he reaches down with his spare hand and squeezes mine.

“Alright?” he whispers.

“I’m with you. Of course, I am.”

His smile makes his eyes shine, but he doesn’t say anything. We follow Branok down a narrow path that winds in and out of the trees. It gets darker and darker until the only light is the glimmer of Branok ahead of us.

“Do you hear that?” Levi asks suddenly, his voice hushed.

“What?”

“Exactly. There’s no sound.”

He’s right. There isn’t any of the usual rustling noises you get in a wood. I’d been so intent on Levi being okay that I’d missed the early warning sign. No living creatures hang around when the dead are nearby.