Page 125 of Ever After

Levi opens his mouth to mention his idea, but I shake my head. No leading the witness, I mouth.

Jowan scratches his head. “I think the angel,” he says after a moment.

Levi directs a triumphant look at me, and I bite my lip to hold in my smile.

The little man continues, “There’s powerful energy around it. Makes me feel odd.” His form wavers for a second and fades out before coming back. “I haven’t got much time,” he warns.

Branok nods. “Go back to the hall. Stay with Xander. I have a feeling that something is coming. Keep both of you safe.”

Jowan nods and in the blink of an eye he vanishes.

“Okay,” I say. “The angel, then. Levi, I can actually feel your desperation to say I told you so.”

“Can you also hear me saying let’s get a move on?”

I look at Branok and then nudge Levi to shut up. Branok is standing stock still, staring intently at the hall. When I follow his gaze, I see a man in the window lit by moonlight. He’s tall with broad shoulders and long blond hair, and he’s staring back at Branok. His whole face is lit up, blazing with some deep emotion.

Levi makes a soft sound that seems almost melancholy as we watch the two lovers finally see each other after so many long years.

Xander raises his hand as if to press it to the glass and Branok raises his own in reply. For a long moment, they stay there. Then Xander nods and Branok echoes it as if they’ve had a long silent conversation.

Xander turns and is gone as quickly as he arrived. It seems to break the spell that’s keeping Branok motionless and he turns to us. His face is full of a fierce and powerful feeling. “That is the first time I have seen him in two centuries,” he says hoarsely. “This is the closest I have ever been able to come to the house.”

I swallow hard. “I’m glad.” I cock my head as a thought occurs to me. “Then that means a little of the spell is broken.”

“I was surprised when I was allowed onto the grounds. Perhaps my body being found has loosened something.” He shakes his head. “I do not know. The wards are still there but in places they are thinner. I can stand here but I can go no farther.” He risks another glance at the empty window and steels his shoulders. “Are you sure you wish to do this?” he asks. “I can feel the menace here. It rolls through this place like mist at sea. And there are monsters concealed in its depths.”

“‘Beneath those stars is a universe of gliding monsters’,” Levi says softly. I stare at him and he shrugs. “Herman Melville’s Moby Dick.”

“Thank you so much for that.” I clap my hands together. “Well, we’re actually here now, and Levi has brought his trusty spade, along with a talent for pithy quotations.”

“Why is it my trusty spade?” my husband says crossly. “I can tell you right now that I’m not making a habit of this. I’m leaving it in Cornwall when we go home, and I won’t miss it one bit.”

I pat his arm. “Okay, spade lover.” I turn back to Branok. “We’ve come this far,” I say quietly. “We gave our word we’d help you and we don’t break our promises.”

“You are my friends,” he says softly. “I will not forget it.” He straightens his shoulders. “The angel. I feel it too. There is a pull like something is calling me.”

Levi hitches the bag up on his shoulder. “Let’s go, then.”

“Be careful,” Branok urges. “I would not see either of you hurt, and I cannot enter that part of the garden.”

Dread suddenly comes over me, a dark cloud that oozes around my feet, filling me with fear and sadness. “Boynton knows we’re here,” I say with a fierce conviction.

“Aye.” Branok nods. “He is waiting. It was ever his pleasure to draw out a moment.”

“Well, I’m not dancing to his fucking tune on my honeymoon.” I pat Levi. “Come on, macushla.”

“I will be by the wall,” Branok calls.

We step around the statues, making our way towards the angel. She’s glowing as if the marble has captured moonbeams. I shudder as we near her.

“Alright?” Levi asks.

“Fine. She just gives me the heebie-jeebies.”

We come to the foot of the statue and look up. “Yeah, I can see that,” Levi says quietly, and I reach for his hand, giving it a quick squeeze before letting go.

He crouches to open his bag and find the shovel. I want to look away from the angel, but something about her compels my attention. It’s like watching a shark in the water, and you don’t dare look away. This close, the workmanship is amazing. She looks real. Her face is set in stern lines as she looks out over the garden. Around her head is a crown of vine leaves. She’s wearing a toga that flows down her long legs, finishing at her sandal-clad feet. She’s huge, her hands easily the size of my head.