Eva's POV
I watched Cecilia turn paper white. She stared at me wide-eyed for almost a full minute. So it was true she was hiding something, the truth. Lisa looked awestruck looking from her mother to me.
"What are you implying, huh?" Lisa said, glaring at me.
This broke Cecilia out of the spell that she was under. She was disgruntled. "You are saying I killed him," She scowled. "I saw the purple shawl he brought you in, Eva."
Lisa lunged at me. "Explain that!" She yelled pulling my hair.
I was too exhausted to even fight back, my injuries made it worse. I knew what would come next.
Lisa grabbed me by the arms. Her pulling it with such force it made me realize that I had hurt them too in the fall. She pulled my arms, she was holding them in place so the front of my body was left completely unprotected.
Cecilia swung into action landing brutal blows on my already bruised face. She punched my ribs and I swore you felt something crack. She hit my already empty stomach.
My body was on fire. Every muscle, nerve and organ felt like it would implode. I even tried to groan but felt Cecilia's hand around my neck. I choked trying to break free but it was no use.
Luckily, Lisa dropped me and I felt air painfully fill my lungs again.
It seemed like someone left the room. Someone grabbed my collar. I managed to open my eyes to see Lisa, a menacing look on her face.
"You are a witch and you killed my dad, don't you ever forget that!"
I wanted to speak, I wanted to tell her I did no such thing. That I never killed Thomas. I loved him. He was my father as well. But nothing came out of my dehydrated mouth.
"You deserve everything you are getting, killer." She screamed into my face. She stood up and kicked me in the ribs and this time I felt something break.
She kicked me again. In the ribs again but this time was different, I felt a sharp pain and suddenly it was even harder to breathe. My mouth tasted of copper.
Someone came in again and I could hear whipping noises as I withered on the ground. Were they whipping me? But I didn't feel anything anymore.
I saw a white light. It was warm and it made me smile as my body relaxed. I heard someone call my name. It was not the way I was used to. It was sweet, inviting and familiar. I peered into the bright light as the voice grew clearer.
"Eva, Eva, come see something."
I knew that voice. How could I forget it? "Thomas, Thomas," I called out, but could not move. Was I dead?
"It's a bunny." He called out again. He laughed and felt a tear escape my lids. Death felt nice.
"Eva!" Another voice called out.
I turned to the voice abruptly. My heart skipped a beat as I realized who it was. The witch.
****
Miles away…
She heard the owls hoot particularly close. It spooked her out of her thoughts. The horse galloped on the rocky road. The palace was still at least a mile away. The carriage only contained her while the horseman maneuvered the reins.
Despite the layers of clothes she had on. She still felt chilly. "Are you scared?" said a mocking voice inside her head. She shrugged it off, hugging herself. She had to get to the palace and confess, or all would be ruined. They had to know. He would be after her. Had it been a good idea to go at night?
The carriage unexpectedly swayed to the right. "Oh my!" She exclaimed. Once everything was normal, she stuck her head out through the carriage window.
"Everything alright over there?" The cold wind made her lips even drier than they already were.
"Nothing to worry about, Juliet."
"Alright then," she slipped herself back inside. "Be careful next time." She froze. He didn't call her milady, he called her...
"Juliet," He called her again. "We will soon reach the palace, don't worry."
That wasn't the horseman. She gulped. She mustn't be scared. Trembling uncontrollably, she stuck her head out the second time. Before she could speak again. He spoke.
"So you can tell them our little secret." His voice was deeper now. It was echoing.
She recognised the voice. Even after twenty-seven years. But still, she inquired. "Who are you?" She wished to be wrong. She wanted to be wrong. "You know the answer." The same taunting voice in her head said.
The coachman turned slowly till their eyes met. As the frigid air continued to wash over her. She stared at him. The same glowing red eyes. The same tall frame even though he was sitting. He had not changed. It was the same monster.
There was no more darkness, the moonlight had been paved a way by the clouds. A light that had not been there before.
"You." She said in a shrunken voice.
He said not a word.
The carriage began to swerve left and right like something controlled it. He was still stable while soon enough she was thrown out of the carriage.
She saw her life flash. She knew he would get her. She was going to die today. Hopefully, they will find the letter. She closed her eyes as she was airborne for what felt like a lifetime but was actually a few moments.
She landed on something that tore through her back and came out of her midsection. She tasted a sanguineous substance in her mouth. She twitched involuntarily as her body slowly lost blood. Her body shook violently for a moment before her spirit started to leave her. Her eyes were losing more and more focus.
He came to her during her final moment and looked at her. He stroked her hair, lovingly. Her eyes, still open. "You have served your purpose, Juliet." He kissed her forehead. "Goodbye." The last thing she saw before she breathed her last was his dimpled smile.
He closed her eyes, himself and walked into the moonlit night.