The cemetery was quiet as I walked along the gravel path, the crunch of leaves beneath my feet the only sound breaking the silence. The air was cool, hinting at the approaching evening. I approached Jo's grave, feeling the familiar knot of sadness and nostalgia tighten in my chest.
The tombstone stood before me, simple yet dignified. I placed the bouquet of wildflowers I had brought gently on the grave. They were bright and vibrant, a burst of color against the somber setting.
"Hey, Jo," I said softly, kneeling beside the grave. "It's been a while. I thought it was time I came by."
I settled onto the grass, leaning back on my hands as I gazed at the sky. The sun was setting, casting warm hues of orange and pink across the clouds. It was a beautiful sight, almost peaceful enough to momentarily drown out the chaos of my thoughts.
"I've been thinking about you a lot lately," I continued, my voice barely above a whisper. "Things have gotten complicated. The world's a mess, but I'm trying to handle it."
A gentle breeze rustled the leaves around me, and I closed my eyes, letting the tranquility of the moment wash over me. It was strange how calming a cemetery could be when you needed a moment of peace.
I sighed and looked around the cemetery, appreciating the quiet beauty. It felt like a safe haven from the chaos of my life.
"I know I don't visit as often as I should," I admitted, feeling the weight of my own neglect. "It's just… hard to come here. It's easier to keep busy and pretend everything's okay. But I miss you. I really do."
Just then, I heard footsteps approaching. I turned to see Luna walking up the path, her expression thoughtful as she carried a small bag. She stopped a few feet away, giving me a gentle nod.
"Didn't mean to intrude," she said softly, glancing at the grave.
Luna approached. She looked at Jo's grave with a mix of respect and empathy. "She was a remarkable person."
Her empathic abilities made her words ring true. Even though she didn't know Jo well, she could pick up on the deep feelings I had for her. It was oddly comforting.
"Thanks, Luna," I said. "It means a lot to hear that."
Luna's gaze softened. "I can feel the depth of your connection with her. She must have been one of the greatest humans to make a king fall for her."
I nodded, feeling a bit of the weight lift off my shoulders. "Yes, she was."
"Shay, the things you asked before... brought them with me." She reached into her bag and pulled out a cap with ears and a pair of sweatpants covered in motivational quotes like "Best Day Ever" and "You Got This."
I couldn't help but laugh at the sight. "There they are. They're a bit ridiculous, but they were a gift from a particularly shy vampire, so they mean a lot to me. I couldn't just throw them out, even though they were meant for a much smaller me."
Luna held up the cap, turning it over in her hands with an amused look. "A shy vampire with a flair for the whimsical, I see. I'm glad I could help—though .I have to say, I never expected to be magically resizing a cap with ears."
I took the cap from her and placed it on my head
Luna chuckled softly. "Well, Jo might have enjoyed the humor. It seems like something she'd appreciate.
I nodded. "You're right."
I adjusted the cap. "You know, these are definitely going to be the highlight of my wardrobe. Imagine me, all serious in some grand confrontation, wearing these."
Luna laughed, the sound light and refreshing in the otherwise somber setting. "It might just disarm your opponents with sheer confusion."
I laughed but my laugh died rather quickly. Luna's laughter faded as she sensed the shift in my mood. The brightness in her eyes dimmed, replaced by a gentle understanding. She didn't need to say anything to know where my thoughts had gone—she could feel it, the weight of loss settling back in.
"I wish she could see this," I murmured, my voice thick with the ache I tried to keep buried. "I wish I could see her smile one last time."
Luna placed a hand on my arm, her touch warm and comforting. "I can't imagine what you're going through, Shay. But I can feel how much you miss her. It's a deep, strong connection—one that doesn't fade, even after they're gone."
I nodded, swallowing hard as I fought to keep my emotions in check. The image of Joe's smile flashed in my mind, a smile that could light up a room, disarm any tension, make the world feel just a little bit better.
"It's just… it's not fair," I said, my voice cracking despite my efforts to keep it steady. "She deserved more. More time, more… everything."
Luna's eyes glistened with shared sorrow, and she squeezed my arm gently. "I know."
A heavy silence fell between us, the reality of loss pressing down on us both. I clung to the ridiculous cap with ears, trying to find some solace in the absurdity of it all.
"I keep thinking," I began, my voice barely above a whisper, "that if I'd done something differently, maybe… maybe she'd still be here."
Luna shook her head, her expression filled with compassion. "Don't do that to yourself, Shay. You did everything you could. Sometimes… sometimes life takes us on paths we never expected, and no amount of 'what ifs' can change what's already happened."
I sighed, knowing she was right but still struggling to accept it. "It's just hard, you know? To keep going without her. To find a reason to smile when she's not here to share it."
Luna's hand slid down to take mine, giving it a firm, reassuring squeeze. "You keep going because that's what she'd want for you. And you find a reason to smile because that's what she brought into your life—joy, laughter, love. Honor her by holding onto that."
I looked at Luna, her words sinking in slowly, but deeply. She was right, of course. Jo wouldn't want me to drown in sorrow. She'd want me to live, to laugh, to remember the good times with a smile instead of tears.
"Thanks, Luna," I said, my voice steadier now.
She smiled softly, her eyes reflecting a mixture of sadness and warmth. "That's what friends are for, right? To help carry the weight when it gets too heavy."
I nodded, taking a deep breath as I tried to push past the lingering pain. The silly clothes, the absurd cap.
"Ready to go?" Luna asked gently, sensing my shift in resolve.
"Yeah," I replied, my voice firm but soft. "Let's head out."
As we reached the cemetery gates, Luna glanced at the ridiculous cap on my head and grinned. "You know, those ears really suit you. Maybe you should wear it when we meet the other kings—see if you can disarm them with confusion."
I chuckled, imagining the look on their faces if I showed up wearing this ensemble. "I think Livius might just faint on the spot."
Luna laughed again, and the sound was like a balm to my soul. "Well, if you do, I want to be there to see it."
"Titania would certainly give me one of those disapproving looks, the kind that makes you question your entire existence," I continued.
Luna laughed. "Oh, absolutely. She'd probably say something like, 'Mixed-blood, have you finally lost what little sense you had left?'"
I grinned, the image of Titania's sharp, regal expression flashing in my mind. "Yeah, she'd definitely have something to say about it. As for Talambér… well, he'd just burst out laughing, wouldn't he?"
Luna nodded, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "Talambér wouldn't be able to hold it in. He'd probably be on the floor, gasping for air, tears streaming down his face."
I could picture it perfectly.
"And Crimson… oh, he'd just give me that deadpan stare, wouldn't he?"
Luna snickered. "Yes! Like he's trying to decide whether you're joking or if you've finally gone off the deep end. But you know he'd secretly love it. He's got that hidden sense of humor."
"Right, the one he pretends doesn't exist." I shook my head, still grinning.
Luna patted my shoulder. "You'd be a legend, that's for sure. The King of Cursed Fashion."
I couldn't help but laugh at that. "I'll take that title. It's better than some of the others I've had."
As we stepped out of the cemetery, the somber mood from earlier seemed to lift a little, the ridiculous cap on my head reminding me that even in the darkest times, there was room for a bit of absurdity and laughter.
"Honestly, I quite like it," I said, adjusting the cap with a mock-serious expression, "I'm wearing this. And I'm counting on you to back me up, Luna."
She grinned. "You've got it, Your Royal Cappedness. We'll show them what true power looks like."
I shook my head, still smiling, as we walked away from the cemetery, the cap's ears bouncing softly with each step. It was ridiculous, sure—but sometimes, a little bit of ridiculous was exactly what you needed.
As Luna and I walked up the path to the house, I could see the lights on inside, the faint hum of conversation filtering through the door. The cap's ears flopped a bit with each step, and I caught Luna glancing at them, her grin still firmly in place.
"Ready for the grand reveal?" she asked, stifling a laugh.
I shrugged. "Why not? Let's see how this goes."
Opening the door, we stepped inside. Alex was in the kitchen, busy with what looked like dinner prep, while Rolo was sprawled out on the couch, his phone in hand. The moment they saw me, both of them froze.
Alex was the first to react, his eyebrows shooting up. "Shay... what in the world are you wearing?"
Rolo, on the other hand, didn't even try to hold back. He burst out laughing, practically doubling over. "Oh man, I can't—what is that? A cap with ears? Are you planning to lead an army of stuffed animals?"
I rolled my eyes but couldn't help grinning. "It's a gift, alright? And for your information, it's quite comfortable."
Alex wiped his hands on a towel, a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. "Well, it's certainly… unique. But you're pulling it off. Sort of."
Luna chuckled beside me. "See? I told you it'd be a hit."
Rolo shook his head, still grinning. "I swear, Shay, if you start wearing that thing around town, I'm moving out. The embarrassment would be too much."
I smirked, adjusting the cap proudly. "Guess you'd better start packing, then."
Alex laughed, shaking his head in disbelief. "I'm not sure whether to be impressed by your confidence or concerned for your sanity."
"Why not both?" I shot back, plopping down on the couch next to Rolo, who was still snickering.
Luna tossed the bag of altered clothes onto the coffee table, nodding toward it. "There's the rest of your wardrobe, Shay. I expect you to model every piece."
"Of course," I said, leaning back with a satisfied sigh. "But only if you promise to take notes. Fashion tips from the King of Cursed Fashion don't come cheap."
Rolo just groaned, playfully swatting at me with a pillow. "You're hopeless."
"Maybe," I replied, "but at least I'm comfortable."
And with that, the room filled with laughter, the weight of the day lifting as we settled back into the familiar rhythm of home.
(...)
Gironde Mehisto glanced down into the palm of his hand and for a moment, silently admired the tiny golden, little ball of smoke that only he could see. It was the size of a marble, yet it gave off an inviting and highly desirable glow to creatures like him. It was like a tiny little star, and to a necromancer, such a tiny piece of soul was more precious than a thousand years willingly given.
Yet the Necromancer, instead of guarding it with jealous care, quickly gulped it down. It felt as if he hadn't even put it in his mouth, yet warmth flooded his cold body... the warmth of the living that Gironde Mehisto had forgotten so long ago, how wonderful it really was.
Gironde's eyes widened, and for a moment he felt as if his heart, which had stopped beating for centuries, had skipped a beat. He cupped his cheeks in disbelief, and when he withdrew his hand he saw that his fingers were wet. Tears. How many centuries had it been since he'd last shed tears? He smiled softly, yet bitterly, and savoured the pain in his heart, trying to remember the jumble of emotions in his chest. Then, at that moment, Gironde Mehisto seemed more human than ever.
Then the moment passed, and the cold of the dead returned to the Necromancer's body. The smile froze on his lips, the only reminder of the past few seconds were the tears rolling down his cheeks. Gironde Mehisto wiped away his tears, feeling again in his chest the hole where his heart used to be, feeling again the familiar emptiness. He should have felt awful but he felt nothing. So he pulled his lips into a small smile and lifted the skull from his armchair.
"Time to get to work, my dear," he murmured softly, "We must fulfill our own curse."
After only a few minutes, Gironde was walking silently through the deserted corridors of the hospital, then stopped abruptly at one of the doors. He grabbed the handle, pushed it down and opened the door.
He walked over to the bed where the boy had been lying in the same way for months - in a coma. The Necromancer smoothed a strand of hair from the other's forehead as he looked thoughtfully at the expressionless face.
"Time to wake up," he declared.
Ábel's fingers suddenly gripped the blanket, his eyes slowly opening. For a moment, he seemed to see a strange figure, but it vanished instantly. Perhaps it was just a dream. Slowly he sat up, rubbed the last crumbs of sleep from his eyes, and looked around in shock.