Chapter 51
The sun had set completely and the first stars were visible in the sky before Seraphina returned to the DeBeaux Angelo manor.
She landed in the garden where Achilles and Aurelia were sat waiting for her. She quickly shifted back to her Dhampir form and hurled her naked body at the two. Her eyes were red and swollen and her voice raspy.
She wrapped her arms around each of their necks pulling them into her, her body shook with sobs.
They held her like that for a long while until the moon bathed the garden in a faint white glow.
Seraphina finally drew back, “I-is Leo o-okay?”
Aurelia nodded, “He’s fine, he’s been making do with bottles of blood for the day.”
Seraphina drew in a ragged breath, “It’s time, we need to b-bury the t-twins under the f-full moon.”
Achilles nodded at her, “We’ve already made preparations, Isobella suspected you would be ready.”
Seraphina and Achilles ascended the stairs to their room, hand in hand. Seraphina walked to the cribs, she placed a gentle kiss on Leonardo’s head before gazing at the twins. For the first time, she didn’t cry. Her heart still ached in her chest but, there was an eery sense of peace knowing she was returning their souls to heaven.
Achilles came over with a white linen dress and helped her lace it up. Seraphina went to her dressing table to retrieve a blade and she returned to the twins. Standing at Achilles side, they held each others hand as they took their final moment to marvel at their eternally sleeping angels.
Using the blade, Seraphina cut a small lock of hair from each of the twins, she placed both of the curls in a fisted hand and mumbled an incantation. When she opened her palm, two necklaces had replaced the curls. There were two pendants, each containing the twins hair, it appeared as though they had been encased in the purest, uncut diamond.
She fixed one of the chains around her neck so that the pendant sat above her heart before passing the other to Achilles.
She bent down and picked up both twins in her arms. With a teary nod to Achilles, they returned to the garden and made their way to a redwood tree that sat in the centre.
The garden was decorated in twinkling lights, Seraphina thought they were candles at first glance but, as she got closer, she saw they were in fact fireflies. She didn’t know if this was the mages doing or if it was a sign of hope. Her heart clung on to the latter.
As they reached the tree, Isobella stepped forward with Eloise and Oisin.
“Seraphina, know you do not know the ways of our people but, we thought we should offer to send your twins off the way we do for our people.”
Seraphina nodded for Isobella to continue.
“We do not bury our lost loved ones, we encase them in nature so that they are always within reach, not beneath us. The redwood tree symbolises forever, just as your babies memories will forever live on in the hearts of those that loved them.”
Seraphina mouthed a ‘thank-you’.
Isobella waved a hand as the tree opened up revealing a flat surface. Seraphina pressed her lips to each of the twin’s forehead, she inhaled deeply as she engrained their scents into her memory.
Silent tears fell as she placed the babies side by side into the tree. She stepped back slightly but kept her hands on the babies.
Isobella stepped forward to begin her song, the other mages joined in one by one until their enchanting song filled the air, echoing off of the walls of the garden.
“Si lacrimae poterat aedificate autem somnis scalam stantem
Et memoriae autem lane
Ego utinam sustineretis ambulate iustum autem ut coelum
Et adducere vos domum rursus”
Seraphina could feel the spirit song flood into her, filling her heart with hope for a brighter day.
“Would you like to speak?” Eloise extended a hand to hold Seraphina’s arm.
Taking a deep breath, she opened her eyes and raised her head to look at the babies.
“Afriel and Charmeine,” she paused to take another breath. “No parent should ever have to bury their child. I carried you within me, I felt your movements and heard your hearts beat. I envisioned what you would look like, what you would grow to be.
I will never get to watch you take your first steps or hear your first words. I won’t be able to teach you about life or learn from looking at the world through your innocent eyes. I need you to both know that, there is love in every tear my sweet angels. There will forever remain an emptiness in my heart where you belong… I will carry the memory of you with me for the rest of my days and I vow to try and make this world a brighter place in honour of you both.
I will truly never understand why someone would take you from me and I will forever lament your loss.
My angel babies, please watch over your brother, Leonardo. We didn’t have to opportunity to make any memories together but, your memory will live on.
You were too precious for this world, I love you always and forever.”
Seraphina looked at her babies a final time before stepping back, the tree moved to seal itself back up revealing patterned grooves that were a mirror image of the babies faces. She trailed her fingers over the markings, silent tears falling down her cheeks.
Her fingers wrapped round her pendant as she placed her lips against the rough bark.
A comforting warmth spread across her body, she turned to see the mages had outstretched a hand to her, a soft glow emanating from their fingertips. She closed her eyes as she let their magic wash over her, filling her heart with their love and comfort.
Bethel stepped forward followed by Rosie, Melanie and Helga as they embraced her.
When they finally released her, Aurelia walked toward Seraphina and took her hand.
“Come on, you should get some rest.”
Seraphina shook her head.
“I can rest later, I have work to attend to.”
Aurelia tried to hide her frown, “Seraphina, is it not best that you allow yourself time to grieve before going back to work?”
Seraphina offered Aurelia a sad smile. “I will grieve until my last breath, right now, there are mothers out there wondering where their children are and if they are safe. I can not in good faith allow that to continue, those children need to be reunited with their mothers.”
Aurelia’s face broke out in a smile, she had wanted to give Seraphina her space and time to heal but, it was uplifting to see her willing to move forward.
They had worked until almost sunrise trying to figure out how to locate the missing children. Seraphina’s protection spell was also working to hide their location from magic, even with 2 Dhampirs and over 20 adult mages, it was no easy task. Oisin had suggested they all take rest to recharge before returning in the day to continue, Seraphina was happy to oblige. Grieving, broken sleep and feeding Leonardo had worn her down over the last few weeks.
Seraphina’s legs began to grow weary and her head dropped as she walked the short distance to her bedroom. When she finally reached her bed, she succumbed to a deep sleep before her head even hit the pillow.
*“Fated love, I don’t give a damn about fated love!” a gruff voice spat. Seraphina turned her head in the direction of it.
She didn’t recognise the man who was speaking. “I want them all dead, Seracian, Phina, especially that little brat of theirs. I don’t care what you have to do, poison, slit their throats, burn them! As long as they die.” The unknown man ran a frustrated hand through his hair and turned to face Seraphina. She sucked in a panicked breath though, he did not appear to notice her. His face was not a familiar one though, the serpent marking on his face was. He was a De-Buccleuch.
*Seraphina felt a fire begin to burn within her.
“Listen to me Isiah! If you and that tramp of a wife of yours want a place in the royal court, you will do as I say, no questions asked. AM I CLEAR?”
*Seraphina turned her gaze to the man he addressed, Isiah, her old master. Though he was significantly younger in her vision, the sight of him still made her stomach turn.
*“That child will die, my daughter will marry the crown Prince and I will finally overthrow those self-righteous bastards!”
The weight of his words finally hit her. This was Lady Briseis’ father, Lord Stevano, the man responsible for her parents’ deaths.