Thanatos opened his mouth, but nothing came out, his eyes saying everything he couldn't. Grabbing Evie’s shoulders, he stared at her intensely. "Where have you been, what have you-"
Placing her finger on his lips to silence him, she turned to Jack and Rose, "Look at you two, I love your bows, Rose." She smiled her infectious smile at her.
"Mr. Tanteenose gave them to me."
Jack looked around sheepishly.
"Jack, you look very handsome. In fact- " She looked around, "I think you're probably the most handsome guy in the room."
A blush crept onto the child's face, "Tha-thank you, Ms. Evie." He responded.
"If I wasn't so happy to see you, I'd get you for that." Thanatos nudged her playfully. His pale blue eyes seem to dance under the dimmed lights of the hall, and she found herself reminded once again how she’d managed to fall in love with him. "Evie, we need to talk."
"Dance with me Reaper."
His eyes plead to her, "Evie..."
"Please…will you please dance with me Reaper?"
He exhaled and extended his hand, guiding her to the dance floor. From the corner of her eyes, she could see Romulus as he started to make his way over. Derrick grabbed his shoulder and whispered to him, and nodding he remained at his table. Thanatos pulled her in his arms and laid his head softly on top of hers.
"I've missed you so much baby." His words tear at her heart.
"I’ve missed you too," she whispered as her breath hitched and he continued to sway her to the music. His smell, his touch, how happy he made her feel, the things that once made her feel alive now deadened her inside.
"I need to tell you that I'm sorry Poppet. I just-I" He stumbled over his words. "You scared me."
Evie smiled into his suit jacket silently, "Like when I cut into that werewolf?"
His laugh vibrated through her, "You didn't scare me, you just caught me by surprise."
"And when I brought their mom back?"
"Oh no, yeah that scared the hell out of me." They shared a comfortable laugh. His arms told her a tale of what could have been forever for them, a story that now would never be written. "You've challenged me, helped me to become better. You taught me empathy when I thought I had none."
Leaning out, she looked at him. Saying nothing as the electricity flows through them, he leaned down and gently kissed her lips. They quivered, the tears welling in her eyes.
"Please don't cry, Poppet," He said softly against them. "I lo-"
"Thanatos, I need to tell you something."
*DIIING, DIIING, DIING. * The sound of the midnight bell stops her words. Evie could no longer control her tears knowing tonight would be the last night she’d ever see him again. Holding her face, he tried hard to soothe her.
"Baby tells me what's going on, please, I know there's something-" She heard his words, but they don't resonate, she’d run out of time.
"I can't stay, I have to go." Evie jerked free of him and ran, hearing him scream her name behind him. The halls of the mansion wind as she tries to make it to the exit knowing she needed to get back fast. Running, Evie finally made it to the room Derrick and she planned to meet. She heard the door creak behind her.
"Derrick we need to go-"
She never got a chance to finish her sentence from her throat as she felt something hit her hard in the face. Blood pooled from the side of her mouth. Dizzy, her eyesight slowly grew hazy.
"You just don't know how to leave well enough alone."
The familiar voice hit her ears. As she struggled against the pain, Evie squinted hard to regain her vision, seeing Minthe standing over her holding one of Romulus' weighted gold candelabras as she glared at her.
"Minthe, are you insane! What the fuck is wrong with you?"
She laughed harshly before kicking Evie hard in the ribs. Evie coughed seeing the blood from her mouth hit the floor.
"Where's all that talk you had now bitch?"
Minthe sat on her and placed her hands around Evie’s throat. The tighter she squeezed, the harder it grew for Evie to breathe, and she felt herself slowly slipping away. Minthe stared at her menacingly, unaware of the rage building inside of Evie.
Grabbing Minthe’s face, Evie watched as her expression changed. The pleasure once on it, replaced by fear. She never looked away, seeing Minthe’s body shake, using the last of her strength, Evie pushed her off her with her torso. "You should have just let me leave."
Her voice sounded foreign, as she watched Minthe’s life force pull through her. Opening her mouth Evie inhaled her very essence. Minthe's head dropped to the floor with a loud thud and Evie let out a grunt struggling to stand. Grabbing the side of her face, she turned to leave her blood freezing as she locked eyes with Thanatos. His face stoic as he looked from her to Minthe.
"Thanatos, I can explain."
She took a step towards him, but he backed away, his eyes wild, "Wha-what the hell are you?"
Her throat dried, "I-I didn't want you to find out like this. Please…don't look at me that way." She could hear herself cry.
"How should I look at you then?" His voice was cold, lifeless. Her hands shook, the confusion and hurt on his face slowly tearing her apart. He looked past her, his expression changing, his eyes black. Through clenched teeth, he seethed, "What the fuck are you doing here?" Evie didn’t need to turn to know who it was.
"Relax Grim Reaper, I'm not here to ruin the party." Apep said snidely as he placed his hand firmly on Evie’s shoulder and squeezed. He looks down at Minthe's body.
"I can see you've had a grand time."
"Stop Apep." Thanatos' jaw tightened, “How do you know him, Evie?" The blackness of his eyes terrified her into silence.
Apep laugh roared through the halls of the mansion, enjoying what's transpiring. "Still keeping secrets dear?" He mocked her, and she shrugged his hand off her shoulder.
Thanatos repeated himself, his words much sharper, "EVIE, how do you know him?"
Apep stood in front of her and folded his arms, "She knows me Grim Reaper, because she’s, my wife."