“It’s alright, Mr. Everest,” she took hold of its hand with both of hers, “I was only curious for who had hurt you. I hope you are healed now and haven’t fought with your brother. Lord Nicholas treasures both of you very much,” she received a series of growls and grumble at her words as if to oppose, “I see, so it’s Narcissus who likes to fight and not you,” she said for it to nod and a small chuckle escaped her lips. She found it funny where the ghoul appeared to look like a child in her eyes. 

“You know Everest, while I missed the world and people on the other side where we are going back. I missed you too,” she thought the ghoul would like to hear it and she put out her thoughts, a soft smile on her lips.

Letting go of its hands, she took two steps forward towards it before hugging the dark creature. Her arms around it’s ragged black and brown clothes that moved in the wind. She could feel the skeleton bones in her arms, a slight hint of blood and death that mingle around it which she didn’t mind,

Her throat felt clogged and she murmured, “Thank you for this, Everest,” her eyes moistened, “If there has been anyone after Leonard I could trust blindly it has always been you. I can’t think of any other person who deserves my trust more than you do. I am so thankful for having met you, to know you,” she whispered still hugging. I hope things get better for you too,” she pulled herself away, her hands sliding down to look at the ghoul who hadn’t garbled a word to her. 

Vivian had known the ghoul to be someone who took lives on command but she never had thought on what it felt or how it felt. The number of screams she heard before getting out of the memories, but then it was a ghoul. A creature which was a weapon of a pureblooded vampire. Yet, she couldn’t help herself to empathize with it even if it didn’t feel that way. 

To her absolute surprise, the ghoul raised it’s hand this time to place at the top of her head before letting it go. It garbled this time to look at the black cloud it had created as if to tell it was time for her to walk into it, she turned to look back at the far town on one side and the Charmichael’s mansion which she had known for her entire life. The ghoul held her hand back, leading her through the smoke before blacking out. 

When Vivian finally opened her eyes, she looked around to see herself in a bedroom. Her head felt heavy, her body tired as if it had been sleeping for far too long. It being an unfamiliar room, she wondered if this was another dream she had stepped into. Leonard wasn’t in the room which made her worried. But there was something familiar with the way the books were arranged on the shelf. Old tattered books that were lined neatly.

She knew she had come here, hearing the door of the knob turn, her eyes snapped to find a woman entering the room with a male butler with silver-white long hair that was tied with a ribbon. The woman had black fringed hair, her red eyes warm, unlike many vampires she had met. With a lean figure, she stood with a tray in her hand. She had met neither of them which made the situation more confusing. 

“She’s awake,” the butler stated looking at Vivian. 

The woman turned to look at the butler to say, “Let them know, she’s awake, Stanley,” when the butler stepped out of the room, she brunette woman greeted her, “Good afternoon, Vivian.”

“Good afternoon…Can you tell me where I am?” asked Vivian unsure to see the woman smile. 

“This is the Rune’s mansion. I am Heidi Rune, Lord Nicholas’ wife,” introduced the woman.  

Lord Nicholas’ wife? Vivian bowed her head, raising her head she looked back to look at the eyes that were red and staring back at her. The woman was beautiful in her own way, her straight hair left open and the fringe that covered part of her forehead. 

“I was hoping you would be up,” said Heidi, her words firm which didn’t waver. 

“How long have I been sleeping?” asked Vivian. The last she remembered was her walking through the portal with the ghoul before her mind had blacked out along with her body. 

“It’s been almost five days,” the woman turned towards the table, taking the teacup where she handed it to Vivian, “Lord Alexander asked to give you this after you woke up. Everyone has been worried about you since both you and Leonard arrived,” Lady Heidi took her hand back to place on her lap.

Vivian took that when Lady Heidi had informed the butler to call ‘him’ it was Leonard. Taking a sip from it, she cringed with the bitter after taste it left on her tongue. After a couple of sips, Vivian said, “May I use the bathroom?”

“Of course. It’s on your right here,” the lady looked at another door which led to the bathroom. 

Moving the cover from her body, she slid out of the bed and went to the bathroom. Going to the sink, she turned the faucet while bringing her hands forward to wash her face as she leaned forward. Splashing her face with cold water before raising herself up to look at her face which dripped water down. 

Dark red eyes stared back at her back through the mirror. Getting closer she ran her hand on her face which had slightly changed the tone of her skin near her eyes after she had passed away. The ghoul had truly worked hard in not just fixing her but also in bringing them back. But somewhere deep in her heart, Vivian was slightly scared as to what if this wasn’t the world they were used to being in. 

The fear lingered and until she would not see Leonard herself she wouldn’t believe anything. He was the compass of direction to lead her in the right direction which she believed in. 

Placing her hand down on her chest she felt her heartbeat at a steady pace. She was alive here. Taking the towel that was laid at the top, she wiped her face. And as she did this she heard voices outside the bathroom where she opened the bathroom door to find Lady Heidi and Leonard in the room along with the butler who stood away at the door without stepping in. 

“Vivi,” said Leonard, walking to her to quickly engulf her in his arms like they had not seen each other for weeks now. Vivian encircled her arms around his waist to feel the warmth radiating off his body. He felt warm and very much alive. He pulled himself back, “How are you feeling? Any pain or blackout?” he asked her and she shook her head. 

“Nothing for now,” she answered. 

Lady Heidi who was in the room said, “I will excuse myself and see how Nick is doing. The councilmen have been keeping him busy,” she gave them a smile wanting to give them some alone time. Taking the butler along with her, she closed the door herself. 

“Are you okay?” asked Vivian where Leonard nodded his head, picking up her hand to leave a kiss on the back of her hand. 

“Now that you are awake, I am,” his response made her smile, “Want to eat something? Lady Heidi prepared a few things herself since we arrived.”

“She’s very generous. Lord Nicholas must be very happy,” Vivian smiled to hear Leonard hum, “What happened?”

Leonard took her to the bed so that she would take a seat and he sat next to her, “Some of the councilmen have raised issues on regards to Lady Heidi’s return.”

“Did Everest resurrect her too?” 

It was possible that if Everest brought her and Leo back then bringing lady Heidi wouldn’t be that hard either. Seeing Leonard shake his head, she gave him a confused look.

“Everest didn’t bring her back. It’s been four weeks since she arrived here.”

“Arrived?”

“Lady Heidi had a broken soul. Like how pureblooded vampires have corruption of heart, humans and other beings sometimes suffer from it which again has no cure. I heard from Nick that the Lord of Valeria was the one who helped in bringing her back. It must be something similar to what Sister Isabelle did when she had died for the first time before resurrecting back herself. As Alexander is the white witch’s son it doesn’t come as a surprise that he is able to perform things and surpass his own mother in the art of witchery,” said Leonard, running his thumb over the back of her hand gently. Feeling the pulse every time he brushed his finger on the nerves, “He already meddled with her soul so I don’t think the ghoul could do anything about it the way he did with ours.”

That answered her question, thought Vivian.

“Where is Everest?” she was worried that Lord Nicholas had possibly punished the poor ghoul.

“It shouldn’t be that severe, Vivi,” seeing his wife’s worried face he assured her, “Don’t worry Nicholas has his hands full with the councilmen here. It is the old councilmen who once supported his father Wilhelhum. It shouldn’t be a problem either. Rueben, Lionel, and a few others are helping the case.”

“What have the others raised the concern about?” Vivian didn’t know why she felt the matter was grave.

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