Chapter Text
“From the beginning. Again.”
Victor tried not to wince as audible sighs could be heard all throughout the room. He did tell his parents that this was a bad idea.
He didn’t want to get married.
No matter how nice Victoria was, Victor couldn’t see her being the one for him.
His parents would never accept that though.
Before he could start again, there was a knock on the door, as the butler entered the room, heading straight for Mister Everglot.
“Your sister is here Sir.”
“Damn her.” Mister Everglot growled, “I don’t recall sending her an invitation!”
“She can smell a wedding from a mile away.” His wife sniffed imperiously, “You know that.”
Mister Everglot scoffed, waving his hand almost imperiously, “Let her in.”
Everyone’s curious eyes turned to the doorway, as an older woman, entered the room, looking more like Victoria than her own mother did.
“I apologise.” Her voice was soft, almost melodic, “Apparently I’m a day early for the ceremony.”
“Hm.” Mister Everglot didn’t spare his sister another look, turning his attention back to the ceremony, gesturing for Victor to continue.
“With this hand…” He began, “… I will lift your sorrows. Your cup will never be empty, for will- “With a thud, he banged into the table, having taken too many steps forwards.
“THREE STEPS! THREE!” The priest exploded, “CAN YOU NOT COUNT?! DO YOU NOT WISH TO BE MARRIED MISTER VANDORT?!”
“No, no!”
“You do not?” Victoria frowned, looking a little more than heart broken.
“I-I meant- “ What did he mean?
He didn’t want to get married, the priest was right… but he wasn’t sure why. Was there a way to tell Victoria this without hurting her?
Thankfully, the choice was taken from him as the priest’s staff came banging down on his head, causing him to yelp in pain.
“SILENCE!” The priest growled, “Did you at least remember the rings?”
“The ring? Oh, yes!” He reached into his pocket, only for his shaky fingers to send the ring flying over his shoulder and rolling across the floor.
“He dropped the ring!” The priest cried out over the shocked gasps of the rest of the crowd, “This boy does not want to get married!”
Victor chased desperately after the ring, hoping that it wouldn’t vanish underneath a woman’s skirts or something. As if hearing his silent prayer, a delicate foot stopped the ring from going any further, long and elegant fingers bending down to pick it up and hand it over.
“T-thank you Miss Everglot.” Victor stammered, as Victoria’s Aunt stared down at him.
Before she could say anything in return, the priest spoke up again.
“This wedding cannot take place until he is properly prepared!” His eyes focused in on Victor, who took a shaky step back, “Young man… Learn. Your. Vows.”
Pressing himself up against the door, Victor fumbled for the handle and raced out, completely missing the wistful look that appeared on Miss Everglot’s face.
“He seems like a nice boy.”
…………………………………………………………………..
Victor paced back and forth in the woods on the outskirts of the town.
No, he didn’t want to get married… but he had no choice so what else could he do but try to be the best husband he could be?
And that included learning his vows.
“With this hand… I will take your wi- No. That’s not it.”
He moved closer to an oak tree, trying again.
“With this hand… I will cup your…” He cut himself off.
He… really, really, did not want to get married.
“With this… With this… With this candle, I will… panic and probably set someone on fire.” For a moment, he was silent, hand going into his pocket as he pulled out the ring, he was meant to give to Victoria tomorrow.
“With this hand…” He whispered, “… I will lift your sorrow. Your cup will never empty, for I will be your wine. With this candle, I will light your way in darkness.” Noticing the branch sticking up out of the ground, he moved closer, “With this ring… I ask you to be mine.”
He slipped the ring onto the branch.
And then the wind started to pick up, the sound of crows in the trees. Nervously, Victor glanced around, noticing how he seemed to be surrounded by the sinister birds.
They were all watching him.
Before he could even think about trying to get away, something cold and hard grabbed his wrist, yanking at him, as though trying to pull him into the ground. He caught a quick flash of gold before his arm was pulled through a hole in the ground.
With a trembling yelp, he yanked his arm free from the hole, pulling at the tight grip until there was a sickening SNAP and he fell back to the ground. Slowly, he lifted up his arm, eyes dilating in fear at what he saw.
A bony arm gripping onto his flesh, a familiar ring on one of its’ fingers.
He shook it off, sending it flying into the air behind him.
And then he heard the cracking of the Earth.
Turning his attention back to the oak tree, another arm burst out of the ground, fingers scraping through the dirt as it fought to pull up the rest of the body.
The skin was tinged blue, starved of oxygen and clinging to partially exposed bones.
Victor watched as the body emerged from the ground, dressed in a ripped suit that hung off him. Vacant eyes stared at him.
“Em-ily.” It rasped.
As it reached out to him, Victor scrambled back in alarm, pushing himself to his feet and taking off in a run.
He didn’t notice the creature chasing after him, pausing only to pick up its’ arm.
He raced through a cemetery and jumped over a small lake. He could see the town in the distance, pushing through the branches that ripped his clothes and scratched at his skin until he reached the bridge between the town and the woods.
Leaning against the bridge wall, he sucked in a deep and desperate breath, spinning around to see whether or not he was still being followed.
Nothing.
Sighing in relief, he moved to head back to the Everglot mansion, only to come face to face with the being. Now that he was closer, he could see the hole in the middle of the creature’s forehead.
Almost… like a bullet hole.
He was backed into the bridge wall, as the thing moved closer, crows flying overhead in a haunting circle.
And then, everything went black.
Chapter Text
“A new arrival!”
Victor groaned as he slowly came to, a blurry face hovering over him as someone’s hand supported his head.
“He must have fainted.” An older gentleman whispered, “Are you alright young man?”
“What-what happened?” Victor whispered, eyes widening at the sight of the literal skeleton standing over him, next to the blue-skinned man.
“Looks like we’ve got ourselves a breather!”
“Does he have a dead brother?”
“He’s still soft!”
As a skeleton child poked at him, Victor scrambled to his feet, back against what seemed to be a bar, as a skeleton with a sword through its’ chest held up a tankard.
“A toast, then! To the newlyweds!”
“N-Newlyweds?” Victor stammered, eyes darting from corpse to skeleton to corpse.
The older gentleman corpse rolled his eyes, “I have tried to explain the situation to them. We are both men, we cannot be legally married- “
“- The times have changed since you were alive Barkis!” The older man was interrupted, “I’m sure two men can get married by now!”
Victor was too shell-shocked to do anything other than bang his head against the bar in an attempt to wake up. “Wake up! Wake up! Wake up!”
“Coming through, coming through!”
Victor turned his head, to see a head walking towards him… just a head…. Who was offering to create his wedding feast. He wasn’t ashamed to admit that, as the crowd started to get more and more excited about the wedding feast, he started to panic.
Pushing himself away from the bar, he grabbed the sword that was in the shorter skeleton, pulling it free and aiming it at the now-silent crowd.
“I have a sword!” He spun around, trying to keep them all at arm’s length, “I want some answers, now!”
The crowd almost looked shocked at the fact that he was having a complete breakdown. The only one who looked fairly understanding, was the older gentleman who chased him through the woods.
“What’s going on here? Where am I? Who are you?!”
The gentleman, Barkis, cleared his throat, “That is… a long story unfortunately.”
“And what a story it is!” A voice from the shadows exclaimed, as everyone turned to face it, “A tragic tale of romance, passion… and a murder most foul!”
Victor never loosened his grip on the sword as a skeleton emerged, one eye rolling from one socket to the next.
“It was a love story of the ages! Two lovers who fought against the bride’s family!”
Barkis rolled his eyes.
“Her parents would never have allowed them to be together, so our lovers came up with a plan to elope! So, they conjured up a plan to meet late at night, telling not a soul, keeping the whole thing tight! So, on a dark foggy night at a quarter to three, Barkis waited by the old oak tree, ready to go… but where was she?”
“He waited.” The story continued, “And waited and waited and waited. There in the shadows, was it her? His heartbeat echoing in his ears, and then… BANG!”
Everyone jumped.
“… Everything went black.” The storyteller’s voice almost seemed sad at this point, “Now, when he opened his eyes, he was dead as dust! So, he made a vow, lying under that tree, that he’d wait for his true love to set him free!” The skeleton turned to Victor, who took a step back, “Then came you, who has vowed forever, to be by his side!”
“I told you, it was dark!” Barkis snapped, “I was confused, and I thought he was someone else.”
As the bickering started up again, Victor took his chance and ducked into the crowd, slipping out the door and into the world unknown.
He didn’t notice Barkis’s eyes following him out.
……………………………………………………………………………………………….
Victoria had been sent to her room.
Apparently staring out of the window like a ‘pathetic puppy’ was unladylike.
Lost in her thoughts, she barely heard the knock on the door, only reacting when the person knocked again, a little louder.
“C-come in!”
Her Aunt shuffled into the room, a warm smile on her face. It was odd to see such a look directed at her.
“Is everything alright Aunt?” Victoria rose to her feet, “I’m sure I can get someone to change it if- “
“- The room is perfectly fine.” The older woman waved her concerns off, “It was my old room growing up after all, even if it seems my brother has neglected to dust it once in a while.”
Victoria tried to apologise, only for her Aunt to speak up again.
“I just wanted to warn you about something.”
“… Warn me?”
“The town crier has been calling out that someone saw Victor being carried away… by another man.”
Victoria felt her heart sink to her stomach.
“I’m sure it is nothing but a town crier having a bit of a slow news day.” Her Aunt moved closer and placed a comforting hand on Victoria’s shoulder, “They’ll find him.”
…………………………………………………………………
Victor raced through the streets, knowing that he was being followed.
This was all a big mistake.
He wasn’t dead!
He shouldn’t be here!
Coming to a dead end, he took a deep breath and started to use the loose bricks as footholds, slowly making his way up the wall.
Less than a few inches from the top, he felt a cold hand grab his wrist, pulling him up the rest of the way.
“There are stairs right there.” Barkis rolled his eyes, “I don’t recall being so dramatic at your age.” He placed Victor on his feet, looking out at the lights of the undead city.
Silence.
“I-I’m sorry about what happened to you.” Victor cautiously broke the silence, surprised to find that he actually meant the words, “But…. I really need to get home.”
“Of course, you do.” Barkis sounded almost sad, before he forced a polite smile onto his face, “You have a wedding to prepare for if the vows in the woods were anything to go off?”
Victor felt his face flushing.
“I never had to worry about such vows.” Barkis sighed, almost sounding disappointment, “But I believe that the emotions and feelings behind the words, mean more than the words themselves.” He gave Victor a reassuring smile, “So long as you love your young lady, the ceremony will go smoothly.”
But he didn’t love Victoria.
Not in that way.
Before he could reveal those concerns to Barkis however, the older man spoke up again.
“Come. We had best get you home as soon as possible.”
Chapter Text
“Where are we going?”
“To the only person who can help.” Barkis knocked on the door of the rackety, old tower “Elder Gutknecht? Elder Gutknecht, are you in here?”
He pushed the door open, into a room that was piled high with books.
“Hello?” Barkis headed further inside, only to spot something in the shadows, “Ah! There you are!”
Peering over a stack of books, was an aged skeleton, with a beard almost twice as long as himself, hanging all the way down the ground, “Oh… It’s you Barkis.” The skeleton adjusted his glasses, “Who have you brought with you?”
“This is… my husband.” He waved his hand before the Elder could question the statement, “It’s a long story. Needless to say, it was an accident, and we need to get him back to the living.”
Elder Gutknecht frowned, “Land of the Living?” He slowly made his way down the stairs that were made entirely out of books, “Why go back up there, when people are dying to get down here?”
“Because he’s alive and he should at least be given the chance to have a normal life.” Barkis rolled his eyes, “Is there something you can do, or not?”
Elder Gutknecht hummed, as though in deep thought, “Let me see what I can do… now, where did I put that book? I left it here somewhere…. Ah! There’s the one.” He lifted the dusty book up, “This should do the trick!”
Victor watched the elder skeleton stumbled around the area, pouring things into a large, simmering cauldron. It all looked terribly complicated and a little bit disgusting, as it was poured into a wine glass.
He mentally prepared to have to drink it, only for the Elder to chug it back in less than a second, the liquid dripping all over the books for obvious reasons.
“Right, where were we.”
By Victor’s side, Barkis made a vague sound of annoyance, “Going to the surface world.” The older man answered through gritted teeth.
“Ah yes! The Elder reaching up to one of the shelves, grabbing another book, “Barkis, when you’re ready to come back, just say ‘Hopscotch’.”
“Hopscotch?”
“That’s it.”
Victor closed his eyes as the Elder threw something on the ground, smoke billowing up and surrounding, blinding them. When he next opened his eyes, he found himself back in the woods where this all began.
“Huh.”
He turned to Barkis, who was staring up at the moon.
“I spent so long in darkness….” The older man whispered, “… I’d almost forgotten what standing in the moonlight was like.”
Victor tactfully chose not to bring up the fact that Barkis had chased him through these very woods, under that very moon only a few hours ago.
“You should go back to the town.” Barkis was still staring up at the moon, “I am sure that there are people who are worried about you.”
“What about you?”
“… I’m going to stay up here for a moment.” Barkis finally looked away from the moon to give Victor a soft, but almost pained smile, “It very well be the last time that I see it after all.”
“O-Oh... yeah.” Victor winced, “I-I’m sorry for what happened to you. I-I hope you can find some peace.”
Removing the ring from his finger, Barkis handed it back over to Victor. “No, no, no… I am the one who’s sorry.”
“O-Oh.” Victor held up his hands, fumbling to catch the ring as he almost dropped it again, “No, it’s okay!”
A fond smile flashed across Barkis’s face, before it was gone. “Go on.” He gestured to the town, “Enjoy your life.”
“… Thank you.”
……………………………………………………..
Victor was gone less than half an hour, before curiosity overcame Barkis.
Did she still live in the town?
Was she happy and married, with children?
Slowly, he headed towards the town.
…………………………………………………………………………….
Victoria froze when she heard the knocking on her balcony doors, pausing in her sewing to head towards them and pulling the curtains to one side.
“Victor?!” She rushed to open the door, letting her fiancée in, “Where have you been?! Are you alright?”
“I-I- “
“You’re shaking!” She pressed a hand to his arm, flinching as just how cold he was, “And freezing! What happened to you?!”
“I-I need to tell you something.” Victor took her hands in his own, “I-I know that our parents say we must marry, and I do like you, I really do… but I don’t think I like you that way.”
Victoria looked stunned for a moment, however, before she could say anything, something in the distance caught her eyes.
“Who’s that? In the garden?”
Victor turned to see what she was looking at, only to flinch at the sight of Barkis standing there, the corpses’ eyes locking with Victor as a horrified look flashed across his face.
And then Barkis looked over at Victoria, mouth shaping around a name.
‘Emily’
Victor felt Victoria tense up by his side.
“Did he just say- “
“- Stay here.” Victor interrupted her, “I-I’ll deal with it.” Quickly, he rushed down to the gardens, where Barkis was still staring up at Victoria, “What are you doing here?”
“… You are getting married into this family.”
“Well, I was in the middle of sorting that out before you suddenly showed up and- “
“- You cannot marry into this family.” Barkis’s voice was hollow, almost as dead, “You just cannot.”
“What are you- “Victor yelped as Barkis grabbed his wrist, only vaguely hearing Victoria calling out his name from above as the corpse looked him dead in the eyes.
“Hopscotch.”
Chapter Text
“VICTORIA!”
Victor reached out for her as Barkis wrapped his arms around him, seeing Victoria reaching out for him as well.
It was too late though.
Everything went black, and before Victor knew it, he was back in the Land of the Dead. As soon as Barkis let him go, he spun around to face the corpse.
“What are you doing?!” He took several steps back, away from Barkis, “I- I – why did you bring me back down here?!”
Barkis’s fist were clenched tightly, as he glared at Victor, “I just saved your life.” He hissed, “No good will come with getting involved with that family!”
“I-I don’t know what you’re talking about but- but I can’t stay down here!” Victor backed away, “I need to get out of here! I need to get back to Victoria!”
And with that, he was gone.
Barkis stormed out not long afterwards, leaving behind a very confused Elder.
………………………………………………………………
Looking back, Barkis was more than happy to admit that he might have over-reacted…. But he had come to care for Victor in the short time that they’d been together, and he couldn’t bear to see Victor back down here as a corpse, after going through exactly what Barkis had gone through.
He could have sworn he saw Emily standing up there though.
Growing up, he’d always been told he looked like the ‘ideal’ man. When he met Emily, it took some time for her to teach him that it wasn’t about how he looked… it was how he was as a person.
//”You can’t spend your life never talking to your wife because you have nothing in common!”
“Other people do! My parents did!”
“But you’re parents weren’t happy… right?”\\
Emily had had the same experiences as him, growing up in an emotionally distant home, so it was no wonder they grew close.
She was the one who taught him how to play piano, dancing around or singing when he did.
He never thought he would find someone like her again.
And that was the truth of it.
What he had once felt for Emily, he had now started to feel for Victor, and that was the worst thing he could have imagined happening to him.
He couldn’t deal with a broken heart again.
…………………………………………………………………..
“It’s true!” Victoria pleaded with her mother, “It was a corpse! An actual corpse! A dead person!”
“She’s lost her mind!”
“I haven’t, I-I- “
“- Lock her in her room! Obviously, the excitement of the day has been too much for her!”
“You have to listen to me!”
“Let’s get you to your room and wrapped up!” The elderly maid tried to pull her away, “You’re shaking like a leaf.”
“Get her a strait jacket first!”
Victoria, not wanting to accidentally hurt her oldest and most trusted confidante, allowed herself to be led from the room, turning so that she caught her Aunt’s eyes, silently pleading for her help.
……………………………………………………….
It took some time for Victor to calm down.
Once he had, he instantly felt guilty.
Barkis had gone through something traumatic when he was alive, and honestly believed that he was saving Victor.
But from who?
Slowly, he headed back into the bar, hearing a piano playing inside the oddly quiet building. Turning the corner, he could see Barkis sitting there.
“I’m sorry…” He cautiously spoke up, wincing when Barkis stopped, “… I didn’t mean to- it’s just that- it’s just that this whole day hasn’t quite gone… according to plan.”
He took a seat beside Barkis, sighing when the older man continued to ignore him, still pressing random keys on the piano.
In the hope it would at least get the older man to look at him, Victor replicated the random tune on the other end of the piano.
“There is very little point trying to encourage me to play something more complicated.” Barkis sighed, “I was never educated in music.”
“… what did they teach you?”
Turning to Victor, Barkis shrugged, “How to be a gentleman. Music was a woman’s past-time, whereas I was taught how to hunt, how to behave and other such things.”
“That sounds… boring.”
They were looking each other in the eyes now, faces mere inches away from each other.
“NEW ARRIVAL!”
And just like that, the moment was ruined, the pair practically jumping away from each other as the bar quickly filled up, everyone swarming around a familiar figure.
Victor slowly got to his feet.
“Mayhew?”
……………………………………………..
To hear the village was already talking about Victoria being crazy, was sobering.
No, he hadn’t wanted to marry her… but he never wanted this for her either.
Unable to hear about the Everglot’s decision to send their daughter to the local mental asylum, Victor rushed out of the room, dodging Barkis’s attempt at comfort.
He had to do something.
……………………………………………………………..
“I can understand why Emily got so annoyed that I used to walk away without talking to her.” Barkis sighed, watching the cooks, “What do I do?”
“Young men are all the same.” Mrs Plum wrenched a cleaver from her colleagues’ head, “If they get something stuck in their head, they just can’t get rid of it!” She gave him a knowing look with her one eye, “I’m sure you used to be the same.”
“I can neither confirm nor deny that.”
The cooks all chuckled, continuing with their work, just as Elder Gutknecht knocked on the door frame, eye sockets focused on Barkis.
“We have to talk.”
“Oh?”
Elder Gutknecht gestured for him to follow him, which Barkis did, in a separate walk.
“There is a complication with your marriage.”
“You mean aside from the fact that neither of us meant for it to happen?”
“Yes.”
Barkis rolled his eyes, “Go on then, what else could possibly be wrong with our marriage?”
“The vows are binding, only until death do you part.”
“Yes?”
“… Death has already parted you.”
Barkis thought about it for a moment, before groaning, “Ah… yes. I suppose that does put a damper on things.” He rolled his eyes, “I’ll tell him when I next see him, but I guarantee he’s not going to be disappointed.”
“…. You like him.”
“W-what?”
Elder Gutknecht gave him a sympathetic smile, “It’s not a crime to fall in love with someone of the same sex down here you know. I know it’s different up there, but- “
“- But nothing.” Barkis sighed, “Even if it was more acceptable down here, there is still one problem that you’ve just mentioned…. He’s alive, and I am not.”
“There is one way to fix that…. But it requires the greatest sacrifice.” Elder Gutknecht sighed, “Victor would have to give up the life he had forever. He would need to repeat his vows in the land of the living… and drink from the wine of ages.”
“Poison.” Barkis clenched his fist, “You want him to drink poison?!”
“This would stop his heart forever…. Only then would he be free, to give it to you.”
Barkis threw his hands up into the air in exasperation, “He needs to go back to the land of the living, yes, but not to drink poison! Yes, I might like him, but it’s not fair to trap him down here!”
“Trap who down here?”
Barkis and the Elder looked up sharply, at the sight of Victor standing in the doorway. When the silence stretched on, Victor moved closer to Barkis.
“I-I don’t know what I want to do about- “ Victor gestured vaguely between him and Barkis, and then him and the ceiling (which Barkis took to mean the surface world), “But I need to save Victoria… you know that, right?”
“Of course.” Barkis straightened up, neatening out his suit, “I think another trip to the surface is needed.”
“And then… we can talk?”
“And then we can talk.”
Chapter Text
Victoria knew this was probably going to be her last night in this room.
With her Mother and Father convinced that she was insane, they refused to let her tarnish their good name. Forget the fact that she was their only child and therefore their one ticket to the high life again, she was a black stain.
Much like her Aunt.
Who was entering her room with a sympathetic look on her face.
“The creature who took Victor…” Victoria started, “…he said your name.”
Her Aunt flinched.
“Why would he saw your name Aunt Emily?”
Her Aunt Emily sighed wearily, taking a seat on the edge of the bed, “It’s a rather long story, and I’m afraid it doesn’t have a happy ending.”
“My story isn’t going to have one either.” Victoria whispered, “I can handle it.”
…………………………………………………….
“This is a rescue mission.” Barkis announced to the crowd, “An innocent woman is going to be locked away for no reason, so we’re all going upstairs!”
As the crowd all chattered eagerly at the prospect of going back to the land of the living.
The only one who didn’t look overly excited was Victor.
“What’s wrong?” Barkis asked, “This is what you wanted right? To save her?”
“… Isn’t this over-kill a bit though?” Victor whispered, “If all these… corpses and skeletons suddenly appear? You could wipe out a whole town through heart attacks!”
Barkis bit at the inside of his lip, refusing to late his past hurt spew out, and state that that town and all its hateful inhabitants deserved what they got.
“It’ll be fine.” He stated, “Trust me.”
………………………………………
“Your daughter will be completely fine in our care Ma’am.” The Doctor reassured the couple, acting as though he couldn’t hear Victoria pleading with her parents, “We see this a lot in spurred brides, something I’m sure your family is more than- “
“- Just take her away.” Mr Everglot sneered.
“Of course… there’s just the small matter of funding that we need to address.”
Mr Everglot opened his mouth to berate the man or come up with some sort of excuse that would give him some time, only for the candles around them to flicker out and die, the room turning an eerie shade of green.
And then the shadows around them started to move.
“I told you I wasn’t crazy.” Victoria’s voice was barely above a whisper, “I told you.”
Corpses and skeletons surrounded them on all sides, all with dark looks on their peeling faces.
“Fetch me musket!” Mister Everglot bellowed, turning to see his ‘loyal ‘ butler quivering in a corner, not seeming to have heard him as the dead moved closer.
“Finis, who are these people?!” Mrs Everglot’s voice trembled ever so slightly, but she straightened up, determined to remain strong.
“Nobody! They’re nobody!”
“Nobody?” A short skeleton, wearing clothing remarkably like the one being worn in the portrait at the top of the stairs, “Now Finis… you hurt my feelings.”
There was a moment of silence, before the two Everglot adults shrieked in fear, Finis grabbing his daughter’s arm and yanking her to her feet.
Victoria was not convinced this was out of the goodness of his heart though.
As they raced through the front door, the dead walking out after them, they missed Victor and Barkis’s entrance.
Someone didn’t miss it though.
………………………………………………………………………
Victor rushed out into the streets, watching as families reunited with each other.
“Victoria…” He looked around, “… Where’s Victoria?!”
“I saw her being dragged to the church by her parents.” A short skeleton, who Victor could clearly see as being an Everglot ancestor, pointed in that direction, “If you hurry, you might catch them.”
“Thank you!”
As he and Barkis went to head in that direction, they missed the shorter skeleton turning back to the house.
“Now, where does Finis keep the spirits?”
They also missed the fact that they were being followed.
………………………………………………….
Finis slammed the church door shut, panting heavily as he and his wife and daughter hid in the large stone building.
“This isn’t happening.” Finis hissed, “This. Isn’t. Happening.”
Victoria’s laughter soon echoed off the walls, as she pulled herself away from her mother’s sharp grip.
“I told you!” She snapped, “Didn’t I tell you?!”
“SHUT UP!” Finis backhanded his daughter across the face, sending her crashing to the floor, “Just shut up!”
“HEY!”
The family all slowly turned to the door, where two figures stood.
“V-Victor?!” Victoria called out, “What are you- “She froze as the two figures moved closer, revealing the blue-skinned man standing right by Victor.
However, before she could say anything, a chocked noise broke free from her Father’s throat.
“Y-You!” He spluttered.
“Finis.” The corpse sneered down at her Father, “My how you’ve grown…. You look just like your Father.”
“Barkis…” Finis hissed, “… this isn’t possible!”
“And yet here I am.”
“This isn’t real! My Father- “
“- Killed me.”
Stunned intakes of breath echoed throughout the church, as Barkis smirked.
“Yes, I remember it vividly.”
Victoria turned to her Father, mouth gaping open uselessly as the older man stared at Barkis. However, before he could say anything, another new voice spoke up.
“I knew it.”
Victor and Barkis spun around to see Victoria’s aunt standing in the doorway, face in shadows.
“He left you Emily.” She hissed in a mocking tone, stepping forwards, “Why would someone like him ever want to be with someone like you…. He got what he wanted and now he’s gone.”
“Emily?” Barkis stepped forwards to meet the woman, “You- you- “
Emily smiled warmly at Barkis, not even flinching at the sight of his blue skin. “Hello Barkis.”
“I-I thought I’d never see you again.”
Victor watched the exchange, frowning when his heart panged slightly at the soft look on Barkis’s face.
Had Barkis ever looked at him like that?
No… he hadn’t.
Turning his head away from the sight, he tensed up, spotting Mister Everglot and his wife trying to get away, dragging Victoria along with them (who was struggling madly, unable to call out for help as both her mother and her father hand their hands over her mouth).
“Take your hands off her!”
All eyes were then on the Everglot’s, who froze at the attention, they tensed up further when Emily stepped around Barkis and moved a little closer.
“Let her go.” Emily’s voice was low and dangerous, “You don’t have any more power over me anymore.”
“Whore!” Finis spat out, as Barkis stepped forwards, a growl breaking free, “Our Father did you a favour! Do you really think HE would have cared for you when he realised you were pregnant?!”
Silence.
“You were… pregnant?” Barkis turned to Emily, eyes wide in shock, “Really?”
Emily didn’t even look over at him, her eyes focusing on Victoria silently.
Victor came to the realisation first.
“Victoria’s your daughter.” He whispered, the words sound loud in the silence of the church, “Yours and Barkis’s. You- “
“- Had to give up my daughter to avoid bringing shame to the family.” Emily whispered, “Yes.” She then straightened up, “You and your wife have brought this family to ruin. I wonder… if you remember the reading of our father’s will?”
From the way Finis tensed, he remembered perfectly.
“Maybe you were hoping I’d forgotten.” Emily mused, “Let me see if I can recite it word for word.” She moved a little closer, “Should my son and heir prove himself to be unworthy of the family name, then responsibility shall fall with my eldest child, Emilia Everglot.” She smirked, “I think you’ve proven yourself to be… quite unworthy.”
“You- “
“- Leave.” Emily’s voice was cold, “Before I decide to call the police and bring up certain… tax habits that you both have.”
When Finis tried to pull Emily along with him, Emily was striding forwards and pulling her daughter free.
“Leave.” She hissed, “Before I truly lose my temper.”
The pair raced out, pushing past the crowd of corpses that had gathered at the church doors in morbid curiosity.
And then, there was silence.
“Victor?” Victoria didn’t seem too distressed by her parents leaving (although she did keep giving her Aunt… Mother confused looks), “Victor, what’s going on?”
Victor’s mouth opened and closed uselessly, glancing over at Barkis, who thankfully took pity on him.
“Victoria.”
Her eyes shot to him, clearly in disbelief that she was technically staring at her birth father.
“I’m afraid your Grandfather was not a nice man.” He sighed, “I regret that it came out like this, but… please do not blame Emily, your mother for not telling you sooner. I know the Everglot family… I know their ways. I know how they made Emily feel when she behaved like the perfect daughter, let alone when she got involved with me.”
“My Grandfather… killed you?”
“To cut a long story short… yes.”
Victoria nodded shakily, before turning to her mother, “So… what happens now?”
“That’s up to you my dear.” Emily smiled warmly at her, “Perhaps, we should discuss your engagement first.”
Before Victoria could say anything, Victor was speaking up.
“I-I wanted to talk about that as well.” His voice shook slightly, “I-I know our two families made this promise to each other…. But- But I- “
“- Don’t have feelings for me.” There was a soft smile on Victoria’s face, “I understand.”
“T-There’s more though!” Victor forced out, “I-I don’t even think I like women in general, not like that!” He glanced over at Barkis briefly, before looking away, “I-I have other tastes.”
“My boy…Victor.” Barkis whispered, moving closer and taking Victor’s hand, “Forgive me if I’m being presumptuous, but- “
“- I wasn’t going to say anything!” Victor quickly interrupted, “I know that you still love Emily and- “
“- Mine and Barkis’s time has passed.” Emily whispered, giving Barkis a soft smile when he glanced at her in shock, “But… you know what you would be giving up if you decided to do this?”
“I-I know.” Victor’s eyes were still on Barkis, “A-and I don’t know if I’m ready to…. Die-die… but I want to get to know you better and- “
“Of course.” Barkis whispered, “Perhaps, some kind of arrangement can be made? Some time up here… some time down there with me?”
“Can- can I really do that?” He glanced over at Victoria, who gave him an approving smile, not seeming at all perturbed that Victor had technically fallen for her Father and not her.
“Until you are sure of what you want to do, then I see no reason why not.”
“But, what if- “Victor was cut off as cold lips pressed against his, eyes widening.
It was a brief kiss, but it still took Victor’s breath away when Barkis pulled away.
“- We’ll figure this out.” Barkis chuckled at the stunned look on Victor’s face, “No matter what.”
“… No matter what.”