The time of the plague

Chapter fifteen

Julian sat in his office back in Zadith thinking about his recent medical advancements he had made when he saw the shells on his desk. He reached out and picked one up turning it around in his hand as he thought about what Vanessa's will said. "Well she did say to hold the shell and talk as she would be listening and i could do with someone to listen to my rants" Julian said with a smirk on his face.
Bringing the shell with swirls of sea blue covering it, Julian began to jabber about remedies he had discovered in Zadith and the exquisite field of doctors in the area he had grown close to.
"It really is amazing Vanessa! It's like a completely different world in Zadith and there's no pressure to find the cure of the plague as nobody is relying on one another. You would love it here Nessa- magic is highly respected here too and there are many famous alchemists who specialise in magic and science. Unlike Vesuvia- there is no conflict between the both. I wish you could have seen it with me, I-'Julian rambled but was quickly alerted by Nazali.
"Julian, what are you doing talking to yourself?" Nazali rifled as they held a pile of scientific documents.
"Nazali, I was just-" Julian blurted but was quickly cut off by his mentor.
"No excuses, you're acting crazy- what's gotten into you Julian?" Nazali questioned as they slammed the pile of documents onto Julian's desk. "Anyways, you need to sign some of these files. They're needed this afternoon so you better hurry,". Nazali left the office, leaving Julian embarrassed and stressed.
" Maybe I am being crazy, I need to focus. Nobody cares about how I feel anyway..." Julian murmured as he dropped the shell onto the desk and began to dip some ink onto his quill to start signing the neverending tower of papers. Unexpectedly, Vanessa's ghost picked up the shell and placed it in Julian's open hand as if she was saying, 'I'm here and I'm listening please go on'. Thinking it was just in his head, Julian shook the thought off and placed the shell back as he continued to sign the documents- trying to get it done as quickly as possible. Vanessa picked up the shell and moved to the other side of the room and yeeted the shell at Julian's head.
"What the fuck was that?" Julian mumbled, rubbing his head where the shell hit him.
He bent down to pick up the shell and when he looked up he saw a flash of purple in the mirror and thought "Wait, is this for real...that's something Vanessa would do".
Occupied in his puzzlement, a faint gruntle murmured with a tinge of sass, "You fucking idiot Ilya,". Aftering hearing the familiar tease, Julian looked up to see Vanessa ghost yet again but now looking directly at him with a friendly smirk on her pale face.
"Vanessa..." Julian uttered, completely awe stricken as the mermaid effortlessly stood with her favourite purple gown.
"Hi Ilya!" Vanessa smiled with exuberance, "It's been a while hasn't it,"
Tears welling up around his grey eyes, Julian began to sniffle as he blabbered, "Vanessa, I'm so sorry I-"
Abruptly cutting him short, "Ugh Julian, I'm over it now- quit the tears," Vanessa giggled as she sat on top of Julian's desk, "Tell me more about Zadith. It sounds wonderful!".
Smiling,Julian wiped away his tears,inhaled deeply and began to continue rambling on like he always did with Vanessa. That was never going to change. 

Meanwhile, Asra had just finished the final tarot readings for the day- darkness pervading the atmosphere as stars illuminating the outside night sky. Candles irradiated the dim surroundings and Asra couldn't help but feel the emptiness in the shop; it lacked the laughter and happiness he so desperately craved. Thoughts raced back to the times where after the shop had closed, him and Vanessa would clean the shop together and tell each other their life stories. There was never a day that didn't end with them crying with laughter- except today. Looking into the dusty mirror, Asra began to look at the shop's reflection behind him and couldn't help but feel alone without his dear apprentice. Nobody to talk to, to share his thoughts to... to cry to. Sighing with sorrow, Asra pulled out from his pocket one of Vanessa's treasured rocks- caressing the rough edges with his thumb.
"Hi Nessa..." Asra muttered, temporarily holding himself back for one second after thinking this was useless but carried on nethertheless. "I just wanted to speak to you because it feels so quiet in the shop without you. I miss everything we did together but I will never forget the memories I had with you. I hope you know that Nessa,". Exhaling out with despair, he began to put the rock in his pocket again and pulled out a satin cloth to clean the mirror with. However as he began to wipe the mirror down, he caught a glimpse of something purple behind him. Eyes agape in alarm, Asra dropped the cloth in disbelief as he squinted at the reflection- slowly revealing Vanessa's figure.
"Vanessa... is that you?" Asra questioned cautiously.
"Sure is! How are you my dear friend? We have a lot of catching up to do, don't we?" Vanessa chimed as Asra jolted in surprise with the response. Rapidly, the magician turned around to take in the mermaid's presence, his eyes twinkling with happiness.

Nearby in Vesuvia, Tilde was sitting in her office at her house, petting a melancholy Mischief. "I know Mischief, I know I miss her too but sometimes this happens and we lose people in our lives and it's hard to deal with but you'll live alright" Tilde said softly as she pet Mischief. After a while Mischief looked over at the corner of the room and cawed out happily. He then started to flutter his wings and started to freak out a bit. This caused Tilde to worry as she couldn't tell what he was freaking out over. "Hey, hey Mischief! It's ok, it's okay- don't panic.There isn't anything there for you to freak out about," Tilde said, trying to calm him down.
Vanessa walked over to Tilde,placed a hand on her shoulder and praised "I see Mischief has taken a liking to you. It's so nice to see him so happy"
Vanessa then reached out and pet Mischief "and I see you've kept his feathers soft- thank you for that" she said softly.
Tilde stopped petting Mischief and turned around to face Vanessa. When she saw the mermaid she was speechless she had many things she wanted to say to her but she physically couldn't form the words. Mischief fluttered his wings happily when he saw Vanessa.
"Tilde, it's so nice to see you again!" Vanessa exclaimed with a bright smile across her face, "My heart is completely full to see you care for Mischief like he's your own. I can't thank you enough Tilde... all that you have done for me. It never went unnoticed. The way you cared for me in my last days, for Lucio and for my beloved Mischief. You've kept my legacy in your heart and it will never be forgotten.". A single tear trickled down Tilde's face as she embraced Vanessa's ghost who gleamed, "Well, I best be off. I've spent far too long visiting everyone, I'm knackered! I hope for you well and happiness. It won't be the last you see of me though! Goodbye Tilde...". Gradually, Vanessa's figure began to fade away.

Vanessa showed up in the realm where ghosts reside. "Vanessa darling, there you are, I've been looking everywhere for you. What were you doing?" Lucio asked as he walked over to her.
"I was visiting asra, Julian,Tilde and Mischief" Vanessa said embracing her lover.
"Oh right, well next time please tell me before you do. I was worried sick" Lucio said, kissing Vanessa's forehead.
"Alright I'll tell you next time dear. Sorry for worrying you" Vanessa said.
Lucio took Vanessa's hand and led her to a bed that looked similar to the one Lucio had in his room. There were white rose petals scattered across the bed and there were a couple of candles lit on the bedside table.
"Wow this looks so beautiful Lucio" Vanessa said walking over to the bed and sitting down on it. Lucio walked over to the bed as well and sat down next to Vanessa.
"I love you so much dear" Lucio said, kissing Vanessa's cheek.
"I love you more" Vanessa said moving so she was laying on the bed.
Lucio laid down next to her and pulled her close. "Dear I have a question for you," Lucio said.
"What is it?" Vanessa asked.
"Will you marry me?" Lucio asked, pulling out the ring.
Vanessa gasped lightly when she saw the ring. "Of course I will love" Vanessa said smiling as happy tears formed in her eyes.