𝒔𝒐𝒓𝒄𝒊𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒏𝒐𝒊𝒓𝒆 » 𝐀. 𝐒𝐎𝐋𝐎𝐌𝐎𝐍𝐒

❝𝒙𝒗.❞

"Nora? Nora!"

Nora snapped back to reality where she found herself in Tommy's office at Arrow House with her mother's hand in hers. Tommy watched closely the demeanor of his cousin's face as he had broken the news to her. "Did you hear what I said? About Arthur Sr."

"I did."

"He's dead."

"You just said that."

Tommy and Polly exchange a glance at each other and back at Nora. "He was murdered, Nora." "And?" She looks at the two of them. "What do you wish for me to say?" The two say nothing in response as Nora rises to her feet. "If that's all, I have business to tend to back home."

Upon leaving Arrow House, Nora was a ghost. She had barely said a word to anyone, and if so it was curt conversation surrounding business. She wasn't getting a second of rest, nor a second of peace; she was just a void. Clara had taken into account the fact that her closest friend and boss was not herself, and had confided in Elliot about the matter. The two converse whenever they can, unable to figure out what was going on within the mind of the sorciere, but Elliot knew all changed after Alfie Solomons came back into the picture.

"I mean she ignores everyone, she's even evaded her mother. She's come by four times, and apparently nobody from the family has heard from her beyond written correspondence and what I pass on. Mrs. Gray wants answers." "He's the root of this. He just can't leave Nora alone. I'm not sure he ever will." "Well he has to. Nora would never go back to him-" "With men like him, Clara there's no telling the lengths he'll go. I have to keep her safe from all of it. She protects everyone, the least I can do is protect her."

The days went by slowly, weeks went even slower until a letter arrived at Elliot and Nora's home. Elliot's father had died in an accident at sea. Nora was shaken up, but she wanted to be there for her love. All her attention shifted to him. Losing a parent was never easy, regardless of the circumstances. Elliot was numb to the matter, his father left them to start a lucrative business in Australia leaving him to clean up the mess he had created in England. That mess however, led him into the arms and heart of his fiancee, and he would never be upset about that. The letter had encouraged him to come to Melbourne as soon as he could with his family to plan and arrange funeral proceedings and claim what his father had left for him.

"Please come with me, Nora-" "You know I can't. Things are too hectic right now for me to up and leave on such a long distance journey. But you should go, get your mum, get your sisters, and go say goodbye to your dad. If you need the money, I'll give it, happily. Just go. Don't worry about anything else." "I'm worried about you." "I'm fine." "You're not. You're not Nora. I've been watching you. You don't smile anymore, you rarely come to bed, you flinch when I touch you...did something happen?" "No, no, just..." she takes a moment to try and explain what she's experiencing in a grander scheme, "demons are haunting me. It's alright, they'll tire and die off."

Elliot tilts his head as he slowly leans into her, pecking her forehead, "You can tell me anything you know? I know being around the Shelby family has its difficulties-" "I'm fine. You should go get your things, your family needs you-" "You're my family too, Nora. We're to marry soon."

Nora smiles softly, resting in the nape of his neck for a moment, "Come on, your things are packed and the car is running. Give me a ring when you arrive so I know you're safe." Elliot hesitates for a moment, hating the fact he was leaving Nora to herself. "I love you, darling." He leaves a prolonged kiss on her lips, sending a small but short lived jolt of warmth through her. "I love you too."

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Nora sent silent prayers to the hearts of Elliot and his wonderful kind hearted family, every day he was gone. He rang her when he arrived in Australia, unable to speak to her coherently. Nora was grateful the family was physically in one piece, but this was something they'll have to balance for the rest of their lives. She wasn't expecting Elliot for at least another two weeks, so her heart dropped in shock when she saw him walk through the doors of her office.