The Magician's Witch

Ghost Alive

"Christ's Blood! Eilis!"

A gloved hand grabbed her wrist, arresting the hand that held the knife. Eilis froze at the sound of that voice—that brisk, musical, unearthly voice. Her mind didn't want to comprehend it, didn't want to register it.

Erik plucked the knife from her fingers, releasing her hand. "Were you going to try to kill me with this? Is this the welcome I am to receive after we have spent so many weeks apart?"

"Erik," Eilis breathed. He swam into focus then. There he stood, in one piece, glowering at her with those twin flames of his—his mask was grey in the diminishing light.

"Erik," Eilis whispered again, still not quite comprehending that he was real and standing before her. She shuddered at the memory of Erik chained and prostrate on the floor in front of the Khanum as a lash came down hard on his back.

Tentatively, her hand shaking, she reached out, finding the folds of his cloak, seeking proof of his corporeal form.

Erik placed a hand on hers, holding her hand over his heart. Eilis felt the steady beat of that life-sustaining organ and knew.

"I'm here, mon coeur."

Eilis blubbered, dissolving into a whimpering mess as she threw her arms around him. Erik grunted at the impact, but did not pull away, instead wrapping his arms around her in turn. Eilis sobbed big, ugly, wracking sobs as she held onto him. Relief washed over her as the stress she had harbored for weeks melted away.

They held each other for a long time, not speaking. They had survived and they were both here.

"I wasn't sure you would be here," Erik murmured ere long. "Seeing you is like a tonic."

Eilis buried her face in his chest, soaking his shirt with her tears of relief. He was here. He was alive. She breathed him in, at once feeling more relaxed than she had felt in far too long.

"I...I...th...thought you were dead." Her voice was thick with emotion.

"Now, my dear, I thought you didn't care about my looks," Erik teased, a wry smile in his voice.

Eilis' laughter came out watery. She pulled away to look up at him. She lifted his mask and pulled his face down to meet hers. Their lips met, devouring each other. Eilis could feel his own relief at finding her. Erik crushed her against him, craving her closeness. Eilis fisted her free hand in his cloak, needing him just as near.

From above them came several voices calling for Eilis, hints of concern lacing the sound.

After a long minute, they came up for air, panting from the exertion.

"You were not supposed to wait for me," Erik chided her breathlessly.

"Then I wouldn't be here now," Eilis pushed back.