VESPER

CHAPTER 13

“Focus, Mavis,” Diana instructed, her voice calm yet firm. “Channel your emotions, embrace them without letting them overwhelm you. Feel the energy flow through you.”

Mavis nodded, her brow furrowed in concentration. Vibrant, swirling colors of spiritual energy began to manifest around her, flickering like flames. Each hue reflected a different emotion—warm and golden for hope, deep and somber for fear. She was learning, inching toward mastery despite the odds that piled against her.

Meanwhile, inside the manor, Lord Vesper Arkwright and his sister Katherine observed from the large, arched windows. The sight of Mavis was a source of pride for the siblings, whose lives were overshadowed by dark prophecies and relentless threats from Emilia, a malign force that sought to consume their world.

“She’s really trying her best,” Katherine remarked, her voice tinged with a mix of admiration and concern. “I’ve never seen her so focused.”

Vesper didn’t reply immediately; his gaze remained fixed on Mavis. After a moment, he turned to his sister, his expression settling into something more serious. “Did you find anything significant during your talks with the coven that might help us confront Emilia?”

Katherine shook her head reluctantly, her features softening with empathy. “Nothing concrete. Just whispers of ancient rituals and scatterings of forgotten knowledge. But there’s still hope, Vesper. There must be a way.”

Before he could respond, the heavy door creaked open, and Frederick entered, his countenance grim. The vibrant atmosphere in the room shifted instantly, like the sudden clash of thunder across a bright sky. “I fear I bring sorrowful news,” he announced, his voice low and somber. “ Agnes is on her deathbed. She was attacked… by Emilia.”

A sharp gasp escaped Katherine’s lips as she clasped her hands together, the weight of the news crashing down around them. "But-but she was under the coven's care, how-"

Vesper’s expression hardened into a mask of disbelief before his shoulders slumped under the burden of concern. They both turned to look at Mavis, who remained blissfully unaware, her joyous laughter mingling with Diana’s encouragement. The discord between Mavis’s vibrancy and their despair was a bitter pill to swallow.

“We can’t tell her yet,” Vesper whispered urgently, anguish flickering in his eyes. “She’s still weak, and if she loses her composure, it could send her  into a coma.”

Frederick, his gaze steady but burdened, added, “Agnes… she has requested to see her one last time. Mavis is everything to her.”

Katherine frowned, biting her lip. A decision hung in the air between them like an unspoken agreement. They knew how devastating the news would be to Mavis, who had only recently begun to recover from her last ordeal. The thought of her aunt being safe had been her steadfast anchor in these turbulent times, a guiding light against their shared darkness.

“Biding time could make it worse,” Katherine said softly, her heart racing at the thought of Mavis’ reaction. “But if she finds out later that we waited…”

“Then we have to prepare her,” Vesper interjected, his voice resolute. “But we cannot shatter her spirit today. We’ll give her joy in the moment. We’ll take her to Agnes later, when Mavis isn’t so distressed, so she can have those final moments and remember her aunt for the warmth she embodies.”

Resolutely, Vesper turned back toward the windows, watching Mavis twirl and laugh, while Diana instructed her on deepening her connection to the energy that flowed through her. The glowing orbs of color shimmered in the air, casting dancing shadows on the grass. Every smile Mavis wore was a reminder of the love that had shaped her, a fragile treasure that needed protection.