The Death Song of Evanore Frock

Chapter 3- Heartbeat

I woke up feeling like the world had a certain peace to it, like my body was a shattered puzzle piece put back together piece by piece. The feeling ended quickly, leaving me to feel a sense of emptiness. Forcing my eyes open, I found a surprising scene.

Aine and Charlotte were on the ground panting at the edges of the room, as if somehow thrown, "What- what happened?" I asked.

Neither were able to answer at first. Staring at each other as if searching for a way to explain what had happened.

I sat up, looking down to examine my body. Barely anything had changed. There was a slight color to my skin once again, but my body was skeletal, my hair- though now clean- had lost its color, and curl. The salt and peppered color I wasn't sure how I felt about the change just yet.

"I thought you were going to heal me, not give me a makeover." I said dryly.

"You're not- you can't." Charlotte breathed.

"I'm not what?"

Aine answered, her eyes clouded with confusion and surprise "Evanore... you don't... your heart isn't beating."

I rolled my eyes, "I think I can tell if my heart is beating."

Slowly, she made her way to where I sat, putting a hand on my chest. "Sweetie... your heart is dead. Feel it."

I did. Putting my own hand on my chest, my breath caught as I felt the same thing she did. Nothing. "That's not possible" I whispered "I wouldn't be alive right now. How am I speaking to you? How am I here, Aine how am I breathing? It's not, I can't-"

I couldn't think straight. My breathing got heavier as the walls closed around me. I knew it was true. I stopped hearing my heartbeat when I was put in the box. I didn't believe it. Didn't want to.

"We don't know Evanore. Just breathe and we will figure this out. Your clan did something to you that no magic has ever done to the human soul."

"We aren't talking about a personality change or black curse Aine." I found myself shouting, crying. How could I be crying if I was dead? How could I even be breathing? "I'm dead. My body is broken and dead. It's not possible."

Aine didn't say anything. What could she say? Nothing could make me feel better or explain what had happened on that clear night. Charlotte continued to gape at me like I was something else.

"Ladies there is a council member here." Leonarde spoke as he walked into the scene, one look at his wife and he raced to her disheveled side "Aine, babe, are you ok? What happened?"

"I'm fine love... Evanore... She cannot be completely healed. Something happened beyond standard magic practices." She looked to the door "A council member is here? How did they know so quickly?"

Leonarde kept a careful eye on me as he answered "Apparently someone attacked a construction worker with bolts of unknown magic. It snagged the attention of some higher-ups. They followed the magic here. Apparently, it's quite noticeable."

"You shot magic at a mortal?" Aine asked.

I shrugged indifferently "He was annoying."
"Well don't tell the council member that. What is her name?"

"Him." Leonarde corrected, "He said his name was Maxy. Really big hugger?"

Surprise flitted across the room. Aine especially. "Arch Mage Councilor Maxwell Vivarie? He's... here in person?" She turned to me "What the hell did you do?! Kill the man?!"

I shrugged again "I didn't pay attention."

"Ok. Don't say that either."

I shrugged.