Scattered Souls

Chapter 30 - Blissful Denial

Xypher and I sat in that very same position, for what must have been ages, with me on his lap,  his arms wrapped tightly around me. Savouring every minute of us being entwined like that. For the first time in a really long time I felt at peace.

"Why were you murdered?" I suddenly asked Xypher, while I was still coddled up in his arms.

Way to kill the mood, Robyn. I thought to myself. As much as I would have loved to remain in blissful denial for as long as I possibly could. Another part of me also wanted to unravel this mystery as soon as I could, that part of me knew that's what the logical thing to do was. Even though Xypher had made a promise to me, I knew it wouldn't be sustainable in the long run. There was no way for that. This definitely wasn't one of those Disney fairy tales. Where everything works together to bring the Prince and the Princess together, and they have an enviably happy ending. No. This was reality. Obviously, it wouldn't be fair to expect Xypher to remain trapped for a few more years just so that I could be with him and I certainly can't have a teapot for a boyfriend. Neither could we use Jordan's body as his host forever. That would be as good as taking away someone else's life just so Xypher and I could live ours. Even though Xypher had been deprived of his life, there was certainly no justice in that outcome.

"Let's just say I fell in love with the wrong girl." I was baffled by his answer, however, I was intrigued at the same time.

Of all the possible answers to that question I'd imagined. A love story gone wrong was definitely one that I hadn't anticipated.

"So you're saying that you were killed only because you loved the wrong person?" I repeated what he had said just so that it would resonate with me. I always had to confirm.

"Yes. That's exactly what I'm saying. She was my soulmate in every way possible..." he paused,  looking like he was fondly reminiscing after he made that statement. "Except for the fact that her family didn't approve of me. I was just a mere servant of her father's, that only knew hard labour and struggles, while she on the other hand was born and raised like a queen. We grew up together, we were the best of friends, and we had no idea when that friendship blossomed into love. However, given my status, I was never going to be any good for her. Which is why it was arranged to have me killed." I could hear the grief in his tone as he spoke about his tragedy and I could feel the tension in his body.

"Arranged by who?" I asked. I was eager to know more, but I also tried to be as careful as possible not to upset him any further and cause more pain necessary.

"Well it was actually her mother that arranged to have me murdered. Although, she'd known me for years and claimed to love me like the son she wished she had, the rage she felt when she found out Julia and I were in love clearly overpowered any maternal instinct she felt towards me." he was on the brink of tears.

I stared up into his eyes. Cupping his hand in mine. I gave him a kiss on the cheek and encouraged him to continue with telling me about his past. I decided I rather get as much information as I possibly could, so that I could help him, while he was opening up to me. This certainly wasn't an everyday occurrence with him.

"However, even having me killed wasn't enough to satisfy her mother, she also contacted an Irish priest to curse me... To trap my soul in that teapot." he stopped.

I moved out of his lap and onto the bed next to him. Still holding his hand in mine for reassurance and support. I could feel the tension and pain radiating off of him and I didn't want to cause any obstructions as he was letting out all of his emotions and all of his bitter and tragic memories.

"You know I was made to watch her marry another man. The love of my life! I was trapped in that teapot, completely helpless. All I could do was watch her as she stood like an angel in that white wedding dress, while another man put a ring on her finger. While another man claimed her as his own, right in front of my very eyes." he clutched his chest almost as if he were in physical pain as he divulged all of this information.

I squeezed his hand even tighter, his tragedy causing more than a few tears to escape my eyes. For once I didn't know what to say to comfort him.  What do you even say or how do you even begin to comfort someone that has been through something so unimaginably sorrowful.

"I feel like watching that inflicted more pain than any of the stabs those hired goons had given me. Those were just stabs to my flesh, however these were stabs to my heart." his voice was breaking, almost as if he were reliving that unfortunate day as he spoke of it.

I marveled at the passion he displayed as he spoke of the woman he was in love with, even though it was so many decades ago, the way he spoke of her made it seem like it was just yesterday that they had been madly and hopelessly in love.

I pulled him in for a hug this time. Holding his head against my chest and gently stroking his back to comfort him. When you failed to find the right words, actions always came in handy.

When I brought him here today, I hadn't expected it to result in him being so vulnerable and sharing so much of his past with me. I was certainly glad he did though, it gave me a little more insight to the type of person he was and the type of experiences he's had that's moulded him into who and what he is now.

"I can't even imagine how much of turmoil that must have caused for you." I admitted.

"That wasn't the worst of it." I was stunned as he said those words.

I mean how much worse could it possibly get? How much more tragedy could one person possibly experience.

"What was worse than that?" I wondered out loud, trying to think of what could possibly be worse in my mind. I had a feeling in the pit of my stomach that indicated I'd regret asking that question.