Page 76 of A Ballad of Phantoms and Hope
A tingle spreads across my cheek and my head is jerked to the right. I finally look up, startled. Yelina has a fury I’ve never seen blooming across her cheeks and eyes, tears welling and her breathing uneven.
She slapped me.Delayed, my hand unconsciously drifts to where my skin felt discomfort for only a moment.
“What’s wrong with you?! I’ve never seen you give up like this. Don’t you care about her? Don’t you care about yourself?!” Yelina screams at me. It triggers me; yelling has always done that. My blood thickens and my heart clammers inside me.
I’m on my feet before I even know what I’m doing. Anger has a hold on me.
“Of course, I care, Yelina!” The raspiness of my voice and sheer volume strikes her, making her shrink back and I instantly see myself in that frightened pose.
I take a deep breath. I won’t behim.
Calmer, I say, “I care. More than you could ever understand. I’ve searched everywhere and she’s nowhere. I’m tired.” My voice cracks. “I’m so,sofucking tired. But she chose to leave. What am I supposed to do?”
Jericho and Yelina share a concerned look. “Yelina, why don’t you grab us all some hot drinks?” Jericho says with a hint that he’d like to talk to me privately. She stares at me with sorrowful eyes before nodding and leaving us alone in the graveyard.
We’re silent until her footsteps can no longer be heard.
“I’m leaving tonight,” Jericho finally says.
I look at him and raise a brow. “Heading back to Harlow?”
Jericho shakes his head. A sad smile pulls at the corner of his lips.
“We’re going together.”
My heart sinks. “You… you found what’s keeping you here?” Jericho smiles and nods slowly. He lifts his hand and rubs the back of his head.
“Yeah, it’s so stupid how obvious it was.”
I stare at him expectantly.
He leans in close and I mirror him. Jericho whispers, “There’s something inside you that still festers. You’re going to have to face it. You know what it is, Nevers, I know you do.”
My throat tightens.
“You’ll figure it out, but do you think you can do it without Miss Rosin?” His tone is knowing.
I lower my head and stare at the ground. “I’ve searched for her; she cannot be found.” An uncomfortable weight settles in my chest. “You know, Wynn and Liam didn’t show up last year.”
Jericho’s brows arch with emotion. He knows I’m talking about my grave, the anniversary of all of our deaths.
I curl my fists against my knees.
“Everyone I care about… everyone I love. They don’t stay. Ophelia chose to leave me behind. Even if it was to keep me safe… she’s gone.” The words come out as a whisper.
Jericho stands and offers me his hand to help me up. I look at him for a moment before clapping my palm to his. He lifts me from the gravestone and turns me to look down upon it.
“Tell me, Nevers, what do you see when you look at this gravestone? Do you see the person? Their phantom?” Jericho says nostalgically. I’ve watched him many times stare down at his own grave in Bakersville. Though, now it feels like a lifetime ago.
“They aren’t here,” I murmur.
Jericho nods. “They are not.” He bends down and wipes the moss from over the name on the headstone, which readsGregory Briggs.
My eyes widen as his name sparks my memory. The phantom in the cathedral was looking for a Gregory Briggs. I kneel and wipe the bottom portion of the stone. An image of him is still barely visible along with words that make my heart ache.
Architect of the Landertis Cathedral — made in memory of his sweet Elanor.
“I’d bet my money this guy has either already passed on or is waiting for his lost love at the cathedral he built for her.” Jericho grins and I snap my eyes at him. He doesn’t even know thefaceless phantom that Ophelia and I found weeks ago, dancing to a soundless song, thinking of only this man. Only, she’s in a different cathedral, waiting.
