⚠️ Warning: Mentions of depression, effects of grief, and mental struggling, as well as slight mentions of blood. If affected, please read with caution. ⚠️

~~~~~

{•Emerson•}

"Its been almost 2 weeks...." Leda said worriedly as we stood at the entrance of the gardens. "She's not eating, or taking anymore of her treatments..... She's not sleeping either...."

We stood at the door as Lynette sat outside in the garden's gazebo alone, holding the pocket watch to her chest and blankly staring at nothing....Almost looking completely catatonic...

Time passed since she left the infirmary, and ever since then, she's been mentally getting worse.

She's pushed everyone away and is isolating herself, and refuses to eat or drink anything, as well as refusing anymore of her blood treatments or even medicine for the wounds and pain she still has.

We figured that she must have finally had time to let everything set in and is trying to come to terms about Remington's death...

"She's lost her mate....." I sighed. "Until we manage to do something, a widowed mate would rather die than live without their other half..... Keep in mind, she'd only just been given a chance to mourn over him after being tortured nearly nonstop for weeks....."

She looked over sadly at me before looking over at Lynette.

"Our poor duchess....." She said sadly, holding her hands to her chest. "She can't go on like this forever... Who knows what this can do to her mentally, let alone to her health....."

I sighed and nodded. "I know.... Listen, Leda, umm... Why don't you go help Shy and Thomas with the records.... I'll talk to her, see if I can at least get her to eat something....."

She nodded and bowed before walking off and I looked back at the gazebo.

I took a deep breath and walk over, and then slowly approaching Lynette.

She looked so exhausted... Still pale, with some injuries still taking time to heal.... She's also lost a significant amount of weight, even more now since she's not eating....

What broke me was her eyes..... Once a bright blue and full of life, now dull and full of pain, almost dimmed to grey......

The Visigoths will pay dearly for this...

"Lynette..." I spoke, and she looked over at me with watery eyes, her face almost blank.

"I know you're hurting, dear duchess..... I know inside you're dying and in horrible pain.... I know it seems like the end of the world, but you can't go on like this....." I said. "He wouldn't want that.... Not for you...."

She was quiet as I knelt down in front of her.

"He loved you so much.... He wouldn't want you to waste away like this....." he said.

She remained quiet as she quietly took a deep breath.

"Seven forty-seven...." she mumbled blankly.

I looked at her in confusion. "I-I'm sorry, what...?"

"Seven forty-seven...." she mumbled. "Ever since I first met Remington, for some reason I kept seeing those 3 numbers together.... Waking up at that exact time, especially after my dreams.... The numbers 747... I see them everywhere....."

I looked at her, not knowing at all what she was talking about.

"The same numbers.... The pictures in my head.... The voices in my head..... It all happened after knowing him....." she said, almost as if to herself. " All of it has to means something... Right....""

I still did not understand what she meant, which made me worry for her mental state.

Priestess Genevieve was right.... This is affecting her more than we would have expected....

As if losing her mate isn't bad enough, here she is, starving herself and taking nonsense about voices and pictures in her head even after weeks of vicious torture and a second attempted rape.....

Then she looked down at the pocket watch, clicking it open, and holding it out to me.

She looked down. "The pocket watch, it.... It stopped ticking when...." she whimpered, then tried to breath as some tears escaped from her eyes. "Look at the time it stopped at....."

I carefully took the watch and looked at the time it was stopped on.

"I-I see....." I mumbled, and looked up at her.

Lynette then whimpered and burst into tears. "God, Emerson, it.... It hurts so much..... I-I can't do this anymore...."

I frowned and motioned to her. "May I...?"

She hesitated softly but gulped and opened her hand to me, letting me carefully reach over and hold her hand, placing my right hand over my heart.

"I vow to you, Lynette Smith, that we will do everything to avenge Remington.... The Visigoth's will pay for all the pain they have caused all of us... So help me God, we will not stop until we have justice....." I vowed to her.

She sniffled and looked up at me sadly, gripping my hand.

"Emerson.... Can I ask you something?" she asked quietly.

"Of course...." I asked.

She hesitated to speak, but took a deep breath.

"You once said that.... You take away my memories.... Right?" She asked, looking blankly ahead at me.

I frowned at her question, before I remembered and immediately realized what she was implying and my eyes widen in shock.

My eyes widen. "N-No.... No, you... You can't ask that of me, Lynette.... Please....."

"P-Please..... It hurts too much, Emerson.... Thinking about him hurts too much....." I sobbed. "Seeing that stake go through his heart.... The veins

Emerson just looked painfully at me. "I....."

"Please.... I'm begging you, Emerson.... Just make it all go away...." she cried. "I can't do this anymore, please, please, Emerson......."

I looked at her in shock.

Take away her memories...? Have her forget Remington?? How could I do that!?

No... N-No I can't do that.... Not when there's a chance that.....

"I... I'll think about it," I lied, nodding.

She held the pocketwatch to her chest as she broke down in tears.

"W-Why don't we go get something to eat, yeah? Or-Or you can lie down for a while.... M-Maybe you'll feel better...."

She frowned and looked down at the the pocketwatch before I took her hand again. "I want to be alone right now...."

I nodded. "Okay.... Come on... Let's get you to bed, yeah?" he said. "Sleep is good. You'll feel better after some sleep.... We can eat once you're rested. Leda can even make your favorite cakes,the lavender tea you like....."

She said nothing as I carefully guided her back inside.

Jay and Billie were walking when they noticed us and looked over, but I held my finger to my lips.

They were quiet and bowed softly as we walked past them, worried looks in their eyes.

We soon arrived to her room and I helped her lay down, taking her shoes off and then tucking her in as she continued to hold the

That's when I saw she had a blank look in her face.

"Lynette....?" I asked.

She didn't respond, but tears fell from her eyes as she stared blankly ahead.

I frowned and held her hand. "Its gonna be okay.... Y-You'll be fine.... I promise," I mumbled, holding her hands. "You-You just need some sleep....."

"I-I want it all gone..." she mumbled quietly to herself, looking catatonic again. "I just want it all gone.... Make it all go away..... Please make them all go away...."

I frowned and pursed my lips before looking away placing my hand over her eyes and saw white for a moment.

She let out a shakey whimper before she went limp and I look, seeing she was unconscious.

I sniffled as I felt tears in my eyes."I'm sorry...." I mumbled, moving her hair from her face. "I promise, this is for your own good...."

I slowly stood up and tucked her in more before leaving and heading to my room, seeing Shy sitting at the dresser, Pepper asleep on our bed.

She saw me walk in and stood up. "How is she?" She asked.

I sighed and looked up, shaking my head. "Its bad, Shy.... Its really bad..... I've seen vampires widowed before, but this...."

She sighed worriedly.

"H-Her mind, it.... Its breaking bad because of the grief, its too much for her to handle....." I said. "Shy, she just asked me to erase all of her memories...."

Her eyes widen. "Oh my god...."

"We suggested that idea before, though, when we met her and thought her and Remington was a bad idea, but.... I-If there's a chance, Shy..."

She nodded her head, deep in thought. "I know.... Has the priestess found something?"

"Nothing definitive, let alone mentioned...." I sighed.

Shy sighed and paced a bit, but then perked up.

"You know.... Her birthday is coming up.... Maybe we can help make her feel better," Shy suggested. "Do something, a-a special gift maybe?"

"I suppose..... When's her birthday?" I asked curiously.

"Ummm... December 14th," she said, remembering.

I furrowed my brows. "Wait.... The exact day the fires started?"

Shy stopped and realized something. "Yes...... Strange, I... I didn't realize that...."

"Also the day Elizabeth Winthrop died....." I said, the wheels in my brain beginning to turn.

"H-Hold on, I mean.... That's what she has been told.... Although, its possible its not her actual birthday anyhow," Shy said. "She told me its her birthday since it was the day that she was found, when she was abandoned as a baby...."

"I mean, true, but.... It can't just be some coincidence, especially after what Damiano said about her being this missing child....." I said.

"True.... Yet.... There's still the question of how she even appeared on Earth," Shy said.

"That part is what debunks that whole theory," I sighed.

"Unless someone transported her themselves, but so much chaos and fire happened that night, there wouldn't have been much of a chance to even do so," she said. "Plus, transporting a newborn alone would have been reckless at most, especially since transport powder at the time was still under an experimental phase and not easy to make...."

Shy nodded as she sat at the dresser, Pepper coming up to her to be held.

"Does Lynette know about the day of the fires?" I asked as she picked her up and held Pepper in her arms.

"I.... I'm not sure...." she said. "I mean, maybe she came across it at some point but didn't think much of it at the time....." I shrugged. "Plus, we had most of our focus on the Warhol's and Visigoth's, as well as certain identities.... Dates of any sort were never included in our research..."

I nodded in understanding. "Let's look more into things, and... I don't know if Lynette would be up for celebrating her birthday after everything that's happened.... Let's not forget, she most likely sees it as the day she was abandoned and introduced to a life of lonliness and abuse..... Probably another reason she would have kept it to herself. Finding out the day she was abandoned is also the day the whole empire entered an era of chaos and death? I'd be quiet about it as well...."

She frowned and looked down. "I guess you're right.... I just.... My love, it pains me seeing her in such a way.... I'm scared that if... If we don't do something soon, she... She go off the deep end...."

"I know.... It scared me seeing her just now...." I said, trying to think as I held her hand. "We have to think of something soon, or it'll be too late...."

Shy was about to say something before there was a knock at the door.

"Enter," Shy called out, and the door opened.

"My lord... My lady, " Austin greeted as he walked and bowed.

"Austin..." I said. "You have news?"

"We found something interesting in regards to Amadeus's murder...." he said.

"What importance is the cadaver of a misogynist missing his hand?" Shy scoffed with an eyeroll.

"Have you identified the vampire?" I said.

"Somewhat..." he said, and held up a strange black fabric. "Luckily for us, our coroner friend, Joshua, is loyal to the Blackwell family, and pried this from Amadeus's cold, dead hands.... Well, hand....."

I curiously took it and examined it as Shy peered over.

"Why does that look so familiar?" Shy frowned as I realized it.

"Because you used it.... As did the rest of the Blackwell women," I said in shock. "This is part of the jacket you all wore when we fought during the raid at the Visigoth hideout to rescue Lynette."

Her eyes widen. "Are you saying I killed Amadeus? Impossible! I sure as hell would have remembered doing that, and be boasting for sure.... Can't take credit for this, unfortunately...... Larisa couldn't have done it either, she was with me the entire time."

"Plus we were all blasted into the woods after Remington lost it when Lynette..... Oh my god, Lynette wore this, too...." I said as I began to think.

"This is also soaked in human blood.... Duchess Lynette's blood by the smell.... And some of her blood was also found in the fingernails of his remaining hand....." Austin added.

I put the fabric to my nose and smelled it. I recognized the smell and let out a shakey breath. "Wait..... A vampire is said to have killed Amadeus..... Yet he was clutching a piece of Lynette's jacket....."

"Insinuating there was possibly a struggle....." Shy said.

"I did always wonder how Lynette was alive...... We saw her die in Remington's arms.... The stake was even poisoned," I said.

Shy seemed to understand. "Y-You're saying.... No, its impossible, the blood Remington gave her probably saved her in time and she just came back, we were wrong about her death!"

"They why was Amadeus covered in vampire bites and drained of blood?" I asked. "No other vampire aside from Remington was there, and he was already captured."

"I-I.... But.... Lynette is still human.... How could....." she said, confused.

"Could it be possible that Duchess Lynette's body rejected any sort of vampiric change?" Austin asked curiously.

I looked at Shy. "You've changed more people than us.... What do you say, Nurse?"

Shy pursed her lips in thought. "I-I mean.... If that's what happened, she'd be dead, too.... Especially after her first taste.... If the body rejects the changes, they just die again...."

I frowned and tried to think. "S-Something's not right......"

"I'll talk to Priestess Genevieve.... Maybe she'll have some insight as to what is going on here...." Shy said, holding her hand out for the fabric. "If I may, Austin?"

"Of course, your grace," he said with a bow as he gave the fabric to her.

"We keep this to ourselves until we know what we're dealing with.... Sebastian and Larisa have enough on their plate......."

We agreed as she stepped out and I took a deep breath.

"Would there be anything else, my lord?" Austin asked.

I looked over. "Yes.... One last thing..." I said. "Duchess Lynette has been clear of needing her isolation.... However, given her mental state its worried many of us....."

"It has.... The other day, I...." He said, but hesitated.

I frowned. "What....?"

He sighed and looked up. "It.... It was by the library.... I had finished my duties, and..... It looked like she was.... Talking to someone..... However..." he said, hesitantly. "There was no one else there....."

I frowned worriedly. "You're sure?"

"I discreetly checked myself.... We were the only ones there...." he said.

I frowned. "I mean.... I.... I've heard this place has its fair share of spirits and apparitions, but.... They're mostly dormant or relatively calm, mostly keep to themselves just like the ones back at Blackwell.... At least that's what I've been told....."

He nodded in understanding as I sighed.

"Look, just.... You and Leda.... She's closer to you both.... She trusts you...." I said. "Just... Keep an eye on her..... She wants to be alone, and I understand that, but.... After everything, its not good for her..."

He nodded. "I'll talk to Leda... We can watch over our duchess from a distance," He said.

"Please.... Remington wouldn't want her to suffer like this...." I said.

He nodded quietly and bowed. "Has... Has the priestess made any sort of headway?"

I frowned. "Still looking. Need I remind you, what she's attempting is completely unheard of," I sighed.

"Shouldn't we tell the duchess??" he frowned. "Maybe this can alleviate her grief and pain...."

"Or it can also give her false hope and drive her deeper into her insanity.... Austin, she's almost catatonic, and you just told me she's talking to herself, most likely seeing things, suffering from all the trauma she's been through," I said. "We can't take any chances when her mind is in a very fragile state...."

He frowned and looked down, and I sighed.

"If Priestess Genevieve finds something good, then I will tell her myself..." I said.

He nodded. "Of course..."

I nodded and took a deep breath. "You can go now... Thank you, Austin...."

He bowed his head before exiting the room and leaving me alone.

I sighed and paced around nervous, before looking out the window and sighed.

That's when something caught my eye and my eyes widen as small little snowflakes began to fall.

Huh.... The snow is pretty early....

I closed my eyes and tried to calm myself.

*flashback*

I smudged part of my drawing as I worked on it and then looked at it, resting on the tree branch above as the cold winter breeze blew softly around me.

That ship... I wonder where it took us from.....

"Emerson!" I hear Remington called out when suddenly....

"OOF!!" I grunted as something jumped on me and knock me off the tree right into the snow below.

I groaned as I saw Remington laughing on top of me, my sketchbook and pages scattered across the white snow.

"Grrr," I growled in annoyance and threw him off me as he laughed.

I then waved my hand and threw a large wave of snow on him, making him yelp.

He managed to throw some snow as we tackled each other and wrestled in the snow.

We then rolled down the hill by mistake and rolled down before landing on the ground by the castle.

I groaned and sat up, feeling the cold soak into my clothes and hair before looking at Remington, seeing him covered completely in snow.

He looked over at me before he burst out laughing and fell back into the pile of snow he was in.

I couldn't help but laugh and fall back too, some more snow falling on top of me as I laughed with my big brother.

We continue to laugh hysterically in the snow when we suddenly felt someone standing over us.

We looked up and sure enough, Sebastian stood there, a stern look in his face and his arms crossed.

"Damn...." I mumbled as I let my arms fall to my sides on the snow.

"If you two are done rolling around and getting wet in the snow like children, our father had summoned us," he scolded. "Lord Alister has arrived with information on the rebellion."

"Lighten up, Sebastian, we've been working on our duties all day," Remington groaned with an eyeroll as I sat up, shaking snow out of my hair. "We needed a break."

"Yeah," I agreed, blowing some snow off my face. "I'm getting more visions, I wanted to draw them out."

"We have a responsibility to the king and queen," He scolded. "We are in charge of this empire and its people if God forbid anything were to ever happen. Thatbis our duty as successors, to take care of the land and its people who depend on it and us. We do not have the time for leisure and play."

I rolled my eyes as Remington laid back with a sigh when suddenly...

"Boys...." A soft voice spoke and we turned to see our mother walk over.

"Mother," Sebastian said in surprise as he bowed and Remington and I scrambled to our feet, bowing as she approached us.

She giggled softly and ruffled Remington's hair, making the snow fall off.

I snickered quietly as we stood up straight.

"Sebastian... We talked about you being too hard on your younger brothers," Queen Mother said with a raised brow.

"Yeah, Sebastian," Remington mumbled with a smirk, making me laugh as he turned and squinted at us before turning towards our mother.

Sebastian turned and gave us a stern look, making us stop as he turned back to our mother.

"Forgive me, Queen Mother.... I just want to be sure the three of us are focused and prepared in order to help rule Obsidian just like you and Father do," he said. "We only want to meet your expectations to provide this empire with a powerful and fair leadership, just as you do now."

She smiled at us as we looked up at her, dressed elegantly and for the cold, content and fair as always.

"After all, it is the least we can do, especially when you took us in, despite being outcasts to everyone," Sebastian added.

She smiled happily before coming over, adjusting Sebastian's tie.

"You three have nothing to prove to me or your father.... Let alone anyone else...." She said as we walked over, and she then placed a hand on Remington's shoulder and mine. "You all do more than enough with being there for us and supporting us... Wanting a better Obsidian to protect from the rebels."

Just then the head maid, Bernadette, walked over to us.

"Your majesty, the new drapes for the great hall have arrived," she said.

"Oh, perfect. Thank you, Bernadette, I'll be right there," Queen Mother said, then turned to us. "Boys... Meet with your father and Alister soon, and then take the rest of today and tomorrow off. You've all worked very hard. Relax, get some rest.... Sebastian, I'm sure my future daughter-in-law would appreciate a romantic outing with her new mate. Take advantage of this free time, my son."

Sebastian blushed softly but kept his composure as me and Remington tried to maintain our laughter.

"Now let's get inside so you two can dry up, get warm and change," She said.

"Yes, Queen Mother," the three of us said in unison as she followed Bernadette back inside.

"Come on," Sebastian said before walking ahead.

I rolled my eyes quietly before I saw Remington stop for a moment.

He then smirked and then bent down, balling up some snow in his hands.

"Emerson... Watch this," Remington whispered, and then swung his arm before throwing the snowball at Sebastian's direction.

The snowball hit the back of Sebastian's head, making him stop as snow splashed all over him.

I laughed out loud as Remington also laughed, but then Sebastian turned around and glared in annoyance.

That's when I saw Sebastian's eyes turned red and we stopped laughing.

"Oh hell..." I said, knowing we were officially in trouble.

"Go, run!!" Remington shouted as we took off running through the snow, Sebastian chasing after us as we laughed hysterically.

*end of flashback*

I sighed and sniffled quietly as I wiped my tears away, looking out the window as the snow fell against the land.

"I miss you, big brother...." I mumbled to myself.

{•Meanwhile.....•}

{•Samuel•}

I paced the chapel carefully, seeing the large blood stain at the alter and around it, as well as the shards of stained glass on the floor, broken pews and rubble as well.

That's when Colson walked up to me..

"Anything?" I asked.

"No.... The castle's completely deserted..... However, Philip and Leo just arrived from the city," he said, looking upset. "Everything's been abandoned, and Wismont's been closed down completely, even the moat's been blocked. A few of the others went to the town to investigate..."

I took a deep breath and shook my head while Leo and Philip walked in. "We should have come back sooner...."

"There was no way we could have predicted the intense severity of things here, Samuel..." he said. "This probably would have happened even with an earlier return.... There's no guarantee...."

I sighed.

"We found this while in town....." Leo said, holding up a copy of the Obsidian Empire Chronicle, and a Wanted poster.

"No..." I said in shock.

(Picture: Article of the Obsidian Empire Chronicle - created by
XOBillie & Emerson Barrett)

"Aldous is dead...?!" Colson asked in horror.

"The Blackwell Council announced the passing of Aldous Blackwell at six o'clock this morning....." I read, and shuddered.

"Frederick Blackwell returned to the estate with the Blackwell royal guards and..... Found his brother dead outside the estate," Colson continued to read the other paragraph. "Ohhh... Hell, this is bad...."

"This was printed exactly 26 days ago, who knows what's happened since then...."Philip said worriedly.

"Well it gets worse," we turned to see Hermes and two other soldiers had from the Warhol Stars arrived.

Hermes then held up another article to us, dated 3 days after Aldous's death.

KING OF THE DAMNED DEAD!

Colson then took the paper and read outloud as Alister walked over along with two more of his men.

"Obsidian, despite now a ghost town, can find an ounce of peace knowing that the King of the Damned, tyrant leader Alexander Visigoth, has died last night as result of the fatal injuries sustained at the hands of..... Duchess Lynette Smith of the Blackwell Council!?" Colson said in shock.

"What!?" I asked as he kept reading, seeing next to Alexander's mugshot a sketch drawing of Duchess Lynette driving a stake through Alexander's chest, looking him angrily in the eye.

"Witnesses report that Duchess Lynette, mysteriously soaked from head to toe in blood, drove the same stake used on her lover through the heart of Alexander Visigoth, prompting a vicious attack by his wife, Lilith Visigoth. The duchess has been missing ever since, believed to be held prisoner by the Visigoth widow..." I continued.

"Missing?" Leo asked.

"Kidnapped, most likely," Hermes said.

"If our mother has her, there is no telling what your duchess is being put through as we speak," Alister said, worriedly.

"It says here Alan Blackwell is missing as well, and there's a reward for the capture of Lilith Visigoth," Colson said. "15000 gold Midases"

"Damn.... A lot happens in the matter of barely even weeks....." Colson said, amazed by all that's happened as Alister walked over.

"Philip, Colson, Leo, get the men ready. We have to find out where the rest of the Council fled to," I said.

Philip and Colson saluted before he and Leo hurried out of the chapel, Hermes with them.

"So, our father has met his end at long last....." Alister said, not seeming phased.

"You seem pretty broken up about it," I said with a raised brow, folding the paper up before storing it in my jacket.

"One less fear for the people of Obsidian, don't you think? For years, I've longed for something like this..... As cruel as it may sound, their death is the only way to bring peace to our land......" He said, looking over at the wreckage of the chapel. "Despite how it looked, however, my mother did love my father.... We need to assume she's done the worse to avenge him...."

I frowned. "You... You take the duchess for dead?"

"Well, no.... Not yet, at least.... My mother is vicious and evil, very violent, however, so I don't doubt she's doing whatever she wants to insure your duchess a horrific, painful death....." Alister said.

I gulped quietly.

"Besides..... Earth humans can be weak.... Weak minded, especially... To them, even the most insignificant occurance is a heinous crime to them.... Its a miracle that their own world hasn't just collapsed on itself, literally....." he said. "At least if your good duchess is dead, she did not die among the others back in the Earth realm.... Add to that, she's reunited with her beloved, and her mind is at peace before it breaks from grief...."

I looked at him in confusion. "What?"

"A vampire that loses his or her mate loses all will to live.... All their sanity, their mind just breaks little by little..." he said. Now... If that widow were to be a human of the Earth Realm, especially one who has suffered neglect and trauma like you mentioned she has....."

I frowned and pursed my lips. "She'll unravel.... Her mind will shatter......"

"I hope wherever she is that she is eternally resting in peace..... Because her death means mercy from what she will suffer through if she is not reunited with her mate...." Alister said solemnly.

I frowned as I looked back at the alter, seeing the blood soaked into the stone.

"Something doesn't feel right....." I said. "The blood here, it... It feel very familiar..... However, I can't seem to place it properly, however, since its mixed with the blood around it....."

Alister looked curiously as I examined it, then I remembered.

"This is Lady Lynette's blood!" I said.

His eyes widen in surprise. "You're sure?"

"Its the same scent I recognize when she was first attacked by the Visigoths," I explained. "When they attempted to kidnap her...."

"Strange... It appears as if she bled out here, yet...." he said, holding up the news article with Duchess Lynette killing Alexander. "How was this possible?"

I sighed, deep in thought, before turning back towards him. "We need to find everyone... Fast...."

He also seemed deep in thought, but nodded. "Then let's get a move on, shall we?" he said, holding his arm up, letting Horus fly over from where he was perched nearby as we exit the chapel.

Let's just hope things end well for all of us.....

~~~~~

🎨 by XOBillie

It felt right to release this next chapter on the day of the new music video. 🥀🖤

That is now 7 chapters for the sequel! I'll be pausing to draft up some more chapters and letting anyone catch up and come up with any theories! 🖤

Hope you are all enjoying this story so far. Let me know what you guys think will happen next and how you're all enjoying the story so far! Thank you all for reading! 🌻

🎧Currently in Sapph's playlist:

Motionless in White
"Masterpiece"

♡~ sapphire.