Later that night while Sorrel said her final goodbyes to her mother, Eric decided to write Sorrel a letter about his plans. He would leave it for her to find after he was gone. After it was too late to stop him. He would convince her that even though she was safe from his father and grandfather, the safest thing would be for her to start a new life away from any speculation—somewhere away from his mother, who was a loose cannon at best and a murderer at worst.
Well after midnight and following a careful examination of the private beach Sorrel’s mother had lived on, they decided that it was safe enough to bury Elizabeth in the water. Under the night sky shrouded in clouds, Eric carried Elizabeth’s body wrapped in a sheet. Sorrel silently wept behind him. They trudged through the beach grass and white sand down the coastline several yards away from the house. Once Eric felt comfortable, they neared the water. He placed Elizabeth’s body on the beach just beyond the waves’ reach.
Sorrel knelt near her once more and whispered, “Goodbye. I love you.”
Eric rested his hand on Sorrel’s shoulder. “I’m sorry, we should hurry. I need you to stand back.”
Sorrel obeyed and watched in awe as Eric closed his eyes and directed the water with his hands as if he were conducting an orchestra. A large waved crashed against the shore and swallowed her mother. Sorrel placed her hand over her mouth, stifling her gasp. The ocean almost seemed to roll under itself in a giant rip current. Eric waved his hands about for several minutes while the angry water thrashed and turned like a violent song. Once he was satisfied Elizabeth’s body would remain forever hidden, he sank onto the sand to catch his breath.
Sorrel rushed to his side and fell next to him. The now-gentle waves lapped up against them, tickling their feet and bare legs.
Eric gazed at Sorrel, and the half-moon parted the clouds as if Eric had called to the celestial orb from which his powers were derived. Sorrel looked lovelier than ever under the moonbeams, her linen shirt falling off her shoulder. There was so much he wanted to say to her. Instead he took her face in his hands and pressed the gentlest of kisses upon her lips. His own tears mingled with hers. This was goodbye.
Though Eric hated to, he called the persuasive energy within himself and whispered “Sleep” against her lips, his will bleeding into hers. Before she even knew what hit her, she fell limp into his arms.
He cradled her against his body and stroked her hair. “I love you, Sorrel.”Chapter Twenty-EightI woke up in the dim morning light on my mother’s bed, not sure how I got there. I sat up and stretched, running a hand through my hair and feeling completely disoriented. I felt so groggy it was like I had taken an elixir for sleep, though I couldn’t remember doing that. The last thing I remembered was watching my mother’s body get sucked into the ocean and then . . . I touched my lips. Eric had kissed me. It was the sweetest kiss I had ever had.
Eric? Where was he? My eyes darted around the room, sure he would be watching over me. He’d promised he would protect me.
I tossed the blanket off me. “Eric.”
He didn’t respond, but Tara gave me a disgruntled look for waking her up.
I jumped off the bed to go search for him when I saw a white envelope with my name written on it in calligraphy leaning against the hurricane lamp on the nightstand. I sat back down on the bed; a feeling of dread washed over me as I picked up the envelope. Carefully, I broke the seal and took out the folded sheet of paper. I unfolded it, and before I even began to read it, a lump had already formed in my throat.
Dear Sorrel,
Where do I begin? Maybe at the beginning. The very first message I received from my book told me that I must prove myself worthy for the destiny meant to be mine. For years I resented the book’s cryptic message. Then I met you, and from the first moment I saw you, something deep within me called to me to protect you. I didn’t realize it at the time, but it has become apparent what my destiny is—it is to protect you, my love. And yes, I do love you. I know I told you that, because of the curse, we couldn’t be sure of our feelings, but I have never been more sure of anything in my life. And that is why I must destroy my book.
“No!” I cried to no one but Tara. My tears splashed against the paper shaking in my hands.