I sat bolt upright.
'Jasper!' It was a panicked whisper.
It was shortly after nightfall. I had been sat cross-legged on the bed, in the latest human accommodation we were staying at. I had just been searching for the near future, judging where we should go next when my sight suddenly slipped out of my control, something I was not entirely unused to. It was night time in my vision, as it was presently, but that was very bad. It had been inky black also… it was the same night.
I had seen shadowy figures that I did not recognise, their eyes glistening, it had seemed, as if they were blood red moons against the backdrop of the night sky. From my all-seeing position I had started when one pair of bloodshot eyes suddenly snapped up and shivered as I felt as if they were staring straight at my face. Though of course, red eyes were normal for our kind. The man had sniffed the air with dilated nostrils. His face twisted to emit a hiss from behind the contorted grimace of his lips.
'He's here.'
No!
Without even seeming to stir the air Jasper was at my side.
Jasper's POV
I had been sketching, something which I had discovered I was talented at, since the quenching of my thirst was no longer the only thing that occupied my thoughts. I mainly drew meticulously detailed scenes from the wars I had fought in, as I found it cathartic. There were always hidden details in my sketches, my physical interpretations of emotions such as hope and courage. For this particular sketch, I was etching out the harsh lines of the human war I had fought in, an exercise in remembering my humanity, as I put it.
I drew a small crown of thorns in the sketch, something I subtly weaved in amongst all the other details. Along one side of this crown of thorns, I had drawn rose buds beginning to bloom to replace the thorns, and then some in full flower. They looked vibrant, despite the bleak, heavy lead of the pencil. I told Alice, when she'd asked me, that the roses represented her. Of course nothing had escaped her eyes.
The reason for this representation of suffering was because of one of my fellow soldiers. He had looked up to me and seen me as a leader beyond the fact that I was a major. I wondered many times if the war had turned him mad; even in the midst of fighting, he would feverishly mutter to himself about his 'crown of thorns.' Some had spat on him in disgust and called him blasphemous, but that made me angry. I talked to him, became a friend and I promised I would bear suffering with him. I tried to take the sting from his thorns. I wished now I could remember his name, but it seemed to have faded along with my humanity. I never found out if he had lived…but I had no right to know. How hypocritical to feel this empathy for a human, when if he had crossed my path after I had been changed, I would have surely killed him.
'Jasper!'
Alice. Had she even realised she'd whispered that? Her body language shifted infinitesimally, merged in with the shift in her feelings, which she tried to calm. Every part of my beautiful wife that I could experience with my senses, her emotions, movements, expressions, were so intertwined I barely distinguished them from one another any more. In a fraction of a human heartbeat I was by her side, the picture forgotten.
Alice's POV
I could tell my eyes were wide and shocked as the looked into his.
'What is it?' he breathed into my ear, his arms wrapped around my shoulders. 'Tell me'
'People of our kind, looking for us.' I bit my lip. He looked confused.
'The family we're searching for?'
'No' I answered quickly. They're human drinkers. They're…looking for you I think. Two men, named Joseph and Tom. I think they intend to fight with us.' I felt guilt for watching too closely for any temptations that might cross his path; if I hadn't I might have noticed this threat earlier.
'They want to fight with me?' he corrected subtlety.
I raised my eyebrows. 'Us. I will fight along side you obviously.'
He rolled his eyes and flashed a grin, recognising my no-nonsense tone. 'Obviously. Whoever they are I'm sure they'll be no match for us.'
His expression turned calculating for a moment. Are they coming here?
I nodded; a tiny inclination of the head.
'When?'
'Midnight.'
'Of course, we could run, but they're obviously going to keep tracking us. It's probably just wiser to get it over with. It's irritating that we don't have enough time to track down Peter and Charlotte again for backup if it's so soon, but like I said, they'll be no match for us. We'll leave here though; we don't want to draw the humans' attention. We can wait for them up there.' He pointed towards the tiny window which captured the exact relief of land he was referring to like a picture frame.
'We should see what they want. Still I have no idea why they would be searching for me specifically. I don't recognise their names. I thought maybe we were on their territory. Maybe they don't realise that you are also a threat.' His expression turned slightly amused at that.
He suddenly looked at me curiously, trying to figure out my emotion. 'Why do you feel like that?
I smiled ruefully. 'I'm just angry that… anyone would want to hurt you. I know you've been hurt before. But not while I've been around.'
'Of course, I should have known.' He chuckled. 'I know you'd be a menace as a fighter.' He stroked the side of my face, his expression preoccupied. 'I've made a few enemies during my time. I'm used to animosity.'
'They haven't really made a decision about what they want to do, I wonder why. It's so confusing.'
'Do you think they might have something to do with…the human massacre you saw me commit? I mean they are blood drinkers... I don't understand how they would try to persuade me though? Of course I won't be persuaded.'
'No…' I hesitated. 'You were alone in those visions. I don't know why. Why I wasn't there in time to help you somehow…' My mouth twisted at frustration and annoyance at myself. 'If you are tempted that way again, I will be there this time. I promise. I just don't who what decision governed that vision.'
The stretch of land we were on now looked down over the city and the twinkling lights made up for the starless skies.
We were ready to meet them, standing as still as a predator waiting to ambush its prey. Two figures came through the trees into the clearing. They moved towards us silently, and we watched in equal silence, both groups waiting for the other to act first.
When they were mere meters in front of us, I saw the one named Tom would make a lunge forward to grab me. I sprang into action. In under a second, I was behind him, and had is hands restrained in hers behind his back. He left out a low hiss, his fiery eyes fixed on Jasper's face.
'You,' he said.
'Want do you want?'
The side of his mouth curled up into a sneer.
'To destroy you.'
Well, no beating about the bush with him. I exchanged a wary look with Jasper. How would we deal with this?
'Would you like to explain why?' He asked dryly, calm.
'You kill-you murdered my love.'
Jasper's eyes widened, horror struck and filled with pain. 'She was a newborn?' he murmured softly, staring at the ground, his long lashes creating curtains over his eyes.
He didn't answer; he just continued to stare at him with loathing.
'I'm…I'm so sorry' Jasper said hesitantly.
'She never had a chance to live. She should have been with me…for eternity, maybe...' He shot a guilty glance sideways at the one called Joseph. 'And you took that away from me… you took her.' The man's tone had grown strangely desperate. 'How would you have felt if it had been your female?' he stated, inclining his head backward to indicate me.
Jasper flinched, then suddenly let out a very low roar of self hatred, turned around and snapped a tree bough to vent it.
'Who is he?' I said, indicating the other man who was standing a few meters away, watching the situation warily and poised to attack.
'He…' he began as if reluctant to divulge the information. 'He's my partner.'
'You're together?' I said quickly.
'Yes.' His tone turned defensive. 'But that doesn't mean that she doesn't matter. I loved her. Love at first sight. She reminded me of someone important in my…other life. I didn't want to lose that memory, and then I lost her too.'
Suddenly the man, Tom, broke out in dry sobs, and fell to his knees. I gently sat down at the same time with him.
The other man, Joseph, who had been still and watchful, was instantly at his side.
'Alice' Jasper said. I knew what he meant. I let go of Joseph and walked over to Jasper's side.
'How did you find me?'
I'd seen you before…when we were both human, in the confederate army in Texas, although I wasn't under your orders. Then I found out it was you who killed Melissa as a year old newborn, but you were already gone. A week ago, I saw you…from afar, but there were too many humans and I couldn't follow you, so I decided to track you this time.'
Jasper's POV
I was shocked, that he had known me and found me. I felt like I was missing something. There was something about him that was… familiar. I…I had to talk to him, explain. Or try, at least. I didn't attempt to calm him, as I felt I had no right to affect what he was feeling.
'I know you don't want to hear this, but destroying me won't ease the pain. None of us wanted this existence, all of us have killed; we've felt like we had no choice. But I've come to realise now that we have an opportunity; we have forever to redeem ourselves. Our memories don't fade. We have a long time to ponder our regret. We can rewind them relive our darkest times over and over, for the rest of time if we wanted to. We can use them to fuel our hatred towards others, to provide an excuse for killing; fill the space we provide for ourselves to live as the monsters we think we our. A self fulfilling prophecy. Stuck in the trap of what we were designed to be. It's a challenge to overcome it.'
He didn't try to interrupt, so I continued speaking.
'You could try to kill me. If I didn't have Alice maybe I would let you try. But now I do have a purpose. You know our memories don't fade… I won't forget any one expression on your face, any of the deep lying hurt in your eyes. I can feel your emotions…it's a power I possess. Every emotion you've felt towards me I can feel and in turn I direct it towards myself. I understand what I've done to you.'
'You're sorry?'
'I'm truly sorry.'
'I don't know what's right…I don't know if I can give you absolution. But, I need closure.' His face was torn. 'There's… another reason why I tried to track you down.'
His emotions had changed direction swiftly and the turmoil he felt threw me for a moment. Although I'd felt no false note to his anger, I sensed that he used it as a mask, a defence. A large part of it he directed inwardly. Despite the fact I thought he'd been hiding something, my face still betrayed the surprise I felt.
'I think you knew my brother. My brother from my previous…life, my human life that is.'
'Tell me about him.'
'My bother had what you'd call problems... in his mind. He felt things happening to him that weren't, saw threats that weren't there, and more. But, to me, he was just my brother. I knew he was unfit to go to the army, but I knew my parents would send him as soon as he looked old enough, try and get him out the way before people found reason to make them suspicious. No one in my family admitted there was anything wrong with him. He looked as anyone else did, he was charming, funny…at least was some of the time. But…at other times…
Tom's eyelids flickered closed, clenched together in anguish.
'We were not allowed to talk about it, in my human family. No one ever commanded that as such…but I knew it. I was afraid if I mentioned it my family would disown me and him both. Yes, I was sure they knew, although whether they were in denial I could not say. So, I shunned him. When I joined the army, I tried to forget about him. It would be no help to wonder if they were abusing him, of course not in a way that would be obvious to others. With their words, their actions and their neglect. I found out later that he had joined the army. I heard he was under your regiment.'
I sensed he was editing because of his constant hedging, but it was for his own benefit so I did not press him.
'I…I was dying; I had a wound to my stomach, when two men came to me. I asked them for help, but they seemed to ignore me. I remember, one wanted to change me, although did not understand at the time. I heard them say I looked strong, and I remember feeling proud. The other said he wanted to drink. Of course, I did not understand, I thought he needed water; that was all I could think because my own lips were parched, my brain was sluggish from the sickening pain I was in. To cut the story short, the one who wanted to drink my blood bit me then, but the other pulled him off. A fight broke out. One was killed, I think, and the other injured, his arm pulled off. He left me alone, screaming with my new pain'
I could tell that he did not want to continue further with that story.
'You're brother, what was his name?'
'Callum Curtis.' He appraised me carefully, expecting recognition.
Something stirred in my long forgotten memory, like mists clearing to reveal a still clear lake. Yes, it was him. I felt a shock as it all fell into place. I had recognised this man Tom, because he was Callum's brother, the man I had befriended in the confederate army.
Tom saw the recognition light eyes, and took it as confirmation, a smile spreading across his lips.
I tracked down his childhood sweetheart, Nelly, about ten years ago. Nelly was the one he poured his soul to, when our parents ignored him. When…when I ignored him. She truly lit up the darkness of his life. They planned to elope together, and get married, but something must have prevented them. My parents must have found out, and sent him off to war immediately.
Nelly was an old widow when I found her, I could tell by the sad strength her eyes. I see it in anyone who has lost their partner. I can see people's desires you see, what they long for the most, as a physical manifestation in my head.'
A saddened smile pulled at the side of his face.
'Whose to judge who is mentally adequate or not? I have these 'visions' in my head, now I understand to some degree how my brother must have felt.'
I felt another change in Alice's emotions once again at this point. Of course she knew how it felt to have visions. I was surprised by how touched I was by the plight of these humans he spoke of.
'The woman you killed was called Melissa. She looked so much like Nelly, the girl so dear to my brother, that she kept his memory alive for me, made sure I didn't forget. I loved her, but it was a misplaced love, not a romantic love, I admit; I lied to you about that. I desperately wanted to meet the man I heard was a great friend to my brother, but then you took away my other memory of him. I didn't know how to feel about you, I was so confused. But now I have met you, and seen that desire in you is to turn away from everything that makes our kind monsters, and it softens my heart towards you, so to speak. You have made more amends than I ever will, I who still drinks human blood. Still, I'm digressing from the story which I started. I wanted to tell you, as I thought you would wish to know what happened to your old friend; whether he was killed in the war. So, I will tell you. I kept my distance from Nelly, not wanting to be tempted by her blood, but I saw something which gladdened my heart...
A wedding ring on her finger, and I truly believe it was his.
'Jasper!' It was a panicked whisper.
It was shortly after nightfall. I had been sat cross-legged on the bed, in the latest human accommodation we were staying at. I had just been searching for the near future, judging where we should go next when my sight suddenly slipped out of my control, something I was not entirely unused to. It was night time in my vision, as it was presently, but that was very bad. It had been inky black also… it was the same night.
I had seen shadowy figures that I did not recognise, their eyes glistening, it had seemed, as if they were blood red moons against the backdrop of the night sky. From my all-seeing position I had started when one pair of bloodshot eyes suddenly snapped up and shivered as I felt as if they were staring straight at my face. Though of course, red eyes were normal for our kind. The man had sniffed the air with dilated nostrils. His face twisted to emit a hiss from behind the contorted grimace of his lips.
'He's here.'
No!
Without even seeming to stir the air Jasper was at my side.
Jasper's POV
I had been sketching, something which I had discovered I was talented at, since the quenching of my thirst was no longer the only thing that occupied my thoughts. I mainly drew meticulously detailed scenes from the wars I had fought in, as I found it cathartic. There were always hidden details in my sketches, my physical interpretations of emotions such as hope and courage. For this particular sketch, I was etching out the harsh lines of the human war I had fought in, an exercise in remembering my humanity, as I put it.
I drew a small crown of thorns in the sketch, something I subtly weaved in amongst all the other details. Along one side of this crown of thorns, I had drawn rose buds beginning to bloom to replace the thorns, and then some in full flower. They looked vibrant, despite the bleak, heavy lead of the pencil. I told Alice, when she'd asked me, that the roses represented her. Of course nothing had escaped her eyes.
The reason for this representation of suffering was because of one of my fellow soldiers. He had looked up to me and seen me as a leader beyond the fact that I was a major. I wondered many times if the war had turned him mad; even in the midst of fighting, he would feverishly mutter to himself about his 'crown of thorns.' Some had spat on him in disgust and called him blasphemous, but that made me angry. I talked to him, became a friend and I promised I would bear suffering with him. I tried to take the sting from his thorns. I wished now I could remember his name, but it seemed to have faded along with my humanity. I never found out if he had lived…but I had no right to know. How hypocritical to feel this empathy for a human, when if he had crossed my path after I had been changed, I would have surely killed him.
'Jasper!'
Alice. Had she even realised she'd whispered that? Her body language shifted infinitesimally, merged in with the shift in her feelings, which she tried to calm. Every part of my beautiful wife that I could experience with my senses, her emotions, movements, expressions, were so intertwined I barely distinguished them from one another any more. In a fraction of a human heartbeat I was by her side, the picture forgotten.
Alice's POV
I could tell my eyes were wide and shocked as the looked into his.
'What is it?' he breathed into my ear, his arms wrapped around my shoulders. 'Tell me'
'People of our kind, looking for us.' I bit my lip. He looked confused.
'The family we're searching for?'
'No' I answered quickly. They're human drinkers. They're…looking for you I think. Two men, named Joseph and Tom. I think they intend to fight with us.' I felt guilt for watching too closely for any temptations that might cross his path; if I hadn't I might have noticed this threat earlier.
'They want to fight with me?' he corrected subtlety.
I raised my eyebrows. 'Us. I will fight along side you obviously.'
He rolled his eyes and flashed a grin, recognising my no-nonsense tone. 'Obviously. Whoever they are I'm sure they'll be no match for us.'
His expression turned calculating for a moment. Are they coming here?
I nodded; a tiny inclination of the head.
'When?'
'Midnight.'
'Of course, we could run, but they're obviously going to keep tracking us. It's probably just wiser to get it over with. It's irritating that we don't have enough time to track down Peter and Charlotte again for backup if it's so soon, but like I said, they'll be no match for us. We'll leave here though; we don't want to draw the humans' attention. We can wait for them up there.' He pointed towards the tiny window which captured the exact relief of land he was referring to like a picture frame.
'We should see what they want. Still I have no idea why they would be searching for me specifically. I don't recognise their names. I thought maybe we were on their territory. Maybe they don't realise that you are also a threat.' His expression turned slightly amused at that.
He suddenly looked at me curiously, trying to figure out my emotion. 'Why do you feel like that?
I smiled ruefully. 'I'm just angry that… anyone would want to hurt you. I know you've been hurt before. But not while I've been around.'
'Of course, I should have known.' He chuckled. 'I know you'd be a menace as a fighter.' He stroked the side of my face, his expression preoccupied. 'I've made a few enemies during my time. I'm used to animosity.'
'They haven't really made a decision about what they want to do, I wonder why. It's so confusing.'
'Do you think they might have something to do with…the human massacre you saw me commit? I mean they are blood drinkers... I don't understand how they would try to persuade me though? Of course I won't be persuaded.'
'No…' I hesitated. 'You were alone in those visions. I don't know why. Why I wasn't there in time to help you somehow…' My mouth twisted at frustration and annoyance at myself. 'If you are tempted that way again, I will be there this time. I promise. I just don't who what decision governed that vision.'
The stretch of land we were on now looked down over the city and the twinkling lights made up for the starless skies.
We were ready to meet them, standing as still as a predator waiting to ambush its prey. Two figures came through the trees into the clearing. They moved towards us silently, and we watched in equal silence, both groups waiting for the other to act first.
When they were mere meters in front of us, I saw the one named Tom would make a lunge forward to grab me. I sprang into action. In under a second, I was behind him, and had is hands restrained in hers behind his back. He left out a low hiss, his fiery eyes fixed on Jasper's face.
'You,' he said.
'Want do you want?'
The side of his mouth curled up into a sneer.
'To destroy you.'
Well, no beating about the bush with him. I exchanged a wary look with Jasper. How would we deal with this?
'Would you like to explain why?' He asked dryly, calm.
'You kill-you murdered my love.'
Jasper's eyes widened, horror struck and filled with pain. 'She was a newborn?' he murmured softly, staring at the ground, his long lashes creating curtains over his eyes.
He didn't answer; he just continued to stare at him with loathing.
'I'm…I'm so sorry' Jasper said hesitantly.
'She never had a chance to live. She should have been with me…for eternity, maybe...' He shot a guilty glance sideways at the one called Joseph. 'And you took that away from me… you took her.' The man's tone had grown strangely desperate. 'How would you have felt if it had been your female?' he stated, inclining his head backward to indicate me.
Jasper flinched, then suddenly let out a very low roar of self hatred, turned around and snapped a tree bough to vent it.
'Who is he?' I said, indicating the other man who was standing a few meters away, watching the situation warily and poised to attack.
'He…' he began as if reluctant to divulge the information. 'He's my partner.'
'You're together?' I said quickly.
'Yes.' His tone turned defensive. 'But that doesn't mean that she doesn't matter. I loved her. Love at first sight. She reminded me of someone important in my…other life. I didn't want to lose that memory, and then I lost her too.'
Suddenly the man, Tom, broke out in dry sobs, and fell to his knees. I gently sat down at the same time with him.
The other man, Joseph, who had been still and watchful, was instantly at his side.
'Alice' Jasper said. I knew what he meant. I let go of Joseph and walked over to Jasper's side.
'How did you find me?'
I'd seen you before…when we were both human, in the confederate army in Texas, although I wasn't under your orders. Then I found out it was you who killed Melissa as a year old newborn, but you were already gone. A week ago, I saw you…from afar, but there were too many humans and I couldn't follow you, so I decided to track you this time.'
Jasper's POV
I was shocked, that he had known me and found me. I felt like I was missing something. There was something about him that was… familiar. I…I had to talk to him, explain. Or try, at least. I didn't attempt to calm him, as I felt I had no right to affect what he was feeling.
'I know you don't want to hear this, but destroying me won't ease the pain. None of us wanted this existence, all of us have killed; we've felt like we had no choice. But I've come to realise now that we have an opportunity; we have forever to redeem ourselves. Our memories don't fade. We have a long time to ponder our regret. We can rewind them relive our darkest times over and over, for the rest of time if we wanted to. We can use them to fuel our hatred towards others, to provide an excuse for killing; fill the space we provide for ourselves to live as the monsters we think we our. A self fulfilling prophecy. Stuck in the trap of what we were designed to be. It's a challenge to overcome it.'
He didn't try to interrupt, so I continued speaking.
'You could try to kill me. If I didn't have Alice maybe I would let you try. But now I do have a purpose. You know our memories don't fade… I won't forget any one expression on your face, any of the deep lying hurt in your eyes. I can feel your emotions…it's a power I possess. Every emotion you've felt towards me I can feel and in turn I direct it towards myself. I understand what I've done to you.'
'You're sorry?'
'I'm truly sorry.'
'I don't know what's right…I don't know if I can give you absolution. But, I need closure.' His face was torn. 'There's… another reason why I tried to track you down.'
His emotions had changed direction swiftly and the turmoil he felt threw me for a moment. Although I'd felt no false note to his anger, I sensed that he used it as a mask, a defence. A large part of it he directed inwardly. Despite the fact I thought he'd been hiding something, my face still betrayed the surprise I felt.
'I think you knew my brother. My brother from my previous…life, my human life that is.'
'Tell me about him.'
'My bother had what you'd call problems... in his mind. He felt things happening to him that weren't, saw threats that weren't there, and more. But, to me, he was just my brother. I knew he was unfit to go to the army, but I knew my parents would send him as soon as he looked old enough, try and get him out the way before people found reason to make them suspicious. No one in my family admitted there was anything wrong with him. He looked as anyone else did, he was charming, funny…at least was some of the time. But…at other times…
Tom's eyelids flickered closed, clenched together in anguish.
'We were not allowed to talk about it, in my human family. No one ever commanded that as such…but I knew it. I was afraid if I mentioned it my family would disown me and him both. Yes, I was sure they knew, although whether they were in denial I could not say. So, I shunned him. When I joined the army, I tried to forget about him. It would be no help to wonder if they were abusing him, of course not in a way that would be obvious to others. With their words, their actions and their neglect. I found out later that he had joined the army. I heard he was under your regiment.'
I sensed he was editing because of his constant hedging, but it was for his own benefit so I did not press him.
'I…I was dying; I had a wound to my stomach, when two men came to me. I asked them for help, but they seemed to ignore me. I remember, one wanted to change me, although did not understand at the time. I heard them say I looked strong, and I remember feeling proud. The other said he wanted to drink. Of course, I did not understand, I thought he needed water; that was all I could think because my own lips were parched, my brain was sluggish from the sickening pain I was in. To cut the story short, the one who wanted to drink my blood bit me then, but the other pulled him off. A fight broke out. One was killed, I think, and the other injured, his arm pulled off. He left me alone, screaming with my new pain'
I could tell that he did not want to continue further with that story.
'You're brother, what was his name?'
'Callum Curtis.' He appraised me carefully, expecting recognition.
Something stirred in my long forgotten memory, like mists clearing to reveal a still clear lake. Yes, it was him. I felt a shock as it all fell into place. I had recognised this man Tom, because he was Callum's brother, the man I had befriended in the confederate army.
Tom saw the recognition light eyes, and took it as confirmation, a smile spreading across his lips.
I tracked down his childhood sweetheart, Nelly, about ten years ago. Nelly was the one he poured his soul to, when our parents ignored him. When…when I ignored him. She truly lit up the darkness of his life. They planned to elope together, and get married, but something must have prevented them. My parents must have found out, and sent him off to war immediately.
Nelly was an old widow when I found her, I could tell by the sad strength her eyes. I see it in anyone who has lost their partner. I can see people's desires you see, what they long for the most, as a physical manifestation in my head.'
A saddened smile pulled at the side of his face.
'Whose to judge who is mentally adequate or not? I have these 'visions' in my head, now I understand to some degree how my brother must have felt.'
I felt another change in Alice's emotions once again at this point. Of course she knew how it felt to have visions. I was surprised by how touched I was by the plight of these humans he spoke of.
'The woman you killed was called Melissa. She looked so much like Nelly, the girl so dear to my brother, that she kept his memory alive for me, made sure I didn't forget. I loved her, but it was a misplaced love, not a romantic love, I admit; I lied to you about that. I desperately wanted to meet the man I heard was a great friend to my brother, but then you took away my other memory of him. I didn't know how to feel about you, I was so confused. But now I have met you, and seen that desire in you is to turn away from everything that makes our kind monsters, and it softens my heart towards you, so to speak. You have made more amends than I ever will, I who still drinks human blood. Still, I'm digressing from the story which I started. I wanted to tell you, as I thought you would wish to know what happened to your old friend; whether he was killed in the war. So, I will tell you. I kept my distance from Nelly, not wanting to be tempted by her blood, but I saw something which gladdened my heart...
A wedding ring on her finger, and I truly believe it was his.