46. Confessions.

It was a few days before Eva was well enough to get up and walk around. But finally she could get this thing over with.

She wasn’t sure now if she wanted to find the guilty party.

"Are you sure?" she asked her sister for the tenth time that day.

"Yes." Death answered patiently, "After talking with Alera and doing a few inquisitions of my own, I am sure that he was behind it."

"Why?"

"Power. Unlike Weivo who does things out of a sense of playing a trick or getting revenge on someone who has insulted him, He is motivated by what many Gods are. Power over the others and a larger number of worshipers. If he had achieve his goal of getting his hands on the Jewel, He could have become leader, not Oren."

Eva shook her head.

"He didn’t seem the type."

"I am sorry." said Death.

"Don’t be." said Eva in a bit of a growl, "It’s like I always say, you choose your path and live with the consequences. Now we just have to get him to show his hand."

A smile crossed her lips.

"You have an idea."

"Yeah. What have you told them about my condition?"

"I told them you had been badly hurt and were in serious condition. Beyond that they know very little. Why?"

"Because I am about to take a turn for the worse."

Death entered the great hall with tears in her eyes.

Alera came over and put her arms around Death’s shoulders.

"What is it my dear?"

"Eva has scummed to her wounds. She lives no more and I am alone forever." she said through sobs.

"Oh you poor dear."

"But what of the Jewel." asked Oren, "She had found it, yes? That was why you said she had been attacked."

"Oren!" shouted Alera, "Can’t you see she is in mourning. You heartless beast. Your jewel is quite safe if Eva has hidden it."

Death Nodded.

"Only she and Theodore knew the location." she said, "Theodore was very broken up and feels guilty for getting my sister into the situation and blames himself for her death. I left him with her body to mourn. I thought it cruel to ask and I was not in the mood to care right now."

"Absolutely." said Alera, giving Oren a disgusted look, "Only a beast would care about that right now. It is safe where they’ve hidden it. After an appropriate time we can retrieve it."

Oren’s wife smacked him across the arm.

He sighed.

"Very well. You are right, I apologies. We all mourn your loss and will honour Eva’s memory. Come let us prepare for her funeral. It shall be one fit for a God."

As they filed out of the great hall, Herym came up to Death.

"I too mourn the loss of Eva, maybe more than some as we had become close. May I know where her body is I wish to pay my respects in person."

"She would have liked that" said Death, "I have brought her to our childhood home to the burial chamber of our parents. She wanted to be buried there."

"And Theodore is with her?" he asked.

"Yes. He is very upset. Please don’t disturb him."

"I won’t" said Herym as he disappeared.

In the burial chamber a God appeared.

"Theodore." he called out.

He heard sobbing and walked inwards to see Eva’s body properly laid out on a stone altar and Theodore, head buried in his arms, sobbing.

"Theodore!" Hyrem said more forcefully.

Theodore looked up in surprise.

"Hyrem? What are you doing here?"

"I came to see you of course." he said, "I need you to tell me where the jewel is hidden."

"Why?"

"Because I went through a lot of trouble to get it and I want it now." he said with a cruel smile.

"You did this?"

"Yes. I thought of using you to get it out and I was going to pick it up from Paxton, but Eva had to stick her nose into it because some stupid animal would be hurt."

He snorted.

"Why she cares about you I never understood. It’s not like you are good for much except sport and food."

"Eva had a bound with a wolf spirit." said Theodore, "Maybe she understood us animals better than you could."

Herym snorted again.

"But you liked her." said Theodore, "What about the animal half of her? It didn’t seem to bother you."

"I just ignored that half." said Hyrem, "As long as I didn’t have to see that part I was fine with being with her."

"She thought you loved all of her."

Hyrem laughed.

"Love an animal? Don’t make me laugh. But enough talking, I want what I rightfully should have. So tell me where the Jewel is or I’ll make you tell me."

He reached over to grab him and Eva’s hand grasped his.

"I don’t think so." she said.

Hyrem stepped back as Eva rose for the altar and stood before him.

"The Jewel is too powerful." she said, "I can’t let you have it."

"I don’t need to keep you alive to get the Jewel." he told her, "All I need is the ferret. And you aren’t powerful enough to fight a God."

"But I am." said Oren’s voice from the shadows.

Hyrem turned in the direction of the voice and Oren stepped out followed by Death and Alera who had her arm through Death’s arm and a smile on her face.

"Oh this is going to make a great story for the girls." she said.

"I am not done yet!" cried Hyrem.

It seemed he was about to do something when he disappeared.

"Yes you are." said Oren.

"What happened?" asked Theodore.

"I sent him somewhere where he can’t do anything for now until we can decide what to do with him."

Eva pulled out the Jewel from her pocket and handed it to Oren.

He took it and turned to Theodore.

"Now as for you..."

"If you please." said Eva, "I would ask that you show lenience towards Theodore. After all he was manipulated to do this."

Oren looked sceptical, but finally sighed in resignation.

"Fine. Just keep him out of my way."

Oren disappeared.

"Thanks." said Theodore.

"Don’t thank me yet." said Eva, "You owe me. I will collect on that debt someday. When I need you to do something for me you will not be able to refuse. Clear?"

Theodore audibly gulped.

"Yes Ma’am."

Alera came up to Eva.

"I am sorry you had to hear that from Hyrem. I am sure you will find someone someday."

"I don’t think I ever will." said Eva, "But thanks for the confidence."

Alera smiled and returned to the hall.

The two sisters looked at each other.

"Will I ever find anyone to love me, wolf and all?" asked Eva.

"Maybe one day." said her sister, "There is always hope."

Eva held her had out and Theodore climbed on. She took her sister’s hand and the three returned home.

*********************

Annie wiped away tears.

"That’s so sad." she said. "To not have someone to love you as a whole."

"That’s OK." said Eva looking over at her niece. "I eventually found someone."

"We both did." said Death closing her book.

Maria kissed her aunt and mother.

"We all did."

"Thank you for the story." said Annie.

"You are welcome."

Death stood up.

"Come on." she said, "The day is done and we should all be getting back."

She created a large portal.

Maria, with Theodore on her shoulder, Took Annie’s hand and they all stepped through.