The Darkly Luminous Fight for Persephone Parker (9 page)

The journey across the Athens courtyard was a spectacle of whispers and gaping mouths. Josephine and Marianna looked like proud family, escorting her. Percy could hear faint strains of a stringed instrument from inside the chapel, and fainter still, the ghostly trace of what she could only liken to an angelic choir.

If The Guard wondered why none of the harmless, gamesome spirits of Athens had wafted into the chapel, it was because they were all clustered at the outside door, awaiting the bride. A living gentleman stood among them, a handsome youth with wild, curly hair and a dimpled grin, blissfully unaware of the floating dead nearby.

“Oh, Percy, you are incredible!” said Edward Page, the young lad smitten with Marianna, who slid her arm onto his with unconscious ease. “Congratulations! As surprising as this is, congratulations on this most auspicious day!”

“Go on, you two.” As Percy stepped away from view, Josephine ushered the young couple through the doors. Marianna turned to blow her friend a kiss, and they shared a familiar giggle—the last of their maidenhood.

There was a box at the door, and Josephine opened it to place a cluster of perfect white lilies wrapped in blue satin in Percy’s trembling hands. Percy smiled at the bouquet, and at the misty-eyed Josephine, before returning her attention to the dead who’d come to see her wed.

“Leave this to us, Percy,” said the boy with the soft brogue who usually kept to the main foyer chandelier. “We know you’ve no father to give you away, and so we wish to walk you down the aisle.”

“Thank you all,” Percy murmured, her eyes glimmering with tears. “That’s very kind of you.” She turned to Josephine. “You may go on, thank you. The spirits wish to present me.” The Frenchwoman sighed in appreciation and slipped into the chapel.

The spirits encircled Percy. While she felt the air around her grow freezing, she was lost in the excitement on their faces. Their entire spectral strength amassed, they were just able to manipulate the door. Percy came in full view, and the crowd was rendered breathless. A ghostly radiant goddess, she moved forward, floating in loving and spectral procession to the haunting sound of Jane’s strings.

Percy and Alexi were stunned by the sight of each other, overwhelmed by the magnetism that seized their hearts. He stood awaiting her at the base of the altar, and energy surged between them as they took hands. Percy took her place opposite him and, to her, the rest of the chapel disappeared.

They did not hear Michael’s Bible verses; they heard only the beat of each other’s hearts. They responded to the liturgy and made their vows, but it was as if their lips had not moved; they were each drowning deliriously in the sea of the other. They exchanged simple silver bands, and the gentle pressure of sliding rings onto each other’s fingers was an inimitable delight.

When pronounced man and wife, Alexi lifted the veil to kiss her and she fell against him. Their kiss was of such fusion that they felt the ground tremble. The slight sound of
angels grew into a bursting chorus. Rising from the candles and met by an aura of light from their bodies, white flame began to pool, merge and expand into a hazy, egglike form that grew as their kiss sustained. As it ended, the form burst into a great, bird-shaped sun. The avian form threw open expansive wings, and a wave of heat and deafening music blew through the chapel.

The Guard cried out. A phoenix bathed in light, rising from the indomitable love within two mortal hearts—this was raw, divine power, their purpose and origin made manifest. Marianna and Edward squealed. Mina Wilberforce’s hands went to her face. Alexandra gaped, tears streaming down her cheeks. Many of the attendant ghosts breathed sighs and vanished, at last sent to their rest.

Elijah turned to Marianna, Edward and Mina. He pointed a finger toward each set of eyes. “As beautiful as this is,” he began nonchalantly, “I’m terribly sorry, we’ll have to pretend that never happened.” Their gazes clouded, and soon only selective memories of a more mundane nature remained.

When Withersby turned his fingers in the direction of Alexandra, Alexi stopped him. “No, Elijah. Let my sister keep this sight.”

Alexandra eyed her brother with deepening wonder. “Thank you,” she murmured desperately.

“Are we married now?” Percy breathed, amazed by the blue-coloured flame wreathing her beloved’s eyes and her own. A thin line of the same traced The Guard’s hearts, each to the other, a cord of light binding them fast. The phoenix pendant was a tiny sun around Percy’s neck.

“By the gods themselves, it would seem,” Alexi replied.

The couple walked down the aisle, arm in arm, unable to take their eyes from each other. Jane broke into a jig, and the assembled company bounced out of the chapel, Rebecca taking care to wheel Alexandra to safety as everyone embraced. Jane was lost to her music, a new spirit floating
behind her. Aodhan’s hard, deeply masculine features wore affection, and his ghostly hand hovered just above her shoulder. Beside him floated Beatrice Tipton.

Beatrice’s expression was almost threatening. Her voice was kinder. “Go on, my lady,” she said to Percy. “Enjoy what you’ve worked so very long to attain. Enjoy your mortal love and a bit of celebration. There’s time soon enough for the rest. But please take care. Remember all I’ve said.”

Percy swallowed and nodded. She turned to behold Alexi, who was ignorant of all but her. She delighted in his thirsty gaze before turning back to find Beatrice and Aodhan gone.

Michael, unable to contain his overflowing heart, swept Rebecca into a jig. She at first refused, but it was impossible to deny his joy for long and so she acquiesced with a chuckling sigh. It was Josephine’s giggle that alerted them all to the host of gawking professors and students eyeing first their dancing headmistress and second their most mysterious, brooding professor, clearly wedded to and infatuated with their strangest student. Rebecca simply laughed; there was nothing else to be done. Jane continued to play, relocating beside Alexandra, who from her wheelchair watched as if the world had been made far more beautiful.

Alexi kissed Percy’s hands and moved to kneel at his sister’s side. “There is an ancient magic within us, Alexandra. I’ve never wished to keep secrets from you—”

She placed her hand on Alexi’s shoulder and shook her head. “Thank you for what you allowed me to see. Oh, Percy. Goodness—Mrs. Rychman.” Alexandra beamed as Percy knelt at her feet in a rustling pool of blue satin. “You look incredible. The both of you…Alexi, what on earth made you finally allow someone close?”

Alexi tucked Percy’s arm in his. “There was no way around this woman’s radiance. Now, we must be off. You shall dine at our estate soon. Michael has instructions to escort you home.”

“Good, then, Brother. Thank you.”

A huge smile approached, a white crescent against brown skin, and Percy jumped up to welcome Mina. Her friend reached out to take her ivory hand in a darker one, murmuring, “Congratulations, Mrs. Rychman. I never doubted your husband’s mind. What I doubted was that he could ever smile. How dear it is that you are the one to unearth such a miracle. Come find me after your honeymoon, I’ll give you presents—books!”

Alexi bowed his head. “Hello, Miss Wilberforce, thank you for being a part of this special day.”

“No—thank you, Professor, for proving love presses past barriers.” The librarian lifted Percy’s hand in hers, showcasing the contrast that had brought them together, triumphant. Both ladies were quietly overcome.

“I’m so glad to share this with you, Mina. It’s been quite a quarter,” Percy whispered.

“I should say.”

Headmistress Thompson approached, and Mina stepped aside. Alexi stepped aside, too, watching with feigned disinterest as Rebecca said, “Allow me to congratulate you.” She opened her arms, and Percy eagerly stepped into them.

“How can I thank you, Headmistress—?”

“Rebecca.”

“Thank you for everything you’ve done in granting me a home here at Athens, before any of us knew this fate. You have been so kind to me from the first—”

Rebecca looked pained. “No, child, I—”

Percy gushed, undeterred, “I love Athens so deeply. I have a family now, a home, meaning, and suddenly life is glorious. You allowed these blessings to unfold. I am so grateful that you have granted me a place on the staff. Thank you for everything you have done, and will do, for Alexi and me.”

The headmistress’s face was unreadable, but when Percy took her hands to relinquish her wedding bouquet, Rebecca shook her head and refused. “Oh, no—” But Percy
would not accept it back. “Ah, all right then.” The woman chuckled, masking unease. “I believe your husband wishes to depart.”

“Oh, Percy!” Elijah cried, as Alexi took her by the arm and the glowing couple walked off to cheers. “My dear, beware His Royal Eeriness! Heed my warnings! He has
terrible
designs on you! He’ll take you to some desolate place, force you into black robes to recite mathematics! You know not what you do! O, poor youth, sacrificed on the altar of the Constant Sneer!”

Percy laughed delightedly and turned to her love, who pursed his lips and arched an eyebrow at Elijah. She grinned. “Is that so, husband?”

“Oh, I’ve designs on you, my dear,” he said, fixing her with a smoldering gaze. “Hardly terrible.”

Percy shivered in anticipation.

A footman waited atop the front steps of Athens, holding a cloak for Percy; an ivy-bedecked carriage stood below. As the door of the cab closed her inside, Percy lifted the curtain to look back at the crowd. Rebecca’s lips were thin, and her colour wan; the bouquet hung limply from her hand. Michael was studying her. Elijah was still spouting dire warnings, and Josephine was pulling affectionately at his arm, begging him to desist. Alexandra was waving. In the portico shadow, Marianna and Edward were stealing a kiss. Aodhan again hovered over Jane. Beatrice seemed to be inspecting the foundations of Athens, tapping at the flagstones in an unsettling manner.

Percy chose to set all concern aside. “Thank you,” she murmured to the heavens. “Let me live with this loving, mad family forever. I could never have dreamed such treasures mine.”

She turned and reached a hand out the window, aching for her new husband, who was speaking to the driver and sliding tickets into his breast pocket. Alexi climbed in and relaxed across from her, and Percy gave one final wave out
the window before the driver had them jostling off to the northeast. A questioning look crossed Percy’s face.

“York, my love. I thought we would spend a couple of evenings in York.”

“How lovely! We’ll see Reverend Mother, then?”

“I thought it might be nice to see where you spent your earliest years—but first I’ve some dreary, eerie nook where I intend to cloister you away and set upon you with black robes and endless theorems.”

Percy giggled, her hands reaching for him. He shifted to sit beside her, and she burrowed close. She gasped with a sudden thought. “Are we to take a train, Alexi?”

“Certainly the most efficient way to travel.”

“Oh! I’ve never been on a train!”

Alexi chuckled. “Even our simple adventures will be full of wonder. You’ll make my whole world new.” He leaned close to brush her lips with his.

“Careful, Alexi, these hints of romance could ruin Elijah’s image of you.”

“You’ll have tales, indeed. I promise.”

The other train passengers stared, of course, at the white-skinned girl dressed like a princess. Percy, however, was so joyful and unaware, their looks grew more captivated than rude. Alexi found his defensive edge softening, for his bride remained wholly unruffled. The only eyes she noticed were his, which he kept fixed upon her. The day’s light was so diffuse she was eventually able to stare out the window of their well-appointed car, eagerly watching the English countryside until she dozed on his shoulder.

They disembarked at York at twilight, the last of the sun fading in a final gasp of rich purple. Alexi helped Percy into the carriage procured at the station. Drawing her into his arm, he noticed how the lace around her neck quaked. “Darling, are you cold?”

“No, my dear. Why do you ask?”

“You’re shivering. Please tell me you’re not frightened.”

“What would I be frightened of?” she murmured with a smile. Alexi’s awkwardness was not assuaged. “I know you will be gentle with me,” she added.

“Of course I will be gentle.”

“Though the breadth of our emotions may…tax our capacity for restraint.”

“So I am not alone in feeling…”

“More than a mortal can contain?” Percy finished.

“Precisely.” Alexi choked and turned away, hardly able to look at her until the carriage pulled up outside a small cottage far from civilization, waves crashing in the distance. Then he leaned in like a thrilled schoolboy and said, “You wait here a moment, I have to make sure everything is as I instructed.”

He hopped out of the cab, unlashed a case and darted up the walk, disappearing into a dark building where a single lamp burned in the window. In the several minutes that followed, Percy bit her lip and forgot to breathe.

She was startled by the carriage door swinging open. Alexi held out his hand for her, bidding the driver bring their remaining cases. The man did so, running ahead to place the bags inside the door and hurrying back to the carriage so as not to be an unwelcome presence, but Percy and Alexi didn’t notice him in the slightest; Alexi swept her up in his arms and strode her to the cottage.

The main room was dark inside. Her husband placed her just beyond the threshold, removed her cloak and made a small gesture with his hand. Instantly, the room was alight. Countless candles on sills, end tables, mantel, all across the wide bay window that looked out upon the glittering, final sunset-sea—all burst into spontaneous flame at his command. Percy exclaimed in amazement. Alexi grinned.

The room was also interspersed with bundles of heather. It smelled like a rolling heath. They both took in the scent, and Percy asked, “Alexi, did you arrange all this? Oh, wait until I tell Lord Withersby, he’ll faint!” He only bowed his
head in reply. She ran to the window where the moon had risen to wash the sea with luminous silver. “Oh, the view!”