Believing as so many did that her young husband was dead
Mary wept the tears a wife weeps.
It was incredible to her. Three months ago he was a perfectly healthy man and now he was dead.
Something didn't seem right to her. She couldn't explain it and didn't know why, but it just didn't feel right to her.
On top of everything else no one seemed to know where he was buried or when the funeral was. How was that possible? He was a Duke for god's sake. All right so he wasn't heir to the throne, but still he was a noble. That alone should have gotten him a crypt and a funeral.
Even his father was closed mouth about it all. Even her father wouldn't tell her anything.
She had to know. Some how she had to find out.
She decided to sneak away and see if she could fine a clue, anything that would lead her to Henry.
Although it was night and she only had a lantern to see by she thought she saw a woman's figure holding a shovel. She decided to follow her.
After some time the woman stopped and began digging.
Mary watched from a safe distance. She couldn't imagine what this woman was digging up.
She had to cover her mouth as she let out a gasp when she saw what it was. It was Henry. He was there, standing next to the woman, seemingly very much alive.
She watched as the two talked and then kissed. She had to fight back the tears. How could she have been so stupid to not realize he had a mistress?
She could not watch any longer. Sadly she walked away. Her husband must have faked his own death. Men had open affairs all the time. Why did he have to fake his death to be with woman?
There could only be one answer. There was something about her that was different. She was no ordinary woman.
By the time she got home she was determined to find out what was going on.
Months later Mary discovered a world she had never known existed. A world that only existed at night.
There were people, nightwalkers, who lived by night and slept by day.
She had also learned about Henry and that woman. Her name was Christina and she was one of the nightwalkers and so was Henry.
He was no longer human, no longer her Henry. He would never be that sweet wonderful man she had married. He belonged to Christina now. At least she now knew the truth of it all.
She felt there was nothing she could do about it. It was beyond her. All she could do was live out the rest of her life for how ever long that may be.
For years that's what she thought and believed so she moved on with her life. Until one night she met a very charming man who gave her another option. An option she couldn't refuse.