Arcane gasped, his wife's beloved form began to take shape in front of him, ethereal and misty. But she was here. Fully and wholly here with him. He couldn't repress his sudden joyful smile, "Tatania," whispering, voice thick with unshed tears he gazed at her lovely face.
"Oh, Anton," gracefully she stroked a cold hand against his face, "My love, it's so good to see you once more."
"God Tatania," Arcane swallowed, everything he wanted to say to his wife disappearing like so much smoke in her presence, "I've missed you so much. Sometimes I didn't know how I'd survive another second without you by my side."
"I've always been with you Anton," smiling softly, Tatania moved closer to her husband. "You know that."
"It's not the same," vainly trying to grasp her by the hand he could have cried as his fingers kept slipping away, "I need you with me! I need you to make me whole again!"
"Oh Anton," sadly his wife shook her head, "I can't do that for you. Only you can do that."
"No!" Closing his eyes, Arcane jerked away. "No without you!"
"Our time has passed my love," his wife's voice seemed to grow fainter and he looked up panicked, "You need to move on with your life."
"NO!" Grabbing for Tatania he fell to the ground, hot tears sliding down his cheeks, "Please don't leave me. You're all I have."
"Not all you have Anton," Gently she knelt by his side, cold fingers drying the tears on his face, "There is love out there for you Anton, you just have to let in into your heart. You have to let me go." Moving away she began to grew more translucent; Arcane had to force his eyes to focus past his tears. Gaze fixed on her loving smile he felt his heart break anew. He was losing her again!
"You can't leave me so soon; we've had so little time." He cried desperately.
"We've taken different paths, my love. We were parted long ago, long before I died."
"I can't go on alone." raw pain broke in his voice, "I can'!"
"You aren't alone, you already have what you need, you just have to open your eyes to it."
Blinking, he blurted hurriedly, "you have to know, all those women I..."
Tatania smiled softly, "I know they mean nothing. You are looking in the wrong place Anton, open your heart, look around you." Already she was starting to fade.
"Remember I will always love you Anton," the candles flickered and blew out, "Don't be afraid to open your heart, love is waiting for you if only you will see it." Suddenly her form rushed forward, cold, soft mist enveloping him. A sense of peace invaded Arcane's body, he could feel her love for him and it was beautiful. *Goodbye my love,* he dimly heard her whisper in his mind.
"Goodbye," he whispered, heart aching with sadness. Sobbing Arcane grieved once again the loss of his beloved wife. But this time the tears felt healing, he'd finally said goodbye, fully accepting that there was no going back. Time had marched onwards and the Fates, curse them, had other plans for him.
In what could have been hours later, Arcane finally managed to stand up. He was feeling curiously drained, yet lighter than he'd felt in months. The thought of facing another day didn't fill him with the same dread. Looking at his watch he noted it was midnight, the start of a new day. Perhaps he would go check in with that party his employee's were holding. Right now a little human company sounded appealing. Arcane just wished he knew what Tatania had been talking about when she claimed love was waiting for him. Surely no one in this world could love the man he'd become. Could they?