Chapter 3
The trip to Damocles Dock was long and weary, and Olivia felt unprepared. She took very little with her, aside from a small backpack containing some spare (and waterproof) clothing, her spyglass, and a very well-worn copy of "An incomplete History of Secret Organisations", alongside some more pleasant reading material.
When she finally reached Damocles Dock, she immediately bought a boat ticket to the Lavender Lighthouse. She had to sign a letter saying that she had not eaten within the last hour, and she and a few other tourists (it was early Spring, and the tourist attractions were slowly opening up) stepped on a small ferry. The sea was calm, and the weather was fairly clear, although brisk winds meant that she was cold and shivery throughout the journey, despite the watery sun and her multiple layers of clothing. She was also extremely nervous; there was no way of knowing how long Jacques had been stuck on the Lavender Lighthouse, or indeed why he was there at all. If his brother had known, why wasn't he able to do anything about it? There were so many unanswered questions and not least the issue that it could be a trap, but Olivia had decided the risk was worth it if she was able to see him again.
She was the only passenger who alighted at the small wooden walkway to the Lavender Lighthouse. The walk was short, but she was tired and worried. She took out her spyglass, partly because she knew the combination which would turn it into a lethal weapon, but also because the familiar object comforted her.
As Olivia began ascending the long, winding staircase, she became increasingly convinced that she was too late, and that Jacques had already moved on somewhere else, or had been captured. The building was echoey, her steps reverberating around the metal tower, and she felt fairly certain that she was alone in the building. It was also cold – she zipped up her waterproof jacket, but it did little to counteract the draughts.
Finally she reached the top of the staircase and lifted a small trapdoor to the deck which hid the enormous purple bulb. She clambered up carefully and found herself face to face with a spyglass, identical to the one that she was carrying. "Olivia Caliban," a familiar voice said, and as the spyglass was lowered, she saw Jacques, a little more dishevelled than she had last seen him, but otherwise unharmed.
It took them a long time to catch up with each other. Jacques told his harrowing but extremely adventurous story of faking his own death, using a drug which dramatically slowed his heartbeat. Like Olivia, he used a combination of underground tunnels and public transport to escape, before staying with his brother Lemony. When they parted ways, he came to the last known safe place: the Lavender Lighthouse.
They spent hours up there, watching the deep purple gleam of the lighthouse shine across the bay. Jacques held Olivia lovingly in his arms. She was right – the world was quieter when they were together.
Finally, just as the sun was starting to rise over Lake Lachrymose, Olivia stood up, stretching her stiff, travel-exhausted body. Before she could speak, Jacques got down on one knee in front of her.
"Olivia," he said in a serious tone, "Ever since we first met, you have made me feel complete. I love everything about you, and I never want to be parted from you again. Every moment we were away from each other, I felt like I was missing a limb. Will you spend the rest of your life with me?"
Overwhelmed with tears of joy, Olivia could only nod, as he slid a ring with the V.F.D insignia onto her finger, and took her in his arms.