Chapter 7
The Plan
Victor could only stare at Emily with wide eyes and his mouth agape. Surely he had misheard her. They couldn't possibly be married.
"Of course," Emily began, relieving the silence that had settled between them, "it isn't necessarily legal as there is no marriage license. It is only binding in the eyes of Heaven, but since it was an accident, perhaps God will turn a blind eye upon us."
At these words, Victor still remained silent.
"Victor, no one will know of what we have done," Emily continued, hoping to soothe her dearest friend's nerves. "You will still be free to marry Victoria."
Victoria. God, how could he forget? They were to be married tomorrow.
True, he had only known the young woman for a handful of hours, but he could not help the fondness that had settled in his heart for her. Perhaps it was not love that inspired these feelings, but maybe one day it could be. Oh, but what was he to do when he was bound to another woman?
"Victor, are you listening?" Emily asked exasperated. "No one has to know!"
Victor shook his head and grasped her shoulders. "I will know, Emily. We will know," he said firmly. "What am I to do come tomorrow? Begin my marriage with a lie? I cannot do that to Victoria!" He dropped his hands from her shoulders and returned the ring to his pocket. "There must be a way to undo all of this."
Emily stared for a moment. The vows were binding only until Death finally parted them. A divorce also wasn't an option as their marriage wasn't legal. Such a case would only lead to them being laughed at.
But then, Emily had an idea.
"Victor," she began, reeling in his attention, "do you remember hearing stories of a man known as Elder Gutknecht?"
He furrowed his brow in confusion. "Emily, now is not the time for fairytales. We have bigger fish to fry!"
"No, Victor that's just it! Elder Gutknecht isn't a fairytale. He was a magician of sorts. Everyone thought that his magic was merely tricks, but it was real!"
Victor shook his head, still not grasping the point. Emily rolled her eyes in frustration, but continued.
"Elder Gutknecht had an apprentice. He taught her everything he knew before he died." Emily paused for a beat before she relayed her plan. "Victor, the vows are binding only until Death parts us..."
Victor was silent at her words. His eyes searched hers in a feverish frenzy as he tried to decipher what it was that she was saying.
"What if," Emily began, "Elder Gutknecht's apprentice stopped my heart long enough for the vows to break, but then restarted it before it's too late?"
"Absolutely not!" Victor shouted, shaking his head furiously. "You're not going to die over this. I won't let you."
"It would only be for a moment, Victor," Emily protested. "I won't be dead permanently."
"It's too much of a risk. It's not worth it, Emily."
"What about Victoria?" Emily cried. The other girl's name left the bitter taste of acid upon her tongue. "You said it yourself, you can't marry her when such a secret exists. It would be unfair."
That shut Victor up. For a moment at least.
"What happens if this apprentice can't bring you back? What am I to do then?" he asked after a while.
Emily gave him a sad smile. "Then you'll still be free to marry Victoria. You will go on and live your life, just as you would if I survive."
Victor fixed her with a hard stare before saying, "You better live, Emily Merrimack, because I will never forgive you otherwise."
Emily rolled her eyes, but flashed him a fond smile, nonetheless.
"Darling," she started in a voice that was equal parts sweet and teasing, "do you honestly believe you're going to be rid of me so easily?"
Victor pursed his lips with slight irritation. "You're not taking this very seriously," he retaliated.
Emily sighed and placed a hand upon his arm. "Victor," she said, her tone no longer humorous, "you're just going to have to trust me on this and believe that I'll live through it."
Victor stared at her for a long while, his face a mask of concern and worry. He gave his bottom lip a nervous nibble before sighing.
"Fine," he whispered. "Lead the way."
AN: Sorry it took so long to update! This chapter is a bit shorter than the others, but I hope you enjoy it.