Chapter 8

A Twisted Turn of Fate

Victor and Emily trudged through the woods for nearly two hours. The deeper they ventured into the trees, the colder it got.

"What is it we're looking for, exactly?" Victor asked, reaching out to steady Emily, who had nearly tripped on an exposed tree root.

"A hut of sorts," she replied, recomposing herself. "The stories say that she lives deep in these woods in a hut or cottage. Something like that."

Victor gave her an unsure look. "I still don't think this is a good idea."

Emily gave a cry of frustration and turned on him. "Then, what do you propose we do, Victor?" she snapped. "You've made it quite clear that you won't marry Victoria until this is sorted out. The only way to end this marriage is for Death to part us. Unless you plan on running back to your mother and father and telling them that you're calling your wedding off with Miss Perfect because you've gone and married me instead, this is the only way!"

Victor stared at her wide-mouthed. Emily had never spoken to him that way before, and if he was being honest, it left him feeling a bit odd. The last part of her outburst was what struck him most.

...you've gone and married me instead.

She said it as if she was disgusted. Not with him, but with herself. As if she were the one to blame for this predicament.

And the way she had referred to Victoria as 'Miss Perfect,' like it was an insult.

"Emily," Victor began in an attempt to question her on the matter, but he never got the chance.

Instead, she cut him off by saying, "Look, there it is up ahead." She pointed ahead of them where a shabby, little hut stood. "Let's hurry and get this over with," she said bitterly as she trudged forward.

When Emily arrived at the door, she knocked on it desperately. She did not cease her knocking until the door swung open, revealing an old woman with snow white hair and a twisted spine.

"What do you want?" the old woman spat with a glare.

"Please," Emily began, "are you the apprentice of the estranged Elder Gutknecht?"

"Gutknecht has been dead long before you were born, child," the woman grumbled. "How dare you insult me by calling me 'apprentice.' I earned the title of 'Elder' long ago. Elder Stonecraft."

"Forgive me," Emily said. "I did not mean to offend you. We just need your help."

Elder Stonecraft gave her old head an annoyed shake before allowing the pair of them inside.

"Timothy," Stonecraft called as she shut the door, "we have guests."

Out from the shadows came a man. He was perhaps few years older than Emily and Victor. A crooked smile lit his face as his eyes landed on Emily.

"Timothy is my apprentice," Stonecraft said.

"I'm pleased to see you again, miss," Timothy said to Emily.

Emily furrowed her brow. "I'm sorry, but I think you may have me confused for someone else. We have never met before."

Timothy's smile deepened. "Don't recognize me?" This time, he spoke with a Cockney accent.

Emily gasped as she recalled the night that her father had died. She had played over the events of that over and over in her head for the last two years.

The stranger who had stopped her that night had hidden his face from her, but there was no denying it. The stranger who had posed as a highwayman was this Timothy fellow who now stood before her.

"You!" she cried. "You're the man who robbed me that night!"

"What?" asked Victor in surprise.

"He's that highwayman I told you about, Victor," Emily replied, her voice shaking with emotion. "He's the one who stole my satchel of jewels and money the night I was meant to have eloped with Henry."

"Well, I wasn't exactly stealing," Timothy said with a chuckle.

"What would you call it, then?" Victor said darkly as he moved to stand between Emily and Timothy.

"That's enough out of you, young man," Elder Stonecraft spat at Victor. "Timothy was simply holding up my end of the bargain and collecting my payment."

"Payment?" Emily started. "That money belonged to my father. You had no right!"

Stonecraft fixed Emily with a piercing glare. "Your father was the one indebted to me."

A look of shock crossed over Emily's face causing the old woman to cackle with laughter.

"Surprised? Well, he couldn't very well have you marry that worm you were so infatuated with, could he?" She flashed a nasty smile at the young girl. "See, that's why he came to me. He asked me to do everything in my power to stop you from going to him, in return he offered me jewels and money. I did what he asked, didn't I? Timothy went and stopped you and collected payment."

"My father is dead now because of it!" Emily cried, lunging at the woman, but Victor held her back before she could do any damage.

"Would you rather I had let it be you?" Stonecraft asked nastily. "Why are you here?"

"To make things right," Emily hissed, still trapped by Victor's embrace. "I must die, so that Victor can be free to marry another."

Stonecraft cackled darkly. "And you want me to do it, then bring you back, I suppose. That's not how it works, dearie."

"Then what are we to do?" Victor asked desperately.

"Make it legal or wait til one of you dies," Timothy said from the shadows.

"There are no other options?"

"Well," began Stonecraft, "it's not legal, so you can technically marry another, but it will be a cursed marriage because in some sense, it is built upon a lie."

Emily began to cry and pull against Victor's clutches. When she was free, she bolted out the door, leaving Victor to follow after her.