When You Hear the Knell of a Requiem Bell
Chapter Thirteen
I'm very confused. I still have no idea what is going on here. I almost feel like a child.
Edward is holding me very close as we dance.
"Katherine?" he says.
"Yes?"
"It feels so good to have you back. I missed you so much."
"I missed you too."
"The moment I saw you again…"He said very softly. "I can't describe it. It was like my heart soared. I knew it was you. I knew you had returned for good."
"I wish I remembered." I murmured. But I almost did. I saw myself, strangely dressed, spectacles on my nose, carrying a book, looking at Ramsley in an odd way. I also saw myself, still dressed oddly, being kissed by Edward, but pushing him away, glaring at him with a cross between fury and fear in my eyes.
"Are you angry with me?" I ask him meekly.
"No, my love, of course not. Remember? I could never be mad at you." He smiles. "I realize it must have been odd for you, but all that matters is that you're here now." He gazed at me a moment. "You're so beautiful, my dearest."
Different visions of myself were coming to me, ones showed me laughing with a young man I knew well, others showed me at a younger age, shooting an orange ball into the air. I could see myself coquettishly talking to some handsome young men at a shop. I don't understand this. None of that ever happened to me, Katherine Gracey. None of it, as far as I know, has ever even happened. So why am I remembering it?
I blinked and stared up into Edward's dark blue eyes that I know so well.
"If I could have, I would've just done this the night you came here, but I knew I had to give you time, and I wanted to make it special for you."
"What?" I ask.
"You know." He said softly, and then, I could hear my own voice say very harshly,
And that you're trying to kill me.
Then, I could hear Edward's voice saying,
The only way that can happen is if you pass on to the next life, here, tonight, while I'm here to retrieve your soul… I promise you, you will be happy
"I remember now."
"I know that tonight, in the past, was a horrible night for the both of us, but I want to change that for you, Katherine. I never want you to ever feel sadness ever again."
I stare up into his eyes, which are so deep and so loving. I put my hands on his face, slowly outlining his profile with my fingers.
"I love you." I say plainly.
"And I love you." He responds, and leans over and kisses me intensely. After I break the embrace, I keep seeing a picture of myself in my head, one of the ones from earlier, where Edward is kissing me, and I angrily push him away, venomously saying,
If you're going to try to seduce me, at least get my name riii…you just called me Katherine, didn't you?
Why would I be surprised that he called me Katherine? It is my name.
I think.
"Edward?"
"What is it, darling?"
"We're never going to be able to go to Paris, are we?" I ask sadly.
"Oh, Katherine, I'm sorry. I know how much you want to go."
"It's alright. All that matters is that I'm with you." I say as I rest my head on his chest again.
He runs a hand through my hair. "Yes, my love. And we shall never part again. You need not worry. This is our destiny, and it will finally come to be. I love you so much. You mean everything to me." He held me even tighter.
"Was I cold to you? When I got here? I can't remember."
"Sort of." Edward says. "But you were afraid. You were confused. I know you so well."
I felt his lips press against my cheek.
I feel very strange, as if I'm about to faint. I could hear what sounded like a church bell ringing, the sound resonating throughout the house.
"I think it's time now, Katherine." He whispers to me. "Are you ready?"
"Yes." I say.
Suddenly, a figure dashes into the ballroom.
"KIMBERLY!" He yells.
Is he talking to me? The name Kimberly seems familiar.
I recognize this young man. I know him.
He has tanned skin, black hair, and hazel eyes. He looks frightened, and there are a lot of gold, green, and purple beads around his neck. Next to him is a strangely pale, blonde haired girl in a wedding gown, a red heart beating through her dress. It's the ghost of Emily Westin Gracey! The bride who haunts the attic!
"You bastard!" He yells at Edward. "Stay away from her!"
Oh my. I remember now. Everything's coming back to me. For a second, everything turned black. And when the darkness cleared, I was back.
"Ben!"
End Notes: So, Kim's back to herself now! How will things get wrapped up?