I was considering putting this chapter in it's own little fanfiction thingy, but I think keeping in in this story would make it easier to read even if it is a little long. lol.
Please R&R and enjoy!

Chapter Four
Memories: Elizabeth and Tobias

Oakvale. Before the plague caused by Reaver it was a beautiful place. Simplistic but beautiful.

This particular morning was like any ordinary one for Toby Frumblebottom, supporting his ten year old sister on his hip, her brown hair pulled into two bunches and held the feminine beauty of her brother. Toby smiled down at her, his hair tousled and less organised giving him a simplistic handsomeness, even if slightly messy and unorganised.

"I'm sick." The youngster insisted as she clung to the coarse material of her brother's shirt. "Don't make me go Toby!" she exclaimed looking up at him with hurt eyes as if he was betraying her.

"Melody? Are you telling the truth?" Toby questioned as they passed over the second bridge that led to the school, the sound of school children laughing and yelling.

"I don't like that witch." Melody mumbled into his neck, snuggling against her eldest brother, scowling at him as she felt him chuckle with amusement.

"Mels. Mistress Ursula is a good teacher. I don't see why you all dislike that dear lady." Toby commented shaking his head slightly. "Listen, if your a good girl and go to school; as you've got nuuuuno school tomorrow I'll take you to barrow fields?" he offered softly, laughing as she jumped off.

"Everyone! Can I have your attention please?" a loud masculine voice bellowed, children and families gathering around to get a closer look. Toby, equally as interested dashed forwards and craned his head to get a better look.

Standing at the front of the crowd was the town crier, standing on a small palladium his hat off and held before him respectfully. "The other day after much searching Mistress Ursula has seen fit to retire from her post of teaching and starting from Monday, Miss Elizabeth will be taking over the post as school mistress." he announced stepping down to allow the new school mistress have a few words.

The red haired beauty a few years younger than Toby himself rose to the stand, her hair held back from her face with a black piece of ribbon, hair cascading down her back in fine curls. Her eyes scanning over the crowd, grinning warmly. "Good morning everyone. I'm so looking forward to teach your children, and I have never seen a more beautiful city this by far out shines Oakfield." she exclaimed with a small smile. "As a way to say thank you all for allowing me to have this wonderful opportunity and to allow me to start on a fresh week, I have decided after speaking to the town leader for permission I am suspending school for today and arranged a field trip to Barrow fields. I know it's a bit short notice but I'd like any one else who'd like to come to join us, as a way of thanking all of you for making me feel so welcome." she commented already hearing a babble of improvement, and after much deliberation the children and a few parents made there way to Barrow fields, most thankful for being able to get a break.

Once they arrived, Toby kept an eye on his younger sister, making sure she was alright and seemed much more cheerful at the teacher change before he walked over to the new teacher who was sat in a lavender patch, her sleeves rolled up and collar unlaced showing the faintest hint of cleavage causing him to swallow hard.

"Greetings." She murmured smiling up at him and patted the space beside her in a friendly manner. "Which is yours?" she asked softly, flicking her hair from their face.

"The little brunette, Melody is my second youngest sister." He explained lightly. "I'm Toby by the way." he added with a flirtatious smile.

"Pleasure." she answered softly, "That little boy with his arm in the sling is Aaron. My baby brother." she added lightly, bringing her knee's up to his chest obviously finding this idle chitchat a little irksome. Awkwardness hanging thickly in the air. "Have you lived in Oakvale your whole life?"

Toby nodded. "My family have lived here for seven generations, and were around long before it was burnt after a bandit attack." he explained softly.

Nodding Lizzie smiled. "I'm a city girl. It's always been the dull brown stones of Bowerstone for me. Here...It's so vibrant and colourful in comparison." she commented with a small smile.

"I wouldn't know...The only city I've every been to was Bloodstone but that's still being built." he confessed softly, ruffling his hair thoughtfully as he leaned back on his elbows, his legs stretched out. "Listen...I know this is a little sudden but would you like to go out tonight? And I'll give you a tour through town. It's very beautiful by moonlight." he muttered blushing.

Lizzie flashing him a stunning smiled and flicked her curls from her face causing Toby's knee's to feel like jelly, his stomach full of butterflies. "Of course." she whispered lightly.

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By the end of the evening she giggled softly, as they stumbled to her house flopping against the door frame wiping tears of laughter from her eyes. "Toby...I cannot believe you did that. But thank you." she giggled as she looked at the sodden male, the smooth large pearl still in her hand. "It's beautiful."

"Y-you're welcome." He muttered shakily his body chattering with cold, hugging his cold body. Water pooling around his feet as he was led in, stripping off his shirt and allowing her to hang it in front of the fire, soon being forced to hand over his trousers in payment for a warm blanket.

Elizabeth smiled and put a kettle over the fire and soon poured them both a mug of hot tea each, sipping it lightly. "I really am sorry Toby. I feel terrible."

"Don't worry. I just wanted to impress you." he confessed lightly, looking down at the murky liquid dancing around inside his cup.

Elizabeth's hand gently moved out and placed over his lightly. "Well, that I am." she whispered lightly with a small smile, gently leaning forwards as if to gain a better view.

"Does that give me the option to kiss you?" he asked shyly. Despite late in his abnormally long life, Reaver actually started out coy and monogamous. Finding it difficult to talk to the opposite sex let alone sleeping with countless males and females without much connection afterwards.

Lizzie smirked wiry. "Wow, could I be more swooned right now?" she replied sarcastically, her hand placed theoretically over her heart.

Toby blushed and looked down shyly, his body crumbling as he attempted to shrink lower into his chair; ashamed and wished he could just suddenly be engulfed in flames and vanish from sight.

A warm chuckle filled the air as the red haired female knelt before him on the chair. "In response to my question, with my current experience I'd have to say no." she uttered in a hushed tone, a few curls tumbling around her face as she leaned in to kiss him faintly.

She was startled by the sudden ferocity of his kisses, as his lips crushed against hers, pulling her in harder against him, his hand knotted in her hair. Before he gently pulled away. "I should act like a fool more often!" he teased, receiving a sharp clip around the head for his troubles, no malice behind it as he eyes glowed with kindling affections.

However for the next few years Tobias kept to his words, he was foolish and impish, but was only being so as he fell completely and utter in love with Elizabeth. It was a humid summer weekend and the new couple were curled up among the long grass the filled the field, the gently groaning of the windmill, insects and their hushed conversation was heard, his arm wound around her shoulders. Pulling her nearer and closer to himself with a small smile. Looking down into her large eyes, he couldn't suppress a swooned sigh causing her to giggle which was stifled with a quick kiss from him, lacing his hand through her hair, stroking the silky tendrils tenderly. "I love you." he clarified.

"You too." she answered softly allowing her index finger to trace his lower lip. "My Toby." she teased, before gently pulling away.

"No, no, no! No leaving yet."

"I'm not leaving silly. I have a present for you." Liz assured as she opened up their picnic basket and pulled out a long thin mahogany box a heart engraved on the top she handed it to him.

Gingerly he shifted it from hand to hand. It had a soft metallic sounding weight inside it, and that puzzled him as he shook it savagely. "Love in a box?" he guessed blindly.

"Try opening it."

"But something may pop out. I don't trust you." He accused before receiving a few tender kisses along his neck tenderly, a soft moan hitching in his throat. "Well..." he started huskily. "If what ever is in that box is like that I'm eager!" he exclaimed and easily opened the flap with a gently flick of his fingers.

The box was velvet lines and slightly faded from light but inside a large heavy set silver key laid, a single pink ribbon was looped through the hole. Printed along the long neck was 'ELIZABETH' in simple bold capitals.

Picking it up, Toby looked at it curiously. "Wow...Thanks love." she started in a monotone fashion. "What's it do?" he questioned bluntly.

"Nothing, It's a blank key. It's-"

"What's the point in a blank key?"

"Let me finish." She scowled and tapped his nose lightly in an affectionate manner. "The key is symbolic. It's the key to my heart. I'm saying that you have my heart. I feel I could be happier with no other." she explained.

He smiled lightly and rolled himself astride her and mocked opening a lock over her heart with the key, before kissing her forehead lightly. "I feel the same. Just as well I brought this..." he whispered and allowed his finger to gently hook a small pull string bag from his sleeves with his signature charming grin and placed it in the centre of her palm. "Open it." he purred tenderly.

"Okay..." she mumbled as her nimble fingers gently loosened the strings and gently up-ended the bag where a small diamond studded ring tumbled into her hand. "Oh..." she whispered in awe, her eyes slowly raising up to his face. Toby offering her a big toothy grin. "Marry me?" he offered softly.

Her blue eyes became misty as she wept into his chest, nodding frantically as she clung to him tightly, as if fearful of her life if she did not. only one word escaping her lips. "yes." she breathed snuggling against him happily, breathing in his scent "Oh Toby." she cooed softly.

His gloved hand began to stroke her wavy tendrils, his fingers caressing her back and sides tenderly. "I was so nervous you'd say no." she breathed, burying his face in her fiery waves allowing himself to be engulfed there, clinging to her tightly.

Cradling his chin in her hands, she tilted his face to look into her own. "Tobias...We belong together. You make me whole so how could I ever say no?" she whispered.

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How long since that day, Toby couldn't think. Nor at this moment in time did he care. He stood before a mirror, the reflection as horrified as himself. Vanity was his sin. He knew that well, but now he could see corruption of such a beauty in the mirror. His hand gently moved up to trace a none existent to the naked eye. He was ageing. He was starting to get...a wrinkle!

'How can this be happening?' his mind roared. 'How can my one virtue be withering away? Have I angered Avo in some way?'

"Toby?"

Snapped from his rant he spun around to see Elizabeth, looking slightly worried, her eyes glistening with concerned, a single gold band glistening on her left hand. After almost four months of married life Elizabeth had only been fearful of this. He'd spend hours in front of the mirror. Fawning, touching and ironing over almost invisible creases. It wasn't that he spent so much time in front of the mirror that worried her. It was how angry he was getting. It was natural, he couldn't concentrate on anything but his appearance. He'd yell at her or threaten to strike her, only to fall to his knee's, clutching at her skirt and countless petticoats. Apologising, cursing his pitiful life, and weep at his failings as a husband.

"Toby? My darling. What's happened? What's wrong?" She asked worriedly, as she scuttled forwards, wringing her hands nervously, she didn't think she could cope seeing him crumble again.

"What do you think? The wrinkle is deeper." He snarled darkly, picking up a thin dark cloth and hung it over the mirror, much like he had done with every one in the house.

Elizabeth sighed, knowing no matter what she did or didn't say would make it worse. If she kept her mouth shut he'd accuse her of agreeing, if she said anything he'd twist it. She loved him but ever since he saw this blemish he has been quite deranged, unlike himself. ...Inhuman. But she needed to risk it, he needed to understand. "But darling. It isn't noticeable, nobody can see it but you. Yes your going to age but that's life. That is what will happen." she breathed.

"There must be a cure for this. Something to stop it." he mumbled as he began to pace.

"Death isn't a disease that you can cure. We're all going to die one day. You need to understand this." she pleaded.

"There has to be a way." He murmured as if not noticing her pleas.

"Tobias, you're going to get old and die one day, everyone will. It's part of life. You can't be in denial about this."

"But there..."

"NO! No buts. It's fine. end all. Your beauty will lessen slightly, you'll become a handsome old man and then you'll die. That's the way life goes." she explained tenderly. "And there's nothing you can do about it."

"Stop saying that?" he roared like a wounded animal, and without control of it he backhandedly slapped her hard across the face, knocking her to the floor.

Cradling her cheek, her blue eyes shimmered like she was below water. Stunned into silence she looked away. She would never have though he was capable of that. Never, had he ever raised his hand like this to her before. She was shocked, and it now stung in a hot pain.

His face dropped as she fell to his knees in front of her, pulling her too him. "Oh my darling...I'm so sorry...I don't know what came over me. It was a mistake. It will never happen again I swear."

"But it will." she whimpered sadly, tears rolling down her cheeks. "You've been getting worse and worse. How can I be happily married to you when I don't know what you could do next." she whispered.

Toby held her hands gently trailing a fine sheen of kissed along the abrasions along her knuckles from where she fallen on her hand. "I make a change. I'll prove to you I can never make you sad again." he swore

"I want to believe you." An uncharacteristic whimper, her eyes empty like the hollowness of the dreaded dark abyss. "But you've hurt me...too much" she whispered lightly.

"I will make it up to you. I promise you need never fear me. I swear." he whispered her vowed as he held her close.

And he did. He stopped his fussing and got really into reading which pleased Elizabeth greatly. He would always have his nose in a book of an evening, and only looked in the mirror to groom or just gaze at his godly beauty, but never did he grow angry again, and instead had returned to the loving and doting man he was before and at the beginning of their marriage.

But Elizabeth was unaware the full extent of what he was actually meddling with until he left the village to 'do some research' which so far had taken little over a week. It was a hot summer afternoon, the sound of the lapping ocean, the salty air breezed through the entire village on soft cool breeze, making the long grass sway and swish along with it. Lizzie was stood on tip toes as she pegged clothes to the washing line shared with her neighbour, humming softly as she did so before pausing.

In her hands was a large green shirt, one of his favourites. She knew it was a trivial thing to feel close to tears at just gazing upon the shirt, but she was pining after Toby. She was still completely, unconditionally, stupidly and utterly in love with him despite all they've been through. Still being with out him made her chest ache, her life seem empty and bland.

Her nimble fingers brushed over the coarse wool of his shirt affectionately before she brought the damp material to her cheek breathing in the scent that seemed to clung to every fibre. "Toby..." she whispered stroking down the chest where his heart would lay, blissfully unaware of how cold and dark it had become. Her mind thinking over a special surprise beneath her apron for Toby when he returned home, her hand brushing her currently slightly rounded belly.

Shaking off her pining for him she continued pegging the damp clothes onto the washing line, humming softly herself as she finished, a distant yelling and screaming could be heard on the breeze as the village was very noisy as the children played in the fields so she thought nothing of it; her hands a little sore from the coarse pegs before she rose to her feet, walking off towards the house, her hand just turning the cool handle.

"MRS. FRUMBLEBOTTOM!!! MIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIISSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!" Was the loud whining high pitched squawks from her own students as they toddled forwards, faces flooded with tears as they clung to her skirts forcing her to stop and kneel down to them.

"Hey...Hey..." Elizabeth whispered, as she knelt down, the youngsters hugging her tightly all talking at once as they blubbered and wailed miserably into each other, their voices a collage of cries and pleas all rolled into one long slurr. "Calm down little one's what is it?" she whispered, concerned. "One at a time."

The eldest of the group wiped his eyes. "Something's come into town...It's gotten all dark and we can't get out, people are getting killed!" he exclaimed pointing into the near distance where what seemed to be a semi transparent black votex was wound around the majority of the town, many men were trying to break out but three tall shaddow cloaked figures seemed to swoop through them, dragging the life for them. She couldn't see quite what happened, despite appearing to be made of smoke they were sufficient enough to hide what they did to mutilate their once youthful faces. Screams of terror for what would happen to them in mere moments as these nightmares pounced from one prey to another, like fleas only much more deadly.

Lizzie froze and led the children into her house. "Quickly, get inside!" she pleaded, shepherding them into her home, looking out fearfully for her husband. Was he safe? Had he been caught by them. However she spotted him. He looked hypnotised as he knelt before the massacre. Helplessly watching. The guilt evident in his eyes. But surely, he couldn't have...She gasped in shock at realisation of what the truth was behind the man she felt sure was her true love.

She scampered inside slamming and bolting the door on the truth she had no wish to know, yet when she turned around she faced an even grimmer one. All the children save one was being drained, the moment she turned around she managed to see the being pounce on the youngster- and the child who moments before was screaming like a banshee seemed suddenly very still, a calm content smile spreading across his face across his face, as if he was being tucked into bed by his mother opposed to having her soul sucked out. The aura around the shadows hands seemed to pulse, as if like straws sucking his life out, it was only near his more elder years the child began to scream, but it wasn't for long.

Lizzie was stood like a statue; mortified by the scene before her. It felt like a nightmare from which she'd never wake. Her heart hammering so loudly in her chest, that she was sure the whole world could heart's erratic pulsing.

The shadow's head shot up towards her, red, pupiless eyes stared at her. Elizabeth's mouth opened in shock as she released a loud unearthly banshee like scream and ran. Trying to head up the stairs before it caught her, pinning her to the floor with ghostly hands.

Elizabeth writhed beneath the figure before her head was held firmly into place, the scarlet eyes boring into her, she felt hypnotised by them, her eyes relaxing as she gazed back, her eyes seemed to start to be clouded with faint images of when Toby were together, before she was snapped out of it before she had even realised it had started.

"You're heart and soul are black..." rasped the unearthly voice. "...With anger. With fury. With the very man who had sacrificed you're home." It whispered venomously. "Many others were as angry at you but none knew nor had such a strong relationship with you...Nor for that manner bore than mans child." It croaked, the hand placing over her stomach and pushed down hard, making her gasp.

"You want vengeance, you want to pay him back? Make him suffer like he made you? Make him beg. We shall give you immortal life just like him. You shall be given as much time as you need to pay him back, and you can finally feel at one with you're past." he answered softly.

"But how can I pay you? Toby stole the only thing that would seem to be accepted..." she murmured gently, looking away.

The hand on her stomach pushed down more heavily. "With one down payment for you're immortality we ask of you're child's life, after that Toby will unwillingly be paying or you're prolonged life also. Do you agree?" It hissed gently.

Looking away she bit her lip. How could she give up her child?

"It will be dead either way." The voice rasped.

Lizzie sighed and closed her lips in a grimace and nodded once.

The eyes glinted in the half light of the house. "Then, when you shall wake." it whispered the hand covering her face, "You shall be immortal. Toby shall flee into blood stone. Follow him." he whispered before everything went black.

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By the time she came too if looked as if an age had passed. The whole of oakvale was lost into darkness. No birds sang, no wind stirred the trees that were now bared of leaves. No ocean roared. For once all was quiet. Deathly quiet. Already marsh land was claiming the ocean.

This was not like the humdrum world she'd known as Oakvale. Now it was as solemn as death. No. Oakvale was death. Of so many people for one man's selfish dreams. Oakvale had become the bringing of death. A wraith. A wraith of marshes..."Wraith marsh." she whispered lightly, as she began to stagger her way towards bloodstone. Her feet were bared and bleeding. She struggled with every step, falling and forced to drag herself to her feet until she came to the gate. Gazing over the grimy, grey topped city down the hill.

She had never been to bloodstone before. Never saw the need to. Until now. Once she had made her slow path down the path down the steep steps, before she began to ask if anyone had seen a man like her husband. None knew.

After a short while she dragged herself into the tavern, leaning her weathered and worn frame against the bar, breathing and half sobbing as she did so, causing the bartender to look up curiously, squinting through his thickset glasses.

"Oi love, What's got ya so down?" he questioned gruffly, seeming unphased by the sickening squeak as he cleaned a flagon, the stink of stale ale and cheap whores hung around the place, but it seemed only Lizzie notices. "Someone as fine as ye shouldn't even be in a place like this." he murmured, eyeing up her torn dress.

"I'm look for my husband." Lizzie muttered weakly, supporting her head in her hands, eyes downcast to the stained bar. "I've looked all over and I can't find him." she sighed.

"Is he a handsome lad, dark hair. Sounds quite high bred?" The barkeeper mumbled with a raised brow curiously.

"That sounds like him." she murmured lightly, looking up with hopeful eyes.

"He's...uh...He's gone upstairs...Into the brothel part. It's sometimes used to sleep in but very rarely." he muttered softly, jerking his grubby thumb upwards in the general direction upstairs.

Nodding slowly Lizzie got to her feet, gathering her skirts in her hands as she began her slow and fearful ascending to the rooms upstairs. Two door stood open, closed only by a thin door of grubby clothe.

Panting, moaning and gasping could be heard from inside. The sound unmistakable. The sound irreversible. However could it truly be her Toby? Her Toby betraying her the moment he was shot of her. She swallowed hard and peered only to see the truth, his body rising and falling with a looser woman's legs wound around his waist.

She turned away a pain erupting in her chest. All she had known and felt shattered into a million pieces, her eyes began to sting with tears. She dashed down the stairs, stumbling down a few steps as she ran from the tavern, pouncing down the steps two at a time. Her feet clattering across the slatted planks of the pier before she fell down hard to her knee's. Her body crumbling as she began to weep uncontrollably into her hands. Auburn tendrils sticking to her cheeks and eyes as she looked over the vast ocean. "Oh Toby...Tobias..." she whispered, her misty eyes reflecting the hot yellow orb of the sun, slowly hiding behind the pinkening sky. "Why...Why..." she whispered.

A heavy hand soon cupped her shoulder. Turning around in alarm her eyes widened in shock. "Hey love. Are you alright?" asked the gruff voice of the boat master.

Lizzie let out a soft sigh and nodded. "I'll be alright." she whispered as she rose to her full height, flicking her hair from her face with a small sigh.

"Would you like me to accompany you home?" he offered placing his hand on her elbow, helping to support her, seeing her sway unsteadily. As if unfamiliar with her own pins, trembling warily as she waited.

"I'm not sure I have anywhere to go." She breathed. "But I should be fine." she mumbled starting to walk off but only to feel her legs give way beneath her, only to feel the older gentleman's arms wrap around her and help support her, and prop her back onto her feet.

Pulling a handkerchief from his cuff, her gently wafted it to her which she took gratefully. "Listen, would you like to come and live with me and my wife? We own that ship over there, and we are setting of to Oakfield, and it may be an idea to find yourself somewhere to go?" he offered lightly.

Sniffling, she wiped her eyes on the handkerchief. "That is most kind of you, but I wouldn't want to be an inconvenience." She muttered softly.

"Not at all." The gentleman insisted lightly, brushing a few hairs from her face. "My wife and I have a daughter around your age. If she was all alone with no where else to go we'd want someone to do the same for her." he explained gently. "What do you say?"

"I would like that very much." She whispered softly.

The boat master smiled. "What's your name?" he asked lightly.

Elizabeth paused for a few moments, her eyes closing briefly. Maybe this was her chance for a new start. Maybe she could start getting over Toby with beginning a new life, perhaps this would be the best time. She took in a deep intake of breath, as her eyes gently rose to the boatman's face. "Catherine. My name is Catherine." she answered kindly.