CHAPTER 13

Edward slid the knife out of Twisty's body. Next to him, Twisty's soul stood looking down at his corpse, looking at the body critically in disdain as though he was disgusted by how it looked.

"Now, my brothers and sisters, let us go." Edward said to everyone, ignoring the lobster boy in the bus. He had seen of the boy save the children, and decided he would be spared without hearing his story—that act was a story on its own.

They walked along the trees, heading back to the back of the carnival where they appeared. Edward walked in front, leading the carnies. The other face was quiet, satisfied that they killed. Now that he did kill someone, Edward wondered whether or not he made a mistake. By the end of the day, he was going to disappear, and he wondered whether or not he should have waited two more days.

Despite what he knew, he could not get Daniella out of his head. I did not really love her, he told himself over and over.

So why are you still thinking about her? It wasn't the head that talked, but his own self.

Because I stayed for four days here just for her. Of course I'll remember her, but does that mean I love her?

In his pocket, he felt the shaking of the Mordrake necklace. He still couldn't get over the fact that Daniella was Beatrice's descendant. He remembered the night he escaped Bedlam, returning home to find Beatrice married to a Kingsley less than a month after he left. Part of him wished he should have left it with Daniella, but he sighed, realizing it was too late.

Edward halted as he saw Daniella's car parked in the forest. The heat from the front of the car was still sprouting, so he knew she just arrived. He turned to the others, gazing blankly at him.

"Go on," He said. "Wait in the carnival—I shall be there shortly."

The others obeyed without question. Twisty gave the car a long look before staring at his new master and walking slowly away.

Edward remembered this place. The road was not far and so he walked in one direction until he saw it: the clearing where he and Daniella first kissed.

And there was Daniella, watching the starry sky.

He was hesitant to catch her attention, having crept up there quietly. He had been telling himself—willing himself—to move on, but the fact that fate made Daniella drive to where he would pass felt like it was meant to mean something.

Wordlessly, he sat on the ground next to her.

"A lady shouldn't be out in the open." He said quietly, accidentally, brushing his gloved hand against hers yet feeling the spark he did when they were together. It was like flint and steel sitting next to her, with the smallest of sparks threatening to burn him.

When Daniella didn't respond, Edward sighed. "What brings you here?"

"I don't know." She said in an eerily calm voice. "The mansion was suffocating me."

"Your mother's home?"

"No," She smiled. "I just needed to get out—plus, Dandy's not yet home so I have that going for me."

Edward smiled back, though they were more engrossed looking at the stars than each other. "But why are you here, Daniella?"

Daniella sighed in exasperation. "I…don't know. I guess...I guess I'm just really tired."

"Of what?"

"Getting hurt." She looked at him with shiny eyes. "Getting disappointed—or maybe it's just my luck that when I try to put myself out there, I'm just gonna keep getting hurt.

Edward scooted closer to her to listen, and she continued. "Dad died, I lost my dignity to a cheater, maybe mother and Dandy fit somewhere in the equation…and then there was you."

"I am truly sorry, Daniella." Edward told her, gently taking a hand in hers. "I did not mean to go that far...but then…"

"No need to explain." Daniella said serenely. "So…which carnie did you kill?"

"Mr. Clown." Edward said, and Daniella looked at him in surprise. "He's a monster, Danie. Kidnapped those kids and murdered those people—still couldn't find the monster in himself. You have that lad with the fingers to thank for saving the children."

She remembered Jimmy, bright-eyed, blonde haired Jimmy that she could have liked if he weren't a few years younger than her. "So that means you're leaving?"

"Before sundown today." He said sadly. "I'll never forget you, Daniella Mott."

"Neither will I," She said amicably, squeezing his hand. "You're not coming back?"

"Well, the Freaks here will certainly never perform on Halloween again," He smiled, remembering all those who he spared. He wondered if he made the right choice sparing that obnoxious woman, Elsa. "And there are only a few freak shows left in the world, my—Daniella, so chances are I may never return."

Daniella couldn't resist and leaned on Edward, for old time sake. "I'll miss you—at least you're in peace now. I promise you, Beatrice was happy."

"What do you mean?"

"The Ellwoods kept the diaries of their ancestors." Daniella explained. "Beatrice didn't have that many diaries—died having my great-great-grandmother. But she was happy, I promise you, Edward. And now you will too."

"Me?"

"Yeah, you're leaving right?" Daniella forced a smile, no matter how sad she was to see him go. "You'll be back in your world."

Yes, but why am I so hesitant to leave? Edward wondered. He had to go, and started to pull himself up.

…and then realized he was contented where he was, sitting next to her.

Daniella's not Beatrice, that's for sure. He heard something, almost in his voice but wasn't his, and realized it was not the demon talking, but something else, even deeper in him that It could not corrupt. She doesn't have to be Beatrice, does she?

Edward realized that he knew all along: Daniella was not Beatrice, but he loved her because of it.

Throughout his stay, he remembered Beatrice whenever Daniella said or did something Beatrice once did, but that was it. Daniella was a totally different person, yet Edward found himself falling in love with her. Beatrice would always have a place in his heart, but Daniella was the one who held the heart in her hands.

And even if he would probably never see Daniella again, he would gladly give her his heart.

"It shan't be the same, though." He said quietly. "I'll miss you."

Daniella turned to look at him, their faces really close. "I'll miss you too." Amidst the cold evening breeze and the fact that Edward was a ghost, she felt a warm, almost hot tension between them. A gust of wind knocked Edward's hat of and blew out the hair covering his face. She loved Edward, but anything romantic beyond that point was illogical: she was never going to see him again, he was a ghost, she was wasting her time, and even if she did try to do anything, he'd be gone. She was…well, she was…Oh god, I still love him.

"Do you see how beautiful the stars shine tonight?" Edward asked, staring down at her lips.

She didn't look up. "I don't have to look."

Edward let Daniella pull him closer into an embrace as their lips met, sparking the explosion Edward gave into. Daniella moaned as she pulled him further, lying down on the grass as Edward leaned over her, trailing kisses on her lips and around her neck and downwards.

"I see them," Daniella said as she admired the night sky. Edward looked up and grinned, and they laughed as Daniella unbuttoned the front of her dress and Edward pulled his cloak off. In one swift movement, Edward carried Daniella and placed her on top of his cloak, spread out on the grass, and the two instantly and easily gave into their own desires, becoming one with the night and her stars.

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