Splash! Sam felt a shock of cold spread throughout her body as she and the phantom landed into the water. Both of them had accidently inhaled the water when their heads went under, causing them to choke and sputter as they stood up. Luckily, they landed close to the shoreline and the water only reached up to their knees. They waded back onto land.
"You know," Sam said, pushing her hair out of her eyes, "When you said our landing would be softer, this isn't exactly what I thought you meant."
"Sorry," the phantom answered still coughing, "I didn't want to ruin the surprise."
"Some surprise," she muttered.
They had finally reached dry land. Sam took off her gloves and shook her arms up and down, flinging water droplets onto the grass. Then she sat down and took off her slippers and stockings. Her dress was still soaking wet, but Sam thought it was best to keep it on. Shivering, she hugged herself tightly in an attempt to keep warm.
A noise made her look up. The phantom had taken off his frock coat and was vigorously shaking it dry. Sam looked up at his hair and was quite surprised. Instead of going out from being exposed to water like most flames, his once fiery hair laid limp upon his head. Its long, white strands dripped droplets onto his back like normal wet hair. When he was done shaking his coat, he flung it on his shoulder and started wringing his hair dry.
"How does it do that?" Sam asked.
"Do what?"
"Your hair. It's not fire anymore. It's just..hair!"
"I don't know," the phantom flung his damp hair over his shoulder, "It just does."
Something caught his attention back at the water. Sam turned to it and noticed something purple floating about close to the shoreline. She saw the phantom check inside his waistcoat for something before walking towards the edge of the shoreline.
"I think that's yours," he said as he kneeled down and reached into the water.
Sam watched him pick up the floating object and stand back up. She stood up along with him and walked towards him. The phantom held out his hand. Sam's violet. She was about to reach for it, but he had already started for her hair. He pushed back a few strands and held them in place with one hand while he pinned the flower in with the other. He smiled and stroked her hair. Sam blushed and smiled back. Seeing that she was still shivering, the phantom took his frock coat and draped it over her shoulders. It was still damp, but it was still a lot warmer than she was.
"Thanks," she said, shyly.
"You're welcome," he said, "Shall we continue?"
Much to Sam's disappointment, the phantom droppped his hand and walked forward. She followed him as they headed up a hill and towards what looked like a party. White tables with matching tablecloths and chairs were all placed around a grassy field. Another two long tables were set aside for food and beverages. There weren't really any decorations in place, though Sam didn't really think any were needed. Beautiful flowers of almost every color surrounded them everywhere they went.
There weren't a lot of people at this party, she noticed. There were servers with the food, very few guests. She saw Vlad and Mrs. Masters seated at a long table in the center of everybody else. Instead of her usual red attire, Mrs. Masters was dressed in a wedding dress similar to Sam's, minus all the lace. Vlad didn't really look like he changed his wardrobe much. She saw him the same black trousers and frock coat that he always wore. Besides the couple, there was also Dan, Tucker, Dashiel, Bertrand, Paulina, two teenage girls, and a red-head woman glaring daggers at Vlad.
"June 25th, 1888," the phantom began, "The wedding day is finally here. Today, we're not at the house, but we're at a field close to the church."
"I'm guessing those girls are Dan's sister and cousin?" Sam pointed to the teenagers.
"Yep."
"Then, whose that woman?" she pointed to the red-head.
"Aunt Alicia. Her husband was supposed to be here, too, but he had work to do. Or, so she said. Truth be told, Alicia and her husband practically hated each other."
"Is there anyone that woman doesn't hate?"
"Other women. Men could all rot as far as she was concerned."
"Well," Mrs. Masters said, "I thought that was a beautiful ceremony, didn't you, darling?"
Before Vlad could reply, Alicia spoke first, "It would have been even more beautiful if he weren't there."
She pointed at him and he glared back in response.
"Oh, come on, now," Mrs. Masters chuckled, "My Vladdie's not so bad."
"Vladdie?" Sam snorted.
"Don't ask," the phantom rolled his eyes and shook his head.
"You two haven't known each other long, have you?" Alicia replied, "In fact, I'll bet you've never been married before."
"Actually-"
"Well, let me tell you something about men, dear. They're horrible! Take my husband for example."
"Mother!" one of the teenagers spoke up from her table and looked crossly at her mother.
"You know it's true! Remember when he thought you were a ghost and tried to attack you!" The other girl chuckled as her cousin continued to glare, "Anyways, as I was saying, men are idiots. Take my husband for example."
"While I don't like your husband myself," Vlad spoke up, "After blasting me in the face with some absurd invention of his, almost stealing Maddie away from me, the backwash incident, and fudge knows what else, I must say, Alicia, not all men are idiots!"
"Hey, Mother!" Dashiel spoke up from his table where he was sitting with Dan and Tucker, "Tanner just said I'm an imbecile! What does that mean? Is that like invisible? I'm not invisible, am I? I'm not invisible, Taylor!"
"Oh lord," Sam muttered.
Alicia gave Vlad a triumphant smirk.
"I still stand by what I said," he glared at her.
"Drop dead," she snarled.
"Ladies first."
"Alright, darling, that's enough," Mrs. Masters turned Vlad back towards her, "Let's not spoil this day! Why don't Dashiel and I go see if you're favorite champagne is ready yet. Dashiel! Dashiel!"
Dashiel looked up in annoyance before turning back to his tablemates, "You'd better not think about telling me I'm invisible again, Hunter and Drake."
"Finally," Tucker said as he watched Dashiel stomp off, "I'd thought he'd never leave. You were right. Making fun of him isn't so fun when he's too stupid to know what we're saying."
"Told you," Dan replied, "So what's your big discovery?"
"This," he took out a yellowed and worn piece of paper and unfolded it until it was the size of what looked like a small portrait, "So, I did a bit of some research and went to all those towns those other husbands were from. Nobody really knew where she came from. So, I tried looking at each city's library and paper archives for marriage announcements. No luck. Then I searched your library for something. Finally, I looked in the study and look what she had tucked away in one of her books."
Dan looked over at the paper, "It looks like Penelope, but she looks like she's from another century."
"That's because this portrait is from another century. Look what she wrote on the back."
"'Me at Gothica, April 1437!"
"What!" Sam exclaimed, "How! That's impossible!"
"That's impossible!" Dan said, "That can't be right! Maybe this is a relative or something. It has to be!"
"A relative who has the same handwritng as her?" Tucker asked, "And look, she's wearing the same necklace in here that she's wearing right now."
Sam looked over at Mrs. Masters. She and Dashiel had returned and were talking with the servers. There was the same green pendant that Paulina had admired the night of Ember's death.
Dan was speechless for a moment before shaking his head, "This-this can't be right."
"Right or not, it's our only clue. Now, I don't know what this 'Gothica' thing is, but we need to find out. It's all we got."
Just as Mrs. Masters and her son returned to their seats, the wind started up again. Without waiting for the phantom's hand, Sam drew herself towards him and huddled close. The phantom wrapped her up again in that embrace she had grown to enjoy. She held on tight to his frock coat still upon her shoulders. She looked up at him and noticed his hair was starting to return back to normal. Weak flames mixed with still damp strands waved around his head. He glanced up in irritation as it got into his face. That very familiar face. Sam wrinkled her nose in irritation as she yet again attempted to discover his identity.
She lowered her head and noticed something purple from the inside of the phantom's waistcoat. So that's why he checked there when he saw that flower. There was something very familiar about that item. The phantom watched her as she slowly reached inside his waistcoat and pulled out the piece of jewlery. Sam looked puzzled as she pulled out her amethyst brooch. She could have sworn she left that at Dan's grave. In fact, Sam knew she left it at Dan's grave. She looked back up at the phantom. Why did he have her brooch?
As the wind blew faster and louder aroiund them, the phantom's long hair swirled behind his head, giving Sam a much clearer look upon his face. That very familiar face. She gasped as she finally realized who the phantom was.
"Dan?!"
