A Wolf's Howl, A Fairy's Wing

Chapter 68: Chapter 68 - A snowman

While Elora and Erik were absorbed in their interrogation, Emma and Emily sat awkwardly across from each other. They hugged their knees close as they sat engulfed in heavy silence, punctuated only by the sounds of the interrogation.

Fear shimmered in both their eyes. Emma's eyes held a wariness born of what Emily might do, reflecting past mistreatment and present events. Emily's gaze, in contrast, was clouded with the terror of potentially losing Emma forever, a prospect that seemed to hollow her out from within.

Emily opened her mouth, and the voice of a desperate woman came out, "I- I'd never hurt you, Emma. Not in any way when I'm myself, but even when I'm… not entirely myself, I'd never do anything like what I just did to you. Please believe me…"

At the mention of the violence, Emma involuntarily shivered, her body recoiling as if the blood splatter and the gruesome sounds of Emily tearing off the vampire's leg were happening all over again.

This involuntary reaction was like a physical blow to Emily, her eyes welling up with tears that shimmered in the dim light, each one a silent testament to her pain and regret.

Emma averted her gaze, "I- I know. Somewhere inside, I know that. It's just hard to really trust you again after all these years."

Emily nodded, a sad understanding dawning in her tear-filled eyes. She seemed to shrink in on herself, physically embodying her helplessness and longing.

"I just wish we could go back to the way things were. Despite our age difference, I always loved to watch movies or play with you," she mumbled, her voice barely audible.

A small, nostalgic smile flickered across Emma's face, her eyes gaining a distant, glazed look as if peering through a mist back into a past untainted by the present's shadows. "I miss the days when we played together, too."

For a brief, fleeting moment, they both were adrift in their shared memories, lost in a sea of what once was - a past filled with innocent laughter and carefree days, now seeming like echoes from another life.

Afterwards, Emma closed her eyes and took a deep breath while clenching and unclenching her fists a few times. She was trying to summon all her courage through an inner monologue.

'I promised Sir I'd try to be better in the future. Well, that may have been a few moments ago, but the future is now! Be brave, or forever remain a weak little girl!

The past is in the past, but the future can only become what I want it to be if I confront my fear! Right now, at this moment, only bravery can pave a path forward!

You want to make Sir proud?! You want to get close to your sister again?! Then take the first step!'

She tried to think of the best next action to take. The answer came to her surprisingly quickly, thanks to the memories that had surfaced just before, in the form of a movie she had often seen together with Emily.

The movie, and especially the iconic song associated with it, was actually surprisingly reminiscent of their current situation.

She opened her mismatched eyes, showing steely determination in her gaze, before suddenly standing up and walking towards the ruined cafe's hole in the wall.

Seeing this, Emily panicked and scrambled to her feet, "W- Wait! I-"

But before she could continue, Emma had reached the hole and looked out over the snow-covered street while asking a question.

"We can't change or return to the past, but… perhaps we can build something new. Starting with a snowman?"

Before Emily could answer, the younger sister began singing. Her voice was beautiful, haunting and sad, yet also full of hope. Her maid dress and long white hair, while standing in the cold light of the sun, made her look enchanting.

It was about two sisters who used to play all the time but now grew apart for reasons the little sister didn't fully understand. The little sister wanted to be let in. To understand what was going on with her big sister. To play and grow close with her again.

Emily widened her eyes as tears streamed down. The fact was, ever since the corruption's direct hold on her had been broken back in London, she and Emma had never really had a serious conversation.

Sure, they danced around it a little, said some platitudes perhaps, and then there was Emma's heartfelt speech back on the boat, but that was all.

Ultimately, Emily was too scared of herself, so she lied to Emma about how much the corruption still affected her. On the other hand, Emma had more trouble letting go of the past than she pretended.

Meanwhile, they were both wrecked with guilt. Emily because of her actions, and Emma because she was the one to give her sister that book.

But while none of these issues had really gone away, Emily recognised what Emma was doing.

This was an open hand. A new beginning. A proposal to play like they did when they were younger and to begin working out their issues together.

Emily wasted no time in grabbing that hand. When Emma was done singing, she stood beside her little sister and said, tears streaming down her face, "I'd love to build a snowman with you."

And so they did.

They walked out onto the snow-covered street of this abandoned, post-apocalyptic ruin of a town and began to make a snowman.

Naturally, they moved a little to the side of the bloody battlefield and ghoul corpses.

While they worked, Emily told Emma everything about how the corruption had only loosened its hold on her but was always there in the background, waiting for her to slip up.

Emma listened patiently, and when her big sister was done, she began to talk about her own experiences during the last seven years and now in the previous few weeks with Erik.

They talked about everything and anything, and in the end, they hugged while standing next to the snowman. They naturally didn't have a carrot or a smoking pipe, but they made do with what they could find amongst the rubble.

There was an orange piece of piping for the nose and some misshapen pieces of bricks for the smile and eyes. It didn't look like much, but that wasn't the point of this. Instead, it was a symbol of their new beginning.

The fear, lack of trust, and guilt were all still there. But at least now, they had a foundation upon which to rebuild their relationship.

Besides, no matter what, they still loved each other.

Emma smiled confidently, "Don't you worry, big Em. I'm gonna work hard and grow stronger so that I can soon burn away all that corruption in your soul, and you can be free again."

Emily sniffled a little and nodded, "I know you will, little Em. Just… please promise me you won't try to grow too fast. I would never forgive myself if you ended up being the one corrupted instead."

"Don't worry, big Em. I already made that promise to Sir." She answered.

It was then that their lovely reconciliation was interrupted by the sound of a sickening crunch just before Erik walked out of the cafe with Elora on his shoulder and blood and gore on one of his feet, signifying the ignoble end the vampire man had suffered.

When he noticed the sisters hugging, he smiled genuinely. "I'm glad to see you two made up."

Then his face became stern, "We have to leave now, though. Although that vampire lied about his friends being close enough to hear the sounds of fighting, it still won't be too long before they come to check what happened to him."

The girls broke up their hug, and Emma smiled brightly at Erik, "Yes, Sir!" while Emily looked a little unsure how to act suddenly. Instead of figuring it out, she asked, "What about the boat, though? It won't remain invisible without us there to power it, right?"

It was Elora who answered, apparently wanting to give Emily another lesson in sigil crafting.

As it turned out, the sigils on the boat could also use aetherium from the environment, just not as efficiently. This means the sigils can't absorb aetherium from the surroundings fast enough to keep the invisibility going.

But during their two-week journey, all the required energy came from the four of them while the aetherium from the surroundings was stored for later use. Like right now.

Using a combination of the stored aetherium and continued absorption, the boat should be capable of remaining invisible for at least a few weeks.

But even if these people discovered it, so what? It's not like there weren't other ships in the harbour, and frankly, what would these vampires want with their boat, anyway?

After Elora was done explaining, they prepared to leave, which included collecting the tough and sharp ghoul claws. Never knew when those might come in handy.

Before they left, however, the fairy whispered an idea in Erik's ear.

It was a little manipulative, as one might have come to expect from her, but Erik smiled, as he didn't see any harm in it.

Under the surprised gazes of Emma and Emily, he walked towards the snowman they built and put his hand on it.

Slowly, it began to be encased in a thin layer of ice. He didn't use any skill or spell, just fine aetherium control and ice affinity.

When it was done, he smiled a little crookedly, "There. No wind, rain or even first-rank asshole will be able to affect it now."

The girls looked at him with gratitude. Emily made almost a 180-degree turn compared to London and the boat trip since the events in that cafe, as she looked at him with many complicated emotions that she had to sort through.

Meanwhile, Elora snickered a little. Setting aside the added positive emotions that Emily would now feel for Erik, this action would also subtly create the unconscious thought in Emily and Emma's minds that Erik was the pillar holding up their own lives and relationship, increasing their reliance on him.

When all was done, they turned towards the open road and began to head for Frostvik.