CHAPTER 654: 654-BACK FROM THE DEAD TO CLAIM HER LOVER

Helanie:

It was the shrieks of a Zharn that made me break out of the trance and run toward the monsters. I kept my fists clenched, punching the zharn in the stomach and making its guts spill out from its mouth.

All the anger in me from watching Emmet with Azura poured out on the ugly creatures. I tossed them around, punched them, clawed at them while I screamed as loud as I could.

I howled mid-transition and then slashed the incoming zharn’s stomach. My body itched and stretched, my breathing grew faster as I fought the creatures to quiet the shattering of my heart. I did my best to keep my focus on the zharns, closing my eyes at times to let the tears fall, tears that kept blurring my vision.

I fought until there was no one left. And once I was done, I stopped, breathing heavily, and slowly turned around to see the awful sight.

She was in Emmet’s arms, shaking while he knelt on the ground with her, but his head was up, his eyes locked on me. There was a strange silence between us, but even after all I did to avoid hearing my heart break, I heard it.

The cracking of my heart, my dreams, and my hopes. The pain was unbearable, something I had never imagined feeling this deeply. It was so strong that for a moment, Rune stealing my hopes didn’t sound too bad. At least I wouldn’t be in pain if they had just been taken from me.

"What is going on?" Finally, someone else arrived, breaking the stare between Emmet and me. I sniffled quickly and rubbed my eyes while turning my back to everyone. After I had composed myself, I faced them again.

"Helanie, are you okay?" Maximus ran past his brother and cupped my face in his hands before following my gaze to look at Emmet.

"Is that Azura?" he gasped, and I closed my eyes, taking a deep breath.

"Yeah, I think so," I managed to say, my voice cracking just a little.

"We should take her home. She doesn’t look well," Emmet said once he could no longer look me in the eyes. I watched her hand slowly slide down Emmet’s chest as she passed out.

"But how the heck is she—" I held Maximus’s hand to silence him.

"Let’s take her home first. The zharns know we’re here," I told Maximus, who let out a deep breath before finally agreeing with me. Emmet gently carried her in his arms, carefully like she was a glass doll.

I was so damn jealous that I couldn’t think straight. I didn’t even want to follow them, but as soon as Maximus held my hand, I found a little courage to keep moving forward.

We followed Emmet closely from behind just in case the zharns tried to attack him, and there we were, back at home.

Emmet took her straight to his room, his haven. The place where he had spent sleepless nights thinking about her, drinking after she left. I knew how much he loved her. Of course I knew. The way he had always forgotten about me whenever he thought of her was a clear sign that he loved her more.

"Are you alright?" Maximus asked, and I forced myself to nod.

"I’m sure he’s happy," I muttered, my eyes not ready to even glance toward the passage.

"Happy to have a dead woman in his arms? Come on, Helanie. That’s crazy. How the hell is she alive?" I didn’t expect Maximus to be so worked up about it. I thought he’d be happy too for his brother.

"I mean, weird things happen in our world every day. I don’t remember any of you mentioning actually seeing her dead body," I mumbled, and he started scoffing.

"That’s not true. Maybe you weren’t paying attention then. But the truth is, her body was found in the well," he finished, and a frown formed on my forehead.

"What?" I asked, watching him nod his head over and over.

"I’m not sure which well, but Emmet was the one who found her body. He never told us which one, but now that she’s back, I can only make a wild guess," he hissed, his fists clenching. "Helanie, I don’t think that thing with Emmet even is Azura."

My body shivered, chills crawling over my skin at his words.

"Huh?"

"Who’s Azura?" Norman seemed to have just returned home. He looked at me first because he knew how her return would make me feel.

"She’s back," I replied in a flat tone, and he stretched his neck forward, raised his eyebrows, and squinted his eyes.

"A dead woman is back?" Norman asked, making Maximus and me both nod.

"Exactly," Maximus added, "and she’s in Emmet’s bedroom."

He placed his hands on his waist and started pacing back and forth, clearly anxious.

"What are you two talking about? How is that even possible?" Norman asked, speeding toward the passage. I thought I wouldn’t go back there again, but since Norman was rushing, I had to follow. Maximus came right behind me.

Once outside Emmet’s bedroom, Norman started knocking, because this was the first time Emmet had ever locked the door.

He finally answered, streams of tears on his cheeks and a soft smile in his eyes like I’d never seen before.

"She’s back," Emmet said, rushing forward for a hug. He embraced Norman, whose body went stiff. I watched him swallow hard and close his eyes.

"Emmet," he broke the hug to get his brother’s attention, "we sent her body into the ocean, remember?" he asked, and Emmet nodded.

"I know, I know it sounds crazy, but she’s back," Emmet repeated, his happiness making me feel guilty for not being happy for him.

"But—" Norman went silent when Emmet pulled him into another hug. I watched Norman glance at me and then finally hug his brother back.

Of course the brothers had to accept it now. Emmet was way too happy for anyone— any of us–to break his heart.