28. The Dark Night of Alice’s Soul

Chapter 28

The Dark Night of Alice’s Soul

“ H e’s gone,” Alice said into her phone through her tears. “Hugo’s gone.”

“I’m sorry, kiddo,” Ez’s voice said through Alice’s phone. “Hugo was a good man.”

Was?

The word stabbed into Alice’s heart, Alice’s soul. Was . As in Hugo was no more, a thing of her past. Alice sniffled and wiped away the tears from her eyes. She had sobbed on the car ride all the way home. The cathartic end to the Savinos broke down the flood barriers, and her tears had flowed all morning.

Alice was frozen, unable to speak back to Ez. She didn’t know what to say. All she could think about was Hugo, her fiancé, and his contorted face as the wooden stake pierced his heart. The image was burned into her soul for all of time.

“How are you doing?” Ez asked.

Alice gulped. She wiped away the tears flowing down her face. “I’m fine. Just fine.”

I’m fine, by the way.

Hugo’s words to her from the night they met tore through her mind. She wasn’t fine. She never would be again. Her body, her mind, and her soul craved Hugo. She wanted nothing more than to celebrate this victory with him by her side. She was finally free from her past. There was no longer a need to hide. She was free from those who tried to use her, hurt her. But she couldn’t. The wooden stake pierced more than Hugo’s heart—it also shattered a portion of her soul.

“I spoke with the Vampiric Conclave. They agreed it was a business dispute. Nothing more,” Ez said.

A business dispute?

“They thanked us for taking care of the Savinos. Apparently, they were a thorn in their side as well,” Ez continued. “If it makes you feel any better, I told them to shove it, and if another vampire shows their face around any of us, the next time it won’t be a business dispute .”

Alice sniffled again. “Thanks.”

“I also told them there’s a new owner of Red Heart Distribution, and they can call her Ms. Primrose,” Ez said. “I’ll make sure the Raskins get everything back.”

“Thank you,” Alice said.

“I’ll send a crew to clean everything up. What about Sam?”

“I left her in the nightclub. I don’t know where she went,” Alice replied.

“Don’t worry about her. I’ll keep an eye out for her. Do you need anything?”

Alice needed Hugo back. “I’m good. I’m at the Raskins’ house. I’ll break the news about Hugo to them, then I’m going home. I need to sleep. I don’t know what I’m going to do next.”

“Take your time. Take all the time you need. If you need anything, anything , I’m only a phone call away,” Ez said.

“Thank you.”

“Alice, I want you to know I’m very sorry you had to go through this. I’m proud of you. I’m proud you stood your ground and took care of them. I know it wasn’t easy, and it hurts now. It’ll never be okay. I want you to know I’m always there for you. You’re like a daughter to me.”

There was a pause. Alice wiped away a tear from her eye. “Thank you. You’re the best friend anyone could ask for. I’m so sorry you had to get involved in this too.”

“Go home. Get some rest, then we’ll figure out what to do next together. I love you.” Ez hung up the phone.

Alice sat in her SUV, parked in front of the Raskins’ home. She focused on the light blue colored house. Its white trim shone brightly in the early morning sun. She sat there frozen, waiting to tell them what had transpired. She didn’t know what to tell them. How could she? They were unaware of the fact that Hugo was a vampire, and now she had to tell them he was dead.

Her lips quivered. Her body hurt. She wanted to yell and scream and break everything. It wasn’t fair. It wasn’t fair she had to go through all of this. It wasn’t fair she had to be the one to tell them. She didn’t ask for any of it. There was still one more thing to do, one last torture the Savinos had to put her through. She got out of her SUV.

She trudged up the entryway, each step heavier than the last. She stood in front of their white door. If she didn’t knock, then he’d still be alive. Alive in their hearts and minds. If she knocked, then he would die yet again. She hesitated, not wanting to do it. She couldn’t. Not to them. Yet, she had no choice. It had to be done.

Alice knocked on the door.

Carol opened it and peered around the corner. “Sweetie, what’s wrong? Come in.”

Alice entered their home. She batted her eyes, trying to hold back the tears, but failed. They flowed down her cheeks. She wiped them away, but they continued. The deluge of tears flowed. She started bawling.

“Hugo . . .” She stopped. She couldn’t finish the sentence.

“What about Hugo?” Oliver asked as he came into their living room from the kitchen .

Max barked and ran to greet Alice.

Alice dropped to her knees and hugged Max. Alice buried her face into Max’s fur to hide her tears. She scratched behind the dog’s ear. Max sat down, wagging her tail across the carpet, excited to see Alice yet again.

“I’m so sorry,” Alice sobbed.

“What’s wrong?” Carol asked.

Alice faced the Raskins with her bloodshot eyes. “Hugo . . .” she tried to speak again.

Carol covered her mouth in shock, taking a step back. Oliver wrapped his arms around her, embracing his wife.

“They turned him into a vampire a few weeks ago,” Alice continued.

Carol stumbled as she placed her hand on the arm of the couch, and Oliver helped her sit down. Both of them were at a loss for words.

“He didn’t want you to know.”

“You should have told us,” Carol said, fighting back tears. “I thought we didn’t keep secrets.”

Alice shook her head. “I’m so sorry.”

“Is he okay now?” Oliver asked.

Alice shook her head. She wanted to tell them, but something held her back. Her eyes were red, and tears fell down her face.

“Sweetie, please tell us. Is Hugo okay?” Carol asked.

“They were able to control him, and he attacked me,” Alice started. Alice’s words failed her once more. It was as if an invisible force closed around her throat and squeezed. She couldn’t continue, yet she had to. “He told me to stake him. It was the only way to stop him.”

“Oh, no,” Oliver said.

Carol let out a gasp and covered her mouth.

“I didn’t have a choice. He wanted me to do it. He told me to do it. I had to do it. He died in my arms. He turned to dust in my arms.” Alice buried her face into Max .

Carol bent over crying. “My Hugo,” she wailed. “Not my Hugo.”

Oliver placed his hand on her shoulder.

“I’m sorry,” Alice said through her tears as she rose from her bent over position. She couldn’t look at the Raskins. “I’m so sorry.”

“What do you need us to do?” Oliver asked in a stoic voice.

Alice raised her head and wiped away her tears. She breathed deeply, trying to calm her nerves. “I don’t know. I don’t know yet.”

“What about the vampires?” Oliver said.

“They’re dead too,” Alice replied. “I took care of them earlier this morning. It’s over. It’s all over. Ez is working to get everything back to you shortly.”

“What do we do, Oliver?” Carol asked. Tears streaked down her face. “What do we do?”

“I don’t—” Oliver began before a crack in his voice stopped him. He paused, still stoic, yet unusually silent. “I guess we’ll have to figure it out.”

Carol turned to Alice. She couldn’t tell if Carol was still in shock or furious at her for what happened to Hugo. The moment could have been a second or a century. Time stopped.

“He was going to ask you a question,” Carol said through her tears. “Did he?”

Alice held up her left hand to show them the thin onyx band with a purple amethyst crystal in the shape of a heart. “It was the last thing he asked me.”

Carol stood up. “Excuse me,” she said. She went down a hall and shut the bathroom door behind her.

Oliver’s eyes followed his wife, but he turned his attention back to Alice. He hugged her. “It’ll be okay.”

“It won’t. This is all my fault,” Alice said.

“It’s not your fault,” Oliver said.

“How is it not?”

“I’ll tell you the same thing I told Hugo when Elizabeth died. You were there for him. That’s all that mattered. ”

“I could have done more,” Alice replied as she buried her head into his shoulder.

“You did enough. Trust me.” Oliver patted her on the back. “You did enough.”

“What do I do now?” Alice asked.

“I don’t know, but if you need anything, anything , let us know.”

“Thank you,” Alice said as she pulled back from Oliver. “Is Carol okay?”

“I’ll talk to her. Don’t worry. She’s probably still in shock. Go home. Get some rest. It’s the best thing for you right now.”

Alice nodded.

Oliver continued, “We’ll figure this out later. Together.”

“Thank you.”

“Do you want us to keep watching Max?”

“Thanks for the offer, but I think I could use her company right now,” Alice said. She took Max’s leash and clipped it to her collar.

“We’re just a phone call away,” Oliver said.

“Thank you,” Alice said. She opened the door and headed for her SUV with Max leading the way.

Max bounced into the house, excited to be home. She ran around downstairs, searching for Hugo. She went down the hall and into the kitchen. Unable to find him, she ran upstairs. Her toenails clicked against the hardwood steps. The clickity clack of her nails were like ghostly footprints from above. Unable to find Hugo, she ran back down to the entryway.

Alice stood in the doorway. She tried as much as possible to hold back her tears, but couldn’t. They continued to flow. Guinevere entered the home and floated into the living room. She took her usual spot next to the red velvet couch.

Max followed in her pursuit of Hugo. Something caught her attention. She sniffed the hardwood flooring— the very spot where Hugo had perished. She circled, dragging her nose across the floor to smell everything.

She stopped. Max scratched the hardwood floor with her paw. She sniffed again before continuing her scratching. She laid down on the spot where Hugo disappeared from this earth. She whined and whimpered.

Alice couldn’t hold back. She buried her head into her hands and released another gush of tears. “I’m sorry, Max.” Her voice was muffled by her hands. “I’m so sorry.”

Max let out a low, drawn-out whimper.

After a long cry, Alice removed her witch’s hat and black tailcoat. She placed them on the coat rack at the base of the steps. With a snap of her fingers, her boots untied themselves. She kicked them off, one at a time, stretching out her toes in her stockings. She climbed up the stairs toward her bedroom—their bedroom.

She grabbed her purple pajamas, neatly folded on their bed. She removed her shirt and black pants. The cold morning air brushed against her bare skin, sending a slight shiver down her spine. She put on her pajamas and turned down the bed covers. Hugo’s pillow caught her eye. She picked up the pillow and held it close.

Alice went over to the laundry basket on the floor, waiting to be washed. She pulled out one of Hugo’s black T-shirts. She slipped it over the pillow. Alice then climbed into bed and clutched the pillow tightly. She laid her head on the pillow.

It smelled of his cologne—the familiar vanilla and cedar scent. The scent convinced her soul Hugo was in the bed with her. One more time. One more time she was in a loving embrace with her best friend, her lover, her fiancé. Yet, when she attempted to wrap her arms around him one last time, the emptiness delivered the disappointing news he was really gone.

She breathed in the last remaining elements of his aura. The intoxicating scent of vanilla and cedar. Her eyes closed as she drifted asleep, holding the T-shirt covered pillow and dreaming of her Hugo.

One last time .

“Hey!” Alice’s reflection yelled. “Get your morose ass out of bed and get in here.”

Alice opened her eyes. “Leave me alone.”

“Get your ass in here right now,” her reflection demanded.

“Why?”

There was a thump, as if her reflection slammed into the side of the mirror. “Get in here, or so help me I’ll scream and you’ll never sleep.”

Alice exhaled her annoyance. She got out of bed, carefully placing the pillow in her spot. She trudged into the bedroom and flipped on the switch. “What?” Alice shouted. “What could you possibly want right now?”

Her reflection glared at her, arms crossed with a look of determination. “Get him back,” Alice’s reflection said. “Bring him back. Right now.”

Alice ran her hand through her purple hair and then smacked the side of her thighs. “How am I going to do that?”

“You’re a witch; figure it out.”

Alice placed her hands on her hips. She furled her eyebrows and turned her head to the side, unable to face her reflection. “With what? There is no body.”

“I don’t care. I don’t care how you do it. Bring. Him. Back!”

“I don’t know how!” Alice shouted.

“Figure it out!”

Alice clutched her head with her hands, trying to calm the pounding sensation. She desperately searched for a thought, any thought, but the overwhelming anger muted her thinking. Her hands fell to her sides. “Shouting won’t bring him back.”

“But you can,” Alice’s reflection said. “You’re a witch. You know witchy things. Ez knows witchy things. Bring him back. Not for me, not for you, but for everyone.”

Alice sighed. “I don’t even know where to begin.”

Alice’s reflection paused. She placed her hand to her chin, deep in thought. “What if you don’t bring him back? What if you went to get him?”

“What?”

“What if you went to go get him?”

“Don’t be ridiculous.”

“Ez has to know. There has to be some way.”

“Even if I could, do you know what you’re asking me to do?”

“Yes. That’s why I’m asking you to do it.”

“Out of the question.”

“What else are you going to do? Lay around crying all day? Get moving on this. Go. Go. Go.”

“He’s gone,” Alice shouted. “He’s gone. Let him go!”

Alice’s reflection’s laid eyes on her, and a solemn silence filled the room. Her face was blank and expressionless. Alice recognized her stoic, unmoving expression—the face of feminine rage. Seething rage bubbled under the surface, held back from exploding on the spot.

With a low whisper, Alice’s reflection said, “Then why can’t you let him go? Why are you the one sleeping with a T-shirt covered pillow?”

Alice’s teeth chattered. The coolness of the early autumn morning sent a shiver down her back. She was frozen at the words spoken by her reflection.

Alice’s reflection leaned forward, placing both hands on the side of the mirror. “Since you can’t let him go either, and you know I’m right, then figure out how to bring him back,” she said, her voice raising to a near shout.

Alice covered her chin with her hands. She exhaled into them before dropping them back down. “Are you prepared for me to bring him back?”

“Whatever it takes. Wherever you go. Whatever you have to do. Bring Hugo and his reflection back,” Alice’s reflection commanded. “Bring. Them. Back!”