Belle Adams' Butler

Belle had only seen Vivian but she had never spoken to her. All she needed was a touch to know how she would die so that proper preparation could be done. She wished she knew how to save people before this so that many people's lives would have been saved but that would again cause a rippling effect that she wouldn't be able to handle later. 

In the carriage now, she looked outside the window where the lands were completely covered in snow except for the streets in the towns and the villages that had been cleaned. 

Though they were the three fated stars, from what she had heard from the first Grim of the cards, the oracle, she had told not to discuss with the other stars as it would create another effect. Therefore, it was better that they didn't come in contact with each other but Belle knew about the other two. 

After some thought, Belle decided to tap on the window to catch her coachman's attention and she said, 

"Stop it near the next town. I want to visit someone," she said to have him nod. 

When the coachman pulled over the carriage to have the horses stop in the town, the man stepped down and pulled the door open for Belle to get out. Belle made sure to pick the front of her dress so that she wouldn't step on her dress and fall. Thankfully she had worn her gloves today along with the coat that covered her body. 

It felt like she had come here just yesterday, her memory was faint but there were some memories of her when she was young. Coming here with her parents, holding their hands but right now they were not here with her. They were gone in that dreaded day and no matter how many times Lucas convinced her and how much she consoled herself, she couldn't stop the pain and guilt, she felt that it was because of her responsibility her parents were gone. 

She took a deep breath when the memory of her parents walking by the street next to her flashed that turned her heart heavy. 

Maybe stopping here was a bad idea as she wanted to reminisce some parts of her memories but the emptiness in her chest which was left behind...she was unable to fill it fully. 

Turning around she said, 

"I will be walking from here. I will be back soon," she informed the coachman and the man nodded to pull the carriage to the side. 

Belle then continued to walk on the snowy ground, her hands in her pockets and she knew this wasn't the way to the Duke's house, but maybe there was other ways without creating any disaster or letting Vivian know. All Vivian would need was a touch to find out and it would create unnecessary problems. 

Making through the many streets, taking left and right, she finally came to stand in front of the large cemetery which was one of the oldest here in the land of the Bonelake. The cemetery was so old that it was closed because there were no relatives or families to come and visit the dead. Some said that the town was renovated right after the division of the four lands came into the picture- Valeria, Mythweald, Bonelake and Wovile. 

With the gate being closed, she had to go on her way of entering the place. Looking left and right, she saw that there was no one here. The gates were covered in creepers all around and they were all dried up. 

She then placed her foot on one of the gates before starting to climb and turn to the other side and jumped down. She didn't understand why anyone would close this if no one was going to use it. And it didn't seem like there was anyone near the cemetery. 

She continued to walk to look at gravestones which were old and some broken and most of them were covered in snow as it was the time of Winter.

Her shoes left imprints on the ground and she continued to walk. She came here because she had seen this in the ghoul's memory. 

She then heard that cracking sound of sticks being broken and crushed behind her. Belle turned around and looked at the ghoul who stood tall with its ragged clothing and with the wind that blew, its robes waved to the side. 

"I didn't know where else to search for you or how to summon you," confessed Belle looking at the ghoul.

"You find me here," whispered the ghoul, its voice too quiet like a whisper which she had to pay keen attention. 

Belle nodded her head, the sight of the ghoul was definitely daunting. The first time she had seen, she had fainted right away and when the second time the ghoul had almost attacked Barron and this was the third time. 

"How is she doing?" asked Belle to the ghoul, she pulled the coat that she wore closer to her.

The ghoul continued to stand in front of her without a word and it was hard to see if the ghoul was looking at her or if it was distracted because its head was completely covered. It then answered,

"Occupied with man. No time for tea."

Belle didn't know what that meant and she gave him a confused look before shaking her head. 

"Nevermind," she said, fog coming out of her mouth, "Meeting and talking to Vivian might not be a good idea because of her ability. So I will need to find another way," if the ghoul was around her most of the time, it was possible for Belle to connect with her through this dead creature. 

"I need you to raise your hands," she instructed the creature. She removed the gloves that she wore and put it in her pocket, "Open palms facing upwards." The creature brought its hands forward, old decayed boney hands that looked different compared to the death reapers hands. she took a deep breath, hoping it would work. 

Belle then finally placed her open palms to place in the ghoul's hands and she closed her eyes as smoke started to surround her...