Chapter 13
Chapter
Thirteen
It was completely bizarre to be unable to float through walls. And now he was totally focused on his heart. It was weird.
Mercedes seemed to be processing it all herself. He walked her out because she wanted to head back to Hetty’s, change and get ready for work. She reassured him that she would come back and they could talk about this.
Only, what was there to really talk about?
Their night of hot sex had broken the curse, but it wasn’t the sex. He was in love with Mercedes, so it made sense.
Except you haven’t told her that you love her, dunderhead.
His worry right now was how he was going to tell Sven that he was no longer a ghoul. He still had the pale white skin, red eyes, and fangs, but his hair had returned to normal. There was no hiding the truth. Sven was going to see this, and Magnus wasn’t sure what his twin would say or feel.
Magnus got into the elevator and rode it to the lobby. The door opened and Sven was standing behind the desk. He spun around when the elevator let out a ding and his eyes widened in shock.
“You’re…why are you in the elevator?” Sven sputtered.
Magnus scrubbed a hand over his face. “The curse is broken.”
“The…your hair and is that…is that a cut?”
“I tried to walk through a wall in the dark. That’s how I discovered the curse was broken.”
Sven hovered over to him and touched his hair and then his face. “Is your heart beating?”
Magnus nodded. “Yeah, but my skin stayed white and my eyes are still red.”
“Well, I guess you can’t win them all.” Sven pulled his hand away. “I’m happy for you.”
Except Magnus could hear the sadness in his voice because Sven was still cursed and the woman Sven loved had disappeared. And it was evident that one day Magnus was going to die. He was mortal and Sven wasn’t. It had been the two of them for so long.
“Are you okay?”
“Why wouldn’t I be?” Sven asked stiffly as he floated back to the reception desk. “You found love with Mercedes and that’s great. I am happy for you.”
“I know it happened the night…”
“Don’t talk about Flo,” Sven snarled. “I don’t want to talk about that. I have a lot to focus on, as do you. You have to prepare a stellar menu for our guests who are arriving tomorrow and staying for a week.”
“A week? That’s great.”
Sven nodded, but wouldn’t look him in the eye. “You know, I think I’m going to take a walk. When Mercedes comes back, could you get her to give a deep clean to room four for our guests.”
“Sure,” Magnus responded. “Hasn’t she been cleaning though this whole time?”
“Yes, but we want it completely fresh for our guests.”
“I think you’re over thinking and stressing too much. It’ll be fine,” Magnus said.
“Right. Sure. Of course.” Sven wasn’t looking at him though and he floated away, disappearing through the wall.
Appearing completely oblivious to the conversation.
Magnus knew exactly where Sven was headed.
He was going down to the cemetery. There was an empty grave there for Flo, and nearby was their old home, the cave.
I need to be with him. Even if he doesn’t want to talk to me, I need to be there for him.
Magnus left a note for Mercedes about cleaning room four and then tried to follow Sven out, slamming into the wall again and bonking his nose, which hurt like a son of a bitch.
“Hrisungr!”
Right. I can’t go through walls anymore.
This was something he’d have to get used to. As he stood there rubbing his nose, the front door opened and Finn and Margaid walked in.
They didn’t notice him at first, but as they climbed the few stairs up to the main reception area, they both paused. Finn’s eyes went wide and his mouth dropped open, while Margaid gasped and covered her mouth.
“Magnus?” Finn asked.
“Yes. Before you say anything further, my curse is broken.”
“How?” Margaid asked. “Oh my gosh, the do-over date with Mercedes? I take it that went well?”
Magnus smiled, thinking about Mercedes and the incredible night they spent together.
Even if they never got to experience his cheese soufflé, which he knew he still needed to throw out.
In fact, he had a lot to clean up, but it had all been worth it to be Mercedes.
And not because he thought she could break his curse, but because he was so in love with her.
He came to that realization when they spent the night together. He loved her. He had since their first message on the app.
“Yes, it went well and she did break my curse. I am mortal now.” He pointed at the bandage on his forehead. “I’m trying to navigate in a fully solid world.”
“So, you can probably leave Harmony Glen and not rot,” Finn stated in awe.
“I suppose so.” It was something he hadn’t considered. He could go back home. Take a plane and return to where their village was. Except, what would that matter? No one he knew would be there and no one would remember him. “What’re you two doing here so early?”
Finn and Margaid shared a smile.
“You know we’re engaged,” Margaid said. “We want to get married this weekend. Here at the dead-and-breakfast, while Pearl is home from school.”
“I know it’s your grand opening and you have guests, but we just need to borrow your backyard, and maybe have you cater some light snacks or something. We know that Sven is ordained to preform ceremonies. It’ll be small,” Finn said.
Magnus ran his hand over his head. “I’m sure Sven would be fine, but he runs that side of this business. Food, I can handle.”
“I know it’s last minute, but I don’t really have family, and everyone we love is here,” Margaid explained.
“I’ll go talk to Sven, but I’m sure we can make it work. He’ll call you later, if that’s okay?”
“Perfectly fine,” Finn replied, because the moment their gazes met, Magnus knew that Finn understood what was happening. He would know what was going on with Sven and the situation about the curse. “Come on, Margaid. Let’s go. Mom has a lot planned for us.”
“Right.” Margaid stood on her tiptoes and gave Magnus a quick peck on the cheek. “I’m so happy for you. Both.”
“Thanks, Margaid,” Magnus said softly. “Actually, if you guys drove here, can you take me to the cemetery? I need to check on Sven.”
“Sure,” Finn responded.
Magnus followed them out and climbed into Margaid’s truck.
She dropped him on Verdant Street, and he walked the rest of the way to the cemetery.
There weren’t many townsfolk lingering about the cemetery in the morning, and at least by hitching a ride with Finn and Margaid, he could avoid stares and all the questions.
People who knew him well would be curious about the obvious fact that the curse was broken.
He quietly made his way down the path to the cemetery and saw Sven at Flo’s grave, which they both knew was empty because her body was never found. He knew that Sven wouldn’t like him to intrude, so Magnus just took a seat on a bench overlooking the area.
From here he could keep watch and be available when Sven was ready to talk. Right now, all he felt was guilt and sadness because he knew how Sven was feeling. Over a century ago, it was supposed to be Sven who regained mortality, with Magnus left behind.
Magnus had made his peace with it because he’d been the one to get Sven into this cursed situation. How did it end up with him as the one freed first? He wasn’t sure, but he’d be here for his brother.
For as long as he could be.
There was no time for Mercedes to sit there and swoon over what had happened between her and Magnus last night, or what happened this morning when she saw that he was mortal now.
It was clear he loved her, although he hadn’t said it, and she did love him, but she hadn’t told him either.
Nor had she told him about her destiny to be the vessel for Yrsa, which had failed because her spirit rebelled.
She wasn’t sure how he was going to feel about that.
Right now, she had to get back to Room with a Tomb and get to work, but she didn’t overly rush to get back to the dead-and-breakfast, because she was sure Sven and Magnus had to talk.
It was hard to miss that Magnus had become mortal.
The hair, for one thing. Sure, Sven and Magnus had different hairstyles, but the fact that Magnus’ hair color had returned to normal really stood out.
The moment she returned to Room with a Tomb, Flo was floating around the front door, clearly agitated.
“Flo?” Mercedes said, surprised to see her outside.
Flo turned, wringing her hands. “They’re not here.”
“Oh?”
“Sven got upset and went to the cemetery. Magnus followed.” Flo sighed sadly. “Something about this date always makes Sven sad, and now that Magnus is mortal…he’s even more sad.”
Mercedes took a seat on the front stoop and Flo sat down next to her, her chin resting on her fist, staring off at the lawn.
“You don’t remember anything?” Mercedes asked.
“No. I’ve been trying to remember, but I don’t. I mean, there are some weird flashes in my memory. I remember electricity, but no, not really.”
Mercedes took a deep breath and reached out to take Flo’s hand, because she’d always been able to touch the ethereal plane as well as communicate with it. Flo seemed shocked by the touch, but didn’t pull away.
“It’s weird, I know, my first boyfriend was a ghost.” Mercedes took another deep breath. “You told me you’re a revenant.”
“Yes, that much I know. Or at least, I think.”
“Your father didn’t like that you were in love with Sven.”
Flo’s eyes opened wide and her mouth fell open. “I was in love with Sven?”
“You were.” Mercedes squeezed her hand gently. “And he loved you too.”
“Are you sure? How do you know?” Flo whispered. Her eyes were still wide and her brows furrowed, like she was truly trying to remember it.
“Another witch told me. I just found out yesterday. Your father owned this house and was kind of a nefarious fellow. Maybe Sal knew him, or Mario.”
“They’re from the forties, so, highly doubtful,” Flo said. “Go on though.”
“You’re sure?”
Flo nodded. “Yes. I want to know, because maybe I’ll remember.”