Chapter 3

3

I spent two days helping the gatekeeper plant flowers by the river. Before leaving, I went to the Soul Bridge one last time.

Without realizing it, I walked to the edge of the Bridge of Souls.

This place was covered in the flowers I had planted a hundred years ago. They were blooming wildly, making the cold Shadow Realm look like a piece of heaven.

I got lost in my memories, walking toward the spot where I first met Balthazar.

But what I saw made me stop dead in my tracks.

Not far away, two figures were tangled together among the flowers.

The man's heavy breathing and the woman's soft moans filled the air.

"Evangeline, you don't know how long I've waited for you. It took a thousand years to gather your soul. I wish you could have come back sooner."

"I know you love beautiful scenery. I watched over this riverbank as it changed for you. Now, I give all of this to you as a gift."

Before he could finish, Evangeline flipped over and kissed him deeply.

"Making love in these flowers is so much better than in a bedroom! You think of me so much, Balthazar. I'll make sure you love me even more today!"

The man let out a low groan and pulled her tighter into his arms.

"Evangeline! Evangeline!"

"I am going to make you my Queen!"

I felt as if a hand had reached into my chest and squeezed my heart. The petals flying in the wind felt like blades cutting my skin.

Tears streamed down my face. My strength vanished. I saw Evangeline look over his shoulder with a smirk of pure triumph.

After they finished and left in each other's arms, I collapsed to the ground and sobbed.

I remembered exactly how Balthazar had confessed his love to me in these very flowers.

We had done everything here.

And now, he had done those same things with another woman. Thinking of the images I just saw, my stomach churned. I actually vomited.

I stood up and tossed a flame into the flower field. I watched as the flowers I had spent a century tending turned into ash.

Just like my feelings for Balthazar, everything was burnt to the ground. Nothing remained.