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Victor held Victoria close in his arms at the altar, gazing into her dark eyes. Emily watched on with a resigned smile before turning away from the happy couple.
Victor glances up at Emily’s retreating back. His heart begins to beat uncontrollably, an uncomfortable sensation fills his abdomen, mouth dry as a desert. The reality of the situation dawns on him, and it is as if Victor steps out of his body for a moment. Scenes flash before him. An arranged marriage with Victoria that would only be out of duty, the initial attraction fading into oblivion, leaving the two as unhappy as those that came before them, Victoria’s dream of true love scattered into the wind. A marriage with Emily, though at first cause for repulsion soon softened out into one of mutual desire, two hearts that would never beat again but love blooming despite that fact, hearts alive in spirit, Emily the bride finally and not forever a bridesmaid.
“Wait!’ Victor calls out, releasing his hold on Victoria in favor of approaching Emily.
The corpse bride turns to face the man.
“Emily I must confess.” Victor inhales deeply, then exhales a moment later. “ I do love you.”
Emily and Victoria simultaneously gasp, the silence loud in the church.
“No Victor, you love Victoria, your living bride.”
“Perhaps that could have been true before I met you Emily, however I find myself now torn at the prospect of being without you.”
“Victor?” Victoria places a delicate palm upon his shoulder, drawing his attention back to her.
“Victoria, I am sorry. I know this is all so sudden for you but I must admit I cannot be the husband you deserve. You deserve a man unencumbered, a man who can fulfill your dream of true love. I believe one day that man will come into your life, and that you will be the happiest woman and most radiant bride. My only regret is that I will not be able to witness that day.”
Tears stream down Victoria’s face. “ Oh Victor, I understand. I don’t know how but I could tell from the moment I stepped into the church and saw you and Emily upon that altar that your heart had already been held by her. You had gazed upon Emily with such fervor, I knew in my heart that you could never gaze upon me in the same fashion, however I choose to remain hopeful that I was mistaken.”
“ I hope you can forgive me Victoria. I know you only wished for love.”
“That may be true but Emily has wished for true love for many a year. I know in my heart that you are the man to grant it Victor, even if It will break my heart a little.” Victoria smiles at Victor in acceptance, then moves toward Emily, taking the skeletal hand and placing it in Victor’s flesh one.
Emily stares into the man's eyes.“Victor, do you truly love me?”
He gently squeezes the skeletal hand, and returns Emily’s gaze with a fond expression.” It may come as a surprise being that we have spent such little time together, but yes, I do truly love you Emily.” The corpse brides eyes water as she smiles.
“Shall we continue the ceremony?” Victoria suggests. “My wedding was quite a terrible ordeal and I could use some cheer today, we all could.”
Emily and Victor nod at each other, then nod at Victoria. Elder Gutknecht, who had been watching the scene before him in dead silence clears his throat and resets the bronze goblet and bottle of poison upon the table. Victoria takes a seat in the pews towards the front of the room. Victor leads Emily back to their former places at the Altar.
“I feel as though I am in a dream.” Emily says quietly.
“With you, my beautiful bride, it may as well be.” Victor caresses Emily’s cold cheek. “A dream I wish to never wake from.” Emily’s smile could light up the whole town.
“ Let us begin again,” Elder Gutknecht mutters. “ Living first.”
“With this hand,” Victor raises a hand.” I will lift your sorrows.” He then takes hold of the goblet beside him on the table. “Your cup will never empty, for I will be your wine.”
“Now you.” Elder Gutknecht gestures toward Emily.
“With this hand, I will lift your sorrows.” Emily takes a hold of the bottle of poison upon the table.” Your cup will never empty, for I will be your wine.” She pours the poison, red in color, into the goblet.
Victor lifts the goblet to his lips, and this time Emily does not halt him in his task. Instead she smiles gently, eyes never leaving Victor’s pale but lively face. It occurs to her that this will be the last time she will see him alive. Before his confession, Emily would have felt guilty at being the reason for his demise, however now, with a heart full of love, she is content to let him follow her into death.
The man ingests the poison, gulping it down in one go as if it is the finest of wines. Emily glances over at Victoria in the pews and mouths a ‘thank you’. Victoria nods, then stands from her seat, and turns her back on the newlyweds to exit the church. The woman is enveloped by the frigid, familiar England air as the church doors slam shut behind her. She sighs with the breeze, then smiles. Even as tears stream down her face, Victoria’s feet carry her far into the night, free to find the love of another.
Emily embraces Victor as his breath begins to fail, his gasps coming out choked and pained. She gently lays him down upon the wooden church floor, and cradles his face with both hands. Victor’s face scrunches up, his chest tight, lungs losing oxygen at a rapid pace. Emily hums softly above him and with the last of his strength, he reaches up to place a palm on the back of her head pulling her into a loving kiss. The press of her ice cold lips to his temporary warm ones is the final sensation Victor feels before all fades to blissful black.
**********
Time passes. After reawakening in the land of the dead, skin a pale blue tone and heart no longer beating, Victor finds himself at the piano, Emily at his side with a wide smile. They play a tune that is all their own, no longer somber, but one of promise, of joy, of love, and of new beginnings. The corpse groom glances at his corpse bride, love evident on his face. She returns the glance, then leans in close. Deathly cold lips meet each other in a sweet yet passionate kiss. Emily’s skeletal hand detaches from her forearm, excitedly climbing up Victor’s own arm. She pulls away.
“Pardon my Enthusiasm.”Victor removes the skeletal hand from his shoulder, then takes ahold of Emily’s forearm and gently connects it back in its rightful place.
“I love your Enthusiasm.” He kisses Emily once more.
-*Fin*-