“Just remember that this happened years ago.He’s not the same Vale as he was back then.”
Cyril swallowed.John didn’t know everything, but even if he did, Cyril was pretty sure he’d still be on Vale’s side.It made sense.Cyril had met John, Rachel, and Russell through Vale.If he and Vale were to break up, he’d lose them.
He hated the thought of that almost as much as he hated the thought of losing Vale.He wouldn’t blame them, though.To them, he was barely more than a stranger, while Vale was someone they’d worked with for years.Of course they’d choose him.
“Do you need a moment, or should we start?”John asked.
“I want to do this as quickly as possible.”
“Because you’re not supposed to be doing it.All right, let’s get to work.”
John was the one who opened the coffin.He didn’t seem to be afraid or disgusted.He behaved as if this was a normal daily occurrence for him, and Cyril was once again grateful that John had insisted on coming with him.This would’ve been much more complicated if he’d had to do it alone.
Melissa was well-preserved, but then, her family had enough money to ensure that she was.She was wearing a white shirt that had turned yellow with the years, and her skin looked paper-thin.Cyril knew to be careful.He didn’t want to damage the body.If he was lucky, no one would ever find out he’d done this, but he owed it to Melissa to be careful with her remains.
He gently touched her cheek.He heard John suck in a breath when she moved.She reached for her face, and Cyril cleared his throat.“Don’t do that,” he gently told her.He knew from experience that her eyelids had probably been glued together, so she wouldn’t be able to open her eyes even if she tried rubbing them.
“What happened?Where am I?”she asked.
“My name is Cyril.I’m a necromancer.”
Melissa was silent for a second.Cyril gave her the time she needed.He’d never died, but he could imagine how confusing being back in her body was to her.
“I died,” she said.
“You did.You were kidnapped, but no ransom was ever asked.They found your body a few days later.”
“But they did find it?”
“They did.You were laid to rest.”
“I’m not anymore?”
Cyril cleared his throat.“I have a few questions about what happened the day you died.”He hoped she’d think this was an official investigation.
Her back stiffened, but she nodded.“What do you want to know?”
“Who killed you?”
Cyril held his breath as he waited for her to answer.He already knew who killed her, but he was pretty sure that hearing the truth coming from her would break him.
“I don’t know his name,” she said slowly.“He grabbed me when I left school.He was tall, with blond hair and blue eyes.”
Cyril froze.“You’re sure about that?Your killer had blond hair and blue eyes?”Vale was blond, but back then, he’d been dying his hair red.He also didn’t have blue eyes.They were brown.
“Yeah, I’m sure,” Melissa said.She grinned, exposing yellowed teeth.Cyril heard John suck in another breath, but he ignored him.“I saw him die,” Melissa continued.
Cyril was extremely confused.“How did he die?”
“After he shot me, he was about to leave, but someone else arrived.That guy shot the guy who killed me.He tried to help me, too, but it was too late.”
Vale hadn’t shot Melissa?He’d tried to help her?“Are you sure about this?”Cyril asked.
“Very.I remembered feeling vindicated.I don’t know the second guy, but I’ll always be grateful for what he did.”
Cyril needed to sit down.He needed to take a few minutes to freak out.
He hadn’t believed Vale.He hadn’t trusted him.He’d thought that Vale was lying to him and that he was a monster.
