Chapter 356: _Even In Death
Caroline’s POV
*****
The last few days since she was summoned as a ghost, life hasn’t been easy.
Oh, right... She technically didn’t have a "life" to make easy anyway.
Okay, then existing as a ghost wasn’t easy.
Yeah... That sounds much better. Or worse. Dear goddess.
Caroline couldn’t feel hungry. Couldn’t feel pain. Heck, emotions seemed distant these days.
Maybe that’s why she was able to linger in the same pack as Regina without wishing she could bang her head into a wall and get a ticket back to the afterlife.
Either that or ghosts were capable of delusionally avoiding the fat ass elephant in the room as much as mortals.
Because each attempt by Regina to communicate with her was futile.
Until today.
"What are you doing here?" Caroline asked with a deep frown when she found Regina at a spot she least expected.
Standing in front of her freaking grave.
Caroline’s grave was dug in a secluded and peaceful spot within the Alpha king’s mansion premises. Elm trees shed their leaves, creating a beautiful scenery kissed by the light of the dull evening sun.
Beside Caroline’s grave was Layla’s grave, both having headstones with their names on them as well as "forever immortalised by Alpha King Kaelos" written across them.
Cute... But not so cute with Regina standing there ominously like she was having her own mini funeral service.
The artificial hybrid slowly turned around to face Caroline, strands of her raven black hair blowing into the wind.
But a soft smile settled on her face, taking Caroline off guard.
"Caroline," Regina whispered, looking almost as ethereal as the actual ghost between them with the black gothic gown she wore. "This... this is a surprise. Did you track me here?"
Caroline was still left aback for a few seconds but eventually got back her composure. She shook her head, glaring at Regina.
"It’s literally my grave." She blurted, strutting closer.
Regina tilted her head slightly. "Right. Still doesn’t answer my question though."
Argh, gods above!
Caroline sighed, closing her eyes briefly before she spoke. "Yes, Regina. I was searching for you and this is the last place I thought to look."
Regina’s black eyes lit up, her red-stained lips curling into a wider smile.
But Caroline was quick to kill those imaginary butterflies in her stomach. "It’s not what you think. I was searching for you because the Alpha king and Luna Queen need you."
Regina froze, blinking with confusion at first. But then she finally spoke up. "Need me? No offence to them, but what could they possibly need me for?"
Caroline paused her footsteps when she finally got a few meters in front of Regina.
They stared at each other for what felt like forever and fleeting seconds simultaneously. Regina’s breath hitched and Caroline didn’t know if she should be amused or further agitated by how flustered the artificial hybrid was.
Probably the latter.
"There was an attack on the Luminari Coven last night." Caroline cleared her throat even though she didn’t need to. "Your buddy Ryker sent a group of artificial hybrids to disrupt the witches from meeting with the other high covens."
Regina’s expression quickly faltered, her eyes darkening slightly. "The lord of the North is not my ’buddy’."
Caroline shook her head.
Right...
"Whatever. The point is, the Alpha king and Luna Queen have decided they’re taking the fight to him before it spills into a war the continent sure as hell doesn’t need." Caroline explained, already tortured by how long this conversation was going on.
Fortunately, realisation dawned on Regina’s features, her lips parting slightly.
Thank Selene.
"I guess you’re getting where I’m going with this," Caroline confirmed and the latter nodded slowly.
"You want me to lead you to the Lord of the North’s main base?" Regina questioned but Caroline hastily corrected that.
"The Alpha king, Luna Queen and their allies want you to do that. As we speak, Alpha King Thorian and Luna Queen Janelle of Europe have set up camp in the pack alongside their soldiers."
Regina nodded but she didn’t seem convinced by Caroline’s claim of not wanting her help.
Caroline’s eyelids fluttered a bit before she shrugged. "There’s a meeting about to happen in the Alpha King’s office. You’re needed there but before we go... You do know where Ryker is, right?"
Regina clicked her tongue, adjusting the hem of her gown even though it didn’t need adjusting. "Of course, my love. I do."
Caroline’s eyes widened when she heard what she called her.
My love?
The most annoying part was when Regina’s smirk came back. Like she was revelling in getting a reaction from her.
Well, she could keep doing that.
"Anyway, follow me. You can tell everyone else what you know so we don’t run around like headless chickens." Caroline turned away from her, about to leave.
But before she finished taking two steps, something clasped around her right wrist, forcing her to stop. It was a heaviness she hadn’t felt in days.
Wait... SOMETHING CLASPED AROUND HER RIGHT WRIST?!
Caroline’s eyes widened as she glanced back over her shoulder. A gasp left her lips when she saw what was happening.
Regina.
She had her grip on Caroline’s wrist. She was actually touching her without her hand phasing through!
"H–How...?" Caroline stuttered, her chest heaving while Regina took slow steps toward her.
The closer Regina got, the more anxious Caroline became until the artificial hybrid had her face merely inches away from hers.
"I knew you’d find a way to make yourself tangible in this form," Regina muttered, her voice brimming with pride. "The question is... Did your apparent hate for me spark it? Or..."
She drew her words, milking the tension until Caroline, a literal ghost, felt breathless.
"... Could there be something stronger than even hate you’re hiding beneath the surface?" Regina finally added, withdrawing her hand from Caroline’s wrist.
They gazed at each other a little more before Regina walked past her, her steps almost victorious.
Caroline stood there, speechless, flustered, and confused. But most of all... Something surged in her chest. Something she thought should be impossible after her death.
She craned her neck, her gaze trailing to the sky and the moon slowly peeking as the sun set.
"Goddess..." A small smile slowly cracked across her face, filled with hope.
Maybe, even in death, she still had a part to play...