They returned home not knowing what to feel about that encounter.
Of course, both of them had an idea on what the soothsayer was trying to say. But they didn't want to acknowledge it out loud, and make the other know what's on their mind.
"Well…. I'm going to sleep." Professor Seward said, her face even paler than usual.
Her brows furrowed like she was on the verge of crying. Harker had always suspected that she was hiding some kind of painful past, but this basically confirms it. The fact that the soothsayer mentioned her losing her star…..
Must have meant that she lost the one she loves, and now she tries to forget all the heartbreak with sex and drugs.
It was typical, yes, but much more complicated given her circumstance.
How many years has it been since she lost this person? And could it be that she couldn't attach herself to anyone else when she knows she will outlive them and never grow old?
Harker knows he shouldn't be making assumptions like this, but it wasn't like Professor Seward will give him the answers any time soon.
He heaved a sigh as he got inside his own room. They will be returning back to the mansion first thing tomorrow, then go back to Lady Ojistah to find where Victoria was. The more days passed, the more anxious he gets over Mina. If only he could teleport to where she was, or she could teleport towards him…
He laid in bed. The moment he closed his eyes, Mina's image became even more vivid. He missed her more than he thought.
He wished he could hold her in his arms again, touch her, kiss her…..
Flashes of their memories together came to his mind. The first time he saw her in that fish tank where she fiercely stood up to the snake demon Xi, the first time they actually spoke to each other in cold terms, the first time they became friends and trusted each other…..
And of course, their first kiss and the first time they made love, confessing these developing feelings they can no longer contain.
If only he could go back to those moments. He felt like he should have valued them more, showed Mina more affection while she was still around. He really hoped she'd—
"Come back, please."
Harker heard the murmur next to his room. There was also the sound of heavy breathing and sobs.
He stood up from his bed and slowly approached the crack on the wall. It was only the size of a penny, but it was enough to give him a view of the bed itself.
Joan was hugging herself, shoulders shaking as she could barely control her tears. She sunk deep into the blankets but still felt so cold. The moment she was made to recall stars, the sea, and ice, it all comes back to her like a slap on the face.
"Edmund…." She called out.
'So that's his name.' Harker thought to himself, his face looking forlorn and conflicted.
In the dark, he continued to observe the weeping woman with his chest feeling heavy. It was like something was tugging at his heart to go there and comfort her. But he couldn't, because he doesn't know what to say and if it will just make things worse.
"I shouldn't have…. Let you go on that ship… I shouldn't have...." She continued to murmur incoherently.
She wiped her tears away, and stood up. Harker tried to peer where she was going. Joan turned on the light switch, and took something from her bag.
It was a stack of what seemed to be letters. And they were very old and yellowed, tied up together by a tiny red string.
Joan started to read them one by one for the rest of the night. She kept on crying. Harker knew he should stop watching by now, but he couldn't either. He could only stay there, his eyes drawn to her tear-stained cheeks.
Neither of them even realized that morning had come.
Joan stopped once she heard the crowing of the chickens nearby. She wiped her tears away and tried to steady her breathing. She put the letters down, and went to the one shared bathroom to wash her face.
Harker knew it was wrong. But his feet had started moving, and he found himself in her room.
He picked up one of the letters written in cursive handwriting and seemed to be inked with a quill pen.
It had faded a lot, and Harker could barely make out the words. All he could read was this:
[..... And I assure you, my dear, that you are very much welcome to strangle my neck shall I return to you as a cadaver. Yes, I do know that there may be no use in doing so as I am no longer breathing either way, but you know that I jest as well. Do not fret. I shall return, oh dear Lady Disdain.
Sending regards from the depths of the Atlantic,
E. Walton ]
"Lady Disdain, huh?" Harker thought. "Now where did I hear that before…."
Harker vaguely remembered that this was what Benedict called Beatice from Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing. Though he wasn't an expert on the Bard like his mother, barely familiar with the plots of the plays and never reading his poems and sonnets…
This one made an impression on him. Because these two characters were so different from everyone else. Meaning they weren't like the typical 'hero' and the 'damsel'.
They were enemies at the start of the story and often talk shit about each other, but become lovers in the end. Since Edmund used that reference as an endearment, it seemed that he and Joan may have had that type of dynamic where they act like they hate each other but sincerely adore each other.
Harker put the letter back, but he didn't return to his room. Instead, he went to see Alejandro, who was still sleeping in his teddy-bear pajamas when he knocked.
He yawned. "What is it, Sir? It's still too early…. El dia barely even started."
But Alejandro soon jolted awake after seeing that very serious expression on his face.
"Sorry for disturbing your sleep, but this is important. I need the intel team to look for a Captain Edmund Walton."
—-------------------
They were now walking around the mansions, and Joan Seward has been awfully quiet this whole morning. She just calmly picked a brick from the floor, and showed it to them.
"This one. This brick is from Vicky's study. I know because it's a different type from the rest." She said.
Harker took it from her, their fingers brushing slightly. As this happened, the professor's expression seemed to sour even more, and she looked away.
"Let's get moving to Lady Ojistah then. The sooner we find Victoria, the better."
Her tone sounded colder than before, none of her usual mirth and teasing. Harker felt a little bad about just watching her cry like an idiot last night.
But then, Alejandro tapped on his shoulder.
"Sir, we got the results now for Edmund Walton. Apparently, he was a sea captain that started an expedition to the North Pole in 1776 and went missing, presumed dead. There wasn't much information about him because he wasn't really a popular captain and the expedition was just briefly mentioned once in the London Gazette."
"1761…. That was before the American Revolution. Was he married? Had any kids?"
Alejandro shook his head. "No. He was said to be a bachelor. He was only 22 when he took the trip to the North Pole, Sir."
The same age as Harker was now. He wondered how old Professor Seward was when she met him, and what the circumstances of their relationship was. Even though he shouldn't be getting nosy over somebody's business…
He can't help but feel that learning about this woman's past was important. That the more he learns about her….
The more he will learn about himself and where he stands when it comes to matters such as love and heartbreaks.
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