Lark told Emma the tale of their love from her previous life. He did not at first make it clear that the tale was about them. Emma listened, fascinated by the tale. When Lark had finished, Emma seemed lost in thought.
“Is that a true story?” she asked at last.
“It is,” Lark said looking at Emma.
“It is such a beautiful and yet sad story,” Emma said.
“It is exactly that,” Lark replied.
“How do you know about it?” Emma asked.
“You would not believe me if I told you,” Lark said.
“I could not say if I would believe you if you told me unless you tell me,” Emma said smiling.
Lark laughed softly, “You are just like…” He trailed off as he realized what he was about to say.
“Just like…?” she echoed waiting for him to finish.
Lark hesitated and then decided to push through. He had come this far. He had intended to come this far and end this, and he was on the verge of doing so.
“Just like her,” Lark replied. “Because you are her.”
Emma’s brow furrowed. “I… don’t understand. What do you mean?”
“I am the man from the story. You are the woman, Erin. You look exactly like her. Your mannerisms are the same, your hair, your smile. Everything.”
“Why should I believe you? How is it possible? You should look like a monster to me.”
“I should yes and I do. But, tell me in all honesty, if I looked like a monster to you would you ever have come near me?”
“I suppose I wouldn’t have but, still you do not look like a monster…”
“I have had much time, many, many years to find a way in which I could disguise my appearance from you. See the curse that transforms me when you are near cannot be thwarted in any way at all. So, I had to find another way. And I did.”
“Which is?” Emma asked curiously.
“I cast a spell on you to make you see me as I am when you are not near to me. It is the only way.”
Emma nodded slowly as she took in what Lark told her. “Can I see you without the spell, as the… the monster?” she asked.
“Why would you want to?” Lark asked. “I fear if you did you would be terrified and run away.”
“Why?”
“Because what I am when you are close to me, is not who I am. I fear you will forget that when you see me in the horrifying form I am in now. You will forget that I am not violent and simply based on my appearance, you will flee and I will never see you again. I fear that to show you what the curse makes me will destroy any chance we might ever have of being together.”
“Why did I not kiss you before?”
“You died just before you kissed me.”
“Were there not other times before then to kiss you?”
“There were,” Lark replied.
“And? Why did I not kiss you then?”
“Because you were afraid,” Lark replied reluctantly.
“Afraid of what?” Emma asked curiously.
“Afraid that if you kissed me, another curse would be activated that would affect you.”
Emma nodded as she absorbed what Lark told her. “Do you think something like that exists?”
Lark shook his head. “I think it could but I do not think that a secondary curse was created. I have studied all the witch’s texts and her scribblings for the curse she put on me. There is no mention of any other curse.”
“It does not mean it is not there,” Emma remarked distrustfully.
“I assure you,” Lark replied. “If I knew about it, I would never ask you to kiss me. I would never let such a thing happen to you. I honestly do not believe that it exists.”
“But it could,” Emma insisted.
Lark shrugged. “It could. You must be at peace with yourself before you kiss me. I have told you all I can,” Lark replied. “I doubt though that your father would ever create a curse that would affect you directly. He loves you too much.”
“Are you prepared to let me see you as you truly are?” Emma asked.
Lark sighed. “If you insist. But before I do, I would ask one favor of you.”
“What is that?” Emma asked.
“Please let me cut a lock of your hair,” Lark said.
Emma hesitated then nodded. “Okay.”
Lark reached for his hunting knife and Emma kneeled on the blanket. She bent her head forward and Lark gathered her hair in his hand and cut a few long strands. He showed her and she nodded it was okay. Then she took a ribbon that she had used to tie up the cloth around the fresh-baked bread she had brought in the basket, and tied it around the hair he had cut. She handed the lock of hair back to him.
“For you,” she smiled.
“Thank you,” Lark said and took the hair from her.
“Now, will you show me yourself?” Emma asked.
Lark backed away from her so he was a good distance away. Then he said the words that removed the spell from Emma.
Her face dropped in terror and her hands flew to her mouth. She scrambled to get up and then ran for the bridge.
Lark cried out to her and forgot that he was now a monster to her and sounded like one. His cry would have come out as a growl.
Emma screamed without looking back and tried to cross the bridge. She missed her footing and fell into the river. The river was not very deep but her clothes were muddied and wet as she scrambled out of the river on the other side and made her way to the house at a run.
Lark saw a horse with a rider approaching quickly and Emma made straight for him. The rider stopped when he reached her and she pointed back towards Lark. He had not invoked the spell again and was now visible to all as the monster. He snatched up her hair that she had allowed him to cut and began running from Emma and the rider.
The rider spurred his horse to a gallop and gave chase but Lark was much too fast and managed to elude the rider. Lark found a quiet place in the forest behind his property and watched until the rider gave up the chase and headed back to his farm where he helped Emma onto his horse and left with her riding behind him.
Lark waited until the rider and Emma were out of sight and then finally returned to his farmhouse.
His head was filled with questions. What had Emma told the rider? Who was the rider? Would people be back to hunt for him or the monster? Had she told the rider he was the monster using a spell to disguise himself? Would she ever return?
Lark was filled with regret. He wished he had let her kiss him when she had wanted to. She would never have known any better and it would all have been over now. What would happen next he wondered?
He knew what the alternative was. Another lifetime of waiting for Emma to be reborn. He did not want that. It would be too much although, if he could not fix this situation, he would have no choice.
No-one from the village arrived that night and Lark began to build up hope. He had expected a burning party during the night that would burn everything to the ground and hunt for him so they could burn him at the stake too. But it never happened.
The next day Emma arrived with her father and a friend of his. Lark had activated the spell again and stepped out to greet them.
“Good morning Lark,” Justin said remaining seated on his horse.
“Good morning,” Lark replied. His eyes studied the three of them. Emma sat behind her father looking embarrassed.
“I heard there was some kind of beast on the property yesterday. Terrified my daughter. It could have killed her. Karl here saw it and gave chase. Said he lost it in the woods.”
“Really? That’s terrible,” Lark replied feigning surprise. “I wondered what happened to Emma. How did you escape?” he asked looking at her.
“I gave chase and then gave her a ride back to the village,” Kurt replied. “Where were you?”
“I was on the other side of the field,” Lark replied. “Emma brought me food down under the tree and after I ate I headed back to the field to continue working. When I came back later, Emma was gone. I was confused as to why the food basket was still under the tree. I figured Emma had returned to the house but when I returned to the house last night and there was no dinner I figured she must have left early. Did you get a look at what kind of creature it was?” Lark asked.
“Damn strange,” Karl said. “Ran on two legs, but kind of hunched over like an ape only it wasn’t any ape I’ve ever seen before.”
“Well, who knows what creatures live in the forest,” Lark replied. “I’ll have to be more alert and I suggest Emma stays in the house. If he still wants to work here, that is, and if she’s still permitted to work here.”
“I’m not sure if it’s safe anymore,” Justin said studying Lark carefully.
“I’m sure it’s okay,” Lark said. “Maybe it’s just some wild animal that smelt the leftover food and was tempted out of hiding by it. Damn stupid of me to have left the food out. I didn’t hear any commotion because the horse was acting up. I had to calm her down. Maybe whatever it was had her spooked as well.”
“Maybe,” Justin said and Karl nodded.
“I’m sorry. I’ll be a lot more careful from now on,” Lark said.
“What about you, Emma? Are you okay? Are you up for still working here?”
Emma hesitated then realized everyone was waiting for her to say something. Finally, she nodded, “I… I guess so,” she said.
“There’s a brave girl,” Lark smiled being sure not to be too enthusiastic. “Best you stick to the house though. I’ll check on you regularly if you want. I suggest you keep the doors locked as an extra precaution. I’ve never had an experience of any creatures getting into the farmhouse though. Generally, they seem to stay away,” Lark said trying to seem reassuring to all of them.
He noted Justin and Karl were studying him carefully. He wondered for a moment if Emma had said anything to them but he doubted she had else he would have had a lynching or a burning party outside the farmhouse the night before, he told himself.
Emma dismounted and crossed to the stairs of the verandah where Lark stood. She looked up at him and then climbed the stairs.
Lark gave Justin and Karl a big smile. “Well, I promise you she’ll be safe here. I’ll make sure of it.”
Justin tipped his hat at Lark and Karl nodded.
“Alright then,” Justin said. “Thanks, Lark. We’re sure everything will be fine.” They turned their horses and headed back the way they had come.