That evening Eva and Perry rested at the top of the world, just the two of them. He leaned against an ancient tree, and she leaned against him. She wished the moment could last forever.
The air was remarkably clear tonight, and they could see for miles ahead. Past the Abyss, even past Vanity, to the far blue mountains beyond. Her mind was still in fragments, but piece by piece her memories snapped into place. Perry taken by Apollyon. The satyr. Vanity trying to burn her at the stake.
She wished she could stay here, lost in this moment for the rest of time. Piece by piece, every gap in her memories would be filled.
She pointed toward a crooked mountain on the horizon. “That’s where I descended.”
Perry stood, extending both hands to her. She place her hands in his, and he held them gently as he gazed into her eyes. The sun had sunk behind the mountains to the west. He leaned toward her.
“Eva, I…”
She closed her eyes. Waited. Opened them. “Yes?”
“That was a brave thing you did for me.” He smiled. “Thank you.”
Her mouth tasted of ashes. Had she been wrong to want more? She smiled at him anyway. “You would have done the same thing for me, dearest.”
