I hummed quietly to myself, a pair of quesadillas slowly being cooked to perfection. I flipped them over, listening to the shuffle of my guest. I smiled faintly as I put the quesadillas on a plate and turned off the stove. I turned to see a bleary eyed woman.
She was loosely wearing one of my husband's oversized shirts and one if my shorts. "Why don't you take a seat? Here, eat."
She sat down, her beautiful green eyes wandering, her short black hair was messy. She spoke in a broken English. "Where… who are you?"
"It doesn't matter right now… but call me Veria." I smiled slightly. Watching as the woman's eyes widened as I sat across from her.
"The, commander's…" I nodded as she trailed off, my fingers tracing the gem of the ring he'd gotten me, proposed to me with. The memories came back. A wonderful day at the park, the sun setting and a photographer at the tree of life before we left for the evening, he asked…
"I…" she stuttered.
I smiled. "It's okay, I know."
"Eat, the quesadilla will go cold… they are his favorite." The last remark seemed to rouse her curiosity, and she took a few tentative bites.
I watched the troubled girl eat. I supposed I could see why Andrew had been so angry and worried with her. Regina? I think he'd said her name was… she glanced around, staring at the framed pictures of us, my husband and I. Some were before the apocalypse, some during. All were my precious memories.
"Why… why didn't he…" her voice was soft, vulnerable and full of emotion. I moved next to her, rubbing her back.
"He's stubborn, as mean as he is… he has a heart of gold, he just doesn't like to share it." I chuckled. Recalling back when I'd asked him out for our first date after weeks of hopelessly waiting for him to ask me.
"He cares deeply, a lot. But he pushes everyone away because he doesn't want to hurt them." I said, remembering how easily I'd slipped through his defenses.
"Do you remember how far he carried you?" I asked the young girl, her gaze skeptical. She shook her head slightly.
"Well he doesn't carry just anyone six miles in midday heat with hordes of zombies hot on his heels. He's a brutish oaf, but he cares about you Reggi." I patted her shoulder and stood, walking over to one of the pictures.
"Someone will need to look after him soon." I said quietly, gently placing my hand on a picture of his handsome smile.
"He… he doesn't… trust…" she slowly chocked on the words.
"Oh he does dear." I replied. Setting the frame down and walking around the kitchen, slowly starting to clean.
"We both knew you weren't ill. But he trusted you still, threw away a great many lives I heard." I heard her start to cry. I stopped cleaning and helped her up, walking her to the couch.
"Now now, that's not how his sword should act is it?" I asked, wiping her tears with a tissue.
"How could… could I be his… hic… his sword? After… hic… all this?" She asked between tears.
"Regina Ponatoski! Every witch has her secrets!" I scolded her. She tried to pull away but I pulled her close, drying her tears.
"Besides… my time with him is quickly ending… I'm afraid tonight is the last time." I said quietly, my eyes becoming unfocused.
"But… you're his wife… he… he treasures you." She exclaimed.
I smiled happily. "He does, and I'm so grateful. But the brujeria does not lie, it never does…" I stopped myself, finding myself rubbing my stomach. An overwhelming feeling of sadness came over me.
"He'll know, once he reads my journals, trying to find comfort." I said, she must have caught on, as Regina was now looking at me with grave concern. She wiped the tears from her eyes.
"No, don't worry about me… I've already seen it. It must come to pass." I spoke slowly, a heavy sigh escaping me.
"If you know, then… why?" She protested softly.
"Because I've seen what happens if I do not… I would rather he live, and I not…" I said softly, a few tears sliding down my face. I smiled at the young woman next to me. I knew what, who'd she become. I hoped dearly she'd stay by Andrew's side though what was to come.
The difficulties. His trials. His sorrows, anguish. I wanted to be there, to help him through it… but… once this passes, it was this or him scaring the world… my mother and I… our own blood had… the witch's blood. It wasn't soon enough to warn us…
She tried to talk me out of it. To sway me from it. But she knew as well as I what would happen, the price… it was not worth it. If only I could have changed it, but by the time my mother and I… the blood of the witch was not strong enough then. When we learned the choice was gone, that path forever sealed. Better to take the path where at least my love would live, even if I did not.
I chuckled, such a simple decision. It had powerful consequences. But… I closed my eyes for a moment and when I opened them I could see a fiery aura around young Regina. It didn't rage, but smoldered, a reflection of her lost cause. I drew upon some of the blood, a few glimpses of her flashed through my mind. They satisfied me, because he was behind her, they all were. The sword, sheild, and his pillars. And there was that other one… the blue skinned one, she wasn't always there, but often was. The Guardian, the protector… at least I hoped she was.
There may be time tonight for one last spell, to grant my beloved with the good fortune he deserved. The last proof of my love…
"Please take care of my husband, I must prepare for my trip." I said quietly, smiling at the young lady who would become my husband's sword. Mayhap I'd said more than I should've, maybe not. Though I did not want to leave his side, if it wasn't done… the greatest sacrifice… I smiled sadly to myself as I packed a small bag.
I looked up at the picture of him I'd taped to the mirror. "I love you, always… and forever."