Bowing her head against the driving rain, her perfect features were as remote as those of the carved angel on the tombstone in front of her. A chill ran the length of her body and she shuddered as she noticed a tall dark man watching her from the shadows. Frozen inside, her attention returned to her own final resting place. As she wondered how this could have happened, she faintly heard footsteps approaching from behind her. Spinning on her heel to confront the stranger, her black velvet cape swirled around her like the wings of a bat taking flight.
“Ah, my princess of darkness has come to me at last!” The deep voice and strange words bounced around in Zoe’s mind but she didn’t feel the fear she had expected to feel. The stranger looked past her to the tombstone they were standing in front of. A slab of black marble sat at the base of the quiet and ever-seeing angel. He read the engraving out loud.
“Zoe Spencer, always in our hearts. 1981 – 2005.”
“So? What’s your point?” Zoe snapped coldly. “And by the way, who the hell are you anyway?”
“Oh, so sorry my beautiful. My name is Soren Davis. And you my sweet must be Zoe. I have been waiting for you my whole life.” Sweeping a black baseball cap from his black hair, Soren bowed to her. Zoe felt her cold cheeks flame with embarrassment and the ice wall around her heart begin to melt.
“Walk with me?” Soren offered his arm. With little reluctance Zoe took it. Walking arm in arm among the crumbling and decaying tombstones with this dark stranger, Zoe felt strangely at peace.
“Even here, surrounded by darkness and death, there is light to be found Zoe, you just have to look for it. Will you let me be your light or are you going to fight what is naturally right?”
Soren’s rich deep voice rolled over Zoe in waves and she knew she couldn’t fight him even if she had the desire to do so, which she didn’t.
“You can be my light Soren,” she whispered into the darkness.
As the moon parted their company and the first rays of sunlight started creeping towards the cemetery gates, Zoe and Soren parted, agreeing to meet again that night as the moon rose once again in the black sky above.
“Do you realize that the moonlight in your blonde hair makes it look like spun silk?” Soren’s voice rumbled through Zoe’s mind like thunder and her heart leapt with joy at his words.
“No, I didn’t know that,” Zoe replied with a satisfied smile. “But I do know that the moonlight on your black hair makes it look like a raven’s wing.” Her bright blue eyes sparkled up at him.
“I take that as a compliment. My Angel of Darkness brings a smile to my face.” Soren laughed, his dark green eyes shining with the love he felt for her.
The following evening, sitting on the damp grass in the middle of the cemetery, Zoe didn’t feel the early evening dew beneath her. Instead she only felt an all-consuming love for the man sitting at her side. A love that she had never felt before in her life. Zoe knew that the lack of love in her life was the reason she had lingered after death instead of crossing over. So what will happen now I have found it at last? Zoe wondered quietly to herself.
“Soren?”
“Yes my lovely, what can I do for you?”
Zoe paused, unsure of herself. “Could you please show me where you are buried? I understand if you don’t want to but I would really like to see it.”
“I don’t mind at all Angel. Come.” He reached out his strong hand and helped Zoe to her feet. Minutes later they stood in front of a very old and decayed tombstone on the opposite side of the cemetery to where Zoe was buried. This time it was her turn to read the engraving out loud.
“Soren Davis. Lived and Died a Hero. 1776 – 1804.” Zoe stared in shock and disbelief at the dates on the tombstone. “My god Soren, you died over two hundred years ago!” Zoe exclaimed when she finally found her voice again.
“Yes,” Soren sighed deeply. “But I am forever 28 years old. At least now you know how long I have waited for you Angel.”
“But why Soren? Why would you wait for that long?” Zoe guessed what his answer would be and tensely waited, hoping. He gave her the answer she wanted to hear.
“Because we are soul mates, Zoe. I wouldn’t let myself pass over until I had met you. I love you.”
“I love you too Soren.” Zoe reached for his cold hand and squeezed gently. “Soul mates,” she whispered into the darkness and to the dead surrounding them.