How I edit my own work - Plus a story to read too - 21

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Black-clothed guards escorted Robert Devereux, Lord Essex to the scaffold to his execution. Katherine appeared to the side of the structure so as to still be out of sight of Elizabeth, should she be watching the spectacle.

The executioner’s axe fell and beheaded Robert Devereux. Katherine forced herself to watch out of respect for her friend, Elizabeth, if nothing else. Three strokes of the axe fell before his head was severed and the executioner could hold up his head by his fair hair.

At the moment of his death, Dominic’s spirit rose from the body that he had been forced from and he only saw Katherine then. She did not smile, for she was deeply dismayed that she had been the cause of his death.

Demons took hold of him, and she gasped in shock at the sight of them. Dominic screeched insults and threats at Katherine to such a pitch that some of the more sensitive people watching fainted.

It was always assumed that they had lost consciousness because of the bloody spectacle, but in reality, it was because of Dominic’s spirit’s fury. He was gaining more power and that one death was but a small set-back on his road to immortality and the potential for the great power that he could achieve.

Katherine called in on her friend, Elizabeth but The Queen’s grief made her unreceptive to Katherine’s presence and Katherine shed a tear for the loss of the friendship.

Katherine returned to the half-world after a long time in the hope to avoid a confrontation with Dominic.

She returned only once to Elizabeth’s side; on the night that Elizabeth left this mortal plain.

Katherine stayed with her as she died, took Elizabeth’s spirit by the hand and escorted her friend to the other world. Elizabeth was serene and contemplative as they walked and Katherine had little need to comfort her. Elizabeth had had a great many years of life and was ready to pass over to the next experience.

“I did forgive you, Katherine, but it took a long time. You were wise to stay away, although, at times I could have used your counsel. Your presence soothed me and I did so need a friend but perhaps it would have made the rift wider, for I did love Robert.”

“I know that you did, but it was not Robert, it was Dominic and he has but one love and that is for himself. The love you had for him would have been used and distorted and he would have been King and above even your rule if you had married him.”

“I know this Katherine, I had come to realise the same, but it took such a long time of deliberation and thought. I imagined that I hated you for making me keep my promise, but I did not hate you, I never could. You have made me understand that there are more things on earth than we can ever imagine and I go to the next world with peace and joy in my heart, for I do not think that I should be refused entry to that paradise of which priests tell. What is it like, Katherine?”

“I cannot tell you what that realm is like, for I do not know. I have not yet seen beyond the half-world that I flit to and from. Your world and the half-world are all that I know.”

“Show me it, I should like to see.”

Katherine took Elizabeth to the half-world where she gave an extensive tour. Images and scenery astonished Elizabeth but there was nothing so pure and real as the trees and animals of the world that Elizabeth had just vacated.

Katherine’s self-manufactured sanctuary had been reclaimed by the half-world and if she wanted it again, she would have to make it over again. Elizabeth was disappointed although she was too mindful of Katherine’s feelings to make comment to that effect.

Elizabeth nodded and tried an encouraging smile but Katherine was not fooled.

“I know it is drab and dreary. It has nothing like the fascinations that your world holds. I try not to stay here for too long but I need to rest sometimes. Searching for Dominic is wearying. I do not have the heart for making the beauty that once I was capable of.”

“I shall wait for you.” Elizabeth said and Katherine knew that she would.

They said their goodbyes and Elizabeth looked up to something or someone that Katherine could not quite see. Elizabeth’s face brightened and Katherine saw once again, the little girl that she first met in the meadow, delighted in her game of running from her governess.

Elizabeth took one last look behind her, at Katherine and then was gone, vanished into the next world with one word of greeting, a joyous sound that lifted Katherine’s heart to hear it. “Kat!”