𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐄𝐋𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐍:
A love that is constant and true
(1920 - 1938)

AND EVER SINCE, HAS IT BEEN THAT LOVE CAN BE THE WHOLE CENTER OF ONE'S ENTIRE UNIVERSE.

Eloise Hareton had always believed that she did not deserve to be loved because of the immoral sins she had committed.

Blood stained her dainty fingers. Death surrounded her very being, and war was the reason she has stood confidently, independently, perfectly imperfectly, and alive for over a century and more.

Perhaps love was supposed to be given to a person who deserved love.

For as long as she could possibly remember, Eloise was not religious, but she recalled how her human self desperately prayed for someone to save her.

As if she were a damsel in distress, pleading for someone to love her for who she truly is rather than the perfect facade she put on for her parents.

Eloise Hareton prayed for a person like Jasper Whitlock.

And how she was astounded that a man like Jasper Whitlock, as if a bearer of a honeycomb heart.

Because how could a man be as sweet, understanding, respectful, and devoted? It was utterly unbelievable.

But Jasper Whitlock persuaded her that a man like him existed in a sea of dreadful men.

He made her believe that she was deserving of the love he wanted to give to her desperately.

And for that, Eloise loves him deeply too.

It was shocking how much passion and love one could give to the other without feeling insane.

Two souls fall in love, yearning for the presence of the other even though they are near.

The longing to feel the warm touch the other has to offer, the craving to hear their chime of musical laughter.

To seal it with a silver thin band ring, though, love is not an object.

One must not search for it, for it will never be found.

It will come to one at the most unexpected time, and one will know in their heart what love feels like.

And Jasper Whitlock knows exactly what it feels like to love. He was doomed, yet he couldn't care less.

Because being without her would be like being without a large portion of himself, even the thought of being separated from her made him nauseous.

Love is love, they say.

Oh, it definitely is.

•| ⊱✿⊰ |•

ELOISE TOSSED HER HEAD BACK. A GLEEFUL LAUGH ESCAPED HER LIPS.

A newborn named Charlotte was the reason for Eloise's uncontrollable laughing fits.

It has been quite a while since Eloise fell into an easy, pleasant, and friendly conversation with a woman.

Usually, what escapes Maria, Lucy, and Nettie's snarky mouths is rather rude and discomforting.

Charlotte's playful personality and rather unfiltered mouth never cease to make her laugh out loud, releasing a rather unladylike snort and giggle here and there.

Eloise and Charlotte's blossoming friendship began when Charlotte unexpectedly complimented Peter.

"You have a very nice behind."

Eloise had never seen Peter so flustered and embarrassed that even Jasper thought he might have combusted in his state.

As a result, Peter responded with a stutter.

"I-uh-thank you? I guess?"

And Eloise thought it was an excellent start to a friendship.

And Eloise has found a new hobby.

Matchmaking.

With Peter's civilized nature and Charlotte's mischievous personality, it was a match made in heaven.

Jasper took part in Eloise's matchmaking. Making Peter's emotions enhanced when he was with Charlotte made him nervous.

For all Eloise and Jasper knew, they never expected Peter to be a stutterer.

Peter's thoughts are always well-organized, but when he is around Charlotte, his mind always seems scattered and preoccupied.

But Charlotte's time is hanging by the thread.

In a week, Maria will task them with disposing of the newborns for the same reason: their first year is up.

And Peter is very determined to let Charlotte live. Eloise and Jasper shared the same opinion.

•| ⊱✿⊰ |•

PETER ASKED ELOISE FOR A PRIVATE CONVERSATION.

And Eloise knew what their topic of conversation would be.

Again, persuade Maria to let another live and join the coven.

"No need to lengthen this further. El, I know you know what I want to talk about. Charlotte's time is up by tonight." Eloise releases a heavy sigh, placing a hand on her waist.

Her thoughts are scattered, her mind still in her and Maria's early conversation.

"I let Peter live for a reason that you know, Eloise. He's an exemption, and she is not. I saw that newborn Charlotte, and she is not fit to join the coven permanently. Whatever I say goes, and I say kill her."

"I know, Peter. And I know what to do." Eloise finally says. As her mind finally cleared, she pursed her lips and closed her eyes, recalling an important task that she regretfully forgot.

"Jasper is in charge of disposing of the newborns tonight. I'll inform him of what you had planned, and I'll take Maria for a hunt as a distraction. You and Charlotte run and find whatever life is outside of the South." Eloise tells him sternly, with Peter listening intently and hanging on to every word she says.

Then Peter says, in a relaxed tone of delight, "Oh, El. I owe you my life and Charlotte's,"

Eloise purses her lips and looks at him with a saddened expression, "A thank you for the friendship you gave Jasper. But Peter, I need you to do something for me."

"Anything."

And so the same night. Eloise and Jasper let Peter and Charlotte have the freedom they couldn't have.

Or so Jasper has thought.

•| ⊱✿⊰ |•

MARIA'S DOUBTFUL EMOTIONS TOWARDS JASPER NEVER SUBSIDED.

Maria blamed Jasper for letting Peter and Charlotte escape. and she quickly corrected herself that she was correct in her prediction that Jasper would eventually betray them.

Jasper felt Maria's emotions shift to hate for him for gaining Eloise's trust, then malice and fear for what he and Eloise did, but more of him since Maria has no knowledge whatsoever that Eloise helped Peter and Charlotte leave.

And now his life is ticking.

He knew it.

Eloise knew it.

And they knew it was only a matter of time before Maria to command Eloise to dispose of Jasper.

But they both know that Eloise will never follow through.

So, now. Eloise and Jasper are in a rather heavy but not heated conversation.

"Why? Tell me any reason why you don't want to leave this behind. "

She does.

She does want to leave all the pain that surrounds her.

She can't.

She owes this life to Maria. Without her, she could not have met Jasper.

"She saved me, Jasper. You might not understand my reason. I feel indebted to Maria," -"I want to leave. You don't know how much I want to leave, but-"

"But what?"

"I can't."

Eloise was afraid. She longed for the moment to make a decision to leave, but now that moment is here, she's afraid of what might be waiting for them.

"Then why do you want me to leave you behind? Do you think this is easy? The thought of not being beside you feels as if I was drowning." Jasper says, seemingly breathless.

"Because it's the right thing to do," Eloise's tone is pleading.

"How so? Tell me, help me understand why you cannot leave that wretched woman behind, the one that caused us all this pain, suffering, and guilt!" Jasper's face hardened.

He. Doesn't. Understand.

She wishes she could say anything that could comfort him. But her own guilt is starting to drain her and consume her whole.

She then sees a movement in the corner of her eye.

Peter.

She saw him nod, letting her and Jasper's conversation continue.

Eloise then looks at Jasper, her eyes painfully vulnerable. "Because it was my fault! I was at fault for what you are and what you loathe! And seeing you suffer, the guilt of why you were changed in the first place is swallowing me whole!"

The edge of Jasper's features gradually softens and whispers, "I don't blame you, El. I never did."

"I know! But I do! It pains me that you look at me with so much love in your eyes, and yet you hate yourself for what you've become. You should be angry! You should be mad at me! Because I was the reason you despised yourself! I was the reason why you feel such misery for being what you are!" Eloise cries out, tears pooling in her eyes with every word she speaks.

Eloise thought that after seeing him suffer from what he was. That she doesn't deserve him after all the pain she caused him.

She thought that her love would be enough.

It was enough for him.

But not enough to conceal the unhappy truth.

Letting him leave this way of life without her is the only way her own guilt will fade.

A man like Jasper deserves the world.

And so did she, he thought.

"Do you doubt my love for you?" Jasper asks, his tone filled with uncertainty about her answers.

"No! Of course not. Why would you ever think that?" Eloise asks, her fingers fiddling with the silver thin band ring.

She had never felt so vulnerable or so fragile before.

Had she not shown him enough?

"Because you think that I hate you when it's the opposite. I love you, Eloise. The mere thought of not being beside you, not holding you, not touching you, not feeling you is torture that I cannot endure." Jasper confesses, his hand cupping her face as Eloise naturally leans into his hold. "So, please, I beg you to come with me, to be free with me."

"You know, we will never be free. We will live in paranoia when Maria and her army come for us. Maria will never let me go easily." Eloise says as she places a gentle kiss on his wrist. And holds his hand, intertwining it with hers.

"I've been incredibly selfish in allowing you to stay here and ignoring how you truly feel about our situation-" Eloise breathes out and closes her eyes tightly.

It was the only way he'd listen to her.

"You once said that you would do anything and everything for me," she continued, and Jasper's face fell, and his body went slack.

He knew what she was about to do. He was about to disagree when her lips collided with his. It was a mixture of bliss and pain.

She then whispers, "I want you to choose the life that makes you the happiest. A life that will cause you no guilt, no suffering. And if you find it, grasp it and never let it go. "

It's you that makes me the happiest.

He thought to himself, but being this close to her made him feel all her emotions.

It was one of the first times that Eloise let him feel what she felt.

Love, Guilt, Joy, Pain.

"Then I won't let you go," Jasper says, planting his hand on her waist, grasping the fabric of her shirt tightly.

"I now know the feeling of loving someone-" Eloise tells him, tiptoeing her feet to match his height, as Jasper slightly bends down and Eloise places a tender kiss on his brow. "Being okay with sacrificing every bit of yourself so the other person can try to stay whole,"

Because I love you more than my own happiness.

"My love for you burns constant and true," Jasper whispers, looking deeply into her eyes.

Every word to heart, he places a hand on her cheek.

Eloise smiles painfully. "And my love for you is eternal. So, promise me that you will leave and never look back. Find a life outside of the South. Look for more. Do this for me, promise me, please."

Jasper clings to the hem of her shirt and unwillingly says, with a weak and strained voice, "I promise,"

Eloise placed a slow, gentle kiss on his lips, pouring out all the love that she feels for him, and he did.

He did feel all of it.

"This is only temporary, my love. This is not a goodbye. We will be reunited again. For that, I give you my word." Eloise steps back, hearing Maria's rapid footsteps, taking a deep, painful breath, and says, "Now, Peter."

Peter appears in between them. He nods toward Eloise, and she gives him a small smile of gratitude.

Jasper stood still, seeing his old friend in front of them after five years, which shocked him to no end.

The plan.

Peter then moves quickly. Kicking Eloise in the stomach, making her land in the deepest parts of the barn, and before Jasper could protest.

Peter took both of his hands and took Jasper with him as they escaped Maria's incoming presence.

Eloise's plan succeeded.

And now she just has to deal with Maria.

And how could she possibly excuse her actions? But never regretted anything.