Oliver had been praying to a God he wasn't sure he believed in. Religion and magic were conflicting realities, but with Verity missing Oliver was willing to try anything. Even lie and betray his closest friends. Three days of torturous waiting and one horrific owl easily turned someone like Oliver. He was more than a little like Eddie, and that thought was what drove him to sit in his office in the dark to drink.
That was where the screaming reached him.
Fast as his mother had been, Oliver ran. It was the quickest he had moved since the stabbing, but he paid no heed to the wound. The hurt to his heart was the greater danger.
At first, there was dread. Filling Oliver's veins with molasses. He both feared and hoped as he ran for his mother's voice. Reaching her could either bring resolve or defeat. And with Eddie's owl repeating in mind, it was too much to hope for the former. Fear and hope controlled his body, one pulling the other pushing, Oliver flying but feeling as though he were at a slow crawl. Getting to the front door took an eternity which only lasted seven seconds. And when he heard the crying, he knew everything would be alright. If she was crying, then she was had to be at the least, alive, and right now that was enough for Oliver.
'Verity!'
Oliver fell to his knees and took the place of his mother, bundling up his bride and hoisting her into his arms. Adrenaline served as morphine for his shoulder, Oliver rushing Verity inside the house to the nearest settee, tears in his eyes and a prayer of thanksgiving on his lips. He had yet to truly understand what had just happened.