Sunrise

            The final illness was upon her. The one physical enemy that the vampire could never defeat. No matter how many years had passed since their turning, there was still one enemy that could never be defeated; the Bloodening. It began slowly with an infection within the dead flesh then it would spread to the blood that kept the vampire alive. Eventually it would overcome the vampire to such an extent that it could simply not take in enough blood to exist. The flesh would then begin to decay as any normal human would and, try as they may, it was the one weapon of Nature that the vampire could not fight. And it had come to Alexandra, the Queen of Vampires.

            The court stood outside her chambers, waiting word. They talked among themselves with much nervousness and anxiety. There were few who remembered the Vampire world before Alexandra had taken control. And even fewer who remembered the wars that had decimated their population before then. What would happen now? Would her husband, Randolph, assume the Kingship? They were many who stood opposed to this very thought. Randolph had only recently been turned himself, no fewer than a hundred years or so ago, and barely understood their ways and their powers. How could he govern them? Others were already aligning themselves with Bates. The only other Vampire strong enough to take control of the world. It was rumored that he himself had beaten the Bloodening himself once and it was still rumored that he was he who had managed to infect Alexandra. In many ways, the court stood as helpless and confused as any human court ever had. They watched the door for signs.

            Inside the room, Alexandra held Randolph’s hand closely to her decaying breast. Randolph tried to cry but could not. His Vampire body simply no longer had the ability but, deep inside, his heart was breaking. “You should not worry so,” Alexandra whispered, her voice a harsh, dry crack. “It is not so bad to die. I’ve wanted to rest for so long now. I can see the Ferryman coming for me, my place has been saved in our afterworld and I will be among the others I’ve missed for so long.”

            Randolph caressed his beloved’s hand as her flesh fell away. “I do not think I can bear this without you. You know that this is Bates’ doing? That it was he who gave you this curse?”

            “Of course I do. But arrangements have been made to handle him. I worry about you more. You must lead our people now, without me. But I will always be by your side. Always. I can see him now. The Ferryman. He is calling me to my seat.”

            “Don’t go! Not yet! Stay, a few more moments, please?”

            “I cannot. Do not fear this so, Randolph, death is not the end. I tell you this for I can see the distant shore before me. It is so grand, so glorious! So... so... beautiful...” And Alexandra passed into the Outer Realm.

            Randolph left the room and gave the court the news. “Where is Bates?” he asked.

            A courier had just arrived. “M’lord, Bates is dead. His body was discovered just moments ago. It was torn about as if the Furies themselves had found him.” Randolph smiled for that is exactly what Alexandra would have done. The Furies had exacted her revenge.

            “M’lord,” the High Minister asked, “what will happen now?”

            “Now? Now will be a period of civil war, marked by a long period of peace afterwards in which your reign will be enshrined in memory and history.”

            “Mine? But, M’lord, surely you will lead us?”

            “No,” Randolph replied, “I go to follow where she is leading me now. Do not fear. You are just and wise and would make a far greater king than I ever would.” Others murmured but agreed. The court left the room and eventually, just before dawn, so did the High Minister after receiving his final instructions.

            Randolph went and sat outside on the terrace and sat facing the west. As the sun slowly climbed over the horizon, he could see the Ferryman in the distance, beckoning to him. And there, next to the only other empty seat, Alexandra waited for she knew that he would follow and knew that even this death could not separate them.

            As the sun rolled over his burning flesh, he was heard to say, “It’s so beautiful.”