Running in the Night Part 36
Epilogue
Carmilla sat back, watching as the four women passed through the restaurant towards her, taking them in, as did many of the restaurant's patrons, they really were quite stunning.
The blondes in expensive evening dresses and heels, embodying cool grace and beauty, their partners in exquisitely tailored pants suits, all strength and power, moving protectively, their heads turning apparently casually, but from long experience Carmilla could tell they were carefully scanning the room for potential threats to the women with them.
For a moment she sighed, easily feeling the bonds of care between all four, strongest between the blondes and their partners, but strong bonds between the blondes could be also felt, together with lesser but strengthening bonds between both detectives, binding all four of them together.
It had been over a hundred years since her only true love Kseniya had been lost, leaving her to carry on their work alone. The innumerable lovers she'd taken since only highlighting the gap in her soul she'd never be able to fill. For a moment she felt wistful, knowing that the love the couples approaching her have is of a kind she had shared with her long gone but never forgotten other half for all those centuries.
'Oh Kseniya, my love, I still miss you so'
Forcing herself back from the past to the here and now, Carmilla smiled, she could imagine that the four of them together making love would be sensational. A small sadness passed through her as she realized she would never get to experience them; no, they were far too smitten with each other to ever look at another.
She noted they paused at the table shared by Kate Beckett and Richard Castle, exchanging warm greetings, they too had come at her invitation, Carmilla planned to ask them to take up the same burden as the four women, already confident that together the six of them would exceed her expectations, further safeguarding their hidden society. The bonds between Beckett and Castle were also strong, she could feel them as easily as the ones between both couples, their quiet joy and comfort easily felt, bringing a smile to her face and warmth to her heart.
Watching the women break away from their friends, she nodded once to herself, wishing them all many, many uninterrupted centuries of happiness together; before she smiled and welcomed the newest members of the House.
"May the blessings of the House of Karnstein be upon you"
Her guests had been briefed on the proper formalities for greeting an elder, formalities previously overlooked in the urgency of the moment at hand.
All four bowed their heads, the brunettes a little more cursory than the blondes, as was their nature, before Maura and Alex spoke, reciting the ancient response.
"And blessed are we to receive them, Mistress of the House" Carmilla smiled at the old words, uttered by the House's newest members.
"Come and sit with me my darlings, for we have much to discuss"
She watched as they sat, Maura on her left hand and Alexandra on her right, with their lovers taking the seats next to them, the better to watch over the room. For a moment she smiled to herself, yes they would be perfect for the task she would set them.
"I understand that you are fully and totally recovered from your previous ordeals at the hands of the rogue Vanchev?" Maura nodded once.
"We are Mistress"
"I am pleased" She smiled as a waitress arrived with drinks for everyone. "I understand that you are also coming to terms with the significant changes in your lives" Alexandra glanced at her friends and lovers then nodded.
"You could say that yes Mistress"
"I see the ties binding you together, the love you share with each other is strong and will only grow stronger; cherish and nurture it, for it is a rare and precious thing" The four women nodded, given each had at least one hand under the table she was almost certain each couple was holding hands for support. She favored them with a slow, knowing smile.
"I can feel the ties of the Blood Bond upon you so I am not surprised" Seeing the confusion on their faces Carmilla confined. "When vampires share the blood-lust together, it builds a closeness, the more times it happens between the same partners, the stronger the bond" She tipped her head once. "When there are existing ties of love and devotion, it makes the bonds well-nigh unbreakable" She noticed the furtive glances between the women and laughed happily.
"You may recall that at our first meeting I told you that to share your attentions in bed would be a rare experience, I can see in the faces of your lovers that I was correct" Cheeks suddenly bloomed red around the table, before Olivia choked out a 'Yes Mistress'
"I am informed that you have returned to your careers as detectives, coroner and barrister, am I correct?" Alex nodded.
"You are well-informed Mistress" Carmilla nodded her head, enjoying the company and anticipating the outcome.
"You now have a new perspective on life, now you walk the line between our world and the mundane one. You already have a life in that world; the one you have returned to. I would like to offer you one in ours as well" Alex and Maura glanced at their partners, a quick exchange of glances, before Alex spoke again.
"Pardon me Mistress, What exactly are you proposing?"
"You would be amazed to learn just how many murders are carried out by vampires each year, many by people just like the late and unlamented Vanchev" She saw both Jane and Olivia's heads turn slightly at that, drawing a tiny, amused curl at the edge of Carmilla's mouth. 'Once a detective…' Oh yes, they would be perfect.
"We have a need for people to deal with those who step outside the rules of our society and threaten the safety of both worlds" Carmilla smiled wider, taking in the body language of the four women in front of her, reading their interest and curiosity with an ease born of centuries of practice.
"I would like to offer you the job of enforcing our peace, to be arbiters, ensuring the safety of both worlds" Jane leaned forward.
"I thought the arbiters are made up of older vampires, people centuries old?" At Carmilla's raised eyebrow, she hastily spoke. "Mistress" Carmilla nodded slowly at Jane's insight.
"That is normally true, however the four of you, newborns, tracked down and slayed one of the oldest non-elders in our society, someone almost five centuries old. Truly you possess a mix of skills, knowledge, passion and strength of personality that would make you outstanding arbiters" She watched as the couples exchanged glances.
"What about our current jobs Mistress" It was Olivia. "We can hardly go traipsing off across the country at a moment notice" Carmilla smiled easily.
"You would be amazed at what can be achieved when our people are enmeshed at every level of society. I believe you will find any request for leave will be rapidly approved by both the Boston and New York Police Departments" She shrugged.
"Besides, it will only be for a reasonably short period of time, a decade or two at most. Then you will find you need to move on, as the people around you age, you will not, instead you will need to create other identities elsewhere, which we can facilitate" She saw surprised glances exchanged around the table and for a moment she chastised herself.
They were newborns, barely aware of their true potential, let alone their immortality, a decade or two probably seemed like an eternity to them, whereas for her it was barely an afternoon in the long life she had already led.
"I find myself in the position of leading a society without arbiters; something which disturbs me greatly. I wish to extend that responsibility to you. What say you, will you keep the peace in our society as you do in the mundane world?" She smiled as she saw another rapid exchange of glances between the women, understanding their answer before it was given. It was Olivia who nodded.
"We will" Carmilla smiled.
"Then let us drink a toast my darlings. To eternal life and eternal love" All four raised their glasses with her.
"To eternal life and eternal love"
~~Fini~~
Authors Note
This story was supposed to be a quick one, getting a concept down on paper so that I could move on with my other stories. Instead it turned into a painful trek, so much hostility, so much hate, so many invested in their vision of how this story should have gone to pander to their prejudices, that they couldn't handle someone deviating from their mindset. Hey guys, its a fictional story, about fictional characters, afflicted with a fictional disease, vampirism.
For gods sake, its not real. Peace.
If it had not been for the kindness of those readers who left positive reviews or sent me PMs of support, I doubt I would have finished this tale.
You have no idea how much that support was both needed and appreciated.
I would like to particularly and publicly thank the following people for their kindness and grace.
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Thank you all so much for your support, it is truly appreciated.
Mike
As for the haters, this story's done, go hate on another writer, or better yet, go write something yourself. It seems those who can, write, those who can't, criticise.
As for those anonymous reviewers too cowardly to post under their real names or too lazy to create an account, if you don't like what you are reading, go somewhere else.
While you're busy hating, I'll be getting on writing something else, hopefully for the enjoyment of my readers. Feel free to read it, if you like it, keep reading, if you don't, go read something else more to your taste.