The Awakening

Coco felt like she was floating. It was almost surreal. She had no idea where she was. She also wasn't sure whether she was awake or dreaming as she opened her eyes. The landscape certainly didn't resemble any recent memories or people. Where was Eldritch?

An old lady stood a short distance away.

" Coco, wake up. It's time to travel,"

Coco kind of recognised the lady who held out her hand.

"I am your grandmother. We met once but you were little more than a baby so it's no surprise you don't remember me."

"Am I dead?"

"No. At the moment you are resting, but there's a lot of things you need to see before you go back. A lot of things you need to understand,"

"Okay,"

Coco followed her grandmother. They walked along a corridor filled with a brilliant white light.

They came to a small place, a kind of waiting area with stout silver doors numbered from 1 to 3.

Grandmother opened the first door and asked Coco to follow. They were in a dark room. Grandmother urged her forward and placed a finger on her own lips, urging Coco to be quiet.

Coco stood in silence. She saw what looked like a video screen mounted on the opposite wall. The film began. It was a very old film and it looked like there was a lot going on but one thing she was sure of was that she was seeing an old book decorated with Illuminated Letters like monks in England used to make. The book was bound in silver.

"The Occido Lumen," said her grandmother.

Coco made to speak but her Grandmother once again pressed a finger to her lips.

"I can read and answer your thoughts, Coco. There is no need to speak. It is this book that your beloved Eldritch seeks, as well as many others. I don't know what's in it or whether it would answer a lifetime of questions, but it is this book that was the topic of conversation that evening,"

Coco remembered the strange conversation with the Irishman the night that she and Eldritch had gone out for dinner, the book was the item that Eldritch had been told would soon become available.

She concentrated hard and she saw crowds of people, both human and Strigoi. In the centre of them stood a man, dressed in black, and as she looked she saw that his facial features kept changing.

"That's the Master," Grandmother said, "His exact origins are unknown, but he changes and takes a new human host every so often. "

"Creepy" Coco said with her mind, " But what's this to do with me?"

"You will see and understand soon enough,"

The scene faded and Grandmother told Coco that they had to leave. They went back to the corridor and Grandmother went to the second door.

"This time you will see people that you know, but you still must not speak. Understood?"

Coco nodded.

They entered the room and found themselves in an ornate chamber that didn't feel remotely American to Coco.

"That's because we're in Paris, France," Grandmother said in answer to Coco's unasked question. A man stood waiting. When he turned his head Coco's heart almost stood still for there, in front of her, was Thomas Eichorst

"The year is 2002," Grandmother said.

Coco waited and, moments later, she was aware of someone else arriving. A man in a wheelchair. She held her breath as she recognised her beloved Eldritch. She knew that bad health had been the bane of his life, but she never knew that he had been wheelchair bound. Tears slid down her face. She had a feeling that she was about to find out a lot of things.

"I can see why you find him attractive," Grandmother said in Coco's mind.

Coco couldn't hear a lot of the conversation but Grandmother urged her that Eldritch was okay and she needed to understand.

It would seem that Eldritch was telling Eichorst that he was now ready to put his resources at the Master's disposal. She didn't understand the finer details of the Agreement but it was almost as if Eldritch regretted that he hadn't been able to buy good health. They ended up shaking hands and the scene faded.

Grandmother gently led Coco out of the room. Coco was crying. She now understood Eichorst's constant interference, to ensure that Eldritch didn't renege on his Agreement with the Master. It was almost like the blackmail she had always suspected was going on. But it was far worse. Coco knew that Eichorst could kill Eldritch any time he chose.

"My poor darling," Coco's mind wept. Grandmother soothed her.

"Eldritch loves you,"

"I love him too, so much. But I don't see him as a victim. He knew what he was doing, but I won't stop loving him."

Coco dried her tears on her sleeve and followed her grandmother to the last door.

The door creaked open and this time she found herself in a familiar place. It was Eldritch's penthouse. It was night and there was a storm raging outside.

Coco ventured further in.

She was aware of the hospital type bed and she knew instinctively that it was Eldritch lying in it. She barely recognised him though and more tears slid down her face. He looked so ill. His skin looked sallow, almost like a waxwork. His eyes were red rimmed and his breathing laboured. Coco remembered hearing that he had almost died a short time ago. Almost. The man in the bed didn't resemble the strong vibrant Eldritch Palmer who had made love to her, often many times in the same night, but Coco was still attracted to him. Eichorst was standing there.

"Will he ever fucking leave him in peace?" Coco said, her thoughts aggressive.

"Not until one of them dies unfortunately,* Grandmother said sadly.

*I have kept my part of the bargain," Eldritch said, his tone infused with steel.

"Maybe he sent me to give you your last rites." Eichorst taunted.

"I have faith he will come. He needs me,"

Eichorst was gone. Coco watched Eldritch. Her heart hammered with love for him. He looked around and reacted as if he had heard something. It grew chilly. Eldritch called out.

"Fitzwilliam, is that you?"

Then a figure dressed in black emerged from the shadows and stood beside the bed.

"I knew you would come," Eldritch said,"I had faith. Please. Save me,"

The Master, for Coco had no doubt it was he, lifted Eldritch's head, tipped it back. He held up his other hand and something clear in colour dripped from his fingernail into Eldritch's mouth. A couple of drops. The Master said something she couldn't hear and vanished. Moments later Eldritch was out of bed and standing outside in the rain.

"Coco, we need to go back now," Grandmother said. Coco followed her out of the room and back along the corridor.

Grandmother had gone, leaving Coco alone. She stood looking at her body and could see Eldritch sitting on a chair. Her heart filled with love for him. It was night.

A figure in black appeared and stood over the bed. He held up his hand, flicking a few drops into her mouth, Coco felt her body and Spirit reconnect and opened her eyes.

"Thank you Master," she breathed,"And thanks to you I have my beloved Eldritch too."

"You are welcome Coco. Eldritch is a loyal servant and you matter to him."

The Master vanished

Eldritch threw his arms around her and she embraced him tightly. They just sat and held each other.

"Coco, do you know the Master?"

She could see he had about a million questions and now seemed as good a time as any for them to finally be open with each other. Plus the thought of lying in his arms was too much to resist.

"Eldritch my love, please can we lie down and have a cuddle? We need to talk."

"Of course, Coco darling. "