Day 7: So We Come To The End
"Time! What is the time?" a frantic Ella called out. "I won't miss my chance. Before sunrise, or it'll have to wait another day. Now, what is the time?!"
A very cautious servant answered.
"It's five minutes to three, Count Ella."
"Five minutes to three! My, where does the time go? What time does the sun rise?"
"Um, the schedule says 5:37 a.m."
"Do you know when the sun will be fully up?"
"I suppose about 5:50."
"What about when the sun starts to peak over the horizon?"
"About five, I guess."
"You guess? Oh, good enough."
"Should I send someone the get the hunter?"
"No, I want to get him myself. You can go away, though."
The servant gladly left, leaving Ella alone to finish preparing.
"Okay, so, got that D?" Sadie enthusiastically asked.
"Yes, I got it."
"Good. Well, it's about 3:30. I'm surprised she's not already here. Oh well, let's get ready."
D climbed into bed and went back to 'sleep'. Sadie hurried out of the room, hoping her scent wouldn't linger too much longer.
A few minutes later, Ella entered the room. She was in too much of a hurry to notice Sadie's fading scent. Ella screwed her face up into a das, mournful look and went to wake D.
"D, honey," she said, 'sobbing'. "Wake up. It's…it's time."
D sat up and looked at her.
"I'm so sorry for the way things have turned out mother. I never meant to hurt you, or father the way I did. If I could, I would have handled things much better. I'm so sorry for any heartache I've caused," D responded.
"Oh…son, it's alright. You had your reasons. I forgave you long ago. But, I still must do this deed, my son. Now, I hope it is you who can forgive me. Now be a good boy, and come along.
D got up from the bed and went to his mother's side. She laced her hand in his and led him to the back of the castle.
It was still dark, but Ella knew it wouldn't be that way for long.
D noticed the guillotine. He figured that was to be his fate. He searched the trees and bushes anxiously for any sign that Sadie was there. He didn't see anything and bean to get a little worried if she was okay.
They came a stop in a small garden area. Ella motioned for D to sit on one of the stone benches. He obliged.
"Normally, I'd tie my prisoners up, but that's not the way I want to think of you. Not as a prisoner."
"Thank you, mother. I'd never do anything to harm you and I'm glad you realize that."
"Of course, baby."
So for a while, they sat. Ella would occasionally bring up a fond memory of the past. A few stories didn't ring any bells with D. He had a perfect memory, but some thing sounded foreign. This was a definite indication that Ella wasn't who she said she was.
The sky started to fade to a lighter shade of blue. Ella knew the sun would be up soon.
"Well my sun. This time together has be better than I could have ever hoped for. But, it must come to an end now, unfortunately."
"Yes, I know. I've enjoyed our time together as well."
"Come on, son, follow me. Guards. Come escort my son, please."
The mutant guards from yesterday grabbed him by the arms and followed Ella.
D nervously searched the trees again for Sadie. He still saw no sign of her. He started to think that she had betrayed him again. Then, some bushes began to shake, and a hand gave a quick wave.
D was so relieved, he almost smiled.
"I'll be right back. I forgot something," Ella called out as she ran towards the castle. "Take him up to the platform and get him ready. I'll be back in less than five minutes."
As she left, Sadie crept out of hiding. D was surprised by her stealth as she sneaked up to one of the guards. She struck out and hit one of the guards in the side with D's sword. The sword stuck in the guard's side. As the guard fell to the ground, D twisted, but didn't snap, the neck of the other guard. The guard fell to the ground, unconscious.
"What a hit," D replied.
"Thanks. I've had time to practice."
D wrenched his sword free from the guard's side. The guard was crumpled up on the ground, now, bleeding to death.
"Quick, let's pull them away. Into the bushes, fast," Sadie exclaimed.
They dragged the guards into the nearby bushes and rubbed the blood out of the grass as best they could.
"Won't she be able to smell the blood?"
"She'll probably be too wrapped up in my impending demise to notice."
"Since we're on that topic, how's about we get you up on that platform."
"Right."
They ran to the platform. D laid down in the guillotine, as Sadie ran to hide under the platform. She had D's things in her hands.
Ella came running out of the castle. Dawn was getting under way. She didn't have much time.
He ran up the platform steps and over to D. She knelt in front of him in order to talk to him once more.
"Oh my son, I love you. I wish we could have been closer."
D said nothing.
She kissed him on the cheek and stood up. She grabbed the lever that would release the blade of the guillotine, ready to pull it.
"D. NOW!"
"What?" Ella exclaimed.
Sadie jumped up onto the platform and threw D his sword.
"What? Sadie! You little bitch! I knew I should have killed you earlier!"
She lunged at Sadie, knocking D off the platform in the process.
When D got back up on the platform, he was too late. Ella's fangs were deeply embedded into Sadie's neck.
"Get off of her!"
She looked up, wiping blood from her lips.
"It's what she wanted, my son."
"I'm not your son! I never have been and thankfully never will be! You are definitely NOT my mother!"
He lunged at Ella, grabbing her by her waist.
"You'll die for what you've done, vampire!" D hissed out.
He drew his dagger to put through her heart, but he caught the look in her eye, which made him stop. It was a look of remorse in Ella's eyes. True and utter remorse. That's was a look not often seen in the eyes of any vampire he'd killed. He never actually believed she was evil, just did the wrong things. Now, he saw his assumptions were right.
He wanted to release her, but he knew he couldn't. But he couldn't bring himself to kill her now, either. So, did the next best thing. He turned her around to face the horizon. And held her tight.
"I can't kill you, now, but I can't let you go. So, I'll watch the sun rise, will you witness you demise."
Ella was speechless. She knew she was dead meat when D caught her, but the way he was going to let her die somehow touched her.
The first beams of the sun shot out from the horizon, hitting Ella like fireballs from a canon. As the sun rolled up, Ella began to smoke. She then burst into flames. D had to let her go, and she fell to the ground. A few minutes later, she was gone, and her ashes blowing away.
D was a bit regretful. He hated to see such amazing creatures die. But, just as a lame horse, the bad vampire had to be put down.
Hearing a moan, D remembered Sadie. He rushed to her side.
"D?" she breathed out. "Did ya get her?"
"Yeah."
"Good."
"Sadie, why did you lie to me?"
"I wanted so much what I couldn't have. I never wanted to hurt you."
"No, not about that, about your family."
"Oh, you found out, huh?"
"Yeah."
"I lie about them all the time. It hurts too much to talk about them. I've been so alone since they died. I really loved them. Like you loved your family."
"Come one, let's get you some help."
"No. It's too late for me. Just, stay with me. I don't want to be alone. Not again."
D held her cooling form as she labored to take in breaths. A few minutes later, she, too, was gone.
D carefully picked her up and called for his horse, which had been faithfully waiting. He gathered his things and mounted up, Sadie still in his arms.
He rode a while until he came upon an ancient burial ground. He took Sadie's lifeless form and covered it in leaves. As he'd done before to honor a true friend, he burned her body and collected the ashes.
He let some of the ashes blow away in the wind as he came upon a sacred stream. He kept a bit of the ashes for himself. He did this so he'd have a way of keeping Sadie, who had turned out to be a wonderful and loyal friend, close and in his constant memories.
With that, he mounted up again and headed off to find a room for the night.
"What a day! What a week for that matter! I don't know about you, but I'm pooped!" the hand shouted.
"As am I."
"Well old buddy, let's go and get some sleep."
"Time! What is the time?" a frantic Ella called out. "I won't miss my chance. Before sunrise, or it'll have to wait another day. Now, what is the time?!"
A very cautious servant answered.
"It's five minutes to three, Count Ella."
"Five minutes to three! My, where does the time go? What time does the sun rise?"
"Um, the schedule says 5:37 a.m."
"Do you know when the sun will be fully up?"
"I suppose about 5:50."
"What about when the sun starts to peak over the horizon?"
"About five, I guess."
"You guess? Oh, good enough."
"Should I send someone the get the hunter?"
"No, I want to get him myself. You can go away, though."
The servant gladly left, leaving Ella alone to finish preparing.
"Okay, so, got that D?" Sadie enthusiastically asked.
"Yes, I got it."
"Good. Well, it's about 3:30. I'm surprised she's not already here. Oh well, let's get ready."
D climbed into bed and went back to 'sleep'. Sadie hurried out of the room, hoping her scent wouldn't linger too much longer.
A few minutes later, Ella entered the room. She was in too much of a hurry to notice Sadie's fading scent. Ella screwed her face up into a das, mournful look and went to wake D.
"D, honey," she said, 'sobbing'. "Wake up. It's…it's time."
D sat up and looked at her.
"I'm so sorry for the way things have turned out mother. I never meant to hurt you, or father the way I did. If I could, I would have handled things much better. I'm so sorry for any heartache I've caused," D responded.
"Oh…son, it's alright. You had your reasons. I forgave you long ago. But, I still must do this deed, my son. Now, I hope it is you who can forgive me. Now be a good boy, and come along.
D got up from the bed and went to his mother's side. She laced her hand in his and led him to the back of the castle.
It was still dark, but Ella knew it wouldn't be that way for long.
D noticed the guillotine. He figured that was to be his fate. He searched the trees and bushes anxiously for any sign that Sadie was there. He didn't see anything and bean to get a little worried if she was okay.
They came a stop in a small garden area. Ella motioned for D to sit on one of the stone benches. He obliged.
"Normally, I'd tie my prisoners up, but that's not the way I want to think of you. Not as a prisoner."
"Thank you, mother. I'd never do anything to harm you and I'm glad you realize that."
"Of course, baby."
So for a while, they sat. Ella would occasionally bring up a fond memory of the past. A few stories didn't ring any bells with D. He had a perfect memory, but some thing sounded foreign. This was a definite indication that Ella wasn't who she said she was.
The sky started to fade to a lighter shade of blue. Ella knew the sun would be up soon.
"Well my sun. This time together has be better than I could have ever hoped for. But, it must come to an end now, unfortunately."
"Yes, I know. I've enjoyed our time together as well."
"Come on, son, follow me. Guards. Come escort my son, please."
The mutant guards from yesterday grabbed him by the arms and followed Ella.
D nervously searched the trees again for Sadie. He still saw no sign of her. He started to think that she had betrayed him again. Then, some bushes began to shake, and a hand gave a quick wave.
D was so relieved, he almost smiled.
"I'll be right back. I forgot something," Ella called out as she ran towards the castle. "Take him up to the platform and get him ready. I'll be back in less than five minutes."
As she left, Sadie crept out of hiding. D was surprised by her stealth as she sneaked up to one of the guards. She struck out and hit one of the guards in the side with D's sword. The sword stuck in the guard's side. As the guard fell to the ground, D twisted, but didn't snap, the neck of the other guard. The guard fell to the ground, unconscious.
"What a hit," D replied.
"Thanks. I've had time to practice."
D wrenched his sword free from the guard's side. The guard was crumpled up on the ground, now, bleeding to death.
"Quick, let's pull them away. Into the bushes, fast," Sadie exclaimed.
They dragged the guards into the nearby bushes and rubbed the blood out of the grass as best they could.
"Won't she be able to smell the blood?"
"She'll probably be too wrapped up in my impending demise to notice."
"Since we're on that topic, how's about we get you up on that platform."
"Right."
They ran to the platform. D laid down in the guillotine, as Sadie ran to hide under the platform. She had D's things in her hands.
Ella came running out of the castle. Dawn was getting under way. She didn't have much time.
He ran up the platform steps and over to D. She knelt in front of him in order to talk to him once more.
"Oh my son, I love you. I wish we could have been closer."
D said nothing.
She kissed him on the cheek and stood up. She grabbed the lever that would release the blade of the guillotine, ready to pull it.
"D. NOW!"
"What?" Ella exclaimed.
Sadie jumped up onto the platform and threw D his sword.
"What? Sadie! You little bitch! I knew I should have killed you earlier!"
She lunged at Sadie, knocking D off the platform in the process.
When D got back up on the platform, he was too late. Ella's fangs were deeply embedded into Sadie's neck.
"Get off of her!"
She looked up, wiping blood from her lips.
"It's what she wanted, my son."
"I'm not your son! I never have been and thankfully never will be! You are definitely NOT my mother!"
He lunged at Ella, grabbing her by her waist.
"You'll die for what you've done, vampire!" D hissed out.
He drew his dagger to put through her heart, but he caught the look in her eye, which made him stop. It was a look of remorse in Ella's eyes. True and utter remorse. That's was a look not often seen in the eyes of any vampire he'd killed. He never actually believed she was evil, just did the wrong things. Now, he saw his assumptions were right.
He wanted to release her, but he knew he couldn't. But he couldn't bring himself to kill her now, either. So, did the next best thing. He turned her around to face the horizon. And held her tight.
"I can't kill you, now, but I can't let you go. So, I'll watch the sun rise, will you witness you demise."
Ella was speechless. She knew she was dead meat when D caught her, but the way he was going to let her die somehow touched her.
The first beams of the sun shot out from the horizon, hitting Ella like fireballs from a canon. As the sun rolled up, Ella began to smoke. She then burst into flames. D had to let her go, and she fell to the ground. A few minutes later, she was gone, and her ashes blowing away.
D was a bit regretful. He hated to see such amazing creatures die. But, just as a lame horse, the bad vampire had to be put down.
Hearing a moan, D remembered Sadie. He rushed to her side.
"D?" she breathed out. "Did ya get her?"
"Yeah."
"Good."
"Sadie, why did you lie to me?"
"I wanted so much what I couldn't have. I never wanted to hurt you."
"No, not about that, about your family."
"Oh, you found out, huh?"
"Yeah."
"I lie about them all the time. It hurts too much to talk about them. I've been so alone since they died. I really loved them. Like you loved your family."
"Come one, let's get you some help."
"No. It's too late for me. Just, stay with me. I don't want to be alone. Not again."
D held her cooling form as she labored to take in breaths. A few minutes later, she, too, was gone.
D carefully picked her up and called for his horse, which had been faithfully waiting. He gathered his things and mounted up, Sadie still in his arms.
He rode a while until he came upon an ancient burial ground. He took Sadie's lifeless form and covered it in leaves. As he'd done before to honor a true friend, he burned her body and collected the ashes.
He let some of the ashes blow away in the wind as he came upon a sacred stream. He kept a bit of the ashes for himself. He did this so he'd have a way of keeping Sadie, who had turned out to be a wonderful and loyal friend, close and in his constant memories.
With that, he mounted up again and headed off to find a room for the night.
"What a day! What a week for that matter! I don't know about you, but I'm pooped!" the hand shouted.
"As am I."
"Well old buddy, let's go and get some sleep."