32. Passing Away
April, 1889
Lily knew that it was time. Centuries she had spent with William at her side in the cave. She had expected herself not to be happy in that time, yet she had to confess that she was sometimes.
William sat on the floor, leaning against a cave wall. His breath was ragged and his eyes ready to close for the final time. Lily held one of his hands in hers. Her soft fingers caressed his skin while he continued to stare into nothing. It almost seemed as if he was counting his time.
His bride moved bit closer to him, now holding both of his hands and staring into his dark eyes, which had aged the most. It was still at night.
"I´m sorry that... I kept you here for... so long...I know it was selfish but... without you I wouldn´t have made it... one year", he said, his voice nothing but a whisper. Lily laid her head on his shoulder. For the first time.
Though she had never felt anything stronger than a kind friendship for him she cared for him.
"Why did this all happen?", Lily questioned. "It started two centuries ago. And only because of the different looks of some women so many died."
She could feel William lift his shoulder as if he was shrugging. This movement only made him hiss in pain and she pushed him back down with soft force. Through the years she had watched him grow weaker and weaker until this day had come to take him away from her at last.
"But you mustn´t forget... what it was worth", he whispered.
Slowly Lily nodded. He was right. Getting caught by Dracula was the best that had ever happened to her.
She tried to smile at the memory but the actual situation kept her from doing so. Lily didn´t know whether she got him right but she could have sworn he had whispered: only one minute. She moved away from him to see his face again.
Tears formed in her eyes and soon made their ways down her pale cheeks. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath.
Time was running out now. Lily then leaned over William´s face and placed a kiss on his lips. He was weak but he had kept this little piece of strength for their final kiss. Returning it softly he took hold of her hand once more.
"See?... Now you kissed me finally...", he said softly as he broke away. Then he closed his eyes, squeezing her hand one more time before leaving her.
Lily rested her head on his chest, sighing deeply. Her tears kept flowing for minutes until the small waterfall ceased.
Looking down on the silver ring she thought about throwing it into the sea. But she decided not to. Finally she noticed some words ingraved in the metal: Do never give up... Smiling softly she let her wings grow out of her back and flew into the morning light.
