Chapter XXI

End of an Era

Nearly a year had passed since Amelia's announcement that she was to slumber, work had begun right away. Director Holtz had commissioned a Ziodec team to construct the resting chamber that would house Amelia. Her original gold and glass coffin had been recovered from the ruins of Viktor's mansion and restored to its former glory. The chamber itself was similar to the old one; however it had only one tomb. During this year Amelia had guided Nina on how to be a good ruler. She even commissioned a seal for her that would be displayed on her throne and all official documents during her reign. The seal itself was similar to that of Amelia's however it had an N rather than an A, and the number VII rather than an IV. Amelia seemed confident that her coven was going to be left in good hands. Amelia usually hated this time, mere hours before she was going to be put to slumber, however this time was different. This time she longed for that empty void, where time did not pass and pain was forgotten. Since that God forsaken evening when Dmitri whispered those words into her ear "He's dead My Lady, I'm sorry Malachi is dead." She felt like her heart was being dismantled from the inside. She hated that feeling, she would rather have bore the wrath of a thousand Lycans, How she longed for a moment where that pain would not be the only thing she felt.

Amelia stood alone in her chambers. She had made all of the preparations for her slumber, gone were her lavish gowns and elegant dresses; instead she wore a female variation of the burial outfit worn by Viktor and Markus. The same black skirt with a gold waist band, however this variation had a tunic to cover her upper body as well, although much of her cleavage and torso was still visible. She then wrapped herself in a claret robe, similar Viktors, it was embroidered with Gold and jewels and covered her burial outfit. She calmly took a seat an awaited her successor.

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Several minutes later there was a knock at the door. "Enter" she called out

As the doors opened Amelia could see a group of people standing by her door. The Two Death Dealers assigned to protect her, who as it were a special occasion, were wearing ceremonial armor and helmets, as well as Nina. Nina entered the room with a well dressed Vampire standing just over her right shoulder, he was carrying a weapon.

"I'll be okay Casper" Nina said briskly "Go and Make sure everyone is ready downstairs."

"Yes My Lady" he bowed as he turned to leave. Nina closed the door behind him and dropped to a knee. "My Lady" she greeted.

"He seems quite taken with you" Amelia noted as she pointed towards the door

"Who Casper?" asked Nina

"Yes" replied Amelia "He seems rather enamored"

"He is very loyal My Lady" she smiled slightly "But I am not interested in any suitors, I never will be."

Amelia managed a smile "Is there anything you wish to ask me before we proceed?"

"Are you sure I'm ready for this" asked Nina nervously

"Of course my chylde. Now come, let's get this over with."

Amelia and Nina headed towards the door; Nina stopped and cast a worried glance towards Amelia. Amelia gently linked arms with her heir and offered her a reassuring smile. The two walked arm in arm through the mansion, the walk seemed to take forever, they did not see a single soul except for the Death Dealer escort, for everyone was assembled elsewhere. They finally reached a corridor that lead to the resting chamber, it was incredibly long, and the entire coven was assembled along its sides. Straight ahead Amelia could see the most senior members of her coven waiting for her, Dmitri, her Council, David and Director Holtz, all either in ceremonial armor or their best clothes. Nina was in awe as she and Amelia made her way down the corridor, she watched as one by one, Maids, noblemen, human dignitaries, her own security, and even Death Dealers dropped to a knee as the Elder passed them. When they finally made it to the other end David opened the doors to the huge room, and their Death Dealer escort left Amelia and Nina in the hands of her court. The entire coven watched in awe as the Vampires entered the room, and the huge doors closed behind them.

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Nina watched as the Council twisted the A on Amelia's tomb and a casket rose from the ground, they began to prepare all the necessary equipment to put Amelia to sleep. Nina moved behind Amelia and slid her robe off of her shoulders, she handed the garment to David, and the robe was hung on a rack, just behind a great stone throne that rested in the burial chambers. "Everything is ready My Lady" Dmitri said quietly

"Excellent" said Amelia "Before we proceed I would like to thank you all for your Loyalty, and wish you luck for the future."

"You honor us My Lady" said a member of the Council as he dropped to a knee. The rest of the coven followed his example. When everyone rose Amelia turned her attention to Nina, "Are you ready?" she asked. Nina hesitated for a moment before throwing her arms around Amelia's waist and hugging her as if she were afraid to let go, Amelia returned the embrace and gently stoked her hair "still so human" she whispered "how I envy you."

Amelia pulled away from Nina, and headed over to the coffin, Nina had told herself she would not cry however a small tear managed to escape. She watched as David and Dmitri helped Amelia into the coffin, not that she needed help, she was always so graceful; the council began to close the coffin, and get the extractors in place. "Its time Nina" said Dmitri.

Nina moved into position and carried out the procedure exactly how she had been shown, she smiled to Amelia one last time before she began to drain her, she could have sworn Amelia said something though she was unsure what as she was concentrating. And then it was done, Amelia was asleep, David placed the coffin back into the ground, and everyone seemed unsure where to go from here. Nina sat on the floor trying to make sense of what was happening, until David helped her to her feet. Nina stood in the burial chamber and looked around at the other men and women in her presence "You must address them." Said Dmitri

"What?" asked Nina?

"Your coven awaits you… My Lady" he said dropping to a knee, Nina looked around as everyone else followed his example. She was nervous, however she knew she had to be strong "Assemble my coven in the Great Hall" she said, her voice trembling slightly.

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Nina stood at the doors to her throne room, ready to address her coven for the first time as their leader. She wore a beautiful black evening gown that complemented her figure perfectly; her cleavage was adorned with a necklace of diamonds that Malachi had given her for an anniversary. She was so nervous, Casper, her chief of security stood just over her right shoulder, offering some words of comfort. She could hardly believe how she got to this, from being a college girl to the leader of one of the richest and most powerful groups on the planet. She thought if only she had taken the bus home from college that night, how differently her life would have turned out. She thought how much she missed Malachi, had Amelia been able to awaken Markus, it would be Malachi that was about to walk through these doors and assume leadership in Amelia's absence, and she was to have been at his side. But now it was her, ruling the coven. "I'm ready" she said. Casper said something into his radio to signify that it was time for her to enter. Then she heard David call out to the entire coven "All upstanding for the Lady Nina." Then a Death Dealer opened the door from the other side and she could see into the throne room. She entered, followed by Casper and took a moment to stand on the platform, and look out over her coven, as well as the Death Dealer guarding the door Eli stood on the platform just in front of his seat. She looked at him, almost as if she were looking for approval; he smiled, nodded his head, and wearily dropped to a knee "My Lady" he coughed. Nina looked out over the hall to witness a sea of vampiric faces fall to a knee before her, their heads bowed, she went to sit down, almost instinctively sitting in the chair to the left of the throne, however she quickly moved towards the throne, she ran her fingers over the chair, now emblazed with her own golden seal. She sat down, and allowed herself to sink into it, then feeling the arms indicated for Casper to sit in the chair that was previously hers. Looking out over the sea of loyal subjects, she felt excitement like a child at Christmas, she allowed a smile to creep across her porcelain white face "Rise" she ordered.

And so begins the reign of Nina, adopted chylde of Amelia, paramour of Malachi, and now matriarch and protector of the Great New York Coven. Once an innocent victim of the night, however with the love and adoration of one of its darkest champions, has become the light for which the immortals must now follow through the darkness. So begins the reign of Nina, heir of Amelia, beloved of Malachi and princess of the covenant. Long may her name be spoken.

The End