Dead Souls
Disclaimer: And here is my sequel to Darklight! The title, as probably suspected, was inspired by Nine Inch Nails "Dead Souls". I heard the song and somehow, the inspiration for this fic sprang into my head. Well, like most of my fics, I have a certain...free speech within this one.
"And I knew my vision of the garden of savage beauty had been a true vision. There was meaning in the world, yes, and laws, and inevitability, but they had only to do with the aesthetic and in this Savage Garden, these innocent ones belonged in the vampire's arms. A thousand other things can be said about the world, but only aesthetic principles can be verified, and these things alone remain the same."
-Anne Rice
"Somebody should tell us, right at the start of our lives, that we are dying. Then we might live life to the limit, every minute of every day. Do it! I say. Whatever you want to do, do it now! There are only so many tomorrows."
-Pope Paul VI
By: VampireQueenAkasha
"You have to ask...? Really...? Well, It's...It's because I am your friend..."
-Abel Nightroad
Chapter Ten: End?
Earth
Rome, Italy
Several months later
Rome was bright and quite peaceful those passed few months after Carmilla's attack. The church was having Sunday mass and afterwards, people poured out of the church, talking and laughing. Abel walked out and noticed Nyssa's jeep coming up the drive. His eyes went wide when he noticed Nyssa's spot claimed by a man.
"Oh no, someone stole Nyssa's spot!" he cried.
Nyssa's jeep skidded to a halt and snarled, jumping out of her jeep. "Who in the hell parked in my space?" she raged. "Christ in a taxi cab! I can't even get my fucking parking space! Sons of bitches! Shit!"
Several people coming out of church watched her in shock. They could not believe the swearing coming from her. The owner of the car started to yell out angrily. "If you dent my car, I swear to - - " he began, advancing angrily. "You can go eat a - - "
Nyssa suddenly jumped into the air and kicked the man squarely in the chest with both feet. The force sent the man flying through the air and landing hard on the concrete. She grinned and loomed over him. "OH YEAH! Look at you, spot - stealin' asswipe! You were running your nasty mouth a second ago and then you got kicked in the fucking chest!"
Abel groaned and covered his forehead with one hand.
Much later, they took a trip out into the countryside where they were greeted by Maxwell. He smiled and put a hand around Nyssa's shoulders.
"So, how have things been with you and mamma?" Nyssa asked, smiling.
Maxwell smiled and nodded. "Things have been fantastic. She's trying growing a garden now."
Maxwell and Carmilla had gotten together and married shortly after the incident. And after Nyssa awoke the following night after sleeping in the dirt to recover, Carmilla gave her the news she wanted to marry Maxwell.
The three walked around the house to notice Carmilla bent over a garden. She was wearing odd human clothing and brightened when she noticed Nyssa. She got up.
"Nyssa, my darling!" she sighed, moving over and putting her arms around her daughter.
Nyssa was still not used to having her mother around and she hugged her back. "So, how's gardening come along?" she asked.
Carmilla heaved a deep sigh. "Well, not so good." she admitted, gesturing to her bare location. "Can't seem to get anything to grow."
Nyssa and Abel bent down to check the problem. When they noticed what it was, they both giggled faintly and looked up at the Countess.
"Mamma, you have to put the seeds UNDER the ground." Nyssa said.
Carmilla grinned, flashing her fangs. "Ahh, I see." she murmured, embarrassed, "Well, it's been too long since I had a garden."
Abel glanced up at the sky. The sun was beginning to set. "Well, the church is having a party. Maybe you should come."
Carmilla furrowed her brow. "Over my pile of ashes."
Nyssa laughed at her and put a hand on her shoulder. "Aww mom, you should!" she said, "There's gonna be wine, fresh young blood ... "
Carmilla considered that for a moment. She and Maxwell glanced at each other with small grins. "Really?" she murmured.
Abel blinked painfully. "Nyssa ... " he protested, "You shouldn't encourage - - "
Nyssa laughed. "Hey, Abel, we'll race you to the jeep!" she joked, shifting into wolf form.
The other two did the same and they rushed off as Abel chased after them. "Guys! Come on!" he protested. "Don't go wolf on me!"
O
The church party was not all that comfortable for Caterina. She cringed, watching the family of vampires roam around the foyer.
"Abel?"
Abel was stuffing bread into his mouth. "Hm?" he murmured, with a mouthful.
"It was your idea to invite them, wasn't it?" Caterina muttered.
"Uh, it was."
Carmilla and Nyssa stood outside on a balcony together. Maxwell watched them from a distance and smiled, pleased.
"Mamma, what's it like?" Nyssa asked.
Carmilla stared at her quizzically. "What's what like?"
"Sleeping all that time." Nyssa said, "Is it like ... being dead?"
Carmilla took a deep breath. "Well, it's like sleeping but not waking up. I did dream a lot." she explained. "I saw us ... together." A pause of sadness. "A part of me ... a very small part wanted the past. As I slept, grief kept me from waking again. So yes, I guess I was dead."
She and Nyssa giggled slightly at the joke.
"I really missed you mamma." Nyssa told her, taking a small drink of her wine. "This was something I dreamed about."
Carmilla smiled tenderly. Finally, she took Nyssa's hand in her own and the smile faded to a grimace of despair. "Can you forgive me for what happened?" she said, softly, "I know it's something I do not deserve, but ... " She hesitated and groaned. "If I had known, he would have been drained dry!"
Nyssa shook her head and put her arm around her mother. "Mamma, it's fine." she said, gently, "It happened, yes. But we can just move on." She paused. "Besides, I did that for you, anyway."
Maxwell smiled and nodded in approval before walking at Abel's side. They both remained quiet for a moment.
"So, you doing alright?" Abel finally said.
Maxwell chuckled. "I could use an O Positive right now ... " he murmured.
Abel smiled painfully.
Carmilla and Nyssa glanced up at the moon. "Hey, feel like ditching and having a night on the town?" Nyssa asked, smiling.
Carmilla nodded. "I'd like that." she said.
The pair glanced down and dove off of the balcony. When they landed on the ground, they landed as wolves and rushed off through the streets. Nyssa smiled a wolf - like smile to the red wolf, Carmilla. Her mother returned the smile.
I learned so much that day.
I learned what hurts us can bring back old feelings that had died. What keeps us from those we love sometimes brings them back to us.
THE END