Chapter 20: Till Next Time
- - - -{Epilogue}- - - -
The coffins sat on the runway while the other luggage was loaded onto the belt. In the cold chill of the spreading evening, the technicians bustled quickly to load the baggage on the cargo floor pallets. It wasn't very often they got bodies sent by passenger flights. And they all avoided looking at the boxes as if not seeing them would make them disappear.
When, at last, there was nothing else to load, the technitians forced themselves to lift the bodies. The first one went in without a problem, cold with death and the October air. But when the second was loaded, the crew could not get their hands off of the wood fast enough. They sealed the cargo door and bustled onto the cargo trolly together as if they were bits of baggage themselves. And there they huddled in wait to load the next plane.
Then someone said: "Was it just me, or did that lighter coffin feel really warm?"
- - - -{Chronology}- - - -
AN:
Thank you for reading! I had meant to sleep early tonight and ended up burning through the drafts of the last four chapters in a go. So much for a full night's rest on a week day. I do hope you enjoyed my first fic. I would love to hear comments or criticisms, I published a short comic run in my school newspaper so I can take a beating. =}
As my story is (now proven to be completely) AU. To make things a bit clearer, I am writing a short pertinent summary/timeline of events that happened to the two trinities that lead up to the story's beginning. Some of these will be overlapped facts that also happen the same way in the TV show.
Let me know if you want more stories!
AMERICAN TRINITY:
Aiden attempts to elope with Sauren but fails when she decides to support her mother. Convinced he can save her, Aiden returns to the hotel only to find Mother willing to bequeath her power if her daughter can prove to be a heartless ruler. Unable to kill the man she loves, Sauren allows her own mother to take her life, and the vampire queen buries Aiden as punishment for breaking his exile and planning her assassination.
In an attempt to break his curse, Josh plans to murder his werewolf origin, Ray. Josh, waiting for Aiden's assistance in the woods, is confronted and overpowered by his creator. In a last ditch effort to save her boyfriend, Nora fires a bullet deep into Ray's shoulder with the intent to maim him so that Josh could take the killing blow. But the man turns and chases Nora through the woods. She flees to her car. Ray gives chase, and just as the original wolf approaches her, is hit by a semi-truck. He dies on impact, cutting off all hope that George and Nora would ever break their curse that way.
Sally, coming down from her addiction to possession and schizophrenia, discovers a way to manipulate purgatory - Being a reaper, though apparently a figment of her own making, had inadvertently taught her how to manipulate the vale between purgatory and the world. Through waves, (radio, water, electronics, etc.) She was able to make a gateway between herself and the world. There she helped return the ghosts she ripped, who still had desires and the notions of self improvement. But she herself could not bridge the gap without assistance. And though she can communicate with Nora and Josh through the radio in the living room, she felt obligated to wander the space finding souls that needed to be returned.
Three months later, Josh and Nora discover that Aiden was not dead but buried. And together they resolve to speak with Mother to strike some deal. Mother, unhappy at the intrusion agrees if Josh could perform as adequately for her 4000th birthyear (a birthday she celebrates all year), as he did on his first cage fight. She would consider releasing Aiden back into exile. And Josh agrees.
That night, Sally, looking for her room mate, haunts the hotel radios and chances upon a music box on Mother's dresser. The Vampire discovers that Sally, Josh and Aiden had been living together in harmony and is instantly struck with recognition. Still untrusting of Aiden, Mother releases him back into her employ, and makes it clear that his friends are expendable if her needs are not met. Josh is released after a public transformation, but without having to fight, and Mother 'finds a way' to bring Sally out of purgatory. (it's unclear how, but assume black magic is involved)
Under his release, Henry, promoted because of Aiden's treachery (Under a similar system that promoted Aiden and Bishop to leadership) became head of the city, and spokesperson of the next generation. Aiden, right-hand of Mother, offered him freedom on her behalf- but he refused it claiming he wants to be a vampire among vampires.
Sally, kept herself busy helping young ghosts find their doors. She had grown to believe that it was her duty to ward new spirits. But since her return from Purgatory, where she continuously searched for souls to return to the world, she had become more and more convinced that she would be left behind while everyone moved on; also her door. and she had become increasingly lonely and a little more desperate.
Half a year after the Haunt re-assembled. Bryn, a werewolf sister from the the McLean pack returned to Boston to find Josh and convince him that she was to be his mate. In jealousy, and the looming day-of-a-full-moon. Nora confronts her and nearly kills her. But Josh steps in and calms her long enough for Bryn to escape with her life just minutes before the moon rises and the wolves change. Still fueled by love and insecurity, Nora runs from Josh and Josh catches up with her. Knowing he has no control over his wolf, Nora is shocked and pleased to find Josh offering peace in his animal form.
That night Nora conceives again.
BRITISH TRINITY:
George and Mitchell lose Annie to Purgatory and heartbroken, they leave Bristol to live in the suburbs of Barry Island. Tormented by his still secret blood bath that is the Box Tunnel Massacre, Mitchell distances himself from George and begins to delve back into blood. He later follows a terminally ill patient into purgatory to find and retrieve Annie. There he learns and rejects the prophecy of the wolf-shaped bullet.
The Old Ones (who retreated to the Carpathian Mountains in Romania [Original canon puts them in Bolivia]) determine Mitchell and Daisy as the culprits of the Box Tunnel Massacres and deem him a threat to Vampires as a society. Mitchell soon falls prey to blackmail, and in an attempt to free himself from the guilt weighted on him from his re-lapse back into violence, Mitchell seeks out other alternatives to alleviate the constant reminders.
When Mitchell is at the height of desperation, Leader of the European brood of Old Ones, the Eminent Mr. Snow, descends from his place in Romania with a keen interest in Mitchell. In secret, Snow arranges an agreement with Mitchell which would result in freedom of the Old One's scrutiny. Under pressure from his own home clan, Mitchell agrees, and begins preparations for a visit to North America under the guise of the King of Bristol (a title that he relinquished prior to the events of the agreement).
Annie, being returned to the world by the vampire, soon finds herself developing feelings for him. Though it is obvious that he has started to accept and return her affection, his shame over his past actions prevent him from making bolder advances; neither have made the moves to make the next step. Currently, Annie and Mitchell, though in love, do not consider themselves a couple. Of course, George knows better than that.
After Annie's premature departure, and heartfelt return from Purgatory, George reinforced his sibling relationship with Annie. Meanwhile, his recently rekindled relationship with Nina had taken wing and through her support and love came to accept his responsibilities for her and their condition. He fervently works on a cure for his condition using research stolen from the CenSSA.
George, because of his reservations about werewolves social interactions, continues to insist that his transformations with Nina remain separate: despite this, George and Nina maintain a fierce relationship with each other regardless of form. George and Nina have yet to spend a werewolf night together. Though it is obvious that both wolves want to.
Upon Mitchell's attempt to leave town, George and Annie reveal their concern over his recent secrecy and his well being. Together convince him to allow them back into his life, and to follow him to America. Reluctantly, Mitchell agrees to this and rationalizes with himself that so long as he can see George and Annie, he can be sure they are safe.
- - - - -{Summaries}- - - - - -
AN: oddly enough, I'm having trouble with a catching summary. I'm open to suggestions!
Previously:
1) Vampires in Boston are hosting VIP Old Ones. And the entertainment, werewolf free-for-all. But when mass Wolf killings attract vampire hunters from the other side of the country, will Aiden be able to contain the inevitable mess? Especially when he has to make sure his guest, the eminent Snow, remains satisfied. US UK crossover.
2) When mass werewolf abductions attract vampire hunters from the other side of the country, Aiden gets a lot more than he asked for. Responsible for organizing the itenary for the fearsome Mr. Snow, can Aiden protect Josh and Sally while still satisfying Mother's requirements; and more importantly, is Mitchell going to help when George's life hangs in the balance? US UK crossover.