Now it was again approaching winter. Last winter had culminated in the great finale at Trelaine’s cathedral in Brooklyn.

For so long I had felt numb. Unable to do much more than was the minimum required maintenance each day. Cedric had moved out a while back, leading to her alone in the house with cats. She hadn’t expected her life to be so circular.

Ah but this time she was tasked with protecting the Marscapones.


AVAEL//

Who's training who?


Oof. Well, she seemed to have a short fuse lately.

The truth was, she missed Cedric.


AVAEL//

I thought we had grown close.


His mission took him elsewhere. No hard feelings.

Marching around the house was a little more difficult than usual. And that’s saying something, as her body was loathesome and sluggish. She was a curious creation of fang and gear. This body would be her prison.


AVAEL//

Even if I were offered an alternate route, would I take it?


A solo venture, that’s what this was.

But I didn’t have to like it.


MANDARC//

Things with Yuki have been good lately.

AVAEL//

I'm glad to hear that, Mandarc.

MANDARC//

I am willing to go through the Reveal with her.

AVAEL//

She seems like a sweet girl, er, young woman. Are you sure that you're ready to expose the truth of our world to her?

MANDARC//

I'm not going to just up and tell her any time soon but if it becomes something that can't be avoided... then I have committed to help her through it.

AVAEL//

That is brave of you, very brave.

MANDARC//

You seem like you're in a mood tonight.

AVAEL//

B-bwha? On what do you base that accusation?

MANDARC//

I don't know. I just get this feeling that you really don't want to hear about Yuki and me.

AVAEL//

I was perfectly willing to listen.

MANDARC//

Ah, but there it is. You were willing but did you desire it?

AVAEL//

"Desire it"? Such things do not occur to me as I listen to you. I have no opinion, I am simply content to be, and indeed that is perhaps how I can serve you best.

MANDARC//

Hm. Maybe.

AVAEL//

I'm just a little blue about Cedric heading for the Forgotten Hollow.

MANDARC//

Yeah, that must be difficult, you and the house, alone against the world. Maybe you ought to strike up a friendship with the Marscapones. Maybe they can help you with your ills. Vincent was recently brought back from the dead. It was quite a spectacle. It's too bad you didn't get to see it.

AVAEL//

It's okay.

MANDARC//

But, yeah. Anyway. Sorry about that. There's Myrtle, too. She was also brought back by Davian.


I paused. But Mandarc kept talking.


MANDARC//

Avael? Are you there?

MANDARC//

Avael?

VINCENT

YOU KNOW, I’VE ALWAYS FELT FOR YOU, AVAEL.

YOUR FORM PROVIDES FOR YOU CERTAIN BENEFITS, BUT ALSO DRAWBACKS.

YOU ARE CURSED WITH ITS PERMANENCE.

AVAEL

YES.

AFTER THE FIRE, THERE WAS ENOUGH OF ME LEFT TO SERVE AS A SOUL VESSEL.

I SUPPOSE I SHOULD COUNT MYSELF FORTUNATE.

VINCENT

ANYTHING THAT KEEPS US ON THE ETERNAL VIGIL.


Of course he was an optimist. But then again, why wasn’t she?


MANDARC//

Are you afraid of the old superstition? If the vampire who sired you is slain?


It had happened upon her fears more than twice. But she had tried to console herself, thinking maybe that’s the way it was supposed to be.

It was a younglings’ tale, right? It had to be, lest all of civilization crumble in one fall of the blade.

AVAEL

TRELAINE HAS COMMITTED FAR TOO MANY CRIMES TO BE ALLOWED TO LIVE.

VINCENT

WE HAVE REASON TO DESPISE HIM TOO.

HE DOESN’T CARE FOR THE PEOPLE OF EARTH.

I HAVE HEARD TALE THAT HE ABANDONED YOU, TOO.

HE COULD HAVE USED HIS ABILITY TO SAVE YOU, TO HEAL YOU, AND YET, DID HE?


I was suddenly very aware of this metal monstrosity. It was my liberation, my freedom, my prison, my cage.

VINCENT

I’M SORRY, I DID NOT THINK TO HOLD MY TONGUE ON MATTERS OF WAR.

I WILL NOT SPEAK OVER YOU.

PLEASE, SPEAK.

AVAEL

I FEAR WE DON’T HAVE THE RESOURCES TO ELIMINATE BOTH HIM AND TRENTE GAGARIN.

MYRTLE

WE WILL NEED VLADISLAUS TO HELP US.

AVAEL

A SINGLE MAN CAN’T DO IT ALONE.

WE ASK HIM TO DO TOO MUCH.

WE ARE TRYING TO FIND MORE FRIENDS, BUT –

MYRTLE

THERE IS DAVIAN AND HIS APPRENTICE.