“Madam, what if someone there--”

​

“I know.” Ceres cut Alexander off with a hiss and he winced.

​

She knew her familiar was trying to bring her some clarity before stumbling into a situation she knew could be dangerous for them, but she couldn’t help herself. 

​

She needed to see El. 

​

The silence between them was necessary. Ceres needed to think. She wasn’t quite prepared for what was to come. 

Thunder crashed down a distance away, the rain however followed them their entire journey. As though it too knew that this encounter could be a disastrous one, reminding her with every droplet that hit the carriage. 

​

Alexander’s jawline was sharp, clearly tense from thought. The lighting from the candle made his features all the more prominent. His short black hair curled perfectly, locks cascading just so and his honey colored eyes glowed. A gift only a Vampire can give. He ought to be grateful I’m bringing him, She thought. Then she closed her eyes, No. She needed him. She had grown fond of him over the years. He was good at making her smile, laugh even, which wasn’t something that naturally came to her. She was “moody” and ill tempered. 

​

She looked down at the letter once again, thumbing the small precious key that had been fastened to it, noticing her long boney fingers. She was much paler than normal and her veins were clearly more black than usual. She sighed. It had been at least a week since her last feed and her body was paying dearly for it.

​

“We can go into town this evening, if you’d like Madam.” Alexander had read her mind. She scrunched her nose. 

​

“You know I dislike you peering into my thoughts, Alex.” Biting her lip she added, “Although, yes. I do think it is necessary as I’m looking quite ghoulish, don’t you think?” 

​

“More so than normal, you mean?” Alexander grinned.

​

Ceres playfully kicked his leg and rolled her eyes. 

​

A moment later the carriage horses had come to a full stop. Together they glimpsed through the rainy window at the cemetery. A group had gathered, all in black. Ceres was thankful that the day was gloomy and that she could hide behind her black parasol.

​

Alexander held the parasol over them as they reached the group. Twenty or so people gathered, some tearful, other sullen yet stiff. Ceres wondered which she should feel.

​

The pastor read from the bible, but Ceres ignored the words, she was focused on a young man with white-blonde hair, the same as Ellery’s had been.

​

She couldn’t help but listen to his thoughts. His mother. He thought about her, he was remembering a time when he was little and she was chasing after him. He was giggling and she caught him up into her arms, kissing his cheek. A single tear ran down his face and he sniffed, pushing the thought and tear away. His other hand cupped that of a small child’s; a little girl with the same pretty hair. Ceres felt something.

​

Pain. 

​

Then, suddenly the ceremony was over and they lowered her casket into the ground. Ellery’s son’s daughter gently threw one single red rose atop it.

​

“Ceres? Is… that you? Though… can it be?” Ceres looked to the voice that addressed her, it was Ellery’s maiden, Agetha, who was much older now. Wrinkles, age spots, grey and white hair. Stout. Ceres towered over her. 

​

She swallowed, “No, I’m sorry. Madam Ceres la Lorie de Fluere was my mother, my name is Celena.”  She lied. “And this is Alexander, my traveling companion.”

​

“Oh, goodness me. You look just like her, you gave me quite a fright! You even have the same gorgeous red hair!” She chuckled lightly and Ceres remembered how chatty she could be. “Are you staying at that gastly tavern in the city? Well, if you aren’t you should come stay at the manor. Ellery’s son Vincent is staying tonight, bless him. We would be lost without him. That’s him over there. Vincent! Vincent, come here!” She frantically waved him over. 

​

Vincent picked up his daughter and made his way over. He carried the same sullen face as before, but forced a smile. “Hello,” he held out his hand to Ceres.

​

She took it, he kissed her hand gently. She smiled. 

​

Alexander was side eyeing her, but she noticed something else flash in his thoughts.

​

“Oh Vincent,” Agetha went on, “This is Celena, Ceres la Lorie’s daughter! You remember your mother used to talk about her. They were best friends when they were your age! She doesn’t have a place to stay tonight.” She looked up at him, batting her eyes. 

​

“Oh, well you should stay with us, of course.” He offered a small smile and a nod. 

​

“Wow, papa, her hair looks like blood!” Vincent’s daughter said with blue eyes as wide as saucers. 

Vincent went pale, “Eleanor, you shouldn’t-”

​

Ceres cut him off “That’s quite alright,” she laughed, “I sometimes think it looks like blood too.” She winked at Eleanor who grinned back, hard. 

​

“That’s settled then,” Agatha clapped her hands. “You’ll meet us at the manor. It’s just up the road.” 

​

“I have the address from the letter that was sent.” Ceres offered and Agatha smiled, leading Vincent and Eleanor to their own carriage. 

​

Ceres took a moment to study El’s gravestone. 

Here Lies:

 

Ellery Elizabeth Glass

1808 - 1883

Loving Wife & Mother

 

“True love lasts through death and time.”

 

A lump was suddenly caught in her throat. It was a quote from a book they read together one Samhain1. Cuddled up in front of her fireplace, she remembered how sweet and soft her kisses were and how bad she had missed them over the years. 

​

“Madam?” Alexander touched her shoulder and she nodded, turning her back and getting into their carriage. 

​

When the carriage began to move, Ceres eyed Alexander. “He lost his wife, you know.”

Alexander looked up at her, “Yes. Childbirth.” 

​

“I saw your little fantasy,” She raised her brow. 

​

He blushed, turning his face to the window, “He is handsome. I imagine Ellery was just as beautiful.” 

​

He wasn’t wrong. 

​

They were once again silent, thunder and rain filling up the void between them until they reached the Glass manor. 

It was as magnificent as she remembered it being. Marvelous and grey, statues surrounding the garden. Intricately designed. A naked woman in the center, water pouring down her chest into a large pool with a mermaid laying underneath her. It was covered in moss. Aged, just as Agetha had. 

​

Agetha was eager to show them the manor, giving them a tour that Ceres knew like the back of her hand. Gorgeous paintings lined the halls, elegant chandeliers in nearly every room. 

​

When Eleanor spotted them, she ran from her father and into Ceres’s arms. “I’m so glad you’re staying! You’re so beautiful and fun!” 

​

Ceres couldn’t remember the last time someone had called her either of those things, so she was glad for it and spent the remainder of the evening in Eleanor’s company, leaving Alexander and Vincent to chat, or flirt more like it, amongst themselves. 

​

At dinner, Agetha made an elaborate meal, happy to have people in the manor, Ceres assumed. She ate the food, but felt ill afterwards and asked to go lay down. 

​

“Of course dear, you can stay in Ellery’s old room,” She delighted herself in showing her to it, even though Ceres could have easily walked up the stairs and through the halls herself.

​

Her room was exactly as she remembered it being. 

​

Green with floral wallpaper, books all about.

​

A large canopy bed.

​

The fireplace. 

​

Her vanity, where she wrote Ceres letters. 

​

She sat down at it. Taking the letter from her pocket and opening it. Staring at the delicate key. Ceres set it down and looked at the mirror. 

​

No reflection. Of course no reflection. She hadn’t seen what she looked like in years. It made her remember the day that she broke up with Ellery, in this very room. If she could muster tears, she would have. She didn’t ever want to leave her, but being bitten by a Vampire came with certain conditions, one of which meant she couldn’t turn her mortal lover. There were rules. Rules she hated and wanted to disobey, but could not. And so, she lost her dear Ellery. And now she was dead. 

​

Her fingers dug into her hair and she looked down, it was then that she noticed a jewelry box. A small, black jewelry box with a lock on it. Ceres’s brows furrowed.

​

She ripped the small key from the letter and pushed it into lock, a perfect fit. It clicked and opened, revealing a small journal and a necklace that Ellery had gifted her, but she had given back when she broke Ellery’s heart. She clutched it, smiling.

Suddenly she felt a cold breeze and a hand caressed her face. She looked up into the mirror and a misty Ellery was staring at her with a smile.

​

“Ceres, my love, you’re here” She moved her ghostly face towards her and they kissed. 

​

Ellery was cold, but firm. Kissing her was everything. It didn’t matter how.

​

They were there, together in love, despite death and time.

 

______________________________________________________________

1 the first day of November, celebrated by the ancient Celts as a festival marking the beginning of winter.