Enid walked into Narfordshire, it had grown larger in the intervening decades. The Earl’s estate had been improved to a full keep, with a wall. The Cathedral, now named Saint Sarah’s Cathedral was surrounded by external buildings. The roads were now cobbled. She saw the old Tanner’s house and shop, it no longer had the poultice sign. Instead, it looked to be converted to an Inn. She frowned. There was a stone monument at the sight of her fight with the Strix that declared Saint Sarah had slain a demon. A fence blocked access to the ground where life wouldn’t flourish. She shook her head again and pulled her hood more tightly over her head. She approached the church and pushed the doors open. There were a group of nuns lost in prayers in front of an ornate fountain and the empty glass coffin that once held Enid. She kept herself hidden from mortal eyes and went to the door to the undercroft. The key she held still unlocked it and she entered. She glanced around the chamber. It had more tombs then she had recalled. She entered the hidden passage and made her way to the keep’s crypt. This too had more residents then it once had.

She saw two ornate tombs that stood out. Henry’s and Katherine’s. She looked at Henrys and ran her fingers along his face. His effigy wore a beard. He looked very dignified.

“I truly loved you Henry, and I’m glad you found happiness after I left.”

She noticed another tomb with an effigy she approached it hesitantly. It was a man; She could see that much. She read the writing that was chiseled into the stone. Blood tears ran down her cheek and she fell to her knees. The inscription read, Here lies Edward Stewart, fell in Battle of Agincourt, without issue. She lay draped over the tomb for some time, sobbing. She recovered drying up her tears and pushing herself up to look for more tombs desperately hoping that none would bear the name Eyre. She found for Rosealyn, her daughter, but none had the name she feared. She took the time to clean the tears from her face and entered the secret passage into the keep proper. It had changed much in the ensuing decades.

Enid noticed light coming from her old study’s door and listened carefully. She could only hear the beat of one heart. Soft breathing and the scratch of a quill on paper. She pushed the door open and peaked inside. It was Eyre. No mistaking her daughter’s face, even seventy years later. She looked barely over thirty now. Enid knocked on the door softly.

“Enter. Do not worry Agnes I am heading to bed soon.”

Enid entered and Eyre hadn’t looked up from her writing. Eyre frowned at her writing.

“Don’t just stand there and gawk girl. What is it?”

Eyre looked up and her eyes went wide. The quill dropped to the table and Eyre rushed to embrace her mother. Enid wrapped her arms around Eyre. She could feel tears dripping on to her hair.

“Mother!”

“If I was human you probably would have just broken my ribs.”

“I’m sorry mother, I just wasn’t sure if you’d ever return.”

Eyre released Enid and started drying her tears up. Her daughter stood a full six inches taller than her and looked quite regal, even at this late hour.

“I thought you would be in bed.”

“I was but I could not sleep. I was just writing letters to my remaining children. Before I left.”

“Where were you going?”

“I was taking your advice mother, Edward left five years ago, he was starting to get looks with how young he still looked. The church has been sniffing around for the last few weeks. They had a special interest in us, as your children. I figured ninety-eight years was more than enough for one lifetime. Especially when I barely look thirty.”

“Edward is alive?”

“Oh yes, I believe he is in Venice last I heard.”

“So, he didn’t die in France?”

“No, no, he’s alive and well living like a merchant king from last report. Wine, women and song. I thought I should go out and see more of the world, my great grandchildren are almost grown.”

Enid put her hand to her chest. Taking an unnecessary breath.

“You came in through the crypts didn’t you.”

Enid nodded and sat down in a chair heavily, she sat in silence for a few moments. Then looked up at Eyre.

“How were you going to fake your death?”

“Oh, William has already procured a body and was going to take care of the cover up.”

“William Smith?”

“Yes, Uncle William has helped us quite a lot through the years. He’s the vampire lord over this territory.”

“How do you even know that?”

“Well, I can apparently see everything’s true form, some sort of gift, power, what not. I hadn’t known it until you confirmed what you were. I started to refine it. Found more than a few actual monsters that I slew over the years. William made a case against killing vampires and I agreed seems that I’m half vampire. I can even heal wounds like one, exhausts me though.”

“So, you’re a hunter now?”

“Well, I’m a Mother first, Countess second and hunter near the bottom of the list. I can see by your face your wondering what Edward is capable of. I have no clue he wasted his life on women and alcohol. Spent money like it was water and barely cared for the lands. Abdicated them to me and led the life of a Knight Errant. The king loved him for it. He cried actual real tears at the funeral.”

Enid shook her head.

“Typical of men, isn’t it? Leave the real work to us women.”

“That has been my experience, yes. Why have you come back mother?”

“I promised to come back in a few decades to see if you wanted to be immortal.”

“Well, I’m not sure, but perhaps we could head to Italy together? Get reacquainted I can fill you in on what’s been happening in your absence. You can tell me what you’ve been doing with yourself.”

“Okay. Meet in the crypt then?”

“Yes, I should be ready to leave in a few days.”

“See you in a few days then.”

Eyre and Enid embraced again.

“I’m so glad you came back mother, I’ve so many questions.”

*****

The mother and daughter leaned on the balcony enjoying the warm night air. Eyre was enjoying a bottle of wine. Enid was out of her usual tunic and armor. Bloodseeker was nowhere to be seen.

“So, this is what having obscene amounts of money is like.”

“Nice isn’t it, mom? Apparently, Edward won the estate in a game of chance. Original owners died of the plague and people thought it was cursed.”

“I don’t know there is something to be said about keeping things light and portable, not getting tied down in one spot.”

“And there is something to be said about seeing your children grow up and have children of their own.”

Enid frowned at the slight verbal jab.

“So how exactly did I become Saint Sarah the slayer of dragons and demons? It’s only been eighty years.”

Eyre laughed then poured another glass of wine.

“Well Edward was known to tell a tale or two when he had too much to drink. The Vatican investigators who were deciding whether you met the requirements of sainthood ate it up, especially when he showed them the patch of land where you killed that Strix. He told them how a demon had possessed a little girl who had died a violent death and not been buried. The tanner was so old and crazy by then he confirmed everything. Claws, teeth. Said he’d been hit by the demon’s claw and you managed to purge the evil from him by calling on the holy trinity. He made up half the stories the other half he embellished from ones you told. And to hear him tell it you were the most righteous, pious woman who ever lived. You only ever raised your sword against the enemies of God. I can’t believe they fell for the dragon one.”

“Well, that one was your grandfather’s story. Apparently, dragons, griffins and the like were a part of life before Eden. If I saw something as big as a house that breathed fire, I have to be honest I’d run the other way.”

“I don’t believe it, you’d run at it, especially if innocent people were in danger and you could do it without breaking any of your laws.”

“You’re probably right. Speaking of my laws, have you thought any more about your future?”

Enid swirled the wine in her glass looking out at the rising full moon over the Strait of Messina. Eyre looked down at her own wine and then back to her mother. She abruptly changed the subject.

“You probably remember the city from Rome.”

“Yes, but its different, some of it was destroyed by an earthquake, there were more Greek buildings.

“Not much of a vampire population here is there?”

“No, most of them were killed or are in the long sleep here. And to be honest, Rome and now Italy are dangerous to live in. Unstable one could say, between the overabundance of ordained Christians, earthquakes and volcanoes.”

“Volcanoes aren’t that dangerous, are they? They just sort of smoke sometimes.”

Enid nudged her daughter’s elbow with her hand and pointed northwards to a spot on the barely visible mainland. Eyre followed the line of sight from Enid’s finger.

“There, that used to be a port town, with a harbor called Pompeii. Sextus had an estate there we’d go sometimes in the winter. Very wealthy town, lots of trade, a hub for his financial empire. It was completely obliterated in a volcanic eruption. There were imperial vampires there, all dead. Buried in ash. Happened around noon. It was so dark from the ash we could walk in the day afterwards. The area was too hot to enter. You cannot comprehend the power of that eruption. Not sure how many humans died, but thousands were displaced. It was terrible. I never want to witness something like that again. This whole area is unstable, the with ground quakes, volcanic eruptions. When you’re truly immortal the thought of something that can kill you so quickly and without any warning is terrifying.”

Eyre’s eyes were wide at the picture Enid painted with her words.

“You were there?”

“No just nearby enough to see the fire showing into the sky. It was a cataclysm in every sense of the word. I have no fear of vampire, mortal, or monster, but that, that I fear.”

Enid pointed at the volcano rising in the distance.

“Was God angry, why was he so wrathful?”

“God.”

Enid laughed.

“There were no Gods involved. I thought so at first too. Sextus told me though that it was the Earth itself. That underneath the dirt and the rock that great rivers of lava flow. And when pressure builds up it is expelled, I thought he had gone mad. But there is this magic, old magic, you can talk to the land in a way and hear it. Once he taught me, I started to understand. The lava is closer to the surface at some places, Pompeii was one of those places. He knew it was coming, it is why we left when we did by boat. He told me he could hear the land growing angry, feel the heat rising, the pressure building and so he left.”

“But why didn’t he warn people? Bring the other vampires?”

“He tried to warn the imperials but as with me they thought he was nuts. And the people, how do you convince twenty-thousand people they need to leave because the earth is about to spew fire and brimstone?”

“Most of the humans escaped, the vampires were inside, sleeping, and were buried and probably incinerated. So, in short, volcanos are dangerous.”

Eyre nodded, pouring herself another glass of wine and sipping it, her eyes focused on the former location of Pompeii.

“How are you still sane after so many years?”

Enid shrugged.

“It may be a part of the gift of being a vampire. You don’t notice the passing time so much unless you’re around mortals. Its not like your peers change much besides style of dress and even then, its only because they start standing out wearing togas in the middle of Londoninium in 1223 AD.”

“Londoninium?”

“Romans name for London. It was not the city it is now then.”

“Wait you were in London when it was Roman?”

“Yes, but only because Mariana dragged me there when she got tired about moping because the Romans crucified her great grandchild”

“What?”

“Never mind.”

“Okay but why were you in London? I mean Londonimium?”

“Mariana was friends with Augustus, Like the best of friends, and I see that look, not that kind of friend, and while we were not supposed to meddle in human affairs according to father’s rules, she sort of did anyway. Well, her friendship carried on with his family, except Caligula, he was a fucking lunatic. Anyway, during the time she had her own legion. Odd for a woman, but Augustus let her found it. Some were vampires, most were blood slaves, all were undyingly loyal to her. They were called the Black Legion. Terror of the Empire. Nero asked her to intervene for him with a rebellion, Mariana dragged me along. Come see your homeland she said. What she meant was come help me kill this annoying mortal so Nero will stop pestering me. So, we stopped in Londonimum on the way through to chase down Boudica. Not that there was much left, most of it was destroyed by her armies. Mariana beheaded her and we went to Scotland, had a different name then. Not that the history books say she stopped rebellion can’t have a woman saving Rome and all that.”

“You’ve seen so much mother, done so much. I admit I’m jealous. But part of me wonders if it would seem so exciting without my heart beating fast, or breath in my chest. The sun on my face.”

“I don’t know, when I was human, I felt weak, pitiable. The length of my life was measured by how useful I was to my father; I was to give him guidance and get him a good dowry. I didn’t have the benefit of a vampire mother who had eaten the fruit of life, who had thirteen hundred years to realize that just because I have tits doesn’t mean men can tell me what to do or rule my life. Sextus was a firm believer in women having their own course in life. So, you know freedom I never had before I was turned. All I can say is as a vampire you will never have to listen to a man tell you what you can and cannot do, especially if you keep a low profile, stay off the imperial council’s radar.”

“But I have to hunt and drink blood from humans.”

“Yes, but it doesn’t have to be like that. I happen to enjoy that more, it’s thrilling. You have your feminine wiles men will fall over themselves to give you the chance to feed. And the rush.”

“But then I can’t eat food, enjoy wine.”

“That’s not true unless you’re turned by a Pugmentia. We imperials we get to enjoy everything the mortals do, except the sun of course. But why would you settle for porridge when you can have ambrosia?”

“You ate a lot when I was young.”

“To keep up appearances. It was torture.”

“But there are rules to follow, I like following my own path.”

“There are human laws too, and as a Seer I should never say this, if you never get caught, you never face the consequences.”

“What do you mean?”

“Look, as a Seer my main concern is the humans stay in the dark and you don’t go around killing other vampires. If you happen to be seen and clean up your mess before anyone is the wiser, and we find out later I could care less. Its when you make a mess, and leave it for us to clean up, that’s what pisses us off.”

Eyre nodded.

“Take the crimes that brought me to Narfordshire, idiot Pugmentia creates a Strix out of ignorance or malice. Leaves a witness alive to his attack on the family, who sees Strix wakes up. The lord managed to screw up getting rid of the witness and then the church is involved. Then the Templars get involved. So, we have to burn down a Church, garrison full of holy warriors, and kill a Strix. Then stupid vampire’s lover makes a new vampire for the Lord to pass as his spawn.”

“Wait you burned the church down and wiped out the Templars?”

“I did the templars, the lord and his ilk did the church.”

“That is terrible you killed so many!”

“Before you judge me, imagine how many more would die if the humans declared open warfare on vampires? I killed two hundred in one night, myself with no back up. Most of them trained warriors. Imagine what six of me could do, and realize that everyone on the Imperial council is at least a thousand years older than me and even less concerned with human lives. And realize that Mariana’s black legion, Was only one cohort strong. That’s five hundred men, and they killed ten thousand in one night. And there were only twenty-seven vampires there that night.”

Eyre’s eyes went wide.

“It is only father’s will and laws that keep the vampires in check, and if mortals started killing them in large numbers his rules would mean nothing. The church gets one or two idiots every so often and they feel like they’re keeping the demons at bay. If they had any clue the power, we wield. It is best they don’t.”

“So, you do what you do to keep everyone safe?”

“Yes, I also kill the odd non-vampire supernatural creature that is killing humans because their attention could become our attention. I don’t kill people out of spite, well not often, and never if they don’t deserve it or the death doesn’t serve a greater good.”

Enid wrapped her hands around the railing palms up and looked at the moon that was filling the sky now.

“I want you to turn me, but not yet, lets meet here in ten years, and I will accept your offer, but I want to enjoy living before I say goodbye to the sun. I’ve been trapped in musty keeps for the last hundred years. I want to live life to the fullest. If I’m not here in ten years, I died, or I’ve changed my mind.”

“Okay Eyre, I hope it’s the latter if it comes to that. In the meantime, give me some of that wine. Do you have any other questions about the world, history, me?”

Eyre poured her mother a glass of wine and both leaned on the balcony’s railing the pair leaned on the railing backs the streets and the moon and talked long into the night, and did so for several nights before parting.