Enid rolled over and snuggled into Allison’s side. She felt her girlfriend’s arm wrap around her shoulders. She felt her fingers tracing the scars on her back. Enid reached her arm across Allison’s abdomen. She felt the softness of her slightly chubby body under it. She kissed Allison’s cheek. Allison smiled.

“You need to go soon, don’t you?”

“Yes. Night will fall soon and based on what I’ve been sensing, they are going to try and kill me tonight.”

“Can’t you hide?”

“I wish I could just stay here in your arms forever. But I can’t. Because if I don’t go the world will end. So, I might as well go fight and make sure you have world to live in.”

Allison rolled over and tugged Enid close.

“If…if you don’t come back…”

“If I don’t come back, I died. I’ll make sure someone tells you, okay?”

“You could have spent today preparing.”

“I could have, but I wanted to spend it with you.”

Allison sighed deeply causing her chest to heave. Which made Enid’s currently mortal heart flutter. Allison noticed Enid biting her bottom lip and kissed her deeply. She rolled Enid over sliding her hips between Enid’s legs and looking down at her. Her long blonde hair falling on Enid’s chest. Enid smiled.

“We still have time.”

*****

Enid stretched and looked out at the sun. She kissed Allison on the cheek. Her partner stirred in her sleep but settled again. She pulled on a long t-shirt and walked downstairs. She was at Gladys’s house with Mitena who she heard talking to Gladys downstairs. Mitena bounded over to Enid as soon as she saw her and gave her a hug.

“Mom!”

“Sorry, I should have been down here sooner. I need to leave soon.”

“Surely you can have supper before you leave?”

Enid looked out at the sun, she guessed she had an hour before dark.

“I guess I do.”

Gladys turned to Mitena.

“Mitena could you please go get a bottle of wine from downstairs, would you? A pinot noir.”

“Okay!”

Mitena vanished into the basement. Gladys looked at Enid while mashing the potatoes.

“Don’t worry, we’ll keep her occupied.”

“Please don’t let her watch it. I’m sure news cameras are going to show up, and people are going to do videos.”

“She’s going to see it anyway, Enid.”

“I know but…maybe… it can be delayed.”

“I’ll try my best.”

“Thank you so much for taking care of her. Eyre will pick her up after… if…”

“Don’t you worry, she can stay here as long as she needs too.”

“You’re a wonderful person Gladys. Allison is lucky to have you for a mother.”

“And that little one, she’s lucky to have you, I see the way she looks at you. She adores you.”

Enid sighed, her finger tracing the patterns on the laminated countertop.

“Do…I… Never mind.”

Enid fell into silence.

“You’ve been to war before dear. You’ve come back, it will be the same tonight.”

Enid looked up at Gladys. She opened her mouth, but then closed it.

“I’m sure you’re right. What is taking her so long?”

“Oh the Pinot Noir is at the rear of the shelf, I figured it would take a few minutes so we could talk.”

Enid shook her head and chuckled.

“You are a master at this grandmother stuff.”

“It is nice of you to say.”

“Gladys, I’m not coming back after tonight.”

“Nonsense Enid. You’ll be sitting here for New Years dinner come the 1st, with your daughters.”

Enid felt her eyes getting moist and she nodded.

“You don’t understand…”

Enid heard Mitena coming up the stairs and her voice trailed off. Mitena put the bottle on the counter looking winded. Enid wiped away the tears that had started to form when she saw her daughter.

“Wow that was buried.”

Enid tugged Mitena close and hugged her tightly. She kissed her forehead ten times.

“I love you Mitena.”

“I know mom.”

*****

Enid landed beside her daughter and sister. The pair were wearing Atlantean Armor. Eyre was holding one of the Atlantean rifles and had an Atlantean blade strapped to her back. While it lacked the raw power of Bloodseeker it would be enough to end any vampire’s life swiftly. Hiding in the various buildings around them were her allies, most of which were her children, the Seers. Vampiric Grim Reapers ready to enact her will without question. Lysander and Aeliana landed with the trio. Violet and Angus appeared out of the shadows. Aeliana’s form twisted and shifted, and she let loose a war howl. The wolf-born that prowled the nearby alleyways howled back.

“Sister, the spirit’s give their blessings in this war. If they stand against you, they stand with the destroyer, our greatest enemy and have declared themselves enemies of mother earth.”

“They will be here soon. I can see them flitting in using their speed trying to overwhelm us. Remember Lucius is ours. He needs to stay alive until Maria, Eyre and I can trap him. Understood?”

Everyone nodded. Enid hugged Eyre and then Maria. No one noticed her palm something as she hugged Maria tightly.

“Mom, there are news cameras.”

“Let them watch, if they survive. This is the fight to save creation, everyone’s got a stake in it.”

“Here they come.”

The group of elder vampires and Violet found themselves swiftly surrounded by some Imperials, mostly Pugmentia. The leader whom she recognized as lone council member among the legion of vampires spoke.

“Enid Sextus Aurelius and any who aid her are in violation of multiple covenants and the council has passed a six to one resolution that you are guilty. The punishment is death to be carried out tonight, if you do not surrender to your husband’s custody. Any who are here that thought to aid her may leave now and face no ill will or punishment.”

Enid pondered for a moment.

“Gaius. Is the council trying to get rid of you? I cannot fathom any other reason they would send you to try and pronounce sentence on your rightful Empress. As the Empress I overrule their verdict and declare yourself, the council and anyone aiding you in violation of the Covenants. Unlike my father, I do not fear the council. I do not hesitate to overrule them. And as I told them on international television, I will bode no disobedience. So, what now Gaius?”

Enid turned around in a circle letting the vampiric aura that only the first vampire can exert over the scions of the blood. The gathered Imperials and Pugmenta stumbled backwards in fear.

“I am the source from which all of your blood flows. You live and die and my pleasure or displeasure. Do you really want to fight a battle you cannot win? I am a goddess. You risk your lives for a council of elders that cower in their dusty crypts fearful of the masses. They sent you to die because they fear you. They want you culled but lack the power or will. Kneel and live. Resist and I will take back the gift of blood you were given. My father was weak. He refused to enforce his will on his children by force. I am not. I have God at my back, who do you have?”

Her speech seemed to give them some hesitation, but it wasn’t enough, and they started to flit towards her. Eyre pulled her trigger and a vampire disintegrated in a flash of blue light. The battle began in earnest the wolf-born and her family encircled Enid as planned and she began to weave a blood magic spell that Maria had provided her from her journal. All around her the battle raged. She began to channel the dark energies of her blood. She started to float above the ground her eyes flared purple and she felt the ties of blood to the vampires around her. Picking out the ones that opposed her she started to pull on them. Lines of crackling energy started to rush outwards as they hit the vampires they started to scream and explode into ash. The onslaught slowed then halted cries of mercy rang out from her enemies. Enid tried to stop the spell, but it was a runaway reaction. The power began to overwhelm her and it threatened to expand beyond her enemies. She felt a firm hand grasp hers. She regained control of the magic and the spell ended. She collapsed to the ground on her hands and knees. Enid looked around herself no one was close enough to have held her hand. She looked past her family and statues of black ash surrounded them. The faces twisted in agony. She felt a wave of regret.

Enid began to realize she was infused with entropic energy. It was crackling around her. She felt like she was going to explode. The vampires that survived were fleeing in terror wondering if they would be next. Gaius who had somehow been spared from the blood magic was trying to crawl away. He had a gaping wolf-born claw wound in his chest and Aeliena was approaching to finish the job she started. Enid approached and held up her hand to Aeliana who stepped back. Enid stood over Gaius. He stared up at Enid. His eyes were wide with terror. Enid grabbed him and the energy arced off of her burning his flesh and decaying it where it touched.

“Tell the council what you saw here today. Tell them of the power I wield. I will expect their apologies and pledges of servitude to me, and my successors, signed in blood, bound by blood magic. Or next time my reach will be global.”

Enid threw him into a car and screamed up at the sky the letting the energy stream off of her into the ether. She collapsed again. Her skin was covered in black veins. Her armor was completely drained. It would take a hours to regenerate its energy. She saw Lucius walking towards her gathered defenders. He smiled at her. Enid picked herself up. She stood several feet in front of her defenders. She looked at the smile and felt a terrible emptiness in her gut.

Those are his lips, but not his smile. Waited until I weakened myself to show up. The Black Son was never accused of being stupid.

The survivors of the battle started to pick themselves up readying themselves for the main event. Enid closed her eyes and held up her hands in the signal she had advised everyone meant stay your weapons. She looked at Lucius.

If I can look at my father without vomiting you can do this.

“Mother what are you doing? Let’s get him he’s alone!”

Enid spoke loudly and clearly.

“Eyre. You speak above your station. This is my husband, the emperor. Show respect you insolent child.”

Eyre blinked at her mother’s words. Enid approached Lucius she still had Bloodseeker strapped to her back and sheathed. She opened her arms.

“It has been too long, husband.”

She could sense the eagerness for this moment in the Black Son. Like he had expected her to see reason and bow before him.

“Yes, it has, I’m glad to see you have decided to see reason and submit to your husband.”

Enid kissed him on the lips her stomach urging her to vomit at even the thought of it. She pressed the white gem in her right hand to the back of his neck and activated it. There was a flash and they vanished. The assembled wolf-born and vampires all looked at each other. Eyre was stunned for a few moments then began to shake Maria.

“You need to get her out of there!”

Maria had blood tears dripping down her cheeks and she shook her head.

“I…I cannot. The stone was the only portal…She is…she is…gone. She would need to escape on her own.”

*****

Enid and the Black Son appeared in a white void. She shoved him away with all the strength she had left in her after the blood magic. She spat and wiped her mouth trying to remove any trace of him.

“What have you done to me?”

“I have given you what you always wanted, your own universe.”

“Impossible.”

“Nothing is impossible with three determined women and a little help from our father.”

“You are finally accepting who and what you are, and you do this to us? We could have ruled a new creation. He is using you. All you had to do was submit to me.”

“I would rather face oblivion then lay with you.”

Enid crushed the world stone into dust and let the powder fall to the ground then dusted her hands off.

“Now we will face it together.”

She watched as he lunged forward trying to collect the dust. The whiteness began to shrink in on them. Cracks started to appear around them as the new universe that had expanded quite far since its creation started to destabilize and collapse. Beyond it lay only a void.

“What…no…no you wouldn’t come here without a plan… some way to escape. You’re too arrogant and selfish to sacrifice yourself.”

“I am a good actress, aren’t I? I tricked you into believing I didn’t know you were squirming around inside my dead husband; Made you think I was still the selfish little girl who he married. Completely drunk with power.”

“He’s still here, will you condemn him to death?”

“No, he’s not. Even you cannot lie to me. How helpful would my gift have been to you? You always underestimated God. Thinking you would win.”

“You’re wasting time. You have an escape; Tell me what it is!”

Enid laughed.

“You’re mad!”

“Yes I am. I must have been to believe you would just accept your fate with dignity.”

Enid shoved him away.

“I will just possess your body and use your escape plan. They will pull you out at the last second!”

Enid laughed again. The laugh enraged him, and he drew his sword and lunged at her. His blade pierced Enid abdomen. Enid was just as quick and hers had caught him in the chest. He dangled there. She watched the life leave her husband’s blue eyes. Her sword began to crackle purple with the Black Son’s energy. She gently pulled Lucius’s desiccated remains off of the blade and laid them down. She touched his cheek and then exhausted and near death from the blood magic and the necromantic powered sword wound she collapsed beside him dropping the blades on the ground. She looked up at the whiteness around herself the cracks of void were growing closer. She reached down and grasped her husband’s desiccated hand in hers.

“I’m sorry I couldn’t save you, my love.”

*****

Eyre wanted to scream. To smash everything around her. She was so angry. When Violet tapped her on the shoulder gently, she turned around ready to snap. Violet cowered and with a quivering hand offered a thumb drive. Eyre walked to her laptop and plugged it in and then opened the video file it contained. Her mother’s face appeared on the screen. Enid adjusted her hair and then looked down at the floor and back at the camera.

“I wasn’t going to make this or write a letter I was just going to let things go the way they went. You know I’ve never been great at goodbyes. But a certain annoying brat said I should leave you something because I’m your mother and you’re going to be upset, confused and feel abandoned. So, I should say something, so here it is.”

Enid straightened herself up, her cheeks were flushed, and sun was streaming in the windows behind her.

“I’m going to start this off by apologizing about whatever nasty thing I said to you before I died. I probably said something to make the Black Son think I was truly my old self. I am sorry, whatever was said wasn’t for your benefit it was for his. So on to my sort of prepared speech: If you’re watching this, I succeeded and you’re alive. Yay! I bet you’re confused, we had a plan, it was a decent plan, but there was a chance it would fail. I couldn’t take that chance. How did I know I had to sacrifice myself? Well, I knew because your annoying cousin that the mortals built a religion around told me it would be me.”

Enid sighed adjusting her hair behind her ears.

“The night before he was crucified, I said some uncharitable things to him, basically insinuating he was a moron and that I was going to drag him away from there and spank some sense into him. He put his hand on my cheek, said it had to happen. He then said that one day I would have to carry my cross and on that day I would understand. He also said when my time came to make the sacrifice of love, I would have to embrace my enemy as a dutiful wife should. I swear I wanted to punch him when he said that. And that manipulative bastard chose those words because it would make me mad, so I’d remember.”

Enid’s fists clenched on the video. Eyre could feel Violet’s hands on her shoulders stroking them gently. She found it oddly comforting and glanced back up at her and then back to the video.

“Thing was I sensed absolute truth in his words. So, I let him go. Our gift can be a curse.”

“Anyway, I realized that any plan we came up with that involved fighting the Black Son would end with death of someone, and possible failure. Then I was saying we only have one shot at this to Maria and she said she wished it didn’t have to come to fighting. Then I remembered what he said. That I would have to embrace my enemy as a dutiful wife should and I realized he was talking about Lucius’s body. That the Black Son was egotistical enough to think I’d just go along with him and submit to him. That’s when I came up with my plan. I knew he would let me get close. I knew it with every fiber of my being. It all became so clear. I would have to sacrifice myself for love, love you, love of Mariana, Maria, love of the world. My love of your know-it-all cousin. My love for Allison. I swear every time I went to church, I heard the same sermon about how Jesus sacrificed himself and asked us to do the same.”

Enid glanced up.

“Message fucking received you controlling asshole. I knew that three of us in that universe so we could escape was a fool’s errand. There was a good chance we would all die, because if one of us went down we wouldn’t have enough power to escape with just two of us especially after Maria showed me that spell. I knew using it would nearly kill me but it would save the most lives on our side. Also, this way there is no escape for the Black Son. No temptation for me to flee, just accept the inevitable. It had to be me because if he decided to fight I was the only one who could match him and I am the only one who can wield Bloodseeker. So, you see there really was no choice.”

Enid smiled.

“I love you Eyre, I know you’re going to be angry with me, but please don’t hold it in your heart. I didn’t want to leave you alone again without telling you it was going to be alright. Without a tight motherly hug. But if you knew what I was going to do you would have never let it happen. I’m telling you now, it’s going to be alright, mom is going to make it alright.”

Enid sighed.

“I’ve taken all of my stuff with me so you wouldn’t have to deal with it. Now you, Maria and Mitena have the only Atlantean artifacts in existence, I took mine with me because Altantis needs to die like it should have when father time stopped it use what you have wisely and don’t flash it around. I have created eight additional flash drives with videos that I have entrusted to Violet, do not be mad at her, I made her forget until I was gone. Each is labeled. There should be one for Maria, Allison, Myra Townsend, the Vatican, one for the media, one for my friends at school, one for my father, and finally one for Mitena. There is one for Violet, but I’m sure she’s already watched it. Finally, there is a portable disk. Myra Townsend, who is also Amee Morris, that information is classified by the way, provided us with everything we needed to make sure BMC stops experimenting on spirit-kin and vampires. Make them squirm. Maybe see if we can heal the CEO’s daughter. He’s kind of gone nuts doing it, might make him less…of a threat if he isn’t obsessing about her. Maria should be able to do it. Please take care of Mitena. I didn’t want to abandon her so soon after…her mother died but I have no choice. I sacrificed myself to save her and everyone else. I’d say that’s good math.”

Enid looked down and then looked back up, straight into the camera.

“Now I have to ask you to make your own sacrifice. Remus is gone, Lucius is gone, my father is gone, and I’m gone. Maria thinks she’s seventeen and even if she didn’t as much as I love her, even before her memory was erased she is not up for the task she is too uncompromising. You are the next in line, you must be Empress. I already sent the Seers with messages to the council, in short, my message to them says that Lucius was under the control of the Black Son and they have been aiding him in trying to kill their rightful empress for eight hundred years and that their lives are forfeit and that should they even think of trying to oppose you that my seers would wipe them out. If that spell Maria showed us succeeds, the council is going to be so frightened that you can just reach out and kill them anywhere in the world… They will kneel to you. You are now Empress, and you are responsible for our people’s safety, and the keeping pugmentia under control and…ugg, safe as well. I love you and I’m sorry for what I’m asking of you.”

Eyre wiped the blood tears from her cheeks. She closed the lid of the laptop and looked back at Violet who nodded to her.

“I’m with you, no matter what comes mom two. I owe her my life, we all do. I’m not sure anyone who witnessed it on the videos, or in person knows what she truly did for the world.”

Eyre nodded.

“We will know and that’s all that matters. She didn’t do it for glory, she did it because it had to be done. We should never forget that and when it comes to be our time to make our sacrifice, we should follow her example.”

*****

Allison sat in the one of the front tables for Ophelia’s farewell concert. She’d received two tickets, she didn’t have anyone to go with so she’d gone alone. Her mother had told her to get out of the house. She had been moping for too long. No matter how many messages she left, Enid never responded. She had hoped the tickets were from her and that she would walk through the door and sit down and smile that smile of hers. The minutes passed and Ophelia came on stage.

“Hi everyone, thank you for coming. I’m glad you’re here to see my last concert. I’d like to begin with a song I wrote… for someone very special to me. My mother.”

Ophelia began to sing a song so mournful and sad that when she finished there wasn’t a dry eye in the entire club. She went onto sing her normal set. Finishing with a lullaby in a language no one understood but again brought them all to tears. Allison knew then in her heart…that Enid was gone. When the concert ended, she stood to leave but found herself looking up at a statuesque red-haired woman with the same green eyes as her lost love. She noticed the silver streaks in the hair. The same flawless skin.

“Eyre?”

The woman smiled and nodded. She wordlessly wrapped her arms around Allison and held her tightly.

“I am sorry it has taken so long. I kept hoping she would come back or escape somehow but she is…gone now. She asked me to give you this.”

Eyre offered an envelope to Allison who saw her name written in beautiful calligraphy on the front.

“Did…she suffer?”

Eyre shook her head, obviously holding back tears.

“No, she would feel nothing. Just…one moment nothingness.”

“But you won right?”

Eyre smiled sadly.

“Yes, we did, at a high cost, but we won. The world is safe.”

Allison sniffled tears dripping down her cheeks. Eyre offered a card to Allison who took it.

“Allison, here is my number. My personal number. If you need anything, even to talk, or if you want a shoulder to cry on…call me. We both lost her.”

“Is…is Mitena alright? We haven’t seen her since…”

“She is as alright as can be expected. It’s the third parent she has lost. She’ll be okay eventually. Kids are resilient.”

“My mom…my mom would love to see her. I would too, and you…if…well.”

“Of course. Call me we’ll set something up. Is there anything I can do for you right now?”

Allison nodded then looked at the exit.

“I just… I need to get home.”

“I understand.”

Allison paused and looked back at Eyre.

“You look like her you know. She loved you very much. She was very proud of you. She said… you need to have more confidence in yourself.”

Allison nodded a few times more tears on her cheeks. She rushed to her car and with shaking hands tore the letter open. Under the light of a streetlamp, she saw her loves last message to her written in the same flowing calligraphy as the envelope.

Allison. My love,

If you’re reading this, I am gone. I knew I was going to have to sacrifice myself to make the world safe. To make you safe. Though with my lifespan our relationship was short, it seemed like we knew each other forever. You are an amazing woman. I know you will find love again when you’re ready. I am so sorry me dying is coming so close after your father passing.

You are going to have questions about how I died. First off there will be no remains. I died…in another universe. I know it is hard to mourn without seeing your loved one, but please, accept that I am gone and will not be able to return.

In my long years I have collected a lot of wealth. In the envelope is a check for a large sum of money. It is yours, guilt free. You should never have to work again in your life. Use it to see all those places we said we would visit. I took the liberty of applying for dual citizenship for you with the UK. They usually don’t make it easy, but your mother being from Scotland made it easy. In the envelope, you will find a card for a lawyer in the UK and they will provide you with your new passport and the keys to my home and cars that I have left you. You said you always wanted to move to Scotland. I know your father has passed away, and that your mother wanted to move home, now you can help her and go with her.”

With all my love,

Sarah. Or Enid as you prefer.

P.S. Watch the video somewhere private I may have left you a treat.

With shaking hands Allison pulled the check out of the envelope she nearly fainted when she saw the numbers on it. She also found the card. Lastly a flash drive. She held everything to her chest and took several deep breaths. She smiled up at the moon.

“Wherever you are Enid. Thank you.”

*****

Eyre looked at Maria when she walked in the house. Her aunt had been missing for weeks by this time.

“Where have you been? I’ve been worried sick.”

“I am very sorry. I was looking for someone and I did not have time to explain.”

“Mother is gone Maria, you told me you couldn’t rescue her.”

“I know. I thought I knew someone who could.”

“Is she back?”

“No. She tried and…she did not come back.”

Eyre hugged Maria tightly who clutched onto her in return.

“Thank you for trying Aunt Maria.”

“We still have each other Eyre.”

“Yes. Yes, we do. And we have Violet, and Mitena.”

Eyre’s eyes looked to the Violet and Mitena who were watching TV with Angus. Then looked to the empty chair and closed laptop where her mother would be working on homework at this time of night. None of them were alright. Eyre took a deep breath.

“We’ll be alright one day.”