2. October 3rd

3. It had been a long day.
Pouring himself a large glass from his decanter above the fire place, Bayes slumped down on to
the couch and prayed it would not be an equally as long night – he had to sleep sometime.
But as I‟m sure you can tell, it was not to be.

4. “Aldous! Oh, Aldous!”
Madame threw open the door and hurried in, quickly followed by her husband.
“We have news, oh Aldous! Such great news!” she trilled.
Without waiting for an invitation, the two vampire sat themselves down on either side of Bayes.

5. “Greetings to you two as well.”
“Oh, je suis desole Aldous – but we had to come! We have news.”
“Oh really?”
“Well, a warning more like.” added Julian.

6. “Oh really? A warning? How LOVELY!” Bayes shouted. “As if this day hasn‟t been day enough
already..”
“Non non Aldous, it is not a bad warning to say, but.. A companion of mine from the continent has
heard of your work, and wishes to take advantage of your services. „Ee is well know and very rich
they say, but alas..”

7. “But Aramis is completely insane!” her husband butted in.
“Oh really? Well wouldn’t that make a nice change..”
“Do not take that tone, Aldous! I mean it. He is a whacko, a complete and utter nut-job!”

8. “Well, I have heard othery-wotheries refer to me thusly..” came a high voice from the fireplace.
“Oh Aramis!” gasped Madame, “we did not hear you enter!”
“Few do.” nodded the new vampire.

9. “So this is the blood-diddy-blood I have heard so much about?” he asked, taking a glass and
surveyed the contents as he tipped it this way and that.
“Wheeee! Oh, how it clings to the sides.. Ohho, what fun!
Diddity-widdity.”

10. “Alright. I think I see what you mean..” Bayes said quietly.
“Exactly! And this is him on a normal day. But suck it up Bayes, just remember that he has money!”
“Ye-es, and a break into the continent could hardly hurt me.” he considered.

11. “Aramis!”
“Yeeeeeeee-esss?”
“Let us speak.”

12. A few walls away, a fifth vampire was holding her head in her hands.
Cecily had had enough of this, she was fed up of hiding away in the dark! Sighing, she once again
reviewed her options.
Option One: Sit out in the garden until the sun rose - No, miserable as she was Cecily still felt she
would rather feel pain than nothing at all. Death was.. Not for her.
Option Two: Run away - And be caught and killed by Bayes? Again, that was no good.
Option Three: Do nothing – Well THAT clearly wasn‟t working! She had not been raised to sit and
suffer and silence. But what else could she do?
But then again there was always..

13. Option Four: DO something about it!
At that thought Cecily lifted her head. Because that was.. Well. She had not been raised to be a
silent witness it was true, but rather to be strong in the face of adversity.
Had not her Papa spent his whole life following his dreams despite what his parents though? And
had not her Grandmother overcome every obstacle in her path to see her family prosper? And had
not her Mother given her life just so Cecily could exist?
Yes. That was it.
It was an injustice to her lost family to sit around and sob like this.

14. Jumping down from the worktop, Cecily felt a new lease of life.
She may not like her situation, but when had she ever tried to make it better, to make the most of
what she had? Never! So she would start now.
She was done with suffering.
Besides, it did not become her in the slightest! She was an Urswick.

15. “So we have a deal?”
“Yessidy-yes! My my, this bloody-blood is most satisfying.”
“Excellent! I am glad you approve.”
“Oh, I dooooo! And I know many friendy-friend-friends who will most satisfied too. And we all like to
be satisfied, num num!”

16. “Then I shall speak with my supplier at- Cecily? What are you doing in here?” Bayes asked bluntly
as she entered.
“Oh my-de-my! I sense something is a-foot!” giggled Aramis, and skipped across the room with his
couch leaving the other two vampires to face each other.
Cecily nodded in greeting. She may not like Bayes, in fact she‟d never felt anything other than
sadness when she looked upon him, but had she really tried? If she was going to be stuck with
him for all eternity, she‟d better make a start.
“Good evenin‟ Aldous.”

17. “I wished to apologise for our li‟tle spat this afternoon. I should not „ave been up at such hours, I do
realise this now. And not only tha‟, I.. want to apologise for all the times I „ave caused
disagreement between us in the past, I do.” she said, as happily as she could manage.
“Er, you do? How.. Unexpected, Cecily.”
“Yes. And I would like to make amends Aldous. I „ave not been as agreeable as I could „ave been,
and I wish to do somefing about that. So, may I accompany you on your errands tonioght? For I
believe I should take more of an interest in your affairs, I should, an‟ we should do things together
as.. As..”
She swallowed.

18. “A couple.”
“Oh my!” gasped Madame happily. “Oh Cecily, and I thought I had lost you as a sister..”
“Is this true, my dear?” smiled Bayes happily. “You now wish fully embrace your life we me? You
have finally changed your ways?”
“Er, yes! I do not think tha‟ making each other miserable is the correct way to spent one‟s afterlife
after all. So yes Aldous, I do.”
Madame clapped happily.

19. “What is going oooooon?” inquired Aramis, confused as to why everyone was not guzzling the
delicious blood.
“Why, this is most unexpected of course!” sang Madame, “we had all but given her up for lost you
see Aramis! We feared she would „aff to be destroyed, but non! Cecily has finally decided to join us
as a true sister!”
“But why did it take her so long?! She has had all the yummy wummy for so many years!”
“Ooo, Aramis! You know it takes some longer than others to become fully comfortable wiz the life
we lead. And Cecil.. Well, she „az always been a bit odd, if you know what I mean.”
“I most certainly do not!”

20. “Cecily, you know I have been waiting so long to hear you say this..”
“I know Aldous, I know. But I would loike to make a fresh start if you would be so kind as to let me.
So may I accompany you this evening?”
“My dear, you could accompany me anywhere.”
----

21. “This is disgusting!”
“You say this every day Theresa.. That doesn‟t make it any less true.” sighed Marisa, adjusting the
machine behind her adoptive sister.
“Hmph.”
Angrily, the first girl scooped the flask off of the floor and marched it over to the other side of the
dungeon, holding as far away from her body as possible.

22. “If only it did Marisa..”
Ocean inspected the tools on the table in front of him.
“These things are filthy! But I just do not want to think what Fricorith has been doing them.”
Glancing into the bucket of fluid next to the pieces of metal, he gave an involuntary shiver and set
about his cleaning work. Ocean had chosen not to take part in any of the „wet work‟ as Jon Smith
called it, and was more than happy to be confined to his role of dungeon cleaner.

23. Unlike some of him new siblings.
“If you do not like it, then shut the HELL UP.”
Taylor had been thrilled when Jon Smith had first allowed him to assist in the collection process.
Now a few years on, he knew how to work each and every machine down there and took charge
when Jon and Fricorith were elsewhere.
He had never been happier.
“If you do not like it then why do you not just do us all a favour and leave?!”

24. “Oh, I would be out of here faster than you run to „Father‟s‟ heels if.. If..” he hesitated.
“If what?” Taylor grinned, already know what the response would be.
“QUIET. You know why I cannot leave!” Ocean shouted back.
----

25. “A-a-are you alright?”

26. The small child just sobbed harder.
“I want my Mother! And my Da! I do not like it here!”
“I know. N-neither do I.”
“So can you let me go? Oh please Mister, let me go! I am frighten and I want my MOTHER! Let me
go Mister, PLEASE!”

27. Shuffling his feet, Tyler looked at the floor.
“I-I-.. I cannot.” he said quietly.
The girl dissolved back into tears.
“B-but I will make sure they d-do not hurt you.. As much I c-c-can, I promise.
I-I am sorry.”
----

28. “Fricorith, I do not think I like where this conversation is going..”
“Then you should not have asked for my opinion, should you Mother?”
“But my sweetheart-”

29. “No Mother, you just do not understand. I like working with Grandfather, and that shall never
change.
It is just so exhilarating Mother! The crunch of a freshly broken bone, the sound that first drop of
blood makes as it hits the stone below..
It is beautiful Mother. There is simply nothing that can compare in this world.”

30. “Ack! That is truly foul Fricorith!” Jennail shuddered, and recoiled as her son continued.
“But it can be so interesting.. Seeing just how far one can turn a neck before it snaps. Or just how
much pain a person can endure before they start to beg for you to kill them..”
The boy drifted into a dreamlike smile just thinking about it.

31. Trying as hard as she could to regain her composure. Jennicor set her mouth to a firm line and
looked directly at her son.
“Fricorith. Please. I ask of you to stop this, at once. I forbid you to continue you, with this..
despicable work.
I shall no longer see you suffer so.”

32. “Suffer? Oh Mother..”
Fricorith laughed.
“I do not believe I have ever been happier.”

33. The mother and son‟s argument lasted until the sun had set.
Both had failed to further their viewpoints, such as they were, and finally Fricorith stormed out on
claiming he had work to do – much to Jennail‟s dismay.

34. What could have possibly gone wrong?
What had happened to the sweet baby she had held in her arms but a few years ago.
Was it all her fault?
No. she thought suddenly.
This is no fault of mine.
But I do know exactly who is to blame..

35. “Father!
Mother!
I need a word with you.”

36. “Ah, Jennail! It is a pleasure as always my darling.” smiled Jennicor.
“Yes, how may we aid you dear daughter?”
Jennail blinked at them in shock.
How did they not know?

37. “What can you do? What can you DO?!
It may have escaped your attention, dear Parents, as to what my son has become! A twisted and
foul-thoughted individual who appears quite capable of.. I do not know what! And I do not want to
know!
You have taken my sweet child and turned him against me, and I can barely recognise the same
son I raised. He is.. I do not like to speak ill of my own child, but he has become a Monster, Father!
And it is all your doing.”

38. “Oh, well I do not know if I would say a monster..” Jennicor said calmly. “More of – a fine spirited
young man! Would you not say, Jon?”
“Absolutely my love!” he agreed, “Fricorith is growing into a fine young gentleman, all things
considered.”

39. “All things considered?
Such as the murder and bloodshed carried out under the guise of „for the good of the Tricous‟? I
think not Father! You have personally warped his mind with all your ridiculous encouragement! All
he wanted was to help his family, and look what you did to him!
You have destroyed his soul! His beautiful, innocent soul! And now what?”

40. “He is becoming.. He is becoming..” Jennail finally seemed to falter. “He is becoming-”
“He is becoming exactly who we need him to be!” cried Jon, launching himself out of his chair.
But before his daughter could deliver her horrified response, another voice echoed through the
House of Fallen Trees.

41. “HUUUUU-MAN!”
“Oow, it don‟ „alf stink in „ere!” gasped Cecily, as put her arm up to cover her mouth. She hoped it
also looked quasi-threatening as Bayes had instructed her, but she really had no idea how to do
that.

42. “Oh my – what does he want now?” growled Jon, hearing the vampires. “We shall continue this
later, Jennail!”
“Yes Father, we are not finished yet..” the woman hissed, as the old man stomped off towards the
entrance hall.

43. “Whaddya want, Bayes?”
“My, what an ungrateful tone.. One would almost think you were unhappy old man!”
“I bloody well am! Now what is it?”
“Cecily my dear, would you please go and stand over there? I fear there may be colourful language
flowing from this mortal here, and I wish it not for your ears.”
Cecily nodded hesitantly, and went to look around the statues of the house‟s hall.

44. “What do you think I want Tricou?” Bayes continued once Cecily was out of earshot. He‟d rather
she did not know more than she must. “I want what I always want! We have had yet another order,
and this one I feel will be a most lucrative contract.”
“Oh, of COURSE!” cried an already hassled Jon Smith. “You, the immortal vampire, too lazy to
fetch your own blood so you need me to do it for you. And now you want MORE! Well of course
you do, you aaaaaalways want more. Never satisfied you lot, never.”

45. Bayes‟s eyes narrowed.
“Now now, is that really the way to speak to someone capable of wiping out your entire family?”
“Oh, like you would. With them gone your supplies would dry up, and I have a feeling your buddies
would not be too impressed when you failed to cough up the goods that they are paying you so
well for.
No thank you Bayes, but I do not think there shall be any slaughter this evening.”

46. “Oh really? Well let me tell you the way I see things my friend..”
The raised voices had caught Cecily‟s attention, as had the word „slaughter‟.
No no, that did not sound good at all.

47. Seeing Bayes raise his hand, the memories of so many nights spent cowering in the corner of her
room filled Cecily‟s mind. The pain never got better. Each time his heavy hand landed on her was
just as excruciating as the last. She could still feel each blow, and now.. And now?
What was she doing, trying to be happy with this monster? That was, that was.. Insane! She would
never be happy here, and she could not just..
She could not just sit by and watch him harm this human, whoever it may be.

48. “STOP!” she shrieked, and rushed between the two men. “I canno‟ let you do this, I cannot!”
“Oh perfect, he has brought a demented floozy with him this time..” sighed Jon as Cecily tried to
push him back.

49. “Cecily.
Cecily, my love, what may I ask, in the hell do you think you are doing?”
She had heard that cold hard tone before, but this time - Cecily had had enough.

50. I‟m makin‟ a stand Aldous, tha‟s wot I am doin‟!
I „ave „ad enough, I „av! Of all of this, and I don‟ care – you are not comin‟ after me you ain‟. I do
not know wha‟ you is doin‟ wiv this old man „ere but I do not care anymore. My time „ere is over,
you „ear?
I fought I could try an‟ be „appy in this life wiv you, but I do not think that tha‟ is possible.
Ever.”

51. “Really?”
“Yeah. Oi, don‟ you dare touch me, you don‟t!”
“Do not fear my love, I have no wish to touch you..” smiled Bayes, as he groped around behind his
back. He knew he had seen it, Jon had always kept it behind the door in case some unwelcomed
vampire came knocking. He hadn‟t moved it had he? Had he- ah.
Bayes smiled as he closed his hand around the wood.

52. Sometimes it was good to know Jon Smith.

53. “AAAAAAAAARGGGH!
What the „ELL do you fink you is DOIN‟?!?”

54. The vampire opposite her was suddenly seething with anger.
“You are never going to change Cecily, never! I have given you chance after chance, but you have
never been anything but a liability to me and my business.”
“Well tha‟s no reason to swing an axe at me!”
“Oh I think it is. And I think it time the world was finally rid of you for good, Cecily Urswick.”
Seeing the look in the vampires eye‟s, Cecily wasted no time in turning tail and running out of the
door. The time for talking had clearly passed.

55. “Well isn‟t this familiar?” Bayes cried as she raced down the steps. “I feel we have danced this
dance before, Miss Urswick!”

56. “I pray this time for a much more satisfactory ending.”

57. Without looking back, Cecily ran as fast as her legs could carry her. She had no idea where she
was going, or where she had been, she could only think of one thing.
She could not let him catch her.
Not this time.

58. Jon Smith Tricou stood back and smiled, watching the two vampires run screaming down the lane.
Well.
At least one good thing had come out of this evening.
----

59. “You could have let her live you know. That girl.”
“N-no. I could not have.”

60. “It was not what we were t-told to d-do.”
“Does it matter?”
“Yes! They w-would not love us if we d-d-disobeyed them.”

61. Ocean finally exploded.
“Oh for goat‟s sake Tyler, how can you be so ignorant!”
“I am n-not!”
“Yes you are – can you not see that these people do not love us one bit?”

62. “Do not s-say that, Ocean!”
“Tyler, I have looked after you my entire life and I cannot stand to see your head being filled with
such rubbish. Are not things back enough without you deluding yourself also?”
“But I am not! Mother tells me what a g-good boy I am.. I want to be a good boy for her!”

63. “Are you really that naive?”
“Yes! I m-mean, no! Ocean, p-please stop shouting, I d-do not l-like it..”
“Well that is just tough, Tyler. It is time you stood up and took a good long hard look around you,
and saw what is really going on here! They‟re using you, like they‟re using all of us! Forgotten
children to do their dirty work, and it is unforgivable. So stop being so weak-willed and stand up for
yourself for once, why don‟t you?”
“I.. I..”
“WELL?!”

64. “W-well I will stand up for myself then!”
“Finally!”
“I do not like you speaking about our family like that, and I d-do not need your help anymore. I can
take c-care of myself!”
“Tyler, that is not what I meant. Wait, come back here!” Ocean hissed as his younger brother
pushed past him.
“No. I am n-not a little child anymore Ocean, w-why do you not go and find someone who really
needs you? Because we d-do not! Now leave me alone.”
“Oh for the love of.. Fine! If that is how you want it, then fine! But you shall find no love in this
house Tyler. Never!
----

65. “That‟s right! Run you harlot, just keeping running!”
The axe fell from the vampire‟s hand in exhaustion, lodging itself in the soil.
“You are not even worth my time anymore.” he screamed, as the figure ahead faded into the
distance.

66. “I still have far more important things that must be finished.”
----

67. Descending the steps to the Tricou cellar, Bayes could still feel the noise of the house.
It had been a turbulent night for all.

68. “Tricou.”
“Bayes. I had a feeling you would return. Taken care of your little problem?”
“Not that it is any of your business, but yes. She is gone.”
“Wonderful.”

69. “So I trust you have had time to reconsider your position since my departure? It has been a.. trying
night for us both, I make no mistake, but surely that should not get in way of a beneficial
businesses deal, should it not?” the vampire said coolly.

70. “My thoughts exactly.” replied Jon, and lifted himself on the machine on which he had perched,
and made his way over to the blood cache.
“Ah, excellent!” smiled Bayes. “I knew you were a shrewd man, Tricou. You have never let me
down yet.”

71. “Indeed not. You have been a worthy partner Bayes, and I have had a great deal of time to think
about our business this evening. And I believe that we can make this new deal work to our
advantage. You have done so much for me and my family after all.
So please; take a glass and let us toast to the future!”

72. “Ah, this store is brimming!” grinned Bayes seeing the good work the orphans had done.
“My thanks to you Tricou.” he added, and took a glass of fresh blood. “It has been a long night, far
too long.. Mm, this is just what I need!”
“I agree.” nodded Jon.

73. “So as I was saying,” Bayes said, now much more relaxed that he had a glass of blood in his hand.
“This new contact will involve shipment to the continent, as well as to our all customers in this land.
It may be a lot of work, I believe it will be most worthwhile in the end. Aramis is a most influential
man. The payment alone will be.. Substantial. But you said you have had time to think Tricou, so
please – enlighten me with your entertaining human thoughts.”

74. “Oh yes! I have thought a great deal about this business, and something has occurred to me
Bayes.
Over my years of working with you, I have learnt a fair bit about how to deal with vampires and
your kind. And although I make a good living for my family through these sales and harvesting - it
seems to me that we could have more, so much more, if we were but to cut out the middleman.”

75. “The.. Middleman?” the vampire repeated nervously.
“Why yes!” said Jon gleefully.
“But you.. This blood?”

76. “Yes Mr. Bayes – consider yourself „cut out‟”

77. The tainted blood had already started to take effect, and the vampire clutches at his throat as he
felt it burn.
“What did you put in it?” he gasped.

78. “Oh, a little bit of this, a little bit of that.”
“But.. I helped you!”
“Yes. Yes you did. And thanks for that. But I really have no need for you anymore.”
Bayes looked up at the human with hatred in his eyes, desperate to curse him more. But the
poison was far too quick for the ancient being, and he fell to the floor for the final time.

79. “Well that was a hell of a lot easier than I thought.”

80. WAS IT REALLY?
“Ah yes, I was wondering whether you actually came to collect these creatures as well.”
CERTAINLY. NOT THAT I RELISH YET ANOTHER TRIP TO THIS PLACE, BUT YOU ARE
INCEASENT.
“Thank you.”

81. “But aren‟t you going to thank me?”
THANK YOU? WHAT EXACTLY FOR?
“For getting ready of this blood dealer of course! And for keeping you so gainfully employed.”
I CANNOT SAY THAT THAT IS SOMETHING I AM THANKFUL FOR.

82. “Oh come on! Just think of the number of people who have died in this place.”
I DO, AND IT SADDENS ME GREATLY.
“Seriously? But you are the Grim Reaper! You are.. Ah, I see. You are jealous that I have had the
power to take life from so many. Perhaps you are jealous, that there is a new Master of Death?”
I AM NOT JEALOUS.

83. I AM OUTRAGED.
“What?”
YOU CLAIM TO HAVE MASTERY OVER THE POWERS OF LIFE AND DEATH, BUT TRUST ME
YOU DO NOT. THAT TASK IS MINE AND MINE ALONE, AND IT SICKENS ME TO SEE SUCH
NEEDLESS DESTRUCTION OF HUMAN LIFE TO FUEL YOUR OWN ENDS.
“But.. Surely this would please you, as the Reaper?”
NEVER. IT IS NOT THE WAY.

84. JON SMITH TRICOU, YOU HAVE COMMITED AN UNFORGIVEABLE CRIME AGAINST
HUMANITY. I NO LONGER HAVE THE PLEASURE OF CALLING YOU HUMAN, AS I FEAR
THAT PART OF YOU HAS BEEN LOST LONG BEFORE THIS NIGHT.
YOU HAVE CLAIMED THE LIVES OF MANY WHO WERE DESTINED TO LIVE, AND HAVE
TORN APART COUNTLESS FAMILIES.
IT IS ONLY RIGHT, THAT I THEREFORE CLAIM YOURS.

85. “WAIT!” he screamed in protest, “You cannot!”
But the Reaper merely clapped his hands twice.

86. IT IS DONE.

87. “No..” Jon whispered and took a step back as silence fell upstairs. “No. It cannot be..”
BUT IT MUST BE.
“But it CANNOT!”
I HAVE NO CHOICE. YOUR DEEDS HAVE BEEN TERRIBLE AND THROUGH THEM, YOU HAD
ALREADY DESTROYED YOUR FAMILY.
BUT IT HAS NOT BEEN THEM ALONE.

88. YOU BROUGHT UP SIX INNOCENT CHILDREN WITH THE SOLE PURPOSE OF DEFILING
THEIR SOULS
“I was not defiling anyone‟s soul! I was-”
TAKING FROM THEM THE CHANCE OF A LIFE AND A GOOD FAMILY.
“But we have been their family.”
ALRIGHT THEN.

89. IT SHALL BE IN THESE CHILDREN I PLACE YOUR FATE.
“Huh?”
IT SHALL BE THEIR CHOICE TO FORGIVE YOU FOR WHAT YOU HAVE DONE, NOT MINE.
I SHALL GRANT THEM YOUTH FOR ONE HUNDRED YEARS TO DWELL UPON THESE
EVENTS, BUT DURING THIS TIME THEY MUST CHOOSE THEIR OWN PATHS. IF ONE
CENTURY PASSES AND ALL SIX STAND ALIVE IN THIS HOUSE ON THIS DAY, THEN YOU
SHALL BE RESTORED TO THEM AS A FATHER. IN EXCHANGE FOR PART OF EACH OF
THEIR SOULS, TO REBUILD YOURS.
“And my family? What about my family you have so callously murdered! What happens to them?”

90. THE SIX WILL BE THEIR KEYS.
YOU WIFE, DAUGHTERS AND THEIR FAMILIES WILL REMAIN SOMEWHERE SAFE UNTIL
THEY CAN BE RETIREVED. BUT I DO NOT TRADE LIGHTLY.
A SACRIFICE WILL BE NEEDED, AND THE LIFE OF ONE OF THE SIX MUST PASSED TO ME
FOR EACH FAMILY MEMBER YOU BRING BACK. THEY MUST GIVE THEIR LIVES FOR YOUR
OWN FAMILY TO BE REUNITED.

91. “What?!” Jon Smith fumed, “That is ridiculous! How can you be sure that they will agree to do
that?”
THEY WILL IF THEY ARE FAMILY. AND HAVE YOU NOT JUST TOLD ME THAT IS EXACTLY
WHAT THE SIX ORPHANS ARE TO YOU?
“But I.. Well..”
STILL, NONE OF THIS IS THEIR FAULT. IF ALL THE TRICOUS ARE INDEED REUNITED, THEN
THE SIX SHALL BE BROUGHT BACK AS REPAYMENT FOR THEIR SACRIFICE - THEIR LIVES
RESTORED. I AM NO EXECUTIONER.
UNLIKE SOMEONE ELSE IN THIS ROOM.

92. IT IS TIME YOU CAME WITH ME, JON SMITH TRICOU.
“No, wait!” he screamed as he felt the Reaper touch his hand. This couldn‟t be it, it couldn‟t be the
end..
WE WILL MEET AGAIN, IN ONE HUNDRED YEARS.
And with a last strangled cry, the Tricou cellar became empty.
For good.
----

93. It is said that when the sun rose after that night, it shone brighter than it ever had before. And for a
century, the strength of that light remained.
But what of our girl?
As you have surely surmised, Cecily was now finally free to live her life as she wished. So it
pleases me to be able to tell you of her thread.
For oh, how she lived! So Many times over.

94. As time moved on she found that the world outside to be far from murderous, and in fact many
humans were happy to accept her into their society and social groups.
She quickly realised what she had always known in her heart, that Bayes had been lying to her –
she could eat whatever she wanted! Drink whatever she wanted! And go and be whoever she
wanted to be with HER life.
And she was loving it!
She wished she could have stayed longer with each group, but she knew that they may have more
questions once they realised she did not age, and so made the most of all of her friends whilst she
had them.

95. Even if she did not always agree with what this new world of humans did.
She felt she had seen enough violence to last an after-lifetime, but that did not stop her feeling
sadness as she watched her friends heart’s break in the troubled times.
But such times pass, and she was just glad she had faced enough to know how to help those
around her.
And when these things were over..

96. She still managed to find a willing and grateful audience!

97. The more the years passed in this new century, the more fun loving she seemed to find the human
race. And she liked it!
She had spent far too much time dwelling upon the darkness in life, and it was so refreshing to feel
so.. Free.

98. THIS was surely the time to be alive!

99. “What a sad, sad little sight..
I‟ve got to do something about this!”

100. “Oi, you! What the heck do you think you are doing?”
“Erm.. Enjoyin‟ the par‟y, I am! Wot does it ma‟ter to you?”
“It‟s my party, you moron! And I‟ve been watching you all evening and you look in desperate need
of my help, honey.”

101. “I is quite alright, fanks..”
“No you‟re not! You‟ve got a cute way of speaking sweetie, but something‟s not quite right. We‟re in
the 60s now honey, and I don‟t know where you‟re from but it looks to me like you‟re holding onto
way too much trash!”
“I.. Wha‟?”

102. “Let‟s just say I‟m perceptive. But we‟re vampires! Not sulk-pires.”
“‟Ow did you know-”
“Oh these bright lights don‟t fool me sugar, you and me are the only two vamps in this place so I
was kinda disappointed to see you trying to tell yourself you‟re enjoying yourself when clearly you
are a down-in-the-dumps-pire.”
“I‟m well not..”

103. “Oh can it! This is the decade for fresh starts and BOY do you need one! And I‟m going to give it to
you.”
“I suppose..”
“Sweetie, you‟re going to listen to Marion, k? Yup. Now come along with me. Chop chop! This
waaaaaaay!” trilled the new vampire, and pushed her along to the bathroom.

104. “Are you sure about this?” she asked nervously, after the other vampire had manhandled her into
the shower without so much as a „Hello, how‟s your corset?‟.
“It seems well „ot! An‟ this stuff smells funny.”

105. “Yes yes yes yes, it‟s fiiiiiiine sugar!” grinned the other vampire from her throne.
“Just use the bottles in there and everything will be much better – I promise.”
“If you is sure..” came the worried replied.
“Oh, just do it woman! We don‟t have all night. Well we do, but shhhh!”

106. “OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOW!”

107. After she had finished and stepped out of the shower, the dark haired vampire smiled at her with a
thrilled expression on her face.
“Oh honey! You look so.... HAWT!”
Slowly, she looked down at her hair.

108. “Ooow, what „ave you DONE?!”
She was blonde. BLONDE?! She‟d never been blonde!
“I‟s a roight disaster, this is!”

109. “No it‟s noooooot! It‟s just what you need.
And you look gorgeous, I‟d like to see any man try and stay away from you now. I notice you were
all alone out there, and that‟s not right for gals like us, honey! We‟re not solitary-pires, duuuh.
So stop griping, it‟s a much needed improvement. You look beautiful.”

110. “Really? You fink I look.. beau‟iful?”
She didn‟t remember the last time she had felt beautiful.
“Course. A new look for a new stab at life, what do you say... Erm, what was your name again?”
“Cecily Urswick!”
“Oh goat.”

111. “Right, I think it‟s high time we got you a new name to go with your new „do. I‟m not having any
friend of mine wandering around calling herself „Cecily Urswick’.. Ick! No.
But you were quite happy to drift in here this evening, and I have a feeling you‟ve been drifting for
quite a while, just following the flow. I‟m sensing a kind of cadence about you and your rhythm,
and.. Wait, that‟s it!”
“Wot‟s wot?”
“Your name! I shall call you Cadence.” clapped the dark-haired vampire.

112. “Cadence..”
But slowly she began to smile.
“Yeah, I loike that I do! I fink it suits me right well. An‟ the „air‟s not tha‟ nad either. Cadence.. But
Cadence wot?”
“Does it matter? If anyone asks just shove a bunch of random letters down – something stupid like
Vijayakar so they won‟t keep asking.”
“Haha, I roight love tha‟! You knows wot? I reckon this was jus‟ wot I needed.. New life? Here I
comes! Cadence. Blonde Cadence!”

113. “Hehehe, EXACTLY! You know what Cadence? I think we‟re going to have a lot of fun together.”
The newly blonde vampire grinned at her new friend.
“Marion, I fink you could be roight!”
----

114. And of course she was!
Marion introduced Cadence to a whole different world, and the two quickly became the best of
friends and gave a whole new meaning to the word „Nightlife‟. Time was moving on but the two of
them were quite happy to mix in and out of the world as they pleased.

115. Marion taught Cadence many new things, and the blonde was just as thrilled and excited with
each one. Besides, any evening that didn‟t involve any creepy business ventures with old men was
still a-okay by her!
Marion treated her in a way she had not felt for the longest time, and Cadence felt herself coming
out of her shell as she had not, for more years than she dared to count.
So to save time she didn‟t -

116. And just enjoyed laughing with her friend instead!
“HISS, it was going to go in! It was! I SAW IT! The table is.. CURSED!”
“Is we being a sulky-pire, Marion?”
“Oh, shut up and just take your shot..”

117. Cadence found that with all her new joy that she became more focused on the Pleasurable parts of
life than she had in the past, and accepted that as her new goal. And that was okay – before she
would have always worried and been held back by the memories from doing all the things she had
always wanted to.
But Marion did not live like that and never held back, and with her help Cadence finally found
herself able to just..
Be.

118. The only red drinks she encountered now were the occasional funny coloured cocktails!
Enough time had passed since the events that had so long held her, and for the first time in her
life, or her death, Cadence was able to be herself, and be accepted for it.
And she was happy.

119. And it was not just her.
Marion loved her friend dearly and was overjoyed to see the changes that made her smile more
and more each day. She hated to see the pain of others, and when she had first seen Cadence all
those years ago she could never have let a fellow joy-pire stay on her own like that, not when she
could help. She did not want to be alone any less than her friend did!
And besides, Cadence could do things with a block of cheese she‟d never been able to imagine!
Never had there been a more well fed team in the Downtown area.

120. Not that long ago from now, Marion got wind of a new club opening up. The two already loved to
frequent the already ample selection, but there was something different about this place – and she
had a plan.
“But it would be so funny Cay!”
“Ooow, I don‟ know. Wouldn‟ we look roight stupid?”
“Don‟t be so silly. Vampires are so in fashion right now – people will be falling over themselves to
dance with us. Especially the guys, and we could both use that.” she winked. “Let‟s just do it!”
So nodding their heads and giggling, the following evening the girls put their plan into action.

121. With the opening of the Crypt „O the Nightclub, retro-pire stylee (as Marion called it) was all the
rage once again.
So after donning the gowns and jewellery that had been rustled up, the newly christened
Contessas Cadence and Marion hit the town!
“Is you sure we don‟ look roight stupid..”
“NAH. Now, smiiiiile – they want to see the teeth babes!”

122. And Marion proved to be right – the crowds went wild for the two of them and flocked from miles
around to be able to dance with a vampire on a Saturday night.
Marion loved the attention, and was happy to have her pick of them me. Or.. all the men. It didn‟t
really matter anyway! Just so long as they gave her roses at the end of the night.
Cadence didn‟t care as much for the attention as her friend, but couldn‟t deny that she loved
always having humans there, ready and waiting to challenge her at pinball or to have a good old
egg and spoon race with around the club.

123. But despite it all, the two girls were inseparable and Cadence was determined to keep the
memories of that time forever.
Their brand of cheese-munching, smustle-dancing Pleasure-pirism was all that this new world
knew of vampires, and loved them for it. There was not a glass of blood in sight, and Cadence
couldn‟t be more relieved.
----

124. “Oh jeeebies my back..” Marion sighed one evening, and she came over to the bar to join her
friend at the bar.
“Well i‟s your own fault it is! Tha‟s wot dancin‟ all night every night will get you!”
“I know, I know.. But it‟s so much fun!”
“Excep‟ for the pain?”
“Except for the pain.”

125. “But it‟s not my fault I just want a lot of dates, Cay!” she grinned. “You should try it sometime!”
“Ooow, I don‟ know about‟ tha‟..”
“Oh hush, you‟ve been saying that for yeeeeears now. I know you still think you‟re in ye olde times
when it comes to dating – but be MODERN girl! You can‟t just keep sitting around waiting for some
guy to came and kiss you, that hardly went so well last time did it?”
But seeing the stony look from her friend she quickly added,
“I kid, I kid! I just mean that you should give it a try Cadence, there‟ll be a guy out there
somewhere for you, but you might have to go and find him!”

126. “Alroight then Marion, I shall do wot you do!”
“Atta girl, Cay!”
“Ooow, I will whisper sweet nuffinks in their ears I will, and then I‟ll pinch their little bums and tell
„em their faces are as lovely as an entire plate of cheesy poofs! Then make „em a noice sandwich
and we shall clap as we make „em dance on their little plates, we will!”
“O-kay.. You‟re super weird, you know that right?”
“I knows.”
“But hey, at least it‟s a step in the right direction!”

127. “It‟s just all well confusing this is..” Cadence sighed and went back to sipping her drink.
“I know honey, you‟ll get used to it. Oh by the way – I mean to tell you. I ran into a guy last night at
PURE, y‟know – when you were at the late night opening of Harold & Merkins‟ Food Hall?”
“Oh tha‟ was right good brie..”
“Focus, Cay! But I met this guy, and he seemed almost as confused as you at this whole dating
business. I figured maybe the two of you might as well try and work it out together?”

128. “Really? Ooow, thank you Marion – you is a right good friend, you is!”
“I know.” she smiled.
“So, tells me! What is „ee loike? I knows you like all them boys wiv their tight li‟tle trousers and
funny lookin‟ hats, so please tell me „ee don‟t „ave one of them! Because then I‟d juswt „ave to
laugh and knock it off all night, thas‟ just too funny! But oooow, what if „ee finks I speak funny? I
know I does, but I always „ave! Ooow, what if „ee don‟t like no vampires? Marion, actually I don‟
fink this will be a good idea at all I don‟!”
“Oh, I think you‟ll be just fine somehow, Cay.”

129. More than fine.. Marion thought to herself.
She had almost had to do a double take when she‟d run into the guy – she‟d seen so much of her
best friend in him. Okay, not the bizarre speech pattern and taste for out of date cheddar, but the
same slightly lost look they both had in their eyes, that said neither of them quite knew what they
were doing there. She‟d just felt at once that they seemed to.. Belong.
She had a horrible feeling that sending her best friend out to him might mean she never came
back, but..
“Go to the university campus.” she said calmly. “Ask for the Tegenaria boy – they‟ll know who you
mean.”

130. “Oh, and Cay!” she added quickly as her friend got up to leave.
“Wot is is Marion?”
“Cadence.. It is is okay.”
“Wot is?”
“It is okay if you forget about me. I forgive you.”
“But why would I forget about you! We is best friends Marion!”
“I know. That‟s why I just want you to be happy. But before you go, one more thing, mmkay?”

131. “YOU‟VE FINALLY GOT A DATE FIVE!”
“Ooow, it‟s only thanks to you and i‟s probably going ta go all wrong anyway!”
“Oh shut up, just go find him Cadence. For me.”

132. So Cadence left the club, and strode out into the city.
The night’s air felt hopeful, and the vampire felt a sense of relief as she turned and began her
journey.
To what, she hoped, was the future she had always dreamed of.
----

133. And did she find him? Well my dears, as they so often say..
THAT is another tale together!
But for now, these threads have been tied.
----

134. Now I can FINALLY do my thank yous! I really cannot believe I have finally finished this after so long.. WOOHOOOOOO!!
Firstly to Di/Dicreasy and Cait/charris of A Victorian Legacy and The Regency respectively for being so helpful with my stupid questions
such as “Er, did they have fridges in the 17th Century?” – you helped me so so so much I can never thank you enough  (So please try
not to laugh *too* much at all my inaccuracies!)
Also in that vein to Di for making some lovely walls and flooring which I‟ve used throughout this.
And again to Cait for making some BEAUTIFUL Regency dresses which I shamelessly stole and filled with vampires.
All About Style, many MTS2 and GoS creators for the wonderful CC used throughout and lots of other random places.
The Magic Box for putting up with my whining over the last few months, gus is good *grupohus*.
But mostly all my lovely readers for a) putting up with such a long break and b) hopefully not eating me now this is out there!
So this has been Gin, happy she has the day off of work and more importantly – HAPPY TO BE BACK! For good.