A Sanguine Romance for the Dying Ch. 01

Katrina opened her eyes. The room seemed to be brightly lit. Edmund now lay next to her, running his fingertips across her arm. Instinctively she felt at her neck, but the flesh was unmarred. She looked at Edmund, who merely smiled. Katrina got up from the bed and looked at herself in the mirror. There was the same naked body she had seen for eighteen years. But it looked different. Like and old friend she had not seen in years. Her face was pale, but so beautiful. Flawless. Her eyes shimmered and for a moment she was afraid she could not stop looking into those deep ponds of mystery. She felt her nipples, paler than before. She shivered, but she felt no cold. She did not feel much at all; even the old convulsion of coughing had gone from her. She turned around to see Edmund standing there, fully dressed, and pulling his greatcoat close to him. On the bed lay a suitcase, her suitcase. Some of her most precious dresses and gowns were in there.

“The world awaits you, Katrina. A new world.” Edmund said in that delightful tone of voice. Katrina went to the suitcase and picked out a very lovely red evening gown, not bothering with slippers. She threw her arms around Edmund and kissed him deeply. He drew back with a small scream as he felt a prick in his tongue. Katrina smiled, two tiny canines sparkling in the light of the moon coming from the open window.

“You saved me”, she said lovingly. Edmund merely nodded his head.

“No, I only saved what I need, what the world needs.” He offered her his hand and together they left the room through the open window, greeting the deserted London streets, offering Katrina back the world she had so dearly missed as she had glanced at it from her window.

Now the world would look at her. And miss her.