Ella & Vlad at the end

# 3 - to the farm

Keeping each other warm Ella has to talk while walking, "I don't know if you replied yet. Most likely not. Just listen. There's definitely four clean blooded people in the city. While out tonight would you please just look them over."

Hearing her just fine Vladimir's apprehensive to the foolish to proposal, fFour? You know this isn't worth getting shot over? How will you pull this off?" He'll go but only to see where she's been going.

Ella tenderly rubs her nose on the top of his head, "please this one time, for me? It's easy to find. On the city's northwest end. Beside the tallest building is a coffee shop between the two is their place. Top floor of an old brick three story apartment building."

Avoiding the city he's hazy on the location, "One time?" Yeah right. "I suppose killing those marauders earlier this year was a different, just this one time?" Or it didn't count? Unable to recall all of the 'one times' he sighs.

Hearing the tiny sigh makes her giggle, "thank you Vlady," Ella kisses the top of his head again. "Aw, you know I love you." Said more for her own comfort wishing to be able to fully love someone.

Over the years, once and a while, she's resting upon him, Vladimir may whisper a yes in response to her prior statements of adornment. Rarely will he say the actual word, love.

Smiling, she gently pats his back, "I know you're hesitant to the idea. But I really wanna try this. I'm not even worried if it kills me. The way things are going we'll never make it without blood. Might as well go out old, as intended. We can take over that valley of orchards. So much variety there. I know pretty much carnivorous here. Ordering pizza even had to be all meats for us. Be so weird just eating fruits and vegetables one day. If that's all there was. It's why I worry if we don't try this soon, there may not be a chance later. Next year even."

The same old iterated idea he's heard since the nineteen nineties, when Ella began deliberating heavily on the notion.

In the late two-thousands they were approached while Vladimir was walking Ella. A handsome, eastern European man introduced himself, with a familiar sounding family name; Stating he could smell Ella and her affliction.

Only because of the man's last name did Vladimir remain receptive to him. The wolf gave him a good sniff over while he calmly informed them he and Ella were attacked by the same afflicted wolf. After centuries of hiding and living alone he craved a normal life to an earlier end.

In the early nineteen eighties doctors were preforming transfusions on entertainers. Paying extra he had plasma flushed through the circulatory system first. He noted no further bloodlust and his only changing was natural aging.

With no initial qualms over the procedure he admitted if aware of Ella he may not have done it. Occasionally they'd associate with him but he died from the super-virus. Before that occurred he and Ella became clandestine lovers. Fear of Vladimir jealously killing him, Ella attempted to keep it secret.

Reaching and following a road lined with old growth trees, that obscure their farm, Ella becomes grateful. Legs close to spent she can't wait to put them up, maybe even a hot bath. "Oh Vlad wouldn't it be nice just to actually hold each other like this for a while? I appreciate the contact and certainly the warmth right now."

Unable to argue nods his noggin slightly. Yes it would. Attaining a seasoned alliance beyond family or friend he yearns to touch the woman with his own fingers.

"So many sunrises and sunsets we've experienced together, none joyful," Ella sighs deeply, "Sadly we've never gotten to enjoy them with anyone. Don't you think it'd be nice to just relax with someone and watch the colors change? Not us?"

Hearing that many times Vladimir doesn't want to lose the abilities or life just to see the sky's colors. "Not changing twice a day would be nice. Think of all we've seen and done and still could do."

"I'm just not sure how to pull it all off. If we still need plasma, can we find some that's still usable?" Ella tries to recall when civilization stopped functioning, "how long has it been fifteen, twenty years?"

Certain it's seventeen years, Vladimir doubts plasma can be found and will have an expiry date. Fortunately in bat form he can't trash her plan.

Starting up the long drive Ella's legs are trembling from more than wear and the cold. The long access road is tree lined and almost eerie to walk at night, to most. On dark walks back Ella has been startled a few times by shadows, laughing at herself every time it happens.

Oddly as a bat Vlad gets the most paranoid, with many larger predators to worry about. Normal Vlad rarely becomes startled or backs down. Held against the bosom he feels and hears her heartbeat increase, "what is it? Something there? Or those trees?"

"That one," she points out a large twisted tree's roots, "gets me every time." At the base it looks like a fox or coyote is lunging opened mouthed from behind the tree; it's merely an exposed thick broken root, from the tree.

Vladimir is presently unable to see the roots but she's pointed it out before.

When out in wolf form she tends to pee on the root. Passing the tree she shakes a fist threatening the root, "one of these days I'm gonna cut you right off there."

The threat amuses Vlad presuming one day she will, just because. "If you do. In the dead of night. Please don't use the chainsaw. Anyone can hear those things for miles."

Nervous comfort Ella keeps talking to talk. "I bet flying around all night you'd see all kinds of strange things. Probably don't even notice anymore eh? One day you'll have to tell me about those you've freaked out at night."

Many. Thinking of several right away Vladimir's heard his share of screams. Those under some sort of influence his favorite to scare on purpose. "This vampire wannabe punk saw me, peed his pants and fainted."

"So great making some big guy whimper and wet himself." She does realize being normal again that wouldn't happen anymore. "I always tell you about all those I freak right-the-hell-out."

Vlad appreciates listening and watching more than participating. "You certainly do. You've only got a hundred of those stories. Place, person and time are the only things that change."

From the trees to the open of the farm Ella can see the red brick farmhouse, "almost there."

Around the house Vlad has tried to plant feed corn in the fields. Being his first attempt things look sparse and meager. Behind the house stands a long red, subdued animal barn. Quiet at night quite a lot of noise comes out of it during the day; Sleeping within the barn a small drove of pigs and a gang of turkeys.

Reaching the porch of the farmhouse Ella gives another kiss. "Thank you Vlady."

Carefully squinting she extends the left arm to let him fly away, "please, if you can. Check out those people."

"You're always welcome Ella. Now get yourself warmed up." Springing off her arm Vlad spreads wings flapping intensely upwards. "I'll be back in the morning."

Opening the front door Ella reaches in plucking a long winter coat from a peg on the adjacent wall.

Slipping into the coat she views Vladimir flying away. Seeing he's headed towards the city makes her smile wider.

Once he's out of sight Ella surveys the property. With nothing but leaves moving on the breezes and no strange smells she turns entering the house, closing the door behind.

Wandering the dark hallway she decides to warm up and wind down with a hot bath.

As the tub fills Ella turns on a portable radio containing a thumb drive. Hitting play listens to her favorite tunes from all the centuries, women from the nineteen fifties to eighties. Starting with some Pointer Sisters and their fairy-tale.

After lighting a scented candle Ella locates a bottle of wine.

Out with the cork she tosses it on the counter.

Taking the candle and bottle she disappears to the bath for an hour or two.