The Vampire's Lament

Chapter 1 - Death of a Matriarch

I stared down at the photograph of my grandmother and I; still somewhat in shock that she was actually gone. I hadn't fully grasped it all yet- what that actually meant for the kingdom and for my future here. I hadn't even shed a tear since I'd heard the news just a couple days prior. It was like my mind and emotions were on pause while the rest of the kingdom wept and mourned.
Not only was she the matriarch of the Casteel family, but also the Queen of the Crimson Isle; one of the largest and most powerful Vampire territories in all of Nevan.
Augustine Casteel ruled this land for centuries and helped mold it into the successful empire it was today. She was the first ruler in Nevan to pass a law legalizing co-existence between Man and Vampire; thus changing our history forever. No one thought it could be done, but Augustine with her heart of gold, wanted peace amongst the worlds more than anything.
With her gone, this left some very important and powerful roles to be filled by the next in line... my mother. I wasn't ready to even think about that right now, as that was a whole other mess of its own.
All I could think about was the fact that I would never hear my grandmother's laugh again, or taste her wonderful cooking, or listen to the stories of her past as we sat by the fire. Never again. The only positive thing about this was that she was no longer suffering.
There was a familiar knock on the bedroom door that pulled me from my thoughts and back to reality. I let out a deep sigh and called for them to enter knowing who it was already. The tall double doors to my room creaked open behind me allowing the light from the hallway to flood in. Light footsteps made their way to my bedside as I watched her shadow on the floor approach me.
As I expected, it was Chloe. She served as our human maid and head of housekeeping for about twelve years now. I sensed her calm and quiet atmosphere before she even approached me. She was my favorite human, and we had developed a close bond over the years.
Chloe stepped up from behind and touched my shoulder softly while I starred silent and unblinking at the photo in my lap. I was so lost in my mind I had almost forgotten about the ceremony.
"It's time, sweet girl," Chloe's voice cracked a bit.
I closed my eyes dreading the thought of this.
"I'm not ready, Chloe," I whispered almost shamefully. "I can't do this, I can't see her like that. I don't want my final memory -my final image of her to be in that coffin. I want to remember her...just like this."
I ran my finger over her part of the photograph. Grandmother looked so happy and beautiful that day on the beach. She had on her favorite blue dress, a full face of makeup, and her white hair flowing at her waist. You wouldn't believe she was a thousand years old.
She believed women should pretty up for themselves and not just to impress others. So, we spent nearly two hours that day getting dolled up just to ride horses on the shore and take pictures together.
That was also the last time she felt well enough to leave the castle with me before she got sick.
Chloe leaned down and peered over my shoulder to see the picture.
"Aww, that's a good one!" she said with a smile. "You both are so beautiful. I swear, you favor Augustine more than you do your own mama."
I remembered Dad showing me old photos of Grandmother when she was my age. We could have been twins, even more so than my actual twin sister.
"They better hope they did her makeup well and put her in her most luxurious gown, or else she's likely to haunt everyone in this place," I grumbled. "Grandmother would turn in her grave if she thought they didn't have her looking fabulous in her casket. You know what a glam queen she was even in her last days."
"Don't you worry, honey, I made sure myself they did her up real good. I think everyone here would want it that way, too. I'm pretty sure the entire Crimson Isle population is piled up in the courtyard right now, some from farther off than that, just to be a part of this ceremony today. I know this is hard, but you deserve to say goodbye and get that closure. And she deserves to have her life celebrated by those she loved the most. Come to the courtyard and be with your family and your people, Winter. We need you to get through this just as much as you need us."
Somehow, the smallest smile pulled at the sides of my mouth. She was always so confident and hopeful, and it was contagious. Even now, I knew she was looking down on me encouraging me to just carry on.
Finally, I put the photo away in the top drawer of my dresser and turned to Chloe who was still smiling with tears rolling down her face.
She just always knew exactly what to say to comfort and motivate me during the darkest moments. I smiled back at her and hugged her tightly before whispering in her ear "I'm ready."