Travel can be problematic for some vampires. Of course, the ones that are able to transform into bats don't have too much of a problem but others have to use more human devices.

As Flip and Eilidh came from the same Vampire line they had inherited their sires ability to become bats and fly. And they were faster than the average bat as well. But, it took a lot out of them and Eilidh was not fond of being in bat form. She only did it when it was absolutely necessary.

Tonight, it was absolutely necessary. She had to tell Gianna that her sister was dead and that called for a face to face visit, not a phone call.

Flip was impatiently waiting for Eilidh when she arrived on the patio of Gianna's Los Angeles apartment. They both took on their normal forms and quietly tapped on the glass door. They didn't need to be louder than that, Gianna would know they were there.

The glass doors opened and a tall, thin, auburn-haired vampire flung herself at Eilidh, who hugged her back just a little bit tighter than normal.

"Eilidh! How wonderful! And Flip, too! What a lovely surprise. You just caught me, I was on my way out to a party, but honestly, I didn't really want to go and now I have a proper excuse." Gianna's smile was usually infectious. But not tonight.

"Gianna. Dear. I have news. It's not good news I'm afraid. Let's sit down." Although they were in Gianna's luxurious home, Eilidh led her daughter to the cream velvet sofa near the imitation fireplace. Vampires didn't feel the cold but it made the room look more inviting. Flip sat down next to Gianna as Eilidh took her hands.

"I don't quite know how to tell you this, dear, but it's about Reagan. She, ah, well, you know, she's not been happy with me for some reason, but, um, she, well, Flip went off to find her. And, you couldn't find her, could you, Flip?"

Eilidh looked to Flip for confirmation, which she gave with a nod and a slightly confused look on her face. Gianna also looked to Flip but her face had a questioning look on it as Eilidh stumbled over her words.

Eilidh tried again. "Gianna. The thing is, um, Reagan, she's, um, not doing so great. Actually, she's, um, she's no longer with us."

Gianna looked confused. "No longer with us? What do you mean? Where is she?"

"Well, when Flip couldn't find her, she did some more digging, up a mountain, and found, well, she found out, that Reagan has, met her final, um, her final death."

Gianna looked at her Eilidh, then at Flip and then back to Eilidh, and said, "Her final death? No. No, that can't be true."

Flip dove in before Eilidh could start another long- winded sentence. "I'm sorry honey, but it seems it's true. She was in Venice and was attacked by three witches. The Guild are investigating but we don't know who's responsible yet, we just know that a witness saw her turn to dust."

Eilidh watched blood red tears fall down Gianna's cheeks and for a moment, she was confused.

Why is Gianna crying?

This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

Then tears fell on her own cheeks as she remembered why. Her daughter was dead.

*****

Miriam was restocking shelves in the back of the store when a sudden urge to cry overcame her. She sat down in the book nook and waited for it to pass. There was no reason, that she could think of, for her to feel so sad.

The store was closed but she wanted to keep busy and do what she could for Eilidh while she was away seeing Gianna so she'd decided to shelve the new books that had come in from Berlin. Her thoughts had turned to Eilidh, sure, but that wouldn't be enough to make her cry. Surely?

I'm just tired, that's all. I need some sleep. My empathy hormones are going nuts for some reason. It's no big deal, nothing to worry about.

Miriam knew that Karah had experienced clinical depression in the past, they'd been talking about it the day before. Perhaps this was what it felt like?

Miriam decided to ask Karah about it tomorrow if she was still feeling the same but until then, she thought a light meal and a book in bed was a good idea. She'd probably feel better in the morning. After all, she had nothing to be depressed about, did she?

*****

Miriam managed to get a good night's sleep despite her mood and she woke with a new determination to get on with things. She still felt a weird sadness but she busied herself in the store and tried to distract herself until Karah came in.

Karah arrived just after 10am with two cups of steaming coffee and some chocolate kisses to go with it.

"I know we have coffee here for the customers but the espresso they brew nextdoor are delicious and I thought you could do with a treat," said Karah.

"You're an angel. I'm feeling like shit today so hopefully this'll help. I don't know why, but I'm feeling really quite down. It came on suddenly last night and I can't seem to shift it."

"Well, you're very close to Eilidh, I guess its only natural that you would grieve for Reagan as well. How well did you know her?"

"Reagan? Ah, I don't know that I've ever met her actually. Huh. Isn't that weird? But then, Reagan's been travelling for a while and with her not talking to Eilidh, I guess the opportunity hasn't presented itself."

Miriam continued, "I don't know, maybe I'm just tired, or maybe its because I'm so worried about Eilidh. I know she's a dangerous vampire and all but she's really quite fragile in many ways. She doesn't deal with emotions well. I just don't know how she's going to cope and I do feel uneasy when she's away. Maybe that's all it is."

There was a pause in the conversation as Miriam served a customer and then Karah said "You two are very close, aren't you? Maybe subconsciously, you're taking on her pain too. I've met plenty of empaths who find themselved severely depressed because they're surrounded by grief and pain and don't know how to shield themselves from it. Have you ever experienced this before?"

"No. This is completely new to me. I mean, I get upset, just like everybody else does. But, there's usually a good reason for it. Even when I did the puberty thing I never really experienced mood swings. Shit. You don't think its early menopause do you?"

Karah smiled, "Probably not, no. I would just ride it out for a while but if it continues then you might need to get some help. You haven't been experiencing suicidal thoughts or anything, have you?"

Miriam was horrified at the idea. "God, no! Eilidh couldn't cope without me!"

Karah was quick to reassure her, "Okay, okay, I had to ask, I'm sorry. It's just that suicide is such a taboo subject and it's ridiculous really. If suicide was talked about more, there'd be less of it happening. I'm sorry, Miriam, I didn't mean to offend but there's been times in my life when I didn't ask that question and I later regretted it."

Miriam replied, "It's fine, Karah, really, I was just surprised, that's all. Is that really something that people with depression have to deal with all the time? Wanting to kill themselves?"

"Not always, but it is an issue for many and its better to be safe than sorry. But, I don't think you're depressed, Miriam, you're just going through something. Not that I'm an expert, of course. I just know heaps of people who live with depression and I've had a few bouts of it myself. But, everyone's different."

The sound of the bell over the door interrupted them and a trio of giggling teenagers from the Village came in. Miriam hurried to greet them and keep them away from some of the more specialized material.