Eilidh's apartment above the Quill & Query was full, she'd never seen so many vampires in one room. She'd only invited about half of the people who had turned up but she didn't mind. She knew they wouldn't stay long. Vampires tend to get nervous when they're stuck in a tight space with each other for too long.

She waded through the crowd to her balcony and looked out at The Lights. It was a beautiful view, from here she could see all the way to edge of The Village. She loved her little corner of the world. She hoped that Reagan had found somewhere to love before her life was ended. Everybody deserved to find somewhere they belonged.

"What are you doing out here, Eilidh? You have guests," Flip's voice interrupted her musing.

"I'm just having a moment to myself, Flip, it's been a long night. I'm tired. And besides, I know about half of the people that are in there and the other half I don't really want to talk to."

"You seemed happy enough with Billy MacDonald's company earlier. You were flirting like a schoolgirl. Batting your eyelashes and twirling your hair."

"I was not!" Eilidh was horrified. "Billy MacDonald is an old friend, nothing more. And he's a complete nightmare. Ask Dottie Hitchcock, she's been fighting him off for years. And, it's my daughter's funeral! Remember?"

"Of course I remember! You're the one who's been forgetting things lately." Flip regretted saying it the second the words left her mouth. Eilidh looked shaken. Almost human in her hurt at Flip's words.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said that. Look. I don't want to argue with you tonight. Come inside, have some blood. Do some schmoozing. They'll all start to leave soon and you can have the place back to yourself."

Eilidh followed Flip back into the apartment, trying not to let her words get to her. But she was right, Eilidh had been forgetful lately. But, so what? Everybody had their moments, didn't they? She turned and smiled at Cassandra Turner who was wearing the most ridiculous fascinator she'd ever seen.

*****

It was a quiet night in the Quill & Query so Miriam took the chance to catch up on some paperwork. She was technically finished for the day but she'd stayed on to work the night because she wanted Eilidh to be able to spend as much time as possible with her guests upstairs.

The day had done well, she and Karah were pleased and Miriam knew that Eilidh was too. Not that she'd ever admit it of course. But, that was okay, Miriam had done what she'd set out to do and had given Reagan a send off that Eilidh could be proud of.

Karah had offered to stay and help in her in the store but Miriam thought she'd probably seen enough vampires for one night and told her to go home. She figured by the time she finished the monthly accounts, the vampires would have had enough of each other and she could close up and go to bed.

The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

It was when Miriam stopped calculating figures to grab more coffee that the vampiress came in. Miriam was struck by the way she moved, she was even more elegant than the vampires Miriam was used to.

She had long black hair with bright blue streaks in it that covered most of her face. She wore skin-tight black jeans, a black silk halter top with a lace long sleeve top underneath it. Stiletto heels, of course. What is it with vampires and stilettos?

She strode in as if she owned the place. Oh, Eilidh was not going to like her. Miriam watched her as she wandered through the stacks, stopping to read some blurbs occasionally but generally, just wandering around, as if she wasn't looking for anything in particular, but was hoping something would jump out and catch her attention.

Once the vampiress had completed a full circuit of the store, she stood in front of the counter and looked at Miriam through the glossy hair covering her face. She looked vaguely familiar, but Miriam knew that all vampires carried a similar charisma about them.

"Um, hi. How are you this evening? Can I help you find something?"

Nothing. The strange vampiress just stood there on the other side of the counter and stared at her. Like one of those creepy Japanese horror girls that climb out of televisions and lakes.1

Then she walked out of the store.

Okay. That was weird.

At that moment, vampires began to descend the back stairs. Some hung around and looked at the displays while others made straight for the front door and exited as if their unlives depended on it.

Within half an hour, the vampires were all gone. Even Flip had left to an undisclosed location to spend the night. Probably with that tall Greek vampire she'd been chatting to.

Miriam finally turned the sign on the door to closed and turned to smile at Eilidh. She was exhausted, but happy that things had gone so well. She thought about mentioning the strange vampiress that had come in but she was too tired to initiate what could be a long conversation half an hour before sunrise. She needed to sleep.

Eilidh said, "You did a wonderful job today, Miriam. You and Karah. Thank you."

Miriam felt tears well up, she didn't often get a thank you from Eilidh so to her, this was a big deal.

"You're welcome, Eilidh. I'm just so sorry that you had to go through all this. Nobody should have to bury their child. Figuratively bury, I mean."

"No, they shouldn't. But when you live as long as I have, you have to expect things like this to happen. Vampires die, not as often or as quickly as humans do but the promise of immortality doesn't exclude us from acts of extreme violence. Reagan isn't the only being I've loved and lost and she probably won't be the last either. But, I must say, there's something comforting in this human funeral tradition."

"I'm glad you found it helpful, Eilidh." Miriam reached out to hold Eilidh's hand and was slightly hurt when Eilidh pulled back. Apparently the moment was over and they were back to employee and employer. Or more correctly, vampire and daylighter.

*****

Outside the Quill & Query, the vampiress watched them. She'd been watching all day. The preparations. The service. The vampires filing into the store and then filing out again.

She'd met the daylighter and hadn't been impressed. She'd seemed weak of course, as most humans do, but there was also an odd scent about her. It was as if she was carrying something she shouldn't have been. Perhaps a healing crystal or a religious icon of some sort.

It didn't suit her.

At twenty minutes before sunrise, the vampiress took one last glance at the Quill & Query, then leapt up to the rooftop and made off in the direction of the east end of The Lights.