Miriam was exhausted. She'd hardly slept last night and she'd had a busy day in the store, despite having Karah's help.

And now, she had to check on Eilidh.

As soon as the sun set, Miriam ran up the stairs and was relieved to see that Eilidh was still lying in her bed.

"Yes. I'm still here. Is there something you wanted?"

Miriam shook her head and made her way back downstairs to her own quarters. Eilidh was obviously not in the mood for visitors and Miriam had learned early on in their relationship that if Eilidh didn't want company, she was best left alone.

Miriam treated herself to a meal break and managed to get a toasted cheese sandwich and yet another cup of coffee in her before she sent Karah home for the night.

"Are you sure you don't want me to stay? I don't know how much help I can be with Eilidh but this doesn't seem like something you should have to cope with on your own."

Miriam ran her fingers through her hair and smiled at Karah. "I'll be fine. She just needs to talk, I think. If worse comes to worst I'll ring Flip and get her back."

"Yes, but you look exhausted. There's no point in saving Eilidh from herself if you end up ill, is there?"

"I know, but if I get ill, at least it will be a physical thing and something I can deal with easier. It's mental illness that's really difficult, isn't it? Not to mention the fact that she's a vampire. I didn't think they'd have to deal with things like suicide and emotional trauma. They're so…I dunno…stoic. And nasty. And predatory. Usually."

"I know what you mean but I guess any creature that has a brain and emotions can be subject to Depression. And other mental illness too probably. And don't forget, all vampires were human once. They never truly lose all of that. There's always a small part of their humanity that remains."

"Yeah, some more than others," Miriam said.

Both women were startled when Eilidh suddenly appeared at the bottom of the stairs. Miriam hurried towards her to take her arm.

Eilidh slapped her hand away. "I'm not an invalid, Miriam. I can walk without assistance. Karah? Isn't it time you left? One babysitter at a time is enough for me, thank you."

Miriam and Karah exchanged a look and Karah grabbed her coat and left.

*****

"Just go to your rooms, Miriam. Stop hovering over me!" Like all vampires, Eilidh usually enjoyed being the center of attention but Miriam was really starting to get on her last nerve.

"Eilidh, I'm sorry. But, you've left me no choice. I feel like I have to watch you in case you try to…you know…do it again."

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"Do what, Miriam? Kill myself? There's no need to behave like it's some dreadful secret that must be kept from the customers."

The witch who stood in the romance section tried to look as if she wasn't listening. Eilidh didn't care.

"Nothing has changed. I still want to die. And you, are not able to stop me, human. Not again."

At that, Miriam's eyes filled with tears. "I don't want you to die, Eilidh. I'd miss you. And what would happen to me?"

"Oh give it up! Your tears don't influence me one way or another and as for what happens to you? Whatever you want! I won't be around to see it, so it won't matter."

Eilidh slightly regretted her words when Miriam hurried off to her rooms, obviously upset. But only slightly.

"That was a bit rough, wasn't it? How hard would your unlife be if you didn't have a daylighter in it? Have you thought of that?"

The blonde, male witch standing in front of her looked vaguely familiar to Eilidh but that wouldn't save him from her wrath.

Eilidh grabbed him by the throat and lifted him two inches off the floor. "Careful, witch, your deathwish is showing."

"Eilidh, please! Don't hurt him!" Karah had returned to the store and was standing behind her while she held the witch in the air, deciding what to do with him."

"Why not, Karah? Why shouldn't I hurt him? He dares to question me!"

"Because he's my friend, Eilidh, and I don't want to see him hurt."

The truth and simplicity of the answer seemed to reach Eilidh in a way that made her realize she didn't really want to hurt the witch. She just wanted to take her pain out on something.

Eildh slowly lowered him to the floor. "I suggest you get out of my sight, there's no telling how long my mercy will last."

Karah took her friend's arm and the two of them left the building faster than most humans could move.

*****

Around 3am, Eilidh heated herself a cup of blood and sat down in the reading nook. She had a few moments to herself while there were no customers.

She'd served five vampires and two werewolves this evening and she was done. She wanted to go upstairs, crawl into bed, and weep. But she still had work to do. And she had to figure out how to get Miriam out of the way so that she could walk into the sun unheeded.

She could kill her, of course. That would certainly get her out of the way. But, Eilidh had never killed a human before and she didn't really want to start now.

She could release Miriam from her daylighter bond. That was an easy task but it did take some time. All she had to do was stop adding a drop of her blood to Miriam's coffee each day. It would take about a week but she would be free from her compulsion to see to Eilidh's every whim.

She could physically restrain Miriam from following her. Chain her up. Get another vampire to take hold of her. Hire a witch to spell her. There were many options.

But none of them seemed right. Maybe she was stalling? Maybe she didn't want to die after all and was just finding excuses not to do it?

No. The thought of continuing to live with this pain, this guilt, was crushing. The only option for her was the final death. She'd just have to get through another week of reducing Miriam's blood intake and then it would be over for her. Miriam could walk away and start her new life and Eilidh could walk into the sun.

Then, Gianna entered her head. For a moment, the thought of her other daughter gave her pause. But, Gianna would cope. She had a good unlife and was happy. She'd mourn for her sire but eventually she would understand that Eilidh's death was for the best.

I'm no use to anyone. I'm not sure I ever was. I couldn't save Reagan, I can't keep my daylighter under control, I haven't even murdered anyone.

What kind of a vampire doesn't kill humans?

No. I'm done.

Eilidh felt lighter once she'd made her decision. She knew what she was going to do and she knew when she was going to do it.

All she had to do now was wait.