The Last Of Novels & Stories

I spent the first 2 days on the island drinking, smoking the island grown ganja, ugly crying, and when I reach exhaustion sleeping for 10 hrs. Something I hand done in years because I need to keep everything perfect for Sam so he’d love me. I’d called all 3 of my kids this morning, Damien reassured we that everything was fine. Turns out he had contacted Lena this past weekend and Lena had arranged for me to attend a retreat of the coast of Croatia that was geared towards helping executives decompress from the stress of high demand jobs. An executive I was not and I love my job so I don’t find it stressful, but I wasn’t going to complain and knew I was in much need of intense therapy.

“Centuries ago, they were hunted. Slaughtered. Betrayed by those who feared their strength.” My throat tightened. The memories weren’t mine, but I could feel them. The pain. The fear. The blood. Luca exhaled sharply, piecing things together. “But you’re saying Angelina is—” “The last of them.” Elara finished. “At least, the last known one.” Luca’s expression was unreadable. He looked at me, his blue eyes searching mine, as if trying to find the truth for himself. I met his gaze. “I didn’t know. Not until tonight.”

Some even thought that he was dead. "Why imagine getting down and dirty with me when you actually can?" he said with a smug smile and sent a wink my way. He opened his arms suggestively whilst walking towards me "I would not 'get down and dirty' with you if you were the last fucking person." I said turning back to the fridge. "What about the last vampire in our world?" "That is what I meant dumb ass." "What about the last vampire in our and the human world?" "Nope." "What about the last vampire ever, anywhere?"

A Lone tear slipped out of her eye as she smiled crazily with utmost blind trust on him and uttered the last words which squeezed his heart like never. ‘Because the Last win is always his. It has always been!’ And the phone slipped out of Viso’s hand.

"It was someone who loved you, Elara. Someone the world forgot so we could live." The Last-Stand Valor had won the day, but at the cost of the family’s foundation. The sky was still cracked, and the Exterminator Fleet was still out there, but the Internal-Invasion had failed. The Haven was quiet, save for the sound of the waterfall and the soft, grieving hum of an Anchor who had lost a part of her soul she couldn't even name.

I try to hold onto the last of what I am carrying. And I feel it run out from under me like water from a cupped hand. The light goes. And I go with it. The last thing I am aware of before the dark takes me is his arms. He catches me before I reach the ground. That is the last thing. His arms.

Each chair had a white rose taped to its seat. Camela opened her eyes wide. "What's that?" Vincent gulped hard. "The seating for the faithful." Behind her, two masked servants came in. One had a silver pen and the other held a piece of parchment. Her heart pounded in her chest.. "This is your final fit," Vincent remarked quietly. "For your crowning…or your funeral." Camela looked at the parchment. The headline read **The Last Contract** Below were lines for names, vows, and signatures.

I had known this for a long time. My eyelids felt so heavy. I was ready to go. I was so tired. Selena was crying loudly, but I couldn't comfort her anymore. On April 20th, I closed my eyes for the last time and slipped away.

*** Late that night, Mom went home. She sat alone in the living room for a long time. Then she went to Sadie's room and quietly opened the door. Sadie was asleep. Mom stood by the bed, staring at her. She pulled up Sadie's blanket and smoothed her hair. Then she crossed to the desk and started going through Sadie's backpack. That's when she found it. A pink behind-the-ear hearing aid, with a tiny 'VV' engraved on the side. Vienna's hearing aid.

The struggles and sorrows of that other life were finally sealed away—gently, tenderly, by the hands of time. -THE END-