Till Death Does You Part

 It was Christmas. Andrew had just passed. In fact it was the night of the funeral. The funeral had been a long Christian ordeal. In a church with black clothes. Being in the church made Conner’s skin prickle but he endured. He needed to, for Andrew’s sake. Somehow Conner had been invited by Andrew’s mother. “You two were thick as thieves, I think you should come.” That’s what she had said. Conner only half believed that now. Now, slumped on his sofa staring at nothing. Well, not at nothing. You could say he was staring into the television, but that wouldn’t be quite accurate either. The thoughts and memories haunted Conner’s mind swirling and screaming. All those little polaroids of their Christmases together hung up on the wall, taunting him. The bad movies, the cheap popcorn, the love of friends. It was all there on the wall, gone now. Gone forever, just like Andrew. A blink. He stared down at his hands, they seemed to blur around the edges, as if his eyes were full of tears. Strange, as Conner could shed no tears. Vampires didn’t have working tear ducts. Every body knew that. When he looked up, the rest of the world also seemed blurry. Like he was looking through a bad telescope. Far, far away. That’s how he felt. As if looking through a tunnel, a dark one at that.

This was all too much for him. Closing his eyes he imagined the shining smile of someone long gone. Someone he killed. Andrew may have said yes but Conner knew, deep down, that he should have said no. He shouldn’t have fed from him. No matter how much his body cried out for it. He should have chosen somebody else or simply starved. At least then Conner would have died first, it would have been better that way. Andrew didn’t deserve someone as worthless as him. He was so perfect. He had so much going for him, looks, grades, girls, everything. Yet he had chosen Conner. Conner has never been chosen over others. Not once in his unlife. But Andrew in all his perfection had lowered himself to Conner’s level. Now Conner was alone.

He sat on the couch twirling a stake in his hand. It was carved intricately with swirling patterns and runes, made of oak. His dexterous fingers flipping it through the air with inhuman grace. The mark of a monster. Only the inhuman could move with such speed, such agility. The sounds of a shitty Christmas movie faded into a dull hum, no louder than Conner’s own thoughts. In one swift movement he got up from his couch and grabbed a cushion. Settling back in and watching the movie. He cradled that human sized cushion for quite some time, wishing it smelled like Andrew. Watching movies and talking to himself like Andy had never died. “This movie sure is cheesy, huh?” There was no answer. Conner knew there wouldn’t be one, but he also couldn’t handle the thought of there not being one. Conner kept babbling and laughing like nothing was the matter. Watching movie after movie. As if he didn’t wish he had tears. Andrew’s death was declared natural causes, untreated anemia which killed him in his sleep.

Only Conner and the now dead boy he once called a friend knew the real cause. Unlike the myths and lore, those who died by a vampire didn’t come back, they just died. The only way to bring them back was to drop the blood of a powerful vampire onto their cold dead lips, and Conner just didn’t have that power. He had begged at Yuri’s doorstep for hours, only to be turned away. At that moment he decided he would never trust such a monstrous man ever again. Yuri was an ancient thing, and with time his humanity had chipped away. He had seen far too much, and had no desire to birth a new vampire. Conner knew this, he just didn’t understand. He wasn’t old enough, and he never would be.

- Back Then -

“Andy please, you don’t have to do this.”

“Yes I do. It’s dangerous for you otherwise.”

There was a moment of silence as they stared into each others eyes. Knowing full well that neither would back down. Andrew was too protective. Conner was too soft. He caved to Andrew so easily. Like a hot knife though butter.

“But promise me something.”

“Anything.”

“We’ll die together.”

Conner nodded. It was a promise. They would die together. Conner couldn’t live without Andrew anyway. Even if Yuri told him that mortals were replaceable Conner couldn’t bring himself to agree. Andrew was so special. How could he possibly be replaced? Would there really be another Andrew somewhere down the line? Conner didn’t care. Even if there will be another Andrew, Conner didn’t want one.

- Now -

The sun was beginning to rise beautifully, climbing up the horizon, and Conner knew what was meant to be done. He tossed the stake aside. It would leave a body if he chose that. Nobody needed to find his body. He didn’t need to be declared a tragic suicide. His death would not be tragic. It would be symbolic. Symbolic of their friendship. He needed to fulfill his promise. He took his little urn, full of Andrew’s ashes, and climbed nimbly onto his roof. The air puffed against his face, cool and refreshing. The urn was dark blue with crackling patterns of gold all along its body. He sat there holding the urn. Gently stroking its ceramic body, as if it were Andrew’s hair. Softly, he began to hum, his voice cracking as he did. It was Andrew’s favorite song that found its way onto him lips. It was their song. You and I. He hummed and hummed, a hoarse and broken tune as he watched the sun rise. His skin screamed in protest but he didn’t move a single inch. He had made a promise, and he meant to keep it. Him and Andrew. They would die together.