Drawing Down the Mist

by Sheri Lewis Wohl

  The war that Katrina had put into motion didn’t end on the bridge that night. It was the beginning of the end, but it took months for the serum to reach around the world, and in the interim, many died. She’d made thousands of calls to get the information out. It was Rodney who had made the real difference. He had used all his genius to get the formula out to everyone. He’d made it available on a global basis before he and Prima even got to the bridge. No one else in the universe could have accomplished such a feat. It had saved the human race, even though the final tally of those lost was in the millions. What he did had ensured that the survivors were in the tens of millions. In Sasha’s book, that was a win.

  Katrina’s goal, in addition to destroying Sasha for spurning her, had been to become the ruler of the world. It was a foolish goal, though completely in character for her. Katrina had always thought big. Her ego had given her the courage to seduce a princess and succeed, but in the end, it had brought her down. Katrina’s blind spot was herself.

  Sasha had believed that once Katrina was destroyed, she’d find the peace that had always eluded her. Funny how that wasn’t the way it worked out at all. The revenge she’d fixated on for decades hadn’t come in the way she’d envisioned. She wasn’t the one who’d killed her maker. In fact, she’d almost died in her hands. It was Dee who changed it all. Smart, beautiful, and funny Dee, a gentle, beautiful soul who wrote books that millions waited to read. A kind and gentle soul who advocated peace. A warrior when the situation called for it.

  In the end Sasha did find the peace she’d been searching for since the day her family stood in front of a firing squad. It was simply a different kind of peace than she was anticipating, the kind that came from unconditional love. She’d always believed her preternatural state made her unlovable and unworthy of love. She’d thought that once she witnessed Katrina’s demise she would be ready to join her family at long last. It hadn’t happened anywhere close to the picture she’d had in her head of an unlovable, unworthy vampire. Every day of the last fifty years, Dee had made her see the exact opposite. She had been loved, and she had loved in return.

  Together they stood side by side through the fallout of the war, the ultimate reconciliation of the humans and the surviving vampires, and the world that finally gave space to all creatures: human, animal, and preternatural. The remote Rodney had pressed into her hand on that last night had been the key to his underground bunker, and it was there they worked in safety for months. He had left them everything they needed.

  The airborne toxin that Katrina had let loose had finally dissipated and its effects weakened to the point it was no longer a threat. The vampire nation was crippled by the war, and the Elders who survived adapted and became allies to the humans. Because of the serum Rodney had distributed, the vampires had no choice but to work with humans if they wanted to survive. It was precisely the opposite of the world Katrina was trying to create, and it still made her smile.

  They were finally able to leave the bunker behind and make a life in the new world. They created a home where they lived and loved. Dee wrote her novels that after the end of the siege became deeper and more impactful. Sasha rebuilt her business, and when the day came to walk away, she turned it over to her most trusted ally. Dreams she’d long ago given up on came true.

  Her smile faded as she looked over at Dee, who was dozing on the sofa. She had to finish the account of World War V, as Dee liked to call it, and soon. An urgency that made her heart bleed was pushing her forward. Neither had said it out loud. Both knew what was coming.

  “It’s a full moon tonight, isn’t it?” Dee’s eyes were still closed. “I could always feel the change in the air on full-moon nights. You think I might be part werewolf?”

  Sasha looked out the French doors to the patio beyond and the big round moon that was spilling golden light down on the red bricks they’d picked out together. “It is a full moon, and no, I don’t think you’re part werewolf. Pretty sure we’d have noticed before now if that was the case.”

  Dee laughed lightly. “True enough. Can we go outside and sit for a while?”

  “Of course we can.” Sasha left the table and went over to pick her up, blanket and all, and walk outside, remembering a long-ago night when Dee had carried her in her arms. Tears burned at the back of her eyes, and she blinked them back.

  It was a warm summer night, and even ten years ago, Dee would have been wearing shorts and a sleeveless shirt in this kind of weather. Now, Sasha tucked the blanket tighter around her thin body. “This all right?” She sat her on the rocking love seat where they’d spent so many evenings sitting next to each other and talking about anything and everything.

  “It’s perfect. Sit with me.” She patted the seat. “I just want to be here with you for a little while.” She closed her eyes once more.

  Sasha sat down beside her and put her arm around her bony shoulders. She pulled her close. “I love you.” Tears welled again in her eyes, and she couldn’t hold them back any longer. They were hot as they spilled down her cheeks.

  “Back atcha.” Dee let her head drop to Sasha’s shoulder as she patted the top of her leg. She left her hand there. It felt as light as a butterfly.

  For a long time, they said nothing, just sat together letting the love seat rock back and forth, back and forth. The air was clear and clean, a light wind catching Dee’s fine hair and blowing it around her face. In the distance, a dog barked and a bird swooped low over the yard.

  “I love you,” Dee said.

  “I love you more.” It was their private joke.

  “I have to go now.” Dee’s words were barely audible.

  The tears flowed harder down Sasha’s cheeks. “I know.” She held her tighter.

  She knew the minute Dee had left her, yet she didn’t move. There was no need. All the arrangements had been made. Everyone knew their part and what was to be done after. There was nothing left for her to do except for one thing.

  Her chin rested on the top of Dee’s head. Quietly she said into the darkness, “Mama, Papa, Olga, Tatiana, Anastasia, Alexei, I’m coming home at last.” She kissed Dee’s hair. “And I’m bringing someone very special with me.”

  Sasha sat on the swing holding the love of her very long life in her arms and watched the sun rise over the mountains to the east.

  About the Author

  Sheri Lewis Wohl grew up in northeast Washington State, and though she always thought she’d move away, never has. Despite traveling throughout the United States, Sheri always finds her way back home. And so she lives, plays, and writes amidst mountains, evergreens, and abundant wildlife.

  When not working the day job in federal finance, she writes stories that typically include a bit of the strange and unusual and always a touch of romance. Her novel Twisted Whispers was a 2016 Golden Crown Literary Award winner for Paranormal/Horror, and Twisted Screams was a finalist for a 2017 Golden Crown Literary Award.

  Sheri and her K9 partner, Zoey, are a nationally certified K9 Search & Rescue team. She also likes to participate in local triathlons and puts her acting chops to use every chance she gets. You can catch her in televisions shows such as Z Nation and Grimm.

  Learn more about Sheri at her website, www.sherilewiswohl.com, her blog, sherilewiswohl.wordpress.com, and on Twitter: @sherilewiswohl and Facebook: @SheriLewisWohl

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