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Madeline Usher, a genius and innovator. But also one of the most selfish and cruel humans she had ever met. With her propensity to only care about herself and do whatever it takes to push her forward, she was so very fascinating to Verna. And that fierce personality—the way she won’t let anyone tell her what to do. Verna was obsessed.
When she first set her eyes on the cunning blonde and her impulsive brother, she knew that Madeline was going to do great things. She also knew that she would do just about anything to get what she wanted. Which was why it was surprising when Roderick was the first one to agree to the deal. He was, after all, the one who would have to sacrifice his children, and what kind of parent would sign their souls away without a second thought?
Madeline, on the other hand, seemed hesitant. She was wary of Verna, of course, but more than that, she seemed reluctant to sacrifice her niece and nephew, to send them to the slaughter knowingly and willingly. She eventually agreed; after all, she was so ambitious, which would only help her. She didn’t have any children, and Verna told them that they would have long lives.
The twins, of course, didn’t completely believe what Verna had told them, which is understandable on their part. What she had offered them seemed impossible, and for anyone else, it would be. But for Death? Child’s play.
Verna watched them constantly. She watched when Madeline permanently removed her ability to have children. Whether she fully believed in what Verna had told her or not, she seemed reluctant to sentence her potential heirs to what would inevitably be a cruel death.
On the other hand, she watched as Roderick fucked his way through countless women. Producing heirs and bringing them home with the promise of a good life full of luxuries they wouldn’t have been able to dream of before.
She watched the two mature and evolve as the years passed. She watched their conquests and their fights. She watched Madeline obsess over immortality in the form of AI, and she watched Roderick make monsters with his “miracle” drug.
Verna stuck particularly close to Madeline. She watched her dominate everything in her life, whether it be the boardroom or lovers it didn’t seem to matter. Madeline loved control, she craved it and she wasn’t going to let anything control her. The only one who could get close was Roderick, but Verna could tell that Madeline hated it, be it consciously or subconsciously. She hated that he was leading the company.
Madeline had big dreams, immortality being the biggest. She collected any relic or artifact related to immortality or death, and she worked tirelessly in her pursuit of AI immortality. Verna was impressed by her determination and resilience. Even if she knew that Madeline would never get to finish her little project, Verna wouldn’t let her.
Verna didn’t like observing Roderick nearly as much. He was arrogant impulsive and stupid. So unlike his sister, who was better than him in seemingly every way. While Madeline plotted and schemed he simply listened. His maleness protects him from the harsh realities that Madeline endured. Not that any man who forced himself on her was able to get away unscathed, she was endlessly ruthless in her punishment of those men. Verna enjoyed watching her Cleopatra rain down her fury on the unsuspecting men. Fiercely independent and merciless, a bloody combination.
How Verna longed for Madeline, a highly unusual occurrence as Death wasn’t supposed to form any personal connection to mortals. Never had before in fact, but there was something about Madeline that was simply irresistible to Verna. And who was Verna to deny the desires of her soul?
Madeline coming to the house was unsurprising, and Verna had hoped she would. So she could speak to her face to face. Now getting killed by her… that was delightful, her Cleopatra showing her true colors. Able to kill Verna so easily, without thought and without feeling. How captivating!
Verna didn’t let Madeline suspect her, she wanted her gift to be a surprise. She read her a poem, she watched as it sunk in. Madeline didn’t react much, but Verna could sense the turmoil it created inside. Madeline left quietly.
In those final moments, when Madeline came up those stairs with all the rage and fury of a fallen goddess and wrapped her hands around her brother’s throat, that was perhaps Verna’s favorite moment she had ever witnessed. How beautiful Madeline looked with blood streaming down her face and sapphires where she used to be, how magnificent she was as she murdered her final victim. The one she had wanted to protect, the irony was delightful.
As the dust settled Verna walked through the rubble. Her body was buzzing with excitement and her mind was alive with endless scenarios. She dug through the broken bones of the house until she found what she was looking for.
Madeline’s body lay there, even more broken and bloody. Her hands still wrapped around Roderick’s crushed throat. Verna gently pried her fingers open and lifted her gingerly out of the rubble. She walked far from the house, she walked until she reached the cemetery where the Usher family lay in rest. Verna laid Madeline’s body down on the luscious grass where her gravestone would be. She smiled and brushed bloody strands of hair out of her face. Then she bent down and placed a light kiss on her still snarling lips.
After a few seconds, Madeline’s fingers twitched, and then with a jolt, she sat up clawing at her eyes. Verna simply watched as Madeline tore at the gems in her eyesockets until she managed to remove them. Empty holes stared at Verna for what could have been seconds minutes or hours. But gradually Madeline’s skin patched itself up and her eyes reappeared.
Madeline let out a soft noise when she saw Verna sitting in front of her. Verna smiled and placed her hands on either side of Madeline’s head and pressed her forehead against the other woman’s.
“Welcome to eternal life my magnificent Cleopatra.” Verna whispered. Then she kissed her new goddess with all the passion she had, and moaned when Madeline met her back with equal determination.