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40.
That’s the age they chose back then.
It’s not like she’s scared, the opposite in fact.
She’s been thinking about this for about 20 years. Anticipation and consideration in equal measure. Multiple re-affirmations to her ‘pen-pal’ that she still desires their Embrace.
She hasn’t moved out of Purpee. Lovely, crazy, rebel Purpee. The Colosseum for mortals hasn’t happened yet but it can probably wait a century or two.
The zoo (sanctuary) is perfect. Day and night, kids and adults alike can feel that same wonder she feels every moment. Now and forever.
It took longer than she would like to admit to find her ‘bad boy herpetologist’, but Evan came closest. She did, does love him, truly, but she knows the supernatural pull that bars her from real committal. She can’t hate herself for it, however much she tries to.
Then there’s also the kids, Cooper and Nancy. They’re the most perfect, lovely kids in the whole world. They’ll do incredible things. She knows it, trusts them deeply and wholly. She’ll miss them so much it will ache eternal.
She’s also, in her own judgment, smoking hot. Physical perfection in her eyes, soon to be made… complete, and everlasting.
40.
The day after her 40th birthday, Vesper Childers is confirmed deceased.
He hasn’t changed one bit in all these years.
The city mourns her openly.
He takes her hands in his, gnarled and green and clawed. Immaculate.
Evan, the kids, younger members of the Knights Templer, even some of the zoo staff, and many more gather at her funeral.
She gasps in elation as his mandibles and fangs close around her neck, arms slung around his torso for support as the transformation takes.
An elusive presence can be felt from the woods nearby, solemn but proud, seeing through her tragic escape as the master of similar.
Teeth, jaw, fingers, legs, eyes, arms, nose silently and deafeningly shriek under the process until slowly she comes back to.
“Bat Ch- Vesper, are you okay?”
Her eyes flick open.
She’s alive.
21 and 40 and Infinite.
In the arms of her Sire, finally.
Into the arms of the Lady Night, once more.