Us

Integra

I'm weak, tired, aching. I sit on the end of foot rest in the living area. Catching my breath. My cane resting on the floor, I can't walk by myself anymore. Weakness, death comes by a creeping weakness. Tomorrow, I could be found dead in my bed. A deep aching rests in my sternum, and my brow sweats. Death, despite all of the death I have faced in my life, death by natural causes terrified it the most. When dying for a cause, in that split second, you make peace with your god, and know your death is not vein. But natural death took you slowly, dragged you into the depths, never to be heard from again. I suppose i'm not above the fear of death. The fear of death is the reason I met you. I ran as fast as I could, to something, I wasn't sure, all I knew, in that moment, I could escape my demise.

I'm 59 now, my hair brittle, my hands dry. I had to retire as fencing tutor, now I helped young men and women with their studies. I hear the sound of your boots clicking against the stone floor, I sit up, grabbing my cane off the floor.

"Yes?" I ask, my voice gentle.

"I didn't know you'd be in here." You say.

"Hm." I look down at my feet, then stand, leaning on my cane. "Well, I got tired and had to rest."

"You shouldn't work yourself so hard." You say, grining.

"I sometimes forget i'm an bag hag." I smirk.

"It seems you're finding your new status difficult?" You tease me.

"Oh, where are your words of endearment Alucard?" I sit back down, this time on the couch, crossing my ankles. You sit next to me. Your hands on your knees, your legs spread apart.

"Somewhere." You say, absentmindedly. I rest my head on my hand.

"My new status is difficult." I say, "I always thought death would come abruptly. Easy, over with, I could die for a cause, make my peace with god, ask him to save me from my sins if I am to be condemned to hell. But, weakness, death will take me by weakness."

You say nothing. I continue.

"Death, I am afraid of it, I fear it."

"Don't be afraid of death, my countess, your death will not be vein, accept it, for, it makes you different than me."