A/N: Again, my apologies for the delay. I'm afraid I might have to put this and "Government Funding" on ice for a while because my brain is overflowing with new ideas for new stories and none for these two. Also, I will be changing my penname to DreamSpinner when I get a new review on this chapter, so be on the lookout. One last note, my new PhanPhiction isn't running as strong as I would like, so I'll be posting a different new story based on video games, mostly "The Legacy of Kain" and "Legend of Zelda".

Disclaimer: I don't own "Walking in the Air", Tanz der Vampyr or Dance of the Vampires. If you need info on either one, go here: http(colon slash slash)www(dot)old-hickory(dot)demon(dot)co(dot)uk(slash)Tanz(underscore)der(underscore)Vampire(dot)htm Just put the symbols in where the words are.

Look Ma, I'm Dead!

As it turned out, we were, in fact, in Transylvania, but both Damien and I could speak German well, so it wasn't a big problem. We slipped into the theatre that night to a wonderful performance of Roman Polanski's Tanz der Vampyr, easily confusing the feeble mind of the ticket-taker and getting ourselves prime seats. Usually we'd be whispering together about mistakes made or other things like that, but tonight we were silent. We were both so confused now. The musical seemed to be perfect for our present situation. Was Vladimir Count von Krolock? Was I Sarah? Was Damien Alfred? So many questions, so many confusions, I didn't know what to do. But I did know one thing for certain:

I had to see my mother.

Damien knew what I was thinking without even trying to read my mind. He squeezed my hand lovingly, smiling at me when I looked up at him as if to say, If you want to, then we'll go. I smiled.

I want to see the end of the play, I told him with my mind. I've only ever seen the comedic Broadway version before. We'll go see her after the show. Damien smiled and nodded his agreement, though I could feel his trepidation. I was nervous too. What would my mom think of me now? What would she say if I told her that Dad was alive…in a manner of speaking, at least. Would she still…love me? How would she react? Did I have any right to do this to her? Then again, how could I not? How could I let her suffer needless heartache over the death of her daughter that didn't even happen? I decided to push all these thoughts to one side so I could enjoy the rest of the performance in peace.

The audience swelled to its feet for the finale, Damien and I included. When I was little I had always wanted to be onstage. I fell hopelessly in love with he musical The Phantom of the Opera, and nothing would have made me happier than to one day 'light up the stage with that age-old rapport' as Christine Daaé.

Well…almost nothing.

Damien and I left the theatre quietly, slipping out to the streets hand-in-hand. Damien kissed my cheek lovingly and I smiled at him. Are you ready?

As ready as I will be, I answered. Considering we were in Transylvania we had to fly back to London to see my mom. We wrapped our arms around each other and tried to feel weightless, feel ourselves rising off the ground and taking to the sky. Soon we were soaring high above the clouds, watching the people down below who still lingered in the dark streets. I didn't know the way, but I knew who I wanted to see and I let that image guide me. I wasn't in control anymore, but that didn't scare me. Nothing ever did. I held tight to Damien, nestling my head in the nook between his neck and shoulder that every man has. Smiling dreamily, I began to sing:

"We're walking in the air
We're floating in the moonlit sky
The people far below are sleeping as we fly

We're holding very tight
I'm riding in the midnight blue
And finding I can fly so high above with you

All across the world
The villages go by like dreams
The rivers and the hills, the forests and the streams

Children gaze open-mouthed
Taken by surprise
Nobody down below believes their eyes

We're surfing in the air
We're swimming in the frozen sky
We're drifting over icy mountains floating by

Suddenly swooping low
On an ocean deep
Rising up a mighty monster from his sleep

We're walking in the air
We're dancing in the midnight sky
And everyone who sees us greets us as we fly…"

I let my voice trail off, gazing at the endless diamond sky. I was enchanted with the beauty of it all…so enchanted, in fact, that I didn't realize where we were until I felt solid ground under my feet. We had landed on the roof of the house where Mom and I had been living. I stepped back from Damien slowly, feeling very lightheaded and unused to the ground after flying so far. We held onto each other for balance until we could each stand on our own. I jumped off the roof, landing soundlessly on the grass below. Damien followed suit.

"What were you planning?" he asked gently. I looked up at him sadly.

"I thought we'd use the front door," I answered. So saying, I approached the door and rang the bell. A few moments later, Mom answered. She looked so haggard and sick, but she lit up when she saw me.

"EBONY!" she practically screamed, grabbing hold of me and crushing me in a warm embrace that smelled pleasantly of spring air and clean laundry. I smiled and buried myself in her arms, feeling like I was finally home again.

"Mommy…" I whispered. "I'm so sorry."

"Oh baby, I was so scared," Mom sobbed, having not heard me. "When I heard what happened, I…well I didn't know what to think! Oh Ebony, sweetie, I'm so glad you're safe! What happened to you, honey?"

"I'll tell you, but you'll neither like it nor believe it," I said heavily. Not letting her question this odd statement, I told her the whole story quietly and slowly, in excruciating detail. Mom's arms tightened around me as I spoke until I finally finished. I leaned back and looked up at her face. It was a mask of shock. I couldn't blame her. What would I have thought if…actually, I shouldn't even go there. There was a very pregnant silence for a long time, until I ventured to ask, "What do you want me to do? Do you want me to show you?" Mom only nodded, apparently not trusting herself to speak. I slipped out of her warm embrace and stepped back a few paces. I wondered what I could do to show her that I was telling the truth. I picked up a huge rock and broke it in my hands. I levitated a few feet off the ground and hovered in the air for a few minutes before floating back down. Mom stared at me in horror. Blood tears burned my eyes. "Mommy," I croaked. "It's still me, Ebony. Please don't turn away from me. Please say you still love me."

"Oh, honey…" whispered Mom, one hand over her heart. "Of course I still love you. You're my baby. But…but…"

"I know," I said softly. "It's so much to take in. But it's still me here. Only my body's changed. My heart is still the same. I'm still the same old Ebony." I smiled and Mom smiled back. "And Daddy wants me to send his love," I added as an afterthought. "He's back with Vladimir at the castle. He wants to see you again so much." Mom nodded, tears in her eyes as she smiled. "Oh Mama, don't cry. Everything's going to be OK now."

"I know," said Mom, wiping her eyes. "I'm just so…happy. I have my daughter back, and my husband is still alive! I may not like what you have become, but you're still alive! That's wonderful!" She gave a little laugh and my smile stretched. "There's just one thing I need to know."

"Ask anything," I said, spreading my hands in a giving sort of gesture.

"Have you…killed anyone?" Mom asked. I flinched slightly, then clasped my hands behind my back and looked up at her in a guilty sort of way.

"Yeah, but they were all bad," I said innocently.

The laughter of a mortal woman and her immortal daughter shook the stars that night.