Epilogue

"See you later," Marissa said and kissed her wife upon the lips. Though it had been supposed to be only a quick good-bye peck, Marissa suddenly found herself caught up in a passionate making-out session. When they finally broke apart, Marissa couldn't help but to grin. If anyone was watching them, they'd think them to be a fresh couple – although in truth they had now been together for over 20 years.

Alex returned the smile, and Marissa saw her sharp canine teeth sparkle in the light – a sight she had gotten used to a long time ago.

Marissa left through the front door and as she walked over to her car, she glanced at her watch. In case the traffic wasn't all too bad, she would be on time for the meeting. If all went well, her new project should be approved of by the end of the day. Which would mean that Alex and her were going to spend the next weeks traveling through the world, again, trying out various alternative recreational facilities. Marissa would keep a journal, finally reporting out to the world, were the best and most relaxing places were.

As Marissa drove down the highway, she thought back to the kiss she had just shared with Alex, and again she smiled. Officially, Marissa was a single woman. No one knew that she was in fact married – no one could ever know. This was a fact Marissa did not approve of, but of course there was nothing she could do. Though Alex had a fake ID, this did not grant them much freedom: Even now after 20 years, Alex still looked the same as she had with 17.

It had almost become a kind of ritual by now: Every five years Alex would get a new identity, and she'd officially be 21. Thus on every 26th birthday, she'd turn 21 again.

Marissa sighed. Leading a life full of secrecy was sometimes exhausting, but she never doubted that it was worth it.

Her job as a journalist and Alex' job as a vampire hunter made them roam the world – allowing them to live together without anyone noticing that Alex wasn't aging.

Though, now in the past few years, people had stared more than ever when the two of them walked around hand in hand: the apparent age difference was getting steadily more obvious.

What will it be like when I'm 50?, Marissa asked herself. Will Alex still desire me?

But Marissa pushed those thoughts aside. Alex loved her. That was all that mattered.

Marissa drove on, humming to a tune coming out of the radio.

Suddenly the car in front of her rushed closer, and she realized far too late that the driver in front of her had apparently hit the brakes. Slamming the brakes herself, she ripped the steering wheel to the right – but it was useless. As if in slow motion, Marissa watched the car come nearer, her eyes widening in horror.

A crash.

And then – darkness.

*

Alex watched Marissa leave their rented apartment, smiling. But as Marissa stepped into the car, Alex' smile turned into a frown. She was feeling uneasy and suddenly wished, Marissa hadn't left.

Alex shook her head. Stop being paranoid, she told herself. But the feeling remained and so she went into the bathroom and splashed some water into her face. She stared at her reflection in the mirror. I look just the way I did when I first fell in love with Marissa, she thought, smiling to herself. She had only recently dyed her hair blond again, and she remembered the loving look on Marissa's face, when she saw the purple streak that had once been so familiar.

Alex sighed. The feeling in her stomach was now so intense, she was sure she would have thrown up, if there had been anything in her stomach.

What if I'm not paranoid? Alex asked herself and felt panic welling up inside her. What if she's in danger?

Cursing, Alex dashed out of the house, got into their second car, and raced down the road she knew Marissa had taken. Minutes felt like hours. She tried to tell herself that she was being stupid.

Then she saw flashing blue lights in front of her. Her hands cramped around the steering wheel.

Moments later she had jumped out of the car. Running, running past all the people. Running, running towards the lifeless figure which was being strapped to a stretcher. She didn't hear the police officers calling out to her.

She saw nothing but Marissa's lifeless face, her eyes staring into nothingness.

"No," she whispered. "No."

Memories flashed in her head. "...But Alex, if you'd turn me into a vampire, we could be together forever... Come on, please, think about it..."

Alex felt a hand on her shoulder. "I'm sorry," someone told her.

*

Alex was kneeling on the fresh mount of earth, surrounded by complete darkness. It was past midnight, and except for her and a few ravens, there was no one in the graveyard.

The funeral had been that morning; she had watched it from afar, her hood drawn deep into her face. Marissa's family had been there, so there had been no chance for her to really attend the funeral. Not that it really mattered.

Alex buried her hands into the earth, just as Marissa had done at her grave so many years ago. But this time there was no return. It was over. Death had claimed them.

Alex indulged in memories and relived every moment of happiness she had shared with Marissa.

The church bell chimed three times. Alex looked up into the sky. Some clouds moved to reveal a tiny crescent moon. There would be no moon visible the next night. A tear trickled down Alex' cheek. So tonight we die together.

Alex' fingers tightened around the handle of the small knife Victoria had given her so many years ago. Alex ran a finger over the blade which was made partly of metal and partly of wood.

"Pierce my heart... Release my soul," Alex whispered solemnly. "And... lead me to Marissa."

The smile full of anticipation never left Alex' face, as her hands fulfilled a quick and final movement.

As her body slumped forward, a single crimson drop trickled out of the wound, invisible to the world.

A dark figure stepped up to the grave.

"Oh, Alex," Victoria whispered. She picked up the lifeless body, the knife still deep in Alex' chest. Victoria walked only a few steps and then lowered the body into the open coffin. With a solemn look upon her face, she pulled the knife out of Alex' chest and laid it next to her body. Silently, she bid her friend goodbye, and then closed the coffin.

She gave Marc a nod, and together they lifted the casket and lowered it into the grave. Then they began shoveling earth. Finally, after replacing some flowers, the grave looked as it had hours before.

Marc and Victoria left silently. But before they turned around a corner, Victoria turned back once more.

There was Marissa's fresh grave, a wooden cross bearing her name. And right next to it, to the left, was a tombstone, which had now stood there for over 20 years. Victoria was too far away to read the words engraved into it – but she knew what they said.

Here lies Alex Kelly. Beloved daughter, beloved friend.

And now, after two decades, those words were finally true.

A/N: Thank you all, one last time, for reviewing. I began writing this story almost exactly two years ago... Wow.

I hope you enjoyed this last bit.

Cheers!

- Elanor