In Darkness We Must Abide: The Complete First Season: Episodes 1-5 by Rhiannon Frater Page B

peered down at the junkie. “Who was he, Roman?”
    “A drug addict who got his drug money by harming others,” Roman responded. “But that doesn’t justify his death.
    Alisha licked the blood from her lips, a casual gesture, and touched the dead man’s hand. “I’m sorry.”
    Roman prodded him with his foot. “I will not add another to our ranks.”
    “If you break his neck, he shouldn’t change,” Alisha responded without thinking.
    “Where did you learn that?”
    “A book,” Curious, Alisha ran her fingertips over her face. “Do I look the same?”
    Roman studied her face, ethereal and delicate in the torchlight. “You are more beautiful.”
    “Can I see myself? Or is the legend true?”
    Roman leaned forward and took her hands tenderly in his. “You can see yourself as long as there is not evil in your soul. We seem to have a tenuous hold on our souls. We need to guard them against evil.”
    “Will God ever forgive us, Roman?” Alisha’s eyes were bright with tears.
    The family was deeply religious and Roman shared her fears. He chose his words carefully when he answered, drawing on all his years of church attendance. “I believe God always forgives the truly repentant. I still believe that is true for us.”
    Alisha nodded, blinking the tears from her eyes. “Yes, I think I do, too.”
    Roman stood and pulled his sister up. He gently wiped her tears away and kissed her forehead.
     
    In silence, Roman quickly broke their victim’s neck and enclosed him in his own casket. Alisha watched with a strange detachment that bothered her. Though a part of her was horrified at her new nature and what she had done, she did not feel the remorse she knew she should feel over Roman’s actions.
    “I’m still Alisha Socoli, aren’t I?” Her voice was shaded with doubt. She felt as empty and desolate as any tomb and all she desired was relief from this nightmare.
    “Yes, always. I know that you will overcome this curse. As will I,” was Roman’s impassioned reply.
    Hope burgeoned within her. A piece of her always trusted Roman. He always took care of her and made sure she was safe. “I want to believe you, Roman.”
    Taking Alisha’s arm firmly, he escorted her out of the mausoleum and locked the doors firmly behind them.
    “We will never return,” Roman assured Alisha.
    Nodding absently, Alisha stood gazing into the velvet sky above. She was transfixed by the absolute beauty of the heavens, the dark richness of the indigo sky and the brilliance of millions of stars shining upon her. Alisha lifted her hands over her head, stretching upwards. The wind caressed her body, gently blowing her golden hair away from her enraptured face. Alisha could feel herself becoming one with the night, the sharp lines of her former reality spreading into infinity as her body loosened its earthily heaviness. She was one with the wind and sky and the eternal night.
     
    Roman watched his sister in awe as she spread out her arms and allowed her body to ascended, caressed by the wind. She hovered like a dark angel, her eyes lifted upwards, an expression of pure pleasure illuminating her face.
    “Alisha,” Roman whispered.
    She didn’t respond.
    “Alisha,” Roman repeated.
    Dreamily, she lowered her eyes to him. “Roman, this is so beautiful. Like a dream.”
    “Alisha, we need to get back to the house. Don’t you want to see Vanora?”
    “Of course I do,” Alisha responded breathlessly, obviously delighted at her newfound freedom from the laws of nature.
    “And we need to talk to Ryan and Miss Robbins about helping us,” Roman continued.
    Alisha didn’t seem to hear him. Gaily laughing, she floated away from him toward the house, her long nightgown fluttering behind her like black wings.
    “Well, she’s still crazy,” Roman muttered under his breath, then ran after her.
     
    Alisha floated to her balcony before settling on the rail, her bare feet rested on the cold metal. With a bright laugh, she ran into her