Autumn. A time of changes and melancholy.

You stare out the window and feel sad, because there are so many things gone. And you know they'll never come back.

Maybe you long for a special person? A place that made you feel happy, or a moment of sunlight that now is nothing more than a memory, slowly fading away. 

The promises and wishes never fulfilled echo in the air, making their way through woods covered with wet, fallen leaves. Suddenly a strong wind blows, making your cape flap back, and cooling your face with small, wet drops. Like tears they are, those drops.

The wind, full of force, fills you with longing. You've gone through dark times, seen blood, hatred and war without mercy. The extreme evil, the darkest dreams, the most unbearable of pain.

It was not a life you wanted. But it was your life, and it was worth it.

It was worth it all!! you scream out to the wind. The wind doesn't listen, so you scream again. IT WAS WORTH IT ALL!!

Every moment of pain you could share. You got woke up from every dream by a calming hand, and a worried voice asking if you were alright. And after some time, the rain cleans away all the blood.

Those moments will be forever cherished, when mountains fall, hunters die and even the undead become old. There are not many left now, not many who remember what really happened. Not many at all...

You return to the house. House, yes, because at last even the mountains fall, and the remains of the clan fled to a more comfortable place.

Inside they wait, gathered around the fire. Evanna reaches you a cup with something hot. You smile a little and drink it slowly, sitting down. She is really old now; her hair is almost grey. She could of course change her age, but you know she will not. She told you that she wants to die now, when Vancha and Gannen are dead too, and her twins are grown up.

You try not to think of them, the two brothers that played on different sides of the game. But in the dark autumn night, memories come and go like they want to.

Why did they have to die?  The war is over, the clans are united, and vampires can at last get children. But still, the sadness is left. Time is the greatest enemy, and one by one you watched them die. The people you thought you'd never have to loose. Truska, Seba, Vanez, Debbie....They passed away faster than you wanted, before you even noticed they were gone. You'd always expected to die first. But no, the body Desmond made for you still clings together, the grey pieces of flesh have yet not started to rott. Sometimes you wonder if this was what he really wanted, that time-controlling devil. Giving you eternal life in this world, just to make you watch how it crumbles and falls apart.

You stare across the table at your friends. One is missing. You look questiongly at Evanna, and she nods.

"Mika died today. He felt his time had come and went into the forest." She closes her eyes. "The wolves took care of him, and his soul went to Paradise at once."

Darius sighs.

"These are the last days of the clan. And in one way -" he leans back "-I feel relieved. We were made as a weapon to destroy this world. Now we have partly regained our humanity, and can fade away, like a memory. How...peaceful."

Urcha chuckles.

"Ironic. Must be the first time in vampire history you used the word 'peaceful'."

Darius shoots a glance at him and smiles a little.

"Maybe, my old friend. But...it's the time for it, don't you think so?"

I nod, even though no one notices. It is the time for it. Outside, the wind keeps blowing.

With special thanks to my wonderful beta Beyond the Gates - Mira Rose- who betaed this in less than an hour! Review if you want to, but I'll probably write on anyway so...;) but updates will be more frequently with reviews!:D

Happy Halloween everyone, and Happy Hug Mika month ;D you can of course hug harkat to, after all this chapter is about him :P

Love

Elena