The Aftermath

 With the danger passed, Millie had started to consider an important factor for if she intended to live in the land of Nightshade. She’d seen a few different options, and had a hard time figuring out what she wanted, exactly. As long as she had her dog with her, she’d be happy living just about anywhere there.

It surprised her, though, when Amaia had decided to ask her a question.

“Hey, um...if you’re looking for a place to live, I’ve got some space,” they told her.

She blinked, wondering if they really meant that.

“Are you sure?” she asked. “Because Nibbles and I? We’re a package deal.”

After all, she’d come into this world with her favorite canine companion, and had no intention of living without her until one of them died.

The dullahan chuckled, giving the werewolf some pets behind the ears. Nibbles had been asleep at Millie’s side, cracking an eye open at the attention and wiggling her tail.

“I figured as much,” they said. “And really, it’s been lonely living in that house on my own, you know?”

Millie considered the offer. Talia had also offered to let her stay until she got back on her feet (both figuratively and with the broken leg), but she wasn’t sure about that. She was, after all, the reason that that wall needed to be replaced.

She also considered living in the woods like Sara, but she rather relished the idea of having a roof over her head. Besides, Sara was planning to move in with Anton and his wives. As it turned out, the drider sort of liked the lifestyle they’d had for themselves. She and Valentina’s head had become good friends.

And so, it was decided that Millie and Nibbles would move in with Amaia. It just made sense to Millie. After all, the dullahan had been the one to retrieve her from the Underworld, and she couldn’t help but feel that the pair had a connection now. Though she hoped that didn’t mean that Amaia thought they were an official witch-sitter now. She hadn’t needed a sitter for a good thirty years, now.

She had to admit, though, that she definitely admired the dullahan. Yes, they’d laughed when she first showed them the design for Final Draft (now displayed proudly on one of the living room walls), but she had a feeling that that was one of the first actual times they’d felt joy since the loss of their brother, and if she could help them heal from that trauma at all? All the better.

Speaking of trauma, Millie was rather surprised that she, personally, wasn’t feeling too many effects of it. She still came back to the fact that she’d died once. Nearly twice, in fact. But that trip to the Underworld still stuck with her as a mostly pleasant experience. Yes, some of the memories she’d had to see again during the Judgement were a little embarrassing, but her one regret about the whole experience? She didn’t spend enough time petting Cerberus. (Because who turned down the chance to pet a three-headed dog, anyway?)

Millie had been amazed at the healthcare system around Nightshade, if she was being honest. It didn’t cost her anything to see a medical professional. She wasn’t sure if that was a normal thing around there or if she was getting special treatment because of her role in saving their world, but she could dig it either way.

It was then that the enormity of what had happened dawned on her: She had helped save the freaking world. That wasn’t something she ever could have imagined happening when she was a kid. When she was in college, it was mind-blowing enough when she’d gotten a job so soon after graduation. Meeting her best friend at an animal shelter? That was also an amazing turn of events. Hell, even just finding herself in a land that suited her interests in the macabre and finding herself accepted there was enough of a boon.

But actually saving a world? Alongside that best friend? AND making some new friends in the process? She couldn’t have imagined that as a child.

She’d moved into Amaia’s home while still on crutches, taking a good look at the inside. The home was rather large, she realized. It was sparsely furnished, though. Like they’d just sort of bought it from someone and never bothered to move their own stuff in. Not that she expected them to have much stuff to move in, considering their past.

One thing she definitely noticed was the clock on the wall, and she breathed a sigh of relief as she saw it there. She still had no idea how to get her own internal clock going, but this might have helped.

“So, I got this place after its owner moved to the Unseelie Court’s inner circle,” they said. “Because I came over from part of the Fae Realm, I got it for a steal.”

----

Several months passed. By that point, Millie had become much more adjusted to the passage of time in Nightshade. She’d started off with her own room, but eventually started bunking with the dullahan. That was another thing she’d never considered happening in her life: actually ending up in a relationship, let alone someone whose head wasn’t always attached.

She’d taken on a job helping out around the hardware store, figuring that was the least she could do for being allowed to live in the place. Started to gain her own money that could be used around the city.

Nibbles, meanwhile, was settling into her new home just fine. While her human was working, she’d roam around the city and seek out all the attention she could from everyone. She’d started to hang out with other local werewolves, who taught her of the local culture. Even when she spent time with her new friends, she’d always return to her human.

Talia, finally, had gotten the castle wall fixed up. She was back in her rightful place, and doing her best to carry on after all of the loss. After her cousin had passed, she was the last of her family line, and wasn’t sure what to make of it. But at least she knew where to find some good friends. Plus, she'd made good on her promise to meet up with the blacksmith Bram again, and while they didn't form a full relationship, he was still extremely helpful with the repairs.

Sara had fully adjusted to life within the polycule, and was set to marry into it officially soon. Invitations had gone out to the others in the party. The wedding wasn’t going to be especially large, with more people getting married than there were invited. Sara didn’t really associate with too many other people, and now seemed a perfect time to start.

The biggest plus side to marriage, she realized, aside from having that full group of loved ones to be around, was the insurance benefits. And while living in the woods had been inexpensive, it was still fairly lonely for her.

The wedding itself happened, with the rest of Sara’s friends showing up. Nibbles in particular was overjoyed to be there, her tail wiggling madly. Millie and Amaia had shown up together, with Talia in tow. The vampire was feeling a bit better after all she’d been through.

All in all, things had looked promising from there for this group.

So naturally, something would cause it all to come crashing down someday…

-----

Daylight

Kevin had been overseeing the rebuilding of the library, and been annoyed at the loss of his population. Why hadn’t that blood sucker told him that achieiving their goal would result in his home being decimated so?

He and Krystal sat in their war room, the few remaining folks in their city gathered around.

“You sure she’s still out there?” Krystal asked.

“Yeah. I made a mistake last time those freaks were here,” he said. “I let them live, all because the witch pulled some fae dealing BS. How in the hell does a human even do that, anyway?”

“...Nerds exist, sir.”

Kevin pounded a fist on the table. “Well, it’d be better if that one and her friends didn’t any longer.”

Krystal quirked an eyebrow. “Are you proposing that we hunt them down and kill them, sir?” she asked.

“I don’t know,” he admitted. “I’d much prefer to hit someone with financial ruin and let them destroy themselves in response. But I still don’t know how their stupid economy works in Darkness or whatever it was they called themselves.”

“Look, I get the vampire hate,” said Krystal. “But do you really want to waste your time plotting against a freak show?”

“That freak show used you as a blood supply, remember?!”

“Hm...yeah, that is true…” she replied.

And so, the two kept their planning and plotting, the others adding in their thoughts here and there.

One day, the land of Daylight would have their revenge on the denizens of Nightshade.

It was all a matter of where and when to begin...