Johanna pulled aside the leather curtain and looked out her window. The sky was a cold grey-blue, the soft glow on the horizon heralding the dawn. She let out a troubled sigh, her mind still focused on the events of the day before, asking herself the same questions over and over: had she said something wrong? Would Eldrik be back? If he did come back, what should she say to him?

She pulled on her boots and pushed open the door, stepping outside into the crisp morning air. She turned and saw Eldrik sitting dejectedly beside her hut, his hood drooping over his face as he stared at the ground. She remained silent, waiting for him to speak.

“I don’t deserve your help,” Eldrik said quietly, “I don’t deserve your forgiveness.”

Johanna paused and considered her response before replying. “You don’t need to deserve it, just accept it.”

Eldrik slowly turned his head to look up at her. “There’s a point where you can’t turn back. I passed it long ago.”

“No!” insisted Johanna, kneeling beside him, “don’t give me that! There’s still so much good in you, you just need a chance to bring it out.”

“You don’t understand,” Eldrik said brokenly, “I can’t forgive myself. If I decide to be good, I’ll have to… look back at what I’ve done as a good person and… it’s too much.” He turned away, staring miserably into the distance. “Those choices don’t just fade away. The fact is I’m evil, whether I like it or not.”

“I’ll help you,” Johanna promised, taking Eldrik’s hand in her own. Eldrik tensed up and tried to pull away, but she held tightly onto his hand. “You don’t have to face it alone, I’ll help you.”

“I don’t deserve this,” Eldrik muttered angrily.

“I don’t care!” snapped Johanna, “I want to help you! I want to save you because you’re worth saving.”

Eldrik was silent, staring into space as a bloody tear trickled down his face. Johanna gently leaned over and wrapped an arm around him, resting her head on his shoulder.

“You don’t to face it alone,” she whispered. “Just be brave, be strong… like I know you can be.”

As the sun rose over the hills and spilled its golden light across the land, Johanna held him tight as Eldrik began gently sobbing.

*   *   *

Johanna entered the clearing to find Orsalya standing outside, her gnarled staff raised to the sky.

“By the Angels’ will, I call the rains upon this land!” the Lady of the Rain commanded. She paused dramatically for a few moments before lowering her staff and turning to Johanna.

“Well, any news of the vampire?’ Orsalya asked anxiously.

“Yes, he’s dead,” Johanna replied flatly.

“What?!”

“I killed him,” Johanna explained, “ran him through with my shovel and burned his body for good measure.”

Orsalya sighed with relief. “Seems you were some use after all, Gravedigger. Did he have a magic dagger like the one we dealt with? Did he try to attack you?”

“No,” replied Johanna dryly, “in fact he tried to run away, but I caught him and cut him down.”

“Well, it’s nice to know I can sleep soundly tonight. We should let Verka know too.”

“I’ll go see her right now,” Johanna groaned reluctantly.

“And thus, ends the only exciting thing to happen in three-hundred years,” Orsalya sighed. “I wouldn’t say I’m disappointed, but… I’d say this dull backwater could do with a little excitement now and then.”

As the Lady of the Rain turned and walked back inside her house, Johanna looked up to see a mass of dark clouds approaching from the west, no doubt answering to Orsalya’s summons. Johanna smiled and set off in the direction of Verka’s cottage.