text: You sit in your garden, listening to your music and contemplating.
  
  It's the first major attempt you've tried with making a "band" and so far it's not horrible.
  
  These corpses were musicians in their past life so you've managed to keep their skills somewhat intact. The strings and percussions sound fine. A pity you can't really have a woodwind or brass section, but the undead don't really have the lung capacity for such things. At some point you'll have to find a pianist.
  
  However, you aren't contemplating your future plans for an entire symphony right now. You're contemplating what you're going to do about Azrael. You still aren't sure about how you feel about him.
  
  The positives are he's been entrusting you with more responsibility. You thought you'd have more trouble trying to guide him into such a thing, but that's actually not much of a problem as it was in the beginning. He largely leaves you to run the day-to-day operations of Aftermath now that he's decided that it's time to "expand."
  
  Honestly you question if he even plans much at all so much as he just suddenly decides to do it. It's little wonder that he decided to just let you do most of the more detailed work.
  
  Which brings you to the negative that he recently just decided to make an alliance with a fucking vampire, who are supposed to be your enemies.
  
  He claims that this "Ghoul King" is an outcast of his kind and will help, but you're not so sure. You've had experience with vampires and you haven't found them to be trustworthy.
  
  Even if he's letting you primarily run things, you're going to be cleaning up after him all the damn time if he's going to be making a habit of making impulsive reckless decisions. He could very well fuck up things despite you guiding him in the direction you think he should go. You know Mr. Demar advised you to play puppet master, but there's a part of you that wonders if things wouldn't be easier if you took direct control. Sure it would give you even more work to do, but at least then you'd have complete power over your own destiny.
  
  Of course something like that could only be achieved by killing Azrael, which leads to the other problem.
  
  You sort of like him.
  
  After your past experiences with potential partners, you haven't had much luck in that area. It's just been easier to just fuck a zombie every now and then and be done with the physical aspect.
  
  Azrael's necromantic aura is very alluring to you though. Even more than Mr. Demar, it's almost like he's already undead. He's also been relentless in still trying to woo you, which is oddly immature. He actually sent you a note once saying he liked you and asked if you liked him.
  
  You think that was his goofy way of trying to make you laugh while also continuing to express his feelings. The damnedest thing is for some reason it did make you laugh and it really shouldn't have given how dumb it was, but maybe that was the point.
  
  You even kissed him on the cheek voluntarily not that long ago. You like to think you were just trying to keep him under your influence, but it was a little more than that. You'd be lying to yourself if it weren't, in fact the more time you spend within his presence; the more you're drawn to him. Not just on a physical level either since you do get the idea that he really does have strong feelings for you. He even found a couple of the skeletal musicians currently playing for you.
  
  The funny thing is he's probably so clueless, he doesn't even realize just how close he's succeeding in winning you over completely.
  
  And that's one thing that scares you, potentially even more than leaving the walls of Aftermath. There's the idea of would you lose "yourself" in the process of having a relationship with him. You've been fairly self-sufficient most of your life and the idea of becoming reliant on anyone emotionally isn't appealing.
  
  But what worries you more is, you've been close to people in the past and when there was a parting, it wasn't pleasant for you. Granted those instances were different and not romantic, but still close enough that it sucked a lot and you'd rather not have to mentally go through anything like that again.
  
  Given what path you and Azrael have chosen, there is a very real possibility that he could get killed by any number of enemies. Would you get over it if it happened? You like to think you'd be strong enough to, but who knows how attached you'd be at that point? Maybe grief would cripple and destroy you if he died.
  
  Death is natural and inevitable for everyone. Even the undead aren't immortal. They can be killed or decay into nothing. So why the hell are you even having these feelings of fear for potential loss? Even sillier is you aren't even officially with this idiot, and you're having these feelings! You hate this weakness.
  
  Right now while you have a fondness for him, you aren't irrevocably attached yet. You're pretty sure you could kill him if you chose to go that route.
  
  Except you aren't sure how you're going to proceed yet, you just know you can't go on as things are with Azrael for much longer.
  
  > Wait
  There's more than a few practical reasons not to kill Azrael besides your personal ones.
  
  You quickly dismiss your fleeting thought of murder. You're going to take a wait and see approach and actually trust that he knows what he's doing sometimes. It's a risk, but then this whole situation is.
  
  Right now the situation is seemingly under control, so now you're going to enjoy relaxing in your garden listening to your music and watching the gravewings flutter about.
  
  A few months pass and Azrael receives a letter via bat from the Ghoul King saying that it's important. Azrael takes his leave and entrusts you to take charge while he's away. (Not that you don't even while he is here anyway)
  
  Azrael is gone for a week and then you expect him to be back. But he doesn't come back. When it starts approaching a second week, you begin to get genuinely concerned. On top of Azrael not having come back yet, the Grand Alliance recently took back the Brot Kingdom from Trelik and it's very likely they're going to attack you next.
  
  You send someone to the Drozz Wasteland to find out what's happened and boost the defenses at Aftermath telling everyone to be ready for a potential attack.
  
  A few days later and you get word about the Brot Kingdom being attacked by a horde of undead giants. Apparently Brot has been overrun and the Grand Alliance has lost control of it. There was also only one necromancer seen in the chaos and the descriptions fit Azrael.
  
  That asshole went and attacked Brot without any back up or even telling you! That was very foolish of him to besiege entire fucking kingdom without any extra help even if it was in a very weakened state.
  
  If he survives, you're going to definitely have some words with him.
  
  Eventually Azrael returns victorious and you head out to meet him.
  
  "What the hell did you think you were doing risking your life like that? You should've come back to Aftermath for more soldiers before taking on the Brot Kingdom AND the Grand Alliance all by yourself!" you scold.
  "Why? Were you worried about me?" Azrael smiles smugly.
  
  You hate to admit such a thing especially with that smirk all over his fce.
  
  "Well... um...no! But, you should've told me!"
  "I did tell you. I told you I had everything worked out and look...I did." Azrael says putting his arm around you.
  
  And that's it. You don't push him away or slap him. You're not even resisting anymore.
  
  His ever-growing necromantic aura combined with what you know his feelings to be for you combined with your own feelings and well...it just doesn't make sense to keep denying what's staring you in the face. You're accepting Azrael as your mate and wherever that may eventually lead.
  
  And he better not disappoint you.
  
  > Dominating
  A lot of conflict between the various factions for a few years after you and Azrael made things official. It's mostly been a stalemate, but you're hoping that may change pretty quickly.
  
  Azrael just eliminated Velzix and currently is on another mission to eliminate the Vampire Clans. That will definitely be a relief if only to put an end to their continued assassination attempts.
  
  You sort of wonder if Azrael should have rushed in to attack them so quickly after taking care of Velzix. You got the impression that allying with his dad who then died during the mission had an effect on him. Maybe he should have taken at least a day or so to rest.
  
  Azrael could still stand to plan things out a bit more rather than making impulsive decisions all the time. You're just glad he managed to get better at other forms of magic with your help though. Never hurts to have more than one tool even if one does favor a hammer most of the time.
  
  However, you've learned to trust Azrael's judgment a bit more so if he wants to do something he usually can handle it. His decision to ally with the Ghoul King seems to have worked out as it lead to finding out the hideout of the Vampire Clans.
  
  With Azrael gone you keep up the usual routine of maintaining the defenses of Aftermath and such. You haven't had a major direct attack by the Alliance in at least a year or so though.
  
  After going through the standard procedures, you retire to your garden to relax a bit. You've also been trying to compensate for the lack of certain elements in your undead symphony by having banshee voices fill in for particular instruments. So far things could be better, but you figure eventually you should get at least a few of them to emulate flutes or piccolos.
  
  While you're attempting to get one of the banshees to shriek at a slightly lower tone, you sense a presence that immediately causes you raise your defenses.
  
  "Hello Catalina, at last we meet." A woman before you says.
  
  The woman looks about your age and is dressed in black with a pale appearance. It's fairly obvious she's a vampire, but there's something more about her. Familiar somehow.
  
  "Like looking into a mirror isn't it?" the woman says.
  "Not sure what you mean, but the only thing I'm looking at is another soon to be dead leech. How many are there this time?" you reply.
  "Just me. It was decided that perhaps you could be reasoned with and that you would not need to be destroyed like your mate."
  "That's amusing since that's what he's on his way to do to you lot."
  "I don't think so. As we speak, your mate has most likely already been dispatched by Lord Rostov. You need not join him though...you really don't realize who I am do you?"
  "Nope, and in a moment it won't matter."
  "I suppose if I hadn't given you up as a baby, we wouldn't be here now."
  
  The woman stares at you after saying these words and then you realize what she's implying.
  
  "Bullshit. You're not her." You say.
  "Oh? And how would you know exactly? You've never seen me before, however you see me now and I KNOW you see a resemblance. Hell, I see the resemblance in you. You look very much like I did when I was your age; well I suppose I still look like you, a cup size bigger though."
  "So, I'm supposed to just believe you're my mother? Where's my father then?"
  "I dunno, it was a wild party that night. I'm going to guess though he must have been a wizard of some sort given that I met him here at a party. Hell maybe when he got older he was even one of the faculty you killed. Wouldn't that be something?"
  "Yes it would be quite a twist of fate. Just like my mother suddenly showing up after all these years as a vampire would be quite a twist of fate. Speaking of which, are you going to tell me I'm actually part vampire too?"
  "No, of course not. Vampires can't reproduce, well not in the usual way anyway. Thank the gods for that, because once was enough for me. I was bitten not long after I gave you up. Similar frat party but got luckier with the choice of man that time. He was fun for awhile, showed me all sorts of things, but eventually we parted ways. Just glad he wasn't possessive, I might've been really fucked with him being my creator and all."
  "Judging from what little you've said to me, it sounds like you were used to going through life getting fucked. Probably was for the best that you gave me up."
  
  The woman's eyes narrow.
  
  "Catalina, look I can't make up for abandoning you, but I'm trying to save your existence now. The Clans are going to put an end to your lover, but YOU can still live forever!"
  "What? By becoming one you?"
  "Why not? Catalina, you're a sensible woman and you have great skill. You have so many traits that would be highly valued by the Clans. You would have access to anything you desired, live lifetimes, and most importantly you'd look as beautiful as you are now."
  "I already have all that I want."
  
  The woman looks around and waves her arms in the air, pointing at your nearby banshees, skeletons and rotting garden.
  
  "What, this? THIS is truly all you want? You're surrounded by death. There is nothing here but a gloomy parody of life. Have you even left this city since you destroyed it? What are you afraid of Catalina? There is SO much to see and do outside these walls. There is so much of life to experience" the woman says.
  "The irony of a vampire lecturing me about being surrounded by death and experiencing life is...well it's something." you respond.
  "Catalina, I'm really trying here."
  "Well you're failing really badly at trying to convince me that you're really my mother, let alone join your little vampire club."
  "I see. What if I could prove that I'm your mother? Will you at least hear me out a little more?"
  
  The woman looks at you with hope in her eyes and a concerned expression, like she really wants you to at least give her a chance.
  
  > hear her out
  Given how much of an advantage you have on her, you figure you can humor her a little longer. You're curious to what she's actually going say to prove herself.
  
  "Very well, you've got a couple more minutes." You say.
  "Thank you. Now I left you with a Miss Olga soon after I birthed you in an alleyway." The woman remarks.
  "Wait, I was born in a fucking alley?"
  "Yes...look I know, I was a shitty mother, it's why I gave you up. I knew you'd be better off without me raising you."
  
  You almost shake your head at this, but you just continue look at her.
  
  "Well go on." You say.
  "Okay, so I left you with a Miss Olga who ran an orphanage. Surely she told you of how despite not being ready to be a mother, I wanted to make sure you went to a good home." The woman says.
  "Nope. She never mentioned you at all to me. In fact she never mentioned the biological parents to any of the orphans as far as I know. I imagine she figured why bother."
  
  The woman just looks at you as if she doesn't have a response for this. You look at her back, knowing she doesn't. She's clearly lying.
  
  However, you and her have maintained a lot of direct eye contact. You haven't really realized it mainly because you don't interact with vampires like this usually. Not to mention that as a fairly powerful necromancer, you're a bit more resistant to their gaze than you were in the past.
  
  Still, you're not totally immune and this particular vampire, (whoever she is) has taken advantage of distracting you long enough to quickly close the gap between you two.
  
  You suddenly see the woman in front of you, feel two sharp points in your neck, then everything goes black.
  
  You look around and find yourself back in the present, whatever that means in a place like this.
  
  You can't imagine you would have been so foolish to let a vampire get so close to you at that stage of your life. Still, you suppose you always were a little curious about who your parents really were even if it ultimately didn't matter.
  
  After a bit of reflection on what just happened, you realize you'll have to try again to reconnect later. When will that be? You never can tell.
  
  But it'll happen again. You'll reunite with your beloved.
  
  It's only a matter of time.