Sunrise and Cinders

They landed on the roof of Blackwood Manor just as the eastern horizon began to bruise with purple light.

Ignatius shifted back to human form, collapsing onto the slate tiles. He was naked, soot-stained, and shivering.

Aurelia immediately wrapped her heavy cloak around him. "You are ridiculous," she said, fussing over a burn mark on his arm. "Absolutely dramatic. Was the fire necessary?"

"He tried to harvest me," Ignatius grumbled, pulling the cloak tighter. "I harvested his laboratory. It was a hostile takeover."

They sat in silence for a moment, watching the smoke rise from the distant Crystal Palace.

"You came back," Ignatius said quietly. He didn't look at her.

"I needed a vault," she said, examining her nails.

"Aurelia."

She sighed. She looked at him. The sun was creeping closer. She should be running for the cellar.

"You didn't laugh," he said. "When he took me. You didn't laugh."

"No," she admitted softy. "It wasn't funny."

Ignatius reached out, taking her cold hand in his burning hot one. "I have decided to expand my hoard."

"Oh?" she raised an eyebrow. "More railways?"

"No," he looked at her, his golden eyes soft. "The sound of your laughter. I find that... I cannot sleep without it. It is chaotic. It is abrasive. It is entirely inefficient." He squeezed her hand. "It is my favorite sound in the world."

Aurelia felt a strange warmth in her chest, right where her heart used to beat.

"Well," she said, her voice trembling slightly. "I suppose I can provide a steady supply. For a price."

"Name it," Ignatius said.

"Bread rolls," she grinned. "You have to stop hoarding the bread rolls."

Ignatius looked offended. "Let's not be unreasonable."

Aurelia burst out laughing. She leaned forward and kissed him, ignoring the rising sun that threatened to burn her skin. Ignatius shifted his wing, just a shadow of it, to shield her from the light.

"Get in the vault, wife," he grumbled, pulling her close. "Before you turn to dust and I have to sweep you up."

"Yes, husband," she giggled against his chest.

And as the sun rose over London, the dragon and the vampire retreated into the dark, arguing happily about what to have for dinner.