Death Watch (Hardin)

(Harden, 2024)
™ and © Harden

The Wake, a final vigil to be held over the body of the newly deceased. The name came from a time when man’s understanding could not discern if some were truly dead or if they merely appeared dead. In the rare instance where the person woke it was a seen as a miracle from God.

In the Mountains of eastern Europe, the vigil held a different name and a darker purpose. If for whatever reason a body reanimated from its eternal slumber it could only have a sinister intent. The undead corpse would be beheaded, a stake driven through the heart, the remains burned, and the ashes scattered.

This ceremony was not called a wake, it was called a Death Watch. Its purpose, to stop the spread of vampirism.

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