Regina’s eyelids fluttered and she moaned. It had been a rough night- a few times she had seriously thought she wouldn’t make it.

Even though she knew that was impossible- the contract she had signed so many years ago was watertight, and until she was ready and willing to go, her animated unrotting but aging and aching corpse would remain among the living.

“So you’re up?” her companion observed. “Another day at it?”

Regina glanced sharply at it. “Of course. We have a duty, towards our people, our nation.”

“Regina, how much longer? It’s out that you have COVID. Many suspect you’re already dead.”

She adjusted her beautiful Chantilly lace nightcap and shawl. It was the same lace that had adorned Victoria and Anne before her.

“Let them suspect. We said we will go when we are ready. The time has not yet come. Do you have somewhere else to be?”

Her companion grinned mirthlessly. “No, I am here at your service. Of course. I mean, there is a “reasonable period” clause in the contact. You can’t drag this out until you’re 140.”

Regina frowned, and took a sip of tea from the delicate china cup. “We know the terms of our contract perfectly well, and you may rest assured we have no intention of lingering until we are 140”.

Her companion shrugged. “Well, Andrew will have croaked it long before then, so you won’t have any reason to, would you? He’s the only reason you’re dragging this out, right? The pandemic- and now world war- I know all the dead fulfill our contract, but it’s really to distract from him and his friends, isn’t it? You really don’t care how many people die?”

Regina flung the remaining contents of her teacup at the ravaging dark creature looming over her bed. “Silence! We will not be spoken to like this by a mere dog from the underworld!” She snatched up the small delicately-carved silver bell- the same used by monarchs stretching back through centuries, and shook it savagely. Even though her room was obviously wired with the latest safety devices, Regina shunned them in favour of her inherited gadgets. “They should be honoured to give their lives for us”.

Her lady-in-waiting curtsied in silently. Regina surveyed her for a moment. This one was new- they had to find someone new after old Mary died from COVID yesterday.

Regina smiled graciously. “Good morning my dear.”

“Good morning ma’am. Your breakfast is laid out, shall I bring it in?”

“No, I will get up, I am actually feeling much better today”. She gave a triumphant look at the creature of death by her side. It rolled its eyes at her.

“Wonderful ma’am, very glad to hear it. May I assist you?”

How nice to hear a fresh young voice, thought Regina, as she allowed the new one to help her up. Just as well Mary was gone. She slowly limped out, ready to enjoy her fresh lovely breakfast and the day ahead.