*It was almost light. Serenity sighed as she paced back and forth between the window and her coffin. She did not want to get inside of it. It would be like announcing to the world "yes, I'm dead but still alive!" It was just too weird. She thought back at how easily Count Darien had gotten in. She wondered vaguely if he had ever had this problem, or if he was always able to just get into a coffin and not think about what it truly symbolized.
She looked back at the coffin again. This time, she was able to walk up to it and rest her hands upon the silky texture of the fabric that lay inside. She ran her hands over the small raised puffy lump at the head of the coffin; which was supposed to be a pillow, and then quickly pulled her hand back. No. She couldn't. It was just too weird. But she had to. The sun would be coming up over the horizon any second now, and without the protection of her coffin, she would become dust. That was what the stories spoke of anyway. And she really didn't want to find out whether or not they were true.
She saw the first glimmer of light begin to hang over the eastern sky, and scrambled for her coffin. Yes. Being in a coffin was better than being dust. Just as the sun's rays hit the coffin, she shut the door, shutting herself into the darkness.
Unfortunately, Serenity could not sleep. Now that her mind was off of the thought of being inside a coffin, she couldn't take her mind off of the man whom she had killed. Before, if she had ever done something like that, she would have cringed inside and beaten herself up for her insane actions. Now, she couldn't stop thinking how right she had been. Not only had she shown that Count Darien creep that she was no delicate flower in the wind, she felt slightly more confident. And the fact that her belly was full helped too.
But she had killed an innocent man. Somewhere in the world, that man had to have had family. Someone would miss him somewhere, and she would be the cause of someone's grief. The more she thought about it, the lower and lower she felt about her actions. But it had been a necessity. She had to eat sometime, and that man was just the most convenient thing to eat. Gods, she sounded like a cannibal. But now, wasn't that what she was? She had to eat the flesh and blood of other humans to live. Didn't that make her a cannibal?
Just before she drifted off to sleep, she finally came to a conclusion: she would do whatever it took to survive, even if it meant killing another person so that she could eat because she needed to be alive until it was decided whether or not her friends would be reincarnated like her self. At peace with herself in her mind, she closed her eyes and allowed herself to drift off into a deep sleep.
*
The night was cool when Serenity opened the door to her coffin. Surprisingly, she had slept well. Then again, it could have just been the fact that she was tired. Or maybe the fact that because she was dead, she should sleep well. 'That's the old saying' she thought to herself. 'Rest in Peace. Oh well. They also say there's no rest for the souls of the damned, but that didn't come true last night.' As she got out of the coffin, she saw Count Darien watching her from a perch a top the windowsill.
"So I see you've finally awakened. I was wondering how long you would sleep." He said to her in his most nonchalant way.
"Well, I had to get up sometime, and I thought now would be a good time. Besides, I have a busy night tonight. I have to go to arrange for my coffin to be shipped out of here."
"Why do you insist upon leaving? You and I both know you never will. You're too weak to do anything on your own."
"I am not too weak. Last night did I show weakness?"
"No. But in bed you certainly were weak."
"How dare you even suggest such a thing you psychopathic cannibal of the living! You're an evil fiend who doesn't deserve to live, much less die." She exclaimed. How dare he suggest such terrible things about her? She did have a reputation to protect after all.
"I enjoy being an evil jerk, so it really is no insult to me one way or another."
"You gave your word I would have my freedom. Even a cold leech like yourself has to have an honor code." When she saw was pale face go even paler, she knew she had hit the mark. So he did have an honor code to abide by. This could make for an interesting argument.
"Yes. I have an honor code, all vampires do. And yes, it includes that I must keep my word." He grumbled a bit. "I also can't lie about the honor code, so go then. Just take your coffin with you and leave. I'll let you go for now. But mind you: I will want you back. You are my slave, and I your Master. We are one now, and I will not tolerate our separation for long."
"Tough luck there Count Darien, because I won't becoming back, and nothing you can say or do will make me. Good night." With that, she jumped out of the window and headed for the nearest town. After all, she needed help to move her coffin somewhere.
*
Several hours later, Serenity had managed to not only pack her coffin in a giant wooden crate, but ship both it and herself on a boat across the seas. She would not stay in this godforsaken country any longer. Especially in a place where she was thought to be dead and where she had a lust thirsty Count Darien after her.
As she strode down the main street of the town, she saw an old beggar woman on the corner. She had been so busy that she had not yet eaten that night. The old woman would be a perfect victim because no one wanted her around anyway, so no one would notice her missing. Sneaking up behind the old woman, Serena promised her money if she followed her to the ally way behind them. After seducing the old woman off of the street out of sight, she quickly but roughly took hold of her shoulders, then opened her mouth, bared her fangs, and bit down on the old hag's neck.
The sweet, warm, red honey instantly refreshed Serenity beyond her widest dreams. She felt so warm and content. As the old woman slumped to the ground, Serenity stopped her drinking to check on her. She noticed that while she was only half full, the woman was nearly dead. Nearly.
Serenity decided that instead of killing the woman, she would find another victim and finish eating with them instead. That way she wouldn't have to kill anyone to get her fill of blood. She had to hurry, though, because the sun was coming up, and as soon as it rose, the ship that held her coffin had to leave the harbor, and she had to be on it and in her coffin. *