Longer chapter! About three more after this. Enjoy!
Disclaimer: Not mine.
Erin woke that evening in a pile of cushions, trapped in an enclosed space. She brought her hand up to meet lightly-cushioned wood, and pressed her hand against it anxiously. To her relief, it moved, and she managed to lift the coffin lid enough to let a little extra air in and get her bearings. The shaft of candlelight that crept through the opening illuminated the face of the beautiful vampiress whose arms she appeared to have fallen asleep in. Erin just stared for a second, entranced, until her eyes opened and she had to pretend she'd only just woken up.
"Sorry. Coffin. Panicked." Adze opened the lid the rest of the way and smiled at her as they both sat up.
"I hope you didn't find it too uncomfortable." Erin shook her head.
"No, it was lovely. I'm sorry I fell asleep on you." Adze bit her lip.
"Feel free to do it again any time… any time you need to, I mean." Erin smiled back at her.
They emerged into the corridor just in time to run into Vlad, deep in conversation with Bertrand.
"Erin? What were you doing in there-?" The Chosen One trailed off. "…Aren't those yesterday's clothes?" Of course, the merest hint of scandal was enough to bring the whole household running. Ramanga appeared just seconds behind the Count, Ingrid not far behind, and they all stared at the two girls trapped in the doorway.
"Adze, what have I told you? You can't afford to be indiscreet about your… persuasion here!" The Count turned on him.
"You knew?"
"Of course I knew! She's my daughter-"
"And she'd rather be with my ex-girlfriend." Vlad spoke flatly, but he didn't seem as upset as Erin might have expected. "Well, looks like the engagement's off. Good luck, you two."
"But Vladdy-" He cut his father off.
"I could marry Bertrand, if you'd prefer. He's far more likely to accept the whole arrangement than either of those two." The Count stared, stunned, at his son, apparently trying to gauge whether he was joking or not. Behind Vlad, Bertrand looked just as interested in figuring it out. "Now can we just go about our business, please?" It was an order, thinly veiled, and the crowd dispersed.
Erin turned to her friend – yes, they were friends now, and it was hard to believe they could ever have been enemies – but Adze refused to meet her eye.
"It's probably better if you go and get changed." With that, the princess withdrew into her room and shut the door firmly behind her. Erin made her way slowly towards her own room, pondering what she'd learnt today.
From what her father had said, it seemed that Adze preferred girls to guys. There was no problem there, as far as Erin was concerned; it was no business of hers who Adze chose to fall into her coffin with. And… alright, today Erin had been the girl in her coffin, but that didn't mean anything. Except, apparently, it meant that the engagement was finally off. And possibly that Vlad was marrying Bertrand, although she thought that was probably a joke. Still, she'd known couples with less chemistry.
Now it seemed everyone thought she and Adze were an item, which was just ridiculous. Erin was a breather, a slayer even, and Adze… well, Adze was a traditional vampire princess. A beautiful traditional vampire princess. A beautiful traditional vampire princess who'd been there for her when they should have hated each other, who'd held her and stroked her hair and let her fall asleep on her… Who hadn't bitten her even though the stasis spray must have worn off hours ago… Who Erin had spent more time with lately than with her boyfriend… Who she'd broken up with him for.
It seemed she had a lot to think about.