Silverheart – Indepentional

Leria peered along the cemetery grounds. The air was thick with the scent of graveyard dirt, the hint of rot scurrying along beneath it. Crickets were chirping along without a care, undisturbed by the fireflies that clustered in groups near the borders of the sacrosanct space. The moon passed from behind a cloud and cast the area in pale light. Satisfied that she saw no humans or guard-dogs, she leapt from her perch on a branch and landed beyond the cemetery fence. She had made doubly sure that all of her clothes and gear were strapped down, so they made no noise. With a swift movement she ducked behind a large gravestone and perked her sharp ears, alert for any signs that the residents of the chapel had noticed her entry. Again she was satisfied and rose from her hiding place. One by one she went to gravestones or grave-markers, reading the inscribed letters in the fading moonlight. The moon hid again behind the clouds to cast the scene in darkness, but Leria’s red eyes could see in darkness as well as in light. But with every name she read, her disappointment grew. Now and again she would recognise a surname or see a resemblance to a name she had known, but the name she sought was nowhere to be seen. She had visited many burial sites since her revival. Every time she entered with hope in her breast, and every time she left with disappointment in her heart.

She looked to the chapel standing in the cemetery’s centre. Could she go in and ask? She dismissed the notion immediately. She was an unholy creature, abhorred by their faith. Even if she could get inside, the priests would have no reason to even listen to her. And why would they know about the fate of a common peasant family from half a century ago?

“Please tell me you’ve found it this time.” 

Leria turned towards the voice to see Miriam behind her. Her fellow vampire was dressed as she herself was, in dark leathers glinting with the occasional knife. Where Leria’s hair had retained its orange lustre, Miriam’s had gone pure white on the day of her revival. In her kin’s eyes, Leria saw both sympathy and scorn. 

“I am sorry, then, to disappoint you. I have not found them.” Leria replied and rose to her full height. In truth she had a few more gravestones to search, but by now she had lost all hope to find their names in this cemetery. 

“Then let us be off. Relann won’t tolerate a delay.” Miriam said and turned to leave, not waiting for Leria’s reply. 

With a sigh and a final glance at the gravestones around her, Leria followed.