The Story of Vampire Michaela by Kagami Takaya~

Chapter 4

Chapter 4 Ferid's Battle

"..."

How many centuries had passed since then, Ferid wondered, turning over the memories in his mind as his gaze fell on Crowley Eusford sleeping in a coffin.

The coffin was located in Ferid's mansion, in the vampire city of Kyoto Sanguinem. Crowley wasn't in the coffin because he had died. He was a vampire and could not die anymore. No, he was already dead. Because he was hated by God, and his heart didn't beat. Then why did he sleep in a coffin?

Ferid didn't know who started it, but by the time Ferid himself became a vampire, vampires had already had a habit of sleeping in coffins, hiding from the light of the sun. And unexpectedly, sleeping like that turned out rather pleasant.

Physically speaking, vampires didn't need to sleep. But they still slept. To fill the time of the unimaginably long life they were forced to drag, they went to sleep in coffins. That way, they were able to forget everything for just a short while and lose consciousness. If only for a few short hours.

They could not rest for eternity.

It had been 7 hours since Crowley had gotten into the coffin. He would be waking up soon then.

"..."

In those 7 hours, Ferid had finally finished drawing his map. The map that would allow human children to escape from this vampire city.

The map turned out really splendid. Probably because Ferid got to listen to Crowley's reminiscences about his past. It reminded him that what he was doing now was all part of the plan hatched many centuries ago, and for it, right now, he needed to finish drawing that map. Because if he didn't, he would stop caring about everything in a flash.

It was always like that for Ferid. Even back when he was human. He would get tired of anything and everything in a heartbeat.

Leaving Crowley's coffin, Ferid headed to his own room. On the way, he came across a few of the children he favored and allowed visiting his mansion.

"Ah, Ferid-sama!" One of the boys noticed him. He was a pretty boy with black hair. His blood had a fresh, vibrant flavor. Ferid remembered his taste but forgot his name. His interest in the boy was rapidly fading. It was about time to kill him then.

Ferid smiled brilliantly in reply, "Oh, hello~"
"I can live in luxury every day thanks to you, Ferid-sama, sir!" The boy said with a smiling face.
"Really? That is good to hear. Tell me if there is anything else you need. I will get it for you."
"Yes, sir!" The boy left then.

The next child to notice Ferid passing was a girl. She was about 14 and intelligent. Very. Ferid liked talking with bright kids. The look of despair on the faces of children who knew they were smart at the moment they were being killed was also an exquisite sight. But her name, Ferid had forgotten. Off with her, too, then.

"Ferid-sama."
"Hello, hello~"
"It is unusual to see you walking around the mansion at this time of the day, sir."
"Really? You remember my schedule then?"
"Yes, sir. Lately, you preferred secluding yourself in your study in the afternoon, sir."

True. Since he was busy drawing the map. But this afternoon, he had finished it. And now that it was complete, it was time to start the next phase of the tale.

He left the map in his study, on a bookshelf. Children were not forbidden from entering his study, along with the rest of his mansion, but no one had ever tried. They understood that their life would be in danger if they entered the mansion's master's private room and ended up seeing something they were not supposed to lay their eyes on.