Egbert

Two households, Both alike in Dignity

That's not good. My palms are sweaty and my racing heart takes on a whole new meaning. What is she even doing here? Why does she have a crossbow? Why is it aimed at my head? Okay the last one I can probably answer myself. I did just bury a body. Oh god, did she see that?

Aside from her thrilling introduction she doesn't say anymore. She stays where she is and I stay where I am. Vikram has his hands up in the background. His vitals are pretty normal. Odd, I would have expected him to crap himself by now, but I'm not complaining. I guess after yesterday's interaction with my father this doesn't rank very high on his fear threshold.

"I knew you were a little shit from the moment I saw you." He says. And now I'm wishing he has crapped himself, because then he'd be too occupied to talk.

As it is, Scarlett remains cool and collected, on the surface. But I can hear her heart and it's hammering away in her chest again. Her grip on the crossbow is loosening from sweat on her palms too. "What did you see?" I ask, if she's not going to start a conversation then I will, if only to hear her voice once more.

"Enough. Hand up." She's calmer but her voice has a tiny quiver, my heart contracts as I catch it. It's fear.

"Could you be vaguer please? Perhaps she's not actually there Eg." Vikram snorts at his own sarcasm.

At that some of the tension seems to break. "Your name is Egg?" She wants to laugh but she's not at ease enough to do so.

"Actually it's Egbert." I correct, like it's any better.

"Anglo-Saxon, means the bright edge of a blade." She says, more to herself than me. At this point her knowing the meaning of my name isn't the most surprising turn of events.

"I always thought it was German for unlucky bastard." I shrug, and her mouth twitches involuntarily. I swear to god she smiles through the darkness. I can't fully see it, but I assume I would melt from its glaring brilliance. It vanishes just as soon as it appeared.

"Anyway I have to kill you, you're a vampire." So she definitely knows. She's trying hard to be matter-of-factly.

"I understand."

"What the shit is this? This is bullshit, kill her Eg."

"Hey that's uncalled for Ram." I reprimand.

He tilts his head and mumbles. "Yeah whatever."

"I apologise for what he said." Honestly if I'm going to die I'd like it very much to be by her hand. But I don't want to die. I can try talking my way out of it, she seems reasonable enough. "Vikram's not a vampire. He's human."

"No I'm not. I'm a creature of the night and you can bet your patootie I'll destroy you right here you red headed witch." He still has his hands up as he threatens her. But she doesn't seem interested in him, which means she's seen enough to know he's human.

"You saw us in the graveyard?" I ask. She nods. "I'm sorry you had to see that." I sympathise. But apparently I've offended her because the next thing I know she takes a giant leap forward and the crossbow is pressed against my chest, her dark eyes narrowed at me.

"I've seen worse. I'm not a fragile little girl Vampire." With one hand on the weapon she reaches another behind her and pulls out a combat knife.

"Whoa!" Vikram and I shout in unison. We both step back but it seems Scarlett has me pinned against a tree.

"Think about this Scar," I reason, "If you kill me you'll have to bury me and I'm heavier than I look."

"No you're not. And don't call me Scar." She replies, unhooking the crossbow with one hand and keeping only the knife on me now, kicking it aside.