I was hungry. I don't think I have ever been this hungry in my life. It was dark, but that didn't matter much. I tried to sit up, made it about six inches and then hit my head on some wood. Some dirt fell through a crack and I sneezed banging my head off the wood below me. Great I was in a wooden box, underground. Yet, I wasn't panicking. weird.

I thought I had died. Was quite certain the executioner finished me right as James Porter came to the area. That couldn't have been right. I was alive, and trapped in a box. Was this some kind of new punishment? They decided that the gallows was too friendly a death so nailed me into a box and covered it in dirt? To starve to death. Sounded like a good plan to me. I am however a little sorry to be the one on this side of it. Think I got the short end of the deal.

Pushing against the top of the box, I rejoiced when I felt it give a little. If I used more strength I might be able to get out of it... and suffocate on the dirt. Yep, sounded like a good idea to me. But I needed out. My stomach ached. A crippling pain left me trying to fold in on myself. Obviously this didn't work too well. My leg got a scrape.

A wonderful smell assaulted my nostrils. What was it? It smelled amazing. My stomach gave a pang. Whatever it was needed to be in my stomach. Now. What had changed since I've been in here? My stomach ached, no. Dirt fell on my head. Definitely not the dirt I smell. I got a cut on my led, minor in the scheme of things, you know with being trapped in a box... underground. still I suppose the wound is bleeding. It took me a while to realize it was blood that I was smelling. My blood. From the little scratch on my leg. Morbidly fascinated, I wondered if it would taste good. Would it make my stomach stop trying to eat me from the inside?

I maneuvered my hand up toward my mouth and bit into my wrist. The pain was there. but the pleasure I got from the pleasing liquid was worth it. The liquid was like nothing I had ever tasted before. It was thick, like hot chocolate and just as sweet. I wondered why I had never tried this before. I continued to suck the ruby nectar from my veins. Wonder if all the spots would taste the same. I ripped my shirt a and switched spots biting into a new section of skin. Happily I realized that My stomach pains were ebbing away. The more I drank the better I was beginning to feel. My clothing did suffer. It had rips everywhere from me trying new unbitten areas of skin. Soon the horrible pain stopped all together. It seemed the hardest thing I ever had to do in my life, but somehow, I managed to stop drinking. I licked my lips trying to get all the blood I could off of my face.

Okay, hunger's gone. Next step: getting out of this death box.

I ran my hands lightly over the wooden surface. I knew there was a crack in the board. That's how I'd get out of here. My plan was simple. Push hard on the weakened part of the box, take a huge gulp of air and dig as fast as possible. Hopefully I'd make it toward the surface. If not, well, I might be in a little bit of trouble.

It was the best plan I could think of. And utterly stupid.

Somehow, though, I had a feeling it might just work. I felt strong, stronger than I had ever felt in my whole entire life. And indestructible. In light of recent events, that was weird in itself.

I found the weak board and positioned my fists below it. Drawing back as far as the restraining space would allow I prepared to push the wood. I let loose, slamming my knuckles into it. There was a loud crack. The box split right down the middle.

I tried to get a quick breath. And was smothered. working with what I had, I began to dig my way to the surface. Hopefully it wasn't too far away. I never thought of that. What if I was twenty feet below the surface? I'd never make it. But the ground was reasonably soft from being freshly piled. It hadn't settled yet.

I had no clue how much farther I needed to dig. My lungs were screaming. My eyes scrunched as tight as they would go, and still dirt was making its way in. It was clinging to my skin, my clothes, or what was left of them. The bite marks especially were painful. The dirt found its way into the wounds and seemed to be having a party at my expense. As soon as I got out of here I'd need to clean those. Worst of all, was my stomach. I already was feeling the pangs of hunger.

Pretty sure I'm almost at the top.

I darted a hand forward grabbing for another fistful of dirt and caught nothing but air. My hand flailed about for a bit before I decided to place it on the ground and hoist myself up using my newfound strength.

I broke the surface and collapsed right on top of the dirt, gasping for breath. My stomach growled.

Somehow I knew I wasn't alone even before a breathy voice spoke, "God, Asho."

Enveloped in warmth, I just smiled. It was James.

"It worked. I thought you were gone but it worked," he kissed my forehead affectionately.

I hummed happily. I could get used to this treatment.

"I'm sorry I changed you, but it was the only way to keep you alive," James watched me waiting to see what my reaction would be. Waiting for a sign that he did the right thing. He wasn't smiling for once, and actually looked properly handsome without that goofy grin on his face.

I gave a sad smile, "So I did die." It wasn't a question, I knew the answer. "And I'm a..."

"Yeah," James interrupted, "you're a vampire. I changed you," here he offered one of his stupid grins. Well, that explained why the Porter's only ever came at night.

"Sareh?" my voice cracked slightly at the mention of my daughter.

"She's safe with the wealthy woman. Mrs. McCreery," he spoke gently.

"Can I see her?" I asked already knowing the answer.

"It'd be better if you didn't," he must have seen my piteous look because he quickly added, "but that doesn't mean it has to be that way forever. You just need to wait a little. You'll be too hungry to be around people for a while."

"Ok. Hey James?"

"Yes?"

"When I'm ready will you take me to see her?" I needed to know this more than anything.

"The second I know you'll be okay," assured the man, no the vampire who had saved my life.

I thought of all I've been through. All I had lost. All that was yet to come. "Asho, say something," James implored.

"I'm hungry."

James laughed and kissed me full on the lips.

Yeah, I could definitely get used to this.