Eternal Childhood

It was odd being here. In this mausoleum so early in the morning. The place was dusty and hadn't seen many visitors. As far as Claire could tell there hadn't been. Thanks to the fact there weren't many footprints aside from theirs. Looking down at the small coffin, she shivered. The thing was covered in large rocks. Ones that an adult wouldn't be able to move. Much less a dead child. It was rather disturbing in her eyes to see. Why would a parent request this for their daughter? Quietly, she asked,"So, do you know who's in this? And why they're here?"

"From what I remember from our tour it was a little girl. She was allegedly suffocated by her parents.",he answered. Taking off his denim jacket as he got closer to her. Looking down at it with a frown on his face. It was obvious he hated the idea of a child being hurt. Just like she did. The poor thing didn't deserve that. Setting his jacket on the ground, he added,"Or at least that's what I think that wierd tour girl said before we broke away from the group. I think they thought she was sick or evil. Quite possibly thought she was a vampire."

"That's freaky, Harold. Do you want to see if it's true?",she asked as she looked at him. It was messed up and she knew it. Yet she had this urge to check. To make absolutely certain if this poor little girl was alright. If not then they'd at least get the large rocks off. That way the little girl could rest in peace. Proper peace. Glancing at Harold, she waited a few seconds to see if he was interested. He answers,"Why not? It's not like we really got anything better to do."

With that they both began hauling the heavy rocks of the coffin. Claire noticed there was an odd burning sensation as they worked. It was like there was something wrong with them. Coating them in something meant to keep people like them away. Rather creatures like them away. When they were done pulling the rocks off, Harold hissed. Wiping his hands on his jeans to make the sensation go away. He snapped,"What in the Hell? Rocks shouldn't be doing that."

"What the Hell do you think they put on it? Ground garlic blossoms?",Harold asked. Unsure of why the rocks were burning him. She ignored him as she pushed against the lid of the coffin. Growling as her muscles straining with the effort to pop it open. It was a lot tougher than movies ever made it out to be. And she hissed at him to help her get the lid off at all. Which he did willingly. It took both of their pushing to finally get the lid off. Maybe thirty minutes or so. A large puff of disgusting smelling air rushed against them as they finally opened it. The lid swiftly falling to the ground afterward. Crumbling to pieces as it hit the ground. Both of them stopped for a moment. Bracing themselves for what they were about to be seeing. And no matter how prepared they thought they were, they truly weren't. Harold muttered,"Oh dear sweet God..."

For inside the coffin was a little white blonde haired girl around the age of ten. She wore a dark navy blue dress that came down mid-calf. Her little hands were wrapped with a slim silver chain. One that Claire could tell wouldn't be possible for her to break free from. Not in her condition. The child's mouth had a cloth tied around it. Possibly to keep her from screaming out for help. No shoes were on her feet. Only ragged white lace socks. And firmly wrapped around her frail thin little ankles was a chain. Much like the one on her wrists.

"This is...this is beyond sick. This is so unnecessarily cruel!",Claire exclaimed. Without a second thought, she quickly reached into the coffin. Quickly undoing the chains on the poor child's body. It burned her fingertips to do it. But she wasn't going to allow this poor baby to suffer a second longer. Much to the shock of her sire. Who stood there as he watched his fledgling undo the binds on the child vampire. His eyes were wide as dinner plates as he watched her. Momentarily too stunned to say or do anything as he watched her. Softly, he demands,"Just what in the Hell do you think you're doing?! Claire!"

"I can't leave a child in pain like this! Would you do that if this was your daughter?",Claire hisses at him. Not caring that her skin was burning a little from it. Or how red her palms and fingertips were from it. How raw it left her skin feeling. Looking at her sire as she couldn't understand why he was so upset about this. Wouldn't any sane person want to save someone else like this? She watched as Harold looked torn by her decision. Debating with himself on whether or not it was a good idea. Seeming to not like it before relenting and nodding his head. Softly, he sighed,"You're right...you're right. I would never want that for my daughter."

Claire gave him a gentle smile before leaning over the coffin. Gently touching the young girl's shoulders to wake her. It took a few seconds but soon her little eyelids fluttered. Soon as they were open, she froze in place as she saw them. Her eyebrows drew together and her eyes narrowed in frightened suspicion. Carefully, Claire took the gag out of the young girl's mouth. He really couldn't blame the poor child of being afraid of them. Waking up to two strange people after being attacked by your parents? It would be rather disorienting. In a low voice, Claire questioned,"Hi sweetheart. How are you feeling?"

"I'm so thirsty...",she answered. Her voice was so raspy and sounded exhausted. The sound worried Harold as he watched his fledgling reach down into the coffin. How long had this child been in this coffin again? Sixty years or seventy? He couldn't really remember as he tried to think of the tour. Watching the little vampire child cling to Clair as she got her out of the trap she'd been in. Letting out a little whimper as she was lifted into the woman's arms. Resting her head was laid against Claire's shoulder. As if she were too weak to lift her head up anymore. Claire promised,"We'll find you someone to feed on, sweetheart. I promise."

This seems to set the young girl at ease as Claire held her. Harold didn't like the idea of taking care of a child. But figured they couldn't just let the poor thing not feed. It wouldn't be right. And he wouldn't feel right as his fledgling's sire if he didn't feed this child, too. Watching them with a tiny smile on his face as the child fully relaxed in Claire's grasp. Looking even more frail then when she was earlier. And he hadn't been sure that was even possible. Gently pressing her cheek to the child's forehead, Claire sighed. In a soft voice, she questioned,"My name is Claire. What's yours sweetheart?"

"My name is Lilith."