Vampire's Slaves Challenge

Fledermaus Bend

Dear Diary,

The beat of the city is like a beating heart. Vibrant and alive. Filled with the young, the beautiful, the pure. They are out there and I feast. I have had my fill of what it has to offer, and some become fortunate to be part of my estate.

But as I become stronger, I have also developed a strange urge to hiss. Try as I might, I cannot resist nor control it. My prey would fear me when it occurs, but my powers would overwhelm them in the end.

My slaves astound me. They have created masterwork upon masterwork of their art, thus raising the value of my estate in a faster rate. To thank them, I have given them better beds. I am not cruel; I am a generous master.

A slave named Brodie had confided to me that sleeping on it feels like resting on a cloud in heaven. Stress seems to fall away quickly. I've observed that they're more energized and active when they come out of their slumber. This is reassuring. The next batch of slaves will have better quarters and will be more productive.

Yet I envy the beds they have. Blankets drawn to their chests and a soft pillow underneath their heads. What do I have? A casket. Entombed in darkness, trapped in stifling air. I would love to rest in one of these beds, yet, for some reason, the thought of laying down on these makes me feel vulnerable.

The casket will do for now. I should buy a new one.

- The Countess