Being Undead

Chapter 9*

Laura felt tremendous peace after the feast and her coming out; more accurately, Frederick's coming out on her behalf.

Anyway, everything was going on nicely for her and Laura loved every minute of it. A day after, she was still good. Two days after, she didn't mind.

But after three days, Laura began to think about tearing her hair out. A week after, she was definitely ready to jump on a stake.

Now, it wasn't that Laura hated peace- she loved it just as much as the other person- but it was the inactivity that came along with it she couldn't bear. Work had always been the centre of her previous life and turning undead wasn't enough to change that.

Unable to stand the boredom anymore, Laura went out in search of Frederick to tell him that she needed something to do. God, anything will do at this point, she thought to herself as she went, even if I'm made to clean the entire mansion all by myself. And she really was ready to do it.

Unfortunately, Frederick was nowhere to be found. The undead had been out for about a week and no one knew where he had gone or how long he would be.

Not knowing what else to do, Laura went back to her room, lying upside down on her bed while contemplating on what exactly she had to do just to get some excitement back in her life.

Just then, a knock sounded on her door. Frederick, she thought, quickly running to get it. But it was Damian on the other side.

"Frederick's the one I asked for," she said, barring the door.

"Well, I'm the one you've got," he returned, shoving his way in when she still didn't move.

It didn't take powers to know that Damian wasn't thrilled at all to be having that conversation with Laura. Nevertheless, he asked, "What's the problem?"

"I'm not used to this inactivity," she said, whining like an unhappy child. "It's killing me."

"What "inactivity" are you talking about?" Damian took a seat and crossed his legs as he watched Laura disinterestedly.

"Damian, please don't play dumb with me," she returned, her temper flaring up. "It doesn't suit you." I can't believe that he's actually trying to push my buttons right now, she huffed inside.

"Okay, Miss Sunshine," he stood up again, "so you hate peace and quiet. What's your genius idea then? To go sunbathing and die?"

"How about something safer like a book, Damian?" she returned. "You do know how to get a book for me to read, don't you?" She made a face to further test him.

But Damian didn't look one bit irritated by Laura. In fact, he smiled at her.

Thing is, he could have easily upended her in one move for her insolence if he wanted. To be honest, it crossed it his mind to do it.

But a part of Damian he rarely tapped into stopped him. Holding a smirk, he said, "I can get you a book, Morgue girl, but I'm not sure a puny mind like yours can understand it."

"Oh, that's just downright condescending!" Laura pushed him hard in the chest; she was thoroughly offended. He has no right to say that! She shouted angrily in her mind. No right at all!

"But is it really condescending, Morgue girl, or just the truth?" Damian pressed on, not ready to back down now that he saw how much it stung her. "I mean, look at yourself. Alone, locked in; all because Frederick knows that you're too much of a weakling to protect yourself."

"Shut up!"

Laura didn't know what really happened. One moment, Damian was talking, the next she saw red and swung. The punch connected and Damian fell backwards into the chair behind him, blood spraying the curtain beside him.

Oh my God, he's going to kill me! Laura screamed to herself when she realised what she had done. Damian had always shown that he was just looking for the chance to do away with her; and she had just presented one to him a bloody, rage-filled punch platter.

But he deserves it, a small part of Laura's mind said to her; and she agreed too. Damian had run his mouth a little too much, and his words were very hurtful. But punching Damian was an option she should never have taken and she knew that too.

Quickly, Laura grabbed her leather jacket before Damian collected himself and made her way out of the house; only to be stopped at the front exit, that is. Apparently, someone had given strict orders not to let her leave.

"Get out of my way," she said, putting as much threat as she could muster into the statement.

But the guys didn't even bulge.

Now, Laura wasn't sure if she could take them down if it ever came to that, but she was willing to die trying. It's either I leave the mansion or Damian kills me in it, she deduced; not an hard option for her choose between.

"Let her leave," someone suddenly said from above before the fight could start, causing Laura to look up and realise to her surprise that it was Damian who said it.

His face wasn't bruised- undeads healed very quickly from injuries- but he was still rubbing it gingerly. He had murder in his eyes and Laura feared for a second that he would come down just then and snap her neck.

But Damian only nodded to confirm his orders and the guys at the door gave way. "Leave, Laura," he said. "Don't come back."

Laura walked out of the mansion into the snow outside. The whole area was covered in fog, but even with that, the light from the moon simmered through. Of course, it wouldn't have been much for a mortal to see by, but her undead eyesight had no problem using it.

Laura was still thinking about what to do that she had officially been thrown out of the Undead Mansion when an idea suddenly occurred her. I can walk long distances without feeling it, she thought. But what about running?

She had actually seen Frederick move at an amazing speed a couple of times before so she figured it shouldn't be that hard. She brought out a stopwatch from her pocket; it was an old fashioned one but still worked like a charm.

Targeting a tree, Laura counted and raced towards it. Slow, but she tried again; a couple more tries and she was moving at the speed she wanted. Always the fast learner, you Laura, she smiled at herself.

Thing is, she figured out that the trick was the wind. An undead felt it in their mind, mentally slowed it down before moving, and voilà! super speed.

Laura tried it out a couple more times just to be sure she had gotten the hang of it, and by the time she turned back, she realised she had left the mansion far behind.

Well, no going back now, she shrugged. She would stroll around the city for a while before returning back to the Undead Mansion later. Hopefully, Frederick would be back by then to hear her plead her case and allow her back into the house in spite of Damian's threat.

Until then, Laura, she turned to where the New York City night lights shone in distance and prepared for under undead speed burst, onwards you go.