Corbijn had never been so free. Part of him found it ironic that hed laid down his life before he could start living it, but it wasn't too far from the sentimental nonsense he'd read about death.

Everything was new, captivating. The whispering late night rain and the shimmer of life that made humans glisten, even in the darkest, dingiest alley - it was all new to him, exciting and wonderful.

Every sense was heightened, but he had known they would be. The crystal clear eye sight, incredible hearing and heightened sense of touch were all things he expected, having lived his life (the current one anyway) among vampires.

But there were some changes that he did not expect, and that troubled him deeply.

It started the very first time he fell asleep after his change. Sleep was something he was wary of - the change was still working its way through his body and he felt like he was teetering on the edge of something massive. The idea of going to sleep seemed absurd to him.

Lilith had booked them into the penthouse suite of the nearest fancy hotel. She remained in the clearing with Corbijn while her blood raced through his system, burning away everything that made him human.

After his heart stopped, she helped him to his feet. It had been a bit of an anti-climax - just a flutter, one fleeting final beat and it was over. His life was over.

Corbijn didn't know what he had been expecting. He'd dreamt about that moment so many times, countless scenarios of the change had played repeatedly in his head like horror movie shorts, but reality was different.

He felt cold all over, and shaky, as if he was recovering from a bad bout of flu. Lilith was gentle as she helped him stand, her steadying hand on his elbow providing a reassuring warmth.

"You alright?" She asked, looking at him with wide eyes.

"I feel kind of dizzy," he confessed.

"That's natural. You had me worried for a minute," she said as she began leading him through the forest.

"Have you done this before?"

"A couple of times," Lilith admitted as the trees started to thin out. "But it's been a very long time since I changed someone."

He didn't press the matter further, following her to the sleek black convertible shed parked as close to the forest as possible. She helped Corbijn into the passenger seat, leaning over him to fasten his seat belt. The maternal gesture seemed odd and kind of pointless, but it created an unexpected warmth under his sickly pale skin.

"Why did you change me?" Corbijn asked as she started the engine. He found the steady purr of it soothing.

"Oh sweetie, aren't you a bit young to be asking a question like that?" She smiled, cruising so far above the speed limit that Corbijn's stomach flipped.

"It's just unexpected," he explained.

"It's a long and complicated story, with subplots and a hot headed heroine," she answered, smiling so wide her fangs glittered in the lights from the other cars.

"Let me guess - you need my help."

She nodded but didnt explain any further. When they made it to the hotel, she practically dragged him up to the room, locking the door behind them.

The bed was noticeably absent, replaced by three magnificent wooden coffins. They were made from polished mahogany with elaborately carved handles. The one in the middle had a name carved on it - Eren.

"Are we safe here?" Corbijn asked, trailing pale fingers over one of the coffins.

"I know the manager, were safe," she replied, shrugging. "I've stayed here a few times."

"Who's Eren?"

She froze, unable to take her eyes off the engraved coffin lid. When she glanced up at him, her gaze was ancient and profoundly sad.

"I have a funny feeling you'll find out soon enough," Lilith answered, crossing the room and opening his coffin for him.

As he slept, he dreamed. A boy, with wild red hair and melancholy eyes walked through his dream, accompanied by dithering, admiring humans. They boy was lonely, his skin cold and pale. Corbijn couldnt tell if he was human or a vampire. He didn't seem comfortable with his human companions. They reached out for him but failed to keep a hold of him as he walked towards Corbijn, his movements exuding a quiet but undeniable power.

He stopped when he reached Corbijn, their eyes locked. He was wearing a silver necklace.

"Eren," he whispered, sure this was the boy destined for the coffin in their room. The boy smiled sadly, opening his mouth to speak.

Blood gushed from his open mouth, staining his white shirt. He looked at Corbijn, his eyes wide and full of panic. Corbijn watched, horrified, as Eren began to choke on his own blood, coughing and spluttering.

"Eren!"

His yell echoed around the confined space, making his ears hurt. He reached out for the boy, but his hands met an invisible barrier. He pounded on it, screaming the boy's name as he did.

Suddenly the barrier was gone and his eyes were flooded with icy, artificial light. The vision vanished, leaving him gasping for a breath his body didn't need any more. Lilith was standing over him, her eyes narrowed with curiosity.

"Is there a reason why you're beating the crap outta your coffin?" She asked.

"I...I was dreaming," he explained, sitting up slowly.

"Dreaming? Really?" She quirked a brow, offering him a hand and helping him out his coffin.

"Yeah. Is that strange?"

"I should think so, vampires don't dream."

"What?" Corbijn asked. "Never?"

"Never. When the sun rises, a sort of death overcomes us. It's like we just stop. We never dream," Lilith's voice was thoughtful as she explained her surprise to him. "What did you dream about?"

"A red headed boy," he confessed. "Eren."

"What happened?"

"He tried to say something to me, but his mouth was full of blood. He died so quickly, before I could do anything about it."

Lilith was troubled by his dream, Corbijn could see it in her eyes. She would've gone pale, he thought, if she was alive. There was something she wasn't telling him.

"Who is he, Lilith?" He demanded. "Who's Eren?"

---

Andy was worried about him, Eren could tell. They made their way to the cafeteria in silence, Eren keeping his eyes on his feet while his friend whistled in the fake carefree way he did when he was troubled.

"So...is Corbijn your secret boyfriend?" He asked, trying and failing to conceal his grin.

"Shut up," Eren replied, smiling. Andy let the matter drop, knowing that Eren would explain when he was ready.

"It's a pretty bad ass name," Andy said, his eyes glazing the way they did when a long and detailed ramble was coming on.

"I guess," he agreed with a shrug. He couldn't shake the image of Corbijn from his mind - the bright eyed, beautiful boy. He thought he'd dreamt him up, then all of a sudden he appears in a text book.

"Unlike your sissy name. Isn't Eren a girls name? When you spell it with an I or something?"

"Andy's a girls name when you spell it with an I, doofus," the red head snorted, bumping Andy with his shoulder.

"Valid point. Ready to drop your mysterious-ness and tell me whats been going on with you?"

The change in tone left Eren disorientated. He blinked slowly, wondering how much he should tell his best friend. Andy was loyal and trustworthy, he'd always stood by Eren. Keeping him out felt wrong somehow.

"I had a dream about him. Corbijn," Eren revealed.

"A dream? Like...a gay dream? Cuz you know, dude, I'm cool with whatever your preference is. That hasn't changed since we discussed it last summer, I just assumed what with Lauren and everything..."

"No Andy, not a gay dream. Just...a dream. He was in the Clearing with this vampire woman and she killed him. His blood stained her top red." Eren could feel the tremble in his voice, but he couldn't fight it off. The sight of the boy's lifeless body, bathed in the cold moonlight, made his stomach turn.

"Have you been watching True Blood again? Vampires are a myth, Eren."

"That's not what the Order thinks," he pointed out. "They think vampires are real."

"That's just something they cottoned on to hundreds of years ago to explain things that made no sense," Andy said, waving his hand dismissively. "Probably used it as a way of keeping people in line. You should understand that better than anyone."

Eren respected Andy's reluctance to just accept everything the Order had taught him. Lauren, the twins, they followed the teachings of the Order without question. Despite his parents best efforts, Andy viewed everything the Order preached with a healthy dose of cynicism and a sprinkle of realism.

"I guess," Eren said softly.

He hadn't believed the vampire stories before, but something about his dream seemed so real. The red headed vampire woman was real, he was sure of it.

"You shouldn't have let Lauren talk you into watching Twilight," Andy laughed, leading Eren into the cafeteria, his grip just a little too firm on his friends arm.