My eyes opened, the sound of the drone bringing me my morning paste an itch in my ears. “Hello,” I said to the mindless drone. The starlight was distant but illuminated my cell well enough that I could see the cache where the paste was deposited. The door opened and I grabbed the paste. This would happen twice more. As it had every day. I floated over the tiny door and opened the paste. I ate it and thought of the blood I used to drink every day. I know the paste contains the necessary nutrients for me to survive in this hell. However, I missed meat. I missed the hunt. There was no excitement when my food came to me. I took another bite of the paste, the bland flavor laving over my tongue.  Tears formed in my eyes. The paste had no taste, the paste couldn’t be meat, because I lost the ability to eat what I chose freely. I thanked the gods that no one could see me cry. That I was isolated in my moment of weakness. 

Hovering over the door I released my paste tube to the cache so it can be collected later. The drone is the closest thing I have to a companion in my floating prison. I affectionately call him Xanon after the vampire warlord. I’ve seen the drone go from my cube to other cubes in the distant lattice work that is the floating prison. There is no one to feast upon. No one to kill. Xanon doesn’t speak back to me when I address him. It has become my custom to say hello to Xanon. I hate to say goodbye so I don’t. There is nothing left for me but to stare and search for the other sentient beings imprisoned here. I wonder what they have named their drones. I wonder what their blood would taste like on my tongue.

I am Ela, even suspended here without prey. What does it even mean to be Ela anymore? If I were free would I rampage again? I’d be afraid to. I would do anything not to be locked up here. Maybe even just drink the blood of volunteers rather than going after any being and killing them to drink their blood. I laughed at the thought. Volunteers? To feed a mass murderer. Heh, how I’ve evolved. Such a realistic vision. Maybe I would make friends, perish the thought. Actually talk to some people. I’m full of jokes today, clearly. Who would want to talk to me? Even my own kind would reject me for my excessive violence. Even now I miss the feel of broken bones beneath my hands. I miss the taste of ravaged blood spilling from open wounds. No, wait, I can’t do that. I’m making a deal, my freedom for my complete upstanding behavior. You hear that gods? I’m making a deal no more murder just set me free.

Floating in space with the endless black expanse, my only blanket. The stars, the nightlights that help me see in my dungeon. I’m weak without the blood that gives me strength. How many years have I been isolated? I don’t even know the name of my prison. From my floating position I count five ships near the field of cubes this prison holds. They hover over us, perhaps enjoying the view. I can’t see the prisoners next to me.They are specks in a vast field. A ship hovers over my cube. Close enough that I can see the pilot through the window. Oh what I would give to drink his blood.

A door opens in the ship revealing the docking bay. A crane lowers and attaches to my cube. I am rocked back and forth as the cube is pulled upwards. I float against the wall.  The docking bay closes and the ship engages warp drive to propel us far away from my prison. I remember my sentence. I was supposed to rot in that cube.

A woman dressed in a space suit approached my cube. I hissed at her on instinct. After all, why on Gnos would she capture a known mass murderer? 

“Now, now, is that how you say thank you for being rescued from prison? I have an offer for you.” She said in an authoritative voice.

Her language is Standard. I can speak it though my Rs roll and my Ss hiss. “What do you want from me?” I asked through my teeth, still floating in my cube.

“We want your skill set for taking down ships. You would be one of my crew and promise not to hurt anyone on board. In exchange you get to devour entire crews on enemy ships.”

“What authority allows you to pick me up?” I said, staring at her jugular.

“Ah, about that, we are a rebel ship. We acquired you less than legally.”She smiled with pride.

I crossed my arms and stifled another hiss.”So I could end up imprisoned or worse if we get caught?”

“Yes, but we will do everything we can not to get caught. Besides, isn’t it better than floating in space, vampire?”

“Okay, then just release me.” I smiled showing the tips of my fangs.

“You have to swear on your gods that you won’t hurt anyone on this ship. You do and we’ll put you right where we found you.”

“Fine, I won’t hurt your crew, I swear on the divines. I will need blood to survive though.” I lied. Though it was true blood was necessary to strengthen me.

“We can arrange a cup for you. So we have a deal that you will only rampage on ships we ask you to.”

“Yes yes human. Now let me out…please.”

With that she touched some mechanism on my cube. After inputting a code the lock sprung deactivating the shield. I also ceased floating. For the first time in years I set foot on the ground and stumbled. I had forgotten how to walk. I tried walking again but had to hold onto the wall.

“Please give me blood,” I looked at the woman who freed me. She should die for seeing me so weak.

“Come, I’ll help you.” She grabbed my side and supported me as we walked further into the ship. Embarrassment flooded through me like a wave, for being treated like some helpless person. The rest of the security detail walked around us. Guns at the ready.

We made it to the cafeteria where we each sat down. A man put a cup down in front of me. The metallic smell of human blood piqued my curiosity. I drank the contents quickly. More. I wanted so much more. I saw red before my eyes. The temptation to slaughter them all and feast on their blood made me dizzy with glee.

“Remember your control Ela. We are your allies, not food.” My bloodlust became a hum at the back of my head. People were staring at me. They must have known who I was.

“What is your name human?”

“I’m Brandy,” she signaled the man back over. At first he was hesitant and shook his head. He took the empty cup once Brandy insisted twice.

“Okay Brandy, who is my first target?”

“Straight to business then, I like it.”

Brandy leaned towards me. Her scent, pine trees and lemon. I swallowed convulsively, trying my best not to attack. After all, isolation was a horrible punishment, especially because I was denied blood. 

Brandy flicked open her wrist com and pulled up a ship schematic. “Here is your next target. The USJP is scheduled to dock in sector five at 0400 tomorrow. That is when you will enter the ship. We will give you fake credentials.”

“I’m going to need to drink more blood to pull this off.” I patted my hand where the cup of blood had been put down.

Brandy looked at the man who had deposited the blood, “How much more are you asking for?”

“Ten cups,” I said without a hint of greed in my eye, okay maybe a little.

“Two max, in the morning before you board the ship.” Brandy said, nodding at the man to leave.

“I guess I should go to sleep then. Where is my room?”

“About that. We didn’t have space in the living quarters.” Brandy rubbed the back of her head, “You will be sleeping in the brig.”

I nearly killed Brandy just based on principle. I made my hands into fists.

“You won’t lock me in right?”

Brandy smiled, “Of course not, it was totally our plan to let a mass murdering vampire roam free on our ship.” She gestured for me to follow and I did. She showed me my new cell.

”If you lock me in here, you’ll regret it.”

“What did I say about not threatening the crew?”

“You told me not to hurt them, but didn’t say anything about threatening them.”

“No threats either.”

“Understood, human.” I went into my cell and I heard the distinctive click of the lock being activated. I watched her walk away. The bed was at least covered with sheets and had a pillow. I didn’t have to float during my sleep. It took me hours to fall asleep. Being in an unfamiliar place, inside of a cell, and on top of that not floating made it hard to relax. I was used to being suspended in the air staring at the stars.

I laid on the cushions in my room and wondered what happened to the vampire and the Blue Robin. The Gorgots left me to my own devices so I called Tas using my wrist com. 

“This user is not available to speak. Please leave a message after the tone.” Beep.

“Hi Tas, it’s Adriel. Are you doing alright? Is the ship okay? Call me back when you get a chance.”

I flicked off my wrist com and sat up. It was time to find some food. I exited my room and made my way down the hall. I couldn’t read the signs around me so I was totally lost. I looked up how to say food on my wrist com. My arms couldn’t wiggle the way they needed to but I could make an approximation. I found the nearest Gorgot and moved my arms to say food. The Gorgot made a gesture that looked like a follow me gesture and walked away. I followed hoping I communicated the right thing. It was as we walked that Tas called me back.

“Hey Adriel, I’m sorry I missed your call. Is everything okay?”

“Yes but forget about me, how are you and the crew?”

“I apprehended the vampire.”

“You badass! You saved the ship.” I followed the Gorgot down a hallway with glass all the way around, it felt like walking through space. 

“We are transporting her to the Outer Rim where they’ll hold a trial.” Tas purred over the word trial. Anticipation evident in her tone.

Captain Wendel

I ignored the hail from the Blue Robin only to get hailed again. Reluctantly, I answered, “Hello this is Captain Wendel.”

“Hello this is Captain Ando.”

“How can I help you captain?” I cringed hoping he didn’t address my desertion after the vampire fled to his ship.

“We apprehended the vampire and would like you to participate in the legal proceedings.”

“Wow, you captured her…uh well I don’t think I can add anything of value.”

“You can, your ship was attacked like mine. You should seek justice. Unless you just want to run away.”

“If I never see that vampire again it will be too soon.” I crossed my arms and ignored the comment about running away. “Alright Captain Ando I’ll participate.”

“Good,” Captain Ando sent coordinates for the hearing.

The courtroom was on station Delta 39, a huge glass window looked straight into space. The judge sat on a raised chair with a huge desk made out of plexiglass. There was a large audience sitting in the gallery. Many of the people sitting in the gallery were survivors of the attacks. The vampire wore a translation collar around her neck. Her long black hair fell to her waist and her pale skin outlined her skinny form. The vampire spoke over the din of spectators. “Remove my shackles and I’ll kill you all.” A woman cried out, “oh!” Others simply laughed at the vampire who was in chains. After hearing the vampire’s threat all I could think about was the crew of my ship being terrorized. She would do it again, left to her own devices. I wrung my hands together not wanting to be anywhere near the vampire.

The judge banged their gavel, “I will have order in my court. Order, I say!” The room quieted down.

The vampire struggled against the restraints only to be electrocuted by the shackles. She squirmed in her seat. The judge looked at her directly, “Ela vampire from the world Gnos you are on trial for your crimes against the Starburst and Blue Robin. How do you plead?”

Ela scoffed, “Guilty and I’d do it again.”

No one spoke for a minute taking in her utter lack of remorse.

The judge countered, “Just like that you admit to murder and destruction of property? It is my duty to inform you that you are waiving the right to the trial and I can move forward based on your plea to sentence you.”

Ela hissed, “Get on with the sentence old man.”

The judge banged his gavel, “That’s enough out of you Ela. Now I want the testimony of the crew to help with deciding your fate.”

One by one stories were recounted of the death and carnage Ela was responsible for. Ela laughed as the most recent testimony recalled a beheading she managed with her bare hands. The judge asked for order. “It seems you’re incapable of empathy Ela. I’ve heard enough to pass judgment.”

Ela’s punishment was not conventional but reserved for the worst criminals. She was put in a transparent cage and left floating in space. The cube was under constant surveillance by the prison. The field of cubes was connected to the space station. The cube had a toilet that only functioned when she managed to sit on it. Gravity would temporarily turn on so she could go. Once she was done, gravity shut off. She could be seen in her cube by anyone flying by. Food was delivered three times a day in tubes that had little taste. The paste was made to stand up to the floating prison. She would throw out the remains in a trash compactor. Water was her source of hydration only during meal time. The tube was easy to rip too far open so the water sometimes floated in her cage.

Ela was stuck in space. No contact in her isolation with any living being. Blood was denied her so she grew pale and thin. Her mass decreased with time. There was no desire on her part to try to escape. After all, the only thing surrounding her was vast space.

Captain Wendel sat in the mess hall across from me. We were on the space station Delta 39 in the Outer Rim.

“Adriel, I’m happy to pay you for your time aboard the Starburst.”

“Thank you mam,” I scoffed down a spoonful of beef soup.

Captain Wendel wiped her face. “I’m glad to see that vampire in space.”

“Yes it was a fitting punishment.” I was glad she was no longer a threat.

END OF PROLOGUE

When my eyes finally opened the room spun in my vision. I tried to get up and felt sick so I laid back down. Alive, I took a deep breath. Now it was a matter of surviving. Eventually the vampire had to get tired or full at least. My hand went to my neck which was still wet with blood. I applied pressure to staunch the flow of blood. Another breath and I tried to get up again. Slowly I sat up. I looked around and the room spun slowly. I crawled over to the bed and forced myself up over the mattress. I sat up. Covered my eyes for a few moments. Then I tried standing, shaking. There were no supplies in the room to help with the blood loss. There was a sink however so I made my way over to drink some water. I cupped the water in my hands and took big gulps. I told myself the world wasn’t falling away as my head spun. Once my thirst was sated I went back to my bed uncaring that there was a gaping hole in my door. 

I laid in bed long enough to fall back asleep. The next time I woke there was a hand on my arm. I let out a gasp and opened my eyes to see Tas standing over me.

“What are you doing here?” I asked.

Tas smiled, “I’m here to take you to an escape pod of course.”

I groaned as I sat up, “That’s kind of you. What’s the status of the attack?”

Tas’s smile vanished, “That vampire did a number on our guards and the crew. We’ve lost many. I couldn’t believe the amount of broken bodies I passed on the way here.”

“I guess I was lucky.” This was the second attack where I managed to survive. Tas said nothing. I stood up and together we made our way to the escape pods. This time I would refuse boarding any ships that crossed my path. I’ll fly straight home. A part of me wondered if I should try catching up to the Starburst instead. That was unlikely given the escape pod’s speed.

I made it to the escape pod and entered it quickly. Tas waved goodbye as I was launched from the side of the Blue Robin. My navigation was preset to head towards the Outer Rim. I couldn’t change the destination which was the opposite direction from home. My body was held in a standing position and the cushion behind my body gave me the sensation of laying down on a bed. Granted the cushions weren’t that soft.

As I drifted through space I contemplated whether the vampire was caught and whether the cargo on the Starburst would sell. My escape pod continued through the asteroid field. A ship larger than the Starburst came into view. It turned to go directly in my heading. I took a breath, willing the ship not to collide with my escape pod. The large ship with its foreign symbols on the side stopped and I saw a dock align with my trajectory. The captain didn’t even bother to hail me. My pod docked and sanispray decontaminated my escape pod and person. When I stepped into the new ship I was standing face to face with Gorgots. Their tentacles were high in the air making motions I couldn’t decipher. I only knew one gesture the Gorgots would understand and that was hello. They clucked by putting their suction cups together. I had no clue what they were saying. Afraid I would do something impolite I kept my arms at my side. One of them held up a little box and pressed its side. A light shown on its tentacles as it gesticulated. 

A translator’s voice came from the box, “Hello my name is Sun-ma. What is your name?”

“My name is Adriel.”

“Welcome aboard our ship. What happened to yours?”

“A vampire attack. She snuck into our ship while we were docked to another ship.” I left out the fact that it happened twice. The Gorgots discussed this revelation among themselves then turned back to me.

“You can rest in your room.” They led me to a small room with a tank of water.  There were cushions on the floor next to the tank.

“Thank you,” I said, not wanting to offend them. After they left I laid down on the cushions and stared at the ceiling.

“Tas?” I turned around. 

“Yes,” a crew member stood across from me holding an axe. Where on earth did he get that?

“It’s time to find an escape pod and go home.”

I smiled rather than hissing, “Thanks for the advice but I’m staying on board.”

“But-“

“No,” I interjected.”This is my home and I won’t abandon ship just because some monster thinks she can do what she wants.”

With that I walked away. While I walked calmly through the halls passengers ran by with packs in hand to leave the ship. I returned from my quarters with my bo staff. Who knew I’d be using it for something other than practice? Martial arts was an ancient discipline that I studied. That didn’t make me invincible but it did lend me some confidence. At the very least I could land a blow on the bitch. My tail twitched in discomfort. 

I made it to the bridge of the ship. The captain was speaking with the security chief.

“I want her captured and confined to the brig.”

“Yes, sir.” The chief security officer left. Captain Ando turned toward me. “Tas, what brings you?”

“I would like to help the security team capture the vampire.”

“You’re welcome to try though I prefer if you evacuate instead.”

“Thank you, captain.”

“Be careful Tas.”

“I will be.” I left the bridge and contacted the security chief to let him know I was going to help. The chief told me to go to the cafeteria level. The security officers were in two groups each at the entrance to the cafeteria. They gave me a pair of cuffs in case there was an opportunity to capture the vampire. There were still some straggling members of the ship that were eating before evacuating. A growl announced the arrival of the vampire. She didn’t waste time taking on security. She snapped the neck of one officer who pointed a gun at her. Fires were shot as the vampire used super speed to knock out each security officer that went to attack her. I stood ready with my bo staff. I waited until the vampire rushed to the opposite end of the cafeteria. Without hesitation I confronted her and landed a blow. The vampire grabbed the end of my staff and broke a piece off so there was a ragged edge. Even broken I lunged at her with the bo staff. She blocked my hit with one hand. With the other she grabbed a knife that was in her pocket and flung it at me. I dodged the knife just barely. It grazed my side. I hissed from the pain and leaped forward with my bo staff angled at her heart. The vampire leapt to the side, evading my blow. The security team surrounded us on all sides and began closing in on the vampire she twisted and landed blows on each approaching officer. They all fell. I was the only one left. I charged on the vampire after she felled the last officer. I managed to bury the broken bo staff into her torso. She screamed from the pain. I took the opportunity to grab cuffs and capture her wrists. She struggled against my hold but was defeated by the pain of twisting. I put the cuffs on her and then placed my hand on her shoulder. Time to bring her to the brig.