Graves looked around his new place. The building in the middle of the graveyard he would call home. The first floor was typical to him. A small room for a office and planning, a large viewing room, with a place to make the coffins next to that. That same room could be used to prepare the bodies as well. Off to the side of those was a small dinning room and kitchen area. Up stairs just a couple of store rooms and bedroom. the basement was what he found the most interesting though.

It was largely unfinished, and kind of disconnected form the main part of the house as it appears to have just been a large cave that might have been found here by accident. He noticed over him a kind of ramp that connected from the place where bodies where prepped to a small crack int he cave wall. Upon investigation in a smaller form, he found it connected to the cave he originally hid in. He grinned at that when he got back to the basement and assumed his more natural changeling form.

"This will work very well... especially if I can hide the entrance to this place." HE headed back up and noted how the door to it was built under the stair case. This gave him a idea. He excreted some good and spread it over and around the door slightly. Then using some of his magic he embuded it with some of his own ability to change and made it look like a normal section of wall there. He then heard a knocking at the main door.

He quickly assumed the shape of Graves, and got dressed, then opened the door. One the other side was a stallion, with a mare, along with a covered cart behind them.

"Eh pardon mah disturbing yea sir... but me and the misse, well granny just passed on and we reckoned a chance you be could be open fer arrangements?"

He looked at the stallion that spoke, he could feel there love for the departed flowing freely from them, and surprised the need for a grin as he feed slowly off this, while talking with them, "Of course... bring the body around back so I can bring her in and out of the heat... then we can talk about arrangements in my parlor."

The talk was pretty short, they wanted to be sure it was done right, with arrangements done in the local flowers, with a chance for at least 3 of her relatives and friends to speak before the burial. He also took them to a spot, to be sure it was one that would work for them, then marked it with a simple marker.

Graves did find the body difficult to work with when he was left alone with it. He never done this before, and while he had a idea of what he was doing he knew he had to learn the skills and quickly. Luckily one of the pre-made coffins was the right size and look for the body, and a simple blanket helped make it look good. He decided the smell might be a issue, so he placed some flowers in the coffin to help with that.

On the day of the funeral he just stood tot he side with a couple of volunteers. As they did there thing, the whole time he feed off the love in the room. So much love in one place, and none of them had any idea he was feeding off it. The amount could likely keep him well feed for well over month. He was careful though, just to glean enough as not to arouse any suspicions. Maybe one or two of them got slightly dizzy, but he notd that they shrugged it off as part of the mourning process.

When it was done and over with, and he was paid for his time for doing he job. Graves smiled to himself when he was finally alone. He headed back to the basement, and made it look more like a hive, and a better place for him to rest. "This job is prefect, I just keep to myself, do the job they expect of me.. and I can just feed off there idiotic love for the departed." He then got a idea and grinned to himself, "If it gets slow I could also likely find someone old, weak or sick to.. pass on, and keep myself feed like that as well." He laughed openly at that before moving to lay down. He was home and so long as no one got curious about him, it was a damned fine over for his hiding here...

Though as he drifted off to sleep, his thoughts went back to his queen and the rest of the hive. He missed just opening the connection as he slept and listening to there drone which he found comforting. He hoped that they would find him, as he did miss them. Time will tell, but for now, he found a place of relative safety. He intended to keep it that way as well.

Author's Note

The end for now, I might add more chapters to this as time progresses.