Christopher had a dagger carved with occult symbols, a dagger that could without a doubt kill a vampire.

You are one of them now. His words spiraled in James' mind. He thought in a split second about his whole life, about all the events which had led him to this moment. In the eyes of his former friend, who he had fought vampires with relentlessly, he was now seeing hate and disgust. The same feelings James had when he would come across what he considered, at the time, creatures, beasts, or monsters; when he would come across what he was now. He wanted to explain to Christopher it was a question of choice, but he knew he would not understand. He remembered the man's story. Christopher had lost everything, just as he had.

James looked at the dagger. And the only thing he felt was acceptance. Had he not died several times before? His soul had crumbled with the death of his family, and then his body had been crushed at the hands of the vampires who had attacked him. However, he had been given a second chance at life when he thought there was only despair and horror. He had met Isabella. And he had found out he could still be loved and could love in return.

But all this was over now. He had been given his chance. He was grateful.

"Do what you have to do, Christopher," he said with an even voice.

The vampire hunter shed a look at the sorcerer, who tightened his grip on James. The trap narrowed, and James could not move anymore. Christopher came closer and rose the dagger, while the vampire stared at him. But before the blade reached James, there was a muffled sound and Christopher was thrown away. His back smashed against the wall and he fell on the ground, dropping the dagger, while Isabella turned towards the sorcerer.

In a second, she grabbed his neck, and he fought to keep his grip on James while defending himself. He was strong but not strong enough to immobilize completely both vampires. He finally gasped for air, and his knees buckled as he fell to the ground. The moment James regained his ability to move, Christopher crawled on the floor and reached for the dagger, which he threw at James without any hesitation. Isabella saw his movement and protected James with her own body. The dagger hit her heart, and she collapsed in James' arms.

She looked at him, and he saw the magic poison darken her veins in a few seconds. She couldn't speak and she closed her eyes with her last breath.

James froze. Her body seemed so light and so heavy at the same time. His mind blocked the panic and the despair with a deep rage. He lifted his head and saw that the sorcerer had disappeared. Only Christopher remained, and he was staring at him. There were so many feelings on the man's face: satisfaction, hopelessness, anger, terror, but James couldn't see any of them. He let go of Isabella's body and slammed Christopher on the wall without letting him have the time to react.

Now he was closer, the smell of the man's blood came over him. And he bit his neck. The taste overwhelmed him. He forgot everything. There was nothing else. The explosion of light in his head, the sensations in every inch of his body.

And then he remembered. Isabella. He felt sick and pushed Christopher away.

"Go. Now," he whispered.

Christopher limped away from him and vanished in the darkness of the streets.

James didn't know if he would dare to look back. Panting, still filled with the taste of human blood, he turned his head slowly and watched his sire's body. He fell on his knees, pulled her onto his lap, and rocked her. He was alone again.