Adley flicked on the lights, waiting for the fluorescent tube to finish flicking. Beyond the false cupboard was a small staircase that went down to a heavy vault door. Ris leaned on the wall next to Adley. Lyla was curious, walking over to see what was down there.

"It's the safe," she said softly. "Highly likely to be filled with bazillions of dollars but not what we're after. I can crack it if you want, but you've got to promise me that we're not taking anything that doesn't relate to the goal. Yes?"

"Sure," Lyla murmured.

Adley said something, Lyla frowned. She'd heard a sound that she thought sounded like a snake's hiss. She smiled.

"Did you just say yes?"

The werewolf turned and looked at the curious human. He nodded and watched as her smile increased.

"I think this human just evolved."

"You're not human, Lyla," Ris muttered. "And understanding Adley was always going to happen because you either become a vampire and get that ability, or you die."

Lyla was stunned, standing at the top of the stairs as Adley and Merissa descended them. She turned to look at Lennon, who had just finished tying up Carson.

"It has begun," Carson offered. "I warned you, Lennon. She cannot remain as she is anymore. If you delay this any longer, Lyla will suffer."

"I'm not going to force Lyla into becoming a vampire just to make you feel better about yourself."

"It's of no concern to me if you don't turn her."

His hand gripped Carson's shoulder as he leaned down to face him.

"I'm afraid it is, actually. See, when I learned of her past, I did a little research into the one this city called the biter. Turns out he has a family. Wife and a couple of kids. A little odd considering that we supposedly can't have children. He must have known the right people to figure it out, yeah? So, come on. Did your old man make a deal with Gamichee?"

Carson's lips twisted; his eyes narrowed as he thought about it. He couldn't believe that Lennon had pieced it together.

"Technically, she's your sister. She's got your father's venom flowing through her. Is that why you're so desperate? Does it weigh on your conscience to see the skeleton's in your family's closet? Does daddy's perversion irritate you?"

His hand squeezed tighter; Carson winced.

"I know more than you think," He whispered. "Do you really want Gamichee to get his dirty hands on your family line?"

"She's not my blood."

"Come on, you know that's not how this works. Your father started the process that makes her your family. Be a good little vampire and say hello to your newborn sister."

Carson huffed, rolling his eyes.

"She's not newborn. Lyla's a hybrid, and unless you finish the process, she's never going to be a newborn. And if you do, that will make her your family, not mine. So, going to keep screwing your sister, Lennon?"

It was Lennon's turn to laugh. Dark, merciless.

"Oh, I never said that I'd be the one that finishes it. I might get Merissa to do the job. Imagine what Gamichee would say about that, eh?"

Carson's eyes widened with the burning realisation. Lennon lifted upright, still smiling at Carson. He moved to Lyla, who had been listening.

"Lyl's," He said softly. "Time to become a vampire. To save you from Gamichee's perversion, we're going to outwit him. Ris will do the job."

Merissa was in the middle of looking at the keypad on the door when he heard what had been said. She stood, turning with disbelief.

"Seriously?"

"Yes. If I turn her, it's my blood flowing in her veins. You're the only option, and it will keep her safe."

"But you know the ramifications of it, Lennon."

"Yeah, you'll have the little sister you've always wanted."

Ris scoffed, rolling her eyes.

"Not what I meant but whatever. Let's get this done."

She climbed the stairs, glancing at Adley as she passed him. Merissa hoped for something. A suggestion. Anything that would help. He said nothing, which just added to the confused thoughts in her mind.

Merissa wanted the best for Lyla. She knew that this was the right path for a hybrid. Was she the vampire for the job? The answer was yes and no. Yes, because in becoming her blood sister, she'd be safe from Gamichee but no, because once it happened, Lyla wouldn't be able to destroy him.

Lyla nervously watched as Ris reached the top of the stairs. Her mind focused on the fangs. Horrid thoughts filtered through her mind, whispering that she was dishonouring Eloise by joining the species that had taken her life.

She knew that there was no choice, though. Lyla didn't tell a soul, but she felt different of late. There was a lethargy that had been attributed to the weight of Eloise's death but really wasn't. If she spent too long in the sun, she'd feel weak. Her mind would have sporadic moments of being fuzzy then sudden clarity. She wanted to sleep during the day and struggled to get up in the morning.

"Is it going to hurt?"

"Absolutely," Lennon said without hesitation. "But it won't last long. Feel free to puke over the floor if you like."

"Seriously?"

He grinned, shaking his head.

"Nah. Just a question, though, do you like those pants?"

Ris rolled her eyes.

"She is not going to lose the contents of her bowels. Stop making her freak out."

Reaching out, Merissa gripped Lyla's shoulders.

"Yes, it will hurt. I'm going to bite you, so the wound site will be sore for a couple of hours. Usually, we bite the wrist, but you might need to use your arms so, I'm going to bite your neck. Once I start feeding, the venom will be released. When that happens, Lennon will help you feed on me. Don't hold back. Just get it done. After that, your body will start to alter. It will hurt. You might feel sick. The bathroom's behind the door past the lounge."

Lyla took a deep breath and nodded.

"Okay, let's do this."

"Good. Don't tense up when I bite you. It will just hurt more."

As Merissa leaned in to bite Lyla, she was stopped.

"I've got to know why this will stop Gamichee."

Merissa shrugged, giving her an uneasy smile. She didn't want to tell her before the turning happened, fearing that she'd refuse it once she knew the truth. There was no stopping this though, Lyla was determined to keep her at a distance until she got the answer.

"He's my father."