I wake up disorientated. My head is dizzy. I groan as my tummy cartwheels itself. Jason’s head pops around the door.

“Your awake.” He walks towards me and perches next to my head, stroking my hair. “I’m sorry you had to go through that. Through this.” I grasp his hand.

“It’s not your fault.” I croak. “It was going to happen someday.”

His reply is cut off as Dominique rushes into the room.

“Oh my girl! Are you alright?” She prays. I give her a weak smile. She cups my face.

“She’s been driving me insane for hours and now she’s likely to do the same to you.” Jason moans. Dominique cuts him a glare. She resumes her crooning over me, telling me how bad it must be to be a vampire.

“Now everyone I care about is either dead or a vampire.” She morns. “You’ve turned into the Devils servant.” My fistful of laughs turns into a coughing fit as my dry throat cracks. I lean back into the pillows. My brother stares at our guest with impatience written on his face. Dominique returns the look.

“Fine. But does she have to do it?” She gives in.

“Yes. She chooses but.” Jason confirms. I knew exactly what they were talking about.

“Can you stop talking about what I should eat? It’s my decision!” I wine. They both look at me.

“Suit yourself.” They say in union.

My mentor excuses herself, muttering something about changing restrictions and leaves. I look to Jason.

“What now?” I ask.

“Now, you feed.” He stands and waits by the door. Throwing off my blankets, I lean against the wall, weakened from my ordeal.

“Do you have a clue to what you want?” My brother questions, taking my arm.

“I don’t care whether it’s human or animal, as long as I can walk.” The world goes black with pinpricks of white stars.

Grey walls obscurer my sight as I land from teleporting. My companion isn’t here. The place is dark and moist. Two figures cower in the corner. My eyes adjust and I see them to be Arabian women. I take in their clothes and health. They’re dressed in rags and one is sickly green. Smelling an odour from the opposite vertex, I can only know what it is. I yelp as Jason appears beside me.

“Sorry.” He nods. “Just knocking out the guard. This was the best place to avoid attention.

“Girls? Seriously?” I blame.

“They’re to be executed in two hours.”

“Ok.”

“Save one for me. I haven’t feed in three days and teleporting exhausts me.”

I turn to the youngest and smile, calming her nerves. Walking up to her, I spot my brother behind the eldest, most likely the mother. Entering our victim’s minds, we set to work shutting down their organs before inserting our teeth into the jugular.

Sweetness fills my mouth as blood enlarges my stomach. My strength returns, enlightening me. If this was to be my life, then I would enjoy it.

My bliss is short lived as cold steel touches my temple. I hiss through my meal. Jason looks up, his eyes red with blood-lust. No doubt reflecting mine, and growls at our interrupter.

“Don’t move or I’ll shoot.” A heavily accented voice renders. I sift my eyes, catching a glimpse of blue uniform, and stare at my brother. He looks back.

“You really want to try that?” He warns.

“Yes vampire, I do.” The guard names us. “These guns have been modified to stop you healing, immobilize you and reload automatically.” Jason’s eyes narrow. A bad sign. He makes to drop his prey, but stops with it at his chest as the guard starts requiring pressure to the trigger. I growl as I sense the hammer inside the weapon inch closer to the bullet. We’re stuck. If someone moves we die.

I grow somber as the thought of my short human life and not even the start of vampire-hood stalls across my mind. Memories of my childhood, friendships past, those I care about, my home and a new beginning. My mind sifts to a more rational and calculative part of my mind that hasn’t been used since Adianna’s massacre. A plan forms. Without worrying of the consequences, I grab the guard’s wrist and move the gun to face the roof as he pulls the trigger. Cement crumbles around us, staining my hair grey with dust. Ripping the artillery from his hand, I swing the guard in front of me, dropping my food, and point it at his head. Jason puts a reassuring hand on my shoulder. Sighing, I knock my prisoner over the head and erase his memories of us.

“Come on. We’d better go before someone else notices us.” My bother’s eyes, returning to black, are comforting. I give him an awkward smile. Then hold his hand as we travel.