"A Rush of Blood to the Head", Coldplay

"Do you understand, Lucas?" I said once I finished explaining to him that he could survive by becoming a vampire. "We cannot do this without your consent. I know it is an impossible question, but I do not see another option."

We were running out of time. Lucas was still conscious but he was in terrible pain. He nodded. "Do it."

"No," Aidan screamed.

Lucas looked at him with tears in his eyes. "I understand the cost, Aidan," he said.

"You don't." My vampire was shaking, his fists clenched tightly. "You won't be able to go out during the day for centuries. You will have to fight your addiction all your life. There is a strong possibility you could kill someone at one point."

"I know," Lucas whispered. "But I want to live. Please? And you will teach me, right? How to be like you and James?"

I took Aidan's hand and he looked at me with such pain in his eyes. I squeezed his hand and he surrendered. "I'll be there for you," he whispered.

"You can count on me too," James said. "You won't be alone, kid." Anna rested her head on James' shoulder, sobbing in silence.

I knew that Aidan had never turned anyone in his life and he had just stated very clearly that he was against the idea. So I looked at Stanislas, who was still seated in the other corner of the room with the chains at his ankles.

"I can turn him," he said, his face very stern.

Aidan tensed beside me. "I won't let you touch him."

"My love," I started.

"No," Aidan cut me off. "I won't let him do to Lucas what he's done to me. I won't. He would be bound to him. It's not... I don't want him to have this kind of power over Lucas."

"My love," I tried again, "if he does not do it, it means you have to."

Aidan closed his eyes. "I know."

"Lucas is loved and cared for," I said. "He will not have the life you had."

Stanislas stayed silent but I saw him flinch at these words.

"Please," Anna said. "Please, Aidan. Help him. I'm begging you."

Aidan let go of my hand and crouched in front of Lucas. He cupped his face carefully. "Are you sure ?"

"Yes," Lucas said. A fresh tear rolled down his cheek. "Will it hurt?"

"Just for a second. Don't worry. It's going to be okay."

Lucas' eyes turned desperately towards Anna, who nodded with tears of her own. "I love you, Lucas. It's okay."

The young man's face was strained with pain but his gaze was resolute.

"You have to lose more blood," Aidan said. "Usually the future sire drinks the blood until the person is ready to be turned, but I can't do that. So we will have to drain you another way. I'm going to cut your wrist. It's going to hurt, but just for a moment. And when you'll be ready, I'll give you my blood. Do you understand?"

Lucas' eyes were locked on his. "Yes."

We got what we needed and Aidan did as he had explained. Anna turned around and buried her face in James' shoulder as soon as her brother's blood started to drip into the basin we had prepared for this purpose.

Lucas got paler and closed his eyes. I caught my breath. I had never witnessed a transformation before. And seeing my Aidan do it. To Lucas. It was a lot to handle.

Aidan took a deep breath, bit his own wrist, and brought his wound to Lucas' mouth. He let the blood drip at first, but when Lucas moved again, he made him drink directly from his arm. "That's it, Lucas. Drink and you'll be fine," he said.

When Aidan pulled out his wrist, Lucas shuddered and his face changed slightly. The process was uncanny. His eyes were now brighter, his hair shinier. It was very subtle, but the transformation was visible. It worked.

Aidan kept Lucas in a tight hug, completely focused on him, as if they were alone in the room.

Lucas came back to himself slowly and, when he did, he looked at Aidan in some sort of stupor. My vampire smiled at him but I could see how tense his face was.

"Is it done?" Lucas managed to ask.

"Yes, you are a vampire now."

We took care of Lucas, explaining what would happen in the hours to come: the thirst, the restlessness, the hypersensitivity. We reassured him and let him get some rest, while waiting for Sonia. He chose to stay near the entrance and his sister, seated on the floor.

I knew Aidan was struggling and needed a few minutes apart. So we went to the storage room together. He turned toward me as soon as I closed the door behind us.

"He's just a kid," he whispered.

"You were younger than him when you were turned. I know it is very difficult for you. But you helped him, my love. You gave him a chance."

He shook his head before leaning on my shoulder and sobbing against my neck. I stroked his back and held him tightly until he stopped crying.