Alesco:

The human blood has made me stronger. My senses sharper. I am noticing it more and more now as I walk with the master back to the others. Wynn rises from his chair as soon as we enter the room but he does not approach me. It is as though he is physically held back. Something on his face tells me he can see a difference in me.

The others rise from their chairs and kneel on the ground as we approach them. Of course, they would kneel for the master, but I feel them kneeling for me as well, as though they sense my new strength, my new senses. I look at each of the vampires in turn, Fabian, Abel, Brendan, Delano and Draven. And then Wynn. I know I could lead them all. I can lead the vampires to victory. I am ready to end our plight.

"Kneel, Wynn." The master says. He raises his robed arm and Wynn is forced to his knees. Part of me wants to protest, to stand up and defend Wynn. But the new part of me feels it is right that he kneels. My entire life I followed the instructions of my father and brothers. The time is ripe for change. For my voice to be heard. I always liked to make sounds as I walked, to be heard, to be different.

"Alesco?" Wynn says.

I look at him but say nothing, and I display nothing on my face, nothing of my inner turmoil, of my inner confusion.

What has come over me? It's like there are two parts to me now, like I have been split down the middle, two sides battling within. The newer, darker side of me is slowly trickling through my being, taking over. A thirst for blood, for control and battle. My old self seems to be slipping away, though I am not gone. The part of me that has love for my family, for my brother and mother, and father. The part of me that wished for harmony between vampire and man, as I'd been taught.

"Your mother and father deceived you for your entire life."  The voice says, inside my head. "Your brothers are not your true brothers. Embrace the darkness, embrace your true self. That is your true nature."

I do not know if it is the master's voice or my own.

I feel the darkness embracing me, swallowing me. The power I crave is not a return to the times gone past when humans and vampires lived in harmony. I crave power and control, and blood. And it feels natural, it feels right. Perhaps the stories of harmony were one more deception, one more myth to keep us subdued.

There is another feeling, another side of me, mixed up with all this, taking my attention. Darren. I want to change him, to make him a vampire. I want him by my side as I, and we, rise. His look affected me, his green eyes brought waves of new emotion. I want to taste his blood. And I want to free him from the chains of his weak, living flesh. To grant him immortality. As my mother asked from my father. I want him on the winning side of the war. I crave it.

But my old self wonders, in a small voice at the back of my mind, is that wrong? Is it cruel? To change him from what he is? Does he want it?

"Of course he wants it!" The inner voice says. "He would be a fool not to." It is my own voice speaking to me, my own inner darkness. I am sure of that now. And with every word I feel my other self dimming, my other voice drifting deeper into my consciousness, being swallowed by the dark. The thought of the blood seals my resolve and I push the weak, human thoughts away.

The master's voice fills my mind. "Embrace it Alesco, embrace your true self."

"A gathering is being called." I say to the kneeling vampires. "Run through the village, tell all to gather in the centre, at the house of the master."

"Yes, Lady Alesco." They say, and rise to leave, moving quickly out of the room. All except Wynn who is looking at me, eyes blazing with hurt, anger and confusion. There is no challenge, just an injured pride, a defeated look.

"Alesco, what is happening to you?" He asks. "You turn your back on family?"

That strikes me, reigniting a part of me, lighting up the darkness within. "I'm sorry Wynn, I do not understand what is happening. We will free father. He will know. There is magic at work, I feel it within and I cannot control it. Please trust me."

Wynn's eyes soften at that, slightly. He turns to the master, standing beside me. "You are doing this! What are you doing to her?"

The master raises his hand and Wynn is lifted from the ground, his mouth is sealed shut. With a jerk of the master's hand, Wynn is thrown backwards across the room. He slams into the wall and hits the ground.

"No!" I say, stepping in front of the master. I stare into the darkness that is his face, arms raised.

"Enough." I hear the authority in my tone, even against this creature that controls us all.

I feel the smirk from within the hood, the malicious pleasure. "As you wish Lady Alesco." He drops his arm and I turn away, starting towards Wynn. He jumps to his feet as though freed from bonds.

"Wynn, please trust me, do what I say and we will free father. Then we can get answers." I say.

Wynn nods. I see acceptance on his face. Reluctant acceptance. "Thank you, brother." I embrace him briefly. "Go and help gather the others. Find mother and bring her too."

Wynn leaves the room, moving quickly and silently, not looking at the master. Just as he leaves Aldon enters through the door and approaches the master. Aldon. I had forgotten about him, he had not been here when we returned from the cells.

"Prepare the chamber, for Lady Alesco's ceremony." The master says.

"Yes, Master." Says Aldon, flashing me a look and a smile before sweeping from the room.

The master turns to me and the light that Wynn lit within is extinguished, my old self is retreating even deeper into the recesses of my being. The darkness has consumed me. I feel anticipation at what is to come. I have never killed a human, never created another of my kind. The one downstairs was the master's work. Like Gods and Hells I shall take life and give it newly.

"Master, I am ready." I say and I feel a smile on my lips.

"Let us go. The others will be gathering." The master says.

We walk from the room and out into the clearing. Vampires are moving towards the main house, the master's residence. They stop and stare, clearing a way for us as we walk through them. Many fall to their knees and I hear their mutterings and whispers as though they are shouting them. "My lady... Master..."

I keep my gaze forward, though my peripheral vision is crystal clear. I look towards our destination and walk with a dignified and majestic bearing, fitting to my new position. The master glides by my side, as though floating. I feel the energy pulsing from him, the magic. I wonder how many of these vampires know his true form? Do any of them know their origins?

I will ask. If I am to lead them, I must know them. I must understand them. I have not lived with other vampires since we ran from the village all those years ago. Of course, we crossed paths with others, but it was always brief. Casting my memory back to those days feels like looking at another life, another person, another family.

The master leads me past the door that Wynn and I entered the time we came before. We move around the side of the stone structure, to the back of the house. It looks the same. The only difference is the large, wooden double doors. They are standing open to the night.

I recognise the sight within. It is the chamber of my vision. A raised platform stands at the head of the room. Upon the platform is a thronelike chair, tall backed and hard looking. The arms of the chair are golden, intricately carved with wolves and serpents, green and red emeralds sparkling clearly to my eyes.

The ceiling arches high and crystal balls of coloured flames float freely above the stone floor. Already vampires are gathering, bathed in the flickering shadows. The center aisle is clear and the master points at the chair.

"Sit upon your throne. Await your people."

I step into the aisle and walk to the raised stage. The master slips to the back of the room, merging with the shadows. I feel his presence, his magic, his power.

I jump deflty to the stage. Vampires remain on their knees, watching as I sit on the hard wooden chair, resting my arms upon the carved heads.

From somewhere at the back, four vampires run towards the stage. I recognise the grey, human-like uniform from my vision. And I recognise two of their faces. Fabian is there. And Delano, his black skin standing out amongst the pale skin of most of our kind. The other two are females I do not recognise. They leap to the stage and take their positions, two on each side of my throne. They say nothing but stare at the gathering crowd. My guards. I know they will not leave my side now.

Vampires are streaming into the immense hall, taking positions on either side of the room. I see the master watching from the shadows. I look around and see Mother and Wynn at the back. My mother's eyes seek mine and I hold her gaze briefly. Only the briefest stirring of feeling. I break her gaze and look at my people.

The room is full. The chatter and mutterings die down and silence descends like a wave, as though by command.

"The time has come." The master's voice carries to my mind. "You will display what you are, what you all must be. And then we shall free our people."

The huge wooden doors swing shut with a crash, closing out the night, closing out the world.

"My people." I say, rising from the throne. In the vision I never spoke. I do not know what I am going to say. Looking out at the gathered vampires I find myself wondering why they bow to me? Why they follow me here. What have they been told? What do they know? The transformation seems so sudden.

"The time has come to rise again." I say. The words flow from my tongue without thought. "The time has come to take back our position at the top of the chain. We have been oppressed by humans for a century. Held underfood, forced to run. All from the power of a single weapon."

"They are weak. They are food. We are superior."

The crowd is stirring. I pause and listen, I hear their comments, some of surprise, others of longing or disbelief.

"We will attack them, remove the threat. With the growing magic of the master, and this place, we can bring the darkness to them."

"But we can also show mercy, we can help them break free of their prisons of weak, living flesh. I will demonstrate our power to you."

I do not know where the words came from, but I know they were right. And as if on cue, the wooden doors swing open again.

Two others from my hunting group stand silhouetted in the moonlight. Brendan and Draven. Between them they hold a slumped figure. His scent drifts to my nose and I feel the excitement building, feel the desire growing. I hear the slow thumping of his beating heart.

I see others in crowd look around, see gleaming fangs bared by some, others' eyes light up in hunger, but none dare move, none do more than look.

Darren is dragged into the room and the doors slam shut at a gesture from the master, blocking the outside world.

He is brought to the platform and Brendan and Draven jump easily up, pulling him with them. They drop him at my feet and move to each side to join my other guards.

I look down at the bloodied and bruised face. I see every cut and colour, sharp and clear, see the pulse beating in his neck. I rise to my feet and swoop down, pulling his body as if it were a feather, pulling it close to me, until his lolling head is level with my own.

Darren lets out a whimper, his eyes flickering. He opens them, briefly, as though waking from a sleep, not alert, not aware.

"Don't fear." I say, in little more than a whisper, "I will end your suffering, end the weakness of your flesh."

Desire is coursing through my being, an urge. This feels good. I glance around the area, at all the gathered vampires. I see their attention, hear their silence as they watch me. They are enraptured.

I smile, baring my fangs to the room. I look back at Darren. He is beginning to stir in my grip, to waken more. I hear his heartbeat quicken. Delicious.

Anything of my doubt is gone, the cloud of confusion has cleared. This is right.

I pull his head back, gently, lovingly, exposing his gently throbbing neck, and I plunge my fangs into the soft flesh.

Delicious.

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