Darren:

Pain. A sharp, stabbing pain in my neck. I feel her fangs below the surface of my skin, feel the blood leaving fast and something else entering my blood stream, something burning with cold, like liquid ice. It's spreading, travelling quickly, reaching all corners of my body.

The ice reaches my heart and I feel it battle against the onslaught, beating fiercly, fast, as though trying to dispel the intruding substance. But the ice takes hold, constricting it, slowing it down. The beating has become lethargic as it's gripped by the icy hand.

They came for me today. Two vampires. It wasn't long after we'd run from the snakes. I could read nothing from their faces, nothing from their body language. I recognised them as some of the vampires that brought us in.

"What the hells do you want?" Jack called at them as they approached the bars of our prison. They said nothing, as though they heard nothing.

My stomach sank at the sight of them. Already? I knew what it was, her words filled my mind, her statement: I want him as a vampire. They'd come for me, I was sure of it. And the familiar feeling of doubt and uncertainty was back, mingling with my fear like a cocktail of emotions. A longing, a curiosity, a desire. To feel immortality, to taste blood, to be consumed by the cold. And a fear, a disgust at myself and the idea.

As they reached the bars keeping us trapped they started to rise, grating and screeching as they rubbed against the stone. I felt Jack tense at my side, and the others too, as though ready to fight. But it would be useless against their strength. I looked at the vampires, one was built thick and strong, the other's eyes looked like glowing flames.

"Do not fight, humans. You cannot win." The smaller of the two with the burning eyes said.

As the gate lifted higher, as though he'd heard nothing, Percy lunged forward, Jack as well, one at each vampire. Jack flew backwards immediately, slamming into the ground. I didn't see how it happened, it was so fast.

"Jack!" I shouted, lunging forward automatically, driven by some unseen force. Percy looked like he was holding in his battle, but then he was thrown back too, the vampire he'd been fighting looked entirely unaffected. I have no idea why they made us learn hand to hand combat.

Taken over by instinct and anger I charged forward at the vampires, fists flying and thoughts reeling. The large one grabbed me by the arms and I felt a burning pain shoot through them at the force. The metal began descending again, faster this time, separating me from my  companions. I couldn't move.

"Darren!" Jack called. I heard him get to his feet and shuffle towards us. The vampire holding me slammed me against the gate, knocking the wind from my lungs and causing shooting pains to run through my entire body. I struggled against him, trying to fight back.

"I told you not to fight." The other one said. His fist struck at me, fast and hard, in the side of my face. My head banged against the metal and stars and shapes erupted in front of me, ringing echoing in my ears. Bang, another blow to my face.

I was losing consciousness, I felt my head become heavy and it started drooping.

"Darren..." It sounded like a whisper from behind me and then darkness took me.

Then I was here, as I opened my eyes, slowly, hesitantly, it was hazy. I could just make out her face, and I winced as I felt the pain everywhere in my body. So much pain, so much suffering. I didn't know what to feel. All my confusions, fears, desires and curiosities multiplied by my injury, by the burning desire in her eyes and the obvious strength and power she held. I let out a whimper and close my eyes again.

"Don't fear." she said, her voice little more than a whisper, "I will end your suffering, end the weakness of your flesh."

Those words terrified me. I know what it means. And then I feel the stinging, biting fangs penetrating my neck.

And now the ice has consumed my heart, I feel numbness setting in everywhere, I feel nothingness consume my flesh and my heart beats its last beat, overcome by stillness. The flow of blood has stopped, like a river run dry.

And yet, I feel life. I feel the strength in the stillness. The pain has been washed away by the ice, my body has been consumed by the burning cold and in some ways I feel more alive than ever before, stronger, sharper, old weaknesses washed away.

I open my eyes. I close them again quickly, stunned by the sudden brightness and clarity of what I see. I hold them closed, listening. Sounds are sharper than ever before, I hear rustling, and quiet muttering as though it is at my ear. I also hear what's not there, the lack of living flesh.

I open my eyes again and force them to stay open as the images crash in upon my senses, clear and crisp, as though my eyes have become viewfinders. What was once dim is now bright to me, yet I know there is little light. And her face comes into view, looking down at me with yellow eyes. She has lifted away from my neck but still holds me in place.

Her pale beauty is beyond anything I previously thought or remembered. Her smooth, white skin glows with radiance, her shining black hair silky and smooth, her white fangs, tinted with the red of my blood.

Blood. I want blood. I feel it suddenly, through my entire being. A thirst, a hunger, a desire.

"Blood." I say. It comes out as a sort of croak. The small part of my living consciousness, my previous human form registers some objection in the back of my mind, some small feeling of displeasure at the idea, but the rest of me knows it is what I need, what I want.

She smiles at me, fangs gleaming, and looks up, nodding her head.

I hear a sound like an explosion and move my head to see two wooden doors opening. I hear movements and rustling and the sounds of life from beyond the doors. Two vampires move in a blur and blast of speed, leaping from the raised platform near where I am. I see them run to the door and out. Where are they going? I wonder.

"Where..?" I start to ask, but she cuts me off.

"Shhh." She says, holding a finger to my lips. I close my mouth and eyes and wait, absorbing the sounds and scents that are almost attacking me from all sides.

"You see?" I hear her voice projected across the room. "I have freed him from the prison of his flesh. I have added to our numbers. This is how we will win the war and free our kind."

I hear murmers and shouts of agreement. And then I hear the footsteps and a new scent reaches me. A delicious, warm smell. I strain my hearing, trying to focus it on the new sound. A gentle thrum, like a drum. A heartbeat.

I open my eyes. The two vampires who had run from the room are back and one of them is carrying something. Something alive. A deer. Blood.

They leap back onto the stage and drop the creature next to me on the floor. I lunge for it, taken over by hunger and instinct, but she holds me firm, unyielding. Her strength is immense.

"Patience." She says.

She moves me easily, landing me on my feet and facing me towards the gathered vampires. I look out at them, held in place by her strong hands and vice-like grip. I'm not really looking at them. The scent and sight and sounds of the unconscious animal are overwhelming me. I struggle against her grip, frantically, and then she lets me go.

I fall to the ground, on top of the creature, and sink my teeth into its pulsing throat. My fangs pierce the skin easily and I feel the warm liquid flow into my mouth. I drink as though I have never drunk before, as though I have never eaten before, as though nothing else exists in the world. Everything is shut out. The sweet taste feels amazing. Any disgust at the thought of blood is washed away. The strength it gives me, I feel the goodness coursing through every part of my new body, heightening my already heightened senses, bringing me fully to life in my new form.

I lift my head, dropping the lifeless body to the ground and look around. The crystal clarity has taken on new dimensions, my senses even sharper still.

"How do you feel?" She asks as I look at her.

Physically I feel good. I've changed, I'm completely new, something I have never been and yet mentally I feel almost like myself. There are differences but when the instinctual desires and urges die down I feel like me, perhaps a little more detached from my emotions.

"I feel... new." I say, holding her gaze, focusing on her face and blocking out the rest of the room. Something's stirring in the pit of my stomach as I look at her, something like a dull ache.

She pulls her eyes away and addresses the crowd again. "Prepare yourselves. We go to bring the darkness to our enemies, we will take them at their stronghold. The master's magic can protect us from the darts. Go forth and prepare for battle, prepare for war, prepare for freedom!"

A roar rises from the crowd. I see the robed creature at the back wave his arm and the wooden doors open wide to the night. The gathered vampires begin to leave, some talking to each other as they go, others in silence, lost in thoughts of their own. I watch them filtering out and am reminded of the humans, the hunters. Each one craving freedom and protection of their own kind, each desiring the survival of their kin, the ability to live in peace. These vampires want nothing different, only their enemy is different. How did all of this begin?

The robed figure is coming towards us from the back of the room. It looks as though he's gliding, cloak slithering across the stone floor. I focus, with my new vision, into the hood but see nothing but darkness. I cannot make out the face I know is there, the scaled serpent within. I know what lies within and yet I feel no fear. Fear feels alien to me now, although I remember experiencing it. That was in a different life, a different me. I tense though, ready to pounce, to protect. I saw what this creature did to Frank, after he turned. He must have experienced what I am now, if only for moments. I won't go out so easily if this hooded snake has the same plans for me.

As it comes closer the quiet, hissing voice fills my mind. "Welcome,child. You have nothing to fear from me."

I don't relax. Can this creature be trusted? I cast a glance back at the girl, to read her expression. Her bright eyes are unreadable, her pale face nothing but a picture of beauty and power.

"Who are you?" I ask the robed serpent. I hear the difference in my own voice. It's smoother somehow, calmer and deeper.

"I am the father of vampires, the master they call me. I am here to set vampires free from their human oppressors."

Although my fear is gone, although my worry is removed I feel something off with this creature, something sinister, dark. I have the feeling that its motives are not expressed. I get the feeling it would be unwise to challenge it now, or here.

The vampire guards have dropped to their knees. All the vampires but her and I are kneeling now.

"Alesco..." The hissing whisper says, "you have done well, child."

Alesco. That's her name. I decide to kneel but I don't take my eyes from the master. Alesco moves round in front of me and looks down at me. I see a change in her eyes, a brief glimmer that I can't read. Is it longing? The look seems to mirror my own feelings, feelings that grow stronger with each passing moment.

She leans forward. "You are going to help me and stand by my side as we free our kind. Your kind."  She emphasises the last words. My kind. Yes, these are my kind now. I feel my old self slipping further away. She is my kind.

She places her hands on my shoulder. I feel my body respond, shuddering slightly, energy pulses through my entire self like a blast of electricity. I find myself nodding my head in agreement.

I know I'll do what she says. I'll follow her wherever she goes.

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