The Awakening

First, I felt the darkness swirling all around me. I hesitated but eventually I breathed it in and it was magical. I felt like a hatchling bird, falling from its nest through the air, finding out mid-air it had wings. Why fight it when you can fly in it? Solution seemed so obvious...

Maria slowly opened her eyes, staring at the same ceiling she stared at...ages ago. She really couldn't tell how much time had passed since... her death? Fuck, am I dead, is this it, a sudden wave of panic hit her during her realization. Then, she heard a reassuring, warm sound she knew, "It's ok, everything is fine, you're with me." She felt a touch on her hand. She looked around the room and there he was - her lover. Her Master. He was there, sitting on the couch, softly caressing her.

"Nikolai...am I..." she wavered, avoiding the elephant in the room.

"Yes, my love, you have transitioned. You are like me now, powerful and beautiful, a vampire," he explained with a warm smile.

"How long was I...out?"

"About an hour or so."

She breathed in deeply, trying to collect herself. To say she felt differently was an understatement. She felt much more powerful and vigorous then ever before. Her senses changed dramatically as well - her hearing was stronger (Can I really hear a neighbour breathing?), her vision was more acute and then - there was smell. Intoxicating smell of blood all around the room filled her nostrils. It gave her energy to sit up and look around the room. There was a lot of half dried blood on the couch and floor. And also on Nikolai. Mmm, what if I try to lick it?

Nikolai looked at her inquisitively, "how do you feel, my love?"

Maria smiled at him, "It's different, I feel more powerful, more confident. I love the smell of blood, my blood, on me and you. Can I taste it?"

"Sure, but it's nothing compared to drinking from a living person. You'll see. But for now, it will be enough to give you an idea," said Nikolai, chuckling.

Maria tentatively leaned to him, her lips almost touching his, when she extended her tongue and started licking his mouth and chin. Oh my God, it tastes delicious! I wonder how much it really is better to drink from a... human? She stopped a little at that, realizing what distinction she just created between her current self and past. Well, I guess I'm not human anymore. I'll try to behave as one though... as much as possible.

Her thoughts were interrupted by a sudden pain in her jaws. She felt tremendous pressure in her upper canines. "Shit, what's happening..." But she already knew...

"Your fangs are extending for the first time, Maria. Go, take a look at yourself, the new you," Nikolai encouraged her.

She went to the mirror, both in anticipation and anxiety. What she saw shook her.

She was a sexier, prettier and all-around perfected version of her old self. While she had always regarded herself as a beautiful and attractive woman she was aware of certain minor imperfections, like some blemishes, small moles, a scar on her knee from childhood...they were all gone now, including the bite marks from Nikolai. Her legs seemed more toned, her hips slightly wider, her stomach was now flat and her boobs were still size CC, but firmer. She rubbed her hands across her new body, relishing in her new look.

Most changes were on her face, though. Her lips were now a little fuller and crimson red. Her eyes, previously warm brown, now had a more golden tone, like they were slightly glowing. All the sag around her eyes was gone. Dark circles around her eyes were still there but shaped like she wore soft smoky eye make up. With her eyelashes also gaining slightly in length it made her looks more dramatic. Her dark hair was even darker now, jet black. Her skin was not as pale as she expected it would be, probably due to her previously darker olive tone.

"Your appearance has been changed slightly in accordance to your own desires. As I said, all your wishes will come true," added her maker.

But there was also something else in the mirror, past the visible on the first sight. In her eyes, she saw an enormous force looming to break out, a beast ready to jump out and cause mayhem. She was both terrified and mesmerized by the look of the beast in the mirror that was staring back at her. A pair of sharp fangs behind her full crimson lips further accentuated the malevolence of her new visage. Finally, in her reflection she recognized what had previously enveloped her core: pure darkness, ready to seduce and take whatever it wants.

As Nikolai saw the awe and uneasiness in her, he quickly added, "I know what you see, a beautiful but dangerous creature. It is what I saw as well, when I took the first glance at myself almost 800 hundred years ago. The beast you see will always be there but you can control it. As long as you do not let yourself deprive of food for too long you have nothing to fear."

"Food? You mean blood. How often do I have to... consume it," asked Maria, agitation in her voice.

"Consume it? You mean drink it, feast on it," responded Nikolai, mockingly. "You have to understand it's not as simple as being hungry and then stuffing yourself just to fulfil a need. No, Maria, drinking blood is basically your essence now, it is the only thing that will satisfy you entirely. On the flip side this satisfaction is much more than the simple satiety humans experience when finishing pizza at Luigi's. Although your appetite will be based on your lifestyle, you must feed at least once every four, maybe five days. There are no shortcuts to this. You can prolong it for a day or two with transfusion blood bags but that's it. You need warm blood from the vein."

OK, I'll try with blood bags then. Maybe he can't stand them but I'll manage it. I have to. After all, blood is blood. Damn it, what fucking mess have I gotten myself into? Besides, why do I constantly feel some presence of a...human near me. Can I really sense neighbours through thick concrete? Then why do I sense only one?

"Nikolai, my love, do you have some blood bags for me perhaps? I want to try it, maybe..." she inquired.

"I expected you might ask that," he interrupted her with determination. "I'm sorry, your first feeding must be on a living human. But don't worry, I have taken care of it."

Maria didn't really know what he meant by that, however all this talking about blood was making her salivate. "I do feel hunger growing in me, like I haven't eaten in days. Is this normal?"

"Yes, Maria, you have just turned, you have to feed very soon in order to survive the change."

"So, do you have a willing donor nearby or..." she cautiously inquired, hunger growing rapidly at the thought of warm blood that was apparently coming soon.

"Sort of, he will be willing at some point, I assure you that," he responded, a dark grin on his face.

Maria watched anxiously as Nikolai turned around and went to the bathroom. At the moment he opened the door she smelled a strong familiar scent. Could it be...?

Then she saw Nikolai carrying a chair with Steve tied up on it.

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