When suddenly…

Suddenly the vampire begins to writhe in pain, letting out an animalistic screech, I look up to see a stake driven through his heart, the wood splintering as it pierces his chest. His body convulses once, twice, before going limp. His grip on my hair finally releases as I pull away, my master now lifeless on the cold stone floor.

Tears streaming down my face, I scream in anguish, feeling a part of myself die along with him. The vampire who turned me, who gave me this life...gone. I don't know what to do now, who I am without him. I crawl over to his body, unable to tear my eyes away from the sight of him.

A new figure steps into the room, a tall man with pale skin and piercing blue eyes. He glances from me to the vampire's body before speaking in a calm, measured tone. "You're alive...I didn't expect that." He says, seemingly more to himself than to me. "And...he turned you."

I nod, still unable to find the words to express my grief. The man sighs, running a hand through his dark hair. "I see. I apologize for intruding, but I must ask you some questions. Who are you?"

"I-I’m Evie, Evie West” the man’s eyes widen and he steps closer out from the shadows.

“Evie, no, no how could this happen” the hunter lamented, he lowered his bandana revealing… oh my god, Dominic. His blue eyes filled with tears. I was in shock, I couldn't believe my eyes.

Dominic kneeled next to me and wrapped his strong arms around me. His touch felt so warm and comforting, it was like I was home again. "Shh... it's going to be okay, Evie. You're safe now." He murmured into my ear. "I'm here to help you."

I buried my face in his chest, tears streaming down my face. "But...but I don't want this life anymore. I just want to be human again." I sobbed, the pain in my heart was unbearable. I missed my family, my friends, my old life. I didn't want to be a monster anymore.

Dominic held me close, his strong arms enveloping me in their warmth. "I know, Evie. I know how you feel, He kissed the top of my head. "First, though, we need to get you somewhere safe. Can you stand?"

I nodded, wiping away my tears and taking a shaky breath. Standing up, I glanced back at the vampire's body, my former Master. I didn't feel any sadness or anger, only a strange emptiness. Dominic gently led me away from the alley, back into the streetlamp-lit main road.

"Where are we going?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

Dominic glanced around, making sure we weren't being followed. "There's a pub not far from here where we can hide for the night. It's owned by a friend of mine who owes me a favor. We'll be safe there." He took my hand, his touch sending a shiver down my spine. It felt so...right. Like I belonged with him.

We walked in silence for a while, my mind racing with thoughts of what the future might hold. I knew I couldn't go back to my old life, not after this. But at the same time, I didn't want to be a monster anymore, either.

Dominic led me to a cozy, dimly lit pub, the sound of laughter and clinking glasses spilling out into the night. He nodded to the burly man behind the bar, who smiled and waved us over. "Evie, this is my uncle Joseph. He owns the place."

"Hello, Joseph," I managed to croak, still trying to process everything that had happened.

"Ah, Dominic, you brought a friend," Uncle Joseph said, his eyes taking in my appearance. He glanced at Dominic, then back at me. "You like the goth style, eh?" He questioned

Goth? What was he talking about? “Not now, uncle Joe. Can we use the room upstairs?” Dominicinterrupted.

“Aye, of course you can, son. You two make yerselves comfy” Joe replied warmly, nodding towards a staircase in the back corner of the room. Dominic led me up the creaky wooden steps and into a small, cozy room. The only light came from a single flickering candle on the nightstand. He shut the door behind us and turned to face me.

“Dominic, why did he ask if I was a goth what was he on about?” I asked him, sitting down on the bed, still feeling a little shaky. He sighed and sat down beside me, taking my hand in his.

“Oh, yeah, you haven’t seen. Let’s get you a mirror” he said, standing up and moving toward the small dresser next to the window. He opened the top drawer and pulled out a hand mirror, handing it to me.

I took the mirror, looking at myself in the reflection. My skin was extremely pale, almost translucent, and my hair was a deep black, flowing down my back. My eyes were a striking shade of red, framed by long, thick lashes. My lips were plump as if I'd had filler, and painted a glossy black. I’m also wearing a lot of makeup, my eyeshadow is smoky black and my eyeliner is thick and dramatic. My boobs… did not used to be this big. They're practically spilling out of the gym set I left cheer wearing, and I can feel them straining against the fabric. Even my nails are long and painted black. I look like a completely different person.

"Dominic?" I asked hesitantly, not quite sure what to say.

He took the mirror from me and studied my reflection for a moment before meeting my eyes in the mirror. "You're not a goth, Evie. You're...you're a vampire."

The word echoed in my head, refusing to make sense. "A vampire? Like...Dracula? Vampires don't exist," I said, shaking my head.

Dominic took my hand in his, his grip firm but gentle. "They do exist, Evie. You are one of them now. You've been Turned." He leaned in closer, his voice barely above a whisper.

"What do you mean, 'Turned'?" I asked, my voice shaking.

“You were bitten by an elder vampire, he was trying to turn you into a thrall, a mindless sex **** vampire” he explained solemnly.

I felt my stomach drop at his words. "A sex ****?" I asked, my voice barely audible.