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My fangs tore into Mihal’s flesh and found the vein. The blood pumped freely into my mouth, filling me with ecstasy. Nathan had been right; the pleasure was indescribable. This was pure heaven, and I forgot it was my son whose blood I was drinking.

I drank deeper and deeper, not wanting to ever stop. This was what heaven truly was. I had finally found it and wasn’t willingfor it to leave me. Suddenly, I heard Mihal’s heartbeat slowing down, exactly as Nathan had explained.

At once, I released Mihal, and he was barely breathing. For a moment, I paused.Should I just let him die?

No, I answered myself,Inka would never forgive me.

I bit into my wrist and forced Mihal’s mouth onto it. In Mihal’s weakened state, he couldn’t push me away, and then the first few drops of blood fell on his tongue. I felt Mihal lick my skin, and then he fastened on.

Mihal tugged and licked to make the blood flow freely, and I held his head tight to make sure he did not pull off. Then the blood flowed, and I felt myself weaken as he drank again and again.

I didn’t know if I was doing right… and then the pain hit. It was like what I had first experienced when I died.

Waves of pain swept over me, and I struggled to release myself, but Mihal held me firm. He kept sucking until I thought he intended to drain me dry. Then, with a massive push, I flew away from him.

I looked at Mihal, dazed, as he rose on his bed and stood up tall and strong. Mihal stretched like a satisfied cat, and I just lay there looking at him. Any minute now, I thought, any second, it would hit.

It did.

Mihal doubled up in pain and cried out. I watched as my human son died, and a Vam’piric one took his place. Years fell away from Mihal as his body went through its human death. Mihal’s bowels and bladder emptied, and he began retching.

Inka walked in, right in the middle of this. Her face showed total confusion, and then, slowly, recognition of Mihal’s death throes registered.

“What have you done?” Inka cried, rushing to where he lay on the floor, twisting and stretching in agony.

“Made Mihal immortal like you wanted,” I answered, still weak from the lack of blood.

I would have to remedy that.

“You didwhat?” Inka screeched, disbelief etched into her face.

“You wanted him immortal, and so I made him one!” I yelled at her.

What was wrong with her? Inka had got what she wanted.

“No! Not this time, Jacques! I was prepared for Mihal to go. I wanted him to finally find rest and join his beloved! Now you have taken that away from him!” Inka cried.

I rose to my feet, albeit a little unsteadily. “You did not want Mihal to die!” I accused in a husky voice.

Damn, I coughed clear my throat.

“No, of course I didn’t, but I had accepted the fact. You’ve ruined it as usual. Mihal was going to join Cleo, and we all accepted it. I come to terms with the fact Mihal must pass one day, and now you have done this, you stupid bastard!”

I looked at Inka, completely puzzled. First, she wanted him immortal, and now I’d done it, Inka wanted Mihal dead.

“I wish you would make your bloody mind up,” I snapped.

“I was hysterical with shock last time. You really thought that I wanted my son to live like us?”

“Well, now Mihal will.”

I pushed away from the wall and walked unsteadily towards the entrance.

“You now have your damn son forever, and that was what you wished, admit it or not.”

Mihal began crying loudly as his body went through its final death, and then he straightened. Despite his age of over four hundred years, Mihal looked like a vibrant young man.

I nodded, and he stared impassively at me.