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Vlad grabbed hold of my hair, forcing my head back. The Brides encircled me and held me firmly as Vlad drove his fangs deep into my already ravaged throat. I screamed out in pain and fell back against the Brides, my hands trying to push him away. Viciously, he drank from me as the Brides pressed me against him. I struggled fiercely, but the vampires overwhelmed me.

As I felt the warmth of my blood flowing over my breasts and thighs, I ceased to struggle. A mysterious calm filled me and the pain faded away like vapor. Faintly, I felt Cneajna’s cold hands leave my shoulders and shove at Vlad’s head.

“Take no more. Her death approaches swiftly. ”

I felt as though I no longer existed within my body. A strange buoyancy filled me. Then a most wondrous sight appeared. A light brighter than the sun exploded into existence behind Vlad. Its radiating warmth reached out to me. I knew it was the doorway to the freedom and peace that I sought. Out of that glorious light, May emerged. Illuminated with splendid brightness, May reached for me.

“May,” I whispered, transfixed by the vision of my sister.

“Stop now!” Cneajna’s voice was desperate. “Her heart grows weaker. ”

Vlad reluctantly pulled back, his fangs stained with my dark blood.

May was beckoning to me, her sweet face full of compassion. “Come, Glynis, come to me. It is time to join Father. ”

“I’m coming, May,” I whispered as I felt myself pulling free of my earthly body.

“Now! Do it now!” Cneajna cried out.

With his long nails, Vlad sliced his own throat and his thick vampire blood spewed forth.

The brilliant light was so lovely, so compelling, and May was so close now, I could almost touch her. I did not care anymore about Vlad or the Brides. I was almost home.

A fire erupted across my lips, flowing onto my tongue, down my throat, spreading like an icy current through my limbs. It was like being struck awake. I became sharply aware of my mouth being pressed against the gash in Vlad’s neck. I could feel his blood flowing into me and racing through my body. It was the ultimate penetration of my very being.

I thrashed about, but still the dark, fiery blood spilled into me. I beat Vlad with my hands as I writhed. To my amazement and relief, I managed to break free of the vampires. I ran toward May as I felt the blood-fire spreading through me, coursing in my veins, setting fire to my very soul.

With a stricken expression, the vision of May slowly dropped her hands as she began to glide back into the brilliance of the light.

“No, May! Don’t leave me behind! Please, May!”

The image of May collapsed in one bright searing blaze, disappearing into the dark Transylvanian night.

“No, May, please come back for me! May, please, please don’t leave me!” I screamed in anguish into the howling wind.

Behind me, Vlad said, “It is done. ”

I whirled about, the wind swirling around me. My dark red hair was rapidly growing out about me, rushing over my body.

“What have you done to me?”

“Released you from life into living death. You have conquered your mortality. You are now one of us,” Vlad declared, his eyes glowing like cinders.

I threw back my head and pierced the night with my screams. Raising my hands upwards, I saw my nails growing out into pale daggers. I could feel long, sharp teeth sliding downward to press against my lips.

“No! No!”

The night churned about me as I was reborn.

“No!”

I fell back and the wind caught me up in its embrace. Floating above the stone floor, I continued to scream as my body continued to transform. My skin became white as a lily as my body grew more voluptuous beneath my gossamer gown. My dark red tresses flowed around me like a living entity.

As suddenly as it had risen up, the wind died away and I fell to the roof. I lay there panting heavily. When I raised my eyes and I could see everything around me as clearly as the day, I knew that my eyes were no longer human. With my piercing new gaze, I looked upon the faces of my new vampire family.

“She has become,” Cneajna said.

“She is one of us,” Elina decided.