I opened my eyes as Marcus carried me up to the mansion front entrance. He was shouting as the servants came rushing out. There were gasps and whispers as Marcus carried me up to my old room. Another attack came and this time I didn't have any more energy to scream nor react violently. I whimpered and felt Marcus holding me tighter and soothing me.
"We are here, love. You are going to be alright. Just hold on a little longer." He whispered to me in my ear as I grabbed his shirt. When the pain eased I let out a sigh.
When my vision came back, I was on my old bed as I leaned against Marcus. He was holding me up gently as I saw some familiar faces hover over me.
"Lady Sophia? Can you hear me?" One of the oldest counsels, Joseph, asked me. He may have been the oldest, but he looked like he was in early twenties. He had the hair of sunshine and eyes of blue saphire. He was one of the loyal followers of my father.
"Joseph . . ." I whispered his name. Then I saw Jane and another vampire named Andrew. He was known as a vampire doctor and he also worked as my personal doctor whenever I was sick. He was studying me carefully as Joseph kneeled facing me.
"Tell me how you feel." He asked gently. I always found Joseph a warm and gentle creature.
"Pain. My stomach. Now it's all over." I explained as much as I can.
"When did it start?"
"An hour ago." Marcus answered.
Another attack came and my body arched violently in Marcus' arms. Doing so, my fangs were bared and I heard gasps.
Marcus held me tight as I felt the attack ease away again. Tears streamed down on my cheeks as I cried.
"Please. . . make it stop." I begged as I clutched Marcus. He whispered soothing words and caressed my face.
"When did she started to transform?" Andrew asked excitingly.
"A few weeks ago." Marcus answered.
"Why didn't you inform us then?" Joseph asked.
"She wanted to wait." Marcus said.
Faintly, I could read Joseph's thoughts. He understood why. He knew that I wanted to wait a little longer before the hell break loose. And seeing Marcus hold me like this, he knew well that we were together finally. Joseph had seen it coming for a long time. He was also a mind reader and he had read my mind and Marcus' mind since the beginning. He was actually happy to see us together. He knew Marcus would protect me and treat me well as a lover.
"What's happening to her?" Marcus demanded.
Andrew stepped closer to examine me and Marcus hissed.
"Marcus, please. Let Andrew examine lady Sophia." Joseph said gently. He knew well male vampires were very territorial when it comes to their mate. Yes, I was his mate, now I realized.
Marcus slowly loosened his hold on me and soon, I felt Andrew's hands on my neck for my pulse. And he carefully examined my new fangs.
"She's transforming fast. Her cells are changing every second as we speak." Andrew looked at Marcus. He didn't need to do blood test and other endless tests to see what was happening to me. Andrew was an expert on Vampirism.
"Have you been feeding her blood?" Andrew asked.
Marcus answered, "She drank from me a couple of times."
Andrew frowned, studying my skin and dried lips.
"When was the last time she fed?"
"Almost a week ago."
Andrew nodded, "She's starved. She needs blood. Her body is going through extreme transformation that no vampire has ever been through alive and she doesn't have enough blood to support her. It will ease the pain once there is enough in her."
Marcus gasped in horror, "If I had known, I would have fed her."
Joseph shook his head, "There was no way of you knowing that, Marcus. Her transformation is something we never seen before. Andrew, please bring John."
John was a donor who was happy to donate his blood to a vampire in trouble. Usually whenever a vampire was in trouble and couldn't heal fast enough from the blood bank donation, John would step up and give his fresh blood. Fresh blood always healed the vampires faster than anything.
A few minutes later, John came into the room. He looked concerned at the sight of me. He rolled up his sleeves and came closer to me.
"Please, take as much as you want." John said.
I looked at his arm and saw the pulse. But nothing was happening. My body didn't crave this. I couldn't drink him. I felt hopeless as I stared at his beating pulse and yet I had no desire to drink him. I didn't smell that delicious fragrance like I did with Marcus.
"Lady Sophia?" Joseph asked.
"I . . I can't." I cried out. I actually felt my fangs retreating. And another attack came and I screamed. I twisted in pain as Marcus held me tight.
"It's alright. I'm here." He whispered. And soon, I felt better as I leaned onto him.
"Marcus." I cried.
"Drink from me, if you can. Please. I beg you. You will start feeling better once you feed." Marcus said as he leaned his neck toward my lips.
I felt his pulse and leaned closer. His sweet smell of blood alerted my senses and I slowly ran my lips against his pulse.
"That's right. Go on." he put his hand on back of my head and soon, I felt my fangs grow. I sank my fangs into his delicious vein and felt his warm blood running down in my throat. I heard him sigh in relief as well as others. I drank from him more than usual. When I pulled away, I sighed and felt his blood soothing my body. Marcus looked at me with relief in his eyes told me I did good. I felt drowsy and so exhausted. Soon, I fell asleep in his arms.
Marcus sat by the bed as he watched his beloved sleep. He held on to her fragile little hand that had clutched him so hard while she went through those horrible attacks. He sighed as he prayed for the first time in his life that she will be okay. He wanted to see her lively green eyes. It shocked him when her eyes turned into silver white while she was having those attacks. It looked like something was inside her, waiting to tear her up.
He felt Joseph come into the room.
"Andrew said she will be better in no time." Joseph said as he stood a few feet away. Even though Joseph was way more older than Marcus, he treated Marcus with equal respect. It was Joseph who asked Marcus to be Sophia's bodyguard. He knew Marcus was a honorable man who would keep his promise to the end. Marcus never asked why he was asked to protect a kid at first. He trusted Joseph and knew that Joseph would never ask Marcus such a thing unless it's really necessary. And once Marcus met Sophia in that play room where that little 5 year old was playing, he knew his whole existence was because of her. Everything that happened and will happen made sense to him when he met her.
Marcus nodded at Joseph. But it didn't make him feel better that she had to go through this shit in the first place. He never ever want her to go through this again. He would rather tear off his arm.
"It's something we have never witnessed, Marcus. We had no idea. She's not like any of us." Joseph explained.
"I don't know why she started the transformation in the first place. There was no trigger." Marcus said.
Joseph shrugged, "She is a mix race of a vampire and a human. It's a miracle that she even exist. There was never the case like her before. Maybe perhaps her body is turning immortal at the prime age. The natural born vampires grow like humans and stop aging once they reach their own prime age. Although they never went through something like lady Sophia did."
"But they do not get hurt. They don't break their skin like she does. She's too fragile to go through this."
"Yes, that is true. And like the made vampires, we just die and wake up already transformed. It's like she's going through it while she is still alive."
Marcus clinched his jaws at the thought of that.
"Easy, Marcus. She has passed the hardest transformation. As you can see, she's going to be alright." Joseph assured him.
Marcus ran his thumb on her hand. She didn't respond to his touch like she always do. She was breathing so light that if a human saw her, they would think her dead or in deep coma.
"Perhaps you need to feed before she wakes up." Joseph reminded Marcus. It's been almost a week since Marcus fed.
"No, I am not hungry." Marcus said still looking down at his beloved.
Joseph shook his head, "No, Marcus. You need to feed well from now on because you are her source."
Marcus finally realized it. He thanked god because it drove him mad when he saw John was about to offer Sophie his blood. He didn't want any males around her that intimately. He became so territorial that he wanted to rip out anyone who touches his mate.
"There, you see. You have to be in top shape in order to provide what she needs. I will have Jane bring the blood. Unless you want to go out for a hunt. Lady Sophia will be completely safe with us here."
Marcus shook his head, "I'm not leaving her. Have Jane bring it."
"As you wish." Joseph nodded and disappeared.
I slowly woke up from my sleep and turned my head and slowly opened my eyes.
"Hey, love."
Marcus came into my view and he was caressing my cheek.
I didn't feel any pain anymore and I tried to smile. I felt exhausted even after sleeping.
"How are you feeling?" He asked nervously. He looked like he went through hell of his own.
"Better." I whispered.
He smiled and kissed my forehead.
"Good. Are you thirsty?" he asked.
"Water please." I said.
Soon, he helped me sit up and I winced in pain. Marcus stopped dead.
"What is it? Are you hurting?" He asked.
I sighed, "Every muscles in my body hurts."
He nodded and brought up the glass of water to my lips. I drank like I have never drank before. When I was finished, he laid me down again and held my hand.
"How long was I out?" I asked.
"A few days." he said.
"Damn." I whispered.
"You are getting better. Andrew came and checked on you every hour. He took some blood samples from you to study what's going on exactly." Marcus said.
A flash of images came into my head. I saw Marcus feeding me his blood while I was out. He had ripped his wrist with his teeth and squeezed his blood into my mouth before his wound closed. I gasped.
"You fed me while I was out?"
He nodded, "I was afraid you didn't have enough."
"Marcus. . . " I sighed.
"Let me know when you need to feed. I'm always ready for you."
I nodded and pulled him down to hug him. He laid next to me and I rested my head on his shoulder.
"I love you." I whispered.
"I love you, too." he said and kissed my forehead.
I fell asleep again in his arms.
A few hours later, I sat on my old bed with my hair wet from the shower. I had my old jeans and shirt from my closet. I slowly patted my wet hair with the towel. My muscles still hurt but it was getting better. Marcus was always with me. He even stood by the bathroom door as I took a shower just in case those attacks came back.
A knock came from the door and Marcus opened it. Andrew stood by the door with papers in his hand.
"Is this a bad time, my lady?" Andrew asked.
"No, please come in." I said as I put the towel away. I sat on the bed as I watched Marcus take his stand by the end of the bed. Andrew sat on the chair facing me.
"So what have you got?" I asked wearily.
"First, how are you feeling?" Andrew asked. He slowly held out his hand for my pulse. I knew he was doing this slowly to make sure Marcus doesn't jump on him and pounce him to the pulp. I held out my wrist to Andrew and watched him measure my heart beat. Andrew was a vampire and he also had super sonic hearing. I was sure he could measure my heart beat by just listening in, but I figured that his human behavior was still intact with him.
"I'm feeling better. Those attacks didn't come back. My muscles still hurt, but I can live with it."
Andrew nodded and let go of my wrist.
"I see. Well, that's a good news. And your heart beat sounds like it has been slowed down a bit. And the blood work I did from you came out interesting . . ."
Marcus frowned, "What do you mean interesting?"
Andrew answered, "Her metabolism is sky high and her chemical balance is changing similar to a vampire standard."
I knew this was coming. It was obvious that I was turning into a vampire.
"So I'm a vampire now?" I asked.
Andrew shook his head, "No, you are not. Not quiet really."
I frowned, "What do you mean I'm not? Have you not seen my fangs? I fed from Marcus."
Andrew bit his lips, "How do I explain this. To make it simple without going into the details of biology."
"Spill it." Marcus said in hard tone. I knew Andrew was afraid of Marcus. Marcus was well known prestigious warrior of all underworld kind. He was old and powerful. Andrew was only about two hundred years old. It was natural instinct to be intimidated and scared of Marcus who possessed such a power that radiated from within.
Andrew nodded quickly, "You see, we vampires drink human blood to survive because we do not produce certain biological materials in our body. Therefore, we get those needs from the human or live animals. And sometimes drinking from the blood bank is almost good as the live source, even though it tastes awful."
"O .. . okay.. . ." I said catching on.
Andrew continued, "So since we don't produce those nutrients by ourselves, our own blood does not carry those nutrients in our system. So when you see vampires feeding off each other, it's more of purpose of a pleasure rather than the need to fulfill our actual hunger. There is no taste difference, but chemical wise, there is a huge difference. Our blood is hollow while the human blood is full of nutrients."
"Really?" I asked. I had seen some vampire feed from each other when I was growing up. Usually it was some playful act whenever I saw it and it was mostly mated couples.
Marcus frowned, "So my blood does not have any effect on her?"
Andrew shook his head, "No, what I'm trying to say is that, even though it's not suppose to have any effect on her, it does."
I sighed, "But you just said vampire's blood doesn't have any nutrients."
Andrew nodded, "Yes, that's exactly what i said. But for some reason, you, my lady, can survive drinking just vampire blood. It's a hollow blood, but it seems to be working on you. I am pretty sure you can survive on human blood too as well as animal's, but it seems like you can take anything."
"Interesting." I said.
Andrew beamed up, "Exactly my point. That means, instead of vampires being the top of the food chain, you are above us. You are on the top of the food chain now."
"What the . . ." I said.
"I knew she was something special." Joseph smiled from the door frame. He looked like he's been there for a while.
"Joseph." I said as I watched him walk toward us.
"Did you know this?" Marcus asked.
Joseph shook his head, "This is the first time hearing it."
Andrew jumped in, "But there is a catch."
Joseph frowned, "What is the catch."
Andrew looked at his paper work, "Well, it looks like she will mostly likely stop aging at this point, but her skin repairing is fast, but not fast as vampires. It means, she heals almost slow as humans do, while she is immortal."
"Damn." Joseph cursed.
"So I'm breakable." I shrugged. It was one thing that was normal about me. I was actually glad. It would be so freaky if I don't age and I don't get hurt and be able to feed off on vampires.
Both Marcus and Joseph didn't like what Andrew had just said. I frowned. Then I read both of their minds. They were worried that others might come after me and I wouldn't be able to defend myself.
I gasped, "Exactly who would be coming after me?"
Joseph looked at me. He seemed surprised by how I knew what he was thinking, "The whole kingdom, lady Sophia."
"Why?"
Marcus ran his hand through his dark hair, "There is a power shift happening in the kingdom and they are not going to like what they hear. They will try to get rid of anything that might threaten their ranks in the throne."
"But they left me alone all those years. I mean, there were couple of attempts, but they treated me like I didn't exist most of the times."
"Because you were human then." Joseph said.
"And you think since I'm becoming a vampire, they are going to think I'm going to try to take over the court?" I asked.
Joseph smiled sadly, "We vampires are very suspicious race, my lady. We will get rid of anything or anyone who may have the potential of being a threat. And you are rightfully on the second line of the throne."
I sighed, "Great. So what do I do now? I was in so much pain for the last couple of days and now that's done, I have to fight for my life?" I was frustrated. This was not what I expected. I thought they would throw me a party for turning into one of them. But instead I just found out people might come after me.
Marcus quickly rushed to my side and held me after seeing that i was getting upset.
"It's alright. I will do everything in my power to protect you." he said.
I nodded and rested my head against his shoulder.
"I know." I sighed.
Joseph said gently, "We will wait a little longer to announce your transformation."
"Then what?" I looked up at Joseph.
"Then we present you to the high court. You have the every title and every right to be there from then on."
I bit down my lips, "Do I really have to?" I knew it was serious stuff when it comes to high court. It was the place where all the old vampires and royalties come and show their powers. All the underworld laws were made from the high court. And I heard over the years how mean and brutal those high court members can be. They will suck me dry and spit me out so fast I wouldn't know what bit me. The counsels have been shielding me from them since I could remember but now there was no other way.
Joseph smiled reading my mind, "Do not worry, my lady. We will be with you every step of the way. You can count on us."
I sighed, "Thank you, Joseph."
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