Vladian awoke in a dark musty forest. The earth beneath him was damp and smelled of mildew. His stomach turned at the smell and after getting sick he was hit by this incredible dry hunger he had never felt before. It was as if his throat was on fire like someone had stuck a hot iron down it. He clenched his throat and looked around desperately for someone to help him. Suddenly a tall slender man appeared. He looked to be about 50 and had dark silver eyes, long silver hair that laid gently on his shoulders, and unusually long but neatly kept finger nails. He stood in front of Vladian with his hands clasped in front of his hips. Vladian's eyes widened as he realized this was the man from the previous night. At least he hoped it had only been a night. Vladian gulped before building up the courage to ask who the man was. The stranger's lips curled up slightly and he replied with a silky enticing voice, "I am Sorin." "What did you do to me?" Vladian asked. "I saw something special and powerful in you and have given you a great gift." Sorin replied calmly. "What do you mean gift? Is that what this burning in my throat is?" Sorin chuckled. "That is part of it." "Let's get that under control and I'll explain." Sorin held out a goblet and a small dagger. He also asked for Vladian to hold his hand out. Sorin quickly sliced Vladian's palm and let 3 drops of blood fall into the cup. "What the hell was that for?" Vladian screeched. Sorin grinned. "You'll see just be patient." Sorin then sliced his own palm allowing 3 drops of his blood to fall into the cup as well. He swirled the blood together and offered for Vladian to take it. Vladian hesitantly took the goblet from Sorin. "Drink." Sorin said. "Seriously?" Vladian said sarcastically. Sorin nodded. Vladian closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He couldn't believe what he was about to do. He took a sip wanting to just spit it out immediately until the taste hit him. His eyes snapped open and a hunger stronger than anything he had ever felt hit him. His eyes turned red and glazed over as his hunger over powered him. He drank ferociously until there was nothing left. Instincts had kicked in and before he realised what he was doing he had Sorin by the throat and was sucking the blood from him. Sorin just let him for a while and finally after trying to pry Vladian off with no success had to throw him into a nearby tree. Vladian heard his back crack with impact and that seemed to bring him out of the trance he was in. He caught his reflection in a near by puddle. Blood streaming from his.. fangs? Eyes dark red and glistening. He felt so ashamed. He quickly wiped his face and turned to Sorin. "I'm so- "Don't apologize my boy" Sorin cut him off. "I was right about you being powerful. I've never had to throw someone off of me before." Sorin grinned exposing his elongated fangs.Vladian's eyes widened as he felt his own fangs with his tongue. "So am I.. are we... "Vampires" Sorin finished the sentence for him. "Yes and you, I believe could be the most powerful ever to exist. You are the son of a powerful king so it only makes sense." "Oh" was all Vladian could muster to say. "Don't worry I will teach you everything you need to know" Sorin responded. "Get some rest we will start training at dusk." Vladian nodded suddenly overcome with exhaustion. Vladian awoke when he felt someone gently shake him. "Mmmph" he growled. "Let's get started" Sorin said as he grinned at Vladian. Vladian stretched and to his surprise gracefully got onto his feet. Never had he described himself as graceful but he definitely felt like he was now. Sorin taught Vladian how to hunt and how to be an extraordinary fighter and Vladian caught on fast. At night after he had fed, Vladian would sneak off to see Anna. They had been seeing each other for 2 months now and Vladian was sure he wanted to make her his wife. Vladian finally got up the courage and asked Sorin for his help. He wanted his proposal to Anna to be special. Sorin, however glared at him with pity filled eyes when Vladian told him of his plan. It was a fantastic plan. He would sing to Anna to get her to come outside and have her sit in her garden surrounded by her beautiful white roses and he would have them lit up with tiny white twinkling lights to accentuate her beauty. Then he would feed her a meal and guide her to the pond on the far side of her garden surrounded by candles and swans and there he would ask her to be his bride. Sorin listened to his plan intently and when he finished Sorin told him his opinion. "That is great Vladian I think she will love it. However, there is something you must know of our kind." Sorin looked into Vladian's eyes with such sorrow it made Vladian ache. "You cannot marry her. It is too risky. If she discovers what you are our kind very well could cease to exist. We have been hunted for many centuries." Vladian refused to give up. "I don't care, Sorin. I would rather die than to live without Anna." Sorin sighed. "Well there is another way. You have to turn her after she becomes your wife." Vladian looked disgusted. "It is the only way, Vladian. You either turn her or you lose her or you die." Vladian was radiating with anger. He didn't want her to have to live the way he did. Yes he was blessed to have his strength and power but he hated having to kill to live and not being able to go out in sunlight. He missed his family and friends. Sorin had told them he had perished after turning him so their secret could be safe. He didn't want that life for Anna. He wanted to see the life in her beautiful cheeks and eyes. He decided to sleep on it. When Vladian awoke that night he knew what to do. Vladian showered in the waterfall next to the cave he and Sorin shared and slicked his long black hair back. Sorin let him borrow one of his finest suits and helped him adjust his tie before asking him what his plan was. "You'll see" Vladian smirked and he headed off to Anna's palace. Just as he had planned, he sang to her, fed her and brought her to the pond. She was so beautiful. Her long blonde hair flowed loosly around her shoulders and her bangs were braided around the side of her head and clipped with a white rose. She wore a light pink dress that stopped just above her knee and tied around her neck leaving her arms and shoulders bare. It was a warm night at least. Her blue eyes gazed into his black ones and he couldn't hold back the urge to kiss her anymore. He gently slid the back of his hand down her pink cheek and she leaned into him. He could hear her heart beat quicken and he took her face in his hands and guided her towards him. Thump. Thump. Thump. He could hear her heart race faster. He grazed a finger over her plump red lips before planting his firmly but sweetly on them. She groaned as the electricity built between them. He had to remind himself of the task at hand and gently pulled away. Breathless, she blushed and smiled at him. "You don't know what you do to me" she said horsley. He just grinned because he knew if he had a heart beat it would be fluttering out of his chest. "I love you" he said. She grinned and replied "I love you too Vladian". Before they could kiss again he took her hand and swallowed hard. He looked into her beautiful eyes and said, " Anna, you are my everything. I can't imagine belonging to anyone else. I want to spend eternity with you. Will you please do me the extraordinary honor of marrying me?" Anna gasped. "Oh Vladian, of course I will!" Vladian beamed as he pulled her into his lap and held her and kissed her fiercely. "Mmm Vladian!" Anna cried. Vladian could feel his fangs elongate he had a strange desire to bite her.