"We have been watching you," another voice speaks, closer now. "We see the hunger within you, that urge that drives you…to feed."
I swallow hard, seeing the other figure that speaks up close as she pulls me by the hair. My newfound instinct gets the best of me and I snarl in anger.
"Tsk Tsk…Ooh, not so fast little kitten," the lady said.
Her grip tightens on my hair, her nails digging into my scalp, eliciting a sharp hiss of pain from me. I struggle against her hold, but she exudes a strength I cannot match.
"You have much to learn, young one," she continues, her voice low and menacing. "But first, you must understand the nature of our kind, of what it means to be one of us."
With a sudden release, she lets go of my hair, and I stumble forward, catching myself before I fall to the ground. The others in the chamber watch silently, some in sudden disgust.
The tall man steps forward, his presence commanding attention. "We are the Nightwalkers," he declares, his voice echoing off the walls. "A breed apart from humans, blessed—or cursed—with immortality, with a thirst that can never be quenched."
I listen intently. I had heard whispers of creatures like us, beings of the night who prowled in the shadows, but to be among them, to be one of them…it was both terrifying and exhilarating. I never felt it was any real, but now do I?
"We live by our laws, our code," the man continues. "And we protect our kind fiercely. But we are not invincible, but we can choose that…we always do choose that in the end."
"What do you want from me?" I managed to rasp out, my voice betraying me.
"We want to help you," a third voice chimed in, softer yet no less compelling. "To guide you in embracing your true nature."
My true nature.
What is my new existence? And if they are willing to help me find myself, can I trust them?
Can I trust myself?
I saw the look of disdain on the tall man's face earlier when the third person spoke. A type of look a father gives to his child when he/she disobeys his orders. But I also see him calm after as he corrects his posture and focuses his gaze back on me. He leans down to my level, raising my jaw with his spindly fingers.
"No one knows who turned you…but Lucian here found you…," The tall man points to the big guy I had first encountered in the tent, the one who led me here.
"…well for that moment in time, near-death or so he thought, till we saw the mark and then you changed." He concluded.
"We were all once like you," she says, he continued. "Lost and alone, struggling to make sense of what we had become. But we found solace in each other…we helped each other grow in ways you cannot imagine.
The tall man, whose name I still do not know, rises with me this time, holding me by the shoulders. "Do you remember your name?"
I nod negatively as I try to recollect but nothing is coming to mind. Does being what I am amount to me losing the memory of what I was once?
"Are you willing to join the family?" He asks further.
I suddenly find it conflicting being introduced into a new world I currently know nothing of. I have no choice regardless, there is nowhere I can run to than the family here.
With a slow nod, I affirm my decision. "I will join you."
I meet the eyes of each figure in the chamber. Then my gaze falls on Lucian who immediately folds his arm and turns his gaze the other way.
The tall man's lips curl into a faint smile, a glint of satisfaction in his eyes. "Then a noble lioness deserves a noble name. You are to call me Lord Marcus, and I name you Aria. Welcome to the family."
"Kaylan, introduce her to the rules," the tall man concludes and walks to a makeshift throne at the back of the room to sit.
"Listen up close, little kitten. Here is the rule, before you can truly become one of us, you must prove yourself. You must show that you are worthy of our trust, of our protection." Kaylan, who is the lady that had teased me earlier, said. Her gaze is focused with intent.
"Tomorrow night," Kaylan says, "you will accompany us on a hunt. Lucian will be your guide. You will hunt alongside your brethren, and you will show us what you are capable of. Understood?"
I nod in agreement.
"Good! Thank you, Kaylan," Lord Marcus speaks, his voice now deep and menacing. "Come, it's time you satiate your hunger…I read it festering in you. Come closer."
Lord Marcus's voice is alluring and I am forced once again to do his bidding. I walk forward towards him, and as I near, beside his throne chained to it is the silhouette of someone. I immediately feel a vile rush and the blood within me boils, my lungs on fire.
With a swift rush, I see Lord Marcus grab the human and toss it at a mere distance from hear.
"Now, feed." I can see a wicked grin on his face as I give in to the invitation. As much as the human pleads, the only thing on my mind is to quench that hunger. To give myself what I deserve. I move with unflinching speed and grab the man by the neck, and with a growl, my fangs protrude and I sink it in, letting the warmth of the blood fill me in.