Samantha paced Lily's apartment, her mind racing as fast as her heart. The events of the past day swirled in her head like a chaotic storm, refusing to settle into any semblance of order.
She tried desperately to piece together what had happened after she left The Black Swan, but her memories were frustratingly fragmented.
She remembered walking down a dark street, the cool night air a welcome relief after the stuffy bar.
Then... a noise?
Yes, a cry for help.
She'd turned down an alley, drawn by the sound of distress. There had been a young man, his face pale with fear in the dim light. But after that?
Nothing but darkness.
Samantha pressed her palms against her temples, willing the memories to surface. But all she got were disjointed flashes - a glimpse of gleaming fangs, a blur of movement too fast for the eye to follow, the metallic taste of blood.
None of it made sense, and trying to force the memories only intensified the pounding in her head.
As the day wore on, Samantha's discomfort grew. The burning thirst that had awakened her was now a constant, gnawing presence. Her skin felt too tight, like it might split open at any moment. Even the soft light filtering through the curtains seemed to scorch her eyes, forcing her to retreat into the darkest corners of the apartment.
By late afternoon, Samantha was a wreck. She'd tried drinking water, juice, even some of Lily's expensive whiskey, but nothing touched the thirst.
Food turned her stomach - even the thought of eating made her gag. Her body trembled with a need she couldn't name, an emptiness that threatened to consume her.
As twilight approached, a new sensation crept over Samantha. Energy thrummed through her body, making her feel more alive than she had all day.
But with that vitality came a primal urge that terrified her. Her gums ached, and when she ran her tongue over her teeth, she could have sworn they felt sharper.
Panic rose in Samantha's chest. Something was very, very wrong with her, and she had no idea how to fix it. Worse, she was starting to worry that she might be dangerous. The urges coursing through her body were becoming harder to control, and she didn't trust herself.
With shaking hands, Samantha reached for her phone. She had to warn Lily, keep her away until... until what?
Until she figured out what was happening to her? Until she was back to normal? She had no idea if either of those things would ever happen.
The phone rang three times before Lily picked up. "Hey, Sam! Everything okay?"
Samantha swallowed hard, trying to keep her voice steady. "Lily, hey. Listen, I... I need you to stay away from the apartment tonight."
"What? Why? Is something wrong?" Concern colored Lily's voice.
"No! I mean, yes, but... I'm just not feeling well. I think I might have caught something. I don't want you to get sick." The lie tasted bitter in Samantha's mouth, but it was better than the truth - that she was afraid she might hurt her best friend.
"Are you sure? I can come home early if you need anything-"
"No!" Samantha cut her off, more forcefully than she intended. She took a deep breath, trying to calm herself. "No, really, I'm fine. Just need to sleep it off. I'll see you tomorrow, okay?"
There was a pause on the other end of the line.
"Okay, if you're sure. Call me if you need anything, alright?"
"I will. Thanks, Lil." Samantha ended the call before Lily could hear the tremor in her voice.
As soon as she put the phone down, a wave of dizziness washed over her. She stumbled to the couch, collapsing onto it as the room spun around her.
The thirst was becoming unbearable, a raging inferno in her throat.
Desperate for something, anything to ease the burning, Samantha forced herself to her feet and staggered to the kitchen.
She threw open the refrigerator door, scanning the shelves for something that might help. Her eyes landed on a package of raw steak, and suddenly, her mouth was watering.
Without thinking, Samantha grabbed the package and tore it open. The smell of raw meat hit her like a physical force, making her stomach clench with hunger.
She shoved the steak into the microwave, punching buttons frantically. As the meat heated, the scent of blood filled the air, and Samantha felt something change inside her.
The moment the microwave dinged, she yanked the door open and grabbed the plate.
The steak was barely warm, still red and bloody in the center. In any other circumstances, the sight would have disgusted her. But now, it was the most appetizing thing she'd ever seen.
Samantha brought the plate to her face, inhaling deeply. The scent of blood overwhelmed her senses, drowning out everything else. With a growl that didn't sound human, she sank her teeth into the meat.
Flavor exploded across her tongue - rich, coppery, intoxicating. Samantha tore into the steak like a starving animal, barely chewing before swallowing.
Blood ran down her chin, staining her shirt, but she didn't care. All that mattered was satisfying the hunger that had been gnawing at her all day.
She was so lost in her frenzy that she didn't hear the front door open. Didn't hear Lily's concerned voice calling her name. It wasn't until Lily appeared in the doorway of the bedroom that Samantha realized she wasn't alone.
"Samantha?"
Lily's voice snapped Samantha back to reality. She looked up, blood dripping from her chin, pieces of raw meat clutched in her hands. Horror dawned on her face as she realized what she must look like.
"Lily, you shouldn't have come," Samantha growled because at that moment, something else caught her attention. Something that drowned out every other thought in her head.
The sound of Lily's heartbeat.
It pounded in Samantha's ears like a drum, steady and strong. She could smell Lily's blood, could almost taste it on her tongue.
The hunger that had been momentarily sated by the raw meat roared back to life with a vengeance.
Samantha's body moved before her mind could process what was happening. One moment she was on the bed, the next she was across the room, pinning Lily against the wall. Her hand clamped over Lily's mouth, muffling her scream.
"I'm sorry," Samantha whispered, tears streaming down her face. "I'm so sorry."
Her lips pulled back in a snarl, revealing teeth that were definitely sharper than they should be.
Samantha felt her control slipping away, replaced by an animalistic hunger that demanded to be satisfied.
Just as she was about to sink her teeth into Lily's neck, a flash of movement stopped her. A powerful force slammed into Samantha, knocking her away from Lily. She found herself pinned to the floor, struggling against an iron grip.
"Stop!" a deep voice commanded.
Samantha snarled, her newfound strength surging as she fought against her captor. But the man holding her down seemed impossibly strong, easily containing her thrashing limbs.
"Stay back!" the man warned Lily, who stood frozen in shock.
Samantha barely registered the exchange. Her world had narrowed to a single point - the pulsing of Lily's blood, calling to her like a siren song.
She lunged again, snapping her teeth, but the man's grip held firm.
"Lucian, stop!" Lily's voice cut through the haze of hunger. "She's my best friend!"
The man - Lucian - hesitated for a moment, then slowly loosened his hold. Samantha stumbled backward, collapsing against the wall. She gasped for breath, her mind reeling.
Lily rushed forward, but Lucian blocked her path. "Don't," he said firmly. "It's not safe. She has no control right now."
Samantha looked up at them, her eyes wild and confused. What was happening to her? Why couldn't she stop this overwhelming urge?
As if reading her thoughts, Lily turned to Lucian. "What's happening to her?"
Lucian's expression was grim as he answered, "She's transitioning, Lily. Becoming a vampire."
Even in her primal state, those words pierced through Samantha's fog of hunger.
Vampire? It couldn't be true. Those were just stories, myth...
But the burning in her throat, the inhuman strength, the craving for blood - it all suddenly made a horrifying kind of sense.
"That's impossible," Lily whispered, echoing Samantha's thoughts. "How could someone turn Samantha into a vampire?"
Lucian shook his head. "I assure you, it's very real. And very dangerous." He glanced at Samantha, who was still huddled against the wall.
His expression darkened as he stood up and spoke. "It's likely that another vampire was responsible for turning her. It doesn't happen accidentally."
"Do you know who did this to her? Is there anything we can do?" Lily pleaded with Lucian, hoping he had some answers.
"I'm not certain, but I will find out," Lucian replied with determination. "For now, it's not safe for you to stay here. I need to take Samantha with me to my coven so she can receive proper guidance during her transition. Before she hurts someone."
"No," Samantha managed to croak out. "I won't... I can control it..."
But even as she spoke, another wave of hunger washed over her. Her gaze locked onto Lily's throat, and she felt her body tense, ready to spring.
Lucian must have sensed her intent because he quickly stepped between them. "You can't fight it," he said, his voice surprisingly gentle. "Not yet. The hunger is too strong."
Samantha wanted to protest, to insist that she could handle this on her own. But deep down, she knew Lucian was right. She was a ticking time bomb, and she couldn't trust herself around Lily - or anyone else.
"Okay," Lily said softly. "But I'm coming with you."
Lucian started to object, but Lily cut him off. "She's my best friend. I'm not abandoning her."
For a moment, Lucian and Lily stared each other down. Then, to Samantha's surprise, Lucian nodded. "Fine. But not now. You will have to wait for a few days."
Lily agreed, and Lucian turned his attention back to Samantha. "Can you walk?"
Samantha nodded weakly, pushing herself to her feet. Her legs felt shaky, but she managed to stay upright.
"Good," Lucian said. "Now, I need you to focus on my voice. Block out everything else. Can you do that?"
Samantha tried to concentrate on Lucian's words, but Lily's heartbeat still thundered in her ears. She clenched her fists, fighting against the urge to attack.
How had this happened? Who had turned her into a vampire? And most importantly, would she ever be able to return to her normal life?
One thing was certain - nothing would ever be the same again. Samantha closed her eyes, steeling herself for the long and difficult journey ahead. She had no choice but to face this new reality head-on.
After all, she apparently had eternity to figure it out.