Sasha knelt beside Mara with a look of concern. "Your mind is still clinging to your humanity, Mara. You may have renounced it, but your body is still resisting the change. If you don't feed, you'll grow weak. You won't be able to cultivate your blood essence."
Edmund, standing nearby, looked troubled. "Is there anything we can do?"
Sasha sighed, shaking her head. "The only thing she can do is keep trying. If she doesn't start feeding properly, she'll wither. Human blood is necessary for her to gain strength due to the essence she awakened upon transitioning."
Mara sat back against the wall, her hand clutching her stomach. "I hate this," she whispered. "I hate what I've become."
Edmund knelt down beside her, his eyes softening. "I know it's hard. I can't pretend to know what you're going through, but I promise it will get easier. I'll be with you every step of the way."
