Talia's pov

The next day, after this mysterious vampire and I had our interaction, he said he would sneak into my room and train me. What did he mean by that? I had no idea. Yet then he mysteriously showed up before lunch around ten o'clock, and then when I smelled the sweet scent lingering in the air, I realized what he meant by training me.

He explained that the more I'm used to smelling it and being around the blood, the more I will be in control of my body and thirst. It was easier to say than do. I ate the whole test tube, which was filled with fresh blood. And yes, even the glass. I can still feel small pieces of glass scraping my gums.

When the clock had rolled over to eleven fifty-seven, he swiftly left my room. I suppose he is just extra careful to not be found by anyone. Before he left, he said he would visit me again the next day at the same time. Even though I'm not sure why he wants to help me, I'm kind of glad I could meet someone slightly normal. However, I am unsure of what I would do if his intentions were bad.

All lunch and afternoon, I kept thinking about why I had to be changed. Why did turning me into one of them have any benefits for them?

My head was on the verge of an explosion when suddenly the tall iron door opened, with Elvira coming inside.

Elvira said that after my last feeding, I wouldn't need a drop of blood until the full moon. However, my starvation began. It wasn't as before when I was a human. I could eat small portions of food every few hours or not even at all until lunch came, and I was completely fine, but now? After I had the whole tube of a warm, bittersweet liquid, I got hungry not even ten minutes after consuming it.

I got off the bed, shifting to the open window in a second. I didn't want to be close to her. She is the reason I became this.

"Come here," Elvira ordered me, gesturing me with her index finger to come to her.

I hesitated at first, but I didn't want to get punished for not listening to her. And the last thing I would want is to cause another bloodshed. Because of what I did, I cannot close my eyes without seeing all the fresh blood on my hands. Because all I see is her ginger hair and slim body, which barely held her posture together. I killed someone. My hands will never get clean, no matter how hard I scrub them.

Slowly, I walked towards her and stopped one meter away.

She squeezed her wine-red eyes, tilting her head to the left. I shifted my gaze to the floor, as I couldn't bear her stare.

As soon as she saw me stop looking at her, her hand was under my neck. Her hard grip told me she had become angry. She easily gets irritated by my reactions.

"Don't do what I didn't command you to do. You will look straight into my eyes." She coldly warned with a stern voice.

My eyes stared into her empty eyes, full of evilness.

"I thought you died, yet somehow you managed to survive." She paused and shifted behind me, to which my skin reacted by creating goosebumps.

"I will not sit on my ass while Darcia is all happy. She wasn't supposed to find happiness. That word is prohibited on her list of desires. Except then you came and made that bitch believe she could be happy." She whispered into my left ear, hovering over me.

Is she only allowed to be happy when her maniacal family says so?

"So, you are not happy yourself?" I asked her. She remained quiet, which made it a perfect situation for me to say what was on my mind.

"You didn't get him, huh? Your seduction didn't work on him as you thought it would; that's why you're mad. He still wants Darcia, but never you. Don't you feel pathetic?" I jeered.

The one Darcia was supposed to be married to was Elvira's crush. I remember the story of how envious and furious she was that their mother didn't choose her for his bride.

The next thing I know, I'm lying on the floor. Elvira slapped me strongly, leaving burning marks on my cheek that her long claws caused. My stomach was her next target, then my back, and lastly, or I suppose it was the last part of my body that she hit, was my neck.

If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

I didn't realize she left a few minutes after that due to the pain. I thought that now when I'm one of them, I wouldn't sense even the slightest bit of pain; however, I was so wrong. If I were still human, I would be dead by now, but this body is handling it.

I pulled my legs to my stomach and wrapped my arms around them. I laid my face on top of my knees. "I want to go home," I murmured, wiping a tear from my eye.

***

"Is the floor so comfortable to lay on?" A voice asked from behind me. I instantly pushed myself up by my forearms to meet those lavender eyes again. I sighed out loud.

I must have been lying here since yesterday. Even though I cannot sleep fully, I had a nap that kept me away from the horrible reality that I'm in.

"Could you not scare me like that?" I said, rolling my eyes. I fully stood up, running my hands on my black pants and snowy ruffle lace blouse to wipe the dust off.

He came up to me, lowering himself to my height. "Don't allow yourself to be scared. And even if you cannot help it, act like you never saw fear in front of you." He stated.

He straightened his posture to his original height and took a seat on my bed.

"I must say this bed is quite comfortable." He examined the pillows and silky smooth sheets.

"What's your name, mysterious savior?" I asked.

His eyes focused on mine, and a slight smirk appeared on his face. "Lucian." He confessed. "And what is yours?"

"Talia," I revealed it proudly.

He nodded and slowly got up from the bed. I kept my eyes on him since I didn't trust him. No one can be trusted in this place.

"So, Talia, do you wish to learn how to control yourself when blood is offered to you?" He asked sternly.

"Y-Yes." I stuttered upon hearing the word blood. I hate how that word is affecting me.

"Well, then, the most important thing to remember when it comes to control is to distract your mind. If you can only focus on blood and nothing else, then there's no help, however if you manage to shift your thoughts onto something else. Something immensely strong, then I promise you, you will be able to control yourself fully." Lucian explained.

"What exactly is the 'thing' I have to focus on? Can it be anything?" I wondered.

"No, it cannot. It has to be a memory in your mind or a thought that you cherish. For instance, someone you love or care for. Someone you can concentrate on. Nothing else will be able to tame you for what you truly lust." He lectured in a serious tone.

The people I love that are my new family. Nicoli, my close friend who was always there for me, helping me. Stacey, who is my sister, which I finally reconnected with, and Darcia, my one and only true love.

Combining all of these people in my head is stronger than a whole ocean of blood.

"Let's test it," I suggested with excitement.

Lucian looked at me, unsure. He probably thought I was not ready, but I will never be ready for this. Not after I went through it myself. I hated Darcia for what she did months ago, but I've realized how cruel it was of me to think for even one second that this is something that can be self-controlled.

Lucian pulled out of his coat pocket a test tube that was filled at the very top with blood, and opened it. I immediately felt pressured by the thought of tasting it. But what would happen if I had a taste at the tip of my tongue? Just a simple dip-in.

I detected the fangs with my tongue and how sharp they really were when I brushed my tongue through them. My feet were difficult to control. I had the urge to just jump at Lucian and take what he was holding in his long fingers.

But then I pictured Darcia's face. How she's beautifully smiling at me. Her cherry lips, calling me to kiss them. Her long raven hair so soft to the touch, and those crimson-red eyes that switch when we're just simply touching each other.

The desire for blood was suddenly gone with the wind that flew through the open window and blew my long, messy hair into every angle.

"Well done. You succeeded." Lucian praised me and hid the tube back inside his coat pocket.

Before I could say something to him, the iron door started to open, and Lucian instantly disappeared in front of my eyes as he turned into a black bat.

I turned to the door, being a few meters away from it. An unknown girl greeted me with a smile. I didn't smile back; I just kept my plain look to not be suspicious.

Right after her, Noen showed up, and I knew something was going to happen.

"Measure her whole body to the last curve. Nothing can be messed up, or you will be my dinner today." He whispered into the girl's ear and closed the door behind him, leaving the two of us completely alone.

"Are you okay?" I asked her, except as I took a step forward, she moved as well, but backwards.

That was the part I forgot about. I'm not like her anymore. She's afraid of me because of who I am. She thinks I'll kill her. I see it on her face.

"I-I'm sorry." I took a long step back. Not just because of her uncomfortableness, but because I wasn't sure if I could handle being close to a human. Yes, I passed my test. I'm a little happy about it; however, this is an innocent human in front of me who doesn't dare to look at me.

"Just give me the measuring tape, and I'll do it myself." I proclaimed it with a fake smile.

For what exact reason do I need a dress?