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“Don’t be such a baby,” I whispered to myself. I wasn’t actually scared of the dark, but for some reason I was always a little bit on edge at night. Like I’d experienced something terrible during the night, but for the life of me, I could not recall what it was.

“There you are,” Robin proclaimed so loudly it seemed to rattle the branches of the willow tree. 

Robin scared the hell out of me and I sucked in a breath. “Geez, Robin! You shouldn’t sneak up on people like that.”  I felt my heart settle back into its proper place as we sat there in silence, watching the candles ride the tiny ripples in the water. When the sound of a bullfrog’s croaking tore through the night we couldn’t help but laugh.

“Beautiful, isn’t it? Sorry I scared you. It’s harder to find people in the gardens. The flowers kind of mask your scent,” Robin apologized, offering a polite smile.

“Is that how vampires track people?”

“In the past, as well as other ways, but we don’t really need to do that anymore though.”

I simply nodded my head as more questions rattled through my mind. “So, vampires have all these abilities, but they are all pretty much useless now that Nicolae decreed the treaty?”

“Some vampires think of it that way. They say we are wasting our purpose. That we have grown weak, but I don’t think so. Is peace such a bad thing?” Robin asked the question, but I didn’t think it was directed toward me, so I didn’t answer.

“That’s why he wants me to be turned so quickly, isn’t it? Because he is hoping that I can help remind these other vampires that you still honor the old ways?” It was all starting to make more sense. It sounded as if our region was on the verge of an uprising. That would make me a piece of Nicolae’s puzzle that was designed to help avoid it.

“I can’t answer that, Claire. Only the king knows his decisions, but it would be an honor to have an opportunity to help him maintain our peace. A peace that has lasted decades and saved thousands of lives,” Robin said as her tone slowly rose.

“I’m not saying I am not glad that I am doing this. I’m just trying to understand everything.” I smiled at her and she returned it. “Seems like things have been getting pretty stressful?”

“The protests have been getting more frequent and violent, not to mention the pressures from the other vampires in our region. There’s even talk about the other regions…”

“Princess Claire, I have been looking for you,” Fox interrupted as he cut Robin off mid-sentence. “Your king has asked me to make sure you are prepared for tomorrow. If you’d come with me, please?”

“Tomorrow?” My stomach suddenly felt like it had been filled with lead. I knew what his answer would be, but I wasn’t ready to admit it to myself.

“Your transformation.” Fox’s tone and expression gave me the feeling that he thought I was an idiot, but he was too proper to express it outwardly.

I didn’t bother hiding my sigh as I got up to follow Fox back toward the palace. I was starting to think that I might even like Ana or Luka more than I liked Fox. Then I realized what I just thought and accused myself of being thoroughly crazy. There was just something about him that made my skin crawl. It could very well be the fact that he had already verbally chastised me once and I didn’t particularly like being told what to do. It was an attitude I acquired from Liz long ago.

“I need only Princess Claire.  Robin, you are free to enjoy your evening,” Fox stated mechanically as Robin rose to follow us. She nodded and smiled to me slightly as I followed Fox back to the palace. Just as we reached the edge of the gardens, I got the sensation again that someone was watching me. Turning to the left, I saw the figure of a man standing in the distance and then as soon as I blinked, he was gone. It happened so quickly, I wasn’t positive that I had seen anything at all, but my gut told me otherwise.

Fox led me back to the main room where I had met the entire vampire family just the night before. To my surprise, Edgar, Robin’s dad was eagerly awaiting us. His pale skin seemed to glow as the frantic flames of the fireplace cast an orange light throughout the room. He looked much like any father would, or perhaps what I had always envisioned what a father would look like, since I never met mine.

Edgar was speedily setting up one of the oversized tables with books, papers and pens among many other subjects of study that I mentally described as his “torture devices.” I was never particularly fond of school or studying, and Robin blatantly pointed it out, judging by my lack of vampire knowledge.  However, now that I was going to become a vampire, hopefully, studying about them would be much more interesting. Especially since I already liked the teacher.

“Oh, Claire, this is going to be an exciting evening!” Edgar bubbled with enthusiasm as he rushed toward me in a flash of speed. He stopped in front of me suddenly and with a slow movement, he held his hand out for mine.

I smiled at him and offered my hand. Edgar shook it calmly this time without jostling it at all and winked at me. Then, in another flourish of speed, he was suddenly back at the table he had set up for me and I couldn’t help but laugh at him. He looked like an excited hummingbird.

“Wow, you’re fast,” I said as I walked toward the table. I could hear Fox stifle a grumble as he followed behind me. I had almost forgotten he was there.

“Yes, thank you. That is but one of the many talents we vampires share.  Some are speedier than others.” 

Edgar pulled the chair out for me and I seated myself as I grew increasingly interested in this crash course of vampirism that I was about to receive.

“The king has asked that I instruct you as quickly as possible, so that you are prepared for the changes that are soon to befall you. As you are well aware, and I’m sure Robin has told you, we will be hosting a coronation ball in your honor to celebrate your adoption into this family. However, there are many things you must prepare for other than what you will be wearing.” 

Edgar smiled at me as he walked back and forth across the room.  I got the feeling he was a bit nervous and I first thought that it might be because of me; but then I saw Edgar’s eyes frequently steal a quick glance toward Fox, and I realized I wasn’t the only one who Fox made uneasy. He was certainly an ominous figure, even when he wasn’t talking.

Fox just stood behind me silently, obviously supervising that I was taught the correct information. I wasn’t sure how I felt about it. Was Fox there because Nicolae didn’t trust Edgar to tell me everything he should? Or because there were things that Edgar shouldn’t mention? I decided that any information was good information, considering I didn’t know much at all. Maybe I could even shock Robin or Dmitry with my limited knowledge of vampires.

“In order to attend the coronation ball, you must be completely changed into a vampire,” Edgar paused to watch my reaction and I only stared at him vacantly.

I knew he was going to tell me, at some point, what I really wanted to know, which was, how it was going to happen. Robin wouldn’t tell me any details and I was curious if her dad was doing the same.

“Now, I cannot tell you exactly what will occur as the transformation is performed, but I will tell you what to expect afterward, so that you can prepare yourself.  To begin…”

I interrupted Edgar as he began to explain. “Why can’t I be told how the transformation is performed? Isn’t that something I should know?”  The fact that they wouldn’t tell me was worrying me. It had to be an even more horrible experience than I could imagine, if they wouldn’t speak of it. I expected it would be painful, in fact, I was definitely certain of that. Otherwise, everyone would be vampires.

“The ceremony of transformation is a sacred tradition and only those who perform it or have experienced it are allowed to speak of it. We have also found it can be a…far less pleasant experience for those who occupy their time dwelling on what will take place,” Fox said with pride. I almost expected him to add that I should be honored to be able to undergo such a magnificent event.

Edgar cleared his throat, clearly rattled by Fox’s description. “Yes, thank you, Foxworth; although I may have worded it a bit differently, that is correct.”

Robin’s dad steadily walked toward me and placed a comforting, yet cold hand on my shoulder. “Do not let this trouble you, Claire. Think of it as a rite-of-passage to an honorable and tremendous journey you are about to embark on.”

His words comforted me, even if only a little. “Now, let’s move on to what I can tell you.”

I found that I became fixated on the way in which Edgar’s eyebrows seemed to dance atop his forehead as he spoke. “Are you listening, Claire?”

“Yes, sorry. It’s just a lot to take in, that’s all.  I haven’t really had a lot of time to process everything.” It was the truth. Everything felt like it was moving at lightning speed. One day, I was an average teenage girl, celebrating my eighteenth birthday and the next day, I was being chosen by the Vampire Royal Family as their princess.

“It is not the typical way we do things, but times like these call for… adjustments in protocol, so to speak.” I thought for a moment that Edgar had almost accidentally said more, but he continued. “As I was saying, after the change, you will find yourself ill for a day or two. I found these two days to be the most unpleasant part of the entire transformation, but as my wife would say, I am a vambaby.” Edgar laughed whole-heartedly until he made eye contact with Fox, and his laughter sounded more nervous. I joined in the laughter with him, hoping to ease some of the tension, and became truly annoyed with Fox. I really felt like this whole night would have gone better if he weren’t around.

“Once that subsides, you will immediately notice changes in your body and in your senses. It is a very exciting moment, I must say. Queen Evilyn will be by your when you awaken to your new vampire life, as tradition demands. She will help you balance yourself and provide you with your first taste of blood. Then comes the fun part.”

I was comforted by the fact that the queen would be by my side when I woke up, but a little nervous about drinking blood; although I knew I would probably change my mind later. “What’s the fun part?”

“Being a vampire, of course!”

After sitting through an hour or more of a somewhat embarrassing discussion about the changes my body would make in the next few days, I nearly ran out of the room when Edgar finished. Luckily, Fox allowed me to leave, but only after he informed me that the queen would be calling on me later in the evening, so I should be prepared to expect her. 

I tried my best at walking back to my room from memory and I truly thought I was getting close, when Dmitry suddenly appeared at my side. 

“Where are you going?” he asked in controlled amusement.

I gasped in surprise at his unannounced emergence. “Geez, Dmitry, you scared me. You shouldn’t creep up on people like that.” Vampires apparently enjoyed sneaking up on me. 

“I didn’t creep. You probably wouldn’t have noticed me if I hadn’t stopped. Besides vampires move too quickly to creep up on a human,” he said as he kept in step with me, smiling all the while. “Please do tell, where are you going?”

I wanted to sound as confident as possible. I knew if I showed even a trace of doubt or unease, Dmitry would tease me. I was quickly learning that was something he loved to do. “I’m going to my room.”

“Hmm,” Dmitry thought my comment over for a moment and I tried my best not to appear to be waiting for his reaction. “I hear you got
the talk
this evening. How did that go?”

“Well…” I wasn’t sure how to explain it. The changes Edgar described, although they were commonly things every vampire went through, made me a little too embarrassed to repeat, especially to Dmitry. Talking about changes happening to my body, no matter what their nature, were not things I like to discuss with a guy.

“That bad, eh?” Dmitry nudged me with his elbow as we continued walking through the maze of hallways that comprised the palace. “Don’t worry, Claire. We’ve all had to listen to that talk. I’d say it was just as terrible as the
birds and bees
talk I had with my parents when I was human. You should consider yourself lucky though.”

“Oh, really? Why is that?”

“At least you had Edgar to counsel you. You’ve met Fox, right?”

“Mhm,” I answered, trying to disguise the visible disdain in my tone, but apparently, I failed when Dmitry let out a small laugh.

“I really am going to miss having a human around; you’re so easy to read.” I huffed at his comment. I hated knowing vampires could read me like an open book! It was a terrible feeling to think you didn’t have any privacy, even in your own mind.

“I didn’t mean any offense. Vampires are just hard to read. You can never tell what they are thinking or feeling, or if they are being honest or duplicitous. It takes centuries of knowing a vampire before you can understand their character and mannerisms well enough to be able to read them, and even then, you can only guess. But with humans, there are no secrets, no disguises.” Dmitry glanced over at me and his expression was genuine, which softened my temper.

“I don’t always like to be so easy to read,” I admitted. “I guess I can see where you are coming from though. Sometimes, it feels like I don’t have any privacy.”

“I guess I’ve never thought of it that way.” Dmitry pondered on the thought for a moment while we continued our walk in silence. I thought I noticed a few paintings that looked familiar, and worried for an instant that we may have been going in circles, but I didn’t want to admit it.

“Well, Claire, I had better get going. There are many things to be done in preparation for your coronation. We can’t have a princess with an unfinished ball, now can we?”

I giggled at Dmitry as he made a grand bow and took my hand in his.  He planted the gentlest of kisses there, which caused a wave of electricity to prickle over my skin. “Adieu, Princess Claire.”

Then he vanished in a flash, sending my hair aflutter as if a strong breeze had just blown in through an open window. He stopped at the end of the hallway and grinned broadly at me. “Oh, and Claire? Your room is four hallways that way, second door on your left,” he added, pointing in the right direction.

I rolled my eyes as he vanished in a flash. Dmitry was the most charmingly irritating guy I had ever met, but he was starting to grow on me.  “Unfortunately,” I mumbled to myself.

When I finally made it back to my room, I was sad to see that I wouldn’t be alone. As much as I liked Robin, I wanted some time to myself just to think about things. This was going to be my last night as a human and I was quite honestly feeling a little sad about it.

“There you are!” Robin smiled as she flew to my side with the amazing speed and grace of a humming-bird. “How did it go? I hope my dad wasn’t too eccentric for you? I gave him a stern talking to beforehand.”

“No, no your dad was great. Probably the best teacher I have ever had, even though it got a little embarrassing at some points.”

Robin giggled, “I can imagine. Normally, a female vampire would have instructed you, but my mom had to help make preparations for your… well, for tomorrow night.  She’s much better at it than my dad. Anyway, I won’t keep you long, I’m sure you have a lot on your mind and I know the queen wanted some time with you, but I have a present for you.”

I gaped in surprise as Robin pulled a small box out from under a pillow on the sofa.  It was wrapped in shiny ruby-red paper that had a metallic sheen as it reflected the glow from the lights in the room. On top, sat a silky black ribbon. 

She handed it to me with her childlike enthusiasm and practically vibrated with excitement as she waited for me to open it. I was still so completely shocked by her generosity that I simply stared at the small package in my hand. “Robin, you didn’t have to get me anything. It’s not even my birthday.”

“I know that. Technically, tomorrow night will be your new birthday, but tonight is going to be your last night as a human. It is customary to give gifts to new vampires; and even though you haven’t changed yet, I wanted to be the first to give you something. Open it! You’re going to love it.”

I smiled at her with a heavy sigh and gently unraveled the ribbon on the package. Robin’s words hit me hard. Not in a negative way, but they truly laid out what fate had designed for my destiny.