I slammed into Samantha, knocking her to the floor. Her head hit the dirt, and she glared at me. "How did you find us?"

I hit her across the face and said, "I'll be the one asking questions around here."

She shoved me off, and I landed against a grimy, old chair. "You're not even a full vampire. How dare you think that you can get the upper hand?"

I stood up and kicked her down just as she was starting to get up. "I am your princess. I already have the upper hand. Even now, I have more powers than you will ever dream of having."

She laughed and said, "You have so much to learn." She grabbed my leg and yanked me to the floor.

I rolled, and grabbed a broken table leg. I jumped up and hit the male vampire across the head with it. He was standing back, just watching us as if we were part of some reality show to be gawked at. He fell over immediately and didn't get up. I would finish him off later.

Samantha jumped up and grabbed my hair, forcing my head back as far as it would go without breaking my neck.

She was close enough that I scratched her face, and out of the corner of my eye, I could see blood running down her cheek. She kneed me in the back, and I gasped.

Somehow, I managed to twist myself around so that I was facing her. I grabbed her hair, and we began having a hair-yanking contest.

"Are we having a cat fight now?" I asked. "This seems too high school to me."

She stared into my eyes. "You will let go of me and let me leave."

"I will let you go," I said slowly. "When pigs fly."

She looked completely surprised that I hadn't been able to be controlled, and I took advantage of that second, grabbed both sides of her head and shoved it into the wall. The shack was in worse shape than I thought because we both went flying through the wall and landed on the forest floor outside.

We rolled around, each trying to get the advantage. I scratched her face again, but then noticed that the scratches from just a few minutes ago had already healed. Scratching was obviously not going to help me out much if she could heal that quickly.

I managed to grab one of her arms, sat up and twisted it as hard as I could. I heard a loud pop, and she let out a yell. I kept twisting, and she started kicking me. I twisted harder, and she quickly rolled over on top of me and pinned me so that I couldn't move. Did her arm already heal itself?

She smiled from on top of me. "This is pretty familiar."

"What are you talking about?" I grunted, trying to get out of her grip.

Samantha gave a seductive smile and said, "When Tanner and I were together this week."

"You're lying."

She raised an eyebrow and said, "You'll never know, now will you? He won't be able to give his side of the story. It's too bad, because he really was one of my favorite toys."

Being reminded of why I was there in the first place gave me all the fuel that I needed. I pushed her off of me and rolled on top of her, pinning her down.

"This is even more familiar." She laughed.

I slapped her. "Why did you kill him?" I demanded.

"I had no choice. I had direct orders."

"If you liked him so much, you could have found another way." I banged her head against the ground.

She rolled her eyes. "There will be others just like him."

I pulled the stake out of my sweater and began stabbing her in the chest with it. Her eyes became wide and then turned a silvery color. She shoved me off of her, stood up, and pulled the stake out.

"You missed my heart," she said. I couldn't tell if she was lying or not, although her eyes had returned to their normal color. I noticed some silvery liquid coming out of one of the wounds on her chest. She turned around and started to limp away.

As I watched Tanner's murderer hobble away, I debated whether or not to finish her off or to let her suffer. No matter how much she suffered, I knew that she would not endure nearly as much as I had. Had I any more tears, I still would have been crying.

I got up and walked back into the shack. I found the other vampire still lying where I had left him, and stuck the other stake deep into his chest. Streams of silver fluid oozed out. I pulled out my matches and lit the shack on fire. I didn't even care if the smoke drew attention. The forest was wet from recent rains, so I didn't worry about causing a forest fire. I wouldn't be that careless.

I looked in the direction that Samantha had gone, and found that she had disappeared. I picked up the stake that I had used on her and ran back to the cave to figure out my next move. I rolled the large stone just far enough for me to get back into the cave, and then let it slide back to cover the entrance.

I was suddenly very tired. I whispered another apology to Tanner and fell asleep beside him.

When I woke up, I was shocked to find that Tanner was thrashing around next to me. I jumped up and watched him with both curiosity and horror. I knew that he had definitely been dead. I was one of the top members of my CSI club because I really knew my stuff. He was very much dead before I went after Samantha.

Yet there he was, thrashing around like he was having a nightmare or was in some kind of intense pain. He was not conscious, but this was something more than some postmortem muscle spasms. I knew what those looked like too.

I watched and waited for close to a half an hour before he stopped moving around. I walked over to him and checked his vitals. Sure enough, there were no signs of life whatsoever. No breathing, no heartbeat, no pulse. I was disappointed but not surprised.

His skin was cold, but there was no stiffness settling in as I would have expected. As I sat there next to him, tears started to fall again. How could this have happened? Why him? Why? He was such a good person. A tear fell onto his arm.

His eyes opened, and I nearly fainted with shock. His eyes were red, and they turned to look at me.

"Alexis?" he asked.

I opened my mouth to speak, but no sound came out.

"What's going on? There was such a horrible pain going through my entire body. I couldn't wake up, but I felt it the whole time. Where are we?"

I started crying again. "You were dead. You were dead. You were dead."

"I can't move. The pain isn't as excruciating as it was, but it's still hanging on."

"Your eyes are red. I think I must have turned you into a vampire when I tried to save your life."

"How did I die?" he asked.

"Samantha."

His pupils became really small, and his eyes narrowed. "I remember now."

"I brought you here after my CPR failed because I didn't want her to return and take your body. I found you too late to save you. Then I pushed that rock in front of the entrance to this cave to keep your body safe, and went and put a stake in her heart."

"How did you turn me into a vampire?"

"I don't know. I was so focused on saving your life. The thought of turning you hadn't even crossed my mind. I was so afraid of losing you."

We sat in silence for little while.

"I bit my tongue and it bled a lot. It's possible that while I was giving you CPR, my blood went through your system and somehow caused you to turn when you died. I have no idea how that works. Most of the vampires that I know were born from vampires. Those that were turned didn't exactly tell me about how it happened."

"Am I going through the transformation now?"

"You must be, but I don't know anything about the pain. I haven't died yet, my heart still beats. It might continue for another six months, from what I've been told. It was supposed to be another year, but my rapid exposure to blood the first time has accelerated my transformation."

"Hold me."

I laid my head on his shoulder and wrapped an arm across him. It was beyond strange that he was talking to me without my being able to hear his heartbeat or breathing. We laid in silence for a long time, and I tried to wrap my mind around having him back. As a vampire.

I wasn't sure if I had fallen asleep or not, but the next thing that I was aware of was Tanner thrashing around again. This time, I knew what was going on and that he was in pain. I grabbed his hand and kept telling him that it would be okay.

When he finally stopped, he turned his head and looked at me with sad, red eyes. "Am I going to be okay, really?"

I squeezed his hand. "You've already died. I don't see how it could get much worse. Maybe I should bring you something with blood in it so that you can eat. That might help."

He nodded his head. "Let's try that."

"I'll be back," I told him, and moved the rock out of the way of the entrance and back again. I wondered how much he would need. He might need a lot, so I decided to find something substantial. I listened and thought I heard a coyote not too far away. I ran after it, caught it, broke its neck and ran back to the cave with it.

"Let's try this guy," I said. "I think it will help."

Tanner looked at the animal but didn't move. I bit into its neck, so that blood flowed from it.

In an instant, he jumped up and began drinking the coyote's blood. He didn't stop until he had drained it. Then he looked at me and said, "Thank you."

"For what?" I asked.

"For getting it for me. I felt so weak, but now I feel like my strength has already returned."

"Good. That's what I was hoping for."

"What happened to you? What did those vampires do to you?" he asked.

I sighed. "Do we really need to talk about this now? You need to regain your strength because we can't stay here for too long."

"All I wanted to do was to kill those vampires. I felt so helpless knowing that I couldn't do anything to help you."

I smiled.

"What?" he asked. "That's not funny."

"I know it's not funny. I'm just glad to see your personality coming back. You have no idea how upset I was when you were dead. It's such a relief to have you back again."

"I'm glad to have you back too. They kept telling me that you were going to be killed and that you were no match for them."

"They wish," I said. "I got away as soon as I could and I came for you."

"Tell me what happened."

"You really want to know, don't you?"

"Yes, I do. Tell me everything," he sat down on our makeshift bed and pulled me down on his lap.

I let out a shriek and started laughing, "You're definitely feeling better."

He pulled me close and whispered in my ear, "That's right. Now don't change the subject."

I sighed. "They drove me to a horrible building in the middle of the woods and locked me in a dungeon. They brought in a witch who cast a spell on me, taking away my ability to be in the sun. They didn't give me anything to eat or drink, but I still managed to find the energy to escape from the chains and through the wall."

"You can't go out in the sun? I thought that was an old wives tale."

"No, it's true unless you have a blessing that allows you to be in the sun. I was given that blessing at birth, but that witch took it away."

"Does that mean that I can't go into the sun, either?"

"That's right. We're both creatures of the night. For now at least, until I am able to have the blessing given to both of us."

"How did you find me if you can't go out in the sun?"

"I traveled at night. I hid during the day. I spent one day in the woods and yesterday I spent in an abandoned house. It still had electricity and food, so I was able to eat and get a shower."

"This whole thing seems so unreal. I can't believe that I'm a vampire now."

"Me neither. I'm so sorry that you got dragged into this."

He looked into my eyes. "Alexis, this is not your fault. I don't want you to blame yourself for this. I would rather go through all of this again than never to have met you."

I blushed. "Hey, give me that ring and have a drink of my blood. I'm still part human you know, and you're going through the transition."

"I don't need a ring to be in love with you."

"You won't believe how amazing it makes the blood taste and feel," I told him. "It's so much better than drinking of any other blood, even other human blood. Believe me. You've got to try it."

He gave me an unsure look.

"Hand over that ring," I told him and he gave it to me. I put it on my thumb and said with a twinkle in my eye, "Remember to stop when the flow slows down."

He leaned in, still looking unsure.

I pointed to the spot, smiling. "Right there." My heart started racing with anticipation.

He pulled back. "You're nervous."

"You can already sense that?" I asked. "You just turned."

"Your heart is very loud."

I laughed. "I believe you. Hurry up."

He laughed and then bit down into my neck. I felt an explosion of euphoria starting from my neck and quickly running through my body in every direction. The only thing that I could see was amazing show of colorful lights, and I felt like I might faint. It was a good thing that I was sitting on his lap in case I happened to pass out.

He pulled away from my neck just before I was about to faint.

"That was…wow."

"I definitely see why you were always begging me to drink your blood," I whispered. "Wow."

We looked into each other's eyes and started laughing. When we stopped laughing, he said, "That is some ring."

"It sure is. Too bad once you're done with your transformation, it will be useless."

"We'll have to make the most of it while we can," he said, and smiled. "It's like a drug."

"I feel drunk on your love," I said, twirling a strand of his hair.

"This is much better than being drunk."

"Of course it is, not that I would know from experience. But, we're drunk on our love, not some stupid drink," I told him.

"I'm so glad to have you back. I hated being apart from you and not knowing what they were doing to you. I felt so powerless as a human, but now I feel so empowered, like I could take them down."

I stopped smiling. "We might have to do just that, you know."

"They're not going away, are they?"

"Not until we do something about them. Adam and that whole group only want one thing. They want to take over the vampire kingdom. They want to rule all vampires and live in the castle, and they think that it's necessary to kill me for that to happen."

"Why you?"

"I'm next in line for the throne. I was born the princess of all vampires, and the Morettis tried to have me killed as a toddler, but I was hidden among the humans and raised as one of their own. It took the Morettis all this time to find me, and now they want me dead."

"You're a vampire princess? You were born a vampire? Why didn't I know any of this?"

I didn't respond right away. "I don't know, I guess it never came up."

He looked hurt. "How could you not tell me something so big?"

"It's all so big to me. Being a vampire is so incredibly crazy, and the princess part is no more crazy than that. It doesn't even feel real yet. I haven't even met my parents since finding out about all of this. Everyone says it's for the best, but it doesn't feel that way."

"Is there anything else that I need to know about you?"

That time I was hurt. "I don't know. Like what?"

"How would I know?" he asked, pulling me off his lap and moving away from me.

I sighed. What had gone wrong? How could things be so amazing one minute and go downhill so fast the next? Then I remembered that we were two transitioning vampires. Crazy emotions, times two.

"I'm not trying to hide anything from you," I said. "Anything that you want to know about me I will tell you. I didn't ask for any of this. A couple of months ago, I was just living my invisible life, going to school and work completely unnoticed by anyone. Then strange things started happening to me, and I found out that I was actually something that I didn't think even existed. Not only that, but I suddenly became beautiful and popular, and nobody would leave me alone. Then in almost no time at all, I went from adored to hated, which is where you came in with your kindness and friendship. We both got kidnapped because of me. It's been a huge whirlwind and a roller coaster."

"Alexis, I'm sorry. You're right. I wasn't being fair."

I looked into his eyes. "It's not your fault. We've both had a lot hidden from us. Samantha used you to get to me. She definitely didn't tell you the truth about who I was."

"No, she pretended to accidentally notice that you were going through the transformation. She knew exactly what was going on. She wanted me to go after you when she disappeared."

"Nobody told me that I was a vampire being raised by humans. I had vampires around watching me most of my life, but they kept me in the dark. Even after finding out that I was a vampire, they didn't tell me much because there hasn't been much time. Everything has been crazy, especially since my transformation got kicked into overdrive."

"Alexis, I'm really sorry about that. I was being selfish, and if I had it to do over again, I wouldn't have forced you to be exposed to blood like that. I didn't know that it was your first exposure or what it would do to you. But I'm still sorry. I shouldn't have done that. I could have exposed you to everyone if you couldn't control yourself. I also could have put those guys who punched each other in danger if you had gone after them. Maybe my jerk persona was more than just an act."

"I'm not upset about that. Sorry that I keep bringing it up. It was actually a good thing. It caused me to learn more about my abilities, and if I had been exposed to blood 'properly,' I wouldn't have known how much better fresh blood is. That bagged stuff is beyond disgusting. More importantly, I would have never gotten to know you."

"So what's the deal with Cliff?" Tanner asked.

"Huh?"

"Well, you two were obviously together before the whole blood incident. He's been gone, and there was that rumor that Hailey started. What's the real story? You did go from him to me pretty quickly."

"Should I be offended?" I asked, scooting away from him.

"No. I'm not judging you. I just want to know the story. What's the deal with him? Is he a vampire too?"

I sighed in relief. "Yes, he's a vampire. We grew up together in the vampire castle before I was kidnapped, the first time. We met up again the night of the homecoming dance. He got mad when I told him that I had kissed you that first time, and he told me to leave his sight. That was the last that anyone has heard from him."

"Overreacting much?"

"No, he wasn't," I said, trying not to be as defensive as I felt. "He'd been waiting for me ever since I was kidnapped when I was three."

"Why do I feel like there's more to the story?"

I sighed again. "We're destined to be married and rule the vampire kingdom together for many centuries," I blurted out.

He stared at me. "You're the vampire princess and he's the prince?"

"I can't win. No matter what I do, it's wrong, and it makes someone mad. I did save your life, remember. Instead of being dead, now you're a vampire."

"So you're going to marry him?" he asked, glaring at me.

"I don't know. You've really complicated things."

"You don't know? Where has he been lately when you needed him most? Has he shown you any compassion?"

I ignored him. "I'm barely seventeen. I shouldn't have to think about this. Do you know that I had planned on never marrying?

He narrowed his eyes. "Don't evade my questions."

"There is the chance that Cliff won't want anything to do with me again. There's also the chance that I could choose you over Cliff and being a princess. My uncle made that choice, because he fell in love with a non-royal vampire. He gave up his place in the royal line, which is why my father is in that place now. They're twins, but my uncle was born first."

He gave me a funny look.

"What did I do now?" I asked, exasperated.

"Did you just say that you would consider choosing me over being a princess?"

"Yeah…."

"Really?"

"Yes."

He shook his head. "That's crazy. Do you realize that? What am I that you would throw all of that away?"

"Just a second ago, you were on my case about how Cliff hasn't been here for me. Now you're saying 'who am I?' What gives?"

"He shouldn't treat you like that and expect that you would have anything to do with him," he said. "But at the same time, I don't think that I deserve you. Who am I that you would give up being a princess?"

"What do you mean who are you? You are an amazing person…vampire. You're kind, you're giving, and you're compassionate. I have already risked my life to save you from Samantha. I put a stake in her heart for what she did to you, and I gave up my ability to be in the sun to save you."

"Wait…what? The sun thing has to do with me?"

"When the witch was getting ready to cast the spell to remove my sun blessing, Adam told me that if I didn't get in the circle to receive her spell, they would kill you. So I walked in freely."

"You did that for me?"

"Of course."

He wrapped his arms around me and squeezed me. "You're truly amazing. I don't deserve you."

"You've been my only friend in a sea of obnoxious high schoolers. You threatened to punch faces for me. You walked me to my classes, getting tardies for yourself. You risked ridicule being seen with me. How can you say that you don't deserve me?"

"I also used you. I only approached you because I wanted your venom to help me with my game and for the high. Then I put you at risk by setting up those two guys to give each other bloody noses."

"You didn't know what you were doing then. That wasn't really you. Once you saw me in pain, then you allowed your true self out. Your true self is incredible and also so much fun."

"Also, as much as I hate to admit it, I don't know why you would even consider choosing Cliff over me. On top of everything else he's also a prince. Who is very obviously in love with you. I'm poor, Alexis. I have nothing to offer you."

"But you're a good person, and you have admirable qualities. Besides, feeling that way just makes you even more desirable. Nothing is more of a put off than a guy who thinks he's awesome."

"If that's the case, then I must be irresistible right now."

I turned around, gave him a squeeze and then a quick kiss. We enjoyed our embrace.

After a while, I asked, "How does your strength feel? I think that we should move on from this cave pretty soon. If we stay in one place too long, they will be able to track us."

"Maybe we want them to track us."

"What?" I wasn't sure that I heard him right.

"I feel like I could take down an army. If there's any truth to the human legend, then as a newly turned vampire, I should be at my all-time strongest."

"You really want to fight Adam and his jokers?"

"More than anything."