It was almost 2:30 and Eliza hesitantly tried the restaurant door.   The sign said they closed at 2:00 and it did appear very dark.  She wondered if the Waiter had pull some sort of prank on her.  Or, she nervously looked around, set her up in some way.  She raised the large brass knocker and allowed it to drop one time and the door was immediately opened.  Her waiter of the previous evening was facing her.  "Good evening, Miss . . ."

"Eliza," she quickly supplied.

"Eliza.  Welcome little sister.  My name is Codrin and I will be your host tonight."  He stood aside, clearly inviting her to enter.  She stepped into the foyer and the heavy door shut with authority.  "Tonight, your presence with us is a sadness and a joy.  You remind us of our frailties and of our strengths."  He paused and stared at her.

She felt the eeriest sensation pass over her.  She looked into his eyes and was taken with the red and yellow swirl of color she saw there.  She seemed to be falling into their depths and she felt welcomed.  "Oh," she breathed, coming to her senses, staggering slightly.

He smiled and put his hand on her shoulder.  "You are not alone but we don't have a lot of time.  An induction will begin and you will partake?"  The question was clear in his voice.

For some reason, she felt she could trust Codrin.  Eliza nodded.  "If you think I should, I will."

Codrin smiled for the first time.  "You should. Come."  He turned and led her through the restaurant to a back room that could host small meetings.  She entered the room and saw several people.  They were all very pale, lean, and as they turned to see who was entering, she could see they all had fangs.  Her stomach twisted and she wanted to run, but she realized that her fangs were well developed (when did that happen?) and she felt a distinct sense of welcome.  She didn't want to run.

Codrin stood next to her.  "This is Eliza.  I am her sponsor and she is one with us."  There was a murmur of general greeting that was interrupted by the sounding of a low gong.  Everyone turned and seated themselves at a long table.  Codrin indicated to Eliza where she should sit and he assumed the seat at the head of the table.  "Tonight we welcome a new sister to our group.  She will be called Trandafira.  We will enjoy her and care for her."

A young woman walked into the room.  She looked around and saw the gathered group and her eyes widened as she saw the fangs.  She hesitated and seemed about to bolt from the room but she took a deep breath, reached up, untied the robe at the throat and shrugged it off.  It puddled around her feet and she stood, naked, for all to see.  Codrin walked over to her and handed her a crystal goblet of blood red liquid.  Eliza wondered if it was brandy or blood.

She took the goblet and quickly drank.  Her eyes leaked tears and she slightly gasped.  Codrin filled the goblet again, and again she drank.  A few seconds passed and all could see the powerful brandy having its effect.  She handed Codrin the goblet and whispered, "I'm ready."

Codrin's fangs were quite pronounced now.  They were at least four inches long and extended beyond the bottom of his jaw.  He shook his head and handed her a third goblet of brandy.  Hesitantly, she took and drank it.  He removed the goblet from her weakening hand and carefully handed to someone.  "Eliza, you are our youngest.  Come and drink of the only one younger than you."

She felt all eyes focus on her. She hesitantly stepped forward and faced the young woman.  She could see and smell the fear; the smell of the brandy and the warm blood rushing just below her skin was intoxicating.  Codrin took her hand and placed it on the woman's naked left breast.  "Feel the life.  Feel the beat of her heart."  She could, she realized.  She rubbed the soft breast, feeling the nipple becoming erect and she actually could feel the life.  She could also feel her fangs extending further and further.  The urge to taste this beautiful young woman was becoming overpowering.

"Look into her eyes," Codrin said.  "Ease her pain.  Ease her fears."  Eliza gazed into her eyes and it was like looking into a mirror and seeing your own soul.  Their eyes locked, moments of eternity passed and the woman held up her arms, inviting Eliza forward.  Accepting the invitation, she stepped forward and was embraced by the naked woman.  Eliza wished she was naked but all she could do was run her hand down the soft back and feel the soft buttocks.  She found her lips against the throat and the taste of hot blood was in her mouth.

She was sitting next to Trandafira and both of them were naked.  She felt a wonderful sting at her throat she could feel hot lips sucking and tasting her.  She twisted her head to the side to allow a better grip and was rewarded with increased sensation.  It was wonderful. She reached and touched Trandafira and felt her quiver with pleasure as she knew she was quivering.  Her entire body had turned into a vibrating instrument of pleasure and she did not want it to end.  She couldn't remember when she'd felt this good, this complete and this wanted.

The night passed.  Codrin and Eliza were alone.  She was tipsy, satiated in many ways unsure what was to come next.  Tonight, she'd been taken so many different ways by so many different people; she just could not absorb it all.  She realized this and had suspended all judgement and was simply going with experience and sensation.

"We are a small group.  For obvious reasons, we cannot become known and we cannot become too many.  We are not bound by law but by custom and cooperation.  Tonight, Trandafira, became one of us by having sought and begged admission.  We had two choices.  We could kill her or we could admit her.  We talked and we all liked her.  It is unusual but we accepted her."  Codrin hesitated to take a sip of . . . whatever was in his goblet.  Eliza had considered what had been said and was getting very concerned about her status.

Codrin smiled.  "Relax, Eliza.  I read the papers and I am far older and more sensitive than you can imagine.  The first time you came in, I knew what you were and who made you.  I also knew that he was dead and that you were alone.  We are not a rescue mission nor are we random murderers of our own kind.  You were allowed to live and to find your own path.  Many felt that the hunters would have you, be satisfied, and leave the rest of us alone.  Others wanted to wait and see what path you would take."

Eliza looked at him wide eyed.  "And you?" she asked.

He laughed.  "Yes," he said, "you don't disappointment."  He continued, "If you were as your maker, you'd not have left here alive.  He was not of this group so had to be respected.  A war would not be a wise course to pursue.  He was a drifter and claimed to a clan in Germany.  It is custom to respect a traveler but I think he was a rogue not a traveler."  He sighed.  "The hunters had him and we thought that was the end.  Then there was you and we watched.  You have handled yourself honestly and well.  You have shown bravery and intelligence.  I am honored to sponsor you to our group."

Eliza sat silently.  Codrin had not asked her if she wanted to be part of the group.  He'd just manipulated her into "joining."  She wasn't sure if she should be offended or grateful.  At the moment, she was inclined towards gratitude.  The grouped seemed like nice people and they'd certainly made her feel welcome.  She tingled at the thought of the welcome they'd made her feel and slyly grinned.  Yes, she'd had a very warm welcome.  "I wonder if becoming a vampire, being tortured and set up for death, and then killing a house full of people can change your standards at all and put you in the mood to be to be 'eaten' by a room full of people."

"It get's late.  You need to be making your journey home," Codrin observed.  "We usually meet the third Thursday of every month, but you are welcome to eat here at anytime.

Eliza lie in bed considering the events of the night.  The shade was drawn but the open window allowed  cool air to circulate, where the sounds of an awakening city could be heard.  Life was returning as she prepared to end her day.  She sighed.  "I'm not crazy.  I'm not crazy and this is really happening."  She touched her neck, and yes, there was a tenderness.  She threw back the sheet and looked at her breasts.  There were fading red marks that almost seemed to dissipate from her pale skin as she watched.  She touched her left breast and there was a slight tenderness.  She pressed and there was faint jab of pain but the sensation was more of pleasure than pain.  "I can't be horny," she thought, "not after what I've done tonight!"  She closed her eyes and smiled.  She drifted into sleep as the sun rose.

As the sun rose, the day warmed slightly in the way early spring days do.  Drifting deeper into sleep, she dreamed.  The dream started slow, almost like tonight was happening all over again.  As she slept, she viewed things in slow motion that had happened.  There, when she drank from Trandafira, and there when they drank from her.  She was seeing things now, that she didn’t altogether remember, but must have happened.  Even knowing what and who Codrin was, she subconsciously thought him a strange bird.  Sort of chuckling in her sleep, she realized in her dream, that that’s exactly what he looked like.  A tall skinny bird.

Now the dream changes, there is John sitting on her couch.  Oh, yes now this is very much what I wanted.  How long have I dreamed of this and it happened.  The way the dreams are playing out its almost like it’s happening all over.  The sensations, but.....wait.......I didn’t use my fangs on John.  I know I didn’t.  No.......I didn’t use the stare, I didn’t.  No he did this on his own, didn’t he?

Suddenly, it’s as if the pleasant dreams have turned into nightmares.  There is a subtle difference to all the remembered pleasures.  Doubts, have I misused my “powers”, did these things happen the way I remember, or am I dreaming a faulty dream.  I know it’s a dream, I just have to wake up.

WAKE UP......................WAKE up.................Wake.......jumping as if someone was shouting, Eliza sat up in bed and looked around.  She could still faintly hear the echo of someone calling her to wake up.

Strange.  No one was here and all she could hear was the hustle and bustle of people walking by.  “It must have been because I left the window open, that I heard the calling to wake up.”  Telling herself that made it easier to explain it away.

The sun was just starting to go down, so Eliza thought that she might as well get up for work.  This would give her time to shower, feed Toby and pick up the apartment before she left.  Heading for the shower, she started to smile as she remembered the amazing shower she had taken just yesterday.  But then, of course, she hadn’t been alone.  Remembering all the delicious fun she’d had with John made her think of how they would react at work.

Then she thought of all that had happened last night and wondered if this would affect how she felt about John.  Slightly worried, she wonder if she should tell John what had happened if he should ask.

“No, I can’t tell him, he doesn’t know about me being a vampire,” she thought.  “I can see it now, gee John guess what?  I helped induct a young woman into the select group of Vampires that meet at our favorite restaurant.  Yes I am a member of that August group.  Oh, sorry, yes I forgot to tell you, I am a vampire too.”

She could tell him another way, better yet she could show him.  Laughing out loud, she smiled and her fangs slipped down.  Smiling broadly, the fangs showed to great advantage.  See John, I have something to show you.”  Oh sure that would go over really big.  The other night would be the first and last time he spent any time here.  He’d probably grab a stake and try to kill me too.

“I wonder why he’s so fascinated by vampires, she thought.  He never did tell me.

She realized she didn’t want to lose John, knowing if she let anything slip about being a vampire, he’d probably drop her flat, or make her part of his statistics.  “I can’t say a thing.  I will have to hide, if possible, my growing “powers” and hope, if I slip up, that he doesn’t realize what I am.

Looking around, she saw that she’d cleaned up, fed the cat and it was now time to dress for work.  Standing in front of her closet, she could see that her wardrobe had changed drastically.  Gone were the colors she normally wore and predominate now were blacks, whites and blood reds.  “When did I do this,” she wondered.  “I don’t remember doing this.”  Hanging in the back of her closet was her favorite outfit from before “the change.”  Made of soft suede, the light tan skirt was a mini.  She tucked in a soft, white poet type blouse. Finishing the outfit was a vest in the same light tan suede.  A comfortable outfit for the changeable spring weather.

She knew she looked good in this outfit.  Not too slender and not heavy.  Just right.  Now shoes, where are they?  OK, there they are.  Pulling on a demi-boot in the same shade of suede, she was all set to go.

The weather was nice tonight.  Still a slight nip in the air, since it wasn’t spring yet.  A few weeks to go and then spring.  She would miss the cold weather, since it had become her favorite season.

Walking briskly, she was about a block from the library when a car pulled alongside and the window opened.  The guy inside wolf whistled and shouted something at her.  She walked a little faster since this sort of reminded her of the hunters.  She had gotten them, all hadn’t she?  Although if there were one group of hunters, there were bound to be more and she didn’t want to go through that again.

Staying closer to the buildings as she walked, the guy called to her again.  Looking at him, her eyes started to flash.  Oh no, not now.  Feeling her fangs appear, she hissed at him and walked faster.  There in front of her, was her building.  Taking the time now, for her fangs to return to normal, she looked around and didn’t see the character that had been bothering her.

Entering the library, she waved to the custodian, and made her way to the lab room.  As she entered, she saw it was empty.

A quick feeling of relief, she thought that she was glad she didn’t have to tell John about last night.

As if her thinking about him made him appear, he stepped out of the big closet in the back of the room.
Turning to her, he smiled and said “Hi Eliza, thought I heard you come in. You are looking beautiful tonight.  How is everything.”

Smiling back, Eliza told John that everything was fine and she was very ready to get back to work.  She also wanted to know if there was anything else in the paper about the killing of the hunters.

As they were talking, she realized that John wouldn’t ask about last night as Codrin had made a point of inviting her to that little get together when John was off paying the check.  She breathed a soft sigh of relief and thought she was glad she wouldn’t have to explain yet or say anything at all.

Grinning, she asked what was on the agenda for tonight.

The evening passed pleasantly and far too quickly.  John seem engrossed in what he was doing and they hadn't the time to chat as she'd have liked, but she was busy too.