I knelt down on the crimson carpet and bowed my head while placing my right hand over a black book. There was no inscription on the front cover. It was merely a black hardcover with gold laid into the binding.

“Now repeat the vows back to me,” Lady Serenity instructed.

“I promise to uphold the customs of Tempest Legion to my greatest ability and beyond,” I began. “And may the blood I spill tonight represent the blood binding me to my coven.”

“Who presents you to this coven on your birthday?” she asked.

“Draven, the alchemist,” I replied.

“Draven will say that, of course,” she reminded me. “But it'll do for now.”

I chuckled lightly and kept my head bowed.

“And what should happen when you do not uphold your vow to Tempest Legion?” she implored.

“I shall be taken to the woods in order to be burned at the stake,” I replied. “And may my soul be taken back by the very gods who created me.”

A cold sensation trickled up my spine and caused the hair on the back of my neck to stand. I shuddered.

“Rise, young vampling. We bring to you the tribute to be paid. Bite the neck as proof of your allegiance and drink freely from the blood that flows,” Lady Serenity instructed.

I rose from the ground and watched carefully as she pretended to bring me a human. With a flushed face, I leaned forward and opened my mouth. My fangs extended to meet the invisible flesh.

“Welcome to the coven!” she announced with a tender smile.

She clapped her hands together and wrapped me into a hug, swaying me side to side with enthusiasm.

“This is going to be an amazing party, love,” she whispered tenderly. “I just can't wait to call you a sister fang.”

“I'm excited, too,” I squeaked. “I think too excited. I've gotten a bit light-headed.”

I raised my hand to my temple and rubbed it gently in circles. The room was beginning to spin. A strange gurgling erupted from my stomach and I frowned while covering my mouth.

“Oh, darling! It's gone straight to your head. You must have a seat,” she insisted while setting me down in a chair.

My hand remained fixed to my mouth as she hopped over to the phone to call for Draven.

“It's no wonder you're so dizzy. The time is late for your feeding. Draven will be up immediately,” she announced.

“Oh, that's alright,” I hummed. “I'll be just fine as soon as...”

I fell from the chair. Lady Serenity gasped and fell to my side, cradling my head in her hands. It lolled around as I tried to regain a sense of my surroundings, my vision going black.

“I can't see!” I cried. “Why can't I see?”

“I think you're going into shock,” she replied.

The door flew open seconds later, the room plunging into a chaotic whirlwind that I couldn't decipher. I felt the familiar pinch in my arm, tasted the patch of saline on my tongue, and felt the rush of fluid entering my blood stream. It flushed my system. As my eyes focused, I blinked rapidly and gasped for air.

“What's going on?” I wheezed.

“Your body is rejecting the serum completely,” Draven explained. “You're going into shock since you haven't had a proper feeding. I'm afraid nothing I do will help.”

“But you're my doctor,” I argued.

“Hush, please. You're going to wear yourself thin by speaking,” he replied. “Serenity, get to the phone. Call Sirus. We need an emergency intervention.”

“Intervention…?”

Draven covered my lips with a finger and shushed me, then pushed a lock of black hair from my face. My eyes rolled around listlessly, incapable of focusing on any particular object. The entire room was a giant blur. As I began to cry, Draven stroked my hair and softly hummed his ancient lullaby. The touch of his hand kept me close to reality, but I continued drifting in and out regardless.

I saw the flash of lights in the hallway, recognized the painting of our eldest coven member, and then heard the sound of his voice crying out for an explanation. Adrian. It came in waves through the black spots over my blurry vision. Nothing in particular stood out. I caught each piece as it hovered over my motionless body and let it drift away as new information presented itself.

“Riley, can you hear me?”

My eyes rolled around trying to find the source of the familiar, husky voice.

“Riley, please say something...”

“I can't...” I croaked.

A hand rested over my cheek as a light shined into my eyes, causing me to wince. Something cold entered my blood stream and I shook my head.

Not human blood, I thought. Please, not human blood.