Amygdala | JORDAN LI

Prologue: Bring Me Back To Life

“Marie, you’re special.” Those were the first words she heard when she arrived at Red River Orphanage at the age of twelve.

After that, they subjected her to various experiments to understand her abilities. They wanted to control her power.

They wanted to control her.

But Marie, at that young age, was unaware of their true intentions. They told her they were her new family, nurturing her briefly before turning her into a guinea pig.

Now, at seventeen, Marie's sole focus was on freedom. She religiously counted down the days until her eighteenth birthday, her ticket out of this hellhole.

"116 days to go," she whispered, a small smile playing on her lips as she etched another tally mark on the wall with her trusty pocket knife.

Her room, once a sanctuary, had become her cell. Locked in except for bathroom breaks, she was a prisoner in all but name. Sure, she could easily break out with her superhuman strength, but where would a teenage runaway go?

Suddenly, the doorknob turned, making Marie jump. But as the door swung open, revealing Sister Mary's familiar headpiece, she relaxed. "Oh shi— I mean, it's just you, Sister Mary."

"Language," Mary chided playfully, her smile betraying her lack of real annoyance.

Mary was Marie's lifeline in this place, the only genuinely kind soul in the sham of an orphanage that was Red River.

"Sorry, I'm just a bit on edge tonight."

Mary's face softened with understanding. "Is it because of the anniversary of that day?”

The words hit Marie like a ton of bricks, dredging up memories of the day her world imploded. "Yeah," she managed, her throat constricting.

Mary's hand found Marie's shoulder, offering comfort. "I'm here for you, always," she promised, concern etched on her face.

Marie blinked back tears, refusing to let them fall.

After a moment of loaded silence, Mary clapped her hands, clearly trying to lighten the mood. "I've got some news – you have a visitor."

Marie's eyebrows shot up in surprise. "A visitor?" It had been years since anyone had come to see her.

"Come on, I'll take you to meet her," Mary said, ushering Marie out of the room.

As they walked down the sterile, white hallways, the muffled screams of other "experiments" reached Marie's ears. She clenched her jaw, a familiar rage bubbling up inside her. One day, she vowed silently, she'd save them all.

"We're here," Mary announced, snapping Marie back to the present.

A woman with long dark hair stood with her back to them in the visitor's hall. As she turned, Marie was struck by her polished appearance – navy pantsuit, black heels, and a smile that seemed almost too perfect.

"You must be Marie Moreau," the woman said, her voice smooth and professional.

Marie crossed her arms, eyebrow raised. “You’re an FBI agent, aren’t you?” She folded her arms.

The woman laughed, a practiced sound. So, you have a sense of humor, good.” She extended her hand. “I’m Victoria Neuman.”

Marie stared at the outstretched hand, making no move to shake it.

“Marie, for heaven’s sake, shake the woman’s hand.” Mary admonished gently.

Victoria smoothly retracted her hand.

Victoria, looking slightly disappointed, withdrew her hand and rested it at her side. “No worries, I understand. Trust can be a slow journey for orphans with prospective guardians.”

Guardian? What was going on? Marie’s gaze sharpened with suspicion as Mary seemed to deliberately look elsewhere.

Mary cleared her throat. “Oh, I might’ve neglected to mention that Victoria is adopting you.” Mary casually added, as though the thought had just occurred to her.

Marie's world tilted on its axis. "What?"

Victoria nodded, her gaze steady. "I want to adopt you, Marie."

"Why now? I'm almost 18," Marie challenged, her mind racing. This was too convenient, too sudden. After years of hoping for a family, why now, when freedom was so close?

It didn’t make sense to her, soon enough, she would be 18, so why was she getting adopted all of a sudden? Something about this was fishy.

Victoria’s gaze remained steady, a mix of determination and empathy in her eyes. “Because age doesn’t define the need for a family or a home. I believe everyone deserves a chance at both, no matter how close they are to adulthood.” The words rang hollow to Marie's ears. This woman was hiding something, she was sure of it.

"Bullshit," Marie spat out.

"Marie!" Mary gasped.

But Marie wasn't finished. "I had a family once. I killed them. Still want to adopt me?"

Victoria offered no response, while Mary winced at the blunt confession.

Without waiting for a response, Marie spun on her heel and stalked away. "I'm going to bed," she called over her shoulder, ignoring Mary's pleas to come back.

“Marie? Please, don’t act this way,” Mary called out, but it had no effect on Marie.

“Whatever, I’m going to bed,” Marie replied.

»»-----------►

“Teenagers,” Mary exhaled out.

“Teenagers,” Victoria echoed humorously.

Mary and Victoria were in a different room, away from the main hall. Mary handed Victoria some documents. “Sorry about that. Just sign these papers and you can collect Marie in a couple of days.”

“Sounds like a plan,” Victoria said, taking a pen from inside her blazer and putting it to paper.

In a private room, Mary handed Victoria a stack of papers. "Just sign these, and you can pick up Marie in a few days."

As Victoria signed, Mary studied her. Lawyer? CEO? Whoever she was, she clearly had the means to buy Marie's freedom from Red River.

"About what Marie said—" Mary began, but Victoria cut her off.

"No need to explain. Red River has informed me of Marie's... unique circumstances." Victoria offered a courteous smile.

Mary's unease grew. Victoria knew about Marie's past, yet still wanted to adopt her? Something wasn't adding up, and Mary couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to this adoption than met the eye.

»»-----------►

A couple of days passed. The days crawled by, each one a carbon copy of the last. Then, like a bolt from the blue, Victoria reappeared.

Marie was floored. Usually, her gruesome confession about her parents sent potential adopters running for the hills. But not Victoria. She stood there, cool as a cucumber, ready to whisk Marie away from Red River's clutches.

It didn't add up. The staff at Red River treated Marie like a ticking time bomb, desperate to keep her under their thumb. Victoria, though? She exuded an eerie calm, as if Marie's dark past was nothing more than a minor inconvenience. The question burned in Marie's mind: What was Victoria's angle?

“Why did you come back?” Marie asked, irritation clear on her face.

“I’m bringing you home with me.” Victoria said nonchalantly.

Home. The word felt foreign on Marie's tongue. "I don't have a home," she spat, "and I'm sure as hell not going anywhere with you."

Suddenly, Mary entered the main hall, ready to say goodbye to Marie. She placed a comforting hand on Marie’s shoulder.

"Give it a chance, Marie," Mary coaxed, her voice honeyed with optimism. "This could be the fresh start you've been waiting for."

Marie's eyes darted between Mary and Victoria, the latter watching their exchange with unsettling intensity. In a moment of vulnerability, Marie threw her arms around Mary, her whisper barely audible.

"I don't trust her."

Victoria's smile never wavered.

Mary's voice took on a pragmatic tone. "She's your guardian now, Marie. You're almost 18 - practically an adult. Sometimes we have to do things we'd rather not."

“But functioning adults don’t have guardians.”Marie countered.

Mary paused for a moment, then laughed. “That is true.”

Marie's gaze ping-ponged between the two women, full of conflicted emotions. Finally, she caved. "Fine, I'll go," she muttered, defeat coloring her words. "Not like I have much choice anyway."

As Marie shuffled towards Victoria, maintaining a wary distance, she cast one last look at Mary. The nun's reassuring smile did little to quell the storm in Marie's gut.

“You’ll be just fine,” Mary reassured.

Marie clung to a sliver of hope. Just a couple of months, she thought. She'd play along until her 18th birthday, then make a break for it. Freedom was so close she could almost taste it.

Oh boy, was she wrong.

»»-----------►

The journey to Victoria's place was a silent affair. Victoria, eyes fixed on the road, didn't attempt small talk - a small mercy Marie silently appreciated. From the backseat, Marie caught glimpses of Victoria's tawny eyes flicking to the rearview mirror, meeting her gaze briefly before returning to the road.

As they drove through the night, Marie found herself lost in thought. She'd noticed Victoria's nocturnal habits - both visits to Red River had been after dark. Perhaps her job kept her busy during daylight hours?

The car eventually rolled to a stop. Marie exited, taking in her surroundings. They were in a rundown part of Brooklyn, the neighboring building adorned with faded graffiti barely visible in the dim light.

"This is home sweet home?" Marie quipped dryly.

This was strange. Based on Victoria’s attire, Marie had assumed she had a well-paying job. But why would Victoria be living in the projects of Brooklyn if she did?

“It looks way better on the inside,” Victoria responded.”

Victoria approached the front door and swung it open without needing a key.

Not locking her door in this part of town? Marie wondered if this woman was crazy or maybe a serial killer.

Marie followed her inside, the door automatically shutting behind her. She jumped at the sound.

“What the fuck?” she whispered to herself, causing Victoria to look back at her with slight amusement.

"Something wrong?" Victoria asked, poorly hiding a smirk.

Marie's retort died on her lips as she took in the interior. It was like stepping into another world - a luxurious hotel lobby complete with a fairytale staircase and elevator.

"We'll take the elevator," Victoria announced, snapping Marie out of her daze.

It was like they had walked into a completely different place.

Marie didn’t say anything and followed Victoria into the elevator.

As they both stood in the elevator, Victoria broke the silence.

“So, have you eaten anything yet?” Victoria asked, looking over at Marie.

“Yes.” Marie lied, just as her stomach betrayed her with a loud growl.

In reality, she hadn’t eaten since two in the afternoon.

Victoria chuckled, “Your stomach is telling a different story.”

Marie crossed her arms, embarrassed, as the elevator dinged their arrival.

Victoria led the way, with Marie trailing behind. They stopped in front of a door. Victoria twisted the knob and stepped inside, holding the door for Marie. Marie walked in, taking in her surroundings.

Victoria's apartment was a stark contrast to the building's exterior. Floor-to-ceiling windows offered a breathtaking view of the city skyline. The living room boasted a flat-screen TV and contrasting black and white sofas. A small, well-equipped kitchen completed the space.

"Wow," Marie breathed involuntarily.

Victoria smiled at her reaction. "Have a seat. We need to talk."

Marie complied, finding little reason to defy her at the moment. Marie sank into the plush white sofa, opposite the dark one where Victoria was seated.

"I need to tell you something," Victoria began, her tone suddenly serious. "You won't like it, but I need you to stay calm."

This wasn’t reassurance, this was an order.

Suddenly, Marie found herself unable to move, her body frozen in place despite her mind's frantic signals to flee.

“What did you do to me?” Marie’s voice came out shaky. Victoria crossed her legs, leaning back on the sofa. “I know about your powers.”

Marie wasn’t surprised by this. Red River must have told her, but the real question was: what were her intentions?

“It figures. So, what now? Are you going to use me for my powers just like everyone else?” Marie eyed Victoria, unimpressed by where she thought this was going.

"Bluntly? Yes. You'll be invaluable to the Tremere Chantry."

"The what?"

“Right. Of course, I have to explain this.” Victoria sighed, running a hand through her shiny hair.

Marie gave her a perplexed look.

Victoria interlaced her fingers, taking a deep breath. “I’m what you humans call a vampire,” Victoria spoke slowly and deliberately, as if she were addressing a child.

A tense silence fell between them.

"Are you fucking kidding me?" Marie finally sputtered.

"Do I look like I'm joking?" Victoria countered.

Marie glanced once more at the woman across from her. Maybe her prior assumption was correct. She had to be a serial killer or crazy—or a crazy serial killer. Serial killing and crazy kind of go hand in hand, though—

“Just so you know, I can read your mind. I’m not crazy, nor a serial killer, nor… both.”

Marie was stunned. That was exactly what she had been thinking. But then again, it was easy to predict what she might’ve been thinking.

Marie still wasn’t convinced. “I’ll humor you then. If you’re a vampire, prove it.”

Victoria uncrossed her legs and leaned forward, locking eyes with Marie. “Clap three times.”

Marie’s body moved on its own, clapping three times consecutively. Marie gasped and looked at her hands in shock.

“You can move now,” Victoria ordered.

And just like that, Marie had control over her limbs again.

Marie couldn’t wrap her mind around the fact that vampires existed. But, the fact that Victoria had just controlled her body was an undeniable fact. She clearly didn’t clap on her own. It was if her brain wasn’t connected to her motor responses. Her guardian was a telepathic vampire who had the ability to control her every move. What could go wrong?

“What do you want from me?” Marie had to admit, she was intrigued, although it was unnerving that’s she couldn’t move and was at Victoria’s mercy at the moment.

“On your 18th birthday, I want to embrace you—or turn you into a vampire, in simpler terms.”

Embrace? Did vampires have weird terms for everything?

“Why?”

“With your blood ability, I could find good use for you. I want you to become my apprentice.” Victoria explained.

“I can also teach you how to control your powers, so you’d never have to hurt anyone again, involuntarily.”

Involuntary. The way that word was added at the last part of Victoria’s sentence suggested something ominous.

“What if I say no?”

Victoria's response was chillingly casual. "Then you're of no use to me, and I'll have to end your life. Don't worry, I'd make it painless."

Marie froze.

The thought of dying when she was supposed to gain her freedom at 18 was unsettling.

A lump formed in her throat, making it difficult to swallow.

Great. Her choices were to either die and become a vampire, or just die.

Victoria really was just like everyone else. Once Marie had no use for her, she would just throw her out, like a broken toy.

Marie regained her composure, masking her distress. She couldn’t let Victoria see any weakness. Breaking down in tears in front of her would be embarrassing. Marie had pride, after all.

“Also, while you’re living here, you’ll be under my rules until you get your own room in the chantry,” Victoria paused, then continued. “Three strikes. If you mess up more than three times… well, let’s just say the results won’t be pleasant.”

“Wow, this is the second time you’ve threatened my life within the span of a few seconds,” Marie remarked sarcastically.

Victoria ignored her, shooting a sharp look before continuing. “Run away, you’re done. Defy me, you’re done. Basically, don’t do anything stupid.”

“That’s two rules,”Marie pointed out, her hands shaking despite her attempt at nonchalance.

Victoria's eyes flicked to Marie's trembling hands. “The third one is to not do anything stupid.”

»»-----------►

Marie found herself in Victoria’s kitchen, spooning up soup that Victoria had made. She could’ve easily warmed it up herself, but Victoria had insisted on serving her. The soup was barely passable, but hunger made it palatable.

Considering Victoria’s vampiric status, it was a safe bet her pantry wasn’t stocked with typical groceries.

Victoria reentered and took a seat opposite Marie, her eyes fixed on her as she ate. Marie met her gaze and felt a wave of discomfort wash over her.

What’s up with her? Marie wondered why she was staring so intently at her.

Trying to break the tension, Marie asked, “So, how old are you?”

Victoria's cryptic response sent a chill down Marie's spine: "My age surpasses your mortal comprehension."

Frankly, Marie’s interest wasn’t in Victoria’s age. Her thoughts were racing to find an exit strategy. The idea of an everlasting life was unappealing, especially if it meant being tethered to Victoria forever.

Marie continued to eat, deliberately avoiding Victoria’s intense stare.

“We need to discuss some things about our kindred society, or ‘vampire society,’ as you might refer to it,” Victoria said, breaking the silence.

“Okay…” Marie’s voice faded into uncertainty.

“To start, there are fourteen clans in our society. I won’t bore you with all their names. Just know that I’m a Tremere, and you’re about to become one,” Victoria clarified.

“And what exactly is a Tremere?” Marie inquired.

“To put it simply, we’re mages, warlocks, or witches if you will. The founder of our clan was a human mage who sought immortality but stumbled upon vampirism instead,” Victoria recounted, as if she had told this story many times before, giving Marie the abridged version.

“You mean you can cast spells?” Marie questioned.

“Correct. It’s a unique gift of our clan. We channel magic through our vitae, our lifeblood,” Victoria affirmed.

Marie wondered if she should be jotting down all these vampiric terms.

“Additionally, we have standard abilities known as disciplines,” Victoria said, pausing to make sure she had Marie’s full attention. “One of them is Dominate, which lets us control others’ wills. I’ve used it on you earlier.”

The realization hit Marie like a ton of bricks. Victoria could compel her to do anything she wanted, against her will? That was terrifying.

Marie knew she had to leave, and fast. But she also understood that knowledge was power. If she was going to be a target once she broke free from Victoria's grip, it made sense to learn as much as she could about this hidden world.

“We’ll dive into the other disciplines another time. For now, let’s focus on the essentials of our society—the Camarilla and the masquerade. Pay attention, this is crucial.” Victoria emphasized.

“Our society is divided into three sects, and the Camarilla is one of them. The Tremere, are members of the Camarilla, They uphold the traditions, the laws we must all follow. Here in New York City, a Prince rules over us, enforcing these traditions,” Victoria explained, her words flowing effortlessly as she laid out the facts.

As Victoria continued, Marie listened intently, her soup long forgotten, the bowl now just an empty vessel save for the spoon resting inside.

“Is the Camarilla kind of like a monarchy then?” Marie asked, trying to wrap her head around the concept.

“Well, not exactly.” Victoria clarified. “It’s more akin to an oligarchy, governed by a select group. The primogen council, a group of elders from each clan, counsels the Prince.”

Marie recalled her orphanage lessons on Greek oligarchies. The thought that vampires might have witnessed ancient Athens firsthand was mind-boggling.

"The masquerade is a crucial tradition for us. It's essentially a widespread effort to keep humans, or 'kine' as we call them, in the dark about the existence of vampires. A masquerade breach occurs if a human becomes aware of us. This could happen if they see us using our special abilities, catch us in the act of feeding, or anything else that exposes our true nature. That's why we must tread lightly and always stay vigilant."

To be in constant fear of your existence being discovered sounds tiring. To Marie, this was another reason she didn’t want to become a vampire.

And, it dawned on Marie that, if she escaped, that would be a masquerade breach since she knew all about vampires now. Which would make completely escaping all that much harder.

She would probably have to leave NYC—no, she would have to leave the country.

Marie, feeling swamped by everything she’d learned, simply shook her head.

Suddenly, Victoria stood up from the sofa, putting on her blazer.

"That's enough for today," Victoria said. “You should turn in for the night. I'm off to feed."

“Where are you going?” Marie asked, her eyes tracking Victoria as she rose and made her way to the door.

Marie swallowed hard, her mind racing.

The warning was clear. Marie knew now wasn't the time to run. She needed to wait for the right moment.

»»-----------►

Marie woke up, thoughts of the previous night and Mary from Red River swirling in her mind. She took in her surroundings - a hotel-like room with a regular bed, not a coffin. Do vampires even sleep in coffins? she wondered.

She found herself pondering what Mary might be up to and whether she was managing fine in her absence.

Who was she kidding? Of course she was okay.

The door swung open, revealing a stranger - a sun-kissed man in his twenties with bleached blonde hair, stubble, and silver hoop earrings.

“Who the hell’re you?” he inquired, his words carrying the unmistakable twang of a Californian accent.

“I could ask you the same question,” Marie shot back.

“What? That doesn’t even make sense, I live here. Well, I semi-live here,” he backpedaled, avoiding eye contact.

“So you only live here sometimes? That’s not suspicious at all,” Marie said, her voice dripping with sarcasm.

The man sighed, thinking for a second. “Well, considering Vic let you in at night, you must know what she is right?”

Marie nodded.

“Then I’m Akeno, but no one calls me that, so call me Aki.”

“I’m Marie M- just call me Marie.” She hadn’t decided if it was wise to tell a complete stranger her full name.

“You must be Vic’s new ghoul then.” Aki assumed.

“Ghoul?”

“Oh, you’re new to this so I’ll explain. A ghoul is a human who drinks vampire blood.”

Based on Aki’s description, it was clear becoming Victoria's ghoul wasn't her fate - Victoria wanted to turn her into a vampire. She'd keep that to herself for now.

“…Who would be stupid enough to do that?” Marie responded without thinking.

Aki pointed to himself. “This guy.”

Marie cringed, “Shit, I’m sorry.” She tried to amend what she said.

Aki laughed at Marie’s reaction, “It’s alright, you didn’t know.”

“So, you drink Victoria’s blood? Why do that?” Marie couldn’t wrap her head around the fact that someone would willingly want to become entangled with a vampire.

“Well, for one, it slows down aging. And, I get a fraction of her powers too.” Aki stated.

“And what’s in it for her?” Marie probed suspiciously.

“In exchange, I have to guard her during the day and get blood for her. Although she doesn’t normally drink bagged blood, it’s just a backup. It’s a pretty neat deal.”

This scrawny guy is basically her bodyguard?

“So, where’s Victoria now?”

“She’s asleep.”

Right, daytime, vampire thing. Then a lightbulb went off in Marie's head.

"Are vampires weak to sunlight?" she asked, wheels turning.

So, if Marie’s hand were to slip and she accidentally opened the blackout curtains, Victoria would turn into ash? Interesting.

“Yeah, vampires burn up almost instantly in sunlight. Fire does the same to them, but who isn’t weak to fire?” Aki disclosed, putting his hands on his hips. Then, he spoke again. “Anyways, it looks like Victoria went grocery shopping last night. I’m guessing the food’s for you.”

Aki mentioned Victoria had gone grocery shopping. "Victoria actually got food for me? I thought I was gonna starve," Marie said, faking relief.

She didn't plan on sticking around, but food before escaping wouldn't hurt.

With Aki watching her, escaping just got harder. But maybe she could trick him - he seemed gullible enough.

»»-----------►

Scattered across the kitchen counter were grocery bags, neatly folded clothes, and a note. Victoria had bought her clothes? Marie hadn't had so many in years. Too bad she'd have to leave them behind.

Before Marie could get to the bags, Aki beat her to it.

He lifted the note and read it aloud, “Don’t let Marie escape.” His gaze shifted to Marie, his expression turning serious.

Well, this was going to make things harder for her. Time for plan b.

Marie had to think quick.

Marie laughed nervously, “Escape? Why would I escape? Come on, let’s eat.”

Aki remained silent, moving to the grocery bag and retrieving a carton of eggs. Then, he grinned sloppily, breaking the silence, he declared, “I’m whipping up omelettes. Just so you know, I’m quite the chef.”

It was an odd shift in his demeanor, like he was purposely trying to ease the tension.

Marie cracked a smile, “Is that so? Well then, the kitchen is all yours, Chef Aki.”

»»-----------►

Aki was at the stove, busy with the omelettes, while Marie lounged in the living room, channel-surfing. Her gaze wandered to the door, then back to Aki, who was engrossed in cooking, his back to her.

Now was the perfect time to escape.

Marie put down the remote, slowly rising from the couch, she crouched, making sure her footsteps were light so he couldn’t hear her.

She glanced at Aki again, who was still in the same position he was in before.

Soon, she was close enough to the door. She twisted the door knob slowly. As she opened the door, it creaked, causing Aki to turn his head. She quickly looked at him and darted out of the room.

Suddenly, Aki was in front of her, causing her to stop in her tracks. Marie looked at him in bewilderment.

“How did you-“

“I’m a ghoul, remember? I have some vampiric abilities. Didn’t Vic tell you to not do anything stupid?”

In the moment, Marie didn’t care about getting reprimanded by this random dude. It was time to put plan b into effect.

Aki’s frame was lean, lacking any noticeable muscle. Marie thought she could overpower him effortlessly with her abnormal strength. Who gives a shit if he has some vampire abilities? He didn’t have her powers.

Marie raised her fist to punch Aki, not giving him time to react. The punch connected, causing some blood escape Aki’s mouth.

That punch should’ve had him on the ground, but it didn’t.

Instead, Aki swung his head back to face Marie, cracking his neck. “I’ll admit, you’re strong for a little girl. But, I’m not going to go easy on you.”

“I didn’t expect you to.” Marie cracked her knuckles.

Marie noticed the blood the creeped out of the side of his mouth. If she had better control of her abilities, she would use them to hold Aki off and escape. However, she didn’t want to risk seriously hurting him or killing him.

“What are you guys doing?” came a familiar voice from behind Marie. Startled by the sound, Marie spun around to find Victoria standing there.

She looked exceptionally tired. She wore a red velvet robe, and striped pajama pants. It was a strange sight to see Victoria out of her professional attire.

“Victoria?”

“I thought I told you not to do anything stupid.” Victoria reprimanded.

“So, you did tell her that.” Aki shook his head in disapproval at Marie.

“Absolutely, I laid out the same guidelines for her as I did for you,” Victoria said languidly, seemingly fighting off the pull of sleep. She placed her hand on Marie’s shoulder, holding it firmly. “Consider this your first warning.”

A shiver ran down Marie’s spine at her words.

Victoria then turned and retreated into the apartment, presumably to return to her slumber.

Marie stood there, puzzled by Victoria’s abrupt appearance and departure, and she couldn’t help but observe that Victoria appeared particularly frail and exhausted during daylight hours.

Aki ushered Marie inside after her, shutting the door behind himself once he walked in.

Her escape plan failed, her biggest mistake was underestimating Aki.

Next time, she wouldn’t make that same mistake.

»»-----------►

It was night time again.

Confined to the apartment for half the day with Aki watching, Marie felt like she was back at Red River. When night fell, Aki left as Victoria woke. Marie wondered where he went, recalling his comment about 'semi-living' in the apartment

Now, lying in bed, Marie stared at the ceiling, resentment building. She had to find a way out.

The sudden twist of the doorknob jolted Marie upright. As the door swung open, Victoria strode in, imposing in another pantsuit, her dark hair in a sleek low bun, expensive earrings glinting.

“We need to talk.” Victoria declared, her tone brooking no dissent.

“Alright.” With a resigned sigh, Marie rose from her bed and trailed after Victoria, exiting the bedroom.

Marie followed her to the living room, sinking into the white sofa at Victoria's gesture.

Victoria sat across from her on the black sofa.

"That stunt you pulled earlier? It won't happen again," Victoria said, voice dropping dangerously. "Look at me."

Marie's gaze snapped up involuntarily. Dominate. Again. This ability was starting to be a pain in the ass.

“I am demonstrating an incredible amount of restraint here. I know you want your freedom and you will get your freedom soon. But, for now, you have to stay here.” Victoria recognized Marie’s longing for freedom.

“Am I clear?”

Marie hesitated to answer.

“Am…I…Clear?” Victoria repeated, emphasizing every vowel.

Marie nodded reluctantly, mentally noting to be more careful next time she tried to escape.

Marie was all too aware that the freedom Victoria spoke of would only be granted once she was turned into a vampire, which was the last thing Marie wanted.

Next time she tried to escape, she was just going to have to make sure she didn’t get caught.

“Good. Now, speaking of freedom, I’m taking you outside with me”

Marie perked up at this. “Where are you taking me?”

“Just a place that I like to go to feed. I’m counting on you to be on your best behavior. Once again-“

“Don’t do anything stupid.” Marie finished.

Victoria started to smile, her anger seeming to cool down. “That’s right. But before that, there’s other matters I need to discuss with you.”

“Like what?”

“Remember when I mentioned the Tremere Chantry?”

“Yeah, but what exactly is it?”

“It’s many things, a haven, which is a vampire’s home, a base, a stronghold, and an archive. You’re currently standing in it.”

Wait, what?

Marie’s eyes widened, “This is the Tremere chantry?”

Victoria nodded, crossing her legs.

“Now, the Tremere chantry has many ranks. Right now, all you need to know is that I’m the Regent and I’m preparing you to become my apprentice, which is the second lowest rank in the chantry. Once you become a vampire, I’ll explain the rest to you.” Victoria articulated.

Marie listened, realizing she'd need to gain Victoria's trust to eventually escape. The game was on.

»»-----------►

The sleek car glided to a stop, its engine purring softly before falling silent. Marie shifted uncomfortably in the passenger seat, a position Victoria had insisted upon despite her protests. As she gazed out the window, her eyes were drawn to their destination—a nightclub that pulsed with energy even from the outside.

'The Midnight Sun' blazed in orange neon, framed by snaking purple lights. Bass thumped from within, and Marie felt a mix of excitement and apprehension as she faced this den of nocturnal revelry.

“You know I’m underage right?” Marie said, her tone a mix of sarcasm and genuine concern.

Victoria's face remained impassive, her eyes coolly assessing Marie. “I don’t see the problem here. As long as you’re not drinking any alcohol it’s fine.”

Marie bit her lip, unable to argue with that logic. Besides, getting wasted in the company of a vampire didn’t sound like a good idea.

As they climbed out of the car, Marie's eyes locked onto a figure standing by the entrance. She followed Victoria, her heart picking up pace with each step towards the door.

They approached the club. As they got closer, Marie could make out more details of the woman standing in front. Her skin was so pale it seemed to glow under the neon lights, a stark contrast to her platinum blonde hair. Her eyes, a piercing shade of blue, made Marie want to look away. She looked young - maybe just a few years older than Marie herself.

The woman’s outfit - a milky coffee cardigan and denim skirt - exuded effortless cool. Marie tugged at her Victoria-chosen blazer and slacks, feeling more "board meeting" than "night out."

It seemed like the woman was the bouncer of the nightclub. It was an unusual sight to see. Usually club bouncers were big, burly men, not young women who looked like they'd just stepped out of a prep school catalog.

The woman crossed her arms, her voice dripping with cryptic undertones. "Blood sorcerer," Cate addressed Victoria, "Throwing your companion into the deep end, I see."

Marie's head spun. Blood sorcerer? Deep end?Was this chick speaking in code or what? There was definitely something off about her.

Marie's mind caught on Cate's words: 'Blood sorcerer'. For a split second, she thought Cate might be referring to her. But that was impossible, wasn't it? There's no way Cate could know about her abilities... right?

"This is Marie Moreau," Victoria said, unfazed. "Marie, meet Cate."

Cate's eyes locked onto Marie, and she felt a chill run down her spine. It was like Cate was staring straight into her soul.

"No.” Cate simply said, turning back to Victoria. “Does she dance on the cusp of womanhood's threshold, or does childhood's echo still resonate within her bones?

Why did she talk like a fortune teller?

Victoria cut in, her voice cool. "The prince has granted me permission to bring her into these neutral grounds."

"Really?" Cate's eyebrows shot up, but her face remained oddly blank. "The wheels of fate spin towards calamity's embrace. But not my circus, not my monkeys."

Victoria seemed to perfectly understand what Cate was saying, while Marie looked between them, clueless. “Even so, acts of violence are not allowed here, and you have the power to enforce that. You are, after all, the keeper of Elysium," Victoria reminded her.

Marie's brain short-circuited. Keeper of Elysium? Was this some sort of neutral ground?

Marie looked back and forth between Cate and Victoria, who were having a quiet stare-off.

Cate relented first, stating, "I’ll need to consult with the keeper of the twilight shortly.”

Cate stepped into the club, the beat of the music momentarily spilling out as the door opened. Once Cate was out of sight, Victoria turned to Marie with a cautionary note.

“Cate is a Malkavian," Victoria explained once Cate left. "They're kind of…off. They have a knack for uncovering secrets. Be wary of them, especially her.

"She didn't seem that bad," Marie observed, her trust in Victoria's narrative not entirely firm. The thought lingered that Victoria might have her own selfish reasons for wanting Marie to maintain a distance from Cate.

"I'm trying to keep you safe. If you want to learn the hard way, then be my guest," Victoria replied, her voice tinged with irritation.

When Cate returned, waving them in with some cryptic comment about a "Gemini twin," Marie couldn't help but wonder - was she just spouting nonsense, or was there more to her words than met the eye?

»»-----------►

Marie and Victoria stepped into the club, and the rap music hit them like a wall of sound. The dance floor was packed, bodies moving everywhere. Purple neon lights gave the whole place an otherworldly glow.

Victoria's hand on her shoulder made Marie jump. “I trust you can take care of yourself for now, right?” Victoria's voice cut through the noise with unnatural clarity.

“Wait, you’re leaving me alone?” Marie's stomach dropped.

“I can’t feed with you there, it won’t be long,”Victoria said.

“What am I even supposed to do while you’re gone?”

"I don't know, dance? Talk to people? Be a normal teenager for once." Victoria shrugged and walked off, leaving Marie staring after her.

"Some guardian," Marie muttered to herself. "Abandoning a teen in a club. Real responsible."

Marie slumped at the bar, not feeling the whole dance scene. She eyed the setup, wondering why vampires even needed a bar. Could they get drunk? Did they even drink anything besides... you know?

She could feel vampire eyes boring into her. Trying to shrink into herself, she kept her head down, sneaking glances as they ordered drinks. The deep red liquid in their glasses could've been wine, but Marie had a hunch it was something way more vampiric. Mystery solved, she thought.

Marie spent a few minutes observing the crowd, her eyes widening as she caught glimpses of vampires sneakily snacking on oblivious dancers. Just as she was processing this surreal scene, a scruffy dude with breath that could wake the dead plunked down next to her. “Saw you come in with that vampire," he said, his breath reeking.

Marie ignored him, figuring it was just some lame pickup attempt.

"So what're you? A ghoul or a blood doll?" he pressed. Marie had no clue what a blood doll was, but she didn't like where this was going.

Out of nowhere, a cleaner-cut guy appeared, throwing an arm around Scruffy's shoulders. "She's off limits, bud," he said firmly.

Scruffy grumbled and shuffled off.

Marie sized up her would-be savior. He looked barely older than her, maybe 18 or 19, with sleek black curtain bangs, dark eyes, and a mole on his chin.

"Jordan Li," he said, offering his hand with a charming smile. “I own the Midnight Sun.”

Marie shook his hand, then blinked in surprise. "Wait, you own this place?" The words tumbled out before she could stop them. This baby-faced guy was the last person she'd expect to run a vampire nightclub.

Jordan laughed. “You seem so surprised.”

“It’s just that, you look so young.” Marie blurted out.

"Eternal youth has its perks," Jordan said with a wink.

So he’s a vampire. Marie thought.

Trying to change the subject, she asked, "So what was that guy's deal?"

"Him? We call those types 'heads'."

"Heads?" Marie tilted her head in confusion.

"Short for dope-head. They're vampires who only feed on humans high on drugs. He was probably gonna ask if you ‘party’ next," Jordan explained.

Well that got dark quick, Marie inwardly shuddered.

Marie's mind raced. So vampires could get a secondhand high from junkies' blood? She wondered if the same thing happened with booze. Did sucking on a drunk person turn vampires into tipsy bloodsuckers?

“So, you’ve met Cate.” Jordan said, sliding onto the barstool next to her

“Yeah, what’s her deal?” Marie asked, curiosity piqued.

“She’s…a little quirky. Which has more to do with her clan curse than anything.”

“Clan curse?” Marie echoed, eyebrows raised.

"When a vampire embraces you, you inherit their strengths and their baggage," Jordan explained. "In Cate's case, that baggage is a one-way ticket to Crazytown. “She’s good people though, for the most part.” He added.

Marie couldn’t help but ask. "What about you? What's your clan?"

“Me?” Jordan grinned. “I’m a toreador. We’re the friendliest out of all the clans. But you didn’t hear that from me. Artists, patrons of the arts, that sort of thing. Basically, we're the ones who keep undead society from being a total drag."

There was something about Jordan that Marie couldn't quite put her finger on. He was good-looking, sure, but this felt different. She found herself hanging on his every word, drawn in by his charm. A nagging thought hit her: Was this normal, or was he pulling some vampire mind trick on her, like Victoria had done? Marie shook her head, trying to clear the fog. She wasn't usually this easily impressed, was she?

Marie mulled over the idea of Toreadors. Vampire artists? It seemed kind of... soft for the bloodsucking crowd. She couldn't help but wonder how being good with a paintbrush squared with the whole creature-of-the-night gig. Didn't exactly scream 'apex predator'.

"So, what's your deal?" Jordan asked, his curiosity evident. "You've got some serious VIP treatment going on."

"What are you talking about?" Marie furrowed her brow.

Jordan leaned in, lowering his voice. “You got permission from the prince to enter Midnight Sun. I don’t make it a habit to let minors into my club, it’s too much of a risk to have the pigs snooping around here. And you’re off limits to feed from. That's not standard.”

Marie blinked, taken aback. She hadn't realized the prince was going to such lengths for her. The reason wasn't clear, but it probably tied into Victoria's plans.

Before she could stop herself, Marie blurted out, "Victoria wants to embrace me when I turn 18." As soon as the words left her mouth, she wondered why she'd said that. Was this another vampire mind trick?

"But why?" Jordan pressed, his eyes gleaming with interest.

That's when it clicked. Marie's guard shot back up. He wasn't just making conversation; he was fishing for information. She clamped her mouth shut, mentally kicking herself for falling for his charm so easily.

Jordan's eyes widened, his jaw dropping in surprise. "Wait, you can resist my abilities?" he asked, a mix of shock and intrigue in his voice. He leaned back slightly, as if seeing Marie for the first time. "Now that's... interesting.”

That settled it - Jordan had definitely been trying to mess with her head. Marie felt a mix of anger and relief at having caught on to his trick.

But why could she resist Jordan's mind control but not Victoria's? The inconsistency bothered her, another piece of the vampire puzzle she couldn't quite solve.

Suddenly, the music cut out. The dance floor froze, confused murmurs replacing the pounding beat.

Jordan and Marie looked around in confusion, mirroring the bewildered faces of the other club-goers.

Before anyone could react, the club's entrance doors flew open with a bang. Three figures stormed in - two men and a woman, each wielding an automatic shotgun.

The club's energetic vibe evaporated instantly, replaced by a wave of tension and fear.

The trio formed a menacing V-formation as they entered. In the center stood the clear leader - a stocky man with close-cropped black hair and a full beard that couldn't hide his scowl. To his right, a skinhead with a tell-tale eyebrow slit sneered at the crowd. On the left, a striking woman with flowing black hair and intense dark eyes scanned the room, her finger hovering near the trigger.

Their coordinated movements and the way the crowd instinctively recoiled suggested this wasn't just some random attack. These people knew exactly what they were doing - and who they were dealing with. Each of them sported a walkie-talkie earpiece, not going unnoticed by Marie.

"Shit, it's the SI," Jordan hissed under his breath. "Where the fuck is Cate?"

SI? Another vampire world mystery she'd have to figure out later - if there was a later. Right now, survival seemed like the pressing issue.

Marie's thoughts raced in the same direction. Cate had been at the front of the club, hadn't she? Where could she have disappeared to? Had these intruders already gotten to her?

The leader's voice boomed through the silent club, his British accent sharp and menacing. "Would the cunt who owns this bloodsucker brothel care to step forward?"

He was after Jordan. Marie looked at Jordan, wondering how he was going to handle this.

“If the cunt doesn’t come out soon, I’m lighting this whole place on fire.”

“Those fuckers must have incendiary rounds.” Jordan murmured.

The leader's countdown echoed through the club. "Three..."

Marie's heart raced.

"Two..."

Jordan tensed beside her.

"One!"

"WAIT!" Jordan's voice cut through the tension like a knife.

He stood slowly, hands raised in surrender, and inched towards the armed trio. "Let's talk this out. You don't want to hurt innocent humans, right?"

The leader sneered. “I don’t give a tit about killing these people, as far as I’m concerned, they’re complicit.” The man raised his gun, at Jordan. “Now, stay still.”

Time seemed to slow as the leader pulled the trigger. The bullet blazed towards Jordan, who moved with inhuman speed. But his dodge came at a cost.

The round struck an unsuspecting bystander. In an instant, flames erupted, engulfing the victim and spreading to nearby club-goers. Panic exploded as people scrambled to escape the inferno.

Amidst the chaos, some dancers simply crumbled to ash - vampires caught in the deadly fire.

Marie looked at the scene in horror.

Suddenly, the skin-head writhed in pain, dropping his gun. Marie was perplexed. Then, his gun was kicked away.

"Frenchie, what the bloody hell?" The leader snarled, whipping around to face him.

In that instant, Cate materialized out of thin air, her foot connecting with Frenchie's shin. The man crumpled howling in agony.

A familiar voice cut through her daze. "We need to go. Now." Victoria had appeared beside her, crouched low and tense. Her eyes darted around the room, assessing escape routes.

Victoria's cool hand clasped Marie's, tugging her off the barstool. "This way," she hissed, pulling Marie towards the back of the club. They weaved through the panicked crowd, the chaos of Jordan and Cate's confrontation with the intruders providing cover for their escape.

Marie's heart pounded as they slipped through a hidden door, leaving the mayhem behind. The thundering music faded, replaced by the echo of their hurried footsteps in a dimly lit corridor.

»»-----------►

Three months had crawled by since the Midnight Sun incident. Victoria, now ultra-cautious, kept Marie on a tight leash - no more nighttime excursions. Life fell into a mind-numbing routine: Aki playing watchdog around the clock (Marie often wondered when, or if, he ever slept), Victoria vanishing into the night, and Marie... well, Marie might as well have been a prisoner in her own room. Again.

Try as she might, escape plans fizzled before they could even begin. The days ticked by, each one bringing her closer to that dreaded birthday. The birthday that would mark the end of her humanity and the beginning of her unwanted vampiric existence.

As the date loomed, Marie felt the walls closing in. Time was running out, and with it, her chances of avoiding Victoria's "gift" of eternal life.

The Midnight Sun incident haunted Marie's dreams. Every time she closed her eyes, vivid images flashed through her mind: club-goers engulfed in flames, their bodies twisting and charring in the inferno. The nightmares were so intense, so real, that sometimes she'd jolt awake, her heart racing, the phantom smell of smoke lingering in her nostrils. Even in her waking hours, the horrific memories lurked at the edges of her consciousness, a constant, grim reminder of the dangerous world she'd been thrust into.

Despair settled over Marie like a heavy shroud. The fight in her slowly ebbed away, replaced by a numbing acceptance of her fate. What was the point of struggling? Escape seemed like a fool's errand now. Even if she managed to slip away, she'd be signing her own death warrant. The vampires would hunt her down without mercy, and her life would end in a heartbeat. At least this way, she'd survive... if you could call eternal undeath 'survival.' Marie felt the last spark of hope flicker and die within her, leaving only resignation in its wake.

Marie's dreaded 18th birthday finally arrived - D-Day. After a tense morning with Aki, Victoria stirred from her daytime slumber. Suddenly, heated voices erupted from the living room. Marie crept to her door, pressing her ear against it, straining to catch every word.

"What the hell, Vic?" Aki's voice cracked with anger. "You're giving her the 'gift'? What happened to your promise to me?"

Guess the cat’s out of the bag. Marie thought.

Victoria's reply came cool and measured, as always. "Lower your voice. I never said I wouldn't embrace you."

“It’s been ten years and you still haven’t done it, yet you’re turning her at the drop of a hat?”

“I didn’t just decide to do this suddenly, this took planning and preparation.” Victoria defended.

"Screw you," Aki spat, his words dripping with betrayal.

Marie could hear Aki storm out of the apartment and slam the door. She flinched at the loud sound.

Marie was taken aback by Aki's outburst. In all her time here, she'd never heard him raise his voice like that, let alone to Victoria. His anger, raw and unrestrained, was so at odds with his usual easygoing demeanor that it left Marie unsettled. If even Aki, Victoria's seemingly loyal ghoul, could be pushed to this point, what did that say about Victoria? And more worryingly, what did it mean for Marie's future?

Victoria's footsteps approached, each click of her heels on the hardwood like a countdown. Panicking, Marie lunged for her bed, snatching up the nearest book. As the doorknob turned, she forced herself to look engrossed in 'Interview with the Vampire.' The irony wasn't lost on her - reading about fictional bloodsuckers on the day she was to become a real one.

She feigned nonchalance, idly flipping pages as Victoria entered. Inside, her heart raced. Had Victoria heard her eavesdropping?

"Come to my room," Victoria said, her tone leaving no room for argument. She left Marie's door ajar, her footsteps fading down the hallway.

Marie's stomach churned. This was it. The moment she'd been dreading for months. She stood, her legs feeling like lead, the vampire novel slipping forgotten from her hands. With each step towards Victoria's room, Marie felt like she was walking to her own execution. In a way, she supposed, she was.

»»-----------►

Steeling herself, she crossed the threshold into Victoria's domain, knowing that when she left, she wouldn't be the same Marie anymore.

She had never been in Victoria’s room before. Usually, Aki wouldn’t allow Marie to enter Victoria room during the day, there being too much of a risk of Marie opening the curtains and letting the sun burn Victoria.

Marie noticed that Victoria had a regular queen sized bed, not a coffin. So this wasn’t like’Interview With The Vampire’ where the vampires actually sleep in coffins.

Marie hesitated at the threshold, realizing she'd never actually been inside Victoria's room before. Aki had always barred her entry during daylight hours, paranoid she might fling open the curtains and reduce Victoria to ash.

As she stepped inside, her eyes darted around, taking in every detail. To her surprise, a regular queen-sized bed dominated the space - no coffin in sight. So much for the vampire clichés she'd read about. This wasn't some Anne Rice novel; the reality of vampire life was turning out to be both more mundane and more terrifying than fiction.

The normalcy of the room somehow made what was about to happen even more surreal. Here, in this ordinary bedroom, Marie was about to leave her humanity behind forever.

Victoria perched on the edge of the bed, her hand patting the space beside her in an eerily casual gesture. Her voice was calm, almost clinical, as she explained, "The embrace is a two-step process. First, I'll drain you of your blood. Then, I'll give you mine. It's simpler than you might think."

She paused, her eyes locking with Marie's. "And don't worry, it won't hurt. In fact, you'll likely find it... blissful."

The contrast between Victoria's matter-of-fact tone and the horrifying content of her words made Marie's skin crawl. This wasn't just death she was facing - it was a complete transformation, a rebirth into something inhuman. And the promise of bliss? That somehow made it even more terrifying.

Marie stood frozen, her heart pounding. Every instinct screamed at her to run, but where could she go? This was it. The point of no return.

Marie sank onto the bed beside Victoria, their eyes locking in a moment of charged silence. Suddenly, Victoria's fangs extended, gleaming in the dim light. Marie's breath caught in her throat; she'd never seen this side of Victoria before, the true face of the monster beneath the human facade. The sight was both terrifying and mesmerizing.

In one fluid motion, Victoria bent towards Marie's neck. A sharp pain pierced Marie's skin as the fangs sank in, drawing a startled cry from her lips. But the pain quickly melted away, replaced by an unexpected wave of euphoria. Just as Victoria had promised, it felt... blissful.

Marie's world began to blur at the edges as her life force ebbed away. Her limbs grew heavy, her thoughts sluggish. She was dimly aware that she was dying, yet couldn't bring herself to care.

Just as darkness threatened to engulf her, Victoria pulled away. Through half-lidded eyes, Marie watched as Victoria bit into her own wrist. Blood welled from the wound as she offered it to Marie.

"Drink," Victoria commanded, her voice seeming to echo from far away.

Without conscious thought, Marie's hands reached for Victoria's wrist. Her lips found the wound, and she began to drink. The taste was unlike anything she'd ever experienced - rich, powerful, intoxicating. With each swallow, Marie felt herself slipping away, her old self dying as something new and terrible was born.

Prologue: END