"How would you feel about eternal life?"
The question, asked out of the blue by a mere stranger, rang through Madeline's head like a siren. Surely, such a thing wasn't possible. Madeline tucked her long, wavy tresses behind an ear, closing purple eyes with a sigh of disdain. A harsh, foolish joke, that's what it had to be. Who in their right mind would believe such a thing? All in all, Madeline wasn't too surprised when the unfamiliar person appeared before her once more a week later.
A hood covered the face of the petite woman. Black hair fell from the ebony confines of the satin cloak.
"How would you feel about eternal life?"
Madeline scoffed, walking closer to the hunched figure, and crossing her arms indignantly. "You're an ignorant fool. Life is a flower; it's fragile and slowly withers away. No one can live forever."
A slow, predatory grin worked its way upon the woman's face; crooked, sharp teeth showed through what looked like years of grime.
"What a statement, child," she cackled, her muscles tensing springs, "So young, yet so sure of everything."
Madeline furrowed her brow. What was the hag going on about now?
A low growl resounded for a mere second, before Madeline was pinned upon the ground. A sharp pain radiated from a wound in her neck as angled teeth worked their way into the flesh. Within moments, however, it was all over. The woman merged within the shadows, laughing with a hideous tremor.
Blood soaked blonde hair as Madeline forced herself to her knees. The pain was spreading, filling every contour of her being until it threatened to swallow her whole. Labored gasps flew through parched lips as she tried to fight the agony. Madeline could only moan as each bone in her body broke itself. Whimpers escaped as her body contorted, limbs reshaping. Fur began to rupture through tender skin as her body grew in stature. Crimson was everywhere. Her very sanity was cracking, disintegrating just like her body. Her home, her family, her goals, each began to float away as an overpowering hunger emerged from deep within.
A low growl streamed through sharp canines.
It was time for the hunt. Strong paws pounded against the moonlight pathway. A sensitive nose was tracking the witch that cursed her. Sharp teeth were ready to tear into battered flesh.
She didn't want this. She didn't want to be a monster. She didn't want to crave the vengeance of blood upon her tongue. She didn't want the "gift" that was bestowed upon her. Death would come to one of them before the sun rose.
How would you feel about eternal life?