The sound of sudden footsteps that were not her own made Romana whirl around, searching for the source. Seeing no one, she quickened her step, hoping to return to the safety of her home before anything untoward happened. As she hurried, she recalled the news stories about the recent brutal attacks, people with their necks ripped open, or the reports of mysterious puddles of blood with no sign of or a trail that would lead to a victim. Stress and worry forced her into a jog, which turned into a blind run as she heard the footsteps again. As she wasn't watching where she was going, she ran straight into what felt like an iron beam, so unyielding it knocked her off balance. Romana scrambled to catch herself, but fell over anyway. Expecting to hit the ground, she yelped as she was caught by two burly arms, but as she started to fight to get free from the shadow, she felt a sharp double pain at her neck and blacked out.

"Hey, wake up."

Romana felt someone poking her, so she opened her eyes to total darkness. She felt a poke again, at which she sat up abruptly

"Calm down, young one, you're not completely changed so you shouldn't move around much."

"Who...who are you?" Romana whispered, wide-eyed.

"My name isn't important right now, what we need is to take care of you so you survive the process. Jerry, since you turned her, you get to nurse her through the final stages. Think you can control yourself now?"

"Of course, V. It's not my fault that bastard Flea put straight Vodka into my glass of blood. She will be safe."

Romana heard a snort of laughter, then shuffling movements, followed by the soft closing of a door. She felt a sleeve fall across her arm, then a warm hand suddenly felt her forehead, making her flinch, and wince as her neck throbbed.

"It's ok, sweetie. You're in safe hands, and I'll help you finish the transformation successfully."

"What are you talking about? What transformation, and who are you?"

"Ok, to answer in order, I'm talking about the transformation you are going through even now. You are changing into a vampire, which was my fault and I apologize, and my name is Jeremiah Cornelius, but I go by Jerry."

Romana giggled slightly before his words sunk in.

"Wait, what?! How was this your fault? What are you?"

"I'm a vampire like you will shortly be," He said, "but if you come with us, we can train you to survive the mortals and become powerful."

"But how did this happen? I remember... running from footsteps, hitting something and then my...neck started to hurt. Ow!" She raised her hand to her neck, feeling two puncture wounds with a surprising lack of blood.

"It's started hun, now it will hurt quite a bit, but I need you to be strong and you will be fine."

"Stay with me, Jerry, please? I'm scared."

"Always sweetie. By the way, I never found out your name before I so precipitously changed your entire life."

She laughed. "Such a novel idea! I'm Romanadvoratrelunder, Romana for short."

"Ah, well it's nice to meet you, Romana. Let's get through this and we'll help you to your new life in the Immortal Night."

Romana nodded, knowing he could feel the movement and breathed in deeply, just as the agony began...