Mark and Steve looked at meand could tell that I was being serious. Corey put his hand on my shoulder. "Are you sure about this? I mean we could find a better way. Maybe Baron will get better on his own. You don't have to risk your life." I looked down and balled up my fists. "I want to do this. I want to help him, even if it means putting my life on the line. He's worth it to me." Corey put his hand down and sighed, giving up on arguing. "Well, after lunch, we will begin," Mark looked over at Corey and Kelly, "and I want you two there to help." Kelly nodded as Corey looked down. He was worried for my safety, but knew there was no use in fighting me. I made up my mind. I wanted Baron back and I wanted him back now. I wanted to give us a try. I wanted to see what life has in store for us.
After lunch, the guys headed down to Baron's basement to prepare for the transition. Mark had Michelle draw Roman's blood to help with the ceremony. Kelly and I remained in the kitchen as the others got busy. "Thank you," she said after moments of silence, "you didn't have to do this for him." I looked up at her with a smile on my face. "Don't thank me yet. We don't know if this will even work. I hope it does. I...I mean this village cannot lose their leader. Everyone needs him." Kelly raised an eyebrow as she looked at me. "Do you like him?" I blushed and looked down at my hands. "You like him! Aw!" "Don't tease me," I sighed, fighting the smile, "Carmella teased me enough." "When did you see her," she asked. "When I ran out of here, I bumped into her. We went to a coffee shop and she explained everything to me. But can I ask you something that she brought up?" She nodded her head then raised an eyebrow when I blushed. "She um mentioned that Baron is an Alpha male and said that um the sex part...," I grew more embarrassed and couldn't continue. "Ooh," she chuckled, "I know what you're trying to ask. I can tell you from experience. Alpha males are so hot. A pain in the ass and clingy, but loving and caring. Corey is my Alpha and the sex is the best sex one could ever have. I can tell just by looking at him, Baron will rock your world. Hope you don't have to work the next day... Or days now that I think about it." "You don't have to say it like that!" She laughed as I shook my head. Jaime stuck his head in the door. "They're ready for you," he said before leaving. I stood up and took a deep breath as Kelly rubbed my arm. "It's going to be okay. We will take care of you," she reassured me as we walked out of the kitchen and headed down the basement.
We reached the bottom of the stairs and stood and watched as Mark and Steve got ready to start. "Don't worry, Maria," Mark put his hand on my shoulder as he continued, "you're in safe hands. We won't let anything bad happen. Steve and I have once helped with this once before. However, this is different since Baron can't help, but we have an alternative that should work." I nodded and sighed as I walked to the center of the room. "I'm ready." Mark walked up to me, holding a cup and passed it to me. "I know you won't like this, but this should help speed up the transition." I looked inside the cup. It was filled with a red liquid. "What is it?" "Baron's blood. Usually, he would have to bite you to change you, but since he's down, this should be a good alternative. If that doesn't work, then one of us will have to bite you. But let's just see if this will help." I took a deep breath as he brought the cup to his lips and tipped it, the red, warm liquid entering his mouth. I shuddered as the metallic taste filled my mouth and slid down my throat as I emptied the cup. I groaned at the taste as I looked up at Steve and Mark. Steve studied me carefully, walking around me, before stooping and moved my hair to the side as he looked at the mark. "I think it got bigger." Mark walked over and touched the mark, causing me to move away slightly. "Are you okay?" I let out a breath. "My body feels heavy and sore." I groaned as I tried to move my arm, "Feels like my heart is going to explode." Mark and Steve looked at each other. "Maybe one of us should bite her and ease the pain. And maybe it will speed up the transition." Steve shrugged. "Worth a shot. Who's gonna bite her?" "I'll do it," Corey said eagerly and bared his teeth as he began to walk towards me. Kelly put her hand in front of his face, making him walk into it. "What are you doing?" Kelly folded her arms and raised her eyebrow. "You're a little too eager to bite her, Mr. He shouldn't do it." Corey smiled nervously as Kelly cleared her throat. "I'll do it." Corey pouted. "Why do you get to do it but I can't?" "Because I said so. Besides, she may be more comfortable with me than you," she explained as Corey glared. "That's not fair!" "Who said life is fair?!" Steve rubbed his temples and shouted at them. "Ladies. Ladies. You're both pretty!" Kelly and Corey stopped their bickering to looked at Steve, confused but neither said a word. Mark tilted my head to the side and sunk his teeth into my neck. I struggled at first but soon relaxed as the pain went away. Mark stepped away and carefully looked me over. "Any change?" I took a deep breath. "The pain went away, but my heart still feels like it want to tear out of my chest." Mark and Steve looked at each other. "That means you're getting ready to change. Soon your heart will stop beating all together and the pain will return, only this time it will be more intense and unbearable. Basically, it will be like your body is dying. Whatever you do, do not pass out no matter how bad the pain is." I nodded and sunk to the floor as I began to feel my legs go numb. My breathing began to grow rapid as it felt like my chest was tightening. I stared at my trembling hands as sharp pains began to course through my body. I groaned loudly and laid on my side, the pain hitting me in waves, each wave stronger than the last. Sweat rained down my face as I curled up into a ball. "We have to help her," Corey shouted. He started to run towards me, but Mark held him back. "Just wait." Corey looked up at Mark then back at me. "Wait for what? For her to die? Can't you do something?" I rolled over onto my knees and punched the floor, roaring in pain. I could no longer feel my heart beating in my chest, my vision was getting blurry. I feared that I was about to die. I punched the floor again and shook my head. No, I couldn't die yet, I thought. I had to keep going, I had to save Baron. I growled and punched the floor again, this time cracking it. Steve walked over to me carefully and looked at me. "Her body and strength are changing. Maria, look up at me." I slowly rose my head to look at him. I could clearly see Steve in front of me, but felt his presence near me. Steve eyes grew wide. "Mark, look at this." Mark walked over and looked at me
"Your eyes are blood red with black slit pupils, kind of like cat eyes," Mark stated, "Could she be changing to a hybrid?" Steve nodded, "seems that way. This is incredible." I groaned and put my head on the cool floor. My bones were cracking in my body, adding to the pain. Mark carefully placed his hand on me. "Maria, listen. You have to relax your muscles or else they will rip off the bones. I know the pain hurts, but you have to relax." Blood tears poured out of my eyes as I took deep breaths and tried to relax. "Good. Just relax. This part will be quick. Your bones are changing their size and shape to accommodate your body." I relaxed slowly as my bones changed. I laid on the floor, the pain starting to drift. I sighed with relief and closed my eyes. "No. Maria, you have to stay awake." I opened my eyes slowly and nodded. My body felt heavy like lead and my mind was fuzzy. My energy was gone and I couldn't feel my heart beating. Michelle returned to the room and checked my pulse. "She doesn't have a pulse. Maria, can you hear me?" I looked at her and nodded slowly. Steve slowly and carefully turned me over onto my back. Michelle put her hand to my chest. "She doesn't have a heart beat either." Steve and Mark looked at each other. "So now what," Corey asked. "I think we give her some blood and see what happens." Michelle went back to Baron's room and returned with a cup of his blood. Steve let me lean against him so I could drink the blood. Michelle held the cup to my lips and tilted it back so the blood went into my mouth and down my throat. I blinked a few times as my vision began to clear up. I looked around the room. Everything look so clear. I smiled weakly at Corey and Kelly as they watched with concern on their faces. I slowly lifted up my arms and looked at my hands. "Is it done yet?" Steve looked over at Mark. "Honestly, we have no idea. You're different from what someone in the past has went through." I collapsed onto the floor. "Oh no. Maria? Maria? Can you hear me? Come on Maria, wake up!"
I groaned softly and opened one eye. "Maria, can you hear me?" I sat up silently with a blank stare on my face. Michelle looked at me carefully. "Maria?" I continue to stare silently. Michelle carefully reached out towards me. I grabbed her hand and stared at her. "Maria, can you hear me?" I shook my head and blinked. I looked at Michelle and quickly let go of her hand. "Sorry." "Are you okay?" I looked at my body slowly. My muscles were bigger and more toned than before. My vision, hearing, and smell were also better. My skin was pale like a ghost. "Yeah, I'm okay. Everything seems different. My vision is so much better than it was before." Michelle looked at my eyes. "Hmm your eyes changed." Michelle pulled out a hand mirror and gave it to me. I stared at my eyes, touching my face, making sure it was all real. My pupils were no longer brown. They were big, black orbs, making me look soulless. "Is this a permanent change?" Mark shrugged. "I don't know. Close your eyes and picture how your eyes originally looked." I nodded and closed my eyes. I made a mental picture in my mind of how my eyes use to look. I took a deep breath and concentrated. I opened my eyes slowly and looked into the mirror. My eyes were back to their original color and I sighed with relief. "So I can change my appearance now?" Mark nodded. "Yeah, but take things slow. Don't want to tire yourself out on the first day." I nodded, handed Michelle back the mirror and stood up. "Now, let's go help Baron and bring him back to us."
I headed up the stairs to go to Baron's room, Steve and the others slowly following behind me. Michelle leaned towards Mark and whispered, "How is she able to move around and talk without a pulse?" Mark shrugged. "We don't know. There's not any hybrids around. This has never happened before, that we know of. We have to keep a close eye on her and study this. Listen, how about you go in there with her and check on Baron's condition then leave her in there?" Michelle nodded and caught up with me. Mark told the others to stay outside and watch from the hallway go see what happens. I walked into the room and looked at Baron. I walked to the side of the bed and sat on the edge of the bed and stared at Baron as Michelle quietly check his temperature and changed the IV bag. She glanced at me as she worked and quickly exited the room. Mark looked at his wife when she came out. "Well?" She turned to look at everyone. "No change in Baron. His temperature is stable. But...," she looked at the door then back at the others before continuing, "Maria is in some kind of trance like state." "What do you mean?" "I mean, she didn't take her eyes off of Baron once she entered the room. And her eyes changed back to the way they were before, blood red with black slits." Steve walked towards the door and cracked it open and peeked inside. I had a strange aura coming out of me that filled the room. The air was thick and I was staring down at Baron. Steve quietly walked inside and looked me over. I was holding Baron's hand close to my cheek. Steve slowly reached out towards me, but stopped. He didn't want to disturb me so he quietly left the room. "Yeah. She's in a trance. It's best we just leave her be. Maybe she can bring Baron back." Corey looked at Steve. "But how?" "I don't know but for now, we just have to wait." Steve shut the door and sighed. "Hopefully, she can bring him back. If she can figure her powers, whatever they may be, she can probably reach out to him." Corey sunk down to the floor and stared at the door. "Please bring him back, Maria. Please bring back our leader, my brother." Kelly sat next to him and hugged his arm. "Don't worry, baby. We will get Baron back. Just have faith."
I stared at Baron as I slowly rubbed Baron's hand on my cheek. I closed my eyes slowly and said a silent prayer. "Please wake up, Baron. Please!" My head began to ache as I felt a presence near. I opened my eyes and looked around. Only me and Baron were in the room. I looked back at Baron, confused. I closed my eyes again and concentrated. The room slowly disappeared as I concentrated. When I opened my eyes again, everything around me had changed. I looked around to see a dark, desolate land covered with sand and hills, devoid of any life. I looked behind me to see a large door. I placed my hand on the door, assuring that it's really there. "I guess this will be the way back. Right, gotta find Baron." I turned around and began walking. I looked around for any signs of life, but to no avail. "Baron...where are you?" I kept wandering around for what seemed like hours. I called out to Baron, but didn't get a response. Soon I stumbled upon a white building. I pushed on the door, the door letting out a loud creaking sound as it opened as I stepped inside and looked around. The room was big, but empty as I walked deeper inside. I could see clearly as if the room was lit, but in reality it was pitch black. I reached another door and opened it slowly. A dim light was on as Baron was in the center, his arms chained behind his back. "Baron," I called out to him as I ran towards him. Baron lifted his head slowly, not believing what his eyes were seeing. "Maria?" I embraced Baron, happy that he wasn't harmed. "Yeah, it's me. Are you okay? I'll get you out of these chains." "I'm okay. What are you...How did you get here," Baron asked, confused as I quickly untangled the chains and freed him. "That's a long story that will have to wait. Right now, we have to get you out of here." Baron stretched his arms, rubbing his sore muscles. "Wait," Baron grabbed my wrist as I was about to leave. "Did you see anyone on your way here?" I looked at him, confused. "No. Why?" He furrowed his brows. "Stay behind me." He stood in front of me as we headed towards the door. "Why? What's wrong," I asked as the door slammed shut. Baron glared at the door as laughter was heard from the other as side. "What was that?" He turned to me. "The ruler of the Underworld, Bray Wyatt. He collects the souls and controls those who have been damned to eternal torment. Simply put, those who fail to find their soul mates lose their sanity and can be dragged down here to the Underworld and forced to serve Bray." Bray laughed again as lights came on and he appeared in front of us. "That's right, Baron. You might as well give up. No one will love someone like you. I mean, this little kitten ran out on you once. She will do it again." I glared at Bray and started walking towards him until Baron grabbed my arm and held me back. "Back off, Wyatt. I still have my sanity which means you can not have my soul." Bray laughed as he walked around us. "Yeah, but for how long, boy? It's just a matter of time before she leaves you. Plus, she's a human. How pathetic. She won't live as long as you. This won't last. Give up now. All you're doing is delaying the inevitable." I broke free from Baron's grasp and ran towards Bray, slapping him in the face. "Take that back, you bastard. I would never hurt him. He's mine and I'm never leaving him." He chuckled as he grabbed my wrist. "Feisty, what a turn on. Maybe I'll keep her for myself." I shivered and snatched my arm away from him as Baron pulled me backwards and moved us away from Bray as he looked at me and his eyes growing wide when he looked into me face. My eyes were red with black slits and my teeth were razor sharp like fangs. "Maria...Maria, calm down. Relax." I took a deep breath and relaxed, tearing my eyes away from Bray and looked at Baron. "That's right. Relax." Bray stared at me. "What the hell are you? You're no ordinary human. What are you?" Baron lifted me up and put me on his back as we walked out the door, ignoring Bray. "Let's go."
We quickly left the building as we headed towards the door. "I'm sorry," I said. "I lost my cool and I just took it out on him. I didn't mean to do it." Baron stopped and looked over his shoulder at me. "Don't worry about it. You have to explain to me what the hell happened to you while I was unconscious." I scratched my head nervously. "I kind of asked Mark and Steve to transform me into one of you guys." He stayed silent for awhile as he set me down on the ground and turned to face me before speaking. "Who bit you? Was it Corey? Answer me," he stared deep into eyes. "No. Corey didn't bite me. Mark bit me." He sighed. "Good. As long as it wasn't Corey, I'm okay with it. I wish it was me, but I trust Mark and Steve." I laughed. "Okay, what's wrong with Corey? You don't trust him with anything." He chuckled and shook his head. "I'm not the only one. I mean I love him like my brother but he can be a pain in the neck." I laughed as we reached the door. "So this is where you came from to get here," he asked. "Yep. Everyone's waiting so let's go." "Wait." I stopped and looked at him. "What's wrong? Aren't you ready to go?" He stared at me. I could tell that something was eating at him, but he didn't say anything. He shook his head. "Nothing. Let's go." I pushed the door opened and we walked inside.
Baron slowly opened his eyes to see the familiar ceiling that he knew. He looked towards the side and saw me looking at him with a smile on my face. "Welcome back." He smiled and slowly sat up. "Glad to be back. Where's everyone else at?" I got off the bed and walked towards the door, opening it. "He's back." Corey rushed in and jumped onto Baron. "Baron! Oh I have missed you so much! I was so worried about you!" Baron groaned and pushed him off. "Ugh! You're so clingy." Corey pouted. "I've missed you. Of course I'm gonna be clingy. I have every right to be clingy." Kelly pushed Corey to the side and patted Baron on the shoulder. "Good to have you back, big guy." "Thanks, Kelly." Mark and Steve watched Barkn carefully as he interacted with the others. "He seems to be okay," Steve whispered to Mark. "Yeah, but just in case," Mark looked at his wife. "Michelle, check him please." Michelle nodded and walked over to Baron and checked his vitals. "Well his temperature is back to normal, his heart beats are steady. He's fine." Mark nodded and looked at everyone. "Can everyone leave the room? We need to speak with Baron." Everyone nodded and started leaving the room. Steve grabbed me just as I was walking out. "Why don't you stay? You might have some questions about what we are about to discuss." I shut the door and sat down next to the bed. Baron sighed and looked at the elders. "What happened while I was out?" Steve took a deep breath before speaking. "You see, we were trying to figure out how to bring you back. It was either wait and see what would happen, but we changed our minds, fearing the worse could've happened while we just sat around. So we decided to see if Maria could help in any way. We saw the mark you put on her." Baron scratched the back of his neck. "Yeah, sorry about that, Maria." I smirked and shook my head. "Don't worry about it." "Luckily, it made it easier for her to transition from human. It was a rather quick process. We did have to draw some blood from you to give to her." Baron looked at me. "So you took my blood? I take my apology for branding you back then." I rolled my eyes as Steve continued. "Her heart did stop a few times and she had some pain, but since your blood was already in her system, she didn't suffer too much. But...she is different." Baron raised an eyebrow. "You mean she's like us right?" Steve looked at Mark and Mark looked at us. "No. She's what is known as a hybrid." I looked between the two men. "What's a hybrid?" Steve and Mark exchanged looks before Steve began to speak. "A hybrid is a cross between a human and an immortal. Kind of like a superior being, more powerful than even us. You have unique abilities and powers that surpass even us. You're very unique, Maria. You need to be careful. Who knows what you can do? It's very rare to find a hybrid nowadays." I looked down and stared at my hands. "So I'm a hybrid? That means I can be useful to you. I can help out around here, right? I won't be a burden on any of you." I smiled and looked at the others. Baron ruffled my hair. "You're not a burden to anyone. I'm glad you want to help, but we need to study your powers. Who knows what abilities you may have? This is new to us. This is going to take some time to get use to." I stared down at the floor in silence. I just want to be useful to everyone, but I knew that I wouldn't be much help if I didn't figure out how my new powers worked. "Okay. I understand." Mark placed a hand on my shoulder. "Don't worry. You're in good hands." I smiled and nodded. Michelle walked up to me and checked my vitals. "Amazing. Your heart is beating again and you have a pulse," she said, staring at me, "Hmm we need to keep a close eye on you from now on." I nodded my head as she left the room. "Now that that's all said and done, let's go eat." Mark and Steve left the bedroom, leaving Baron and I alone. I looked over at him, smiling. "Glad to have you back. Glad you're back with us." Baron pulled me into an embrace. "Thanks." I smiled and wrapped my arms around him. I buried my face into his neck, inhaling his scent. Baron pulled back and looked me in my eyes. "Promise me you won't push yourself too hard?" I smiled and nodded. "Good. Let's go to the others. They're waiting on us." I remembered everything we went through and everything I said. I wanted to properly tell Baron how I really felt, now that we're alone. I grew nervous and looked down as my face turned red. "Are you okay, Maria? You're red like an apple." "I have to tell you something, now that we're alone." He stared at me as I continued to speak. "I...I like you...more than a friend. I started falling for you when we first started hanging out, but couldn't muster up the courage to tell. And I thought you wouldn't understand my feelings and reject me. I'm also afraid of being hurt again so I decided to ignore my feelings, but then I heard that you could die and I didn't want to lose you." I kept looking down, waiting for his response. Baron wrapped his arms around me. "I'm glad you told me. I didn't want to push you or force you to like me. I feel the same way and not because you're my soulmate and we have to be together, but let's just take this one day at a time. Until you can get use to everything." I finally looked up at Baron and smiled. He leaned down and planted a soft kiss on my lips. "Come on. Let's go."