The weight of those words crushed Julia; if she hadn't been laying down, she would have fallen to her knees. That couldn't be the truth, it just... couldn't! If she wasn't turning into a vampire then... what WAS happening to her?
"Eliza... are you sure I'm not turning into a vampire? I don't even have the slightest bit of vampire DNA or magic in me?"
Eliza put her finger to her chin and thought about it. "Hmmmmmmm... nope. You're just a regular old yummy human! Hee hee hee~!"
"No... it can't be...it can't be..."
Julia blinked a few times as the tears came flooding. This had a whole new impact on her. It opened her eyes to a very dark, harsh reality: it wasn't Eliza at all. It was never Eliza. The mysterious force compelling her, drawing her to Eliza... it was all a figment of Julia's imagination. This whole time... everything she had done... it was of her own volition.
Julia felt like wailing as the hard truth beared down on her. She no longer had an excuse. That was her scapegoat, her defense, her justification for all the horrible things she had done. Kidnapping Ganryu, the blood drive, the driver... having sex with her... nobody made those choices for her. No magic, supernatural power forced her hand. Julia's descension from humanity was all her own doing...
...NO! This wasn't her fault, dammit! If she had never run into Eliza that night, none of this would have happened! She would still be her old, kind, compassionate self: a botanist helping out the world by spreading the influence of Mother Earth. She would never have done those awful things had Eliza not planted those dark seeds in her brain!
...But who cultivated those seeds? Julia could have ran away if she really put her mind to it. But she didn't; she was compelled to stay. She was compelled by Eliza, compelled to explore a newer, darker world than the cozy little bubble of research and nature she had been living in. There could be no denying it... Julia was to blame for Julia's actions.
And now came the next big question... what does Julia do now? She couldn't return back to her old life after the things she had done. Was this her new fate: to skulk around in the shadows, hunting victims for the vampire that had her wrapped around her finger? Was she forced to forever be the willing servant of a spoiled, bratty, sociopathic lady who had no regard for the lives of others?
...No. There could be no going back, but there also HAD to be a way forward. If this was Julia's life now... she was going to make it a life worth living. She was going to live on her own terms. She had a choice to make; this choice would be a permanent one, with no regrets and no second chances. Julia could never rejoin her fellow humans, so she had no choice but to...
"Eliza?"
Julia rolled over on top of Eliza, staring into the vampire's eyes. "...How do I become a vampire?"
Eliza's eyes widened. "Whoa, are you serious?"
Julia closed her eyes and let a few tears fall. "Yes... I can't go back now. I've already stolen and murdered in the name of blood. I've already consummated our bond together. I want to become a vampire and live by your side."
Eliza's mouth opened wide, but the corners of her mouth curved upwards as if it was a pleasing revelation. "Oh wowie! That's so cool! Awwww servant, you really are the sweetest servant I ever had~"
Eliza grabbed the back of her head, pulled downwards and met her lips with a slow, wet smooch.
Julia picked her head back up and looked at her. "So what do I do?"
"Well... I'll show you tonight. So we'll just have to wait until then! Gaaah stupid sun...!"
"So what do we do in the meantime?!"
Eliza grinned and pulled Julia back down on her. "Let's just stay here awhile~"
The two of them laid in bed all day long, eagerly awaiting the black shroud of night to finally put the sun to bed. Julia didn't sleep well because of her eagerness, but at the same time she didn't have the energy to do anything else but lay there and wallow in her misery. She allowed her human mind to think these last few regretful thoughts, and at the same time... to remember all the good memories she had. Her mom, her research, all the trees she helped bring to fruition. These happy memories would soon be gone forever. This step forward would be permanent.
Night finally fell, and Eliza led Julia to a secluded area in the woods where they would be alone. Julia was starting to get an anxious bubbling in her stomach, though she wasn't sure if it was the good kind or bad kind. She was ready to leave this horrible life behind, but she also was sad that she had to discard the good things. But this was the right choice; she didn't deserve that happiness anymore. She didn't deserve to feel the joys of humans; she was a vampire now.
"Okay, set the mattress down... HERE!"
Julia and Eliza allowed their muscles to give out and the mattress slipped from their hands. It was an extremely strenuous process, especially since they had to tunnel a hole under the mansion big enough to fit it through. But they managed to get it done, and now the mattress Eliza had slept on during her time living underground at Lili's mansion was laying in the middle of the woods.
"Okay... now strip out of your clothes and lay on the mattress." Eliza commanded.
Julia wasn't wearing much, since they had been so sexually active that day, but she stripped out of what undergarments she had put on and laid down on the mattress as per Eliza's command.
Eliza was distracted by her body for a few seconds, but Julia snapped her fingers and Eliza snapped out of it. "Okay, okay! Ummm... spread eagle!"
Julia raised her eyebrow, but still did what Eliza wanted.
Eliza put her hands together and wore a serious face. "Okay... now I need to take some of your blood. I'm just gonna give you a little nip on the leg at first, okay?"
"Ummm... what do you mean at first?"
"Hold still."
Eliza leaned down and sunk her teeth into Julia's leg, then immediately pulled away. Julia winced from the pain, feeling cold at first and then a rush of warmth flooded to her leg. The two dark holes began to fill with red, until Julia's crimson life force erupted from the bite like a volcano and drizzled down her leg.
Eliza dipped her fingers in the blood, then approached Julia's face.
"Close your eyes."
Julia shut her eyes and started to feel Eliza's fingers touching her face, tracing some weird pattern. She could feel the wetness being smeared across her face, as if Eliza was finger painting.
"Now the body."
Julia felt Eliza's wet fingers touch her abdomen and begin smearing the blood once again. Eliza stopped for a second to gather more of Julia's crimson "ink", then once again started applying it to Julia's abdomen.
After continuing this process for a few minutes, Eliza finally backed away and licked her fingers clean. "Okay, open your eyes!"
Julia opened her eyes and looked down; her stomach had some kind of weird red markings all over it! It looked like some kind of sorcery; something only found in a fantasy.
"What did you do to me?" she naturally asked immediately.
"I have inscribed the ancient blood markings on your body that will allow me to perform the transformation." Eliza declared, her voice unusually cheery. She must have been excited about doing this. Was it her first time turning someone into a vampire?
"Um... okay. Now what?" Julia asked, her voice showing the tiniest hint of fear.
"Now... you don't do anything but close your eyes. And when you reopen them... you will be a vampire."
Julia started instinctively shaking; it was too soon! Was she really ready to go through with this once and for all?!
"Um, um, I, um, I... need a minute..."
"We don't have a minute! I must begin the incantation now!"
"W-WAIT! I'M NOT READ-mmph!"
Eliza put her hand on Julia's mouth and stared into her eyes, her expression as serious as it had ever been. Julia stared back, and she could feel her nerves calming. The more she looked into those eyes, the more she realized this was her fate. There was no more time to waste... Eliza was waiting for her, to join her in vampirehood and live happily by her side for all eternity.
"Servant...Julia... please be with me. I don't want to be alone in this world anymore." Eliza said softly. It was the most solemn-sounding thing Julia had ever heard her say.
She removed her hand from Julia's mouth and Julia stared at her for a few seconds, her face stern. She closed her eyes and gave her a nod, indicating that she was ready. She realized now that Eliza had nobody except her; perhaps this was why Eliza wanted her around so much. Maybe she saw more in Julia besides her ability to find food for her. Maybe she really wanted Julia as a lover, to fill the cold, dark void that had been in her heart for thousands of years. This motivated Julia more than ever to finally go through with this.
"...Do it, Eliza. I'll be waiting for you." were Julia's final words.
"Okay, close your eyes and relax. And Julia... thank you for everything."
Julia shut her eyes tight and shivered in anticipation. She saw nothing but black now, but when she opened her eyes again... she would no longer be the human being she once was.
Eliza took a firm stance, held her hands up high to the heavens, and brought them together in a thunderous clap. She drew a deep breath, looked up at the clouds, and yelled:
"O GREAT VAMPIRE GODS! HEAR MY PLEA! LIBERA INTER HOMINES PRESTAT EIUS!
Julia suddenly felt a rush of cold engulf her. The cold was so intense her body broke out in shivers, unable to keep still even with every ounce of her will. She shook so violently, she was starting to wonder if it was even the cold; maybe she was having a seizure?!
"LIBERA INTER HOMINES PRESTAT EIUS!"
Julia's body shook more and more violently by the second. Eliza was actually supposed to tie her arms and legs, but they had a lack of resources.
"LIBERA INTER HOMINES PRESTAT EIUS!"
"G-gaaaah! Ahhhh! Aaaaaah!" Julia cried.
"LIBERA INTER HOMINES PRESTAT EIUS!"
After that final incantation, the red markings all over Julia's body began to glow a bright purple. The trees began to sway, the leaves flew in all directions from the powerful shockwaves of the ancient magic.
"Aaaaah! Ahhhh! AAAAAH!" Julia squealed. Her body felt like her insides were bouncing around in it, making her arms and legs flail, her head shake.
"Now hold still Julia! I have to do one final thing!" Eliza cried.
"WHAT!"
"I must drain your body of your human blood! It's the final anchor keeping you bound to mortality!"
"W-WILL I DIE?!"
"Your human body will die, but you will be resurrected as a vampire!"
"I'M SCARED!"
"I know you are, sweetie, but I promise it will all be over soon. Now, I'm going to reopen the wound on your neck."
Eliza re-approached Julia and felt around on her neck for the spot where she had initially bit her. Julia's tears started spilling; words couldn't describe how terrified she was right now.
And then, it happened. Julia cried out with a scream that could pierce the clouds as she felt the fangs sink into her neck, and her blood slowly draining from her body.
"AHHHHHHHHHHH! AGHHHHHHHHHHHH!"
"Mmmm...mmmm~" Eliza moaned as she drank Julia's red, life-sustaining nectar. The blood dribbled down the corners of her mouth as she enjoyed drop after drop of her servant's blood for the last time.
Julia could feel her head buzzing, her body growing colder and colder. It was getting harder to think, harder to breathe...her heart began to slow...it was so cold...
With one last labored breath, Julia's human life ended. Her corpse lay upon the mattress, as pale and white and cold as a dead person could be.
"Okay, gotta act fast gotta act fast gotta act fast!" Eliza muttered.
She backed away from Julia and once again assumed her position, bringing her hands together with a clap and crying out to the skies above:
"QUI QUAERIT FIERI SANGUIS IN AETERNUM!"
Lightning crackled in the skies as a circle of black clouds gathered directly above them.
"QUI QUAERIT FIERI SANGUIS IN AETERNUM!"
Red lightning began to strike down all around them, making the earth rumble with each impact.
"QUI QUAERIT FIERI SANGUIS IN AETERNUM!"
With those final words, a bolt of crimson lightning stuck Julia's lifeless body and her heart restarted like a jumper cable starting a car. She gasped as the breath re-filled her lungs, her body arched upwards. Finally, her muscles released their tension and she collapsed against the mattress. She was alive... but so very cold. Her insides felt like a refrigerator!
And then, in the blink of an eye, the lightning subsided and the clouds dissolved. The night was as quiet and peaceful as it was a few minutes ago.
Eliza ran over to Julia and scooped her up in her arms. "Julia, open your eyes!"
Her eyelids strained for a few seconds, but eventually her will managed to pry them apart slowly. Eliza gasped when she looked into Julia's irises: they were red. They were as red as the blood she drank from her human body.
"Ahh! Open your mouth! Lemme see them beauties!"
Eliza grabbed Julia's jaw and gently pried it open. Upon opening her mouth, a sinister hiss leaked out as Julia's white fangs were exposed. They were about half an inch in length, and razor sharp to the touch. They glistened with the white of a precious pearl, eager to stain themselves with red.
Eliza let out a long whistle. "Holy shiiiiit, you got some nice ones Julia~"
It took a few seconds, but Julia finally managed to utter words:
"E...E...Li...Za?"
"Hmmm? Are you okay?"
"I'm...so cold..."
"Eh, you get used to it."
"Please... hold me...ahhh...please warm me up..."
"Awwww Julia..."
Eliza crawled onto the bed with her now-vampire-partner and snuggled up against her, draping a leg over hers and constricting her torso with her arms. She allowed her fingers to gently dance across Julia's skin, which was still pale white. It would be that way forever now.
"There there... it's all over now Julia. You're one of me now. Now we can be together forever~"
Julia leaned in and pressed her lips against Eliza's. While they kissed, she thought about everything that had just happened. She thought about the life she just left behind. Will a life with Eliza be one worth living? Will it find her the same happiness the old one did? Only time will tell...
Eliza broke the kiss and started stroking her chest. "Hey... what say we consummate your new life? We may not bleed, but we can still orgasm~"
Their lips met once again, this time with a newfound passion; no longer were they on two different levels, vampire and human. Now, they were equals; two vampires, together in harmony to seek out the blood of humans forever. They would enjoy human blood... as well as each other.
EPILOGUE
Julia and Eliza eventually left the mansion and set out on the road, making sweet love together during the day, and stalking fresh prey in the night. Though Julia was devoid of her humanity, she still had the power to choose morality; as per her request, Julia and Eliza made a vow only to drink the blood of those who deserved it: evil-doers, murderers, rapists, anyone who walked the path of evil at the cost of innocent lives. Since Julia was her partner now, Eliza listened to her and respected her wishes.
And thus, Julia and Eliza the Vampire Lovers became known as somewhat of a vigilante duo, sucking the blood of criminals and then disappearing into darkness, never to be seen. Only a select few claimed to have laid eyes on them, but there was no proof that there ever existed a duo known as the Vampire Lovers. The only evidence to support the claims were the pale white, dried up corpses of evil-doers always left behind at the scene.
Meanwhile, at the Rochefort Mansion, Lili finally discovered the huge hole in the floor. Even after Sebastian hired the most prestigious workers to put in a new floor, she barely slept a wink for months.
THE END
