I drift. I dream. I float in the dark, endless water. Everything is muffled, pressure builds in my chest that makes it impossible to get a breath in. My brain, trying to make sense of the flames that lick the side of my face despite the water, try to create a comfort. And that comfort comes in the familiar, furious roar that makes the void around me tremble.

I can see the light above me, dancing through the thrashing waves. Shadows dance violently, voices with cotton shoved in their throats rip through. But I can't make them out. And with every beat of my panicking heart, the light grows further away. The cotton starts to fill my ears.

... I'm dying.

Then that sickening, delightful, recognizable voice manages to penetrate my ears.

"Beau!"

Barely breaking through the inferno that slowly spreads through my blood, a cool touch caresses my cheek. And a pained gasp at what he sees almost covers the pained cries and cracks in the background. Like a grinding crystal, with a high keen as something — someone — is torn to shreds.

And then the screaming stops with one final snap.

" — eau, please! Listen to me —" The waves lap over my senses. I try to speak, but the water rushes in. My voice, if it comes out, is barely a whisper. But it is his name.

"...Edythe..."

"Clari—!" Agony, ringing through the air like a bell, and fear. "... stay with me, baby... "

Funny, I think I've heard her say that before.

Cool touches my face, the salt of the tears on my lips a welcome sensation. I'm not dead. Not yet. But my heart ... the pounding is slowing. I don't want it to stop. I prefer the deafening drums. Another voice, with a wise, aged tone, creeps in. Strangely clear, strangely focused. From the epicenter of my flames, it's getting colder.

"It's done. Edythe, let me ..." A growl, a press to a hard, cold chest. Sharp pain shoots through my torso. I feel my body twitch. "Don't move him! She broke his leg, some ribs. I don't know how much longer he has."

"Edythe—"

"Shhh, Beau, it's going to be okay. I swear, it's going to be fine."

"E—it's—not—" Through the muddle, I can feel something tugging at my scalp. Can feel my ribs throb with every breath. But if I'm... if I'm going to die, then... Jesse...

"Hold on, Beau," Edythe begs. "Please just hold on." I labored to pull in another breath.

"Not—me," I choke. I try to make my hand rise, but it won't cooperate. I have to hope... "Him."

"Can you understand him?" Clarice's voice is right next to my head.

"Just rest, Beau. Breathe."

"No—him," I gasped out.

"Edythe, I think he means Jesse." Her voice goes off to the side. "Someone look Jesse over!" There's a solid beat of silence. Then everything around me sinks further into despair. "She bit him... bit them both."

"What do we do, Clarice?" Edythe demands, her voice trembling. "Jesse's parents are already panicking about his disappearance. We can't just take him."

"We can't leave him either. We'll keep him, fake his death. We don't have a choice."

"And Beau? Alex said he wasn't ready to be a vampire."

"I don't... Bite him. There's a chance you can drain the venom from him before he's too far gone." Hesitance. Shaking terror. Edythe shakes her head, pulling into herself. "Edythe...?"

"I don't ... I don't think I can control myself if I try. His blood sings to me, I don't think I could stop."

"I understand. I'll do it. I can handle being around it, dealing with it. I'll get it out of him."

"Clarice, you've never drank human blood...what if it happens to you, too?"

"Then I trust you to kill me and lead the coven. But you have to trust me to at least try and save him. Then we can worry about the aftermath." My head shifts toward Clarice's voice, and she lets out a soft gasp. "Beau, don't move too much."

"...alright." Edythe whispers soft comforts as she shifts my body to much thicker, more defined arms. Never leaving my side, her trembling hands take mine. "Alex, Emmaline! Get something to brace his leg, and be ready to hold Clarice down."

I don't feel them break my leg back into place. I don't hear Alex and Emma discuss their chances of taking down a much older, more powerful vampire. A vampire they both see as a mother or sister.

I feel a cold hand grip my hair and pull my head back. I feel a cold set of lips touch my neck, a shaking breath cool the flaming skin.

In my mind, there are two options. My vision clears just enough for me to see the panic and pain in Edythe's eyes... how she's suffering. I can't keep doing this to her. She deserves so much better. She deserves someone... like her.

I'm going to become a vampire.

"No..." I whisper, eyes finally opening. "Don't."

"Beau...?" Clarice pulls back, her eyes wide.

"Don't let drain me. Save Jesse... let me change. I want this."

"Are you sure?" She probes.

"Beau, please..." Edythe chokes out. "You're not thinking straight."

"Maybe, but..." I close my eyes, pressing my forehead to her stomach. "If dying means an eternity with you... I choose you. Go... Before it's too late." Clarice's cool body vanishes, and I cling to Edythe with all my might.

I feel her cold lips on my forehead, on my cheeks, her mouth muttering out repeated apologies and prayers for my recovery. I wait for another rush of the fire, a final surge to flush out what's left of my humanity. And leave me a dead stone on the ground.

At first, I'm right. My senses shift into overdrive, and the water parts like the red sea from my body. My eyes are too focused, noticing the golden flecks remaining in Edythe's eyes. The number of knots in the wooden structure on the ceiling. The flames rush down my veins. I watch Clarice's face return to me, grim determination wrinkling her lightly freckled skin, her icy hands holding me tight.

She vices my body, holding me still through my body's unconscious thrashing until the fire dulls down. Simmering deep inside my stomach. It's barely a smolder. I let out a sigh of relief, my body, at last, relaxing.

"Hospital. Now. Tell them whatever you must." Clarice orders the others, no doubt talking about Jesse and Mom. "Go ... just go..." Rushing footsteps, vanishing into the distance. I let myself look around, taking in the busted, empty space.

"Beau ...," I blink and slowly face Edythe. "Beau, I love you." She says finally, leaning down and kissing my lips. I let out a cough of a laugh, smiling up at her weakly.

"I-I love you too..." Something shifts in my chest. The fire returns with a vengeance as every bone in my body forces itself to heal. The last thing I remember before the black takes me over is the sound of my own scream.