"So, you're wanting to start piecing together your old memories and learn how to be a vampire for real? Am I understanding what you're laying down here?"

I nodded briefly.

The conversation with Marshall Lee when he came back was short and to the point: I told him what I wanted. It was reasonable; at least I thought it was. Fionna and Cake didn't try to interfere or cut in; they just let Marshall and I talk. I had the feeling they could tell I needed it.

"It's doable, though we can't rush the process. You could seriously muck something up and put yourself in a way worse position than you're in now. So if you do it as I tell you, it should work out fine, for both of us," Marshall finally said. "So I'll do it on that condition: that you do exactly as I say, how I say it."

"I can agree to that," I told him flatly, the energy gone from my voice. "Whatever works best."

"My way will put less stress on your body from all this mess, so stick with it while the help is available and you'll be fine."

I nodded briefly again.

"Hold on a minute, though, Marshall," Fionna finally cut in. "What do you mean 'while the help is available'?"

"I mean just that, Fi," Marshall replied curtly. "I can't baby her forever; eventually she has to develop her own strength and overcome what happened to her. Me being a crutch will only serve to do more harm than good, and I'm not about that, thank you."

"Didn't you just say you can't rush the process? Wouldn't that cause Mel to work harder knowing that you won't help her the whole time?" Cake sassed, her arms crossed in discontent.

"You crawl before you walk, you walk before you run," I told her. "Eventually I have to be able to go through all that on my own. I can depend on Marshall Lee as long as I actually need it, but if I don't, he'll let me figure it out. It'll be fine."

"Mel..."

"Then we're agreed. We'll start first thing tomorrow night. I can tell you still need some time to get your head on straight, so I'm fine with waiting a little longer.

"In the meantime, I have a song that I've been working on that I really want to finish up, so I'll be working on that until then. SO, until tomorrow night, ladies."

Before anyone could stop him, Marshall was gone, and it was just me, Cake, and Fionna left in the house.

Though no one could tell just by looking at me, a million things raced through my mind, the likes of which I'd never known in the short time I'd been reborn as a vampire. I was going to be taught how to live my new life, in a way where I wouldn't be a danger to others anymore, and I would slowly unlock the secrets of my past that only Marshall seemed to have access to. It almost felt unreal.

And I couldn't wait to reclaim the life I'd lost.