Steph sat and her vanity table and looked at her reflection. She'd never really looked in the mirror long enough to notice the changes that had overtaken her since she's began her new life. Her eyes were still brilliant, yet they seemed brighter. And there were golden flecks in the iris that she'd never notice before.

Her skin was smooth and free of any blemishes. She moved her fingers to run over the cool surface of her cheek. It was truly a beautiful complexion--the paleness yet the slight golden sheen she still possessed was ever present.

She picked up her silver-lined brush with it's soft bristles and ran it through her hair. Her thick mane was a lovely mass of curls in a gentle chocolate hue. The magnificent sheen it held was clearly one which no human could possess yet it wasn't so abnormal as to attract attention. Steph combed it until it felt like fine silk. She left it loose, cascading down her shoulders.

She grabbed a small container of lip gloss and dipped in her finger, running it across her lips. She grabbed a tissue and wiped her hands, grabbing eye shadow. She chose a soft, golden color and lightly brushed it over her lids. She then looked in the mirror, satisfied, and stood.

She wore a black satin, corset dress. The back of the dress laced up and was held together in the front with hook and eye buttoning. The dress was the length of mid-thigh. She slipped on a dainty pair of black heels and walked around the room, making sure she was capable of walking freely. She was.

A breathy sigh escaped her lips as she began to descend the stairs. She saw Christian waiting at the bottom of the stairs for her.

He had on a tailored suit, his hair carefully tied back. And his fine Italian leather shoes were shined so, that reflections could be seen in them.

Christian watched her as she came closer. She was an absolute vision, of that he was sure. He offered his arm to her. "My lady," he said brightly.

Steph linked her arm with his and laughed. "Why, dear Christian, is that you?"

"None other." They laughed again as they made their way into the living room.

Chris was standing by the fireplace, his hand resting on the marble mantle. While Edge sat casually on the skeleton chair.

A table Stephanie had never seen before was in the center of the room. It was adorned with four crystal glasses.

Chris couldn't believe how enchanting Stephanie looked. Everything inside his churned. He cleared his throat. "Let's us try and be civilized for an evening."

Edge moved towards Steph and took her away from Christian. "You look ravishing," he whispered.

Steph gave a shy smile. "Thank you. You look quite…dashing yourself in that suit."

Edge chuckled and touched his jacket. "Oh, this worn out thing? Its an antique really…hardly fashionable. But thank you." He pulled out a chair exactly opposite of the head of the table and beckoned Steph to sit. Which she did.

Chris sat at the head of the table and watched as Edge sat on his left while Christian sat on his right. He looked straight ahead at Stephanie who was looking back at him. He cleared his throat and looked at his family. The family he began. "When I was turned…my sire was a man of no purpose. He wasn't like we are…with feelings…emotions. He was just a rogue vampire who killed to feed. There was no mind in him. I was turned by accident," he paused, "I bit him, trying to get out of his grip and in doing so, I unwittingly drank from him. He was still with me when I awoke. And I knew…Im not sure how…that I was superior to him, despite he being my sire." He stopped talking and looked around the room. "It wasn't hard to overpower him. And he lives to this day…otherwise none of us would be sitting here. A cage seemed appropriate at the time. And it still does." Chris cleared his throat and stood. "You are all my family. Each and every one of you. All animosity aside, I care deeply for every part of you all." Chris moved and disappeared into the kitchen and came back holding a gold decanter.

Steph knew instantly that it was blood. She watched as Chris slowly poured the thick liquid into Edge's glass, then Christian.

Chris kept his eyes on her and he filled her glass. He then placed the decanter on the table and held his glass up.

Edge and Christian stood, each holding their glasses.

Chris lifted his head. "To us. And may we all prosper in the present and into the future." He saluted his glass into the air and then drank deeply. Edge quickly followed suit and then Christian after the most brief of hesitations.

Steph held her goblet, the glass was warm due to the perfectly fresh blood. She stared into it, a magnificent shade of red she only saw with the liquid that gave human's life. The scent was overpowering and yet she had yet to bring it to her lips. What was slaughtered for the sake of their recreation?

"Its not human," Chris said. "So do not mourn an un-slaughtered human and soil the occasion."

Steph's eyes flickered to Christian and then Edge. "Cheers." She said quietly, bringing the glass her mouth. The addictive taste lingered around her tongue before she swallowed. After she did so she immediately dropped the glass, priceless crystal and blood mingling together on the floor. She gasped deeply and backed up, her pupils suddenly dilated. She blinked rapidly, stumbling back and falling to the floor.

Christian rushed to her, with Edge and Chris close behind. He grabbed Stephanie and sat her on Chris's velvet chair. "What in hell was in the blood?!" Christian yelled as he tried to calm Stephanie.

Chris and Edge looked confused. "Its what it always is when we celebrate," Edge spoke rapidly, "Its my blood because Im the sire of you and Steph and its mixed with Chris's blood because he is my sire…"

"Then why is this happening to her?!" Christian exclaimed.

Steph's blinked for a moment longer before her eyes rolled in the back of her head and her lids closed. Their voices were so far away…so far.

My blood…my life…

Die tonight and then rise like the phoenix…

Flashes came and left quickly through Stephanie. Edge's face…Chris's eyes…a ruby-encrusted dagger…her blood…a leather bound book…a lifeless woman…lips…her hands…blood…blood…blood…

My blood…my life…

Die tonight and then rise like the phoenix…

Stephanie screamed and began to thrash so forcefully that it took the three of them to hold her Steph. "Oh God," she screamed, "Oh God!" She then suddenly stopped struggling.

Chris could still feel that she was extremely tense as be backed up a step.

Steph slowly opened her eyes and looked and the three of them so intently watching her. She stumbled to her feet, tearing her arm away from any helping hands. She walked shakily around the room…she knew. Maybe she always knew, and just refused to believe it. She turned to the three vampires before her. She looked from Christian to Edge and finally to Chris. She spoke, her voice shaking.

"Im Tessa," she said, "Im Tessa…"