I thought I fainted. I knew I fell back when I heard the word "vampire", and my head was spinning out of control. Everything started to go black. I felt Cake's soft paws catch me, and her fur keeping me warm as Fionna's voice tried to reach me, but it was too late. I was gone. Nothing could pull me back after that.

Consciousness was hard for me to keep for the first little bit after my reawakening, but in the depths of my unconscious state, I could see things. Fragmented memories trying to reach me from beyond the abyss of my mind. They were foggy, and hard to pull through, but I got one memory: a boy, with hair black as pitch, eyes equally as dark although full of life and vitality, and a playful grin across his pale face.

I reached out to him, trying to call to him, but as I reached, he pulled away from me.

I woke again, sitting up and crying out.

"Marsh!"

I guess my random cry alerted a sleeping Fionna, because she jumped up from her place across the room from me, as if ready to attack, but she realized it was only me and lowered her guard and the weapon she had in her hands. "You really scared me there, Mel," she said sheepishly. "I thought some monster or something busted up in here the way you screamed like that."

I bowed my head apologetically. "Sorry, Fionna."

Her blue eyes opened more. "Hey, you talked."

I tilted my head, until I understood what she meant. "I did..." I whispered in surprise. "I can talk again."

"Looks like all that shock and pain took your voice, but after a proper rest, you recovered."

"I'm hungry."

My stomach growled loudly, and the fangs in my mouth started aching profusely, making me agitated. I believe Fionna did understand, though, and tossed a large, bright red apple into my lap. And just like before, I bit into it almost immediately and drained the brilliant color from its flesh. I couldn't explain how I did it, either; it was almost like a pure instinct on my part.

After I tossed the mushy, grey blob aside, another apple was tossed to me, and the same result happened, only more tamely. Afterwards, my stomach felt full, and when a third apple was offered to me, I refused it.

"Thank you, but I think I'm all right now."

"Looks like you are just like Marshall Lee, then," Fionna finally said. "You look alike and eat alike."

"Who is Marshall Lee?" I asked. "You and Cake have both mentioned this person, but I don't know who you're talking about."

"He's a friend of ours, and the Vampire King," Fionna managed to reply, almost shyly, as if talking about it would be bad. "And if you are a vampire, like we're thinking, it'd be best if you two met so he could help you better than me or Cake could."

"A...vampire?"

"Yeah. I know it might sound crazy, since you just woke up, but it might be worth looking into. At least, while the sun's down. I don't know how you do in sunlight."

I curled up into a ball, pulling my legs close to my chest. "It hurts. Almost like I'm on fire. It's the worst feeling I've probably ever known."

"Then we'll definitely keep you out of the sunlight. It's not worth the danger, and I'll make sure Marshall Lee meets with you in a safe manner."

I nodded, exhausted and confused. I didn't want to say much more, since it was the first real conversation I'd held, and I think Fionna understood that.

"So, I'm gonna go phone Marshall, and let him know about all this, so we'll get you ready to meet him tonight."

I nodded again, and she left the room, pulling something out of her pack as she did.

When she was gone, I pulled my knees closer to me and buried my face in them, slightly smothered by the soft blankets I was under. I didn't necessarily need the air though; I was perfectly fine without somehow.

"Whatever happens, I hope this is actually a good idea for me..."