Serana sat at the edge of the bed watching Stefan's body. It had been several hours since she had bitten him. When she couldn't sit any more she got up and began pacing watching his body like a hawk. He hadn't stirred since. She paced the room, tears streaming down her face. She cried quietly, she was sure she had killed him. She had forced herself not to swallow any of his blood. A thought crossed her mind. He had sacrificed his blood for her. Could this be why he wouldn't wake? She had already consumed his blood.
She sat at the edge of the bed. She touched his hand. It was ice cold, just like hers. She stroked his hair and cried softly. Her eyes were red and puffy from crying. She couldn't bear sitting any longer and began pacing once again. She watched his body, hoping to see any sign of movement. Even just a small twitch would be sufficient. She sat on the bed once more to resume her lonely vigil. Serana buried her face in her hands and cried silently. She had gone from newly-wed to widow in a space of just a few hours.
Stefan, who Serana believed had died, stirred. He made a small noise of discomfort and twitched. Serana looked up from her hands. She was sure she heard a movement, or perhaps a twitch. Either way it was a sign of life. She watched him intently. He twitched again.
"Stefan?" she asked hopefully.
He twitched again and stirred.
She smiled more in hope than happiness. Stefan stirred. He made another small noise of discomfort and opened his eyes slowly. His eyes had changed colour. When he was mortal they had been a deep, dark brown. They had now become a deep scarlet matching Serana's. His red eyes scanned his surroundings. He spotted Serana and beamed.
"Serana?"he asked looking at her. "Is that you?"
"Yes," she replied happily giving him a watery smile.
"Why were you crying?"he asked.
He sat up slowly. Serana threw her arms around him and hugged him as tightly as she could.
"I thought you were dead," she cried. "I was scared."
Stefan stroked her hair softly. He released her from his embrace.
"Don't be scared Serana,"he said wiping her eyes and stroking her face. "I wasn't dead. Or no, yes I was dead. But now I'm not any more. Does that make sense?"
Serana nodded. Her tears fell off her face as she nodded. She wiped her eyes
"Yes," she said.
She couldn't think of anything else to say. She threw her arms around him and embraced him as tightly as she could. She was relieved that turning hadn't changed his personality, at least for now. Evidently, he seemed to be just the same as he was as a mortal.
"Serana," he said. "I feel different."
She released him. She stroked his hair gently.
"Different?" she repeated. "In what way?"
"I feel cold," he replied. "Is it me or is is cold in here."
He placed his hand on his chest and his eyes widened in shock.
"My heartbeat," he said. "I have no heartbeat."
He stood up and went to look in the mirror but no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't see himself.
"My reflection!" he gasped in surprise. "I'm here, but I have no reflection."
He looked at her.
"Is this normal?" he asked.
Serana nodded. She was lost for words. Her happiness that her husband was unhurt blocked her ability to make speech.
"Yes," she said simply.
He ran up to her, picked her up and twirled her around and kissed her lovingly.
"Thank you Serana," he said happily. "Thank you."
Serana cried once more, but not in sorrow. This time it was tears of happiness. She spotted the bite marks on his neck. She reached up and touched them gently. Stefan felt her touch them and he touched her hand, guiding it across them.
"Did it hurt?"she asked.
"No," he said. "I remember seeing you face and then I fell asleep. I woke up and saw your face again."
Serana smiled.
"Does this mean I am immortal like you?" asked Stefan.
"Indeed," said Serana. "Just like me."
He hugged his wife once more. It seemed that, at last he had gotten his wish. Serana and himself could finally be together...forever.
"Serana," he said. "I'm hungry."
She chuckled. Now she understood what she sounded like when she told him this back when he was a mortal.
"Wait here," she said.
She sat him on the bed and made her way into the alchemy lab. She took two bottles of blood potion and returned.
She gave him the bottles. He uncorked them and downed one after the other. He lowered the second one and then smacked his lips together. When he did this he felt something scratching against his mouth. He brushed his tongue against his teeth. He gasped. He had fangs! Fangs! Two of them! Just like Serana. He touched them with his finger and felt them scratch his skin.
Serana watched him drink the potions.
"Thank you," he said. He lowered the bottles and placed them on the bedside cabinet.
"Any more?" he asked.
Serana looked at him. Two was usually enough for her. She returned to the alchemy lab. He had drunk the last two. She went back to the bedroom to see Stefan waiting for her expectantly.
"No," she replied. "You drank them all."
"Well that's unfortunate,"he said.
He suddenly convulsed. His eyes glowed and a deep voice issued from him.
"Blood," he said in this unusual voice. "Give me blood Serana."
Serana looked at him fearfully.
"Is something the matter Serana?" he asked.
His voice had returned to normal and he clearly had no idea what had just happened.
"Stefan," she said nervously. "I-I-I think we need to visit Castle Volkihar. I need to speak to mother."
Stefan nodded.
"We saw her at our wedding," he protested. "Is it urgent?"
"Yes," she said fearfully. "It is. We have to go, now."
Stefan sighed.
"As you wish," he said. "I'll saddle the horse."