She wanted to ask but didn't dare. She was curious to know but knew it probably wasn't good that she did. Yet, there was something in London's tone that suggested there was more to Dave biting Christy's neck. If that's where he bit her. "Do I even want to know?" Trish asked.

"Um…" London wasn't sure how to answer Trish. He wanted to be honest with her but he also knew that if he was too honest, it was a guaranteed ass beating by Dave. "You should ask Dave. Yeah, ask him."

"Umm hmm." Trish folded her arms as she remembered the first night she met Dave. He left with two women and was gone for hours. It didn't take long for Trish to figure out exactly what Dave did to send the girls "home," as he put it. I figured as much. She then looked around London's room. As she admired the satin black sheets that graced the walls, Trish couldn't help but wonder exactly what was underneath. "Do you mind if I take a look around?"

"Okay, but just for the record, you suggested it, alright?" He stated.

"I won't get you into trouble, London." She promised.

Sheet by sheet, London revealed what he dubbed as the "walls of hotness." Various pictures, magazines, and porn videos filled the room. Midgets, tall and average sized women. Latinas, Black girls, and Asians. Blondes, brunettes, redheaded, and the multi-colored haired. Small breasts, big breasts, and insanely huge breasts.

While Trish felt like she needed to scrub the smut off her body, she was also intrigued. "I'm curious. What's your fascination with porn?"

London smiled as he thought about the numerous porn video and collections he owned. He was proud to boast amongst his fellow vampires and living that he owned well over 200. "My fascination with porn is the same as many other guys fascination with porn." London shrugged. "It's really a no-brainer."

"Yeah but I don't know of too many guys who have wall-to-wall decorations of…" Trish couldn't bring herself to describe London's room. "…the female anatomy."

"The female body is a beautiful thing, Trisha." London smiled big. "A beautiful thing. Everyone has his or her hobby and his or her vice, so to speak. Some people have cigarettes. Some collect Barbies. Others have stamp collecting. I have porn."

"At least you're honest." She replied.

"At least I'm honest." London smiled. He then retrieved a large book and took out a pencil. "Anyways, we need to go over how to kill someone."

"Um…" Trish hesitated. "How to kill someone?"

"Oh yeah. It's actually quite fun if you hate the person." London smiled. "I'm sure Melina went over how suck the blood out the veins?"

Trish felt herself becoming increasingly nauseated. "Not yet."

"Oh, well then we'll go over that too!"

Despite the consistently cold temperature in the mansion, Trish felt she needed to fan herself off. "Is that really necessary?"

"Um…yeah." He replied.

"Okay, I'm going to be real. I just sat through learning how to drink blood and I'm not entirely sold on that. Could we jump to something else and get back to the killing?"

London nodded. He got up and sat beside Trish. "I can't sympathize with you but I'm sure you're scared shitless, right?"

"Just a tad."

London thought about what he wanted to say. He was known for shooting from the hip and it got him in trouble more often than not. Yet, London knew there was nothing he could say that may possibly smooth everything over with Trish and her feelings. Instead, he thought to do the opposite. "Tell me about Trish."

"What?"

"Tell me about you. What makes you so great?" He asked.

"Well…" Trish was caught off-guard slightly. "I like to take walks on the beach and I love listening to music."

"What kind?"

"Well, I love R&B and hip-hop."

"Watch TV?"

"Yeah."

"What shows?"

"I love watching documentaries."

"Like what?"

"Well, crime mysteries like 48 hours and realism shows like Intervention."

"Just say no to drugs." London added. "Crack is wack."

Trish smiled. "Okay, what's with all the questions?"

"I need to know who you were before I turn you. I can't prepare you for the future if I don't know what your past was." London flashed his trademark smile. "Pretty smart, don't ya' think?"

London's smile relaxed Trish. It was then she realized why the Family were popular and powerful. They had a way of charming their victims and making them open up about themselves. It definitely worked on her.

Trish smiled brightly. "I think I'm ready to learn about killing."

---------------------------

Later that day, Trish had a study session with Nitro. While she got along with everyone in the Family—well, almost everyone in the Family—she never really became acquainted with Nitro. It was partially Melina was by his side all the time. It was also because Nitro was also clowning with London when he wasn't with Melina.

Yet, Trish knew there was more to Nitro than he led on. He was uniquely comprised of all members of the Family—he was reserved like Dave; used his sexuality to his advantage like Melina; lightened the mood like Rock and London; and was mysterious like Taker.

Trish walked into the living room and saw Nitro in the corner. Wearing reading glasses, Nitro was holding a large dictionary to his view and appeared to be reading it.

"Knock, knock." Trish said as she tapped on the door. "Just let me know when you're ready."

"I'm ready. I'm just studying the dictionary." Nitro said. "There are a lot of words in here."

Trish looked at him and stopped herself from making a smart-ass remark. Nitro caught onto her. "It was a joke, Trish."

"Whew, I'm glad it was." She smiled.

Nitro removed his reading glasses. "Pulchritude." He said as he got up.

Trish shook her head. "I'm sorry."

"Pulchritude. It means beauty." He walked over and kissed her hand. "Your pulchritude is legendary."

Trish blushed. "Thank you."

"You're welcome." Nitro replied. "Just don't tell Dave or Melina I kissed your hand."

"Of course not." Trish smiled.

Nitro motioned for Trish to sit at a nearby table. In front of her, she saw a ready game of Scrabble. "Part of becoming a vampire is having brain power. The stronger your mind, the more powerful you'll be. It's not just doing wicked tricks or moving things. It's about having the mind control over your enemy." He said. "Let's play."

The next several minutes were studious for the pair as they concentrated on outsmarting each other with their vocabulary. Nitro was much more impressed with Trish as she knew words he had a hard time explaining to London and Melina. But Nitro also knew it was partially because they both didn't care.

After a short while, Trish broke her silence. "Why are you so quiet?"

"I just am." Nitro commented as he studied his tiles. "Sometimes I don't need to say anything to get my point across."

"But don't you want to have more to say?" She asked.

Nitro shook his head. "Not really. If I don't want Melina to do something, she doesn't. If I want to go somewhere, I go. If I think something else should be done instead of said action, my opinion gets heard." Nitro carefully placed the tiles on the game board. "I'm very much my own man."

"But you don't appear to be."

"Appearances are deceiving." He smiled. "Yeah, it may seem like I'm a sick puppy following Melina everywhere. It may seem like no one really listens. But one thing I've learned from the Queen Mother is that when you're submissive, you're the one with the power." He then spelled out the word. "C-O-L-L-I-G-A-T-E. Colligate."

"To unite." Trish replied.

"I see the beautiful one also has brains." Nitro smiled.

Over the next several hours, Nitro prepared Trish on the various changes her body would have. From perfect vision to strength of a thousand men, there would be no limit to what Trish could and could not do. However, just like the living, vampires were also susceptible to death—as evident by Kimberly's sudden passing. This is like high school guidance counseling—for the dead, Trish thought.

-----------------------------

After her last meeting, Trish went upstairs to lay down. The past several days had been emotionally and mentally taxing on her body and spirit. Yet, the worried feelings were no longer present. The uncertainty of her future was dissolved. She finally knew why Taker and Dave wanted her to meet with all of the Family members. So I can be welcomed into the Family.

Dave soon joined Trish on their bed. "How's it going?"

"It's going." She yawned. "You?"

"It's going." He replied. "Look, about earlier…"

"You don't need to apologize, Dave. I understand."

"I still regret it, though." He nudged Trish on her back and hovered over her. "I didn't mean to get short with you."

"Forgiven." She smiled. "I think I'm ready to become a vampire now."

"Great. There's just one more person you need to meet."

Trish thought about all of the Family members. She thought she met everyone. "Who?" She asked.

"The Queen Mother."

"The Queen Mother?"

"The Queen Mother."

"Who's the Queen Mother?" She asked.

There was one name that resounded with all vampires, good or bad. Dave knew her especially well. "Stephanie."