Author's Note: I'm really sorry for not updating in such a long time. Life gets in the way of things. I apologize for the slowness of the plot. I'm still developing my writing style. Just bear with me please. Interesting things are coming up.

A change has been made. Aly has black hair and pale green eyes.

I can feel it pacing like a beast in the back of my mind. As each agonizingly slow second passes, it becomes more impatient, untamable, and vicious. The thirst is nearly unbearable now. Pretty it will consume me.

It is begging me to feed. Truth be told I want to, so badly. All I have to do is lure one of the guardians outside the cell closer. Then I'm free to grab him closer and sink my teeth into his deliciously warm, dripping neck. I will be able to taste the richness of the heady bloo—.

What am I thinking? With a start, I shake free of the stupor and find myself already up at the bars, mouth open, poised to call out for a guardian.

I sit back down and tuck my head into my hands. That was a close call. Of course, none of the guardians would be stupid enough to come closer. All my plan would result in is a reason for them to stake me.

"That was stupid", I mutter to myself. The beast butts in and replies, "Yes it was a stupid plan. Devise a new one. Perhaps…"

Another downer of being a Strigoi trapped in jail is that there are no distractions from your own thoughts. I wrenched my mind free from the images of bloodshed and instead counted the number of bricks on my wall.

I understand why they won't give me any blood. That might result in suicide on their part. Giving me blood would be like providing a murderer with a gun.

I laugh bitterly. I am a murderer. Maybe I should just let them kill me know. What's the point of living when all those I've killed aren't?

I am interrupted from my musings when I hear footsteps. It's him again. I can tell from the rhythm of his walk.

Adrian appears in sight in yet another designer outfit and with his hair mussed, looking like he just woke up. I'm willing to bet he spent half an hour this morning carefully styling it. I laugh internally.

"Don't you look…" he begins.

"Tired? Thirsty? Yeah I am," I snap. Ugh the thirst is making me much irritable lately. "Sorry," I add, instantly regretting my harsh tone.

His eyes had widened, but now he has recovered. Flashing me yet another smile he says, "It's okay. Sucks, doesn't it?" He refers to my lack of blood.

"Can we please not talk about that?"

Adrian holds up his hands in surrender. "Just so you know you're getting out of here tomorrow."

"Thank god," I tell him. "How long have I been in here?"

"A week."

"It feels like a lifetime."

"I can imagine."

I hesitate, then say, "How's the outside world?"

He contemplates my question. I know he understands what I'm asking. "It's probably a lot different now than it was then. Do you remember the blonde haired girl who came in with me a couple of days ago?"

"The one that's probably my niece?"

"It sounds weird when you think about it like that, but yeah. She's now the vampire queen." His eyes study my face for a reaction.

I feel astonished. "Wow. That's impressive. Out of all the Dragomirs she is chosen. How old is she?"

He frowns. "18. Wait, you don't know?"

I raise an eyebrow. "Know what?"

"She's one of the last Dragomirs."

That has me shocked. "What?!"

Adrian proceeds to describe the unfortunate situation where her only tie to the throne is through her illegitimate sister, Jill. I haven't been this shocked for a long time.

Once I've recovered my ability to speak I tell him, "So this is why she wants me alive. To take some pressure off both of them."

He looks uncomfortable. "Well, sorta. But that's only part of the reason. She's one of the kindest people I know. She wouldn't want anyone killed if they can be saved."

Some emotion flits through my chest. Sadness, I believe. "I can't believe there's only three Dragomirs. There used to be hundreds of us."

He looks at me with a strange look in his eye. "Things have changed since three hundred years ago."

I sigh. "What else is new?"

This develops into a very long conversation. I have to admit, things really are different now. Being away from civilization secluded me from any news, including the brutal murder of the last queen.

When he bids me good night, I am surprised to find myself disappointed by his departure. I decide it's because he was my distraction from the thirst, for I cannot fathom any other reason. As my mind thinks of the thirst I have been suppressing, it awakens with renewed vigor.

I cannot help but give in to a whole night of fantasizing about blood.

Blood. The lack of it is driving me crazy. I cannot form any rational thoughts the next morning. Nothing but the brilliant redness of the liquid and the life it provides. Pouring out in a thick stream as I rip open yet another body.

Delicious.

My throat burns.

The beast cannot be contained.

Through my lustful haze I am only faintly aware of my ragged breathing.

And someone's approaching footsteps. Somewhere in my mind it sounds familiar, but that isn't what holds my attention.

I smell blood.

I want it.

Reviews are always appreciated. :)