After that day, I set out on my own. I continued to work on managing my thirst and hunting animals. Before I knew it, nearly twenty years had passed. I was mastering my thirst to a point where I even took a job and bought a home in northern Texas. Even though I looked terribly young, I had mastered the art of acting like an adult. It was all about confidence and propriety. If you act like you belong, and look like you are in control, others will simply respect you and treat you as an equal. I was finally living fairly comfortably, but my loneliness was as present as ever.

I thought a lot about when I was created. I never had the choice to decide... but what if I could help someone make that choice? What if I rescued someone from a terrible life? I decided that I would search for a suitable progeny, preferably someone who needed a brand new start.

I was a part of a small social circle in my town. We would meet around lunch twice a week for tea and gossip (to protect myself from the sun, I always wore a floppy hat, gloves, and a dress that covered most everything else). A few months after I had begun looking for a suitable progeny, our hostess, an affluent woman named Laurel, began circulating a story about a young woman in town: Ada.

"Have you heard about Ada Hollis? She snuck away a month ago and got married to the farm hand!" Laurel gushed, acting so disgusted.

"The farm hand?!" the other women's eyes nearly popped out of their skulls. "How unfortunate!"

"I would hate to be that girl's mother!" one woman exclaimed in a hushed tone.

"Imagine the parents' shame!" another said, shaking her head.

"But that isn't the worst part!" Laurel said, holding her hand fan up to silence us. She looked around, as if we weren't the only people in her own parlor room, and turned back to us, leaning in to whisper quietly. "Her father found out, and he killed the boy!" Murmurs and frantic opinions from the other women filled the room.

I sat quietly, shocked and heartbroken. That poor girl. She was in love, obviously. You don't just run away and marry out of your station for no reason. And now her only love was dead. I began to recall the day I found out Jasper had died. Many days, if not years, of my human life were beginning to fade. But the time spent with Jasper, the day I learned of his death, and my year's struggle with pain after was just as clear as the day they happened.

"Well, after all that," Laurel continued after the women hushed. "Her father is trying to find her a job somewhere else, since no man will marry her now."

As the women continued to talk amongst themselves, I hatched a plan. I would go talk to the young girl tonight, and ask her some serious questions. I knew she was a skilled seamstress from her job in town, so I would create some kind of sewing emergency and lure her away for a talk.

That night, just as the sun was setting, I drove my carriage over to the Hollis home. I knocked on the door, and Ada's father Orville answered.

"Miss Elizabeth, to what do I owe this pleasure?" he exclaimed, opening his door widely to me.

"Hello, Mr. Hollis. I was wondering if I could speak with Ada. I heard she was an expert with hemming silk gowns, and unfortunately one of mine is coming loose." I sounded a little desperate, hoping to tug on his heartstrings a little.

"Oh, of course. Let me get her." he disappeared, leaving me at the doorway.

After a few minutes, Ada appeared from her room, her face pale and her eyes red. She had obviously been crying. My heart ached for the poor girl. She tried her best to sound normal and professional as she came up to the door.

"Miss Elizabeth, you're having some issues with a gown?" she said, her voice shaking slightly.

Ada was fairly short, probably about 5'2", with long curly blonde hair. She had dark blue eyes, a porcelain complexion with thin pink lips. She was pretty, no doubt. But she did not look like she even knew her own beauty.

"Yes, Ada. Would you mind following me to my home? I am scared witless to carry it anywhere. I'm afraid I will do far more damage to the poor thing." I acted truly concerned.

She hardly hesitated, doing her job. "Of course, Miss Elizabeth." She turned to a small cabinet nearby and opened a drawer, pulling out a small basket of sewing supplies. She followed me out the door and I took her across town to my home.

Once inside, I had her sit in the parlor and wait for me. I hurried upstairs and pulled out the hemming to one of my dresses. I carried it downstairs to her, laying it before her.

"Ah, yes," she exclaimed, pulling the dress closer for evaluation. "I can have this fixed for you very shortly."

She made quick work of the dress, and we spoke cordially about many things. Finally, as she was mending the last portion, I asked her, "Are you happy, Ada?"

She looked up at me, shocked. "Happy?" she choked. "What do you mean?"

I looked deep into her eyes, searching profoundly within her soul. There was something weird about our connection. It was like I was suddenly accessing every feeling she had experienced. My heart knew, as our eyes connected, she was miserable. Suddenly, without warning, I saw images flash across my mind. She was shaking the hand of a young man with brown hair hanging over his eyes. He was a little messy, dirt caked under his fingernails. She was instantly smitten with him. Then, the image changed. They were sneaking around behind a barn, and he was professing his love for her. They kissed. The image changed again as they snuck away together in the night. They married in secret. She wore her best dress, and he wore his only good shirt. I saw them making love... I felt so invasive. But as quickly as the image appeared, a new one took its place. Her father bursting through the door to their hideaway, brandishing a pistol. One shot was all it took. Her love was lying on the ground, motionless. I was overtaken by so much grief, I felt as if I were reliving my human days without my love, Jasper. Her memories disappeared in a quick rush, and I was still looking straight into her eyes.

She burst into tears, sobbing uncontrollably. I hurried over and sat next to her, putting my arms around her shoulders. I could hear her heart beating, the soft thud thud more of a reminder that she was alive than a dinner bell. She rested her head on me, still crying. I ran my hand along her back.

"Shh... it'll be okay." I whispered.

After a minute or so, she started to calm down. "I'm... so sorry. So sorry," she repeated, pulling away and trying to gather herself. "How unprofessional of me. I'm okay."

"No you aren't, Ada." I said truthfully. "I know what happened. I have felt the same way as you." I looked down, and felt the familiar pang of heartache as I saw the golden engagement ring still on my finger. "I lost my love, too. He was taken from me far too soon."

She was quiet. I looked back up at her and tried to smile. "I know this might sound completely crazy, but I want to help."

"How can you help?" she sounded hopeless.

"Have you ever dreamt of just running away, starting new?" I asked.

She nodded. "Yes. But I couldn't survive on my own."

"What if you didn't have to? What if someone was willing to go with you?" I questioned, pausing before I continued. "Someone like me."

She looked taken aback. "You? You want me to run away with you?"

I smiled. "As friends. And don't look at it like running away. Look at it as a fresh start. A way to take complete control of your life. To never have to report to anyone ever again. We can survive co dependently, and I'll teach you the ropes of how to take be in charge of your own world."

"But my father..." she began.

"I can promise you this... if you agree to this, he will never be a problem. You can say goodbye and never see him again." I took her shaking hands. "But things will be different. I can't tell you how exactly... but you will be in control. You will be more confident and powerful than you could ever hope."

"What do I have to do?" she finally sounded like she was warming to the idea. "I don't have to kill my father, do I?"

"No," I replied, "you won't have to kill him."

She was quiet for a long time, thinking. Finally, she spoke. "How will things be different?"

I took a deep, useless breath. The scent of her blood filled my nose, and I started to worry. Can she handle the bloodlust? I have had decades to master my control... do I have the patience to help her learn? Yes, yes, if I could do it on my own, I can help her...

"I can't tell you. And you can't tell anyone about our talk. If you want to be rid of your parents' watchful eyes and expectations, and you want to be control of your own existence, find me again. I will not force you into anything. But think about it. Say, two days? By the end of those two days, give me your word. Yes or no. And we will go from there. Okay?" I stood, ending our conversation.

She followed me to the door, and I took her home in my carriage. As we stopped in front of her home, I handed her twenty dollars for her work. Her eyes bulged at the sight. "This is too much!" she said frantically, trying to hand it back to me.

"Just think of this as an idea of what life could be like. Not a bribe. Just an idea of how different things would be." I closed her hand around the money and ushered her out of the carriage. "Two days... remember."

"Okay." She nodded and waved as I drove away. I saw her hide the money and go back inside.

The next two days were a frenzy. I waited for her response, but I didn't leave my home. I was worried maybe she had told someone about our weird conversation and they would come for me. On the second day, I packed my belongings and quit my job. I sold my house for very little profit. I knew I needed to leave tonight. I told everyone I had received a letter from my ailing mother up north and had to return to her side. I waited patiently, packing my carriage and brushed my horse in preparations for my departure.

About an hour after dark, the whole town was quiet. I was ready to go, but I needed to get Ada's answer. Finally, I saw her running toward my house, bag in hand. She finally came to a stop, completely out of breath.

"Are you coming?" I inquired.

"I am." she said between breaths. "I told my father you asked me to be your personal seamstress, but I had to accompany you up north."

Well, I would probably have to go speak with her father to confirm that.

"He practically packed my bag for me. Let's just go." she said, loading her one small bag onto the very full carriage. "I think he's actually glad to be rid of me."

"Do I need to talk to your parents?" I asked, a little confused.

"No. He told me directly, that if I messed this job up, I shouldn't bother coming home." she practically whispered.

This poor girl. She needed someone who cared about her. She needed guidance and support and love from someone. I hoped I would be a great mentor and friend.

"Let's go then, shall we?" I said cheerfully, though I was still hurting for her.

While we rode along, we talked about everything under the sun. Eventually, she brought up Jasper.

"So... you said... you lost your love." she looked down at her hands, and I noticed she had a ring on her right hand.

"I did." For a few moments, I felt hesitant to say anything. But if I was planning on making her a forever friend, I figured that honesty was the key. "His name was Jasper. He was the most beautiful man I had ever seen. He had tanned skin, golden hair... beautiful brown eyes. He was so gentle, so kind. And he was the most spectacular thing that ever happened to me." I smiled, recalling so many memories.

She twirled the ring on her finger. "What happened to him?"

My smile faded. "He died... giving his life for our country."

Ada looked up, confused. "In the military? What war?"

I shook my head, not wanting to scare her too quickly. "What about your husband?" I asked, redirecting the conversation.

She swallowed hard, grief coming to her face. "John... worked for my family. He was so positive, so hopeful. He was the bright ray of sunshine in my dark world."

"It's more than a loss of a person," I started to reminisce again. "It's more like a piece of your heart that goes away."

She nodded, agreeing. "So, where are we headed?"

I had decided before I chose Ada that I would take my progeny out to the woods for their transformation, like I had. But I would make the process far more comfortable for her than it was for me. "I figured we would camp out for a night or so... get our energy and then keep going."

She really didn't ask much more after that... thankfully. After riding for nearly five hours, I got us fairly deep into some very familiar woods and I found the cabin I had been looking for. Amos exited the cabin, smiling brightly.

"Elizabeth!" he shouted, delighted to see me. "What a surprise!" His smile faded slightly as he noticed my company. I knew he was probably thinking I had fallen off the "vegetarian" wagon.

I parked the carriage and asked Ada if she would brush the horse down while I greeted our host. She obliged quickly. I walked up to Amos, who was standing at the door.

"Amos, how lovely to see you." I embraced him. He hugged me back, although a little hesitant.

"Who is your... friend?" he asked.

"Amos... I've decided to extend my family." I exclaimed confidently.

His face lit up. "Truly? Well, Elizabeth, I extend my heart and my home to you and your soon-to-be fledgling."

"Here's the thing... she left with me willingly. She knows that something is going to happen. But she doesn't know what exactly." I turned back to look at her. She was gently brushing the horse, talking to him. "Do I ease her into the idea, or should I just do it and be prepared for her anger?"

"Bring her inside, and we'll chat. Maybe we can ease her into it." he said, turning to call out to her. "Ada, you can put the horse at the hitching post and come inside! I'll bring in your bags!"

She did as he said, and I followed Amos inside. He lived adequately, at least for a vampire. There was no bed, only a velvet couch situated in front of the wood stove. There was a desk and chair, with a quill and plenty of ink. There was an armoire with a few sets of clothes and plenty of books. My old books.

This was the cabin where Amos and I lived when we banded together. He had added the desk and replaced the couch since I had last been here. Even though I had spent many years here, it never truly felt like home.

Ada and I took a seat on the couch as Amos brought in our important items. I took off my coat (I could feel the heat in the room and wanted to appear just as warm as she was). Once we were unloaded, Amos pulled the desk chair up and chatted with us.

Ada and Amos had friendly conversation. Eventually she asked if we were related (since our eyes looked the same), and Amos told her I was like a sister to him.

"But you aren't actually related?" she asked.

"No," Amos said, leaning back in his chair. "I was more of a... mentor. When Elizabeth began her new life, I helped her even out a little."

I smirked. "You did more than even me out. You returned to me my humanity."

Ada was looking more and more thoughtful by the minute. It appeared she was deep in thought, because she was looking into an empty corner of the cabin, squinting her eyes a little.

"Why is there no bed?" she eventually asked, interrupting our mindless chatter.

Amos looked at me, preparing me for his answer. "Well... I have no use for the bed."

"You sleep on the couch?" she questioned.

"No." Amos whispered. "I, uh... don't sleep."

Ada's gaze quickly turned to Amos. She paled a little, and then looked at me. She slowly looked back and forth between us a couple times.

"Elizabeth..." she whispered."You mentioned that things would be different... is this what you meant?"

I nodded. "Ada... are you afraid?"

The cabin was dark, lit only by the flames dancing from the inside of the wood stove. The look on her face was certain: yes, she was afraid.

But she denied it. "No... I don't think you want to hurt me."

I nodded. "You're right. I promised you a new life, and I stand by my word."

"What... what are you?"

"Ada," Amos whispered. "I think you already know. Or at least, you have a hunch."

She nodded. "You're... demons?"

I chuckled. "Well, there are many who believe we no longer have souls... but no, we are not demons."

"Then...?"

"Think hard, Ada dear." Amos said, glancing to the corner of the room where a bed should have been.

"You... don't sleep. And I've... never seen you eat. But... you go out in the sunlight!" she exclaimed, as if the idea was settling in her mind.

"The sun is not harmful to us." I said, looking at the flames. "But it does change our appearance."

"So you're... immortal?" she guessed.

"A certain kind of immortal, yes." Amos nodded.

"V...vampire?" she whispered.

I turned back to look at her. She looked concerned, but not fearful. I nodded slowly and silently. She began to wring her hands, looking at the ground. "And you want me to be one of you?"

"I had hoped, yes." I reached over and set my hand on hers. She tensed as the cold skin touched her warm human flesh. "We had similar stories... I wanted to give you the same second chance I had. I wanted to give you control of your own life; the ability to make your own choices. I couldn't bear the idea that you would be forced to live like you hadn't had your heart broken into a million pieces."

She looked down at my hand. After several very quiet and tense moments, she finally spoke. "Does it... hurt?"

"Becoming one of us? Yes. But the pain is worth the outcome." I reassured her. "You will be stronger and faster and more beautiful than you could ever imagine. I don't fear anyone anymore."

"O...okay." she whispered, unbuttoning her collar. "I want to do it."

I glanced over at Amos, who was tense in his seat. I could tell that while he was excited to see me expand my bloodline, he was worried I would overdo it. This was my first time getting anywhere near drinking human blood in decades. If I couldn't stop myself, I could kill her.

Finally, he nodded. And I closed my eyes in preparation. You can do this. You can taste her blood without sacrificing your humanity. You can give her a few small bites and then stop.

I leaned over toward Ada's neck and latched on. I felt my venom flow from my mouth and into her fresh wound. She suddenly screamed, her body jerking violently. The sheer shock of it forced me to pull away. The guilt that I had spent so many years trying to work through returned. I had to continue, or her transformation would take a week. I leaned in, holding her shoulders forcefully against the back of the couch. I bit her twice right over the heart, and once on either wrist. As soon as I bit her second wrist, I stood up and flew across the room. The urge to continue biting her until her blood flowed freely pulled on my every cell. I hunched in pain, trying to resist going back over to Ada. Amos' hands were there, gripping my shoulders tight.

"It's okay. The venom is in her system. We just need to try to make her as comfortable as we can... and wait." he sat me down on his desk chair and went over to the couch. He grabbed hold of her twitching body, and moved it so she was laying completely across the velvet couch.

Ada's screams softened to groaning and moaning. She writhed in pain. It was so hard for me to watch, but I wanted to be there in case anything happened to her. Every so often she would scream or twitch, but mostly she moaned in pain. My bite marks disappeared, one by one, replaced by silvery scars.

Over the next several days, she began to look different. Her skin paled and became flawless; her hair suddenly had vibrant color. Her eyelashes lengthened and her body took on a much more feminine shape; she had visible hips and larger breasts. Everything that made her the insecure human she appeared to be had vanished.

On the third day, sometime around eleven o'clock at night, she became very quiet. She barely moved for an hour. She made no noise. Finally, close to one o'clock, her eyes fluttered open.

I stood quickly, preparing myself. She was going to be ravenous, bloodthirsty. And very unsure of herself.

She sat up, and looked around. Her eyes connected with mine, and she tried to speak.

"Is it... over?" she whispered, and her eyes got wide. Her voice was no longer the shaky, unconfident whisper she used before. It was melodic and beautiful. She was beautiful.

I nodded. "How do you feel?"

She looked down at herself, noticing how she'd changed. She looked around, probably searching for a mirror. I went over to my bag and pulled out my gold handheld mirror. I held it out, and she moved so quickly in my direction that she nearly crashed straight into me. I caught her with my free hand.

"Whoa, there. It will take a little getting used to." I held up the mirror to her. I watched as she stared, almost in horror, at the woman staring back at her.

"It's me, but... somehow it isn't me." she said, reaching up to touch her face.

I reached out and touched her shoulder. "Ada... welcome to your new life."