Chapter 6 – Becoming a vampire

Three weeks had passed since the ball. I could gradually feel the 'hunger' build and remembered Sebastian's words that I should sate it regularly. How was I going to do that? Then I thought of the card and decided to go to the address written on the back.

I entered the store and a chime rang faintly, well it more sounded like bones clanking. There were coffins of all shapes and sizes lined against a wall. The place had a...sinister aura to it. I wasn't sure if it was a good idea to come here...but Sebastian told me to come here if I had questions?

"Welcome," a voice suddenly said. It gave me quite a fright. I saw a man with long silver hair, dressed in black garbs.

"Um...I am guessing you are the undertaker...Sebastian said I should come speak with you..."

"So it's you. I thought I sensed something unusual from you. Not every day that one of your kind come here."

"So...you know about my kind?"

"A fair amount, yes."

"Could you answer some questions for me?"

"I could...for a price?"

"How much?"

"Is is not about money... in my line of work I have to deal with depressing cases all the time. Make me laugh, tell me something that will make me have a good chuckle and I will tell you anything you wish to know."

"But...I don't know any good jokes..."

"Then I can't help you."

"Wait! I could try...at least..."

What would an undertaker find funny? I desperately tried thinking of something, but nothing good would come to mind.

Then the undertaker started laughing.

"Ha-ha-ha! Your expression is priceless!"

"What?!"

I was very offended. I was taking this thing seriously! The undertaker was laughing so hard I barely had a chance to say anything. Eventually he quited down.

"I must say I've never met a vampire before he wasn't able to think up something on the spot, so it's a first to see one so in a twist! I will remember that for a while. Very refreshing, different from the other stuck-up sour faces. He-he..."

"Are other vampires like that?"

"Yes, pretty much. Haven't met a single one with a sense of humor."

"So...does that mean I pass?"

"I suppose this will do for now. What is it you wish to know?"

"Um...I need blood, but I don't know where to get it from without making people suspicious of me."

"That is something that I could help you with. I get fresh bodies coming in all the time."

The thought of drinking a dead human's blood made me shiver in revolt.

"Or I can aquire some from live humans for you. I know vampires are generally a very picky bunch."

"Really? You would do that for me?"

"Yes, but only if you agree to come and visit me at least once a month."

"Visit? Why?"

"I think it will be very interesting to see how your story unfolds. I want you to keep me up to date with what is happening. That way I can also increase my knowledge of your kind and use it to help others."

"That makes sense, I guess..."

"It just happens that I currently do have some fresh blood. I had received stock which is meant for another client, but he is late so I don't mind giving you some. Wait a moment."

The undertaker eventually returned with a flask in his hand containing red liquid. I could faintly smell it, but it somehow made me feel a bit nausious.

"Here."

I took it from him hesitatingly.

"This is fresh human blood?" I asked.

He nodded and waited in anticipation.

I popped the cork off. The smell was definitely revolting.

"Are you sure this is blood?"

"Of course I am. Why do you ask?"

"It's...strange, but it smells wrong..."

"Smells? Do you perhaps have a very particular taste...interesting..."

"What do you mean? Surely human blood is just human blood?"

"Normally, yes...but I wonder... what blood have you had before?"

"I..."

I was too embarrased to say that I drank Sebastian's blood. The undertaker's eyes widened. He must have somehow come to the same same conclusion.

"This is very, very interesting!"

"What is?" I asked.

"Michaelis gave you some of his blood, didn't he?"

"Er...how did you know?"

"I am quite gifted with understanding things unspoken and your face told me the rest."

I looked away embarrased.

"I'm afraid you will never be able to drink human blood."

"What? But, then how am I going to get the craving to go away?"

"You drank a demon's blood. It is kind of like an alcoholic tasting the best quality wine. There is no way that a bad quality wine will ever satisfy the taste buds."

"You mean...I am addicted to Sebastian's blood?!"

"He-he...you certainly could put it that way."

"Does he know about this?"

"He did ask me a lot of things when he last was here...so I can't really remember if it came up..." the undertaker said scratching his head.

"What do I do now? It's not like I could just go to Phantomhive manor every time I need a fix."

"Now that is not something I can answer for you miss. Please call again sometime."

It was clear by his gestures that he wanted me to leave. I corked the flask and decided to take it with me.

"Thank you, until next time."

Eventually I ended up forcing the flask's contents down my throat, but I threw up. The little bit that managed to get into my system somehow dulled the thirst a bit, it would have to do for now. I didn't have the time or energy to face Sebastian now.

I put on my cloak and left Cortez manor. I had been assigned to a small case in the city by scotland yard. We were following threads to uncover a drug den. I had been visiting bars lately, disguised as a man. Since I could afford to buy everyone drinks people very quickly became my friends and as the night dragged on they became very talkative as the alcohol lubricated their mouths. This way I managed to learn of the location of the warehouse where the stash was kept. Tonight I would investigate to confirm this before letting scotland yard know.

It was a cold night, but the sky was clear and the moon beautiful. I ran on the rooftops, jumping from one to the next. Since I had 'crossed over' my senses had greatly improved and I could do things like jump abnormally far and land lightly on my feet. I guess I was even more catlike in a way now, but not having fed properly my senses were "short-circuiting" a bit at times. The warehouse was close to the harbour. I managed to find a place to hide and still see the doors clearly and waited. About an hour later two men came walking to the place. Since there had been no other activity and the warehouse was dark I assumed there were only two people. That would make this easy. Once they went into the warehouse I followed. I could hear them talking to each other through the door and confirmed that they were drug dealers. To arrest these two should be a piece of cake to me. Interrogating them could help uncover the drug masters. I pulled out my gun and pulled the door open.

"Don't move or I'll shoot!"

The two men look at me in surprise.

"Don't kill me!" the one said and put his hands up.

"Who are you?" the other asked.

"I am a detective from scotland yard. I am authorised to arrest you for illegal dealing in drugs. I ask that you throw down any weapons you may carry and remain silent as anything you say may be held against you in court."

I cuffed the one guy and then the other tried hitting me with a crowbar. I grabbed it and bend it completely out of shape with my bare hand. The man let go and had a terrified look on his face.

"D...demon!"

He ran out the doors. Damn, I knew I had to chase him. I knocked the other guy unconcious and ran out, but the guy somehow seemed to have...disappeared? I listened carefully but could not hear or see him. My senses was pulling a blip on me. Why now?! Just then three shots went off and I ended up with three bullet holes in my chest. It hurt like hell and there were suddenly people everywhere.

"There he is! Shoot him!"

Did they somehow know I would come? This seemed like an ambush...

I ducked out of the way to avoid becoming even more of a bullet pin cushion. I hid behind a crate and took my chances to peer over and shoot back at my persuers. I had not planned on facing so many...my bullets eventually ran out. I managed to take about five of them out, but it seemed like they had unlimited supply of men... Someone must have tipped them off...

I was losing a lot of blood fast which was not helping me. I needed to get out of here. I pretended to be shot down and found a chance and dashed straight into two men that were coming to see that I was indeed dead. I effectively used them as a shield to soak up the bullets that were raining on us again. I could feel another hit my arm, but kept going. Then my legs decided to give out. I ended up underneath the two bodies.

My best defence would be to act like I'm dead. I didn't have much strength left.

"There is no guarantee that thing is really dead yet, Fred. Shoot it some more!" I heard someone yell to his mate. Just then I heard different men scream in different locations and thuds. What on earth was happening? I tried lifting the bodies off me, but couldn't even manage that now.

"I let you out of my sight for 24 days and this is what you get up to?" a familiar voice asked and then removed the weight from off me.

"Sebastian..."

"Tsk...tsk..." he said as he picked me up. There were bodies strewn about the area. It looked like a war zone. Sebastian must have taken the others out... I very soon after lost conciousness.

When I came by I was confused for a moment. Where was I? Then I recognised the room as the one I used to have at Phantomhive manor. Sebastian must have brought me here. My body was feeling sore and the wounds ached, even though I should have healed by now. I slowly got out of bed, but then plummeted down onto the carpet. My legs still wasn't obeying me and I worked myself into a sitting position.

Then the door opened.

"Oh, you're awake," Mei-Rin said. She had brought a change of clothes for me. I asked her to help me dress and get back onto the bed since I wasn't able to walk.

"I must inform the master, he asked that I let him know as soon as you were awake."

A bit later Ciel came into the room, followed by Sebastian.

"Lord Phantomhive," I said sounding flat. I wasn't in any emotional state to deal with anything. My body was once again covered in bandages that had some red stains on them, prove that the wounds were slow to heal. Perhaps I wasn't as invincible as I thought. I should be grateful that the bullet wounds didn't kill me or rather the bloodloss.

"Sebastian told me that you got yourself into a bit of a mess at the docs. I heard her majesty had you appointed at scotland yard and working on this case as well. Why did you not have backup?"

"I...didn't know there were others. I was following two men. It appears to have been an ambush, someone must have tipped them off."

"Well, at least you are still alive and we managed to take one in for questioning. He was unconcious in the warehouse, your doing I guess?"

"Yes."

"Very well. The warehouse had no drugs stored in it. They meant to lure you there to kill you. This puts us back to square one. Unless the man we are currently questioning knows something."

"That's disappointing...I took all those bullets for nothing then."

"You shouldn't throw away your life so easily Anne."

My heart jumped at hearing him call me by my name. It had been so long since we last spoke.

"Have you also been asked to work on the case?" I asked to change the subject.

"No, but I am busy persuing the London Thief. Sebastian followed him last night and happened to be in the same location as you. You could consider yourself lucky."

"I guess so. Wait...do you wan't to tell me the thief is still operating? I would have thought that after...the mastermind died it would stop?"

"Seemingly not. Or perhaps it's a copy cat. Anyways, this case does not concern you. Once you are well enough to travel, please leave."

With that Ciel left the room. I felt hurt by him wanting me gone so badly. Did he truly not feel anything for me? Sebastian stayed behind.

"I did what I could while you were unconcious, but you need to feed properly."

Sebastian offered his arm to me.

"What...don't tell me you expect me to...that's barbaric! No..." I objected, slapping his arm away.

"Still so stubborn. When will you learn? You are mine now."

I looked up at him and could see triumph written all over his face.

"You...knew this would happen, didn't you? You bastard!" I lunged at him, but ended up falling into him and we both fell onto the carpet with me on top. I was feeling extremely embarrased. If someone came in now...

"I can't say I don't like women who are feisty."

"Don't get all excited, I fell on you because I can't control myself..."

Oh, that didn't sound so well... I was blushing even more now. Sebastian was enjoying this. I tried getting off him, but he wasn't letting me go. Instead he sat up pulling me against him so that my face was pressing into the nook of his neck.

"You need this to survive. You should feel honoured that I am giving you my blood and not making you work for it...yet."

"I don't want this...any of this...I don't want to be a monster," I said starting to sob out of frustration.

"You should stop saying that something beautiful is ugly," Sebastian said calmly.

"I...don't want to hurt you," I said, but my mouth was watering and I knew my teeth had elongated in anticipation.

"I will rather die."

"I won't let you, so either you do it or I will force you like I did before."

I could hear that he was being serious. Would this really be okay? I could smell his scent, the scent that I have come to crave above all else. I didn't want to do this but at the same time I wanted to. My willpower wasn't very strong in my current state so that instinct eventually took over and I slowly sank my teeth into Sebastian's neck. Even as I was doing so I was crying. Crying because I didn't want to be a monster. Crying because I was hurting him. Crying because it felt like I was widening the cliff between me and Ciel even wider. Sebastian didn't let go of me, even when after a while I stopped sucking and just rested my forehead against his shoulder.

"Good girl," he said, rubbing my back. I could feel life returning to my body, the wounds were hurting less. In a few minutes I was even able to stand.

"You need to feed about once every two weeks if you don't put yourself in unnecessary danger like you did at the warehouse. You need to be more careful Anne."

I looked up at Sebastian in surprise. This was the first time he ever called me by my first name. I felt strangely happy about it, but at the same time livid.

"I'm not your pet. I will find a way to break this...whatever it is. I will find a way to cure the curse or kill myself. I will not see you again, Sebastian Michaelis. Goodbye."

I had squared my shoulders and walked off with what I hoped looked like confidence, but when I walked through the door I was surprised to see Ciel outside leaning against the wall next to it.

"Finished yet?" he asked. He had his trademark scowl on his face so I had not way to tell what he was thinking.

"What?! It's...not what you think!" I stammered, turning red. He must think there is something going on between Sebastian and I... I was shaking from embarrasment and anger. Sebastian then put his hand on my shoulder and it was as if something inside me snapped. In an instant I had rushed into him and pushed him so hard that he ended up making quite a spectacular dent in the wall opposite Ciel.

"Don't you dare touch me!" I snarled at Sebastian, "You tricked me into taking your blood and now I can't survive on any other blood! You knew this would happen! Who gave you the right to..."

"I did."