"How long left now?" Simba asked, as he floated on his back in the water hole. "It's gotta be close to morning, right?"
Nala looked up at the sky. It was still pretty dark, but not as dark as it was before. "Not long now," she replied. "Less than an hour?" she guessed. "Do you think you've overcome your fear of the dark, then?"
"Hmm..." Simba narrowed his eyes in thought. "Maybe. Probably. I don't know, what do you think?"
"I think you have," Nala told him. "If you were still scared of the dark then would you have gone into the water hole to scare me?"
Simba smiled. "I guess you're right. Maybe I'm not so scared of the dark anymore. I've finally overcome my fear, and can go back to being good old me!" he exclaimed with a grin. "And since I've gone back to the real me, I think I should do something very brave and daring."
"What, look up at the sky for more than five seconds without screaming your head off?" Nala suggested playfully.
"No. Let's see which one of us can hold our breath underwater longer," he replied, an mischievous glint in his eyes.
"Oh, come on, Simba," said Nala, rolling her eyes. "The last time we did something like that you almost ended up drowning."
"I won't this time," he assured her. "I promise. And if something goes wrong then you can just dive in and save me, okay?"
Nala sighed. "Fine." This isn't going to end well, she thought to herself. Whenever Simba decided to do something crazy – which happened a lot of the time – it almost always ended in tears for the two of them, and half the time it wasn't even Nala's idea!
"Okay, I'll go first," Simba told her, taking several deep breaths. "You count how long I stay under for, and then when I come up I'll do the same for you. Got it?"
Nala nodded. "Okay. Don't forget to scream if you start drowning."
Simba narrowed his eyes. "Wait... how am I supposed to scream if I'm—"
"That's the joke, Simba," Nala explained. "Now start holding your breath and I'll time you."
"Okay. Here I go," Simba said, before taking one final deep breath and holding it in, before he disappeared under the water.
Nala tried to see if Simba was visible underwater, but he wasn't. All she could see were ripples in the water. He'd better not hurt himself, she thought, before she started counting up in her head. One... two... three... four... Turning her head away from the water, Nala looked in the direction of Pride Rock.
That was when she saw the figures.
They were advancing towards the water hole, ten of them in all. Dark, sinister figures that Nala couldn't make out in the darkness. What are they...? Nala wondered, staring hard at the approaching monsters. Well, Nala assumed they were monsters. No one who walked like that was friendly, that was for sure...
Then the figures got even closer, all of them standing at the edge of the water hole, and Nala was finally able to see what they looked like, thanks to them being illuminated by the moonlight.
That was when she recognised who they were.
And that was when Nala screamed.
Simba emerged from the water, taking in a big gulp of air. "Whoa!" he exclaimed. "I was under there a really long time, huh, Nala?"
Simba looked around the water hole, and quickly discovered that Nala was nowhere to be seen. "Nala?" Simba looked all around, but couldn't see her anywhere. "Nala? Where are you?"
"Simba! Help me!" a voice cried from in the distance. Turning his head in the direction of the voice, Simba found that it was coming from Pride Rock.
That was Nala, Simba realised, a horrified expression on his face. Which means she's in troub le! I've gotta save her!
Simba scrambled over to the edge of the water hole and pulled himself up to dry land. He then started running, ignoring the aching pain in his chest he'd received from holding his breath for so long.
Don't worry, Nala. I'm coming.
"Simba! Help me!" Nala cried as loud as she possibly could, before she was thrown into the den violently by her own mother, who for some reason now had blood red eyes and long, sharp fangs. Nala had no idea what was going on, but she really wanted to find out.
"Ah, shut up!" a female voice snapped. "Can't you do anything by yourself? Do you always need Simba to rescue you?"
Nala looked up at the person who was speaking, and discovered that it was Tama. "Tama?" Nala cried, as thing got even more confusing for her. Like the rest of the pride, Tama also had fangs and red eyes. Just what was going on?
Tama smiled evilly. "That's right, Nala. It's me!" Tama pointed to her fangs with a claw. "Like the new look? It makes me feel very... bloodthirsty."
"You're behind this?" Nala exclaimed, her eyes widening in surprise. To Nala's knowledge, Tama had never done anything evil before. Nala just thought she was kind of... quiet, and preferred to hang around with her friend, Tojo – similar to Nala with Simba. She didn't think Tama was capable of anything like this.
"It shouldn't surprise you, Nala," Tama replied. "After all, I... Wait, I erased your memory, didn't I?" She laughed. "You wouldn't remember the little hypnosis incident we had a few weeks back. Ever wondered where those three days of your life went? That was me."
"And now you've..." Nala looked back at the pride, and then at Tama. "Just what have you done to them?" she asked.
"Oh, I've turned them into vampires, of course. Which is what I will do to you, in just a few moments. Then all I have to do is find Simba, and then the Curse of the Vampire will thrive once more!" Tama cackled evilly at the top of her voice, and it echoed throughout the cave.
"You're insane!" Nala cried. "Just what do you think you're going to accomplish from turning the whole pride into...whatever you call them."
"Vampires," said Tama, rolling her eyes. "And I'm doing this so my vampire brethren can rule the Earth once more, and create ten million years of darkness!"
"I'll never join you," Nala declared defiantly. "You might as well kill me. You're not gonna be able to change my mind."
Tama chuckled sinisterly, taking a step closer towards Nala. "Nala," she said sweetly, pulling Nala to her paws and caressing her cheek softly, "I'm afraid you're wrong. I can make you change your mind, and all it takes is one little bite."
With that, Tama embedded her fangs in Nala's neck, and began to suck her blood, enjoying every single drop.
No! No! Nala cried in her mind, as she felt herself getting weaker and weaker. No... No... Yes... Yes... Yes! I can feel it!
The power! It feels so good! I will help my master, Tama, and will make sure that the Curse of the Vampire lives on... for ever!
Tama let go of Nala's neck, and stood back to see Nala with blood red eyes and sharp fangs. She had been turned into a vampire.
"What are you going to do now, Nala?" Tama asked, resisting the urge to laugh triumphantly.
"I'm going to find Simba, and make him like us," Nala replied.
"Good," said Tama, turning her head in Tojo's direction. Her eyes widened in surprise when she saw that Tojo was asleep in the corner of the den. "Tojo!"
Tojo shot up, wide awake. "What is it?"
"You fell asleep!" Tama exclaimed, pointing at him.
"Huh? Oh, I didn't fall asleep – I was just resting my eyes, that's all," Tojo told her, getting to his paws and walking over to her. "So, have you spread your evil curse yet?"
"No. Not yet. But I'm going to change that, because we're going on a little trip," Tama said, walking out of the den.
"A trip? Where?" Tojo asked.
"To find Simba, of course. I need to make him a vampire before the sun rises, or the Curse of the Vampire will cease to be!" Tama looked at Nala, and a sinister smile crossed her face. "Nala, come with me. I'm sure you're as eager as I am to find your boyfriend."
"Yes, master," Nala obeyed, bowing her head and following Tama out of the den.
"Hey, what about everyone else?" Tojo asked, joining Tama by her side and looking back into the den.
Tama put a paw to her chin and looked at the remainder of her slaves. "Well... as for you guys," she said to the rest of them. "Um... yeah, you can just stay there."
"Yes, master," the pride said, bowing their heads.
Tama shuddered. "Ooh, I love it when they call me that. It makes me feel powerful... and I adore power."
Simba rushed as fast as he could towards Pride Rock, desperate to rescue Nala from whoever had kidnapped her. I've gotta go faster, he told himself. Nala's prob ab ly b eing horrib ly tortured right now!
"Nala! Don't worry! I'm coming!" he shouted.
To Simba's surprise, he got a reply. "There's no need for that now, Simba. I'm never going to need you ever again."
Simba stopped dead in his tracks, and slowly turned around to face one of the most horrifying sights he'd ever laid eyes on.
Nala was there, but she looked so... ghastly. She had long, sharp, menacing fang, and crimson eyes that seemed to scream, "I'm going to kill you!" She had a cruel smile on her face – and this was what told Simba that there was something seriously wrong with her. It wasn't the fangs or the eyes... it was the smile. It was cruel. Evil. And evil was something that Nala most certainly wasn't.
"Nala," Simba spoke softly, taking a step towards her. "What's happened to you?" he asked sympathetically. "What's wrong with you?"
"Nothing is wrong with me," Nala responded, still using that cruel smile. "Everything's perfect. I've never felt better."
"Really?" Simba said, raising an eyebrow. "And how do you explain the red eyes and fangs?"
"That's why I feel so good, Simba," Nala told him. "It's a gift I've been generously given by my master, Tama."
"Tama?" Simba exclaimed. "How the heck did she manage to do that? Has that new look made you lose your mind as well?"
Nala chuckled. "You are a stupid person, Simba. But I can change that. I can make you a better person. I can remove all of your emotions, leaving only hate. Just let my master give you the same gift she gave to me. Join the Family of Blood."
This night has taken a sudden turn for the worse, Simba thought flatly, before he heard a noise from behind him. Turning around, Simba saw Tama standing right in front of him, a menacing grin on her face. "Why, hello there, Simba. You look good enough to eat."
"Uh... okay," Simba said, backing away slowly, his eyes wide. "I don't exactly get what that means."
"It means that I'm going to suck your blood," Tama explained. "And make you just like me, which is something I've been planning to do for such a long time."
"Since when were you evil?" Simba asked Tama, not remembering that she had hypnotised him into falling in love with her not so long ago. However, that plan failed, so Tama had to erase both his and Nala's memories, making them forget all about the whole thing.
"Oh, since for ever!" Tama exclaimed, advancing towards Simba.
"Tama, I think I should warn you now that you have about five minutes before the sunrise!" Tojo told her. He was standing a few feet away from the commotion, watching it and hoping that morning would arrive quicker. He didn't exactly want to be a vampire for all of eternity, and secretly wanted Simba to escape from Tama's clutches, making sure that the Curse of the Vampire was no more.
"Yes, thank you, Tojo," Tama said, rolling her eyes. "Do you think I can't see what time of day it is? You've cost me twenty seconds already!"
Which is what I was planning, Tojo thought, a little smile forming on his face. Come on, Simb a. Just run away! Otherwise we'll all b e vampires for ever!
Simba looked up at the sky, and could see that the sky wasn't really that dark anymore. Which could only mean that the sun was starting to rise. Well, I survived the night, Simba thought with a little chuckle. Doesn't look like I'm gonna survive the day, though.
"Come on, Simba," said Nala, joining Tama by her side. "It only hurts for a minute. You'll feel much better afterwards. We can live together as vampires for ever!"
"Just give in," Tama urged, taking another step closer. "Give in, Simba. You can't win. You're outnumbered. There's three of us and only one of you."
"I'd just like to point out that I'm not taking any part in this," said Tojo.
"Okay, so there's two of us and one of you." Tama grinned, baring her menacing fangs. "All it takes is one little bite, and you'll be a vampire before you know it."
Simba backed away even more. "Well, I've love to, but I've... gotta go!" With that, Simba raced off in the opposite direction, desperate to get away from Tama as fast as he could.
"Go, Simba, go!" Tojo called, grinning as he watched Simba escape.
"What?" Tama snarled, shooting an angry look at Tojo.
"Uh, I mean, no, Simba, no!"
Tama rolled her eyes, and started sprinting after Simba. I'll get him, she assured herself. Simba can never escape me! No matter where he goes, no matter what he does, I'll find him!
"Would you like some help with finding Simba, master?" Nala offered, running alongside her.
Tama smiled. "Yes, Nala, I would. Simba will never be able to resist you, as much as I hate to admit it. Remind me when we get back to make him fall in love with me."
"Yes, master."
Panting heavily, Simba skidded to a halt in the middle of a field with tall grass, unable to go any further. He was too tired to do anything.
Turning around, Simba could see two approaching figures, which he immediately recognised as Nala and Tama.
They're coming for me, he realised, horrified. They're going to make me like them, and there's nothing I can do about it, he thought sadly.
Simba ducked low, trying to avoid being seen by them. He then started to quickly think of the remaining options he had. Well, I could always just let them turn me into one of them, he thought. But that's just a quitter's way of doing things – and I'm not a quitter. I'll have to go down fighting, like the b rave Prince I am! I'll never stop fighting until I've taken my last breath!
By the time Nala and Tama arrived in the field, Simba was cowering and trembling in fear behind a large rock.
Oh, no, they're here! he thought worriedly, nibbling on his claws with his teeth. I'm gonna become a vampire! I don't wanna become a vampire! Somebody help me!
"Got ya!" Tama exclaimed, jumping on top of the rock Simba was hiding behind. "There's no escaping me now, Simba. You might as well give yourself up."
Simba backed away, trying his best to look brave. "I'm not gonna let you do this to me, so you can forget about it!"
"If you won't give yourself up willingly, then I'm going to have to bite you by force," Tama told him threateningly, leaping from the rock and at Simba, colliding with him and sending them both tumbling across the ground.
Simba found himself pinned by Tama, and his eyes widened in horror as she lowered her head, baring her frightening fangs, ready to bite into his neck and turn him into a vampire. Tama would have her thirteenth victim, and the Curse of the Vampire would thrive once more!
Simba squirmed and struggled, trying to get away from Tama, but she had a tight grip on him, preventing him from escaping. There was nothing he could do.
Tama's fangs got closer and closer to his neck. Simba wriggled his neck away as much as he could, but all he was doing was delaying the inevitable.
With one swift movement, Tama dug her teeth into Simba's neck, and began to slurp up all the blood she could. Oh, he tastes so good, she thought. He'll make a very good vampire. And I'm sure he'll make a very good mate when we need to have little vampire cubs.
Simba could feel himself getting weaker and weaker as Tama greedily drank his blood, and the last thing he saw before he closed his eyes was the sunlight...
The sunlight? Simba's eyes snapped open, and he couldn't help but grin when he saw the sunlight shining down on him and Tama. It was morning!
Tama continued to suck Simba's blood, when she felt the sunlight shining down on her. Immediately, she jumped away from Simba, hissing at the pain it caused her. "No!" she shrieked, shielding her face with her paws. "The light!" She screamed at the top of her voice. "Oh, it burns! It burns so much!"
Simba rubbed the spot on his neck where Tama had bitten him as he got to his paws, watching with fascination as Tama screamed and screamed. The sunlight was hurting her so much... It didn't surprise Simba that she wanted to suck his blood before then! Now the sun could hurt her!
Simba looked at Nala, and saw that she was having the same reaction, writhing about on the ground in agony, moaning in pain. The sunlight was hurting her, too.
Rushing over to Nala's side, Simba cradled Nala gently in his paws, trying to make her feel as comfortable as he possibly could, despite all the pain she was going through. "Don't worry, Nala, it'll all be okay," he assured her.
"But it... But it burns so much..." she gasped, closing her eyes as tight as she could, not wanting to open them ever again. The sunlight burned so much...
"Don't think about it, Nala," Simba told her. "It'll be over in a second. I promise."
Tama continued to scream as she stood right up, even thought she didn't want to. She was being forced by some unknown force. Tama's eyes then snapped open, and her mouth opened as wide as it possibly could. Her fangs began to retract back into her mouth, disappearing completely. Her eyes changed from a crimson red to their original orange colour. She then collapsed to the ground, breathing heavily. She was a vampire no more.
Nala had the same reaction, as she stood up and her mouth opened wide. Her fangs retracted and her eyes returned to their usual teal colour, before she too collapsed to the ground, falling into Simba's warm, kind embrace.
Tama blinked several times, slowly climbing to her paws. "What... What happened?" she asked, looking around confusedly. "Where am I?"
"Simba, what's going on?" Nala asked, looking up at him. "Why are we here? Don't tell me I fell asleep?"
Simba laughed, looking up at the bright blue sky. "It's a long story, Nala. But I think it's safe to say that dark isn't a problem for me anymore. I'm not sure about vampires, though."
"Huh?"
"I don't believe this!" Tama exclaimed angrily, falling onto her back by the edge of the water hole. "You're telling me that I tried to turn the whole kingdom into vampires?"
"I'm afraid so," Tojo replied, admiring his reflection in the water. He smiled when he saw that he had no sharp fangs, and his eyes had returned to their bright blue colour. He was back to normal. "You wanted to spread the Curse of the Vampire or something. It was actually pretty weird."
"You're pretty weird!" Tama said, glaring at him. "I can't believe I don't remember this. It doesn't make any sense at all! How come you can remember, but I can't?"
"Because you didn't suck enough of my blood," Tojo explained. "So I still retained my free will, and my memories of the incident. It's not a memory I'll look back on fondly."
Tama frowned and shook her head. "And just to make it worse I feel tired! Me! Tired!"
"Why don't you take a nap?" Tojo suggested.
Tama scoffed. "Yeah, right! As if I... want... to take a... nap..." Tama lowered her head to the ground, and closed her eyes, fast asleep.
Tojo laughed and walked over to her. "I'm feeling a bit tired, too," he said to himself, looking down at Tama. "Maybe I should... No, I can't... Oh, she won't mind."
Tojo lay on his back and snuggled up to Tama, closing his eyes and resting his head against hers. I'm sure you won't mind, he thought. I think a small part of you actually likes it.
"I knew it!" Nala exclaimed, upon hearing Simba's story about how she had been turned into a vampire by Tama. "I knew my mother grabbing me and dragging me into the den wasn't a dream! It was all that Tama's fault! I'm going to go over to her right now and teach her a lesson!"
Nala got up from her spot in the field, only for Simba to laugh and pull her back down. "Come on, Nala. It wasn't her fault. She looked just as confused as you did. Let her off this one time."
"Oh, all right," Nala begrudgingly agreed. A little smile then formed on her face. "I wonder what everyone else will think, since they were turned into vampires, too."
"They'll probably forget about it," Simba told her. "They'll just think it was a weird dream or something."
"I guess you got over your fear, then," said Nala. "Now we can watch the stars at night without you screaming your head off!"
Simba smiled. "Yep! The dark can't scare me anymore!"
Nala giggled, and snuggled up to him. "Thank you, Simba," she said softly, licking him on the cheek. "You're my hero."
Simba laughed, and then, he suddenly coughed. Then he coughed again. And again. And again.
Nala looked up at him. "Bad cough?" she said, raising an eyebrow.
"Yeah... I'm... fine..." Simba said, still coughing. Then he stopped, and smiled at her. "That was a bit weird."
Nala looked up at the bright blue sky. "I'm surprised you're still awake, actually. You'd think that after staying up all night you'd—"
A snore interrupted Nala. Turned her head to look at Simba, she found that he was fast asleep. She giggled, and rested her head on his. "You are so funny," she told the sleeping Simba. "Even when you're asleep."
Nala closed her eyes too, and began to drift off to sleep, knowing that when she woke up, she would be having even more great adventures with the greatest friend she could ever hope to have.
