“Maybe if you explained why turning me is so important, we could find another solution.” I added, “See, here’s the part where you let me in.”
“I would be breaking a sacred vow if I tell you, but perhaps it is time to trust you—as I always should have.”
Great idea, genius. Why didn’t I think of that?
He placed a hand on my thigh. “In order to pull this off, you must communicate with all vampires as Anna. To do this, you will require moonshine.”
“Not this again.” Now I knew he was playing me. “I am not gettin’ high so you can command me.”
He took my hand. “This moonshine is different.”
Was he telling the truth? Maybe. Maybe not. “What makes this fancy moonshine of yours so ‘special’?”
“It contains—how shall I say?—ingredients from the most powerful vampires to ever exist. The brew is quite old. Quite potent.”
“You mean it’s got ancient, crusty vampire brains in it?”
He nodded. “Anna wasadded to the pot as well.”
“Oh, dear Lord. What is the matter with you people?”
“Say what you will, but one drop and you will be connected to every living vampire in the world.”
“Jesus. Haven’t y’all heard of email? How about a YouTube video? Snapchat?”
He shook his head. “Not all vampires embrace your modern ways, Masie.”
“I am not taking that stuff.” Not in a gazillion years. It had Anna in it!
“No. Not as you are. It is far too powerful for a human’s mind to withstand,” he explained.
So that was it. He wanted to turn me so I could address the vampire nation with their supercharged moonshine.
Stark added, “We must do it now if we are going to attempt this. We are out of time. You must tell them you have returned as prophesied and are reclaiming your throne. You will scold them for their unruly, greedy, and undignified behavior, and dictate change or face your wrath.”
I understood this situation was bad. Very bad. And, yes, I was willing to step up, but this was a difficult choice. It meant having to accept dying. Right here. Right now. Shutting all doors on another solution, based on the simple fact that Stark told me this was how it had to be.
If he was telling the truth, he had somewhat prepared me for becoming a vampire. If he was lying, then I was giving up all the things I enjoyed,the little things that made life worth living.
The doorbell rang.
“What now?” Stark pulled his cell from his pocket and tapped away.
“You have Ring?” I said.
“Of course. War is likely, and I need to know who’s knocking.” He stared at the screen for a long moment, but I couldn’t see it.
“Who is it?” I asked.
Stark got up so fast, I hardly saw him leave the room. He zipped back to me, wearing his leather jacket, boots, and leather pants again.
“Another biker rally?” I asked.
He pulled out a very, very long metal stake from the back of his pants. “I need you to remain in the bedroom.”
“What’s going on?” I asked nervously.
“Roman is here.”
